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JC Bannister #1
The Fixer
JC Bannister is a killer.
He's killed for his country.
He's killed for money.
But now he's being asked to cross lines he never imagined.
Killing a friend, a powerful US Senator. For money.
A lot of money.
Bannister has done a lot of questionable things for dubious reasons. Now, double-crossed and on the run, he needs to figure out what the right thing is and get it done.
If he gets it wrong, he and his team could wind up in jail permanently.
Or cut down by their unseen enemy.
Or, worse yet?
Branded as traitors and pursued by every law enforcement agency in the United States of America.
The Fixer, Season 1: Complete is the explosive new thriller series from Rex Carpenter. Fans of Mitch Rapp, Jason Bourne, Jack Noble or John Milton, will feel right at home reading The Fixer.
Also in The Fixer Series -
The Fixer Origins:
Duke: The Education of an Assassin: amazon.com/gp/product/B00YFBJM6I
Joan: Portrait of a Vengeful Young Woman: amazon.com/gp/product/B0131YSEEA
He's killed for his country.
He's killed for money.
But now he's being asked to cross lines he never imagined.
Killing a friend, a powerful US Senator. For money.
A lot of money.
Bannister has done a lot of questionable things for dubious reasons. Now, double-crossed and on the run, he needs to figure out what the right thing is and get it done.
If he gets it wrong, he and his team could wind up in jail permanently.
Or cut down by their unseen enemy.
Or, worse yet?
Branded as traitors and pursued by every law enforcement agency in the United States of America.
The Fixer, Season 1: Complete is the explosive new thriller series from Rex Carpenter. Fans of Mitch Rapp, Jason Bourne, Jack Noble or John Milton, will feel right at home reading The Fixer.
Also in The Fixer Series -
The Fixer Origins:
Duke: The Education of an Assassin: amazon.com/gp/product/B00YFBJM6I
Joan: Portrait of a Vengeful Young Woman: amazon.com/gp/product/B0131YSEEA
401 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2015
1844 people are currently reading
649 people want to read
About the author
Rex Carpenter
20 books19 followersRex Carpenter was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. An English teacher, he loves snowboarding, hiking, mountain biking, reading, watching good television as well as both good and bad movies and spending time with his wife and daughter . They currently live in Asia with a never -ending succession of guppy fish that Rex cannot manage to keep alive for more than a month.
That's the standard bio from the back of the book and honestly, it does a fairly good job of giving a broad picture.
Oh, you want details?
Well...sit back and relax. It all started whe- what? Not that many details? Oh, ok. Let's start again.
Short version: Always wanted to write. Language Arts classes were the best in school. Pursued English Literature in unversity. Gave a half-hearted attempt at writing in Hollywood. Ended up loving teaching more than anything. But still, there was a little itch in the back of my mind. Just a feeling that I had a story to tell.
Finally sat down and gave it a shot November of 2013. Took about three months to publish the first episode but there was a huge learning curve. I'm always trying to speed things up. I'm lucky enough to have a few readers who really like what I put out. But they're a demanding lot. Always asking for stories faster. Telling me which characters they want to see spun-off into their own unique series. I love my readers.
I hope you'll give my little stories a chance. I'm doing my best to write and improve as fast as I can. Thank you.
That's the standard bio from the back of the book and honestly, it does a fairly good job of giving a broad picture.
Oh, you want details?
Well...sit back and relax. It all started whe- what? Not that many details? Oh, ok. Let's start again.
Short version: Always wanted to write. Language Arts classes were the best in school. Pursued English Literature in unversity. Gave a half-hearted attempt at writing in Hollywood. Ended up loving teaching more than anything. But still, there was a little itch in the back of my mind. Just a feeling that I had a story to tell.
Finally sat down and gave it a shot November of 2013. Took about three months to publish the first episode but there was a huge learning curve. I'm always trying to speed things up. I'm lucky enough to have a few readers who really like what I put out. But they're a demanding lot. Always asking for stories faster. Telling me which characters they want to see spun-off into their own unique series. I love my readers.
I hope you'll give my little stories a chance. I'm doing my best to write and improve as fast as I can. Thank you.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
January 31, 2018
Totally unbelievable.
In this book there are so many killings, unbelievable actions, kept skipping pages and coming back again another killing. Definitely it wasn't for me.
In this book there are so many killings, unbelievable actions, kept skipping pages and coming back again another killing. Definitely it wasn't for me.
June 15, 2018
Good plot, fast pace
Enjoyed this one :-) straightforward, no BS plotline. Typical assassination story, but with very well put characters and some nice twists in the story here and there. It was entertaining and an easy read.
Enjoyed this one :-) straightforward, no BS plotline. Typical assassination story, but with very well put characters and some nice twists in the story here and there. It was entertaining and an easy read.
Read
November 15, 2016A complete collection of asskickery
The conclusion of the episodic series by Rex Carpenter.
I'm a huge fan of this series, so much so that you can find my reviews of the first four other episodes on my review page http://twbarton.com/reviews.html
Anyone who follows my reviews knows that I'm generally not a fan of shorts or episodes as Amazon classifies them. My reviews of this series have been all over the map in content but the main theme has been that I was drawn in with JC in the first episode and could never quite get it out of my head even through the frustrations I had with some of the other episodes.
The great news...The entire series is now in a single collection. A major plus to all you out there that are new to the series or like to have a novel length read. Getting the complete collection will nullify most of the negatives I had with the individual episodes because the story is now a full cohesive novel.
If there were any complaints it is that with each episode it seemed like more and more primary characters were added to the group which in a way watered down JC, as the author had to spend time introducing these characters, filling in some back story and injecting them into the plot line. With so many mouths to feed so to speak, JC gets lost in the shuffle. He doesn't carry the same impact as he did in the first episode, simply because the other characters take up page space. I would like to see the focus be directed back to JC and continue to expand his character from the first episode in the future but that’s just me. Don't let this be a determining factor in getting the collection. It is a completely different experience reading the story in a complete novel-length collection instead of one at a time.
The conclusion of the episodic series by Rex Carpenter.
I'm a huge fan of this series, so much so that you can find my reviews of the first four other episodes on my review page http://twbarton.com/reviews.html
Anyone who follows my reviews knows that I'm generally not a fan of shorts or episodes as Amazon classifies them. My reviews of this series have been all over the map in content but the main theme has been that I was drawn in with JC in the first episode and could never quite get it out of my head even through the frustrations I had with some of the other episodes.
The great news...The entire series is now in a single collection. A major plus to all you out there that are new to the series or like to have a novel length read. Getting the complete collection will nullify most of the negatives I had with the individual episodes because the story is now a full cohesive novel.
If there were any complaints it is that with each episode it seemed like more and more primary characters were added to the group which in a way watered down JC, as the author had to spend time introducing these characters, filling in some back story and injecting them into the plot line. With so many mouths to feed so to speak, JC gets lost in the shuffle. He doesn't carry the same impact as he did in the first episode, simply because the other characters take up page space. I would like to see the focus be directed back to JC and continue to expand his character from the first episode in the future but that’s just me. Don't let this be a determining factor in getting the collection. It is a completely different experience reading the story in a complete novel-length collection instead of one at a time.
March 12, 2018
JC Bannister calls himself a fixer. The types of problems he handles involves killing people and avoiding nasty repercussions. Still, his team loves the work and would follow him anywhere. Their loyalty is tested, though, when an old family friend asks JC to do the unthinkable. Compounding their problems are some powerful, vengeful people who want the team stopped at all costs.
The Fixer, Season 1: Complete is engrossing, clever, and thoroughly enjoyable. It’s a long book, but the backstory is necessary, as are the subplots that further complicate JC’s already risky life. The characters are interesting, and although I wasn’t sure that I liked JC at first, I did find myself routing for the team. JC’s methods might be brutal, but he does try to put things right. What I liked best is that this action thriller has smart heroes and smart villains, which creates an intricate, page-turning, life-and-death chess game.
Some readers won’t notice the sudden tense changes within a few paragraphs. Others might find the plausibility stretched a little too thin in places, but for the most part, I didn’t have a problem with it. Nor did I want to over analyze everything. I just wanted a good read while I was on vacation, and I got it.
The Fixer, Season 1: Complete is engrossing, clever, and thoroughly enjoyable. It’s a long book, but the backstory is necessary, as are the subplots that further complicate JC’s already risky life. The characters are interesting, and although I wasn’t sure that I liked JC at first, I did find myself routing for the team. JC’s methods might be brutal, but he does try to put things right. What I liked best is that this action thriller has smart heroes and smart villains, which creates an intricate, page-turning, life-and-death chess game.
Some readers won’t notice the sudden tense changes within a few paragraphs. Others might find the plausibility stretched a little too thin in places, but for the most part, I didn’t have a problem with it. Nor did I want to over analyze everything. I just wanted a good read while I was on vacation, and I got it.
September 29, 2018
This one reads like a treatment for a screenplay or a novelization of a screen play for a Netflix series. The subtitle even mentions "season". It has all the elements of the empathic hit man or ethical sociopath trope we are seeing a lot of nowadays on Netflix and elsewhere (Barry, Dexter, Killing Eve, among others). There is the Kipling Team, the bad cops, the questionable government agents, and car explosions, motorcycle explosions, building explosions and explosions of an entire compound. Of course the money is big and the hearts are bigger. Lots of action and twists in the plot, and an interesting main premise. The author tends to write subject-less short sentences. Increases suspense. Moves the action along. Echos what the main action characters are thinking: things are happening too fast to think in complete sentences. But it does get a little redundant. Some longer sentences to let both the characters and the reader take a breath would be nice.
There were a lot of references to previous occurrences that placed the main characters, JC, Duke, and Joan, in the current circumstances, but no explanation. The book appears to be #1 in the series, so perhaps the other books fill in the plot holes. Of course there are also "prequels" as the click on link in my Kindle suggested reading next. A Beach Read.
There were a lot of references to previous occurrences that placed the main characters, JC, Duke, and Joan, in the current circumstances, but no explanation. The book appears to be #1 in the series, so perhaps the other books fill in the plot holes. Of course there are also "prequels" as the click on link in my Kindle suggested reading next. A Beach Read.
May 25, 2018
This book is a good escapist read. The clue is in the title which calls this Complete Season #1. The book can be favorably compared to an amped-up arcing adventure one may envision on a lower level cable channel, but much better since it's a book. (The action is a lot harder hitting and more getting into characters' heads. - yea, books!) There's an abundance of twists, action, and interesting characters matching their cunning, smarts, and always their physical skills and weaponry. JC, the main character, considers himself a fixer--not an assassin but I suppose it's a fine line. The pluses are he and his team are likable despite their skill sets and it keep me turning pages (okay I was swiping since I'm reading the Kindle edition). There were definitely times that I was starting to think that perhaps the Fixer needed a fixer. It's fun (if not believable) on how JC deals with all the situations involved. I rated this at 4 stars because this book succeeds so well on what it sets out to do. Why I didn't give it 5 stars is there were some 'typical' plot points that disappointed me. However, there more than enough surprises that I couldn't short this more than 1 star.
April 28, 2018
This is a very entertaining book. A likeable hero with an agreeable cast of supporting characters. A credible villain supported by the government. A plot that approaches the unbelievable, but doesn't quite cross that line so where you're going to drop the book in disgust. And enough plot twists to keep you reading to get to the next one, the very definition of a "action-thriller".
I especially liked the author's effort to develop the supporting characters. This stretched our the book to over 400 pages. but added a lot to the experience. Once I finished the first book in this series I signed up for the author's newsletter and discovered he's already written books about several of them.
One detracting comment. The ending, although an exciting climax, got right on the "line" I mentioned earlier. I forgave it this time. We'll see what happens in the next one.
I especially liked the author's effort to develop the supporting characters. This stretched our the book to over 400 pages. but added a lot to the experience. Once I finished the first book in this series I signed up for the author's newsletter and discovered he's already written books about several of them.
One detracting comment. The ending, although an exciting climax, got right on the "line" I mentioned earlier. I forgave it this time. We'll see what happens in the next one.
March 17, 2019
Amazing
Kindness... ruthless... funny... menacing. I truly enjoyed this book, the journey the author takes us through using the main character JC and his two friends was trully fun.
Normally people would sacrifice themselves for their own version of greater good, but when someone wants public death is another level that i and my brain can't understand. Still the plot did bring out more than i had anticipated showing what the main character went through to deliver on the request only to end up having to go from the hunter to the hunted, kidnapper to the kidnapped... basically he got a taste of his own medicine.
Still he came out on top and almost didn't; liked how hooked i was and would recommend this to any late readers that like action and bad guys turn good. Totally worth it.
Kindness... ruthless... funny... menacing. I truly enjoyed this book, the journey the author takes us through using the main character JC and his two friends was trully fun.
Normally people would sacrifice themselves for their own version of greater good, but when someone wants public death is another level that i and my brain can't understand. Still the plot did bring out more than i had anticipated showing what the main character went through to deliver on the request only to end up having to go from the hunter to the hunted, kidnapper to the kidnapped... basically he got a taste of his own medicine.
Still he came out on top and almost didn't; liked how hooked i was and would recommend this to any late readers that like action and bad guys turn good. Totally worth it.
December 3, 2017
Wow! Wow, I was sure I wouldn't care for this. Hard be it shocked, and am hooked. I have to know more, about JC, Joan, the team, how "I love it when a plan comes together" or doesn't. Surprised, and as an avid, insatiable reader was caught off guard by the "plots".
Not my normal genre, but I was definitely intrigued by the prologue. It only took me 3 days to read and I am excited for the series to continue. JC commands, but is truly a superior friend, boss, and "Fixer". Haven't yearbook one? Jump on the wagon. It is a wild ride with surprises, situation that seem predictable but take you on a loop de loop.
Not my normal genre, but I was definitely intrigued by the prologue. It only took me 3 days to read and I am excited for the series to continue. JC commands, but is truly a superior friend, boss, and "Fixer". Haven't yearbook one? Jump on the wagon. It is a wild ride with surprises, situation that seem predictable but take you on a loop de loop.
March 13, 2022
Good read
I enjoyed this book. The only disconnect for me was Bannister has it all together, all in one sock, so to speak. A good charismatic leader, in charge of a good team, has the physical skills to back up his competence… except, he’s way too weak. I mean, he gets beat up, injured, and exhausted, more than once. It gets to the point he can’t fight his way out of a paper bag when it comes to confrontations with the protagonist of the story. He can take out the minions with ease, but taking out the main competition he is useless.
I enjoyed this book. The only disconnect for me was Bannister has it all together, all in one sock, so to speak. A good charismatic leader, in charge of a good team, has the physical skills to back up his competence… except, he’s way too weak. I mean, he gets beat up, injured, and exhausted, more than once. It gets to the point he can’t fight his way out of a paper bag when it comes to confrontations with the protagonist of the story. He can take out the minions with ease, but taking out the main competition he is useless.
August 7, 2019
If you like people who do bad things for good reasons this book is for you.
Great story. Very likeable assassins. Although I have to question myself for that analogy! I felt Kowalski's reason for killing the Senator was unbelievable. Somehow, I was hoping for some grand reasoning or extremist belief but then I guess there is never a good reason to take someone's life, is there?
Great story. Very likeable assassins. Although I have to question myself for that analogy! I felt Kowalski's reason for killing the Senator was unbelievable. Somehow, I was hoping for some grand reasoning or extremist belief but then I guess there is never a good reason to take someone's life, is there?
February 27, 2021
This was the 1st book by Rex Carpenter that I have read. I enjoyed the way the author got me drawn into the story right from the start and held my interest throughout the entire book. There was plenty of action and the mystery of knowing who was involved in the story line was dome well. I recommend this book to everyone looking for a good, action packed mystery that keeps you going right up to the end of the story.
February 2, 2018
He really fixes complex issues!
JC Bannister works with a team who each possess some very special skills. Skills that taken complex jobs that federal agencies cannot execute. This novel revolves around a special assignment to kill a sitting politician. The complexity of the tasks makes this novel pop!
JC Bannister works with a team who each possess some very special skills. Skills that taken complex jobs that federal agencies cannot execute. This novel revolves around a special assignment to kill a sitting politician. The complexity of the tasks makes this novel pop!
February 5, 2018
If my five Stars do not say it, then I will say that this type of book is what I love to read. This one was great, everything we look for. Suspense, action, mystery, really bad guys and really great good guys. All in all a fantastic read. great fun, like a really good action movie without the noise. I just downloaded the next one.
February 20, 2018
A Great Mixture of loyalty and Hard Core Viciousness!
Reader's looking for extreme fast action crime solving takes that stretch from local to federal law enforcement, this is the one! Trying to determine and prove crooked law enforcement at various levels is beyond black and white in a variety of grays.
Reader's looking for extreme fast action crime solving takes that stretch from local to federal law enforcement, this is the one! Trying to determine and prove crooked law enforcement at various levels is beyond black and white in a variety of grays.
March 3, 2018
Mindblowing
The storyline is as fast as it is furious no pun intended the characters are great , I started and finished the book in one sitting, I could not put it down I finished one chapter and quickly started on the next and so on until I had finished the whole book. Brilliant, would recommend to all who like a good yarn. 5 Stars.
The storyline is as fast as it is furious no pun intended the characters are great , I started and finished the book in one sitting, I could not put it down I finished one chapter and quickly started on the next and so on until I had finished the whole book. Brilliant, would recommend to all who like a good yarn. 5 Stars.
March 6, 2018
I was pleasantly surprised
The first few pages did not really grab my attention. But as I read further I became engrossed with the characters and how the author developed them.
The strength is with the character development not the plot. C’mon - how many people do you think OWN their own C-130?
The first few pages did not really grab my attention. But as I read further I became engrossed with the characters and how the author developed them.
The strength is with the character development not the plot. C’mon - how many people do you think OWN their own C-130?
July 13, 2018
Really enjoyable book
I nearly didn't read this book as the cover didn't jump out after downloading 20 books for my holiday. I'm so glad I did.
The characters drew me in and kept me wanting more. The only part that seemed mismatched was the flare up between SS and JC with what seemed like no provocation. I am off to buy the rest of the series
I nearly didn't read this book as the cover didn't jump out after downloading 20 books for my holiday. I'm so glad I did.
The characters drew me in and kept me wanting more. The only part that seemed mismatched was the flare up between SS and JC with what seemed like no provocation. I am off to buy the rest of the series
September 14, 2018
Excellent read
Full of thrills,twists and turns, you're never quite sure what is coming next. The main characters are fascinating, making you want to dig deeper into them to find our what makes them tick. A brilliant read I couldn't put down (house work, what house work ?) I can't wait to read the next instalment. 5 *'s well deserved.
Full of thrills,twists and turns, you're never quite sure what is coming next. The main characters are fascinating, making you want to dig deeper into them to find our what makes them tick. A brilliant read I couldn't put down (house work, what house work ?) I can't wait to read the next instalment. 5 *'s well deserved.
November 8, 2018
It's an interesting story, but...
The author literally has trouble putting two words together to make a sentence. I was only able to get about a third of the way into the book before I gave up. It is not a smooth, enjoyable read. It's more like someone sharing their disjointed thoughts with you instead of telling a story.
The author literally has trouble putting two words together to make a sentence. I was only able to get about a third of the way into the book before I gave up. It is not a smooth, enjoyable read. It's more like someone sharing their disjointed thoughts with you instead of telling a story.
December 11, 2018
Action Packed!
The fixer and his compadres, all practiced killers, have their idiosyncrasies. Duke’s idiosyncrasies are my favorite! Theo is my next favorite character with his Armenian mob ties. The Secret Service, California PD, FBI interaction interlaces the political connections involved adding further complication to the story.
The fixer and his compadres, all practiced killers, have their idiosyncrasies. Duke’s idiosyncrasies are my favorite! Theo is my next favorite character with his Armenian mob ties. The Secret Service, California PD, FBI interaction interlaces the political connections involved adding further complication to the story.
January 31, 2019
A good balance
I downloaded this book having rwad other reviews and was glad I had. It has a storyline was strong enough to keep you hooked and continue reading. Intersting , wirh a few twists and turns, but not so complicated that you had to concentrate too much, a good balance! The characters are likeable and you invest in their story. I would recommend this book
I downloaded this book having rwad other reviews and was glad I had. It has a storyline was strong enough to keep you hooked and continue reading. Intersting , wirh a few twists and turns, but not so complicated that you had to concentrate too much, a good balance! The characters are likeable and you invest in their story. I would recommend this book
October 2, 2020
At near the half-way point, this is hovering between 1- to 2-stars. It's just so... scattered. The story just can't keep its attention on any particular course, and the author keeps introducing new sub-plots. Or completely different plots. I just can't tell.
Safe enough to call this one, I expect: DNF.
Safe enough to call this one, I expect: DNF.
August 20, 2022
What a preposterous series of events within a poorly written book! You will need a serious stretch of the imagination to accept any plausibility in the plot and the super-human ability of the characters. It’s like a Marvel comic interlaced with gratuitous violence mixed with a feeble attempt at a romance novel. Very unsatisfying.
December 8, 2017
Plenty of action and good character development!
I read the Kindle edition of this book. Other than the few editing errors I caught, the story moved along at quick pace and contained many surprises! I look forward to more of this series.
I read the Kindle edition of this book. Other than the few editing errors I caught, the story moved along at quick pace and contained many surprises! I look forward to more of this series.
December 6, 2017
Excellent Read
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fast paced read with edge of the seat excitement. Many twists and turns. I ordered the prequel to continue reading about this set of characters.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fast paced read with edge of the seat excitement. Many twists and turns. I ordered the prequel to continue reading about this set of characters.
February 2, 2018
Jack Bauer on steroids
If this were a movie it would be rated R for violence and language. That being said it was a great read. Non stop action and unbelievable scenarios (that's why it's called fiction) make it a real page turner.
If this were a movie it would be rated R for violence and language. That being said it was a great read. Non stop action and unbelievable scenarios (that's why it's called fiction) make it a real page turner.
February 6, 2018
A good fulfilling read
Great to get in to a story with such real characters, lots of background details to bring the whole thing to life. A talented bunch of misfits, making the world a better place......if you can say that about assassins ! I'm hooked.
Great to get in to a story with such real characters, lots of background details to bring the whole thing to life. A talented bunch of misfits, making the world a better place......if you can say that about assassins ! I'm hooked.
February 6, 2018
Well finished
I love an author who really finishes a book, tying up the loose ends. Rex Carpenter does that very well. He writes well, has an uncanny ability to develop both plot and characters. Great story.
I love an author who really finishes a book, tying up the loose ends. Rex Carpenter does that very well. He writes well, has an uncanny ability to develop both plot and characters. Great story.
February 28, 2018
Sweeping Spy fiction
More at the Jack Reacher, or pulp adventure end of the scale of spy drama, than John Lennon Carre or James Bond, this rattles a long at a pace, full of intrigue and action. There are a few hints of Tarantino, and more than a dash of Mission Impossible.
More at the Jack Reacher, or pulp adventure end of the scale of spy drama, than John Lennon Carre or James Bond, this rattles a long at a pace, full of intrigue and action. There are a few hints of Tarantino, and more than a dash of Mission Impossible.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews