What do you think?
Done Deal: A Jesse McDermitt Novel
When three Marine buddies take a leave of absence together, they go home to help with hurricane recovery, never expecting to run into anything more troublesome than helping raise and repair a few flooded boats, still sunk at the docks.
Labelle is a quiet rural town on the Caloosahatchee River, with a roughly equal mix of white, black, and Hispanic residents, along with a small contingent of indigenous people, mostly Seminole, where nearly everyone is involved in agriculture, and where everyone knows one another, and friends are more like family, regardless of heritage.
So when racial anxiety rises after a string of arson fires, the whole Hendry County population becomes nervous and alarmed.
Tensions rise, with Jesse McDermitt, and his friends Rusty Thurman and Billy Rainwater thrust right into the middle of it.
In a high-stakes game of watching and being watched, everyone is suspect. Big Citrus to the west and Big Sugar to the east are both trying to hold the lid on the workforce. Or are they?
Who wins in a battle of culture versus progress? But more importantly…
Who will die?
Labelle is a quiet rural town on the Caloosahatchee River, with a roughly equal mix of white, black, and Hispanic residents, along with a small contingent of indigenous people, mostly Seminole, where nearly everyone is involved in agriculture, and where everyone knows one another, and friends are more like family, regardless of heritage.
So when racial anxiety rises after a string of arson fires, the whole Hendry County population becomes nervous and alarmed.
Tensions rise, with Jesse McDermitt, and his friends Rusty Thurman and Billy Rainwater thrust right into the middle of it.
In a high-stakes game of watching and being watched, everyone is suspect. Big Citrus to the west and Big Sugar to the east are both trying to hold the lid on the workforce. Or are they?
Who wins in a battle of culture versus progress? But more importantly…
Who will die?
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 28, 2026
About the author
Wayne Stinnett
59 books637 followersI'm a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps and now, a full time novelist. Between those careers, I've also worked as a deckhand, commercial fisherman, divemaster, taxi driver, construction manager, and truck driver. I live in the Sea Islands, near Beaufort, SC, with my wife and youngest daughter. We also have three grown children, five grand children, three dogs and a whole flock of parakeets. I grew up in Melbourne, FL and have also lived in the Florida Keys and Cozumel, MX.
You can like me on Facebook, to get updates at https://www.facebook.com/WayneStinnet...
You can like me on Facebook, to get updates at https://www.facebook.com/WayneStinnet...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 1, 2026
Outstanding compilation of Jesse at his very best, but I wish there had been a couple more!
An outstanding series of five stars Jesse McDermott books, that you will definitely enjoy from beginning end! I had read some of the stories, but the reread was just as entertaining as the first time!
As always, with Jesse's books, there are no slowdowns, cover to cover, and try to read as many as you can, since each new story is just a little better than the previous ones!
I, without hesitation, assure anyone will enjoy Jesse, and his associates, as they pull no punches in their ongoing desire to maintain law and order for their areas of protection! Just be prepared to read more than one story at the time!
Looking forward to a new Jesse book, as I have read all of them, thus far, and anxiously await the next series of realistic Florida law enforcement at its very best!!!😀
An outstanding series of five stars Jesse McDermott books, that you will definitely enjoy from beginning end! I had read some of the stories, but the reread was just as entertaining as the first time!
As always, with Jesse's books, there are no slowdowns, cover to cover, and try to read as many as you can, since each new story is just a little better than the previous ones!
I, without hesitation, assure anyone will enjoy Jesse, and his associates, as they pull no punches in their ongoing desire to maintain law and order for their areas of protection! Just be prepared to read more than one story at the time!
Looking forward to a new Jesse book, as I have read all of them, thus far, and anxiously await the next series of realistic Florida law enforcement at its very best!!!😀
August 8, 2026
Young Jesse exciting adventure
Wayne Stinnett delivers another exciting adventure for Jesse. Introduces new character Billy Rainwater who has recently been made Marine after finishing Boot Camp. Jesse and Friend Rusty join Billy and friends to help solve house fires against members of local South Florida Native American Tribe.
Personally had my doubts about Series when first introduced but Stinnett has made them as exciting and interesting with local factoids as the original McDermitt Series. Recommended… Five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Star
Wayne Stinnett delivers another exciting adventure for Jesse. Introduces new character Billy Rainwater who has recently been made Marine after finishing Boot Camp. Jesse and Friend Rusty join Billy and friends to help solve house fires against members of local South Florida Native American Tribe.
Personally had my doubts about Series when first introduced but Stinnett has made them as exciting and interesting with local factoids as the original McDermitt Series. Recommended… Five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Star
July 30, 2026
Words that turn visual!!
My way of enjoying a story is if I can "translate" the words and "see" it with my imagination. Wayne Stinnett lets me follow along with story like I am there for real and feeling the same emotions. Love to hear about both young and older Jesse. Am an avid reader on my Kindle as I have over 140 books read so far in 2026. Please keep them coming.
My way of enjoying a story is if I can "translate" the words and "see" it with my imagination. Wayne Stinnett lets me follow along with story like I am there for real and feeling the same emotions. Love to hear about both young and older Jesse. Am an avid reader on my Kindle as I have over 140 books read so far in 2026. Please keep them coming.
August 6, 2026
A history lesson
If you want to read about the history, culture, and traditions of the Colusa and Seminole Indian tribes in Florida and this is a good read. However, if you want action from Jessie and the gang, you are not getting it in this book until you reach the final 10% of the book. In that regard, it was a stinker.
If you want to read about the history, culture, and traditions of the Colusa and Seminole Indian tribes in Florida and this is a good read. However, if you want action from Jessie and the gang, you are not getting it in this book until you reach the final 10% of the book. In that regard, it was a stinker.
July 31, 2026
Good story
I believe this was set in 1980. At that time snook regulations in Florida were a daily limit of 4 fish, minimum 18" with no upper size limit and no closed season. 1981 is when seasons and slot sizes came along and daily limit went to 2. Other than that, good story.
I believe this was set in 1980. At that time snook regulations in Florida were a daily limit of 4 fish, minimum 18" with no upper size limit and no closed season. 1981 is when seasons and slot sizes came along and daily limit went to 2. Other than that, good story.
August 4, 2026
Great Read
What I've come to expect. Another great read from Wayne Stinnett . I love how the Native American traditions and Florida history are incorporated in the book. And how the early lives of characters that we all know well were shaped.
What I've come to expect. Another great read from Wayne Stinnett . I love how the Native American traditions and Florida history are incorporated in the book. And how the early lives of characters that we all know well were shaped.
August 6, 2026
Another exciting young Jesse book
Done Deal is another exciting Jesse McDermitt book. Wayne develops amazing characters and stories that keep you engaged throughout. Another fun read.
Done Deal is another exciting Jesse McDermitt book. Wayne develops amazing characters and stories that keep you engaged throughout. Another fun read.
August 15, 2026
Another Good One
Love all of these sort of prequels (even without much action) they're enjoyable and informative in learning the characters past. But this one left me 'wanting' at the end... It was too abrupt IMHO! But I'll look forward to the next one!
Love all of these sort of prequels (even without much action) they're enjoyable and informative in learning the characters past. But this one left me 'wanting' at the end... It was too abrupt IMHO! But I'll look forward to the next one!
August 22, 2026
Everglades adventure
This excellent tale brought back memories of my days and nights on alligator alley.while driving through south Florida. It wss impossible to put it down till the end.
This excellent tale brought back memories of my days and nights on alligator alley.while driving through south Florida. It wss impossible to put it down till the end.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love reading about young Jesse and Rusty. It was a fun book to read about Jesse Rusty and Billy and how rusty and Billy became friends too.
August 1, 2026
Great
Please keep on writing the stories as they are as great as the others. Need to know what happens in the continuing saga so to speak.
Please keep on writing the stories as they are as great as the others. Need to know what happens in the continuing saga so to speak.
August 2, 2026
Great book
I live in Southwest Florida and enjoy books set here. This was an amazing book. Can’t wait for the next one
I live in Southwest Florida and enjoy books set here. This was an amazing book. Can’t wait for the next one
August 3, 2026
Dead Deal
In my opinion, best Stinnett book yet, and I’ve read them all. Please do write more. If ya do, I’ll read them.
In my opinion, best Stinnett book yet, and I’ve read them all. Please do write more. If ya do, I’ll read them.
August 4, 2026
bleh
Not one of his best, really. Quite dissapointing.Not much story or carachter invovlved..a Bit Bleh, though I like most of his books.
Not one of his best, really. Quite dissapointing.Not much story or carachter invovlved..a Bit Bleh, though I like most of his books.
August 5, 2026
short, but interesting as all the others as always
As always, please keep writing, I enjoy all of them, I prefer your longer books, but this one was a great short story
As always, please keep writing, I enjoy all of them, I prefer your longer books, but this one was a great short story
August 8, 2026
Thrash
August 22, 2026
Could not put this book down.
All I can say is Stinnett, you are a fantastic writer!
Have read almost all your books and somehow missed this one.
Thanks for all the work.
All I can say is Stinnett, you are a fantastic writer!
Have read almost all your books and somehow missed this one.
Thanks for all the work.
August 24, 2026
Great read.
Looking forward to the whole series. The characters in the series cross several other series. The connections are well thought out
Looking forward to the whole series. The characters in the series cross several other series. The connections are well thought out
September 1, 2026
Good story
I really enjoy the stories about Jesse and his friends from when they were young. What we were is what made what we are now. Thanks for sharing this story with us.
I really enjoy the stories about Jesse and his friends from when they were young. What we were is what made what we are now. Thanks for sharing this story with us.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews