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Dylan Hunter #3

WINNER TAKES ALL

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From the author of HUNTER, a #1 Kindle Thriller...


A MURDEROUS CONSPIRACY FOR ULTIMATE POLITICAL POWER


Engaged to be married, mysterious journalist Dylan Hunter and CIA officer Annie Woods are eager to put their violent past behind them, for good.

But then an investigative reporter is mysteriously murdered. An idealistic presidential candidate is targeted for destruction. And a horrific day of unspeakable terrorism rocks Washington, D.C.

Soon, Dylan’s investigation puts him in the cross hairs of a power-hungry billionaire and a cold-blooded assassin. A deadly conspiracy of spies and traitors aims to install their puppet in the White House. And these predators will do the unthinkable to bring America under their total control.

The stakes — political and personal — couldn’t be higher. Because to stop them, Dylan Hunter must make an irrevocable choice. It’s a decision that will, finally and forever, seal his fate . . . including his future with the woman he adores.

But for now, only one thing is certain:

In the tidal wave of political violence on the blood-soaked streets of Washington, D.C., the final outcome will be . . .

. . . WINNER TAKES ALL


And don't miss Robert Bidinotto's #1 Kindle Thriller . . .

HUNTER (Dylan Hunter Justice Thriller #1)

. . .and the exciting sequel that won "CLFA BOOK OF THE YEAR" (2014) . . .

BAD DEEDS (Dylan Hunter Justice Thriller #2

877 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 30, 2017

241 people are currently reading
56 people want to read

About the author

Robert Bidinotto

20 books76 followers

Hi, and thanks for stopping by. By way of introduction: I'm a full-time, bestselling thriller novelist and creator of Dylan Hunter: the thriller world's "new face of justice."

All my life — since I was a little kid during the Fifties and Sixties, watching “The Lone Ranger” and Zorro on TV and reading Batman comics — I have been passionate about the principle of justice. When I began to write nonfiction in my teens, that was the underlying principle in everything I wrote. It remained the theme of my work throughout my later career as an award-winning essayist, investigative journalist, reviewer, blogger, editor, and nonfiction author of books on crime.

Now it's the central theme of my fiction-writing, too.

Like me, the hero of my Dylan Hunter vigilante thrillers is motivated by his passion for justice. He cannot walk away when injustices are committed against those he cares about.

My debut novel, HUNTER, bridges and blends the crime and spy-fiction genres, but with a powerful love story at its heart. It draws upon my experiences as an investigative journalist writing "true crime" books and articles. HUNTER became a Kindle Editors' Pick in November 2011 and immediately skyrocketed up the Kindle Bestseller List. It reached #4, ahead of the latest titles by Stephen King, James Patterson, Stephanie Meyer, Janet Evanovich, Lee Child, and John Grisham. It also became a Wall Street Journal "Top Ten Fiction Ebook."

I hope you check out the Kindle ebook edition, available on Amazon; the trade paperback edition is available on Amazon or, personally inscribed, from my blog, "The Vigilante Author ." The audiobook edition, narrated by voice actor Conor Hall, is available from Amazon, Audible.com, and iTunes.

The first sequel in the Dylan Hunter series, BAD DEEDS, was published in May 2014. It picks up where HUNTER left off, but with a whole new set of deadly challenges and personal complications for vigilante hero Dylan Hunter and his lover Annie Woods. BAD DEEDS was named CLFA "Book of the Year" for 2014. Here's the link to the Kindle ebook edition. On that page you can obtain the trade paperback or audiobook editions, too.

WINNER TAKES ALL, published in December 2017, rounds out the opening Dylan Hunter thriller trilogy. This time the stakes are even higher -- and ripped from the headlines -- as Dylan uncovers a murderous international plot to throw the U.S. presidential election. Many readers think this sweeping, grand-scale political thriller is the best Hunter novel yet. You can find it here .

A bit more background about me:


As a Staff Writer for Reader's Digest, I authored high-profile investigative pieces on crime, the environment, and other public controversies. I'm perhaps best known for my article "Getting Away with Murder" in the July 1988 issue of the Digest. It stirred a national controversy about crime and prison furlough programs during the 1988 presidential election campaign, and is widely credited with having affected the outcome of the election. That article was honored as a 1989 National Magazine Award finalist for "Best Magazine Article of the Year in the Public Interest Category" by the American Society of Magazine Editors.

My previous nonfiction books are Criminal Justice? The Legal System vs. Individual Responsibility, with a Foreword by John Walsh, and Freed to Kill, a compendium of horror stories that exposed the injustices in our legal system.

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5 stars
196 (67%)
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71 (24%)
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16 (5%)
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3 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for Pleasant Oliver.
73 reviews5 followers
December 14, 2017
With this third book in the Dylan Hunter vigilante series, Robert Bidinotto has shown his work belongs in the pantheon of great thriller writers, such as Lee Child and Len Deighton. He deftly weaves a story that captures the current disruption of our political situation with intricate, intertwined plots that could very well be closer to the truth than we could ever dream. And he brings Dylan face to face with the crucial moral dilemma of being a vigilante in more and more meaningful depth than his previous works. Does Dylan have a moral right to break the law and kill many evil people without due process of law when the "system" has failed to bring these perpetrators to justice? Does he have the right to jeopardize the lives of his loved ones and innocents in his single-minded pursuit of his own definition of justice? You have to read this engrossing book to find out. In a thoughtful"mea culpa" for its delayed publication due to the unexpected outcome of the 2016 election, Bidinotto makes an unnecessary apologys for the length of the book. The intertwined plots and rapid action race through its 546 pages--a real "page turner" as the cliche goes. It was so compelling that I used every spare minute I had so I could find out how it ended. And a very satisfying ending it was...so this is a "must read" for any fan of thriller-vigilante fiction. If you are new to the series, read the first two books - "Hunter" and "Bad Deeds" - first. You will thoroughly enjoy learning what makes Dylan the man he is and the exciting road that led this new vigilante hero to "Winner Takes All." As I have, you will be contacting Bidinotto begging for more Dylan Hunter. (Note-You can get the Kindle versions of all three on Amazon, or try Bidinotto's website www.bidinotto.com for special deals.)
12 reviews
January 16, 2018
An awesome ride!

I've read all the books in this series. Excellent story telling! Intricate plots! Please write more novels. I will not spoil it for your readers. Thanks
Profile Image for Quasimode.
116 reviews
December 21, 2017
Dylan Hunter is back, and he's unearthed an international conspiracy and a deadly coverup, with tentacles that reach to the highest echelons of American politics. "Winner Takes All" is a tale of political manipulation, of murderous scheming, of carefully-concealed treason among the powerful, and of catastrophic implications for the nation. It's also one of those rarest of paradoxes: a novel whose every new level of complexity serves to clarify - also intrigue - rather than confuse. In that context "Winner Takes All" immediately reminds me of Erika Holzer's masterful Cold War thriller "Double Crossings" and of Stephen England's gripping "Shadow Warriors" series.

As a reader my mind craves a gratifying complexity of plot but abhors the typical pitfall of complexity devolving to needless confusion. What's remarkable about this book (and those of Holzer and England,) is an intricate plot presented with careful attention to logic and causality, with nothing nonessential gumming up the works. It's analogous to the tumblers in a complex lock - it works because everything is needed and nothing is extraneous. As each element clicks into place there's an unconscious "Of course!" and a simultaneous hunger to know more. That, folks, is compelling, memorable reading - and the mark of excellent craftsmanship in writing. Another notable quality that Bidinotto shares with Holzer and England is the ability to imbue every single character, from hero down to bit player, with a fully fleshed-out persona and, where needed, a distinct set of motives. There are a lot of characters in this novel, but never did I see a name and wonder "Ach... who's that?" They all have a function and they all have realistic depth.

So you'd expect a book with complex political machinations to be a slow read, right? Wrong. I usually describe my reading pace as "glacial," but "Winner Takes All" is a CHP-bait cruise down the freeway, with the expository sidelines enhancing the pace rather than disrupting it - in effect they're "gear changes," to continue the cheesy automotive analogy. Each political speech, each flashback, each reminiscence, presents detail that lends further weight to the motives of the characters, therefore a palpable depth and realism to the nefarious events that unfold before Dylan Hunter's - and the reader's - eyes.

Another thing I liked a lot about this book: As in "Hunter" and "Bad Deeds," Annie Woods is not just a romantic foil for Hunter, but an independent agent (literally,) whose investigation proves essential to Hunter's, therefore essential to the resolution of the book's plot. So rather than bogging down the story and muddying the central character - a pitfall I've seen even in another of my favorite authors - the romance is integral to everything else. *And* it's a great romance all by itself.

Woven throughout is of course the theme of justice, something Dylan Hunter lives and breathes. So a hugely entertaining story also hinges on characters for whom principles truly matter. That quality is both increasingly rare and desperately needed these days - in fiction and in life. You don't generally look to a political thriller for inspiration, but "Winner Takes All" is indeed an inspiration - that ultimately the world belongs to the good and the just, not to the evil and the corrupt. More of this, please.
Author 2 books
January 18, 2018
The first two parts of this trilogy, HUNTER and BAD DEEDS, were excellent. And now, with this third book in the series, Bidinotto has outdone himself, bringing together many of the elements from the first two novels to a rip-roaring conclusion. Bidinotto really excels in writing action scenes. His clear concise way of describing the surroundings and the action makes for easy visualization. If you've read HUNTER and BAD DEEDS, don't miss this book. If you haven't read them, then buy all three and read them all in order.
Profile Image for Jeff Benham.
1,712 reviews11 followers
December 16, 2017
Nonstop action intricately weaver into a very involved plot line. The author has put Dylan Hunter into a scenario he cannot possibly get extricated from. Or can he? Read it and see!
Profile Image for Jim.
1,108 reviews19 followers
January 30, 2019
546 very long page thriller. Third Dylan Hunter outing slow to develop, and gets stuck in weeds of too many plot parts. Another theme having Russians looking to get piece of American presidency. Loved the characters and protagonist Hunter is an American 007 if there ever was one. Except that it felt like a chore to finish I did kind of like. Three stars out of five. Good series to be sure.
102 reviews
January 16, 2018
Awesome

Great book and continuation of the adventures of Dylan Hunter! Please keep him alive by writing many more pages-books! Thank you in advance !
Profile Image for Shawn.
Author 8 books49 followers
January 4, 2018
The third in what is now a trilogy, Winner Takes All, deals with questions about justice and revenge through an exciting and compelling story. While I enjoyed the novel, I think I preferred the first two better. The story meanders a bit in the beginning as Bidinotto sets the pieces. The plot is more wide-ranging, with more players and elements, so he needs to do this. But it took me a bit to get into it. Personally, I found the subplot of the relationship between Annie and Dylan to be at times distracting. The relationship is important; it humanizes and grounds Dylan. But their interactions were often just a bit too on the nose for my taste.

Nevertheless, the second half of the book cooks as Dylan unwinds what is going on and figures out how to stop it. Dylan is a bad-ass; part Batman, part Jack Bauer, part Jason Bourne. Fans of this genre (Child, Silva, Thor, Flynn, Baldacci) will like it.

From the intellectual side, Bidinotto works his idea of the master narrative into the plot. It drives the motivations and decisions of both the good and bad guys in the novel. The protagonists struggle explicitly with the apparent conflicts of integrity, justice, morality, and the law in a corrupt world. It is important for how the characters individually resolve or deal with these conflicts to understand how they see themselves and how they see the world: their master narrative.
Profile Image for T.W. Barton.
266 reviews22 followers
December 20, 2017
Author - Robert Bidinotto
Published - November 30, 2017
Length - 536 pages

The third book in the Dylan Hunter series.

Has it really been three years since we've heard from Dylan Hunter? Yes, it has.

Buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy ride.

Dylan and Annie are still dealing with the events from "Bad Deeds" and while everything seems to be settling down and the future looks promising, it isn't long until old and new enemies change the course of both their lives.

Overall the book is an excellent addition to the series. The extended time between the last two books did create some issues simply because I could not remember the second book so, all the details referred to in this book were hard to recall clearly. Fans of the series may want to go back and a least skim the previous book "Bad Deeds" to get reacquainted. New readers, feel free to pick this one up and know that you won't be the only one feeling a little lost but for the best experience I would recommend starting at the beginning with "Hunter" and read straight through. Might be a great holiday gift idea for those other readers in your life.

This book really seems to highlight the fluidity of life and love especially when external factors are applied. Just when you think the paths are going one way they blow up and then change again, much like being bounced back and forth in a tennis match.

Even feeling somewhat lost with the past events you get a solid line on most of the characters and what motivates them.

For me, the most puzzling character is Detective Cronin. Even after reading the book I can't say that I have a good idea of what the future is for this character but it seems like it could be a pivotal role in the following books.

I look forward to the next book, hopefully, it will be much sooner, and would recommend to fans of the Action/thriller genre.
Profile Image for Walter Curran.
Author 7 books3 followers
May 31, 2019
A Reader’s Rush!

In most serial novels, the author has us climbing a ladder, learning more of the central character(s) as we step on each rung, slowly enticing us, promising yet more thrills, chills etc. In “Winner Takes All” the author, Robert Bidinotto, ignores the ladder and pushes the reader onto a high-speed escalator where the scenes and action take your breath away. He doesn’t promise more chills and thrills, he delivers them, gloriously wrapped in a mantle of intrigue, politics and human frailty. If you liked Bidinotto’s first two offerings “Hunter” and “Bad Deeds” (and I did) you’ll love “Winner Takes All.”
Profile Image for Linda Olin.
Author 18 books6 followers
November 25, 2020
I love it when a plot comes together. This is the third Dylan Hunter book I've read. Bidinotto weaves them into an overall plot that comes together beautifully in "Winner Takes All."
The story in WTA seemed to unroll rather slowly at first, as the table was set for the final revelations and confrontations. It picked up momentum and delivered a powerful finish. Well, "finish" as in, the plot was wrapped up into a nice trilogy, but hopefully the Dylan Hunter series is not finished! It fills an otherwise cricket-chirping niche where characters with a "progressive" agenda can be exposed as corrupt villains. (If that bothers you, look elsewhere for your thrillers.)
I can't be specific without spoilers, but I was delighted to have an all-but-forgotten character suddenly emerge, and a bunch of characters revealed and explained and loose ends tied up. Not every writer manages to manipulate that many puppet strings, but Bidinotto does so expertly.
In a way, I was bummed that Hunter seemed to lose his touch at times, making stupid gestures (like the sheet metal and nail gun) that came back to haunt him. But that actually gave more realism to the character and his struggle with the dangers of his compulsion. And of course his mistakes led to that much more suspense later.
Similarly, I was bummed by what happened to Wonk's friend and the woman and little girl. I don't like the feeling of the villain destroying helpless, innocent people. But that was the whole point, right?
Bottom line: 5 star entertainment.
Profile Image for Boundless Book Reviews.
2,242 reviews77 followers
June 30, 2018
I never thought I would love a political thriller as much as I loved Winner takes all, but I do.  Bidinotto has taken a genre that I usually would not touch and gave it teeth.  

You can read this as a standalone however I would not recommend it.  There are many characters that are introduced in the first book Hunter and all of their backstories.  Not to mention all of the nuances that make Dylan Hunter started in book one.  Bidinotto is a master storyteller, and his characters have continued to grow as the series has evolved.  

I started this series in audiobook, and I have continued it that way.  Conor Hall was once again fantastic.  I don’t understand why he hasn’t done more work in audiobooks.  His range of voices is beyond any other narrator I’ve encountered.  He is truly phenomenal.  

Winner Take All, is gritty, fast-paced, steeped in mystery and intrigue and so loaded with action the story never stops.

 I am giving it 5 Boundless Stars; I can’t wait for the next installment!

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Profile Image for John Christmas.
Author 2 books3 followers
April 1, 2018
Robert Bidinotto never disappoints. He only gets better with each novel in the 'Justice' series. 'Winner Takes All' has political intrigue, action, and some steam all included in a fast-paced thriller novel. Hero Dylan Hunter is still fighting for justice in America, and this puts him up against a corrupt cabal trying to take over the American government. Is this novel anti-Trump? Or anti-Clinton? I don't see the tale as partisan either way, but certainly Hunter isn't happy when he finds evidence of large-scale voter manipulation. He doesn't want to live in a zero-sum cheating-based society where every time someone wins another person has to lose. This novel is a must-read, and will be satisfying to Americans who are sick of the endless scandals in the newspaper and who dream of a hero who will take on the big crooks.
13 reviews
December 3, 2018
Love the trilogy

Read all 3 in the. Hunter series and loved all of them. Relevant to everything that is going on in our country. Sometimes what you think is going on has a backstory that would really floor you. I see people fervently supporting a cause or something else and what they think they are supporting isn't at all what is really going on. This series makes you think that what you thought was an altruistic organization really functions as something entirely different. I look forward to Robert Bidinotto's future offerings.
Profile Image for Kristy Bardwell.
40 reviews1 follower
February 11, 2018
Third and final?

The complexity of the plot and depth of characters is astounding for a thriller that is also just as engaging. While this book answers questions and resolves abundant issues, I can't help but think it isn't over. There can be no normal boring life for these two and I, for one, cannot wait to read about Hunter Jr's vigilante justice on the playgrounds and streets.
Profile Image for Brady Longmore.
Author 7 books18 followers
April 28, 2018
Winner Takes All is a fantastic wrap up to the Hunter trilogy. In this third book, the stakes are higher and the enemy is deadlier than ever as Dylan Hunter's vigilante crusade plunges him into the seething rat's nest of high-stakes corruption that is D.C. Politics. A very gratifying, pulse-pounding read from beginning to end. Definitely my favorite of the three as we get to learn a little more about Dylan's past and the other characters that populate his world. If you secretly fantasize about corrupted, untouchables in high places finally getting a dose of the justice they deserve, then this book (the whole series) will not disappoint. I highly recommend it.
1 review
November 14, 2018
Great Read

Loved the interesting characters, fast action pacing, the moral dilemmas in the quest for justice. I love a book that allows me to get involved and question "what would I do?" How can one person buck the system when you have no power? It's good to have a hero use his intelligence , experience and physical prowess for the greater good even when it's seen as criminal behavior and the corrupt system can hide behind the law.



37 reviews1 follower
May 5, 2021
Disappointing

The 1st 2 books in this series were wonderful, full of Adventure and amazement At what hunter could do so well.But the last book was mostly full of the bad guys and the slutty women And was very disgusting.Only at the very last of the book do you get to know more about hunter.I hope any further Books about him are better than this 3rd 1.Like I said, I was very disappointed.
105 reviews
August 23, 2020
Great Book

I enjoyed everything about this book, this series actually with the exception of Annie. The first book was fantastic including her character but as I got a quarter of the way in I realized how much I really didn't like her. Despite that, I really enjoyed this book. I loved the story and the action.
Profile Image for Jim A.
1,267 reviews82 followers
January 23, 2018
Bidinotto included way too many pages not designed to enhance the story but enhance the page count. A lot to skim over in this one. Other than that, it closes out the story started in "Hunter" yet leaves the door open for another. The next one will be without me, however.
2 reviews
January 27, 2018
Definitely a five-star read

I simply can't get enough of the Dylan Hunter series! Easily my new favorite! Mr. Bidinotto's writing is crisp and clean and so much fun to read! Highly recommended for anyone who likes hero-thrillers.
81 reviews
July 2, 2018
Winner takes all

Loved this series. Couldn't put any of the books down. This is a work of `fiction` that mimics real life. Not just the events, so to speak, but the characters and their narratives. Lots to ponder here. Thought provoking long after stories end.
10 reviews
July 6, 2018
Finally a phenomenal series

OK, what the hell happens to Annie & Dylan? You're novels are awesome, phenomenal and stupendous . I cannot wait for the next novel. Hurry up I am 80 years old .
Profile Image for Terry Sampson.
90 reviews
March 5, 2019
Enjoyable story

Loved the story. Would have liked Dylan to have a bit more difficulty saving the world. Been a little bit more real so I didn’t have to suspend quite so much disbelief. Having said that, Annie is indeed cool.
14 reviews1 follower
June 22, 2019
Well developed

Good trilogy, nicely developed and tied together. It caused me to take sides, and to hope the characters turned out to be who I wanted them to be. The mark of a great read......
16 reviews
September 13, 2022
Great trilogy

Fast past,much about our world today in the USA .scary to see what our laws and politicians have produced of late. Hits to close to truth???? Enjoyed read straight through all three books as I'm an avid reader and bedridden.
731 reviews2 followers
March 16, 2018
An excellent novel by this author and I enjoyed reading this novel. I recommend this book to everyone.
Profile Image for TS Dashley.
41 reviews2 followers
May 3, 2018
Best One Yet

Dylan Hunter’s character keeps getting better and better. These books have become more intriguing as the series progresses. I can’t wait to read the next one.
Profile Image for Ellen.
681 reviews
September 19, 2018
I like this one a lot, but perhaps not quite as much as the first two. It seemed that more time was spent following the 'bad actors' instead of Hunter's exploits. Still, a good read!
5 reviews
January 5, 2019
Good plot gets storyline home. Characters getting stale.

Somewhat redundant but entertaining. Stereotypes are fine up to a point. Might be time to close some of the agencies.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews

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