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Payback
Alex Dunn was a good cop until a bad domestic call leaves two of his fellow officers dead and his partner bound to a wheelchair. Making things worse, the man responsible walks on a technicality.
Shortly after, Alex is recruited into a secret organization that targets criminals who manage to skirt the system and remain untouchable despite their obvious guilt. He becomes one of their best operatives, making a comfortable living supplemented with the satisfaction that he is ridding society of some of its worst elements.
A hack into the organization’s personnel files and an assigned target, who is not a criminal, changes everything. Alex survives an attempt on his life but learns the rest of the team, with the exception of their receptionist, has been eliminated.
With both the FBI and assassins on his trail, it is up to Alex to protect the receptionist while searching for whomever pulled the plug on the organization. Encountering challenges every step of the way, he follows any clue that will lead him to a chance for PAYBACK.
Shortly after, Alex is recruited into a secret organization that targets criminals who manage to skirt the system and remain untouchable despite their obvious guilt. He becomes one of their best operatives, making a comfortable living supplemented with the satisfaction that he is ridding society of some of its worst elements.
A hack into the organization’s personnel files and an assigned target, who is not a criminal, changes everything. Alex survives an attempt on his life but learns the rest of the team, with the exception of their receptionist, has been eliminated.
With both the FBI and assassins on his trail, it is up to Alex to protect the receptionist while searching for whomever pulled the plug on the organization. Encountering challenges every step of the way, he follows any clue that will lead him to a chance for PAYBACK.
455 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2019
180 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
William Coleman
11 books29 followers“A good mystery doesn’t hide the answers until the end, it lays them before you without you realizing…”
William Coleman was born and raised in a small town in Arkansas and attended Wichita State University, where he earned his bachelor’s. Since completing his degree, William has worked in the food management industry and he currently lives in the Kansas City Metro, with his wife Vicki and their two dogs, Coco and Scooter.
As long as he has been able to thread a few sentences together, William has enjoyed the art of putting pen to paper and coming up with stories that captivate the imagination and spark curiosity in others.
He particularly enjoys the craft of mystery, suspense and thriller novels and his 4 books, The Widow’s Husband, Payback. Nick of Time and Murder Revisited are all available on Amazon.
In his free time and when he isn’t hard at work creating his next book, William enjoys spending time taking walks with his wife and their dogs and working on their home.
As far as the future is concerned, William wants to continue to write entertaining novels that will feed the imagination of his growing following for many years to come.
You can contact William, read his blog and see what he is writing about next through his website or simply follow him on Facebook.
William Coleman was born and raised in a small town in Arkansas and attended Wichita State University, where he earned his bachelor’s. Since completing his degree, William has worked in the food management industry and he currently lives in the Kansas City Metro, with his wife Vicki and their two dogs, Coco and Scooter.
As long as he has been able to thread a few sentences together, William has enjoyed the art of putting pen to paper and coming up with stories that captivate the imagination and spark curiosity in others.
He particularly enjoys the craft of mystery, suspense and thriller novels and his 4 books, The Widow’s Husband, Payback. Nick of Time and Murder Revisited are all available on Amazon.
In his free time and when he isn’t hard at work creating his next book, William enjoys spending time taking walks with his wife and their dogs and working on their home.
As far as the future is concerned, William wants to continue to write entertaining novels that will feed the imagination of his growing following for many years to come.
You can contact William, read his blog and see what he is writing about next through his website or simply follow him on Facebook.
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 30, 2020
Can I give a sixth star?
Fair warning, this book floored me.
I have never heard of William Coleman but, if this book is any indication, he has a fantastic career ahead of him as a writer.
Basic premise: vigilante group that takes down criminals who escape justice is taken out en masse by an unknown entity, leaving behind Alex Dunn and Teresa Martin. FBI pursing Alex stumbles upon the plot, and an elaborate thriller ensues. So far, so normal. But what drives this story, what amazed me, is the author's seemingly effortless method of elevating a simple thriller into a nearly cinematic plot with flawed characters and an ending that rushes at you.
My usual observation about quality characters applies: great characters make for superior stories. But here too, the author does something I admire. He gives details piecemeal, there are no wasted pages of backstory which would pull the reader from the narrative.
The author's technique for increasing the tension is simple: staccato chapters, some only 3 pages long, with a steady alternating between Alex and the FBI. No chapters belabor and no words are wasted.
If you like Lee Child's style of character development (Alex is no Jack Reacher), and you enjoy Robert Ludlum's intrigue (he's not Jason Bourne either), this is a book for you. If you want a high-tension story with a plot that moves rapidly, this is a book for you. If William Coleman reads this review, I loved your book!
Fair warning, this book floored me.
I have never heard of William Coleman but, if this book is any indication, he has a fantastic career ahead of him as a writer.
Basic premise: vigilante group that takes down criminals who escape justice is taken out en masse by an unknown entity, leaving behind Alex Dunn and Teresa Martin. FBI pursing Alex stumbles upon the plot, and an elaborate thriller ensues. So far, so normal. But what drives this story, what amazed me, is the author's seemingly effortless method of elevating a simple thriller into a nearly cinematic plot with flawed characters and an ending that rushes at you.
My usual observation about quality characters applies: great characters make for superior stories. But here too, the author does something I admire. He gives details piecemeal, there are no wasted pages of backstory which would pull the reader from the narrative.
The author's technique for increasing the tension is simple: staccato chapters, some only 3 pages long, with a steady alternating between Alex and the FBI. No chapters belabor and no words are wasted.
If you like Lee Child's style of character development (Alex is no Jack Reacher), and you enjoy Robert Ludlum's intrigue (he's not Jason Bourne either), this is a book for you. If you want a high-tension story with a plot that moves rapidly, this is a book for you. If William Coleman reads this review, I loved your book!
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April 8, 2022🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/8/2022)! 🎁
May 11, 2021
Action-packed thriller about a clandestine group findind justice for innocent victims.
Alex is a little bit of Jason Bourne and a bit of Jack Reacher. He's a former uniform- patrol officer who saw to many peeps get away with murder, until a clandestine agency offers sanctioned payback.
Alex is a little bit of Jason Bourne and a bit of Jack Reacher. He's a former uniform- patrol officer who saw to many peeps get away with murder, until a clandestine agency offers sanctioned payback.
September 18, 2024
Great premise!
The story was solid, and it was interesting. It had a few twists.
What I liked:
-Again, this is a great premise.
-It was a solid story that tied up nicely.
What I didn't like:
-The FBI was always behind, and a lot of space was used up listening to them think about the crime and trying to figure out things the reader already knows. I did not like that.
-There is a long warp-up in which one of the characters explains everything that happened. I'm not a fan of needing pages to explain what happened.
-The twists were part of the explanation, so instead of an "Oh, wow!", it was more of I get it, but did not impactful.
Worth the read.
The story was solid, and it was interesting. It had a few twists.
What I liked:
-Again, this is a great premise.
-It was a solid story that tied up nicely.
What I didn't like:
-The FBI was always behind, and a lot of space was used up listening to them think about the crime and trying to figure out things the reader already knows. I did not like that.
-There is a long warp-up in which one of the characters explains everything that happened. I'm not a fan of needing pages to explain what happened.
-The twists were part of the explanation, so instead of an "Oh, wow!", it was more of I get it, but did not impactful.
Worth the read.
July 24, 2019
When bad things happen to good people, we trust that the law will take care of the bad guys. Technicalities and lawyers often allow the guilty to escape punishment. In this novel, a group of former cops takes over to make sure judgment is delivered. Their group computer gets hacked, and members are killed—all except Alex Dunn. Alex needs to find out who did the killing while keeping himself hidden from the killer(s) and the FBI. Great cat and mouse action with lots of action.
October 17, 2020
Oh Yeah, this is one character driven mystery/action thriller that will keep you up all night as you fly from one twist to the next. You will find yourself rooting on the main character and wondering just how bad he really is. You figure out early on that his heart is in the right place, but his actions leave you conflicted. A great story written in a fast paced style. You don't want to miss this one!
March 4, 2021
A pleasant surprise
This story is cleverly written, with the title weaving to and fro throughout. The main characters are well-developed; however, a few times in various chapters, I had difficulty keeping names connected to mental images. I would recommend this book to any online reader looking for a murder mystery suspense thriller, that keeps your attention and offers a few twists and turns.
This story is cleverly written, with the title weaving to and fro throughout. The main characters are well-developed; however, a few times in various chapters, I had difficulty keeping names connected to mental images. I would recommend this book to any online reader looking for a murder mystery suspense thriller, that keeps your attention and offers a few twists and turns.
September 13, 2021
This is the first book by this author that I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it, completeing it in 2 days because it was the kind of plot and pace that just keeps you wanting to see where it was going to go next. An iinteresting spin on the professional vigilante idea and very well written. At the end, I couldn't help hoping that the author would see it as having the basis for at least one foloow up book.
May 6, 2023
Payback
This is a recommended book from Facebook. The blurb on it looked good. A team of assassins who are all killed but one. I have read a few backs based on assassins (Tom Wood's Victor series, e.g) and have enjoyed the genre. I liked the way the author used both the assassin's methodology playing against the FBI's approach. The action was very good and the story was well paced. I was impressed by how the ending played out. Well done!! A 4.7 out of 5 rating.
This is a recommended book from Facebook. The blurb on it looked good. A team of assassins who are all killed but one. I have read a few backs based on assassins (Tom Wood's Victor series, e.g) and have enjoyed the genre. I liked the way the author used both the assassin's methodology playing against the FBI's approach. The action was very good and the story was well paced. I was impressed by how the ending played out. Well done!! A 4.7 out of 5 rating.
October 13, 2020
This is GOOD!
What an intricate story! Really Well-written. I was "caught up!" I read the blurb before I got this book so when the exchange happened in the office hallway - I said AH-HA! But, that's the only "hello" moment in this story. It keeps you on your toes! And rooting for the "hero"!
Thank you for your time, talent and THE STORY!
What an intricate story! Really Well-written. I was "caught up!" I read the blurb before I got this book so when the exchange happened in the office hallway - I said AH-HA! But, that's the only "hello" moment in this story. It keeps you on your toes! And rooting for the "hero"!
Thank you for your time, talent and THE STORY!
April 20, 2021
Absolutely enjoyed it..............................
....................................from beginning to end. Flowed perfectly which is very difficult to do. Actually, this is the first book I have finished in a while because I get bored so easily when I read books that never complete the circle. This one did and I was happy. I will surely read Mr. Coleman's next book.
....................................from beginning to end. Flowed perfectly which is very difficult to do. Actually, this is the first book I have finished in a while because I get bored so easily when I read books that never complete the circle. This one did and I was happy. I will surely read Mr. Coleman's next book.
May 1, 2022
Full of action from the get go that is believable!
Payback is a novel that I would hope and pray is actually true. It is a much needed resource regardless of what some liberals may try to shove down our throats. Extremely well written, completely believable, And I can't wait for sequels.
Payback is a novel that I would hope and pray is actually true. It is a much needed resource regardless of what some liberals may try to shove down our throats. Extremely well written, completely believable, And I can't wait for sequels.
August 8, 2019
This was a great novel with non-stop action. The fact that I snagged it on the Amazon free download promotion was an added bonus. Thanks for being so generous, Mr. Coleman. Your novel kept me enthralled for two nights.
April 12, 2021
Entertaining Thriller
Pretty much knew who was behind it early in the novel but well worth reading it to the end. Good action and characters but for all their skills and experience, they were portrayed being pretty naive. A TV series kind of ending.
Pretty much knew who was behind it early in the novel but well worth reading it to the end. Good action and characters but for all their skills and experience, they were portrayed being pretty naive. A TV series kind of ending.
September 1, 2021
Most enjoyable!
This well-written story is fast-paced, while the storyline is clear. I found it difficult to put down, struggling to work, and read the satisfyinly long story with great pleasure. I enjoyed the unexpected twists and turns too.
This well-written story is fast-paced, while the storyline is clear. I found it difficult to put down, struggling to work, and read the satisfyinly long story with great pleasure. I enjoyed the unexpected twists and turns too.
April 12, 2022
Great read.
I so wanted to give this five stars. However, the proofing was bad. Incomplete sentences, some spelling errors.
The story itself, was interesting. Former cops, became vigilantes. Taking out criminals, who beat the system.
I so wanted to give this five stars. However, the proofing was bad. Incomplete sentences, some spelling errors.
The story itself, was interesting. Former cops, became vigilantes. Taking out criminals, who beat the system.
April 20, 2022
Unbelievable Number of Surprises!
Coleman is a gifted writer, able to incorporate more surprise twists and turns than ever expected by any writer! One of the most enjoyable novels ever!
Coleman is a gifted writer, able to incorporate more surprise twists and turns than ever expected by any writer! One of the most enjoyable novels ever!
July 24, 2019
Excellent story. Well written and highly enjoyable
October 12, 2020
Nonstop Adventure
The plot is convoluted but such fun that it’s never frustrating. The characters are brought to life and appealing, especially the protagonist.
The plot is convoluted but such fun that it’s never frustrating. The characters are brought to life and appealing, especially the protagonist.
October 21, 2020
So close...
Mostly excellent, until the lame, contrived ending. And with guns figuring in so much of the plot, KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THEM:. A 9mm more powerful than a .357???
Mostly excellent, until the lame, contrived ending. And with guns figuring in so much of the plot, KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THEM:. A 9mm more powerful than a .357???
May 15, 2021
Cracking read. Difficult to put this down as it marched on at a lively pace.
June 1, 2021
I enjoyed the story
Good plot and I like the main character. Need to give them a bit more depth. A nice revenge tale with the potential for more exploits in the future.
Good plot and I like the main character. Need to give them a bit more depth. A nice revenge tale with the potential for more exploits in the future.
June 2, 2021
Wow, Great read!
Baldacci, Coben and the other good mystery writers, look out, William is on the scene. Great story. Kept me guessing. And it all came together.
Baldacci, Coben and the other good mystery writers, look out, William is on the scene. Great story. Kept me guessing. And it all came together.
June 26, 2021
Good Read
Really enjoyed this book. Twist and turns keeps you guessing right to the end. A thrill ride right to the end.
Really enjoyed this book. Twist and turns keeps you guessing right to the end. A thrill ride right to the end.
July 5, 2022
good reading
If you like Jack Reacher you will enjoy this book. Well written and fast moving it is easy to see this as a movie.
If you like Jack Reacher you will enjoy this book. Well written and fast moving it is easy to see this as a movie.
August 22, 2023
My rating - 4-1/2 stars
February 24, 2024
First time author for me and it certainly was an interesting, had to keep reading story.
Lots of mystery and action.
Lots of mystery and action.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews