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A Game Called Payback
The case of a sixteen-year-old boy found hung by the neck over the roof of his own car sparks a memory that Matt Byron has spent years working his way through. He even thought he’d managed.
Getting a new partner with that case—a partner hauling his own ghosts from the past into it—proves Matt wrong.
What initially looked like just another case of a child being harmed soon offers up aspects of the two men’s past. To solve the case, they need to solve their own unfinished business.
For a man as unapproachable as Matt Byron, who’s scared away more partners than anyone else, he needs to draw on all his resources to see it through.
Getting a new partner with that case—a partner hauling his own ghosts from the past into it—proves Matt wrong.
What initially looked like just another case of a child being harmed soon offers up aspects of the two men’s past. To solve the case, they need to solve their own unfinished business.
For a man as unapproachable as Matt Byron, who’s scared away more partners than anyone else, he needs to draw on all his resources to see it through.
- GenresThriller
201 pages, ebook
First published January 14, 2020
2 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Martin Svolgart
16 books28 followersMartin Svolgart has a fascination for humans. What drives them, makes them, breaks them. What can bring out the worst in a person? What can bring out the best?
He doesn’t believe in a world of black and white. The human eye can detect 256 shades of gray. Instead, he believes the answer to what is good and what is evil is to be explored within those nuances.
His protagonists are never just good, and his antagonists are never just evil.
He loves exploring what makes them one or the other. Especially, he loves looking into what can make them change, grow, and evolve. In which direction that may go is of course one of the interesting questions to be explored.
He doesn’t believe in a world of black and white. The human eye can detect 256 shades of gray. Instead, he believes the answer to what is good and what is evil is to be explored within those nuances.
His protagonists are never just good, and his antagonists are never just evil.
He loves exploring what makes them one or the other. Especially, he loves looking into what can make them change, grow, and evolve. In which direction that may go is of course one of the interesting questions to be explored.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 29, 2020
I’m getting a better appreciation of the importance of covers. This one, for example, made me think the book would be quite dark, but it wasn’t like that at all. Although the main theme of the book was about school bullying I thought it was dealt with quite sensitively.
A 16 year old student is found hanging in a field over his own car. Quickly dismissing suicide, the new detective pairing of Matt Byron and Taylor (I forget) begin a murder inquiry. The pair soon learn that their victim, Dan, was regarded as a bully. This opens up a new line of inquiry that delivers some disturbing results. At the same time, due to nature of this case, the two lead detectives are forced to re-visit their own backgrounds as either a victim or a perpetrator of bullying. They realise that the lines are often more blurred than they thought.
I really liked the book. I found the story in parts disturbing, uplifting, tragic and hopeful. It illustrated well the point the author was trying to make: that protagonists are never just good, and antagonists are never just evil. And sometimes a ‘win’ is bittersweet. One thing I found a bit jarring though was the lack of a sense of place. I didn’t think about it before but the ‘place’ and ‘time’ parts of a story are quite important and help with your understanding of context. Without a mention of Houston (which is not where the story was set) I couldn’t even be sure it was set in the US. It was also a shame that the book was marred by quite a few editing errors. Overall though it was an enjoyable but rather sad read. Thanks to Book Sirens and Martin Svolgart for my review copy.
A 16 year old student is found hanging in a field over his own car. Quickly dismissing suicide, the new detective pairing of Matt Byron and Taylor (I forget) begin a murder inquiry. The pair soon learn that their victim, Dan, was regarded as a bully. This opens up a new line of inquiry that delivers some disturbing results. At the same time, due to nature of this case, the two lead detectives are forced to re-visit their own backgrounds as either a victim or a perpetrator of bullying. They realise that the lines are often more blurred than they thought.
I really liked the book. I found the story in parts disturbing, uplifting, tragic and hopeful. It illustrated well the point the author was trying to make: that protagonists are never just good, and antagonists are never just evil. And sometimes a ‘win’ is bittersweet. One thing I found a bit jarring though was the lack of a sense of place. I didn’t think about it before but the ‘place’ and ‘time’ parts of a story are quite important and help with your understanding of context. Without a mention of Houston (which is not where the story was set) I couldn’t even be sure it was set in the US. It was also a shame that the book was marred by quite a few editing errors. Overall though it was an enjoyable but rather sad read. Thanks to Book Sirens and Martin Svolgart for my review copy.
May 15, 2020
Detective Matt Byron doesn't suffer fools gladly and won't put up with anything less than 100% commitment from his partner, hence he hasn't had one that has lasted the distance with him yet. Bets are on among his fellow officers when Tyler Samson arrives and the two are sent out to check on a suicide of a young man that appears to have hung himself in the woods. It isn't long before a terrible case of suicide turns into a horrific investigation into one of murder.
Finding out about the victim's home life is in itself quite heartbreaking, at 16 years old he should have had his whole life in front of him. The yin and yang detectives are opposite sides on the coin where life experience on this case falls, bringing the perfect balance to see the whole picture from every angle.
The story takes you into the depths of hurt and frustrating, being a victim and becoming what you hate the most. Human nature and consequences. The author makes his characters quite visual to the reader, with stories that fall back into the past from the main players. There are triggers of bullying, abuse and rape so not a book for everyone.
This is the debut novel of this author.
Finding out about the victim's home life is in itself quite heartbreaking, at 16 years old he should have had his whole life in front of him. The yin and yang detectives are opposite sides on the coin where life experience on this case falls, bringing the perfect balance to see the whole picture from every angle.
The story takes you into the depths of hurt and frustrating, being a victim and becoming what you hate the most. Human nature and consequences. The author makes his characters quite visual to the reader, with stories that fall back into the past from the main players. There are triggers of bullying, abuse and rape so not a book for everyone.
This is the debut novel of this author.
February 8, 2020
A Game Called Payback by Martin Svolgart
This is my first time reading this author and I was happy with the story so it will not be the last time I pick up one of his books! Well written book, fleshed out characters that you get to know and understand how they are processing the murder of a teenage boy, while also coming to grips with their own youth and being bullied or bullying. Great story, easy to read and hard to put down! Thank you to the author for this ARC book and letting me leave my honest opinion.
This is my first time reading this author and I was happy with the story so it will not be the last time I pick up one of his books! Well written book, fleshed out characters that you get to know and understand how they are processing the murder of a teenage boy, while also coming to grips with their own youth and being bullied or bullying. Great story, easy to read and hard to put down! Thank you to the author for this ARC book and letting me leave my honest opinion.
January 17, 2020
The guys in the precinct bet on how long it will take Matt Byron to run off his next partner. Then a sixteen-year-old boy is found hanged. And Matt has to work the case with a new partner. Matt has a wall around him at work. He's a good detective, but he has no patience for less than the best. The new partner, Tyler Samson, has his own emotional issues with this new case. As the two examine evidence of that the victim was a bully, they examine their own evidence of one with a history of being a bully and the other as a victim of bullying.
This book should appeal to crime novels, but also to those who appreciate personal examination.
My one quibble is with sloppy editing, maybe too much reliance on a spell checker.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book should appeal to crime novels, but also to those who appreciate personal examination.
My one quibble is with sloppy editing, maybe too much reliance on a spell checker.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 10, 2020
My eyes are still contused from finishing this book and it hit me dangerously close to heart so this maybe a very emotional review. First off ThankYou for writing this book.You have a fascination of humans you say and i have the most tremendous amount of respect for your fascination. Such beautiful diverse and painfully deep dive into human emotion. Never have i read something thats so relatable understandable and questionable at the same time. And its not just the emotion thats commendable but the story development, the insights into every character, the witty plot, the suspense, the unfolding drama and the appropriate vocabulary made this the best read i ever had. This is my new favorite book and i recommend it to people of every age.
received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 26, 2020
This book is being published by MarLau Publishing, Denmark and will be released on 1st February 2020 in both paperback and kindle formats. I have received an advance review copy.
A 16 year old boy is found hanging from a tree over his own car. The case is investigated by detectives Matt Byron and Taylor Sampson assisted by other officers.
The victim is found to be one Dan Gerard, a quarterback at the school where he studied. He was a bully with sadistic tendencies. He had been severely abused at home by his father and perhaps this was his way of retaliating.
The position of the rope indicates that it could not have been suicide. Then who murdered him ? The footprints indicate that four persons are involved. Are they fellow street racers to which he belonged or are they fellow students who were bullied by him and had taken revenge ?
With the help of clues and painstaking investigation, the detectives manage to solve the case and nab the culprits.
This case brings up disturbing past memories in both detectives. Matt used to be brutally bullied at school while Taylor was a bully himself like Dan and also had been abused by his father. The investigation ends with 3 chapters still left in the book. In the final 3 chapters, Matt and Taylor reveal their past to each other as a sort of catharsis.
The plot is pretty much average and mundane. It is a routine police procedural with several dark social themes thrown in like domestic abuse, school bullying and date rape. There is hardly any sense of suspense or surprise. Also, slang and technical terms are often used which slow down the reading as one tries to understand them. Often there are diversions to irrelevant details which slow down the pace.
All in all, an average novel not worth reading.
A 16 year old boy is found hanging from a tree over his own car. The case is investigated by detectives Matt Byron and Taylor Sampson assisted by other officers.
The victim is found to be one Dan Gerard, a quarterback at the school where he studied. He was a bully with sadistic tendencies. He had been severely abused at home by his father and perhaps this was his way of retaliating.
The position of the rope indicates that it could not have been suicide. Then who murdered him ? The footprints indicate that four persons are involved. Are they fellow street racers to which he belonged or are they fellow students who were bullied by him and had taken revenge ?
With the help of clues and painstaking investigation, the detectives manage to solve the case and nab the culprits.
This case brings up disturbing past memories in both detectives. Matt used to be brutally bullied at school while Taylor was a bully himself like Dan and also had been abused by his father. The investigation ends with 3 chapters still left in the book. In the final 3 chapters, Matt and Taylor reveal their past to each other as a sort of catharsis.
The plot is pretty much average and mundane. It is a routine police procedural with several dark social themes thrown in like domestic abuse, school bullying and date rape. There is hardly any sense of suspense or surprise. Also, slang and technical terms are often used which slow down the reading as one tries to understand them. Often there are diversions to irrelevant details which slow down the pace.
All in all, an average novel not worth reading.
September 21, 2020
I really enjoyed this crime story. It was refreshing to read about two male detectives and their relationship as it developed over the course of the crime investigation. This was the focus of the story rather than the crime itself -- although that was good, too. Moved along well and the characters were well developed.
I received a free review copy from Book Sirens in return for an honest review, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received a free review copy from Book Sirens in return for an honest review, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 8, 2026
This book offers more than a thriller usually does. However, the lesson life it gives might be more relevant for teenagers readers than adults readers. I gave 4 * because it is well written, the plot was hooking and the characters sounded real.
Thank you BookSirens and Martin for giving the opportunity to read this book! Christine
Thank you BookSirens and Martin for giving the opportunity to read this book! Christine
August 28, 2020
I received a copy of this book from Booksirens in exchange for an honest review.
I chose this book from BookSirens because it was listed as an exciting “Thriller” and the cover image made it look dark and a little spooky. I guess I have a different definition for the word “Thriller” and I wouldn’t define this book as a “Thriller” this to me was definitely a cop/detective book. Those aren’t necessarily the kind of books I gravitate towards unless you also get insights from the killers/bad guys perspective or extremely graphic crime scene descriptions (I know, I know - I’m weird that way).
The plot starts immediately and it felt like a whirlwind that within a couple of pages they knew a crime they were investigating was not a suicide but in fact a murder. Immediately following the crime scene the books main character, Matt, gets a new partner, Taylor. Matt and Taylor begin investigating everything together while learning about each other throughout the storyline. It felt a little like the pilot episode of a new show- just a lot going on, that doesn’t fully make sense yet. It turns out the murder case deals with high school bullying and both Matt and Taylor find out that they each dealt with bullying (in different ways) when they were in high school.
I didn’t fully connect with all of the characters in the book. There were too many detectives and I would get their names jumbled and the suspects didn’t stand out to me either. (I did want to learn more about the not-very-nice coroner, he seemed interesting) Like I said before, it felt like an episode of newly released cop show - quick blips of information while working through the plot. I wish the flashback/letter sections towards the end of the book were written in first person instead of third person, so I could connect with it all better.
Overall it was a pretty good book, if you like cop/detective storylines. I wanted it to be more of a “thriller” but that’s just my personal preference.
Thanks again BookSirens.
I chose this book from BookSirens because it was listed as an exciting “Thriller” and the cover image made it look dark and a little spooky. I guess I have a different definition for the word “Thriller” and I wouldn’t define this book as a “Thriller” this to me was definitely a cop/detective book. Those aren’t necessarily the kind of books I gravitate towards unless you also get insights from the killers/bad guys perspective or extremely graphic crime scene descriptions (I know, I know - I’m weird that way).
The plot starts immediately and it felt like a whirlwind that within a couple of pages they knew a crime they were investigating was not a suicide but in fact a murder. Immediately following the crime scene the books main character, Matt, gets a new partner, Taylor. Matt and Taylor begin investigating everything together while learning about each other throughout the storyline. It felt a little like the pilot episode of a new show- just a lot going on, that doesn’t fully make sense yet. It turns out the murder case deals with high school bullying and both Matt and Taylor find out that they each dealt with bullying (in different ways) when they were in high school.
I didn’t fully connect with all of the characters in the book. There were too many detectives and I would get their names jumbled and the suspects didn’t stand out to me either. (I did want to learn more about the not-very-nice coroner, he seemed interesting) Like I said before, it felt like an episode of newly released cop show - quick blips of information while working through the plot. I wish the flashback/letter sections towards the end of the book were written in first person instead of third person, so I could connect with it all better.
Overall it was a pretty good book, if you like cop/detective storylines. I wanted it to be more of a “thriller” but that’s just my personal preference.
Thanks again BookSirens.
September 14, 2020
A (16, boy) had been found hung by the neck over the roof of his own car.
Detective Taylor Samson (45+, m, Homicide partner) greeted Detective Matt Byron (45+, husband/father, Homicide) when he arrived at the crime scene.
As soon as the George (coroner, pathologist) got done with the corpse Muldoon (f, forensics scientist) set about doing an investigation.
Detective Byron interviewed Thomas Langly (witness, university student, grocery clerk).
Mr. Anthony Gerald (father, gambling addict, alcoholic, bricklayer) was told the sad news about his son Dan Gerald (16, HS QB).
Detective Byron & Detective Samson had been assigned the Gerald case investigating.
Detective Samson, Muldoon, & Sam Jones (CSI) interviewed John Matthews (son) with Veronica Matthews (mother) present.
Tanja Roth (Dan’s ex-GF, HS cheerleader), Christopher Sinclair (aka Pizza face, pet store), John Matthe (aka Lard ass, explosive semi-expert), & Maya Fields (HS student, physics geek) were interrogated.
Will the murder mystery be solved & someone brought to justice?
I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written who-dunnit murder mystery book. It was quite easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters & facts to keep track of. This could also make another great murder mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is an amazingly easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free MarLau Publishing; BargainBooksy; BookSweeps; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Detective Taylor Samson (45+, m, Homicide partner) greeted Detective Matt Byron (45+, husband/father, Homicide) when he arrived at the crime scene.
As soon as the George (coroner, pathologist) got done with the corpse Muldoon (f, forensics scientist) set about doing an investigation.
Detective Byron interviewed Thomas Langly (witness, university student, grocery clerk).
Mr. Anthony Gerald (father, gambling addict, alcoholic, bricklayer) was told the sad news about his son Dan Gerald (16, HS QB).
Detective Byron & Detective Samson had been assigned the Gerald case investigating.
Detective Samson, Muldoon, & Sam Jones (CSI) interviewed John Matthews (son) with Veronica Matthews (mother) present.
Tanja Roth (Dan’s ex-GF, HS cheerleader), Christopher Sinclair (aka Pizza face, pet store), John Matthe (aka Lard ass, explosive semi-expert), & Maya Fields (HS student, physics geek) were interrogated.
Will the murder mystery be solved & someone brought to justice?
I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written who-dunnit murder mystery book. It was quite easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters & facts to keep track of. This could also make another great murder mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is an amazingly easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free MarLau Publishing; BargainBooksy; BookSweeps; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
June 2, 2020
The book starts off with an unusual scene of the local High School jock hanging from a tree over his very own sports car. Detective Matt Byron is on the case and he's going to turn over every stone to determine if this young man did indeed commit suicide.
Byron, having been through many partners by now, gets a new one, Detective Taylor Samson, and bets are in that he'll be just like the rest of Byron's partners, short-timers.
Byron and Samson look into the usual and the unusual suspects and follow all the leads. Was this a suicide or was this foul play? The answer leads them past simply closing a case. Matt and Taylor discover some interesting things about each other as well.
This was an interesting read. The storyline did not have enough depth, but I do not take that away from the writer's ability. Case in point, had the author provided glimpses of Matt's character and experiences (no spoilers) interspersed throughout the book, Matt's "deadpan" would be more meaningful. If the reader was allowed to see more of the living Dan Gerald's social life, the storyline leading up to his death would seem less contrived.
While interesting, I can only rate this book a three. Also, the book did have a lot of typos, some of which did interfere with the reading experience. Thank you Book Sirens for the free copy. I leave this review completely voluntarily.
Byron, having been through many partners by now, gets a new one, Detective Taylor Samson, and bets are in that he'll be just like the rest of Byron's partners, short-timers.
Byron and Samson look into the usual and the unusual suspects and follow all the leads. Was this a suicide or was this foul play? The answer leads them past simply closing a case. Matt and Taylor discover some interesting things about each other as well.
This was an interesting read. The storyline did not have enough depth, but I do not take that away from the writer's ability. Case in point, had the author provided glimpses of Matt's character and experiences (no spoilers) interspersed throughout the book, Matt's "deadpan" would be more meaningful. If the reader was allowed to see more of the living Dan Gerald's social life, the storyline leading up to his death would seem less contrived.
While interesting, I can only rate this book a three. Also, the book did have a lot of typos, some of which did interfere with the reading experience. Thank you Book Sirens for the free copy. I leave this review completely voluntarily.
September 18, 2020
A unique study of what makes a bully and his victim…is it really fiction?
With a touch of O. Henry, the great American short story writer, Svolgart has taken a sensitive subject and made us look at both sides of this issue. This book is so different from my normal fare but a wonderful read. The tragic death of a high school quarterback who loved cars and racing brings together detectives Matt and Taylor. Who did it and more importantly, why? My feelings fluctuated from caring to loathing but did the characters deserve that? Such a beautiful but heartrending story. In the process of getting to the truth of this crime, the lead characters Detectives Byron and Samson discover some of their own truths. Taylor being Matt’s third partner in three years. To say he is hard to partner with is an understatement. Matt’s wife and family are a lovely addition to the story showing that he was always worthy.
What happens when not all the “bad people” get their payback? (This is partially where my loathing came into play.) Just as in O. Henry’s fiction, the end blew me away. Shocking but settled my angst like a freshly washed sheet covers a newly made bed. Something so refreshing about it. Hard to explain…tragic, yes, but stirring and fair. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through BookSirens and if I could, I would give this book more than 5 stars! Highly recommended!
With a touch of O. Henry, the great American short story writer, Svolgart has taken a sensitive subject and made us look at both sides of this issue. This book is so different from my normal fare but a wonderful read. The tragic death of a high school quarterback who loved cars and racing brings together detectives Matt and Taylor. Who did it and more importantly, why? My feelings fluctuated from caring to loathing but did the characters deserve that? Such a beautiful but heartrending story. In the process of getting to the truth of this crime, the lead characters Detectives Byron and Samson discover some of their own truths. Taylor being Matt’s third partner in three years. To say he is hard to partner with is an understatement. Matt’s wife and family are a lovely addition to the story showing that he was always worthy.
What happens when not all the “bad people” get their payback? (This is partially where my loathing came into play.) Just as in O. Henry’s fiction, the end blew me away. Shocking but settled my angst like a freshly washed sheet covers a newly made bed. Something so refreshing about it. Hard to explain…tragic, yes, but stirring and fair. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through BookSirens and if I could, I would give this book more than 5 stars! Highly recommended!
March 6, 2020
Nature vs nurture. The fascinating and sometimes paradoxical nature/psychology of people and the effect of how upbringing and environment (even decisions and/or personalities) can hinder or grow the good and bad within individuals. This is what I took away from Martin Svolgart’s aptly titled A Game Called Payback.
I picked up this title because I was in the mood for a detective/crime fiction novel and I admit that I struggled a little bit to connect to the narrative. But after putting it aside for a while and picking it up again - I was immediately drawn into the story with its two main protagonists : the detective partner duo that both have a personal connection to the murder case with one having been the victim (Matt Byron) and the other having been a bully (Taylor Samson) and how their pasts (and the choices they have made) shaped them into the people they are today.
Martin Svolgart’s insight into people’s psyche and how they cope in difficult situations and how people function in general is really fascinating and thus I highly recommend this work, a few grammar and editing errors aside.
I have received a free copy of this book courtesy of BookSirens and the author and in exchange I am leaving this voluntary and honest review.
I picked up this title because I was in the mood for a detective/crime fiction novel and I admit that I struggled a little bit to connect to the narrative. But after putting it aside for a while and picking it up again - I was immediately drawn into the story with its two main protagonists : the detective partner duo that both have a personal connection to the murder case with one having been the victim (Matt Byron) and the other having been a bully (Taylor Samson) and how their pasts (and the choices they have made) shaped them into the people they are today.
Martin Svolgart’s insight into people’s psyche and how they cope in difficult situations and how people function in general is really fascinating and thus I highly recommend this work, a few grammar and editing errors aside.
I have received a free copy of this book courtesy of BookSirens and the author and in exchange I am leaving this voluntary and honest review.
March 12, 2020
This is such a great detective story and a coming of age story all in one. It has great characters, plenty of action, great police procedure and, for the most part, natural-sounding dialogue. The characters are relatable and not some inflated version of what detectives are. It was also an interesting twist to have the partners be on opposite sides of the bully/victim equation. But this story could use the services of a good editor, or at the least, a good proof-reader. How many times can you misspell brake/brakes in one chapter? 5 times! It was very disconcerting to me to be reading along and an obvious spelling error/typo catch my attention. I would have to reread the sentence to be sure that I understood what was supposed to be there; not necessarily what was there. However, I will admit to being a tad OCD when it comes to typos. I also admit to not understanding why an author would not use family, friends, or a beta group to make sure that the majority of errors are caught before launch. With a bit of editing help, I think Mr. Svolgart has a solid 5-star novel. I recommend it.
I received an advance review copy from BookSirens and this is my honest opinion. I want to thank them and the author for allowing me to read it.
I received an advance review copy from BookSirens and this is my honest opinion. I want to thank them and the author for allowing me to read it.
March 12, 2020
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I enjoy reading many genres and crime/mystery/thriller are often genres I gravitate toward, especially if they are well written.
The characters in this book surprised me because I was fully prepared to hate Matt simply because of the description of him in the description. Over time, however, through the author's careful crafting, you realize that Matt is a complex character who is incredibly fleshed out as the story unfolds. His new partner, Taylor, was, for me, from the beginning, a breath of fresh air. I was confident he was going to give Matt a fun for his money and I was right.
It's a great coming of age/detective story wrapped in one great package. The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars is the random use of italics (for example, the names of cars like "Honda Civic" are all italicized) and some misspellings and typos here and there were distracting. Mostly the overuse of italics when they were necessary was distracting enough to cause me to put the book down at times because I was annoyed (to be fair, I am an English teacher and pretty picky about that sort of thing).
I appreciate the author and BookSirens for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The characters in this book surprised me because I was fully prepared to hate Matt simply because of the description of him in the description. Over time, however, through the author's careful crafting, you realize that Matt is a complex character who is incredibly fleshed out as the story unfolds. His new partner, Taylor, was, for me, from the beginning, a breath of fresh air. I was confident he was going to give Matt a fun for his money and I was right.
It's a great coming of age/detective story wrapped in one great package. The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars is the random use of italics (for example, the names of cars like "Honda Civic" are all italicized) and some misspellings and typos here and there were distracting. Mostly the overuse of italics when they were necessary was distracting enough to cause me to put the book down at times because I was annoyed (to be fair, I am an English teacher and pretty picky about that sort of thing).
I appreciate the author and BookSirens for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2020
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I just finished reading this book.
Basically, the story is about this strictly professional cop, Matt Byron who has to solve the murder of a high school kid, Dan Gerald. As he uncovers the clues to solving the murder, he has to face his past as well. The striking similarities between the case and the life he thought he had left behind can not be avoided.
The characters are really well built. We get an insight about different people as to how they are the way they are. Most importantly, it shows the story from the other side of the coin as well where the line between victim and the accused seems thin. It started a little slow and it got a bit boring in the middle but later on the suspense builds really well without an loose ends to the plot. The twists are really good but my favorite part is after the murder has been solved. We get to look into the lives of the people involved which I think was one of the most important plot points in the entire story.
All in all, it was a great read. Looking forward to future works of this author. :)
I just finished reading this book.
Basically, the story is about this strictly professional cop, Matt Byron who has to solve the murder of a high school kid, Dan Gerald. As he uncovers the clues to solving the murder, he has to face his past as well. The striking similarities between the case and the life he thought he had left behind can not be avoided.
The characters are really well built. We get an insight about different people as to how they are the way they are. Most importantly, it shows the story from the other side of the coin as well where the line between victim and the accused seems thin. It started a little slow and it got a bit boring in the middle but later on the suspense builds really well without an loose ends to the plot. The twists are really good but my favorite part is after the murder has been solved. We get to look into the lives of the people involved which I think was one of the most important plot points in the entire story.
All in all, it was a great read. Looking forward to future works of this author. :)
June 6, 2020
I received this book as an advanced copy and the blurb immediately intrigued me. This was a brilliant read for me. My favourite genre, police procedural, but with so much more involved. I was immediately hooked and struggled to force myself to put my kindle down in the early hours of the morning and not to just read the whole thing in one sitting. The two main characters, the detectives, were totally believable and I felt complete empathy with them and rooted for them both throughout. Yes, this was a story about two detectives investigating a high school death but the author wasn’t content with just that. This was a story of how your past/childhood experiences can have an extreme impact on your adult character/life. It shares with you the depths of hurt and frustrations that come from being a victim of bullying and of all the negatives of being the bully yourself. The author delves deeply into human nature and our choices and consequences. There were many strong themes running through this book and it was well written with real pace. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and totally recommend you give it a try.
March 21, 2020
I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 because the book could’ve used some editing/proofreading.
The book is still a great read. It starts off with what looks like a suicide of a teenager, but quickly becomes apparent that it’s a homicide. The lead detective comes across as a loner. Then a new detective is partnered with him. As they get to know their victim, they realize their pasts are catching up to them, something they both would rather forget. The book takes on a subject that is very prevalent in schools all across America these days: bullying. And our 2 detectives were on opposite sides of the same coin - one was bullied and the other was a bully. As they solve the murder they both realize that, they themselves, need to share and understand what happened to them in the past to better understand what had happened in their murder case.
I look forward to more stories featuring these 2 detective.
I received this as an ARC for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book is still a great read. It starts off with what looks like a suicide of a teenager, but quickly becomes apparent that it’s a homicide. The lead detective comes across as a loner. Then a new detective is partnered with him. As they get to know their victim, they realize their pasts are catching up to them, something they both would rather forget. The book takes on a subject that is very prevalent in schools all across America these days: bullying. And our 2 detectives were on opposite sides of the same coin - one was bullied and the other was a bully. As they solve the murder they both realize that, they themselves, need to share and understand what happened to them in the past to better understand what had happened in their murder case.
I look forward to more stories featuring these 2 detective.
I received this as an ARC for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 20, 2020
Free book -Honest Review ... I'm not going to lie, the first half of the was painful; seemingly centered on solving the murder of a young man and the interaction between the two police officers charged with doing just that.. But, when that crime is solved the book moves into a social commentary on their relationship, the history they had together (unknown to them) and how their pasts have shaped their shared future. Honestly, the last half of the book was much better .. it seemed to me like the author was more comfortable with writing about human interaction rather than circling into the "crime solving thriller" genre.
I'm not going to recommend it as a book everyone should read. It might suit other's tastes, but it sure didn't suit mine. Also, I know I had an advance copy ARC but there were a ton of spelling and grammatical errors through the text that were both annoying and distracting.
I'm not going to recommend it as a book everyone should read. It might suit other's tastes, but it sure didn't suit mine. Also, I know I had an advance copy ARC but there were a ton of spelling and grammatical errors through the text that were both annoying and distracting.
June 30, 2020
The writing here is surprisingly good, and the story was intriguing enough to keep me well entertained. I will say I was never bored. The author had a very clear idea of writing a sort of "redemption" arc, at least I thought so. Both Matt and Taylor are forced to wrestle with their pasts when a current case opens old wounds. The novel isn't really focused so much on the case, but on the 2 characters' rractions to the case. With this in mind, the novel is done well.
I'll add that I wasn't expecting this kind of storyline when I picked this book, and so I ended up disappointed. Looking at the novel as a police procedural, it definitely leaves something to be desired. The writing is sometimes choppy and unrealistic, and I rolled my eyes a few times at some of the cheesier scenes, but overall an enjoyable experience.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I'll add that I wasn't expecting this kind of storyline when I picked this book, and so I ended up disappointed. Looking at the novel as a police procedural, it definitely leaves something to be desired. The writing is sometimes choppy and unrealistic, and I rolled my eyes a few times at some of the cheesier scenes, but overall an enjoyable experience.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 26, 2020
The Paths of A Bully and Victim Collide
The book had much to offer in terms of the perspective of high-school struggles. The backdrop of the various characters will, sadly, resonate with many readers with rough pasts. It sheds light into the different perspectives of different types of people along with both the short and long term impacts on their lives.
Suffice to say that this was brilliantly written and has much to offer as food for thought. It is a mix of emotions, turbulent pasts, unfortunate relationships, revenge, unresolved feelings, tears and good-old policework. Not exactly my kind of theme but that has nothing to do with the quality, depth or brilliance of the work. 100% recommended.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book had much to offer in terms of the perspective of high-school struggles. The backdrop of the various characters will, sadly, resonate with many readers with rough pasts. It sheds light into the different perspectives of different types of people along with both the short and long term impacts on their lives.
Suffice to say that this was brilliantly written and has much to offer as food for thought. It is a mix of emotions, turbulent pasts, unfortunate relationships, revenge, unresolved feelings, tears and good-old policework. Not exactly my kind of theme but that has nothing to do with the quality, depth or brilliance of the work. 100% recommended.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 26, 2020
Thanks to Martin Svolgart for my ARC copy of his debut thriller. 'A Game Called Payback'.
A young mans body is found hanging from a tree, feet touching a car beneath. It looks like a suicide but it can't be. Enter cop Matt Byron, to investigate.
Matt is quite a troubled cop, but in a way much different than the usual, its quite an intersting one. and new partner Taylor, again with some troubles of his own.
as much as this is police procedural its also a bit of a study into the human mind and how people react to things. There is a strong theme involving bullying in this book and how it leaves its mark on people.
Overall i enjoyed this book, its well paced, well written and makes you want to read on. A very Good debut.
A young mans body is found hanging from a tree, feet touching a car beneath. It looks like a suicide but it can't be. Enter cop Matt Byron, to investigate.
Matt is quite a troubled cop, but in a way much different than the usual, its quite an intersting one. and new partner Taylor, again with some troubles of his own.
as much as this is police procedural its also a bit of a study into the human mind and how people react to things. There is a strong theme involving bullying in this book and how it leaves its mark on people.
Overall i enjoyed this book, its well paced, well written and makes you want to read on. A very Good debut.
April 16, 2020
Having received this book as an arc, and by an author I wasn't familiar with, I didn't know what to expect. The book opens with a teenage boy found hanging from a tree. At first it looks like a suicide. It turns out that it's not quite that straightforward. In comes Matt Byron to take on the case with a new partner Taylor. Both Matt and Taylor have their own demons to deal with. They do however appear to get along together just fine which is a little unusual (you will discover why when you read the book) The case leads to troubled adults, alcoholism, abuse and neglect. Having said that, the part that I liked the best was how Matt and Taylor's working relationship becomes a strong bond. All in all a good book. Thank you book sirens for the free copy. I leave this review voluntarily.
February 27, 2020
Not having read this author I was unsure what to expect but after receiving an advanced copy I was intrigued to discover a new author and am happy to say I was very impressed
The story line involved bullying and abuse so is not for all but is well written and shows that even those in authority still have childhood horrors buried deep that they deal with the best they can
The main detective Matt Byron must solve the murder of a high school boy and face the demons from his last as well as learning to work with a new partner who had his own problems
Together all this makes for a gripping read and makes you realise that your past actions really do shape your life
The story line involved bullying and abuse so is not for all but is well written and shows that even those in authority still have childhood horrors buried deep that they deal with the best they can
The main detective Matt Byron must solve the murder of a high school boy and face the demons from his last as well as learning to work with a new partner who had his own problems
Together all this makes for a gripping read and makes you realise that your past actions really do shape your life
March 11, 2020
It's an age old story of bullies and the bullied and who wins in the end. The two cops in this story are written to play off one another well and the fact that the main cop has had an issue with partners in the past works its' way into the plot and I find helps it flow. The characters that the author chose to write as suspects are described in perfect detail that are people can relate to if they have ever been in school at all. The writing flows smoothly and makes for a read that I didn't want to put down. I will be on the lookout for other stories by this author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced review copy of this book via BookSirens.
March 11, 2020
If you like to read books that have a 'real' feel about them, then you will love A Game Called Payback. The author has really done his homework here. Bullying is prolific at the moment and we often only empathise with the tormented when quite often the 'bully' is also a victim. To have 'both sides of the coin' woven so intricately that you find yourself empathising with both, is unusual to say the least. This is the first book by Martin Svolgart that I have read but it certainly won't be the last. Happy reading. Annemarie
I received this book as an A.R.C. and have chosen to leave a review.
I received this book as an A.R.C. and have chosen to leave a review.
April 15, 2020
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I downloaded this ARC from booksirens.com and am giving an honest review.
This ARC was a fascinating read. I loved the characters, as they were well-written, funny, and yet seemed human. I loved how hilarious this story was at times(with lighthearted humor being thrown around like calling people Lardass or Pizzaface), but it could take a serious turn quickly.
But this book definitely had a great twist showing that Matt and his new partner, Taylor, were linked way before they became partners on a homicide case without either of them knowing it. I loved that part and it made me tear up.
This ARC was a fascinating read. I loved the characters, as they were well-written, funny, and yet seemed human. I loved how hilarious this story was at times(with lighthearted humor being thrown around like calling people Lardass or Pizzaface), but it could take a serious turn quickly.
But this book definitely had a great twist showing that Matt and his new partner, Taylor, were linked way before they became partners on a homicide case without either of them knowing it. I loved that part and it made me tear up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2020
Great crime story opens with the tragic death of a teenager and a tough as nails detective on the case.
As Matt Byron and his new partner Tyler Samson work to unravel the case, their hurtful pasts influence how they look at the murder and suspects. Appreciated how the author intertwined the detectives pasts to help them get to a greater understanding of the murder and why it occurred.
Dysfunctional families, bullies, bullies victims and the love of those who help someone thru past nightmares all come into play.
Quick read, couldn't put it down! I hope there are more stories to come with these two characters.
As Matt Byron and his new partner Tyler Samson work to unravel the case, their hurtful pasts influence how they look at the murder and suspects. Appreciated how the author intertwined the detectives pasts to help them get to a greater understanding of the murder and why it occurred.
Dysfunctional families, bullies, bullies victims and the love of those who help someone thru past nightmares all come into play.
Quick read, couldn't put it down! I hope there are more stories to come with these two characters.
February 4, 2020
A Game Called Payback
This was a book I started reading from Booksirens.com then I found it on Amazon kindle unlimited and there is where I couldn't stop reading it at all. This is a case that these two officers find more than they expected to find answers to. I hope that you will find this book a great one too and I'm sure you'll have a hard time putting it down just like I did....
This was a book I started reading from Booksirens.com then I found it on Amazon kindle unlimited and there is where I couldn't stop reading it at all. This is a case that these two officers find more than they expected to find answers to. I hope that you will find this book a great one too and I'm sure you'll have a hard time putting it down just like I did....
February 29, 2020
This was my first time reading from this author.
It was a really good read, the story was well written, the characters well written well as well and I feel the way they werr written definitely showed how they were coping the murder of the young boy in the story.
There was characters that were bullied, or were the bullier, and this was something I could relate to due to being bullied a lot in my high school years. I liked being able to read from the different perspectives.
It was a really good read, the story was well written, the characters well written well as well and I feel the way they werr written definitely showed how they were coping the murder of the young boy in the story.
There was characters that were bullied, or were the bullier, and this was something I could relate to due to being bullied a lot in my high school years. I liked being able to read from the different perspectives.
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