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He wasn't always the Hangman.
But somebody always wanted him dead.

2005

Iraq. A dirty war in a blood-stained land. Insurgents. Kidnappings. Murders. IEDs.
Jason Trapp is done with all of it. After six years in uniform, and three years at war, he's out. Back to an America he barely recognizes. A country that never knew he left.

So he bought a bike and rode out West. Spent days on the road struggling to remember, and nights drinking to forget. He never expected to find a girl. Or a family. Or a home. And yet, somehow, he stumbled on all three.

Maybe that could have been the end of his story. If they'd left him alone. If they hadn't touched his girl.

But the evil Trapp saw in the desert haunted his dreams. Now the monsters who did it are hunting for him.

He just doesn't know it yet.

Hangman is the prequel to the best selling Jason Trapp suspense thriller series. Pick it up. You won't be able to put it down...

429 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2020

822 people are currently reading
441 people want to read

About the author

Jack Slater

22 books353 followers

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5 stars
917 (56%)
4 stars
485 (29%)
3 stars
164 (10%)
2 stars
39 (2%)
1 star
18 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
Profile Image for Abibliofob.
1,589 reviews103 followers
October 10, 2024
This one has been on my Tbr mountain for some time now. Hangman by Jack Slater is the first book about Jason Trapp, it's not the first written but it tells the background how the Hamngman became what he is. I found the book well written and it had a great story. I will most likely continue reading this series but only when I find time for it. I will recommend it to all that can stand listening to me.
Profile Image for Todd.
2,226 reviews8 followers
December 16, 2024
This is the origin story of Jason Trapp, written after the first few books of the series. There seems to be a disconnect. The book never even mentioned the CIA, of which Trapp is a former operator in the first book Dark State.

2005, Jason Trapp is a former Ranger who witnessed a security company murder an Iraqi family while he served. He's riding cross country, with no particular destination in mind, willing to leave those events in his rear view mirror, until an attack on him leaves a friend badly injured.

. Then it's on!
1 review
September 22, 2024
wow

So well done. Masterful origin story by Jack Slater. Don’t know how he does it but it’s such a pleasure to read! Keep up the amazing work, thank you.
6,211 reviews80 followers
August 5, 2021
A Jack Reacher type story, where a guy rides his motorcycle across the country until he comes to a stop. The action takes way too long to get started, like an old Spider-Man comic strip.
Profile Image for Sharon Bowen.
212 reviews1 follower
October 14, 2020
I enjoyed this Jason Trapp story because Jack Slater was able to bring an innocence and humbleness to the character we have grown to know to be efficient, tough, and dangerous. In the first four novels Hangman, Jason Trapp, is one whose reputation precedes him and who is known throughout the world as someone who not only gets the job done, but is someone you just don't mess with either. In this current novel, Hangman, Jason does not always get things right, bumbles his mission a bit, and is not used to looking at everything and everyone as a source of danger.
By Jack Slater backing up and giving us a little look into Hangman's background, we see a real person who had to grow into his fearsome title, not someone who has an extra extraordinary gene pool of super human qualities. I look forward to reading the next installment in the Jason Trapp series, there is never a dull moment.
1,734 reviews13 followers
July 16, 2024
This story fills in a lot of blanks that I had while reading "Dark State". The story begins with Jason moving from town to town when he winds up being stopped by the sheriff for speeding. Jason then wound up living with the sheriff and his family for a short time and becoming enamored by the sheriff's daughter. Unfortunately for Jason, a group discovered where he was and made an attempt on his life. Shea and Jason had gone on a sort of date and when returning, they were attacked. Jason received a minor wound while Shea was injured more seriously. Jason left the hospital worrying about Shea and went back to the sheriff's house where Jason packed up and left for California.

Jason discovered who the individuals were that attacked him and reminded him of his last tour in the middle east. Teaming up with another vet, Chino, who was wounded and the rest of his team killed during a mission where they were protecting a convoy. As it so happened, the people who eliminated the team happen to be the same group that attacked Jason and Shea. Jason began making a plan to bring this group to pay for what they did. Jason in addition sked a member of the company that Jason was with during his service to help out.

To discover all of the steps that Jason and his group took, what group was responsible for Jason's attack and the killing of that Chino's teammates, what assistance Ryan provided and how everything worked out in the end, then you need to read this book.
Profile Image for Ricki.
1,382 reviews14 followers
January 18, 2023
Jason is out of the service and buys a Harley. He's off on an adventure, riding the road until he ends up in Goodmorning (yep the name of a town). He's cited for speeding, invited to the Sheriff's house for dinner and meets lovely daughter Shea.

He doesn't know that his name being checked in the system invites a huge enemy from his Iraq days to his door- impacting the Sheriff's family. It's a good story but how is a former Ranger so bad with a gun and his situational awareness?

When he and Shea are attacked, he is determined to find out the who and why (although he has an idea).

It's a bit disjointed in spots and I needed to force myself to continue but then it would get better. More of a 2.5 rating
Profile Image for Jaume Ayala.
411 reviews1 follower
December 18, 2024
Introduction to a new character in new series the first half of the book it's OK although not really too many details of his background, just about he is a former Ranger discharged after one Irak round.
It's not a trained operator and he deals with any situation just with his ranger training and his feelings and it was clear how everything was aimed to trap Jason in a new future career which I suppose will model him to be a "real dark operator" (that's what I'm expecting).
Once completed the book, I realized this one was written while the fourth one in the series is going to be released so I guess not too many details in this book about Jason because his profile is more detailed from previous published books, I will find it for sure as I'm moving for the next one in the list
Profile Image for Micheal.
77 reviews1 follower
August 28, 2025
Jason Trapp young veteran (US Army, Ranger, Delta team) trying to make sense of his six years of service on his Harley and a cross country road-trip with no specific end. Until his time in service catches up to him and his new adopted family!

What follows is a rollercoaster ride of deception, disloyalty, deprevity, betrayal and greed!

The storyline and plot are well thought out and emotionally charged! The characters, descriptions and technical explanations are way above average for the genre and make for an exciting read.

One of the better origin stories I’ve read!

Highly recommended for military action readers!

Looking forward to the Jason Trapp series!

(I’ve already read Dark State and absolutely l loved it)
Profile Image for Jari Stemm.
44 reviews
December 23, 2020
Enthralling

Jason Trapp is a character that’s hard to hate, and hard to love; yet you will love this story. As Jason seeks justice for what could have been, he begins to explore the demons that haunt from within.
With lots of highs, and a few lows to keep you hanging on, Jason’s story will grip you in your heart. With a reasonable expectation that this could really happen, and a suggestion of facing the past, you will soon be cruising with Jason looking to make things right.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly and will be looking for the rest of Jason Trapp’s adventures.
Happy reading
11 reviews
December 28, 2020
Worthwhile background for the Jason Trapp character.

I'm not usually a fan of prequels, but this one works pretty well. I have already read the rest of the series and pre- ordered "The Apparatus". My only gripe with Slater seems to be endemic to the genre, so I didn't deduct for it. It's common for adventure writers to include car and motorcycle chases and describe in great detail totally mistaken ideas about how cars and bikes work. It's a small point, but really distracting, and always makes me wonder if their other research is as sloppy.
Profile Image for Jeff Benham.
1,712 reviews10 followers
June 14, 2021
Awesome prequel! Out of the army, with no reason to believe someone wants him dead, he rides his Harley across country. In some little town that no one has ever heard of, he gets a ticket for speeding. But this is no ordinary sheriff. He brings Jason home to meet his family and spend the night. He ends up staying longer, helping out and attracted to their daughter. Then someone tries killing both of them and she ends up in critical condition. They will pay with their lives if Trapp has a say in it.
354 reviews4 followers
October 5, 2020
5 Stars

Having read all the other books in the Jason Trapp series, this book takes you back to the very start of his journey before being selected as a very special operative. I will not spoil the read but it fills in many holes which existed in his previous life. Any new readers to this series should read this book first. A great read and I really look forward to the next book called, The Apparatus. A well deserved 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 reviews
November 10, 2020
Well thought out story line.

I was a tad surprised when the hook, before he was the hangman, wasn't really true! Jason was the hangman in the army and this book takes place after leaving. BUT forgiving that, this is a great read, a real page turner. Interesting characterization and a story line that really works and hangs together well. Like all the Jason Trapp books, if you like high adventure, this is must read.
112 reviews
February 26, 2022
Trapp’s beginning

Overall, I liked it. I’d give it 4.3 but partial stars don’t exist. There is a painful error with the trucks that are going after Jason. The Ford and the Cherokee get mixed up. Some of the story line and how events are managed are absurd and not believable. Finch makes good investigative call and there is no follow up. And the ending is abrupt and rushed. But still worth reading.
88 reviews
January 10, 2024
Every emotion I could possibly feel

These books with Trapped have me anxious to keep reading. Having 3 boys in the war, brings it only closer when reading the disregard of our military. I just finished this book and my feelings are raw, hits so close to home. The Trapped character has my heart while he continues fighting everything and everyone through his lonely existence.
On to the next book.
15 reviews
October 6, 2020
Can I rate 4.5? I really enjoyed this book. The middle ish dragged a bit and I found myself skimming through chapters. Some of it wasn't as believable as I'd have liked. But I very much enjoyed the themes carried from the Count of Monte Cristo, and the relationships Jason developed with the main characters in this book.
Profile Image for Jim A.
1,267 reviews82 followers
October 8, 2020
A prequel to several books already in the series. If someone was familiar with the story line they would probably have rated this with more stars. Plenty of background for the Trapp character, but otherwise just a run of the mill action story. I had read book one of the series and thought the author was way too verbose in his writing. This one suffers from the same.

824 reviews7 followers
October 16, 2020
Very entertaining

After reading the four previous Jason Trapp novels I claim this one the best. What is Trapp running from? When he is pulled over by a sheriff for speeding, he begins to realize he is running from his demons and begins a new life with someone special. But the past won’t let him.

Well written storyline with interesting situations.
114 reviews1 follower
October 18, 2020
Hangman Series

I have followed the Jason Trapp series, since it's inception. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and am looking forward to the next book already. If you haven't read any of these novels, then you are in for a treat. I highly recommend starting at the beginning and then you too will be impressed by the phenomenal writing of Jack Slater.
34 reviews1 follower
October 29, 2020
Surprisingly good

Not generally the type of novel I choose but was pleasantly surprised with this. Story stands well on its own, while I always recommend starting at the beginning of a series, this one was perfectly readable as a stand alone. Does make you want to catch up on the rest !!!!
320 reviews
July 8, 2023
Just hair rising!!

In the beginning, I didn't understand much of the plot because for me the first few chapters were kind of confusing. At least, I understood the historical background.
Then, all came to a rushing, hair rising development, and I couldn't read fast enough to reach the emotional end.
Beautiful, and fast story.
Monica Beltrami. Montevideo, Uruguay.
5 reviews
October 30, 2023
Deeds Never Go Unpunished

Hangman is from an experience not to be desired but couldn't avoid, Chino to show the scars from battle under the bandages, and the ugly thievery of those we never want in our lives. A good, fast paced read of the fallout from war's aftermath we'd prefer to hide
6 reviews
February 23, 2024
I had already read the first five books in the series so I was caught off-guard when it started in Iraq instead of his childhood. It was also little slow getting started, but quickly picked up the pace. I was surprised when even under all the stress and long hours experienced in the last several chapters our man Chino never experienced another migraine.
Profile Image for Garlan ✌.
537 reviews19 followers
January 12, 2025
This was a pretty decent thriller, an "origin" story to give us a little background on the protagonist. I believe this is the 3rd or 4th book by the author, so I was a little surprised it wasn't more "polished". Still, better written than the first book I read. I have one more book by this author that I will attempt to tackle soon. Closer to 3 1/2 stars, but definitely not a 4 star read.
3 reviews
October 17, 2020
Great book and great read

Great characters . This is my first Jason Trapp book and would highly recommend it. Thought it was going to be the usual plot line but went a different way which made it a good read.
11 reviews
October 29, 2020
Best one yet!!

Superb! Keep 'em coming! Can't help but be a fan of Trapp and his exploits. Kind of guy I'd like to have a couple of cold ones with and listen to him tell about his adventures. Mr. Slater has a good thing going, and I hope it doesn't end anytime soon!
1 review2 followers
November 3, 2020
Great action novel.

I cannot wait to follow Trapp in future adventures. I read Hangman in about six days. The only good thing about the self-isolation required by COVID-19 is I have more time to read.
587 reviews2 followers
November 12, 2020
Should be 5-Stars, but it isn’t ...

The writing for this book starts out great, with good action.
Then, the ‘Origin’ part of the story takes over, and drags The Reader through a long, long tale that isn’t always clear where it’s leading.
Profile Image for David Bearman.
8 reviews
November 21, 2020
A great read that goes back to the beginning

Not every author can go back and show the origins of a character from year before. Slater does exactly that with his Hangman character, show all sides of how it began.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews

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