The Troubleshooter

Hannibal Jones #1

by Austin S. Camacho

A high powered Washington attorney buys an apartment building in the heart of the city, hoping to create low income housing for good families. Instead he finds the building occupied by squatters: drug dealers, winos and hookers intent on staying in place. Hannibal Jones is hired to free the building from them, but the people holding crack pipes are backed up by people holding guns. Hannibal soon finds himself up against a local crime boss and his mob connected father. But Hannibal realizes that his success or failure will determine the fate of a neighborhood, and the future of one small boy.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction

236 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 17, 2004

About the author

Austin S. Camacho is the author of six novels about Washington Dc-based private eye Hannibal Jones, five in the Stark and O’Brien international adventure-thriller series, and the detective novel, Beyond Blue. His short stories have been featured in several anthologies including Dying in a Winter Wonderland – an Independent Mystery Booksellers Association Top Ten Bestseller for 2008 - and he is featured in the Edgar nominated African American Mystery Writers: A Historical and Thematic Study by Frankie Y. Bailey.

Camacho is deeply involved with the writing community. He is a past president of the Maryland Writers Association, past Vice President of the Virginia Writers Club, and is an active member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime.

Reviews

[Sharon Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had a bit of the 'action movie' script type thing going, with the hero batting the bad guys around the day after a serious beating but after all, this is fiction, right? and entertainment. And I did find it entertaining.

Fairly standard plot with the good guys against the drug dealers in the bad part of town. A lot of stock characters but the author had a deft touch with them so they were well rounded enough that they were individuals on the page.

Some issues that kept this from being a 5 star rating for me. I found the reluctance of the hero to use 'deadly force' a little disconcerting when considering his supposed background. I also found the female interest not very believable, a driven, job oriented lawyer suddenly turning into "little miss housewife" is a stretch for me. I'm a character driven reader and the second part of that is I quite frankly don't like 'little miss housewife' types.

That said, I'm going to be looking for more in this series and hoping that 'little miss housewife' manages to get back to the driven lawyer with a mission and a work ethic in the next one or two of the series.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up after reading all three of Austin Camacho's Stark and O'Brien adventure series, I didn't think I'd love this more then those but I really did! I can't wait to get the next ones!
Great characters you really feel a connection to, and the action was exciting and clear, I could picture it all easily. Hannibal Jones is an Indiana Jones type in personality, just a different time and line of work. He is not unbelievably perfect, he gets beat up but still persists after justice, doesn't talk like a script but with slang of a real guy of his generation.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me, I loved it. But I am not ex-Secret Service or ex-dangerous military or even ex-Homicide Detective, but I do respect the work and dangers they are exposed to and the high degree of critical thinking that becomes a part of who each one of them is. Hannibal Jones has been all three and now is an independent contractor working directly for money, but still has the crusader mentality that goes with where he's been and done. All that said, this assignment is to remove illegal elements squatting in an apartment building working for the lawyer who owns it. Hannibal attracts and collects out of work men he knows from the soup kitchen he volunteers at who are capable and willing to work with him for a decent wage. Then they come afoul of a self-important fool who thinks he rules the world because he is the son of a mob boss. And the real action begins!
Justin Joseph is remarkable as the narrator of this story with so many interesting characters!
I won this audio in a Giveaway!

[RJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our protagonist, Hannibal Jones is the troubleshooter. Like the last novel I read, A Talent for Killing, Hannibal has created a life for himself as a protector, righting wrongs for people who can't find peace or justice any other way. In this volume, Hannibal is hired by attorney Dan Baylor to clear out a low-income housing building that has been infested by squatters; i.e., drug dealers, winos, and hookers. During the eviction, Hannibal encounters the mob lieutenant who has been using the building for his illegal business, and he doesn’t want to move. Great action and real-life characters. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Kelvin Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Troubleshooter: A Hannibal Jones Thriller" (2008) by Austin S. Camacho is a entertaining novel about former Secret Service agent, now private “troubleshooter” Hannibal Jones, who is hired to clean up a run-down apartment building in Washington, D.C. Jones discovers evicting the squatters, drug dealers, prostitutes, and the like is not easy. The story is interesting from the beginning and has a rousing finish. The audio version is well-done, but there are a few annoying spots with repeat dialogue that need to be edited. Highly recommended.

[Emily Shaffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-written story and a fun read. Hannibal Jones is a man who tries to live within The law, his own moral
code, and justice. He knows those ideals don’t always mix and sometimes you have to bend the rules to get justice; especially for those who are marginalized and forgotten.

The stories are action packed and the characters believable and likable.

If you like Jack Reacher, you’ll love Hannibal
jones.

[Kerry-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good story, full of intrigue, good intentions and interesting characters. A pretty good book, I'm looking forward to the next in the series.
The narrator was spot on with all the characters, accents, emotions and actions

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced

Great book! I enjoyed the rollercoaster ride with Hannibal. Fast paced and kept me guessing how it was going to end. Can't wait to read the next one!

[mzbeastle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful beginning to the Hannibal Jones series. Like just about everything about the books, so I'll keep reading this series.

[Sandra Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

Fantastically realistic read. Hannibal Jones is a wonder and the other characters make for great reading. Well plotted and heart pounding action.

[Betsy Ashton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for a bad ass character when I picked up BLOOD AND BONE, the prequel to THE TROUBLESHOOTER. Camacho delivers.

Hannibal Jones, black, ex pretty much everything (military, CIA, you name it) bills himself as a troubleshooter willing to take on injustice to help the downtrodden. Homeless after a fire destroys his apartment, he takes on a client who wants to evict a group of squatters from a run-down building. The goal is to refit the building as low income housing, but the squatters and drug dealers have to leave first.

With a sizeable cast of secondary characters and a plot that will keep the reader flipping pages, Camacho renders the gritty inner-city of Washington, D.C. in broad strokes. The setting is as much a character as the people who live in the building.

You'll read until your eyes bleed and demand more Hannibal Jones books. Fortunately, there are at least four more.

[Daniel Munroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll leave it for others to talk about the actual plot etc, because I'm always scared I will reveal something of the story and spoil things for a reader. As far as I'm concerned - read the back of the book to find out what it's about.

To start, I will say I didn't like the book, based on the first couple of pages. The opening somehow felt hurried and a little glib. However, within the first chapter or so, I'd experienced a complete turnaround, and I found the characters growing on me, and the events becoming compelling.

By the end, I was thoroughly caught up in the central character's successes, as well as his failures and failings, plus the colorful crew he surrounded himself with.

All in all, a very enjoyable romp.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ex cop, Secret Service agent and now A PI and self proclaimed troubleshooter teams up with a Washington Lawyer who owns a row house in South East DC that is empty and has been taken over by squatters and druggies. Hannibal Jones agrees to take on the job of ousting the unwelcome residents so that the place can be cleaned up for legitimate renters. He manages to get them out on his own, but in doing so runs afoul of the local drug lord and has a setback when the Drug lord's muscle drives him out. Read further to discover how he solves his problems. Starts out sounding some what like a green author but soon picks up and becomes a decent read.

[Bud Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannibal Jones is what every crime fighter should aspire to. He never quits, he uses force only when necessary and he's a sharp dresser. In his wrap-around Oakley's and his white Volvo he is like the Lone Ranger. Much like the Lone Ranger, he like to keep a low profile, get the job done, get paid and move on. In The Troubleshooter he moves from situation to situation as the tension and the page turning increase. This was one book I had a hard time putting down and would loose myself in it till the wee hours of the morning. I highly recommend The Troubleshooter and eagerly await reading my next Austin Camacho story.

[Will Decker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story even if the ending were a tad predictable. If it had a bit more descriptive sex and violence, I might have rated it higher. But you can't always get it your way. A few times I wondered how the author was going to continue the story when it appeared that the ending was in sight. Without fail, Camacho threw poor Hannibal back into the fray and the action would start all over again. I like that the hero is vulnerable and the characters believable. Spoiler Alert::::If you like the story of good guy gets whipped, good guy gets back up, good guy fights back, good guy gets girl, you will like this story. Predictable; don't say I didn't warn you.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting characters are introduced in this first book of the series -- characters worth getting to know better. There's also plenty of action, much of it violent, and all of it engaging. I think this is a series to follow.

Justin Joseph's performance is adequate, although he doesn't seem very proficient with accents. And there are more instances than I can remember of repeated text. Editing is a big fail with this production.

NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Teresa Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!!! As anyone who has read any of my reviews knows, I'm a diehard murder mystery buff & this book meets all my requirements. It has a hero you can believe in, all his side-kicks, and of course, the woman he loves. The Troubleshooter is well written without a lot of gratuitous violence. The story moves along quickly and you can't wait to see what happens next. I have definitely become an Austin Camacho fan. I recommend this series for anyone who loves a good mystery.

[Austin Camacho]

In this prequel to Blood and Bone, Hannibal Jones is hired to free a Washington crack house from the drug addicts and winos that hold it. A powerful drug lord nearly drives him off, until he realizes that his success or failure will determine the fate of a neighborhood, and the future of one small boy.

[B Swanginwebster · Rating 5 out of 5]

i was given this book by the author because i had never read a mystery before...my comment at the time was, I don't like mysteries and after reading it.....

Boy was I wrong...dead wrong! I love mysteries..who knew?

But I immediately went and got the rest of this author's works and have not been disappointed.

[L.M. Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I simply fell in love with Hannibal, the main character of this book. He had a heart of gold and a gun to back it up. This action packed mystery thriller had me glued and its a fun read that you won't want to put down.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mystery is hard to resist and Mr. Camacho's Hanibal Jones makes this book even more irresistable.

The book is a standard good guys vs. bad guys. But Hanibal definitely has depth which makes the story enjoyable.

I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.

[Nani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful introduction to Hannibal Jones. I'd already read and liked Collateral Damage; I'll definitely read more in the series!

[Robbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this one 4.5 stars, Jim gave it 4.

[Linda Look · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the characters and story in this Hannibal Jones Thriller. This was a book that was easy to read and I rated it a 4.5

[Byron Washington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good, but room for improvement. The story, even though far-fetched, was entertaining.