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Anonymous Justice #2
Payback
Former NYC prosecutor Kate Stone has found herself on the wrong side of the law since leaving the district attorney's office. She returns to confront her former boss, D.A. Frank Rubenstein, and discover all he knows about the corruption in NYC law enforcement and the legal system, where rich men are using dark money to gain advantages. She must decide whether the ends justify the means when she accepts Rubenstein's help and the help of his ragtag team of vigilantes to bring down the corrupt men her policeman father was investigating before his mysterious death. And she will finally clear her father's name.
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 16, 2023
21 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 15, 2023
First and foremost, this would not make for a good standalone. I strongly suggest you start the series from the beginning. Without prior knowledge of the Anonymous Justice (AJ) group, as well as what happened at the end of the first installment, I truly believe this story would be really confusing to readers who didn’t have the previous history of the characters and events. JMHO
The book summary is pretty vague and just introduces the primary storyline. What the book summary doesn’t mention are the secondary storylines. On that note, this story takes place shortly after the last story. Kate has left the DA’s office and is now working in her mother’s firm as a defense attorney. The woman, and fellow AJ member, Whitney, who tried to kill Kate (at the end of the first installment) is released from jail after only a couple of weeks. There is also the incident of a limo driver trying to kidnap Kate from the airport and ending in Kate causing a crash in order to escape him.
Kate also takes on the representation of another AJ member and friend, Rod, who is now in Rikers because of his involvement in AJ, and yet another AJ member, Millie, is in some kind of mental state, who believes that Whitney is stalking her. Lastly, Kate’s friend and former DA partner, Bill, appears to be getting set-up by the DA Rubenstein (aka Ruby) in the same way that he set Kate up in the first book. Suffice it to say that there is a lot going on.
Sometimes, I can get a little suspicious of writers trying to cram so many different storylines into one book. It’s been my experience that throwing a bunch of stuff into story, can be a cover-up for a weak plot. Inevitably, if a book has too many storylines, sometimes one or more storylines can be left hanging (and not in a good way) or more often than not, it’s character development that will suffer.
The story flips back and forth between Kate and Bill with a few chapters from Whitney sprinkled throughout. Most of the story just kind of stumbles along from one scene to the next where we witness Kate struggle with her day-to-day life as well as her behavior (she struggles with anger management issues), decisions, and priorities. Kate temporarily stays at a hotel because of an incident at her apartment (a whole other story). Suffice it to say, Kate and her life are a bit of a hot mess, more so now than ever before.
It isn’t until well into the second half of the story (around the 70%-75% mark) that the story FINALLY starts to get interesting with the discovery after the death of Kate’s late father’s former partner. The end comes fast after that in a flurry of activity and revelations, some scary and intense, and others kind of predictable. This installment was kind of disappointing, at least to me, compared to the first installment that was really good. The whole Ian Templeton storyline just got to be kind of boring after two installments. Glad to see that the next installment will be moving on from it. For me, most of the story was a 2-2.5star read, but I did like the ending; a decent enough ending can be the difference between a 2star and a 3star rating.
I want to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #GrandCentralPublishing #Payback
The book summary is pretty vague and just introduces the primary storyline. What the book summary doesn’t mention are the secondary storylines. On that note, this story takes place shortly after the last story. Kate has left the DA’s office and is now working in her mother’s firm as a defense attorney. The woman, and fellow AJ member, Whitney, who tried to kill Kate (at the end of the first installment) is released from jail after only a couple of weeks. There is also the incident of a limo driver trying to kidnap Kate from the airport and ending in Kate causing a crash in order to escape him.
Kate also takes on the representation of another AJ member and friend, Rod, who is now in Rikers because of his involvement in AJ, and yet another AJ member, Millie, is in some kind of mental state, who believes that Whitney is stalking her. Lastly, Kate’s friend and former DA partner, Bill, appears to be getting set-up by the DA Rubenstein (aka Ruby) in the same way that he set Kate up in the first book. Suffice it to say that there is a lot going on.
Sometimes, I can get a little suspicious of writers trying to cram so many different storylines into one book. It’s been my experience that throwing a bunch of stuff into story, can be a cover-up for a weak plot. Inevitably, if a book has too many storylines, sometimes one or more storylines can be left hanging (and not in a good way) or more often than not, it’s character development that will suffer.
The story flips back and forth between Kate and Bill with a few chapters from Whitney sprinkled throughout. Most of the story just kind of stumbles along from one scene to the next where we witness Kate struggle with her day-to-day life as well as her behavior (she struggles with anger management issues), decisions, and priorities. Kate temporarily stays at a hotel because of an incident at her apartment (a whole other story). Suffice it to say, Kate and her life are a bit of a hot mess, more so now than ever before.
It isn’t until well into the second half of the story (around the 70%-75% mark) that the story FINALLY starts to get interesting with the discovery after the death of Kate’s late father’s former partner. The end comes fast after that in a flurry of activity and revelations, some scary and intense, and others kind of predictable. This installment was kind of disappointing, at least to me, compared to the first installment that was really good. The whole Ian Templeton storyline just got to be kind of boring after two installments. Glad to see that the next installment will be moving on from it. For me, most of the story was a 2-2.5star read, but I did like the ending; a decent enough ending can be the difference between a 2star and a 3star rating.
I want to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #GrandCentralPublishing #Payback
June 21, 2024
Nancy Allen has impressed me with some great solo and collaborative writing. I have discovered a great deal of it over the last few months and never been disappointed. Allen provides a great second novel in this series, bringing Kate Stone back for more excitement. After discovering truths about her father, Kate hopes to clear his name as she delves deeply into the corruption occurring across NYC. She has a plan and some great help from her support group, though there are some who want nothing more than to silence her. As Kate dodges many bullets—literal and figurative—she hopes to be able to uncover the truth before it’s too late. Allen delivers another great novel and has me eager to see if more will be published with this series.
Kate Stone has spent some time on the wrong side of the law since departing the DA’s office. While she has found herself in trouble, she is passionate about the law and confronts her former boss, D.A. Frank Rubenstein, to see what he knows about corruption around New York City. Rich men have been able to grease palms to get officials to turn the other way while they amass money and break laws.
While Kate still has connections to her support group, a ragtag collection of those seeking to root out injustice, not everyone is happy to have her pushing the limits. She’s assaulted and almost killed, which only fuels her fire to get to the truth. She is once again willing to put herself in risky situations, as long as it garners results.
Kate’s father was a dedicated cop who sought to find corrupt officials and bring them down, which led to his death. Now, Kate hopes to use DA Rubenstein’s resources to get to the bottom of it all. She will have to survive if she wants to vindicate her father and help show that he was on the right path. Allen impressed once more with this novel and has me curious to see if more will be forthcoming.
Nancy Allen has done a great job once more with this novel. Setting the foundation for what could be a great collection, Allen steers the story into some of the darker sides of the law and those who abuse it. The story gains needed speed when Kate finds herself connected to this ragtag support group with their own agenda. Building tension and intrigue, the story never fails to check all the boxes, while building off the debut. With a great cross-section of characters, I remained entertained throughout the reading experience.
The plot provided in the book keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. Allen presents a great collection of events that offer surprises and twists throughout. The story hums along, while never allowing things be too predictive. I hope Allen returns to add to this series, which has me interested in many of the dangling threads
Kudos, Madam Allen, for a great piece that allowed me a quick reading journey.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Kate Stone has spent some time on the wrong side of the law since departing the DA’s office. While she has found herself in trouble, she is passionate about the law and confronts her former boss, D.A. Frank Rubenstein, to see what he knows about corruption around New York City. Rich men have been able to grease palms to get officials to turn the other way while they amass money and break laws.
While Kate still has connections to her support group, a ragtag collection of those seeking to root out injustice, not everyone is happy to have her pushing the limits. She’s assaulted and almost killed, which only fuels her fire to get to the truth. She is once again willing to put herself in risky situations, as long as it garners results.
Kate’s father was a dedicated cop who sought to find corrupt officials and bring them down, which led to his death. Now, Kate hopes to use DA Rubenstein’s resources to get to the bottom of it all. She will have to survive if she wants to vindicate her father and help show that he was on the right path. Allen impressed once more with this novel and has me curious to see if more will be forthcoming.
Nancy Allen has done a great job once more with this novel. Setting the foundation for what could be a great collection, Allen steers the story into some of the darker sides of the law and those who abuse it. The story gains needed speed when Kate finds herself connected to this ragtag support group with their own agenda. Building tension and intrigue, the story never fails to check all the boxes, while building off the debut. With a great cross-section of characters, I remained entertained throughout the reading experience.
The plot provided in the book keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. Allen presents a great collection of events that offer surprises and twists throughout. The story hums along, while never allowing things be too predictive. I hope Allen returns to add to this series, which has me interested in many of the dangling threads
Kudos, Madam Allen, for a great piece that allowed me a quick reading journey.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
March 14, 2023
This book is a little heavy and worth reading but I suggest you go back to the beginning of this series if you haven't read the others, you need that for context.
This book is filled with shock and awe and if you like a good mystery where the underdog or good guy mostly wins, you'll want to read this because the bad guy gets his in a big way.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is filled with shock and awe and if you like a good mystery where the underdog or good guy mostly wins, you'll want to read this because the bad guy gets his in a big way.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2023
3.5 stars
Payback is the second in a series and since there are a lot of characters and a complicated plot, this book works better if you've already read the first book. The main character, Kate Stone, is no longer working for the New York District Attorney's office. However, she is still in danger from more than one person as she tries to get justice for the innocent and take down a corrupt and powerful man.
I love this author's legal thrillers, but I'm still trying to make up my mind about this series. There are parts I really like, including Kate's sense of humor. I really enjoyed the scenes showing the interactions between Kate and her mother, who is a successful defense attorney and very intimidating both in and out of the courtroom. I wish the book would have had more courtroom scenes, but those with Kate visiting a friend and client in Rikers prison are well-done and appropriately creepy.
The plot gets a little over-complicated at times which creates some pacing issues. However, the dramatic and satisfying ending is excellent. My hope is that if there is a third book in this series, it will focus more on Kate (as well as her mother) in the courtroom which the author does so well.
I received a copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
Payback is the second in a series and since there are a lot of characters and a complicated plot, this book works better if you've already read the first book. The main character, Kate Stone, is no longer working for the New York District Attorney's office. However, she is still in danger from more than one person as she tries to get justice for the innocent and take down a corrupt and powerful man.
I love this author's legal thrillers, but I'm still trying to make up my mind about this series. There are parts I really like, including Kate's sense of humor. I really enjoyed the scenes showing the interactions between Kate and her mother, who is a successful defense attorney and very intimidating both in and out of the courtroom. I wish the book would have had more courtroom scenes, but those with Kate visiting a friend and client in Rikers prison are well-done and appropriately creepy.
The plot gets a little over-complicated at times which creates some pacing issues. However, the dramatic and satisfying ending is excellent. My hope is that if there is a third book in this series, it will focus more on Kate (as well as her mother) in the courtroom which the author does so well.
I received a copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
May 5, 2023
The following is an abridged version of my review. To read the full length version go to www.readinghasruinedmylife.com or click the following link: https://www.readinghasruinedmylife.co...
Thank you to Novel Suspects Insider's Club and Grand Central Publishing for sending me an arc; they aren't paying me for my review, they just sent me the book for free.
There is a lot going on in this book from cryptocurrency to double agents to Ponzi schemes to solving a decades old murder and anything and everything in between. Payback is the second entry of Nancy Allen’s Anonymous Justice series and picks up where the last one left off. At least that’s what I assume. Full disclosure, I’ve never read the other Anonymous Justice novel. And I don't recommend starting with the second entry.
For the most part I was able to follow along quite well. Nancy Allen did a good job at giving me all the exposition I needed to understand what was going on. I understood the relationships between characters, and the general backstory and lore necessary to comprehend what was occurring in the latest novel. For the most part all this was solid. Until the end. For the vast majority of the book, I didn’t feel like I was missing something regarding backstory or character relationships. Everything was easy for me to follow. Then came the final showdown. It was like a switch got flipped. While I knew all the characters involved and their motivations, something was missing. I just felt lost. Things were being revealed, important things, and I didn’t understand their importance. What should have been a satisfying ending was not. And this was a problem simply because I’ve never read the other book the Anonymous Justice series. I’ve looked at a few other reviews from people who have read the first book, and people seem to be satisfied with the ending. So I guess don’t be like me. Read the first book before this one. There's just so much going on that this series needs to be read in order to fully grasp the larger story. This is not something I'm docking points for, I just want it to be noted.
The only thing I wasn't a huge fan of was the main character. Kate Stone is hot-headed, sarcastic, athletic, and intelligent; basically everything you want in a thriller protagonist. To this I say: boring! Kate is a little basic when it comes to thriller protagonists. I enjoyed her sarcasm, but she’s not different from the countless other heroines out there. I think we can all name another mystery, thriller heroine who is sarcastic, intelligent, and has familial issues. She’s a dime a dozen. There’s nothing setting her apart from the countless other main characters out there.
Overall this was an enjoyable read. But read the first entry before the second. Don't be like me and only read book two.
Thank you once again to Novel Suspects and Grand Central Publishing for sending me a copy of Payback. Again, my full review can be found at www.readinghasruinedmylife.com; I post new reviews every Wednesday at noon EST.
Thank you to Novel Suspects Insider's Club and Grand Central Publishing for sending me an arc; they aren't paying me for my review, they just sent me the book for free.
There is a lot going on in this book from cryptocurrency to double agents to Ponzi schemes to solving a decades old murder and anything and everything in between. Payback is the second entry of Nancy Allen’s Anonymous Justice series and picks up where the last one left off. At least that’s what I assume. Full disclosure, I’ve never read the other Anonymous Justice novel. And I don't recommend starting with the second entry.
For the most part I was able to follow along quite well. Nancy Allen did a good job at giving me all the exposition I needed to understand what was going on. I understood the relationships between characters, and the general backstory and lore necessary to comprehend what was occurring in the latest novel. For the most part all this was solid. Until the end. For the vast majority of the book, I didn’t feel like I was missing something regarding backstory or character relationships. Everything was easy for me to follow. Then came the final showdown. It was like a switch got flipped. While I knew all the characters involved and their motivations, something was missing. I just felt lost. Things were being revealed, important things, and I didn’t understand their importance. What should have been a satisfying ending was not. And this was a problem simply because I’ve never read the other book the Anonymous Justice series. I’ve looked at a few other reviews from people who have read the first book, and people seem to be satisfied with the ending. So I guess don’t be like me. Read the first book before this one. There's just so much going on that this series needs to be read in order to fully grasp the larger story. This is not something I'm docking points for, I just want it to be noted.
The only thing I wasn't a huge fan of was the main character. Kate Stone is hot-headed, sarcastic, athletic, and intelligent; basically everything you want in a thriller protagonist. To this I say: boring! Kate is a little basic when it comes to thriller protagonists. I enjoyed her sarcasm, but she’s not different from the countless other heroines out there. I think we can all name another mystery, thriller heroine who is sarcastic, intelligent, and has familial issues. She’s a dime a dozen. There’s nothing setting her apart from the countless other main characters out there.
Overall this was an enjoyable read. But read the first entry before the second. Don't be like me and only read book two.
Thank you once again to Novel Suspects and Grand Central Publishing for sending me a copy of Payback. Again, my full review can be found at www.readinghasruinedmylife.com; I post new reviews every Wednesday at noon EST.
December 21, 2023
The author has co-written two books with James Patterson, my wife liked this book, but I gave up after 55 pages and eight chapters. I just didn't find it interesting. Sorry. (Now that I've read other reviews, I should have read the first book before this one.)
March 11, 2023
Sometimes even a lawyer wants to take the law into her own hands.
In this, the second book in a series, now former NYC ADA Kate Stone is trying to return to a normal life. Her father was a solid cop before his untimely death (Kate refuses to believe it was a suicide) and her mother is a defense attorney, so she has always believed in the rule of law. But when a crooked judge released a serial offender whom she had worked hard to put away in the prior book, Renegade, she let anger get the best of her and assaulted the freed man outside the courtroom….where it was caught on video. The DA mandates that she attend anger management meetings if she wants to keep her job, which she does reluctantly. There she met other people who felt that the system had failed them, and who each contributed a set of skills to trying to right a few wrongs. Things went too far, and some of the members of the group set out to eliminate Kate. She survived with her life, but barely. And she lost her job.
Now working for her mother’s law office, Kate is still in touch with the members whom she feels she can trust….Steven, a doctor without the license to practice, with whom she has a budding relationship; Millie, a young aspiring singer and her boyfriend Rod; and Devon, a talented hacker. Returning from a recuperative stay in Florida, she is no sooner off the plane than bad things start happening again. Kate is not one to back down from a fight, so she gathers her fellow vigilantes to work on finding out who is working against them. Since one of her suspects is a titan in financial circles whom no one, not even her ADA friend and former colleague Bill or the DA himself is willing to go after, it is up to Kate and her gang to make themselves safe and bring the bad guys to justice. If the bad guys don’t get them first.
Payback is a fast paced, action packed read. Kate Stone is a flawed but ultimately likeable character, and isn’t afraid to defy anyone (even her formidable mother) in her quest for justice. She is inclined to be a bit more trusting than this cynical reader is when it comes to the people in her life, but she takes her hits and keeps going. Author Nancy Allen has co-written two novels with James Patterson, so fans of those and other Patterson books might enjoy Payback, as would fans of Sharon Sala and Carla Neggers. Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an advanced reader’s copy of Payback.
In this, the second book in a series, now former NYC ADA Kate Stone is trying to return to a normal life. Her father was a solid cop before his untimely death (Kate refuses to believe it was a suicide) and her mother is a defense attorney, so she has always believed in the rule of law. But when a crooked judge released a serial offender whom she had worked hard to put away in the prior book, Renegade, she let anger get the best of her and assaulted the freed man outside the courtroom….where it was caught on video. The DA mandates that she attend anger management meetings if she wants to keep her job, which she does reluctantly. There she met other people who felt that the system had failed them, and who each contributed a set of skills to trying to right a few wrongs. Things went too far, and some of the members of the group set out to eliminate Kate. She survived with her life, but barely. And she lost her job.
Now working for her mother’s law office, Kate is still in touch with the members whom she feels she can trust….Steven, a doctor without the license to practice, with whom she has a budding relationship; Millie, a young aspiring singer and her boyfriend Rod; and Devon, a talented hacker. Returning from a recuperative stay in Florida, she is no sooner off the plane than bad things start happening again. Kate is not one to back down from a fight, so she gathers her fellow vigilantes to work on finding out who is working against them. Since one of her suspects is a titan in financial circles whom no one, not even her ADA friend and former colleague Bill or the DA himself is willing to go after, it is up to Kate and her gang to make themselves safe and bring the bad guys to justice. If the bad guys don’t get them first.
Payback is a fast paced, action packed read. Kate Stone is a flawed but ultimately likeable character, and isn’t afraid to defy anyone (even her formidable mother) in her quest for justice. She is inclined to be a bit more trusting than this cynical reader is when it comes to the people in her life, but she takes her hits and keeps going. Author Nancy Allen has co-written two novels with James Patterson, so fans of those and other Patterson books might enjoy Payback, as would fans of Sharon Sala and Carla Neggers. Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an advanced reader’s copy of Payback.
April 30, 2023
"Payback" by Nancy Allen is an engaging legal thriller that follows the story of former NYC prosecutor, Kate Stone, as she takes on corruption in the legal system and seeks to clear her father's name. The book is fast-paced and full of twists and turns, making it a thrilling read for fans of the genre.
One of the strongest aspects of the book is its well-developed characters. Kate Stone is a complex and flawed protagonist who struggles with the ethical implications of the actions she takes to bring down the corrupt men in power. Her relationship with her former boss, Frank Rubenstein, is also intriguing, as he offers her help in her quest for justice despite their troubled history.
The plot of "Payback" is also well-crafted, with plenty of suspense and action to keep the reader hooked. The exploration of corruption in the legal system and the use of dark money to gain advantages adds a timely and relevant element to the story. However, there are some weaknesses in the book. Some of the plot twists can feel a bit contrived, and at times, the pacing can be uneven.
Overall, "Payback" is a solid legal thriller that offers a compelling exploration of corruption in the legal system. While it may not be perfect, it's an enjoyable read that will keep readers guessing until the very end.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read the eARC for my honest review.
One of the strongest aspects of the book is its well-developed characters. Kate Stone is a complex and flawed protagonist who struggles with the ethical implications of the actions she takes to bring down the corrupt men in power. Her relationship with her former boss, Frank Rubenstein, is also intriguing, as he offers her help in her quest for justice despite their troubled history.
The plot of "Payback" is also well-crafted, with plenty of suspense and action to keep the reader hooked. The exploration of corruption in the legal system and the use of dark money to gain advantages adds a timely and relevant element to the story. However, there are some weaknesses in the book. Some of the plot twists can feel a bit contrived, and at times, the pacing can be uneven.
Overall, "Payback" is a solid legal thriller that offers a compelling exploration of corruption in the legal system. While it may not be perfect, it's an enjoyable read that will keep readers guessing until the very end.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read the eARC for my honest review.
March 6, 2023
Payback by Nancy Allen is the 2nd book in this fast‑paced series where a corrupt NYC legal system pushes a lawyer to take justice into her own hands.
Former prosecutor Kate Stone has found herself on the wrong side of the law since leaving the district attorney's office. She returns to confront her former boss, D.A. Frank Rubenstein, and discover all he knows about the corruption in law enforcement and the legal system, where wealthy men use dark money to gain advantages. She must decide whether the ends justify the means when she accepts Rubenstein's help and the help of his ragtag team of vigilantes to bring down the corrupt men her policeman father was investigating before his mysterious death.
I liked this second book much better than the first. Kate is more likable in Payback, and the side characters are more relatable. There were good twists and surprises to keep my interest. I liked the setting and the storyline. I would recommend this second book. I don't think you necessarily need to read the first book in the series to understand what is happening, but it might help you understand the relationships between the characters and the backstory.
I rate this a 4 out of 5 stars.
#Payback #NetGalley @GrandCentralpub
Former prosecutor Kate Stone has found herself on the wrong side of the law since leaving the district attorney's office. She returns to confront her former boss, D.A. Frank Rubenstein, and discover all he knows about the corruption in law enforcement and the legal system, where wealthy men use dark money to gain advantages. She must decide whether the ends justify the means when she accepts Rubenstein's help and the help of his ragtag team of vigilantes to bring down the corrupt men her policeman father was investigating before his mysterious death.
I liked this second book much better than the first. Kate is more likable in Payback, and the side characters are more relatable. There were good twists and surprises to keep my interest. I liked the setting and the storyline. I would recommend this second book. I don't think you necessarily need to read the first book in the series to understand what is happening, but it might help you understand the relationships between the characters and the backstory.
I rate this a 4 out of 5 stars.
#Payback #NetGalley @GrandCentralpub
February 26, 2024
Kate Stone was previously a member of a small group called Anonymous Justice (AJ). She was later an Assistant District Attorney. She currently works for her mother's law firm. Someone is trying to viciously kill off all former members of AJ. They've already been successful in accomplishing this to a couple of them. Kate does not know who is responsible or why and is digging deep to find answers.
Kate's father supposedly died by suicide, but she knows that was not the reason for his demise. He would never jump 16 stories to his death. She suspects he was murdered and that whoever was responsible for his death may also be involved in murdering former members of AJ. She suspects the perpetrator may be the Wall Street financier Ian Templeton, who is currently promoting a new cryptocurrency scam, which she feels is another of his fraudulent schemes. She hooks up with a couple of former members of AJ, still alive, who assist her in her research.
Kate is abducted and fears she will become the next victim.
Kate's father supposedly died by suicide, but she knows that was not the reason for his demise. He would never jump 16 stories to his death. She suspects he was murdered and that whoever was responsible for his death may also be involved in murdering former members of AJ. She suspects the perpetrator may be the Wall Street financier Ian Templeton, who is currently promoting a new cryptocurrency scam, which she feels is another of his fraudulent schemes. She hooks up with a couple of former members of AJ, still alive, who assist her in her research.
Kate is abducted and fears she will become the next victim.
May 12, 2023
This is a thrilling book that will have readers clearing their schedules to finish. I read this book cover to cover. With this second in series our main charcter Kate Stone leaves her positon at the DA office of New York amid wide spread corruption by judges, detectives and other D.A's. She is now attempting to solve her Father's murder and doing so by utilizing vigilantes to bring corruption to light. She has confronted her former boss and investigated corruption throughout the New York court system and is assisted by her former boss in the D.A. office.
This is a fun thriller to read as it captures the reader from cover to cover. Kate is fearless and determined as she exposes wide spread corruption and does not hold back in exposing those guilty. From dirty cops, to judges accepting bribes, to falsefied police reports Kate persists. I enjoyed this as a fast paced thriller read. I recommend this book for your reading enjoyment.
This is a fun thriller to read as it captures the reader from cover to cover. Kate is fearless and determined as she exposes wide spread corruption and does not hold back in exposing those guilty. From dirty cops, to judges accepting bribes, to falsefied police reports Kate persists. I enjoyed this as a fast paced thriller read. I recommend this book for your reading enjoyment.
March 15, 2023
Kate Stone is an attorney with an anger issue who almost got killed by a member of her anger management support group. And now she's running for her life again when the woman accused of attacking her is released from Riker's on a trumped up bond change.
Ian Templeton is a millionaire who is now into a fraudulent crypto currency business. Kate is in the middle of both, trying to bring him down and catch her killer,.
The story gets a little sloppy with the in and out characters from her support group, past work in the NY prosecutor's office and her family; continually trying to differentiate between the good guys and the bad guys gets a bid tedious.
Just ok.
Ian Templeton is a millionaire who is now into a fraudulent crypto currency business. Kate is in the middle of both, trying to bring him down and catch her killer,.
The story gets a little sloppy with the in and out characters from her support group, past work in the NY prosecutor's office and her family; continually trying to differentiate between the good guys and the bad guys gets a bid tedious.
Just ok.
April 12, 2023
Payback - Nancy Allen
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this exciting eARC.
I think this was book #2 of a series, so it took me a while to catch up, as it begins with a lawyer in jail, and you aren't initially sure why. Ideally, it would be best to read directly after the 1st book, as some books are fine standalones, but this one already seemed like a work in progress.
However, once I went back and referred to the 1st chapter once or twice to get my bearings, I was able to follow along.
A good mystery with numerous twists and turns, and I especially loved the ending (hint: the book IS titled Payback).
Until next time, fellow readers...
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this exciting eARC.
I think this was book #2 of a series, so it took me a while to catch up, as it begins with a lawyer in jail, and you aren't initially sure why. Ideally, it would be best to read directly after the 1st book, as some books are fine standalones, but this one already seemed like a work in progress.
However, once I went back and referred to the 1st chapter once or twice to get my bearings, I was able to follow along.
A good mystery with numerous twists and turns, and I especially loved the ending (hint: the book IS titled Payback).
Until next time, fellow readers...
May 18, 2023
I was hooked and hooked hard from the last line of the prologue, which dropped my jaw, to the last line of the book, which left me satisfied but wanting more from this author. I am such a fan of the gritty, flawed, wonderful women that people Nancy Allen’s stories. Her plots are just the right amount of action, mystery, thrill and heart, and Payback is no exception. I loved the first book in this series, Renegade, where we are first introduced to Kate Stone and a group of vigilante misfits, but Payback works well as a standalone, too. Don’t hesitate to pick this up as long as you’re prepared to not be able to put it down!
April 7, 2023
My Thoughts:
When Kate sets out for justice on a guy she set away but who was released by a corrupt judge she finds her life is in jeopardy. This is full of action and a fast paced read.
This is the second book in Nancy Allen's fast‑paced new series where a corrupt NYC legal system pushes a lawyer to take justice into her own hands and I would recommend reading book one called Renegade if you can first.
When Kate sets out for justice on a guy she set away but who was released by a corrupt judge she finds her life is in jeopardy. This is full of action and a fast paced read.
This is the second book in Nancy Allen's fast‑paced new series where a corrupt NYC legal system pushes a lawyer to take justice into her own hands and I would recommend reading book one called Renegade if you can first.
March 4, 2023
Second book in the series; make sure to the first book before jumping into this one. Double crosses and triple crosses abound as our heroine seeks her seemingly untouchable prey while wearing a bullseye of her own. I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.
June 16, 2023
Friends and Colleagues
Payback is a five-star book. I chose this heading because of the relationship because of the friendship between Bill and A Kate. It was an entertaining book with mystery and intrigue with a little romance mixed in. There was everything to like about this book, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading Nancy Allen's books like I do.
Payback is a five-star book. I chose this heading because of the relationship because of the friendship between Bill and A Kate. It was an entertaining book with mystery and intrigue with a little romance mixed in. There was everything to like about this book, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading Nancy Allen's books like I do.
July 19, 2023
Probably closer to 3.5 stars for me.
This was the second book in the series and was pretty enjoyable.
It had a slow start and took a little while to get going, but once it hit its stride, the pages turned faster towards a satisfying conclusion.
I’m hoping that the series can continue, but with how the book ended, there aren’t many loose strings out there to pick up.
This was the second book in the series and was pretty enjoyable.
It had a slow start and took a little while to get going, but once it hit its stride, the pages turned faster towards a satisfying conclusion.
I’m hoping that the series can continue, but with how the book ended, there aren’t many loose strings out there to pick up.
March 10, 2023
Kate Stone is not a very likeable heroine; however, the pursuit of the corrupt Ian Templeton makes this book interesting. Because it is number two in the series, reading book number one would be a definite advantage in understanding the plot.
August 8, 2023
Like the first book in this series, this one is just average. Not bad, but could have been better. The protagonist is flawed...but who isn't? The problem for me is that she is very unlikable and the book moves much too slowly until the very end.
September 19, 2025
I thought this book was decent but not a big fan, but from reading reviews, maybe it was bec I didn't read the first book on the series and started with this one. So, if you are planning on reading this, read book 1 first.
June 30, 2023
excellent conclusion
Nancy Allen does it again! I was on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next! Can’t wait for her next book!
Nancy Allen does it again! I was on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next! Can’t wait for her next book!
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