Revenge (Redemption #1) by Henry Scott - Book Review
Release: January 11, 2021
Format: Kindle
Publisher: Pretty Lake Publishing
Source: Amazon
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Synopsis: Jake Bryant’s best friend was murdered . . .His family will be next.
And Jake won’t let them die too!
Jake Bryant, a former Chicago PD detective, rushes home after his best friend is killed. Determined to find the murderer, he starts his own investigation into Tom’s death. However, the case is complicated by a motorcycle gang, drugs, and Jake’s feelings for Tom’s widow.
But Jake has bigger problems when the police set the killer free – who then decides to silence Tom’s family as well. Now Jake faces with the ultimate dilemma. Does he trust a broken system to protect Tom’s family? Or does he seek his own brand of justice?
Goodreads
Amazon
About the Author Henry Scott: After an engineering career with over 400 patents, Henry Scott now invents thrilling plotlines in his novels. He lives in metro-Detroit with his family and two goofy golden retrievers. Besides, he loves coffee, true-crime TV shows, and his Triumph motorcycle. He’s also an avid reader whose earliest memory is crying at the end of Charlotte’s Web. Hence, it wasn’t fair, damn it; she’d saved Wilbur! However, he moved past that sad experience and started another book about a boy and his dog surviving on the frontier.
Luckily, that didn’t turn him off from reading because he found great joy in countless other stories since, like the Black Stallion, Chronicles of Narnia, Jack Reacher, Wheel of Time, A song of Fire and Ice, and anything by Stephen King or Harlan Coben. Hopefully, you can see their influence in his writing.
Fast-Paced Mafia Thriller That Surprised Me (3.5/5 Stars)
I picked this up not realizing it was a mafia revenge story with warring gangs. It's definitely not my usual thing. Still, it held my interest more than I expected.
What Works:
The pacing absolutely flies. Scott keeps things moving with political maneuvering and mind games between characters that genuinely intrigue. You constantly question whether Jake's friends are actually trustworthy, and watching those dynamics play out keeps you engaged. Jake himself works well as a lead despite occasionally frustrating me with his impulsiveness and quick resort to violence. His relationships with Mary and Emma ground the story in something human amid all the chaos. I wasn't sure about the separate Caleb POV at first, but looking back it adds decent depth and gives the conflict necessary perspective.
What Falls Short:
The canvas gets crowded. Between rival gangs, Jake's crew, and Caleb's storyline, there are just too many names to track. Characters like Jodi and Hysko felt unnecessary as they were present without purpose, taking up space that could have tightened the focus. With so many moving parts, some emotional beats get lost in the shuffle.
Verdict:
Revenge works better than expected for someone outside the genre. The political scheming and unreliable alliances create genuine tension, and Jake's personal stakes keep you invested despite the body count. While the overcrowding and some disposable characters hold it back, this is a solid series opener that delivers exactly what action thriller fans want. I might even check out book two.
Perfect for:Mafia thriller readers, fans of fast-paced crime sagas, and those who enjoy morally gray loyalty tests.
Revenge (Redemption #1)
by Henry Scott
3.5
★★★
★
★
★
3.5 out of 5 stars
Synopsis
"Jake Bryant’s best friend was murdered . . .His family will be next.
And Jake won’t let them die too!
Jake Bryant, a former Chicago PD detective, rushes home after his best friend is killed. Determined to find the murderer, he starts his own investigation into Tom’s death. However, the case is complicated by a motorcycle gang, drugs, and Jake’s feelings for Tom’s widow.
But Jake has bigger problems when the police set the killer free – who then decides to silence Tom’s family as well. Now Jake faces with the ultimate dilemma. Does he trust a broken system to protect Tom’s family? Or does he seek his own brand of justice?"
Release
January 11, 2021
Format
Kindle
Publisher
Pretty Lake Publishing
Source
Amazon
About the Author
Henry Scott
After an engineering career with over 400 patents, Henry Scott now invents thrilling plotlines in his novels. He lives in metro-Detroit with his family and two goofy golden retrievers. Besides, he loves coffee, true-crime TV shows, and his Triumph motorcycle. He’s also an avid reader whose earliest memory is crying at the end of Charlotte’s Web. Hence, it wasn’t fair, damn it; she’d saved Wilbur! However, he moved past that sad experience and started another book about a boy and his dog surviving on the frontier.
Luckily, that didn’t turn him off from reading because he found great joy in countless other stories since, like the Black Stallion, Chronicles of Narnia, Jack Reacher, Wheel of Time, A song of Fire and Ice, and anything by Stephen King or Harlan Coben. Hopefully, you can see their influence in his writing.
My Review
Fast-Paced Mafia Thriller That Surprised Me (3.5/5 Stars)
I picked this up not realizing it was a mafia revenge story with warring gangs. It’s definitely not my usual thing. Still, it held my interest more than I expected.
What Works:
The pacing absolutely flies. Scott keeps things moving with political maneuvering and mind games between characters that genuinely intrigue. You constantly question whether Jake’s friends are actually trustworthy, and watching those dynamics play out keeps you engaged. Jake himself works well as a lead despite occasionally frustrating me with his impulsiveness and quick resort to violence. His relationships with Mary and Emma ground the story in something human amid all the chaos. I wasn’t sure about the separate Caleb POV at first, but looking back it adds decent depth and gives the conflict necessary perspective.
What Falls Short:
The canvas gets crowded. Between rival gangs, Jake’s crew, and Caleb’s storyline, there are just too many names to track. Characters like Jodi and Hysko felt unnecessary as they were present without purpose, taking up space that could have tightened the focus. With so many moving parts, some emotional beats get lost in the shuffle.
Verdict:
Revenge works better than expected for someone outside the genre. The political scheming and unreliable alliances create genuine tension, and Jake’s personal stakes keep you invested despite the body count. While the overcrowding and some disposable characters hold it back, this is a solid series opener that delivers exactly what action thriller fans want. I might even check out book two.
Perfect for:
Mafia thriller readers, fans of fast-paced crime sagas, and those who enjoy morally gray loyalty tests.
