“In it’s purest form, an act of retribution provides symmetry. The rendering payment of crimes against the innocent. But a danger on retaliation lies on the furthering cycle of violence. Still, it’s a risk that must be met; and the greater offense is to allow the guilty go unpunished.” ― Emily Thorne

     Have you ever witnessed the failure of the justice system firsthand? Watching a criminal walk away on a technicality can invoke feelings of anger and despair.  The book I am about to tell you about will certainly give you a taste of sweet revenge. It’s a book by William Coleman titled Payback and it will not disappoint. I had difficulty putting it down and had it completed in just a couple of days.       The book begins by following a cop turned assassin Alex Dunn through the termination of his most recent target, a known criminal and someone that the FBI had assigned surveillance. 
While the FBI struggles to identify the vagrant assassin, Alex is assigned a new target by the organization that he works for. Alex and his team receive dossiers on their intended hits from an unknown person working for a shadow organization of the government. They are sworn to secrecy and if any of the team are caught, they are left to their own devices. All of the targets are individuals who have committed crimes and have avoided being charged or sentenced. After years of dolling out vigilante justice, the organization was hacked and information that could implicate the team was stolen as well as information on Alex’s last mark who he later learns was innocent.  Alex survives an attempt on his life and begins to track down the person who wants him dead. As he tries to find the person responsible everyone in his organization ends up dead except the receptionist. With her help, he tries to avoid not only the person gunning for him but also the FBI. The story had plenty of twists and turns and keeps you guessing until the end. I loved the detail that he put into Alex’s character and the imaginative paranoia of his ex-partner.