| Title | : | Vengeance (Steve Williams #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1452411115 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 447 |
| Publication | : | First published October 31, 2010 |
Vengeance (Steve Williams #2) Reviews
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The blurb: "Living large in New York City as a corporate lawyer for the most savvy drug lord on the East Coast, Special Agent Steve Williams carefully plots Charlie Wisnowski's downfall. His plans go to hell when his wife Jennifer survives an attack by a serial killer. With her life in jeopardy and his undercover guise threatening to unravel, he orders Charlie’s arrest. But the sting goes woefully wrong and Steve becomes the target of a mafia assassin hired by the biggest crime boss in America.
Escaping from the city, Steve and Jennifer settle back into their quiet life on the banks of Mirror Lake. Their peaceful existence shatters with a crippling loss and Jennifer’s visions escalate, forecasting a brutal assault on their family.
Armed with scant details from her dreams, Steve trudges through a litany of past connections, searching for the key to stop the course of fate.
What he uncovers chills him to the core - a brother with a grudge, a serial killer and a mafia assassin are all on his trail. The hunt begins . . ."
What did I think? It's a really good read...but I did have a few problems with it.
First of all this is supposed to be the second in the "Steve Williams" series. Since the author kept referring to a previous case which I assumed could be read about in the first novel I decided to go back and read it as well. Screeching halt! The first book is not available in ebook format and the ratings for that novel were so awful I decided to forget it. I just don't appreciate it when author's keep referring to a story you haven't read. If you're going to write a stand alone novel (which this one easily could have been), then don't keep referring to a previous story. It's like being the only person in the room who is not in the loop when an "inside joke" is told. Grrr...
Second, there is a really wicked serial rapist/killer in this novel and those scenes are very graphic and actually painful to read. If you are not prepared to experience these attacks on a personal level...don't read this book!
Otherwise, the novel was really good. Very good story on it's own and well thought out characters. Be warned, the ending is a scorcher that will leave you wanting to know more
and waiting impatiently for the third book in the series! -
Vengeance, by J.E. Taylor, is her fifth published book and one heck of a fast read. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t short by any means, it was just fast. Truth be told I opened it up thinking, “Oh great, over 400 pages, this is going to take forever!” Next thing I knew I was 102 pages in and my wife was asking me if I was ready to head up to bed yet.
But does fast read equate to a quality book? Maybe I was just skimming one of every three lines to get through it? Nope. I read it all and even found myself wanting it to be longer at a couple of points so it could give me more details on a few areas. There’s nothing missing, I just wanted some extra information that the characters would have also wanted – it would have made their work easier if they’d had it at the time!
So good flow and good story. No grammatical or typographical errors I could find although I will confess a couple of awkward phrases or word choices near the beginning. Certainly nothing to point a stick at and also quite possibly a cultural thing with me as a reader. In any event, I don’t hold it against her or mark her down for it.
The characters showed development and advancement, both emotionally and intellectually. I didn’t always agree with them and even found myself at odds with the main character, Steve, a few times. I’m not sure if my problem was because I had difficulty identifying with him or perhaps some alpha male head butting between him and I.
If she had to do it all over again I think I’d recommend making the book longer and splitting it into two books, with more focus on putting in more content and details into the second half of it. She throws some twists that seemed obvious, and then that even caught me off guard. I think now that the obvious twists were put in intentionally, to lull the reader into a false sense of smugness that they had figured it out before they were supposed to. She’s a crafty one, that J.E. Taylor.
Vengeance is a book I will remember, it made an impact on me. It won’t be placed in my very short list of best books ever, but it’s worthy of a five out of five rating and I’d be willing to argue that point with anyone who feels otherwise. -
J.E. Taylor’s book “Vengeance” is a gripping novel about Steve Williams…an undercover FBI agent who is working as a lawyer working for Charlie Wisnowski…a drug dealer that no one has been able to catch. Charlie tries to get Steve hooked on cocaine and have him indebted to him for helping him protect his wife from a serial rapist/killer. Does he succeed or does Steve’s wife and Steve’s desire to catch him win?
It was fast paced but J.E. Taylor took the time to make sure the characters came alive and the plot was well thought out. For instance, she made Steve struggle with his doing his job and protecting his family just like any man would do in his circumstance. “Vengeance” had me by the first chapter and I almost had the book read by one night. This is the perfect book to read on the beach or near a pool this summer. I was amazed at this novel and know that others will react the same way. You just can’t ignore the events that captivate you from the beginning. This author has produced a genuine thriller!
5 bookmarks
Carol Langstroth, Manager and Reviewer
Mind Fog Reviews -
Reviewed by Mona at RexRobotReviews.com
In Vengeance by J.E. Taylor the suspense is the key ingredient to this amazing story. This hardcore fast paced murder mystery thriller is packed full of action and intrigue. With an interesting look into the possible life of an undercover agent, we see some of the things that could go wrong, or in some cases right!
Taylor takes us on a whirlwind tour of the excitement and terror as we witness the agony of this couple as the try to live the double life of undercover operatives.
A well written story, with characters you feel for the more you read about them. This Thriller grabs you, runs you through the paces and leaves you wanting to know more. With an ending as this book has it will leave you wondering what will happen next!
For this reader as I finished the book, it left me with a feeling that there is more to this story, that it isn’t over and I personally cannot wait to see if I am right, and to see what happens next for this courageous family! I recommend this book to all readers! -
"Vengeance" is an intense, fast moving thriller. Steve Williams is one of those characters who, although on the right side, stretches the rules and makes overly risky decisions. He's the kind of character who in real life I would despise (law enforcement stretching rules is a pet peeve) and wouldn't last long, either by getting fired, incarcerated, or killed. But this larger-than-life persona is something I like in fiction. In "Vengeance," Williams is clearly the good guy, and although he sometimes stretches the rules and takes some risks, it doesn't cross the line - at least not by too much. "Vengeance" has some relatively minor supernatural aspects, although they are a major element in the story.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. ** -
This novel is gritty and so damned disturbing I was physically ill reading most of it.It is not for the faint of heart.That being said,I must say that J.E Taylor really knows how to grab a reader and keep their attention.She takes us to a deep and dark place,let's us see that rape is not a romantic encounter but a brutal assault on the mind,body and soul.I have read several of her books and so far this one is the darkest .Steve Williams an FBI agent, is an adrenaline junkie who lives for his cases,unfortunately with each case he takes on,he loses a piece of his soul.Now, I am on to the next one of Steve Williams adventures and I am sure I will be just as captivated as I was with the previous books. -
I read J.E. Taylors series about the undercover cop Steve Williams out of order. I read this one first, even though its 2nd in the series. I love how the author write, its never a dull moment. However, I must warn those who like rainbows, butterflies, and happy endings this is not the book for you. This author walks the line of horror to the point that I was very surprised to discover the author is female. Most women I know who read this book were very angry at the end. Which to mean the author did an incredible job tapping into emotions. I enjoyed this book and went one to read many others by J.E. Taylor.
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Very intense, very good read.
I actually hesitated to pick it up at a couple of points in the story - I was THAT worried about the likely welfare of the key characters - and that hesitation tells me the author had very successfully, even mercilessly, drawn me deep into the story.
I'd have to say the book is not for the squeamish or faint-hearted ... but then what true thriller is?
Great job, and I look forward to reading more in the series.
DKM
Author of 'Super Duty'. -
Love this book. I do think that the characters are portrayed in a realistic light. The only part I don't like about the book is the way the characters act after the violence done to them. they just take everything in stride and normal people do not do that. I will look for more books by this author and hope other books are just as good.
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i think that 4 or was it 5 rapes on the same character was overkill. Did not read the fisrt book but Jenny was also raped in that book. Not sure if I will read the next book but kinda have to because to many things left unresolved in this book.
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This book was a good read. However, I must warn that for the weak of heart, THIS IS NOT FOR YOU! I would have not guessed that the book ended how it did. Not your atypical happy ending. The book did keep the thrills going.
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Really Good Book!!!
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This book did not end the way I thought it would. It was a very good book. Now I have to go back and read the first book in the series.
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The main characters were unbelievable for me. They were abused and hurt but kept on going. The end of book is not the end of the story.
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...note that there is a bit of violence in the book.
I enjoyed reading it, and was hooked, despite feeling a bit uncomfortable at times. -
BRILLIANT WRITTING- BRILLIANT CHARACTERS
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Excellent read!!
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This novel is gritty and so damned disturbing I was physically ill reading most of it.It is not for the faint of heart.That being said,I must say that J.E Taylor really knows how to grab a reader and keep their attention.She takes us to a deep and dark place,let's us see that rape is not a romantic encounter but a brutal assault on the mind,body and soul.I have read several of her books and so far this one is the darkest .Steve Williams an FBI agent, is an adrenaline junkie who lives for his cases,unfortunately with each case he takes on,he loses a piece of his soul.Now, I am on to the next one of Steve Williams adventures and I am sure I will be just as captivated as I was with the previous books.
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Okay really....the "heroine" brutally raped not once but twice by the same guy (which as soon as he made appearance in story I knew who he was really to story) AND she sees it coming really? Really? REALLY?
I admit to stopping the story when she actually was getting terrorized the second time....and when the bad guy chopped the baby's finger off? Yep done.
Mystery wasn't so mysterious and the bad guy......well he was shock value I think more than story. -
Writing was wobbly at best. The descriptive rape scenes were not my favorite part. The fact that the FBI agent gets caught up and does drugs was somewhat refreshing, but the fact that his wife has "visions" of murders and he has her with him while undercover were more than I could handle.
I think Taylor needs some work in the writing skills areas.
Glad I got it from Amazon for free. -
Five Star Review on Amazon:
5.0 out of 5 stars Vengeance is an attention grabber! Great Read!, November 29, 2010
By Rick This review is from: Vengeance (Paperback)
From start to finish there is excitement and adventure. A great read. I look forward to J. E. Taylor's other books. -
Absolutely appalled that the author keeps having the same character raped. I checked book 3 and yep, same character is raped yet again. Atrocious. Lazy storyline and narrative, the "protagonist" is too self-involved and one dimensional.
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free...thank the publishing faires cause it was not my cup of tea....it sucked.
