Review of Payback

[Kelsey Roy]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Payback" by Larry G. Goldsmith.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Larry G. Goldsmith's work Payback is a fictional crime thriller novel. The plot follows the main character, Hanna, through her life in Chicago. Hannah is a young adult attending college classes and seeking to build a successful career in the medical field. Suddenly, Hanna's life turns upside down. This book contains mystery, kidnapping, murder, and coming-of-age topics as Hanna navigates new life circumstances.

Hanna is working on her summer internship at her father's hospital when the unthinkable happens. Hanna is kidnapped and taken west to be held captive in Idaho. During her time in captivity, Hanna learns to love the unornamented aspects of life. Does Hanna ever make it out of Idaho?

My favorite thing about this novel was the fast-paced plot. Payback is a quick, easy read that keeps readers engaged throughout every chapter. At no point did I wish the storyline moved faster or slower, and I enjoyed how the story progressed from beginning to end. Although this is a short novel, Goldsmith did an excellent job of introducing and developing each significant character and setting.

I did find more than ten grammatical errors in the text, and these issues somewhat affected my enjoyment of the novel. In addition to the mistake, I found the dialogue dry at the beginning of the book. Two teenagers were speaking to each other in proper English and fully formed sentences, without even a hint of slang. Although not grammatically incorrect, I found this dialogue unfitting for the scenario. I believe a more casual diction would fit the scene better.

I rate Payback 4 out of 5 stars. I took one point off for the mistakes and curious dialogue, as these details affected my enjoyment of the storyline. I enjoyed the plot overall and found myself surprised multiple times by the twists and turns within the story. I appreciate the plot twists within the novel as they kept me engaged in the story. I believe the novel's length is perfect for the storyline, and the story wrapped up nicely in the final chapter.

Readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories, crime and mystery topics, or short thrillers will enjoy this novel. Although the book details Hanna's Jewish background and traditions, readers of all religious backgrounds, including non-religion, can enjoy this novel. I caution readers under age 16 from reading this book due to the general discussion of sexual encounters, including sexual assault. Additionally, there is violence and crime throughout the plot, which may be too much for young readers.

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[Charles Ashinze]

I like that the pace of the story is not too slow or too fast. Too slow will make the book boring. But the presence of multiple errors puts me off. Like you stated, this can affect my reading experience. The author should get the book properly edited.

[Michael Valentine]

I like this story's outline. It seems like something I would be immersed in. I would definitely love to read it. Thank you for your review.

[Omneya Shakeep]

I like medium and fast-paced storylines books, and the plot of this book sounds interesting. I think I should give it a try. I hope the errors don't deter me from enjoying the book too much.

[Favour Ugwu Chidinma]

I would consider reading this book to find out how Hanna's life ended.

[Mhiz Vyi Vyan]

Definitely reading this book because if I don’t I won’t know what Hanna’s life will be. I enjoyed reading your review, well done.

[NetMassimo]

This is an unusual coming-of-age story considering Hanna's dramatic situation and I'm curious to see what happens to her. Thank you for your great review!