A Slick And Sharp Gangster Thriller | “Her Payback” by Emma Tallon (2022) Book Review

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing this Advanced Reviewer Copy; all the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I have only ever read one book which is based on the backdrop of the underground mafia. “Her Payback” by Emma Tallon is the second one and I am glad I opted to read this book. It is the 4th book in the Drew Family series, which features Scarlet Drew, Lily Drew and her sons, all of whom are a powerful family running underground businesses while trying to evade the police. Lily serves as the matriarch of the family, and serves as boss of the operation.

From what I gather, the previous books in the series had established the various principal characters, their priorities and the dynamics between them. This book mainly deals with the bitterness and enmity between Scarlet, Lily’s niece, and Ruby, Lily’s not-so-together daughter. There is also something mysterious happening around the gym the neighborhood kids train out of and the family makes an effort to find the truth behind it.

What happened between the cousins? What is happening in the gym? What are the other dangers surrounding the family? Do they overcome them and how do they do it? You will have to read the book to find out the answers to these questions.

Tallon is quite well-known as an author and boasts a large number of fans. Having read this book, I am not surprised. She has an entertaining storytelling style with a clipped and engaging pace. She has the ability to make the reader look at her characters as human beings, even though what they are doing is neither morally or legally the right thing. They possess sentiments, affections, attachments and all these are clearly visible to the reader that shine despite their reprehensible actions.

I, however, particularly loved the way her female characters are written. They are all no-nonsense, strong women who hold their own, yet they aren’t cold and distant; they have relatable wants, needs and goals and are just extremely protective of their family. I found myself cheering for them in many instances even though I didn’t necessarily agree with what they were doing. I absolutely loved Lily as the matriarch, as well as her niece, Scarlet. They are both kick-ass and sensible women who regularly have to deal with ruthless adversaries. And I must say it was a lot of fun reading their story.

This book has interested me in the whole series and I definitely would check the other books in it one of these days. Check this book out if you are into reading a well-written, fast-paced, sharply written gangster thriller which hooks you completely.

This book gets 5 out of 5 stars.