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The Cuban Trilogy #3
Payback in Panama
After two attempts on her life, Alex is faced with the ultimate decision . . . kill or be killed.
U.S. Treasury Agent Alexandra LaDuca is at a crossroads. Her job is beating her up, emotionally and psychologically. And the moral battle between her faith and her responsibilities is taking its toll on her effectiveness. For the first time, she wonders how long she can last.
Forcing an end to her long-running and treacherous duel with the heads of the Dosi Cartel, Alex knows this is her last do-or-die operation. It's time call in all the favors owed to her.
Her fight takes her into the criminal underground of America's east coast, south into the violent underworld of Central America, across Honduras and El Salvador, and finally to Panama for a shattering confrontation.
Alex's career, her life, and her future with the man she loves---a future she never expected after the violent death of her fiance two years earlier---are all at stake. After a final payback in Panama, nothing will be the same . . . if she even survives.
'This excellent political thriller is the final book in Hynd's incredible, not-to-be-missed Cuban trilogy (Hostage in Havana, 2011; Murder in Miami, 2012). Libraries will definitely want all three for their collections.' ---Booklist
U.S. Treasury Agent Alexandra LaDuca is at a crossroads. Her job is beating her up, emotionally and psychologically. And the moral battle between her faith and her responsibilities is taking its toll on her effectiveness. For the first time, she wonders how long she can last.
Forcing an end to her long-running and treacherous duel with the heads of the Dosi Cartel, Alex knows this is her last do-or-die operation. It's time call in all the favors owed to her.
Her fight takes her into the criminal underground of America's east coast, south into the violent underworld of Central America, across Honduras and El Salvador, and finally to Panama for a shattering confrontation.
Alex's career, her life, and her future with the man she loves---a future she never expected after the violent death of her fiance two years earlier---are all at stake. After a final payback in Panama, nothing will be the same . . . if she even survives.
'This excellent political thriller is the final book in Hynd's incredible, not-to-be-missed Cuban trilogy (Hostage in Havana, 2011; Murder in Miami, 2012). Libraries will definitely want all three for their collections.' ---Booklist
- GenresSuspenseContemporary
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2013
36 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Noel Hynd
62 books220 followers I've been a published novelist for longer than I care to admit, since 1976. I'm frequently asked, however, how I first got published. It's an interesting story and involved both Robert Ludlum and James Baldwin, even though neither of them knew it --- or me --- at the time.
My first agent, a wonderful thorughly perofessional gentleman named Robert Lantz was representing Mr. Baldwin at the time. This was around 1975. Balwin, while a brilliant writer, had had some nasty dealings with the head of Dell Publishing. Dell held Jimmy's contract at the time and he could not legally write for anyone else until he gave Dell a book that was due to them. Nonetheless, he refused to deliver a manuscript to Dell and went to Paris to sit things out.
The book was due to The Dial Press, which Dell owned. Baldwin was widely quoted as saying....and I'm cleaning up the quote here, "that he was no longer picking cotton on Dell's planatation."
The book was due to The Dial Press. The editor in chief of The Dial Press was a stellar editor who was making a name for himself and a fair bit of money for the company publishing thriller-author Robert Ludlum. A best seller every year will do that for an editor. Anyway, Baldwin fled New York for Paris. The editor followed, the asignment being to get him to come happily back to Dial. As soon as the editor arrived, Baldwin fled to Algeria. Or maybe Tunisia. It hardly mattered because Baldwin was furious and simply wouldn 't do a book for Dell/Dial. The editor returned to NY without his quarry. Things were at a standstill.
That's where I entered the story, unpublished at age 27 and knowing enough to keep my mouth shut while these things went down. I had given 124 pages of a first novel to Mr. Lantz ten days eariler. Miraculously, his reader liked it and then HE liked it. It was in the same genre that Ludlum wrote in and which the editor at Dial excelled at editing and marketing.
My agent and the editor ran into each other one afternoon in July of 1974 in one of those swank Manhattan places where people used to have three martinis for lunch. The agent asked how things had gone in Europe. The editor told him, knowing full well that the agent already knew. The next steps would be lawyers, Baldwin dragged into US Courts, major authors boycotting Doubleday/Dell, Dial, maybe some civil rights demonstrations and.......but no so fast.
Mr. Lantz offered Dial the first look at a new adventure/espionage novelist (me). IF Dial wanted me after reading my 124 pages, he could sign me, but only IF Baldwin was released from his obligations at Doubleday. I was the literary bribe, so to speak, that would get Jimmy free from Dial. It seemed like a great idea to everyone. It seemed that way because it was. Paperwork was prepapred and paperwork was signed. Voila!...To make a much longer story short, Dial accepted my novel. The editor instructed me on how to raise it to a professional level as I finished writing it over the next ten months. I followed orders perfectly. I even felt prosperous on my $7500 advance. He then had Dial release Mr. Balwin from his obligation. Not surpringly, he went on to create fine books for other publishers. Ludlum did even batter. Of the three, I'm the pauper but I've gotten my fair share and I'm alive with books coming out again now in the very near future, no small accmplishment. So no complaints from me.
That''s how I got published. I met Ludlum many times later on and Baldwin once. Ludlum liked my name "Noel" and used it for an then-upcoming charcter named Noel Holcroft. That amused me. I don't know if either of them even knew that my career had been in their orbits for a month 1975. They would have been amused. They were both smart gifted men and fine writers in dfferent ways. This story was told to me by one of the principals two years later and another one confirmed it.
Me, I came out of it with my first publishing contract, for a book titled 'Reve
My first agent, a wonderful thorughly perofessional gentleman named Robert Lantz was representing Mr. Baldwin at the time. This was around 1975. Balwin, while a brilliant writer, had had some nasty dealings with the head of Dell Publishing. Dell held Jimmy's contract at the time and he could not legally write for anyone else until he gave Dell a book that was due to them. Nonetheless, he refused to deliver a manuscript to Dell and went to Paris to sit things out.
The book was due to The Dial Press, which Dell owned. Baldwin was widely quoted as saying....and I'm cleaning up the quote here, "that he was no longer picking cotton on Dell's planatation."
The book was due to The Dial Press. The editor in chief of The Dial Press was a stellar editor who was making a name for himself and a fair bit of money for the company publishing thriller-author Robert Ludlum. A best seller every year will do that for an editor. Anyway, Baldwin fled New York for Paris. The editor followed, the asignment being to get him to come happily back to Dial. As soon as the editor arrived, Baldwin fled to Algeria. Or maybe Tunisia. It hardly mattered because Baldwin was furious and simply wouldn 't do a book for Dell/Dial. The editor returned to NY without his quarry. Things were at a standstill.
That's where I entered the story, unpublished at age 27 and knowing enough to keep my mouth shut while these things went down. I had given 124 pages of a first novel to Mr. Lantz ten days eariler. Miraculously, his reader liked it and then HE liked it. It was in the same genre that Ludlum wrote in and which the editor at Dial excelled at editing and marketing.
My agent and the editor ran into each other one afternoon in July of 1974 in one of those swank Manhattan places where people used to have three martinis for lunch. The agent asked how things had gone in Europe. The editor told him, knowing full well that the agent already knew. The next steps would be lawyers, Baldwin dragged into US Courts, major authors boycotting Doubleday/Dell, Dial, maybe some civil rights demonstrations and.......but no so fast.
Mr. Lantz offered Dial the first look at a new adventure/espionage novelist (me). IF Dial wanted me after reading my 124 pages, he could sign me, but only IF Baldwin was released from his obligations at Doubleday. I was the literary bribe, so to speak, that would get Jimmy free from Dial. It seemed like a great idea to everyone. It seemed that way because it was. Paperwork was prepapred and paperwork was signed. Voila!...To make a much longer story short, Dial accepted my novel. The editor instructed me on how to raise it to a professional level as I finished writing it over the next ten months. I followed orders perfectly. I even felt prosperous on my $7500 advance. He then had Dial release Mr. Balwin from his obligation. Not surpringly, he went on to create fine books for other publishers. Ludlum did even batter. Of the three, I'm the pauper but I've gotten my fair share and I'm alive with books coming out again now in the very near future, no small accmplishment. So no complaints from me.
That''s how I got published. I met Ludlum many times later on and Baldwin once. Ludlum liked my name "Noel" and used it for an then-upcoming charcter named Noel Holcroft. That amused me. I don't know if either of them even knew that my career had been in their orbits for a month 1975. They would have been amused. They were both smart gifted men and fine writers in dfferent ways. This story was told to me by one of the principals two years later and another one confirmed it.
Me, I came out of it with my first publishing contract, for a book titled 'Reve
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 26, 2016
I guess it's time to say goodbye to Alex LaDuca.
U.S. Treasury Agent Alex LaDuca's story is coming to an end. Her life has come to a crossroads as she struggles with the battle between her faith and the responsibilities to a job that is beating her up physically and emotionally. She's beginning to wonder how much longer she can last. She decides it's time to force an end to her stalemated match against the Dosi's, she calls in all the favors owed to her. Drawing this fight to its conclusion takes into the underworld of Central America, through Honduras and into a final confrontation in Panama. Everything is at stake for Alex, including a future she never expected after the death of her fiance two years earlier. After a final payback in Panama, nothing will ever be the same again.
Yet another wild ride for Alex. She's doing her best to navigate through a lot--cartel members who want some sort of deal but who may or may not have good intel, politicians who want to read into the time she spent with Yuri Federov (and who may or may not want her out of the way), and of course Yardena Dorsi who very definitely wants her dead. Alex is in the middle of various double crosses, cloak-and-dagger operations and questions of her faith. Although, once the story gains traction, it speeds to its conclusion with page turning action that will have you turning each page quickly and sitting on the edge of your seat in anticipation of what comes next.
Alex's character is brave and unafraid to take risks. She does her best to stick to her principles even when everyone else is urging her to turn from them, even for a moment and for the greater good.
Throughout the book, I spent a lot of time biting my nails as I read about Debray and his idea of getting a team together to go after a foreign woman. I was very worried for Alex, she'd been through so much, I didn't want to her story to end with his team. When it was revealed what Debray's plan was, I breathed a sigh of relief (small though it was). Alex seemed to be safe, even if things didn't quite end how she wanted them to. Then, she had to see Andy go down which was very sad. I felt so bad for her, again after everything she'd been through, at least she had Eric to lean on.
I will admit, after the events in the first book, I was rooting for Alex and Ben to get together because they seemed to fit so well. They obviously were comfortable with each other and he was the one who pulled her back from the edge when she was ready to go over after Robert. So when she pushed him away and said no to his advances, I was very sad. That being said, I'm glad she found Eric and that she's still friends with Ben. Looking things over, Eric is probably better for her anyway (maybe that was the plan all along?), but Ben was a good support while she tried to pull herself back together.
If this is the first time you've read of Alex's adventures, put this down and go back to the beginning with Hostage in Havana, the start of The Cuban Trilogy. You'll understand a bit more of the background that's talked about in this book that way. However, if you want even more understanding, I suggest you go all the way back to the beginning and read Alex's first adventure: Conspiracy in Kiev as that will fill you in on any questions you have!
Thank you for a great series of books Mr.Hynd!
U.S. Treasury Agent Alex LaDuca's story is coming to an end. Her life has come to a crossroads as she struggles with the battle between her faith and the responsibilities to a job that is beating her up physically and emotionally. She's beginning to wonder how much longer she can last. She decides it's time to force an end to her stalemated match against the Dosi's, she calls in all the favors owed to her. Drawing this fight to its conclusion takes into the underworld of Central America, through Honduras and into a final confrontation in Panama. Everything is at stake for Alex, including a future she never expected after the death of her fiance two years earlier. After a final payback in Panama, nothing will ever be the same again.
Yet another wild ride for Alex. She's doing her best to navigate through a lot--cartel members who want some sort of deal but who may or may not have good intel, politicians who want to read into the time she spent with Yuri Federov (and who may or may not want her out of the way), and of course Yardena Dorsi who very definitely wants her dead. Alex is in the middle of various double crosses, cloak-and-dagger operations and questions of her faith. Although, once the story gains traction, it speeds to its conclusion with page turning action that will have you turning each page quickly and sitting on the edge of your seat in anticipation of what comes next.
Alex's character is brave and unafraid to take risks. She does her best to stick to her principles even when everyone else is urging her to turn from them, even for a moment and for the greater good.
Throughout the book, I spent a lot of time biting my nails as I read about Debray and his idea of getting a team together to go after a foreign woman. I was very worried for Alex, she'd been through so much, I didn't want to her story to end with his team. When it was revealed what Debray's plan was, I breathed a sigh of relief (small though it was). Alex seemed to be safe, even if things didn't quite end how she wanted them to. Then, she had to see Andy go down which was very sad. I felt so bad for her, again after everything she'd been through, at least she had Eric to lean on.
I will admit, after the events in the first book, I was rooting for Alex and Ben to get together because they seemed to fit so well. They obviously were comfortable with each other and he was the one who pulled her back from the edge when she was ready to go over after Robert. So when she pushed him away and said no to his advances, I was very sad. That being said, I'm glad she found Eric and that she's still friends with Ben. Looking things over, Eric is probably better for her anyway (maybe that was the plan all along?), but Ben was a good support while she tried to pull herself back together.
If this is the first time you've read of Alex's adventures, put this down and go back to the beginning with Hostage in Havana, the start of The Cuban Trilogy. You'll understand a bit more of the background that's talked about in this book that way. However, if you want even more understanding, I suggest you go all the way back to the beginning and read Alex's first adventure: Conspiracy in Kiev as that will fill you in on any questions you have!
Thank you for a great series of books Mr.Hynd!
November 18, 2013
Noel Hynd in his new book, “Payback In Panama” Book Three in The Cuban Trilogy series published by Zondervan takes us back into the life of Alexandra LaDuca as her investigation ultimately takes her to Panama.
From the back cover: After two attempts on her life, Alex is faced with the ultimate decision . . . kill or be killed.
U.S. Treasury Agent Alexandra LaDuca is at a crossroads. Her job is beating her up, emotionally and psychologically. And the moral battle between her faith and her responsibilities is taking its toll on her effectiveness. For the first time, she wonders how long she can last.
Forcing an end to her long-running and treacherous duel with the heads of the Dosi Cartel, Alex knows this is her last do-or-die operation. It’s time call in all the favors owed to her.
Her fight takes her into the criminal underground of America’s east coast, south into the violent underworld of Central America, across Honduras and El Salvador, and finally to Panama for a shattering confrontation.
Alex’s career, her life, and her future with the man she loves—a future she never expected after the violent death of her fiance two years earlier—are all at stake. After a final payback in Panama, nothing will be the same . . . if she even survives.
Buckle up for another wild ride with Alex LaDuca as, this time, her adventures take us to Central America and Panama. Alex now is dealing with cartels, politics, the criminal underground, murder and Yardena Dorsi who wants her dead. Cross, double-cross and cloak and dagger are just some of the elements that Alex has to deal with in this adventure. Mr. Hynd is brilliant is defining his characters and the more defined they are the more we like them and the more we like them the more we identify with what they are doing. Once the action gets going Mr. Hynd revs up the thriller quotient considerably which will have you reading and flipping pages as fast as you can. This book is a suspense thriller as Alex’s life is in serious danger from the beginning. Don’t start this book late at night because it will be very difficult to put it down or stop thinking about it. I recommend this book highly and am greatly looking forward to more adventures with Alex LaDuca.
You can find “Payback In Panama” at a discount at http://www.deepershopping.com/item/hy...
If you missed the interview for “Midnight In Madrid”, a different series, and would like to listen to it and/or would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.
To listen to 24 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the back cover: After two attempts on her life, Alex is faced with the ultimate decision . . . kill or be killed.
U.S. Treasury Agent Alexandra LaDuca is at a crossroads. Her job is beating her up, emotionally and psychologically. And the moral battle between her faith and her responsibilities is taking its toll on her effectiveness. For the first time, she wonders how long she can last.
Forcing an end to her long-running and treacherous duel with the heads of the Dosi Cartel, Alex knows this is her last do-or-die operation. It’s time call in all the favors owed to her.
Her fight takes her into the criminal underground of America’s east coast, south into the violent underworld of Central America, across Honduras and El Salvador, and finally to Panama for a shattering confrontation.
Alex’s career, her life, and her future with the man she loves—a future she never expected after the violent death of her fiance two years earlier—are all at stake. After a final payback in Panama, nothing will be the same . . . if she even survives.
Buckle up for another wild ride with Alex LaDuca as, this time, her adventures take us to Central America and Panama. Alex now is dealing with cartels, politics, the criminal underground, murder and Yardena Dorsi who wants her dead. Cross, double-cross and cloak and dagger are just some of the elements that Alex has to deal with in this adventure. Mr. Hynd is brilliant is defining his characters and the more defined they are the more we like them and the more we like them the more we identify with what they are doing. Once the action gets going Mr. Hynd revs up the thriller quotient considerably which will have you reading and flipping pages as fast as you can. This book is a suspense thriller as Alex’s life is in serious danger from the beginning. Don’t start this book late at night because it will be very difficult to put it down or stop thinking about it. I recommend this book highly and am greatly looking forward to more adventures with Alex LaDuca.
You can find “Payback In Panama” at a discount at http://www.deepershopping.com/item/hy...
If you missed the interview for “Midnight In Madrid”, a different series, and would like to listen to it and/or would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.
To listen to 24 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
November 6, 2013
After two attempts on her life, Alex is faced with the ultimate decision . . . kill or be killed.
U.S. Treasury Agent Alexandra LaDuca is at a crossroads. Her job is beating her up, emotionally and psychologically. And the moral battle between her faith and her responsibilities is taking its toll on her effectiveness. For the first time, she wonders how long she can last.
Forcing an end to her long-running and treacherous duel with the heads of the Dosi Cartel, Alex knows this is her last do-or-die operation. It’s time call in all the favors owed to her.
Her fight takes her into the criminal underground of America’s east coast, south into the violent underworld of Central America, across Honduras and El Salvador, and finally to Panama for a shattering confrontation.
Alex’s career, her life, and her future with the man she loves---a future she never expected after the violent death of her fiancé two years earlier---are all at stake. After a final payback in Panama, nothing will be the same . . . if she even survives.
Payback in Panama was an interesting novel that was full of suspenseful elements. The plot line was well written and had a good mix of romance, suspense, humor, and danger within it. I liked the inclusion of background information concerning cartels, politics, and other issues existing in the criminal underground. The themes introduced in this novel were well developed and clear and included the importance of choosing what matters most in life and trusting in God even during tough times.
The characters in this novel were realistic and fairly well developed. I liked Alex as a character, but I wish that her interactions with other characters had contained more emotion and development. She did experience growth during the novel, especially through her personal struggles and the other situations that she experienced. The other more minor characters added some depth to the story and contributed to the situations and choices that Alex experienced throughout the novel. However, their interactions still came off slightly dry and could have been more realistic.
Overall, I enjoyed Payback in Panama, and I look forward to reading more novels by Noel Hynd.
I received this novel for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through Booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review.
U.S. Treasury Agent Alexandra LaDuca is at a crossroads. Her job is beating her up, emotionally and psychologically. And the moral battle between her faith and her responsibilities is taking its toll on her effectiveness. For the first time, she wonders how long she can last.
Forcing an end to her long-running and treacherous duel with the heads of the Dosi Cartel, Alex knows this is her last do-or-die operation. It’s time call in all the favors owed to her.
Her fight takes her into the criminal underground of America’s east coast, south into the violent underworld of Central America, across Honduras and El Salvador, and finally to Panama for a shattering confrontation.
Alex’s career, her life, and her future with the man she loves---a future she never expected after the violent death of her fiancé two years earlier---are all at stake. After a final payback in Panama, nothing will be the same . . . if she even survives.
Payback in Panama was an interesting novel that was full of suspenseful elements. The plot line was well written and had a good mix of romance, suspense, humor, and danger within it. I liked the inclusion of background information concerning cartels, politics, and other issues existing in the criminal underground. The themes introduced in this novel were well developed and clear and included the importance of choosing what matters most in life and trusting in God even during tough times.
The characters in this novel were realistic and fairly well developed. I liked Alex as a character, but I wish that her interactions with other characters had contained more emotion and development. She did experience growth during the novel, especially through her personal struggles and the other situations that she experienced. The other more minor characters added some depth to the story and contributed to the situations and choices that Alex experienced throughout the novel. However, their interactions still came off slightly dry and could have been more realistic.
Overall, I enjoyed Payback in Panama, and I look forward to reading more novels by Noel Hynd.
I received this novel for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through Booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2013
I love fast-paced suspense novels with action that starts on the first page and doesn’t stop until the very end of the book. This isn’t one of those stories. It started off with page after page of background and info dumps about character motivation. The action picked up around chapter six or seven, and the story finally started moving forward. Then there was another large chunk of information that brought the pace of the story to a crawl. This pattern continued throughout the book, making it difficult for me to read every line without skimming to find a more exciting part. While I appreciate the amount of research the author did for this book, I wish he hadn’t included quite so much of it in the story.
The plot and characters are great and well-developed. Unfortunately, they seem over-developed at times as page after page of character motivation tells us in minute detail how they think, why they do the things they do, etc. Readers are also treated to massive amounts of information on the drug situation in Central America, the intricacies of international crime, and the complexity of financial crimes. After a while, this information begins to feel a bit repetitive. The feeling isn’t helped by the fact that much of the book is telling the story rather than showing it, which left me longing for the characters to do something in “real time” rather than having to read a summary of what they did.
That said, the story did pick up its pace in the last quarter of the book or so. The overwhelming amounts of information were absent as well. The last chapters flowed smoothly and finally allowed me as a reader to get lost in the book and turn page after page without realizing how much time had passed.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced, action-packed book, this one isn’t for you. If you prefer a slow-paced, procedural-type novel with bits of action sprinkled throughout in-depth information, you’ll likely enjoy Payback in Panama.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is based solely on the contents of the book and my experience reading it.
The plot and characters are great and well-developed. Unfortunately, they seem over-developed at times as page after page of character motivation tells us in minute detail how they think, why they do the things they do, etc. Readers are also treated to massive amounts of information on the drug situation in Central America, the intricacies of international crime, and the complexity of financial crimes. After a while, this information begins to feel a bit repetitive. The feeling isn’t helped by the fact that much of the book is telling the story rather than showing it, which left me longing for the characters to do something in “real time” rather than having to read a summary of what they did.
That said, the story did pick up its pace in the last quarter of the book or so. The overwhelming amounts of information were absent as well. The last chapters flowed smoothly and finally allowed me as a reader to get lost in the book and turn page after page without realizing how much time had passed.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced, action-packed book, this one isn’t for you. If you prefer a slow-paced, procedural-type novel with bits of action sprinkled throughout in-depth information, you’ll likely enjoy Payback in Panama.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is based solely on the contents of the book and my experience reading it.
October 16, 2013
After two attempts on her life, Alex is faced with the ultimate decision . . . kill or be killed. U.S. Treasury Agent Alexandra LaDuca is at a crossroads. Her job is beating her up, emotionally and psychologically. And the moral battle between her faith and her responsibilities is taking its toll on her effectiveness. For the first time, she wonders how long she can last. Forcing an end to her long-running and treacherous duel with the heads of the Dosi Cartel, Alex knows this is her last do-or-die operation. It's time call in all the favors owed to her. Her fight takes her into the criminal underground of America's east coast, south into the violent underworld of Central America, across Honduras and El Salvador, and finally to Panama for a shattering confrontation. Alex's career, her life, and her future with the man she loves---a future she never expected after the violent death of her fiance two years earlier---are all at stake. After a final payback in Panama, nothing will be the same . . . if she even survives.
My Review:
I am going to admit that while I love watching crime dramas, I don't particularly have a taste for reading them. Thankfully, Hynd writes a heck of a thriller that kept me at the edge of my seat the whole way through! I didn't sleep while reading this fascinating work, and I read it in one sitting. It is one of those books that takes you for a ride, and you remain in a haze and stupor with all the ups and down of the story. I never realized how much reading affects my everyday life, but when I forgot I had to work because I was reading, that was a quick reality check! This book draws you into the story, the characters, and the setting as you traipse all over creation with Alex while she fights for her life. Well worth the read for the unique twists and turns, drama, plot, and intrigue.
This book was provided by the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review.
My Review:
I am going to admit that while I love watching crime dramas, I don't particularly have a taste for reading them. Thankfully, Hynd writes a heck of a thriller that kept me at the edge of my seat the whole way through! I didn't sleep while reading this fascinating work, and I read it in one sitting. It is one of those books that takes you for a ride, and you remain in a haze and stupor with all the ups and down of the story. I never realized how much reading affects my everyday life, but when I forgot I had to work because I was reading, that was a quick reality check! This book draws you into the story, the characters, and the setting as you traipse all over creation with Alex while she fights for her life. Well worth the read for the unique twists and turns, drama, plot, and intrigue.
This book was provided by the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review.
November 20, 2013
A Thriller with a Moral Question
Treasury agent, Alex LaDuca, is facing the most important decision of her career. She has so far survived the battle with the Dosi drug empire, but she begins to wonder whether her luck will continue. Added to her problems and her joy is her romance with Eric, the handsome Broadway actor. Eric hates to see her in danger, but it's Alex's job. Would she be able to walk away from it, even to please Eric? She also struggles with an underlying moral question: when is assassination justified? She knows the Yardena Dosi will kill her if she can, but is it morally acceptable for Alex to plan to assassinate Yardena?
The story moves from the underworld of New York to Honduras and finally Panama. Although there is action, a great deal of the plot is fleshed out through Alex reading government documents and in conversation. I found the style of presentation interesting, but if you want lots of action, you're apt to be disappointed.
I found the characters likable and realistic. The love affair between Eric and Alex is well done. You can't help rooting for them to be together.
This is the final book in The Cuban Trilogy, but I found it readable as a stand-alone book. The backstory is necessary, but the author manages to work it in without becoming tedious. I enjoyed the book and recommend it if you like a thriller with a moral question.
I reviewed this book for the Thomas Nelson Booksneeze Program.
Treasury agent, Alex LaDuca, is facing the most important decision of her career. She has so far survived the battle with the Dosi drug empire, but she begins to wonder whether her luck will continue. Added to her problems and her joy is her romance with Eric, the handsome Broadway actor. Eric hates to see her in danger, but it's Alex's job. Would she be able to walk away from it, even to please Eric? She also struggles with an underlying moral question: when is assassination justified? She knows the Yardena Dosi will kill her if she can, but is it morally acceptable for Alex to plan to assassinate Yardena?
The story moves from the underworld of New York to Honduras and finally Panama. Although there is action, a great deal of the plot is fleshed out through Alex reading government documents and in conversation. I found the style of presentation interesting, but if you want lots of action, you're apt to be disappointed.
I found the characters likable and realistic. The love affair between Eric and Alex is well done. You can't help rooting for them to be together.
This is the final book in The Cuban Trilogy, but I found it readable as a stand-alone book. The backstory is necessary, but the author manages to work it in without becoming tedious. I enjoyed the book and recommend it if you like a thriller with a moral question.
I reviewed this book for the Thomas Nelson Booksneeze Program.
October 9, 2013
This is the third and final book in The Cuban Trilogy. I've read the previous two books, Hostage in Havana and Murder in Miami. And I LOVE these books by Noel Hynd!
Payback In Panama is probably my favorite of all three...maybe because the action and the end takes place. Or maybe, just maybe, because Alex has matured and finds her "place."
Now, in my humble opinion, the reader should read all three books in order. Reading the books in order gives the reader a sense of all that is going on in Alex's life, the "whole" why she is doing it and what "it" all means. I'm not trying to be ambiguous, I just don't want to give away the story.
This read has great action and suspense! Noel Hynd never disappoints me in this arena . . . I love the words he uses to describe the sights, smells and nerve binding tensions!
Alex is on assignment and at times the reader wonders if she will make it. The underworld of Central America is SO brutal.
A great christian suspense novel!
*This book was provided for review by BookSneeze*
Payback In Panama is probably my favorite of all three...maybe because the action and the end takes place. Or maybe, just maybe, because Alex has matured and finds her "place."
Now, in my humble opinion, the reader should read all three books in order. Reading the books in order gives the reader a sense of all that is going on in Alex's life, the "whole" why she is doing it and what "it" all means. I'm not trying to be ambiguous, I just don't want to give away the story.
This read has great action and suspense! Noel Hynd never disappoints me in this arena . . . I love the words he uses to describe the sights, smells and nerve binding tensions!
Alex is on assignment and at times the reader wonders if she will make it. The underworld of Central America is SO brutal.
A great christian suspense novel!
*This book was provided for review by BookSneeze*
November 24, 2013
I had a hard time getting into this book. I liked Alex and and her boyfriend and admired the work she was doing. It was interesting to learn about the global drug trade and the gangs' involvement, but it felt like there was too much detail. I was expecting more action in the story, but there really wasn't much. There was some talk of faith and Alex's struggle with hers, but I wasn't very clear on what she actually believed. There's a point where she remembers her deceased loved ones and says she still prays for their souls, so it seems she's Catholic. It felt like the story was building to a climax, but then didn't get there. I think it would have been better for me to have read the previous books in the series before this, so I would recommend that. Overall, I was disappointed in the story but do want to try out another in the series.
I received this book free from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book free from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2014
Yet another mystery/suspense with a bit of a love story inserted.
A woman in law enforcement who is trying to take down a world-wide drug/money laundering cartel. She is a target due to her interference with the cartel.
Her friends, world-wide law enforcement, do her a "favor" so she can live in peace and solve the problem of the cartel.
Interesting story.
A woman in law enforcement who is trying to take down a world-wide drug/money laundering cartel. She is a target due to her interference with the cartel.
Her friends, world-wide law enforcement, do her a "favor" so she can live in peace and solve the problem of the cartel.
Interesting story.
October 29, 2014
The agent Alex DeLuca is having problems because her lover was killed, but now has a handsome broadway actor as a suiter. He wants to move faster ans she doesn't know what she wants. It is only the backdrop as she has work to do ans suspects that she is a target of the Dosi cartel. Most of the time is psent going through documents but they lead her to Panama where she faces her enemy.
January 18, 2014
This was the 3rd in a trilogy I started when I was deployed. Had to wait for Mr. Hynd to finish writing this one. It was worth the wait. I like all his stuff.
May 9, 2015
Good wrap-up to the series.
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