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Lethal Dispatch
When the soldiers shot her father, a sixteen-year-old girl took an oath--and the name the rebels gave her: Inez. 'Inez' avenged her father. Afterwards, she was ready to move on. But it wasn't that simple. They said she couldn't just walk away. 'Inez' has one last mission. To deliver a package. In the City of Fury. What can possibly go wrong? Murder. Kidnapping. Betrayal. Everything.
- GenresThriller
270 pages, Paperback
First published December 20, 2013
43 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
Max Tomlinson
13 books195 followersBorn in the wilds of San Francisco, with its rich literary history and public transport system teeming with potential characters suitable for crime novels, it was inevitable that Max Tomlinson would become a writer.
He is also kindred spirits with a dog named Floyd, a shelter-mix who stops and stares at headlights as they pass by at night. There's a story there, too. If only Floyd could talk. Then again, maybe not.
His work to date includes SENDERO (listed as one of the top 100 Indie novels of 2012 by Kirkus), WHO SINGS TO THE DEAD, LETHAL DISPATCH, THE CAIN FILE (selected by Amazon’s Kindle Scout program) and the follow-up – THE DARKNET FILE. A new three-book mystery series set in 1970s San Francisco debuted in 2019 with Oceanview Publishing. The first book, VANISHING IN THE HAIGHT, features ex-con Colleen Hayes, on the hunt for her long-lost daughter. TIE DIE, book #2, releases August 2020.
Max also writes under the pen name “Max Radin” when he’s not being purely mysterious or suspenseful. Check out ROCK 'N' ROLL VAMPIRE for his comedy debut.
He is also kindred spirits with a dog named Floyd, a shelter-mix who stops and stares at headlights as they pass by at night. There's a story there, too. If only Floyd could talk. Then again, maybe not.
His work to date includes SENDERO (listed as one of the top 100 Indie novels of 2012 by Kirkus), WHO SINGS TO THE DEAD, LETHAL DISPATCH, THE CAIN FILE (selected by Amazon’s Kindle Scout program) and the follow-up – THE DARKNET FILE. A new three-book mystery series set in 1970s San Francisco debuted in 2019 with Oceanview Publishing. The first book, VANISHING IN THE HAIGHT, features ex-con Colleen Hayes, on the hunt for her long-lost daughter. TIE DIE, book #2, releases August 2020.
Max also writes under the pen name “Max Radin” when he’s not being purely mysterious or suspenseful. Check out ROCK 'N' ROLL VAMPIRE for his comedy debut.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 22, 2022
Spoiler at the end
Fine mystery for political story lovers, this is fact based fiction. Storyline is interesting and informative. Author is adept at capturing the readers interest and keeping it. Fast becoming one of my favorites.
Ebook is on Amazon and other sites.
Spoiler: the attempted annihilation of Amazon natives by the govt. When pregnant they were allowed to have the baby, which was given to a childless non-aboriginal couple. The mother was taken on a plane and dropped out on the ocean. This is part of the factual information. And it is still horrible to think of…
Fine mystery for political story lovers, this is fact based fiction. Storyline is interesting and informative. Author is adept at capturing the readers interest and keeping it. Fast becoming one of my favorites.
Ebook is on Amazon and other sites.
Spoiler: the attempted annihilation of Amazon natives by the govt. When pregnant they were allowed to have the baby, which was given to a childless non-aboriginal couple. The mother was taken on a plane and dropped out on the ocean. This is part of the factual information. And it is still horrible to think of…
February 2, 2014
I've read everything by this author and, once again, he doesn't disappoint. The main character, Inez, is ready to fulfill her final task for Shining Path, and then will be free to walk away and live her life. And at 16 she has a lot of life left, if only kidnapping and murder and her need to do the right thing would quit getting in the way. A fast-paced and suspense-ridden thriller, Tomlinson just keeps getting better and better. Discover this indie author and you'll be in for a wild and satisfying ride!
April 2, 2021
Full review: https://girlswithguns.org/lethal-disp...
Whether neo-communist terrorist or crypto-fascist military, Tomlinson does a great job of depicting everyone as, above all, human. You may not agree with their actions, yet you can see why they took them – even those who kidnapped Joey. The one element I did find a bit hard to believe is the way a young nanny was allowed, at some points, to dictate the path of the investigation. Admittedly, her intelligence and her instincts were often dead-on, more so than the professionals. That’s credible enough, because her terrorist background meant she knows how they think. It’s just that in 80’s South America, where this is set, I doubt the opinions of teenage girls were highly respected.
Whether neo-communist terrorist or crypto-fascist military, Tomlinson does a great job of depicting everyone as, above all, human. You may not agree with their actions, yet you can see why they took them – even those who kidnapped Joey. The one element I did find a bit hard to believe is the way a young nanny was allowed, at some points, to dictate the path of the investigation. Admittedly, her intelligence and her instincts were often dead-on, more so than the professionals. That’s credible enough, because her terrorist background meant she knows how they think. It’s just that in 80’s South America, where this is set, I doubt the opinions of teenage girls were highly respected.
October 19, 2018
The cover does not do this book justice. Lethal Dispatch is one of the most thought provoking and remarkable read I have had in a very long time. Although it has elements of an action thriller with even young adult romance, this book is far more than what the genres can call it.
Lethal Dispatch reveals the political and sociocultural turbulence that faces many Latin American countries. Max Tomlinson puts the readers literally into the shoes of 'Inez', a 16 year old girl who joins the Shining Path (a resistance movement that the government calls a terrorist group) in order to avenge her father's death. She is street smart, tough and yet vulnerable. She longs for all the things a 16 year old would but has the common sense to know how to defend herself in a gun fight.
Tomlinson doesn't just throw his protagonist into a scene, he takes the time to weave details leading up to it. He gives the reader enough detail to see, hear, and even smell the surroundings. I felt I was 'Inez' at times and could hear my own heart race as she tried to think fast on her feet. Although the story has an underlying message, the main story of a young girl who is desperately trying to shake her past behind her and find freedom but then finds herself in a dilemma when faced with sacrificing her own needs to help an innocent child is written vividly and honestly.
I never once was distracted from the storyline. Inez learned things the hard way having witnessed atrocities that no one especially a child should ever have to encounter. But this does not make her a whiner or a victim (unlike other stories I've come across). In fact, the things she's experienced makes her stronger and gives her the courage to overcome even things that an adult may not be able to do.
Lethal Dispatch is a fantastic read and the story is well thought out right to the last page. A must read if you enjoy intelligent, thoughtful thrillers with a strong cultural background.
5/5 stars - no doubt, one of the best books I've read this year.
Lethal Dispatch reveals the political and sociocultural turbulence that faces many Latin American countries. Max Tomlinson puts the readers literally into the shoes of 'Inez', a 16 year old girl who joins the Shining Path (a resistance movement that the government calls a terrorist group) in order to avenge her father's death. She is street smart, tough and yet vulnerable. She longs for all the things a 16 year old would but has the common sense to know how to defend herself in a gun fight.
Tomlinson doesn't just throw his protagonist into a scene, he takes the time to weave details leading up to it. He gives the reader enough detail to see, hear, and even smell the surroundings. I felt I was 'Inez' at times and could hear my own heart race as she tried to think fast on her feet. Although the story has an underlying message, the main story of a young girl who is desperately trying to shake her past behind her and find freedom but then finds herself in a dilemma when faced with sacrificing her own needs to help an innocent child is written vividly and honestly.
I never once was distracted from the storyline. Inez learned things the hard way having witnessed atrocities that no one especially a child should ever have to encounter. But this does not make her a whiner or a victim (unlike other stories I've come across). In fact, the things she's experienced makes her stronger and gives her the courage to overcome even things that an adult may not be able to do.
Lethal Dispatch is a fantastic read and the story is well thought out right to the last page. A must read if you enjoy intelligent, thoughtful thrillers with a strong cultural background.
5/5 stars - no doubt, one of the best books I've read this year.
June 26, 2016
This is amazing! I won this book in a giveaway and I must say that I had been very lucky indeed. I enjoyed Max Tomlinson's writing style: very descriptive, perfect for a great thriller. When I started reading it I almost could not put the book down! The reader will certainly cheer on Inez, the teenage heroine. (I guess part of the appeal, to me personally, is the fact that this story has a young female lead.) The author cleverly threw in mysteries and twists that will make the reader flip page after page of the book. I will definitely read Max Tomlinson's other works as well.
February 9, 2014
Another winner for Tomlinson. The story moves along at a good pace with realistic characters. The author mixes in historical background sans sloppy emotionalism--clearly well researched. A good read I recommend for any audience.
February 6, 2014
This book was well very well written and a great read! I recammend it! I won this book through the goodreads/firstreads part of this website. I'm so happy I won! This book has a great story to tell along with a great backstory! It was exciting and great to read!
July 15, 2019
Bad phonebook bad phonebook
Page Turner for sure. lots of surprises u actually don't see coming. Felt as if the reader was part of the story. Ok one thing that confused me the torture with the phone book supposed to really ring your bell physically but Inez didn't seem to be affected too much in a short time when it seemed to really hurt so much but I really cheered out loud how the incident turned out !!
Page Turner for sure. lots of surprises u actually don't see coming. Felt as if the reader was part of the story. Ok one thing that confused me the torture with the phone book supposed to really ring your bell physically but Inez didn't seem to be affected too much in a short time when it seemed to really hurt so much but I really cheered out loud how the incident turned out !!
July 3, 2019
Great read
I enjoyed reading this story so much that I didn't put it down until I finished the story. Bravo to the author for a job well done!
I enjoyed reading this story so much that I didn't put it down until I finished the story. Bravo to the author for a job well done!
April 14, 2014
"Lethal Dispatch" marks a new wrinkle for suspense author, Max Tomlinson and his Peru based political thriller/mystery series :"Sendero" and its sequel "Who Sings to the Dead?" In "Lethal Dispatch", Tomlinson shifts the narrative camera from Nina Flores, the protagonist of his two novels to the younger, less experienced Inez, who played a small role in "Sendero" as a Shining Path member. He also changes his setting from Peru to Buenos Aries, Argentina as Inez has been given one last mission by her former Shining Path comrades... To deliver a mysterious package to an equally mysterious contact, one whose name she doesn't even know.
While the setting has shifted, what hasn't changed is Tomlinson's eye and ear for his characters, his ability to deliver action and intensity and the raising of the literary stakes for readers, new and old. His first-hand knowledge of contemporary South America again shines through as he translates the complexity of Argentina's "Dirty War" with the same ease he did Peru's in "Sendero." And a better disciple of Elmore Leonard isn't found in today's marketplace, making "Lethal" a breezy, yet sophisticated read.
While not as gritty as his first two novels, "Lethal" delivers the goods in much the same way. Another must read by one of indie fiction's best authors.
Jason Stewart
www.criticstudio.com
While the setting has shifted, what hasn't changed is Tomlinson's eye and ear for his characters, his ability to deliver action and intensity and the raising of the literary stakes for readers, new and old. His first-hand knowledge of contemporary South America again shines through as he translates the complexity of Argentina's "Dirty War" with the same ease he did Peru's in "Sendero." And a better disciple of Elmore Leonard isn't found in today's marketplace, making "Lethal" a breezy, yet sophisticated read.
While not as gritty as his first two novels, "Lethal" delivers the goods in much the same way. Another must read by one of indie fiction's best authors.
Jason Stewart
www.criticstudio.com
May 5, 2014
In Tomlinson's first thriller [Sendero] Inez joins Peruvian rebel group the Shining Path, to avenge the death of her father. In this follow-up she tries to leave the group and gets caught up in one last assignment in order to buy her way out. She ends up involved with fascists in Argentina and gets a look at life from another perspective. I found that part fascinating, and the plot itself intriguing and entertaining. The reader sees what it is like to be inside the mansion when the mothers of the disappeared are demonstrating daily outside your front door. Five stars and I'm off to find out what happened to the other characters in [Sendero] in another Tomlinson book.
March 18, 2014
I enjoyed so much about this novel. The setting was exotic as was the storyline--it was fascinating exploring Argentina, Patagonia, etc., and learning about the recent history of those places with regards to terrorism, fascism, and poverty. And the novel explored these things without "teaching." Instead, these things were all woven into the details and texture of the novel. I'll definitely be reading more by this author.
March 7, 2014
Fierce
Fierce
This is a well thought out and planned misadventure. I loved every word of it. The characters were very rich and believable. This book was just the right length, too!
Fierce
This is a well thought out and planned misadventure. I loved every word of it. The characters were very rich and believable. This book was just the right length, too!
June 24, 2019
It is not a great book but it kept my interest. The characters are interesting. It has action, mystery and a bit of romance. While reading this book, I felt that there was something missing. Would I pay for this book? The answer would have to be no.
February 14, 2018
A good and easy read.
Very descriptive in his talks on cities and scenery. Plenty of twists to keep it interesting. Will look up some of his other writings...
Very descriptive in his talks on cities and scenery. Plenty of twists to keep it interesting. Will look up some of his other writings...
July 23, 2017
Hard to put down.
I found the story of Inez interesting although a bit far fetched at times. The history is well researched and the characters well rounded. A good read overall.
I found the story of Inez interesting although a bit far fetched at times. The history is well researched and the characters well rounded. A good read overall.
September 1, 2016
In Lethal Dispatch, the reader is introduced to a 16 year old named Inez who wants to leave the Shining Path and have a fresh start. The Shining Path is a group of rebels that Inez joined a few years back to avenge the death of her father. In order for her to be free of them and have a chance at a new life, Inez is asked to complete one final mission.
Inez is sent to Buenos Aires to complete her task, but a few complications quickly arise. Inez realizes that she needs a safe place to stay and make some money, so she takes on a job as a nanny. She hopes to stay at this job until her task for the Shining Path is complete, but shortly after the little girl she is taken care of is kidnapped.
I like the strong female characters in Max Tomlinson's books, and Inez really impressed me. She was resourceful, smart, and very responsible. She seemed older than her years at times, but I felt this was because she had to grow up fast when she was in the Shining Path. I appreciated her interest in the big city, and auditing a class at the University. It seemed to me, although Inez might not have realized it then, that she had some big hopes for her future. Inez also had an interesting maternal side to her as she looked out for other women in the story, and put her life on the line to rescue Joey. It was nice to see her softer side come through; as I was sure she had to hide that aspect of herself in the past.
Another thing that I really enjoy is the endings of Max Tomlinson's books. They never seem to end the way that I think they will, and I love the fact that he keeps the reader guessing until the end. Lethal Dispatch finished in a way that surprised me, but yet I found it strangely satisfying. It wrapped up a lot of questions that I had, and it gave me a lot of hope for Inez.
Overall, I had a great time reading this book. The pacing and action kept me very interested in the story, and I felt a strong connection to Inez. The characters were well developed, and the locations are described with such detail that I could almost picture myself there. Lethal Dispatch is an excellent book, and I highly recommend it. I also hope that down the road there is another story about Inez because I loved her character.
Thank you to the author for providing me a copy to review. It is always a pleasure to read your books!
Inez is sent to Buenos Aires to complete her task, but a few complications quickly arise. Inez realizes that she needs a safe place to stay and make some money, so she takes on a job as a nanny. She hopes to stay at this job until her task for the Shining Path is complete, but shortly after the little girl she is taken care of is kidnapped.
I like the strong female characters in Max Tomlinson's books, and Inez really impressed me. She was resourceful, smart, and very responsible. She seemed older than her years at times, but I felt this was because she had to grow up fast when she was in the Shining Path. I appreciated her interest in the big city, and auditing a class at the University. It seemed to me, although Inez might not have realized it then, that she had some big hopes for her future. Inez also had an interesting maternal side to her as she looked out for other women in the story, and put her life on the line to rescue Joey. It was nice to see her softer side come through; as I was sure she had to hide that aspect of herself in the past.
Another thing that I really enjoy is the endings of Max Tomlinson's books. They never seem to end the way that I think they will, and I love the fact that he keeps the reader guessing until the end. Lethal Dispatch finished in a way that surprised me, but yet I found it strangely satisfying. It wrapped up a lot of questions that I had, and it gave me a lot of hope for Inez.
Overall, I had a great time reading this book. The pacing and action kept me very interested in the story, and I felt a strong connection to Inez. The characters were well developed, and the locations are described with such detail that I could almost picture myself there. Lethal Dispatch is an excellent book, and I highly recommend it. I also hope that down the road there is another story about Inez because I loved her character.
Thank you to the author for providing me a copy to review. It is always a pleasure to read your books!
August 28, 2014
I am a fan of Max Tomlinson's Nina Flores suspense novels -- his books are definitely top finds among self-published writers. I got his first one free in exchange for an honest review but I have put my own money into both of his follow up books because I enjoy his writing so much. Lethal Dispatch is no different in that regard. Now, I always give a review to his books when I'm done reading because I believe that people should be finding them and reading them!
This is a stand-alone story, but readers of the Nina Flores books will be familiar with some of the characters. Teenager Inez appeared briefly in an earlier story as a member of the Shining Path (an armed revolutionary group in Peru). She has now avenged her father's murder and wants out. It's been arranged that they'll let her go, but she needs to complete one more task first. Murder, betrayal, and secrets follow.
I think this is a fantastic read for teens to help with an understanding of the lives of their peers around the world who have been affected by war and its long-term impact. Mr. Tomlinson always places the suspense of the story within a well-described historical and cultural settings. It never hurts when you learn a little something as you're being pulled along by a suspenseful story that keeps your attention through to the end.
Although I think this a great story for teens, it's also a great read for adults. I recommend it highly (as I do the Nina Flores series), and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
This is a stand-alone story, but readers of the Nina Flores books will be familiar with some of the characters. Teenager Inez appeared briefly in an earlier story as a member of the Shining Path (an armed revolutionary group in Peru). She has now avenged her father's murder and wants out. It's been arranged that they'll let her go, but she needs to complete one more task first. Murder, betrayal, and secrets follow.
I think this is a fantastic read for teens to help with an understanding of the lives of their peers around the world who have been affected by war and its long-term impact. Mr. Tomlinson always places the suspense of the story within a well-described historical and cultural settings. It never hurts when you learn a little something as you're being pulled along by a suspenseful story that keeps your attention through to the end.
Although I think this a great story for teens, it's also a great read for adults. I recommend it highly (as I do the Nina Flores series), and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
November 13, 2015
simply incredible. this book far surpassed my expectations and I couldn't put it down till I finished. The author has a way of making you really feel for and care about all the characters. Inez, the main character, is not your typical YA heroine. She's not the 'stupidly defiant, reluctant-forced-to-be hero' that seems to be the trend these days. Instead, she is just plain badass. The story starts off when she tries to leave what sounds like revolutionary rebel group. Of course she has to do "one last job" before she can get out for good. Nothing about the plan goes right and she ends up in a series of dangerous situations, always escaping by the skin of her teeth and through quick thinking. She is extremely brave but is also appropriately terrified when the situation calls for it. Everything was written in such a realistic manner and the descriptions of places, characters, pretty much everything was flawless.
November 8, 2015
This was a very quick read. The plot, along with the characters, was well defined. The action was quick and brisk with hardly a dull moment. The ending itself was kind of a surprise, but as I've said earlier, a very good read.
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