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Sprayed
With the crowds descending on downtown Chicago for the annual St. Patrick’s Day festivities, there is no better time for Donny, Jack and the crew to pull off a heist that will set them up for good. Jack, a new criminal and Donny, a veteran of the game, team up for one of the most unforgettable heists in the city’s history.
Under the guise of one of the largest pest control companies in the city, the guys attempt a heist that draws the attention of multiple law enforcement agencies.
Under the guise of one of the largest pest control companies in the city, the guys attempt a heist that draws the attention of multiple law enforcement agencies.
264 pages, Paperback
Published November 22, 2024
6 people want to read
About the author
David Dabbs
4 books5 followersEmerging author with a focus on crime fiction, mystery and thriller. I like to craft stories set in the modern day with an original plot line and a sprinkle of a twist. I hope to leave you with a fun read that is interesting throughout.
Please follow on GoodReads to stay up to date with my latest releases and head over to my website to see future releases as well.
Please follow on GoodReads to stay up to date with my latest releases and head over to my website to see future releases as well.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 15, 2024
Disclaimer: I received an ARC to read and review.
A bank heist. Small team with clear roles. A near perfect plan. What could go wrong?
Well apparently, everything.
The main character, Jack, is someone that anyone could relate to. Behind on bills and desperate to save his family from the financial situation they are in, when one of his friends suggests a plan to rob a bank, it is enough to convince him to join. Recruiting two more friends, they each use their strengths in the heist. The problem? Two of them break the no weapons rule. What should have been an easy job turns deadly. Each member of the heist tries to stick to the plan of pretending they don't know each other and live their lives with their money. Only slowly, one by one, they ran into trouble.
It started out as one could expect given the financial issues and plan for a bank heist. The ending will leave you shocked. The characters are relatable and there are some twists you don't expect. The story picks up pace and ends with a big bang.
A bank heist. Small team with clear roles. A near perfect plan. What could go wrong?
Well apparently, everything.
The main character, Jack, is someone that anyone could relate to. Behind on bills and desperate to save his family from the financial situation they are in, when one of his friends suggests a plan to rob a bank, it is enough to convince him to join. Recruiting two more friends, they each use their strengths in the heist. The problem? Two of them break the no weapons rule. What should have been an easy job turns deadly. Each member of the heist tries to stick to the plan of pretending they don't know each other and live their lives with their money. Only slowly, one by one, they ran into trouble.
It started out as one could expect given the financial issues and plan for a bank heist. The ending will leave you shocked. The characters are relatable and there are some twists you don't expect. The story picks up pace and ends with a big bang.
December 31, 2024
* I was given an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) to read and give feedback.
This book is a fast paced heist book that contains some relatable characters. The main character, Jack, works for a pest control company and is struggling to make ends meet for his family. His buddy, Donny, who owns an automotive shop and is kind of shady, suggests robbing a bank. The guys meet up with a few other guys and a plan is hatched. All goes well, until it doesn't!
The characters are somewhat relatable to working/middle class readers, but they make decisions that are not the smartest. You don't like them, but you root for them along the way.
This book is a fast paced heist book that contains some relatable characters. The main character, Jack, works for a pest control company and is struggling to make ends meet for his family. His buddy, Donny, who owns an automotive shop and is kind of shady, suggests robbing a bank. The guys meet up with a few other guys and a plan is hatched. All goes well, until it doesn't!
The characters are somewhat relatable to working/middle class readers, but they make decisions that are not the smartest. You don't like them, but you root for them along the way.
September 3, 2024
My first impressions of the book, being a crime / heist story, and the setting, Chicago, are what initially drew me to read this - and I had a very enjoyable time doing so! Without spoilers, here is what I thought:
Our main character, Jack, was relatable to me, and probably relatable to the majority of the readers out there. Hardworking, everyday guy, who is trying to support his family, but in these hard times, struggles financially - and morally. The rest of the characters are also pretty relatable (some are not, in ways you'll read about), but overall everyone is likable.
I appreciated that we had an omnipotent narrator so we get a taste of everyone's thoughts and feelings, even from both "sides" of the events that unfold.
Some characters also behave in ways you would not expect, and that's what makes the story interesting. For the most part, I thought that these behaviors were true to life and believable.
There's definitely a theme of morality, justice, and some power/corruption. Sometimes you wonder which characters are actually in the right.
This book was a real-page turner for me; easy to read, no words wasted. Everything written served a purpose and the pacing of the book felt like a well directed movie. I was excited to see what would happen next and did feel empathetic for characters at times.
The writing style was descriptive but not pretentious, which I appreciated. I do feel the essence of Chicago was captured in this book.
I'm not sure if I have a favorite character; I enjoyed the opposing characters and how they interacted as that kept me wanting more. I enjoyed the first half of the book, but the second half is where it gets most exciting.
I wanted to know what happened after the end of the book, which is a good sign in this case, since I cared about the characters.
Overall, Sprayed is a solid story that I would recommend to anyone else who enjoys the crime/heist genres. I would read more work from David Dabbs - kudos to him!
Our main character, Jack, was relatable to me, and probably relatable to the majority of the readers out there. Hardworking, everyday guy, who is trying to support his family, but in these hard times, struggles financially - and morally. The rest of the characters are also pretty relatable (some are not, in ways you'll read about), but overall everyone is likable.
I appreciated that we had an omnipotent narrator so we get a taste of everyone's thoughts and feelings, even from both "sides" of the events that unfold.
Some characters also behave in ways you would not expect, and that's what makes the story interesting. For the most part, I thought that these behaviors were true to life and believable.
There's definitely a theme of morality, justice, and some power/corruption. Sometimes you wonder which characters are actually in the right.
This book was a real-page turner for me; easy to read, no words wasted. Everything written served a purpose and the pacing of the book felt like a well directed movie. I was excited to see what would happen next and did feel empathetic for characters at times.
The writing style was descriptive but not pretentious, which I appreciated. I do feel the essence of Chicago was captured in this book.
I'm not sure if I have a favorite character; I enjoyed the opposing characters and how they interacted as that kept me wanting more. I enjoyed the first half of the book, but the second half is where it gets most exciting.
I wanted to know what happened after the end of the book, which is a good sign in this case, since I cared about the characters.
Overall, Sprayed is a solid story that I would recommend to anyone else who enjoys the crime/heist genres. I would read more work from David Dabbs - kudos to him!
September 10, 2024
From the very beginning, the author evokes a strong sense of empathy for Jack. You begin to understand the hopelessness he experiences, feeling that his only choice is to pull off a bank heist in order to provide for his family. Morally speaking, you certainly don’t want to root for him, but you’ll find yourself unable to stop yourself from doing so.
The characters in this novel are intricately crafted, and the narrative offers a deep understanding of their motivations and thoughts, which starts to blur the lines between right and wrong for the reader. I truly valued the diversity and authenticity of their personalities.
The suspense and progression of the plot are thoroughly engaging. Unlike many authors who leave gaps or unanswered questions, Sprayed maintains a cohesive storyline.
It is a relatively quick read. While I’m sure it can be completed in one sitting, I chose to break it into two sessions.
The twist at the end was so unexpected my jaw dropped! I certainly did not see it coming.
Kudos to David Dabbs for Sprayed. I look forward to exploring more of his work!
The characters in this novel are intricately crafted, and the narrative offers a deep understanding of their motivations and thoughts, which starts to blur the lines between right and wrong for the reader. I truly valued the diversity and authenticity of their personalities.
The suspense and progression of the plot are thoroughly engaging. Unlike many authors who leave gaps or unanswered questions, Sprayed maintains a cohesive storyline.
It is a relatively quick read. While I’m sure it can be completed in one sitting, I chose to break it into two sessions.
The twist at the end was so unexpected my jaw dropped! I certainly did not see it coming.
Kudos to David Dabbs for Sprayed. I look forward to exploring more of his work!
June 29, 2024
#Sponosred I received a copy of this novel from Voracious Readers and the Author in exchange for this review.
I wanted to read Sprayed because the plot intrigued me and reminded me of the Crim shows Davis and I watch on TV. I knew the cover of the book would capture David's attention. I sat down and began to read the story and ended up read the book at night with my husband. We both enjoyed the plot a lot and can't wait to read other books from this Author.
Inside the book is suspense and drama. If you were to ask me what genre of book this is both David and I said a Criminal Novel. If your like and don't care for bugs I would like to let you know the characters work for a pest control company as they plan a major crime set to take place in Chicago.
#Sponosred I received a copy of this novel from Voracious Readers and the Author in exchange for this review.
I wanted to read Sprayed because the plot intrigued me and reminded me of the Crim shows Davis and I watch on TV. I knew the cover of the book would capture David's attention. I sat down and began to read the story and ended up read the book at night with my husband. We both enjoyed the plot a lot and can't wait to read other books from this Author.
Inside the book is suspense and drama. If you were to ask me what genre of book this is both David and I said a Criminal Novel. If your like and don't care for bugs I would like to let you know the characters work for a pest control company as they plan a major crime set to take place in Chicago.
#Sponosred I received a copy of this novel from Voracious Readers and the Author in exchange for this review.
August 29, 2024
One man down on his luck. Stuck in a dead-end job. Trying to save his home, his life, his marriage. Turns to his cousin, who comes up with the outrageous idea to engage two other friends, and the four of them will rob a bank.
The plot builds slowly but becomes a page-turner quickly as the crime unfolds. The author gives the story some turns & twists keeping the reader interested and wondering what comes next. His writing reminds me a lot of Michael Harvey who also centers many of his stories in Chicago. But Sprayed gives us much more to think about in terms of how the characters interact, and begs the question, what would you do in similar circumstances? Dabbs also includes commentary on the questionable nature of Chicago’s finest, or any policing force in the city.
Final twist at the end was unexpected. Looking forward to future fiction from this author.
The plot builds slowly but becomes a page-turner quickly as the crime unfolds. The author gives the story some turns & twists keeping the reader interested and wondering what comes next. His writing reminds me a lot of Michael Harvey who also centers many of his stories in Chicago. But Sprayed gives us much more to think about in terms of how the characters interact, and begs the question, what would you do in similar circumstances? Dabbs also includes commentary on the questionable nature of Chicago’s finest, or any policing force in the city.
Final twist at the end was unexpected. Looking forward to future fiction from this author.
September 30, 2024
"The darkness gave him solitude after a scene of chaos."
Following Jack, this story deals with a man out of options and only one way out of his situation: rob a bank. I liked the various characters and how the biggest challenge isn't committing the crime but getting away from it. The main robbers are caught in a cat-and-mouse game that had me flipping pages frantically, propelled to see how it would all play out. I won't mention any spoilers, just note that I liked the ending of the game!
My main complaint is that I wanted more of Jack's character. He seemed like a interesting, conflicted man and I was saddened that we didn't get to see more of his inner thoughts.
Thank you to Mr. Dabbs for the ARC read opportunity!
That being said, I did receive a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Following Jack, this story deals with a man out of options and only one way out of his situation: rob a bank. I liked the various characters and how the biggest challenge isn't committing the crime but getting away from it. The main robbers are caught in a cat-and-mouse game that had me flipping pages frantically, propelled to see how it would all play out. I won't mention any spoilers, just note that I liked the ending of the game!
My main complaint is that I wanted more of Jack's character. He seemed like a interesting, conflicted man and I was saddened that we didn't get to see more of his inner thoughts.
Thank you to Mr. Dabbs for the ARC read opportunity!
That being said, I did receive a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
September 3, 2024
A heist book that wasn’t quite what I expected! When I think of this genre I tend to think of the movies like Ocean’s 11 or the Italian Job that sort of introduced me to the genre way back when. However this definitely doesn’t have that feel. It kept me guessing until the end about what the resolution would be. Surprisingly- the heist takes place fairly early on and much of the book was spent in the aftermath. I felt like the heist was innovative without having to rely on superhuman intelligence or tech to pull it off. The characters were not necessarily like able, nor did they at any time make what I would think of as good decisions 🤦🏼♀️ but strangely I found myself rooting for them anyway.
Read if you liked The Most Dangerous Game
Read if you liked The Most Dangerous Game
January 23, 2025
The ultimate question in Sprayed- what would you do to make ends meet?
The main character, Jack, finds himself in a dire financial situation. He reflects on how much power pieces of paper have over the quality of life people live, and the systems in place that keep people down.
I appreciated Dabbs take on this story, exploring a very important question to ask in our society. We’re all fighting over pieces of paper, and for what?
One thing I wanted was to hear more from Jack. I struggled a bit with the constant changing of POV of who was telling the story. I wish we could have gotten more of Jack’s reflections on what he had done to get the money he desperately needed.
Overall, a great question to write a book about!
The main character, Jack, finds himself in a dire financial situation. He reflects on how much power pieces of paper have over the quality of life people live, and the systems in place that keep people down.
I appreciated Dabbs take on this story, exploring a very important question to ask in our society. We’re all fighting over pieces of paper, and for what?
One thing I wanted was to hear more from Jack. I struggled a bit with the constant changing of POV of who was telling the story. I wish we could have gotten more of Jack’s reflections on what he had done to get the money he desperately needed.
Overall, a great question to write a book about!
September 6, 2024
I really enjoyed this story. The main character is very relatable. He is just your average guy trying to survive in the city all while taking care of his family. We all have to do things we might not agree with to survive sometimes. In this case robbing a bank.
All of the characters are well written and the story quickly picks up pace and it’s definitely one of those books That is hard to put down.
This was a great read, it definitely tests your morality as you question who is really right and wrong. I am looking forward to what’s next.
All of the characters are well written and the story quickly picks up pace and it’s definitely one of those books That is hard to put down.
This was a great read, it definitely tests your morality as you question who is really right and wrong. I am looking forward to what’s next.
June 12, 2024
A real whopping page turning read this book turned out to be. Donny, Jack and crew are down on their luck and struggling to make ends meet. They form a idea to pull off the biggest heist of their lives. A well developed plot that thickens with twists and turns. The action is non stop and the suspense is high as it builds to a explosive ending.
August 28, 2024
The author was nice enough to send me an epub copy of his debut novel. I read Author Dabb's Sprayed in one sitting. The book flows well and is easy to follow. So many times, a new author just can't tie all the loose ends together. That is not the case with Sprayed! I enjoyed the story and I hope Mr. Dabbs continues to write fiction novels in the future.
August 29, 2024
This novel reminds me of detective series like Law and Order, and it highlights the motives of criminals concerning Jack and his family and has twists around every corner.
September 21, 2024
Very good read. Definitely kept you interested
Great twist and turns
Ending of this book was great. Definitely recommend
Great twist and turns
Ending of this book was great. Definitely recommend
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews