Serves You Right

by Orion Gregory, Teresa Evans (Editor), Reaghan Rebstock (Cover Art)

Rookie detective Sydney Livingstone thought she was trading fame for peace when she left the high-stakes world of professional tennis for a quiet life in Walsh County, Ohio. Freshly engaged to her charming fiancé Enzo and armed with a badge, she imagined a slower pace—morning coffee, small-town cases, and a sense of purpose. What she got was a nightmare.

A faceless vigilante known only as The Enforcer has emerged from the shadows of the dark web, declaring war on criminals—and the justice system that failed them. With chilling precision, this self-proclaimed executioner begins picking off targets across the region, leaving behind a digital trail of manifestos and blood. And Sydney is suddenly in the crosshairs—not just of a killer, but of a truth far more dangerous.

As her department reels from escalating threats, an unnervingly bold stalker begins tailing a veteran officer. The lines between predator and protector blur, and Sydney begins to wonder, "Are these attacks part of a calculated crusade or the unraveling of something even darker?

When damning evidence surfaces implicating someone inside the force, Sydney is forced to question everything—her colleagues, her instincts, and the strange timing of her own arrival. As national media descends on the quiet county and the body count rises, the pressure mounts.

In a game where every move could be your last, Sydney must navigate betrayal, buried secrets, and a killer who always seems one step ahead. Because in Walsh County, justice is no longer blind—it is watching.

"Serves You Right" is a chilling crime thriller where trust is a liability, justice is a weapon, and nothing is ever as it seems.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

350 pages, Paperback

Published July 2, 2025

About the author

Greg Milano writes under the pen name of Orion Gregory. He is an award-winning writer in the newspaper and advertising industries, and is a nationally published magazine contributor. He is a graduate of Wright state University with a degree in Communication Arts, and resides in Southwest Ohio.

Reviews

["Avonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

SERVES YOU RIGHT (Sydney Livingstone Detective Series Book #2) by Orion Gregory is a twisted crime thriller/police procedural featuring a female detective who was once a pro tennis player and is now a newly minted detective in a small Wayne County department in Northeast Ohio. While this is the second book in the series, it can be easily read as a standalone.

Rookie detective Sydney Livingstone is trying to find her footing not only as a new detective, but also one of only two females in her department. When Sydney makes a mistake that could have cost officers their lives, she is placed on a two-week probation. While out, she is asked by a superior to quietly look into rumors of a vigilante, known as The Enforcer on the dark web.

The Enforcer is a self-proclaimed executioner of those who escape justice in the courts. Sydney is assigned to work to case and finds not only a killer who broadcasts his kills on the dark web but also has hinted at the fact that someone in the Wayne County department assists him. When a detective is murdered, Sydney must work out all the clues and navigate betrayal on the force before the wrong man is charged with The Executioner’s crimes, and she is let go.

This is a fast read with a protagonist who is trying to find her way in a new profession with mainly male colleagues who are not all welcoming. Sydney was portrayed as a regular human being with faults and insecurities and not endowed with superpowers of investigation. The crime plot was well paced and had a multitude of suspects and surprise twists that were solved with good investigative work and not a surprise out of thin air.

I recommend this gripping crime thriller/police procedural and would be interested in reading more in the series.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

This is an interesting crime story. The premise is engaging and the book starts with a bang. The writing keeps you turning the pages.

There are lots of characters to keep straight which was a bit confusing at times. I thought the fact that she was a former tennis star would be more relevant but it really wasn’t a major plot point.

This is apparently Book 2 in a series. I did not read the first book and was able to enjoy this. However, I do feel like Book 1 would have added some background context. I would happily read more books in this series.

[Renita Cohill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty Good

I definitely enjoyed reading this book! The procedural and criminal aspects were great! I look forward to reading book 2 in this series!

[Harsh Tyagi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story begins with the case of Frank Mcbride, a man accused of murdering his wife who wanted seperation and half of everything, including the money Frank recently inherited after his mother's death. Sydney Livingstone, once a rising tennis star, is now a fledgling detective trying to find her footing in the quieter, steadier world of law enforcement. But her hopes for a fresh start unravel quickly when a vigilante calling themselves "The Enforcer" begins to manipulate justice from the shadows of the dark web. As Sydney dives deeper into a chilling investigation, she discovers a web of internal betrayal, hidden motives, and a personal vendetta that threatens not only her career but her sense of who she can trust. With a fellow officer under threat and public pressure mounting, Sydney must choose between playing it safe or risking everything to expose the truth.

Orion Gregory gave Sydney such a real and quiet strength. She isn’t a superhero or a genius. She makes mistakes and feels out of place, but there’s grit in the way she keeps moving forward. The author’s prowess shines through in the way he shapes the story. There’s a pulse of energy underneath the plot, something that feels lived-in rather than just imagined.

The crime suspense was thrilling enough to keep me turning pages. The book is fast-paced but never rushed, with the pacing complementing the unfolding drama. The writing had just enough warmth to balance the darker turns, and by the end, I felt I knew Sydney as more than just a character. She felt like someone I’d want to root for again.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review for Serves You Right by Orion Gregory


What a smart, tightly written thriller! Serves You Right completely delivered on everything I love about the genre high stakes, fast pacing, and characters with grit and fire.

From the first few pages, I was pulled into Sydney Livingstone’s world. She’s the kind of lead you root for: sharp, determined, and just the right amount of haunted. The plot kicks off fast and doesn’t let up. Orion Gregory does a fantastic job layering the suspense, and just when you think you’ve got it figured out, another twist comes flying at you.

This isn’t just a standard revenge thriller—there’s nuance here. Themes of karma, justice, and personal accountability are woven into the narrative in ways that feel earned and real. The writing is crisp and cinematic, and I could feel the tension building as Sydney dug deeper into the case. Even the side characters had purpose and depth, which helped elevate the story beyond the usual tropes.

I also really appreciated how the pacing was relentless but never overwhelming. It held my attention the entire time,I was fully in it. That kind of narrative vigilance is hard to pull off without exhausting the reader, but this book nailed it.

If you’re a fan of fast-moving, clever thrillers with a side of vengeance and justice, Serves You Right is absolutely worth your time.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ονι · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love the Sydney Livingstone Detective Series and this is the 3rd installment! This one dropped me right into a wild ride with Sydney Livingstone (who is a rookie detective). In this one she's in an even bigger mess with the Walsh County Police Department than her previous mysteries!

The whole thing Kicks off with "The Enforcer," a mysterious dark web vigilante who's decided to dole out their own brand of justice to criminals who slipped through the cracks. What starts as a simple case of vigilantism quickly gets super complicated. Gregory weaves a crazy tale of corruption, hidden secrets, and personal beefs, forcing Sydney to navigate a police force where trust is hard to come by. As the media
swarms Walsh County and bodies start piling up, Sydney has to face some tough questions about whether the justice system actually works and who steps up when it doesn't.

Sydney is awesome, love her as a MC because she's not some perfect super-detective, instead she's got this quiet strength and never gives up, even when she messes up. It's hard not rooting for her as she deals with backstabbers and a killer who's always one step ahead.
The author's writing is easy to read, super vivid, and kept me hooked. The dialogue is tight, and made me feel like I was right there in the thick of it. Plus, the "tech-crime" stuff feels scarily real, adding a chilling modern twist.

[Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book. The first chapters had me wondering when the protagonist would make an appearance. Murders were committed, and the guilty persons were not punished. But when the guilty were attacked by a vigilante known as The Enforcer, I soon met rookie detective Sydney Livingstone. I was hooked.

Sydney was a professional tennis player before becoming a police officer. This was addressed in the first book in the series, but this book works well as a standalone.

The book was well-paced and well-written. There are many credible suspects. The fact that Sydney was no super smart or perfect person endeared her to me.

I feared that her relationship with her fiancé Enzo would add more of a romantic angle than I'd like, but that never happened. I like that there was never a hint of a potential romantic angle with her fellow police officer friend and confidante.

I'm not sure I will go back and read the first book in the series, but I'll definitely read the next.

I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[The Twilight Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book.

This was a really gripping and exciting crime thriller. I did not read book 1 in this series, but I didn’t have any issues following the pace of this book. Throughout the book, I was constantly trying to figure out who the vigilante was and the plot twist at the end was definitely unexpected in a good way. Sydney is such an interesting character and I love that she puts her foot down and defends herself. The pacing of the book was well written and made it enjoyable and engaging throughout. The only thing I was not a big fan of was the writing style of the conversations between the characters. At times, it felt a bit unnatural or choppy when reading so the flow was a little interrupted. Otherwise, this was a great book!

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when someone takes the law into their own hands. In this book someone has decided that people are not being punished for their crimes and they are going to pay. There are suspicions that the criminal is from the police department because some of the things were not known to the public. This book grabbed me from the first chapter and I knew it was going to be a good read. A female rookie detective is treated poorly because she’s a rookie but she kept fighting. An interesting inside look at police department’s and how they handle when one of their own may be the criminal.

[Jojo Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t normally write reviews, but I had to for this book. It pulled me in from the first few pages and gripped my interest until the end. It was a rollercoaster with twists and turns, I absolutely loved it! This may be my new favorite author. I would recommend this book to anyone; it is well written and makes you feel like you’re really there watching the story unfold. The easiest 5/5 rating I could give out!

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serves You Right by Orion Gregory is a psychological pressure cooker that had me double-checking my locks and side-eyeing every friendly character on the page.

Sydney Livingstone might have traded her tennis racket for a badge, but peace? She didn’t even make it to the first coffee break before chaos hit. Gregory does such a great job showing the whiplash of Sydney’s new life one moment she’s trying to find her footing as a rookie detective and fiancée, the next she’s caught in the crosshairs of a faceless vigilante known only as The Enforcer. Think of it as Criminal Minds meets Gone Girl, with a twist of trust no one, not even your shadow.

The tension builds like a slow rally on the court each chapter a serve, each revelation a backhand that lands a little harder. And when the story starts hinting that someone inside the department might be dirty? I was flipping pages like my life depended on it. Sydney’s grit and vulnerability make her a compelling heroine tough enough to chase leads, human enough to doubt herself, and real enough that I felt every heartbeat of her fear.

By the end, I was left questioning not just who the killer was, but what justice even means when everyone’s wearing a mask, literal or otherwise. This isn’t just a cat-and-mouse thriller; it’s a dark commentary on power, morality, and the lies we tell ourselves to sleep at night.

⚡️Thank you Author Marketing Experts and Orion Gregory for sharing this book with me!

[Daniella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so Serves You Right is one of those books that sounds great in theory: a vigilante is out there taking out unpunished criminals, and a detective is trying to figure out who’s behind the mask. Love a morally murky justice crusade? I was in.

Except… that’s not really the book you get.

What starts as a vigilante thriller slowly morphs into a whack-a-mole parade of side plots: corrupt cops, old shootouts, dark web chatter, secret audio tapes, drug money, strychnine poisoning, surprise wealth, lottery wins (yes, really), staged evidence, emotional monologues, and a lot of people yelling at each other in offices. Every time you try to lock in on one storyline, another one is kicking down the door like, “Surprise, this matters now!”

Characters show up, drop exposition, and vanish. Some characters feel like they exist only to deliver one twist and then peace out forever. And somehow, a detective who brought a gun to an interrogation room (oops) ends up spearheading the whole investigation while everyone else around her is either shady, suspiciously rich, or suspiciously competent. At one point, I just muttered, “Who the hell is Cataldi?” and realized the book wasn’t going to remind me.

And the vigilante? Barely in it. For a book marketed around this rogue figure dishing out justice, we spend remarkably little time with them. Most of the story is told through secondhand info dumps or people theorizing in conference rooms.

By the end, it felt like the book was trying to tie up every single subplot with a dramatic speech and a mic drop. And sure, everything got wrapped up… but not necessarily in a way that felt satisfying. It was more like watching a very intense group project presentation where every team member gets called out in front of HR.

If you like your thrillers twisty to the point of whiplash, packed with law enforcement drama, and peppered with last-minute reversals, this might hit better for you. For me, it was just too much chaos, not enough character.

[Joanna Goldin · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. It’s not good. I like mysteries but this one is bad. I read it because the main character was previously a pro tennis player turned police office. Nothing about tennis and not worth reading

[Randi Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up Serves You Right thinking it was a standalone detective thriller, and I’m a sucker for those, but quickly realized it’s the second in a series following Sydney Livingstone, a former tennis pro turned police detective. Thankfully, you don’t have to read the first book (Faults) to dive in here.

The story opens with a chilling premise: Frank McBride and his wife Sheila agree to open their marriage, rules and all, but Frank has no intention of playing fair. He falls in love with another woman, Andrea, and decides the only way to be with her is to eliminate Sheila. His solution? Murder, and then a lazy attempt at cover-up by rolling her body down a mountain, hoping nature will take care of the rest.

Shockingly, Frank is found not guilty. But justice doesn’t end in the courtroom.

Soon, Frank is attacked and left in a coma, and another known wife-killer turns up dead. A mysterious vigilante known only as TheEnforcer is targeting men who’ve gotten away with murder, and he’s gaining a following on the dark web.

Enter Detective Sydney Livingstone, a sharp, determined, and still, somewhat new detective who’s pulled into the case. As she investigates Frank’s assault and tracks TheEnforcer, she must race to figure out who’s next on the hit list… and whether the vigilante might be closer than anyone suspects.

Orion Gregory’s writing reminded me of authors like Lisa Gardner and Tana French with its smart mix of courtroom drama and cat-and-mouse suspense. Sydney Livingstone is a character I want more of and it made me want to go back and read the first. The ending left enough open to make me hope there’s a third installment on the way. 🤞🏻

[Texas · Rating 3 out of 5]

SERVES YOU RIGHT - Interesting but a little slow moving along. Good characters and good story lines but I found the book average but not bad. Kind of different having two tennis pros involved as a couple and one as part of the police force. Source: BookSirens. 3*

[Lotte Oosterholt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this thriller. Had me guessing and in suspense all the way trough. Didn't quite expect this ending, but it was so good! Love a good whodunnit.

[whatnolareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

You ever finish a book and just sit there staring at nothing for a good ten minutes?

Yeah. That was me after Serves You Right by Orion Gregory.
From the first chapter, I was hooked not in that “oh, this is interesting” way, but in that I forgot to eat and now my coffee’s cold because I can’t put this down way.

We meet Sydney Livingstone, a former tennis pro turned rookie detective who’s just trying to build a new life after walking away from fame. But when a vigilante calling themselves The Enforcer starts targeting people who literally got away with murder, Sydney finds herself in the middle of a small-town nightmare where no one can be trusted not her coworkers, not her instincts, maybe not even herself.

And when I tell you this book had me GUESSING I mean full-on detective mode, cork board, red string, accusing everyone. I was like, “It’s the Chief. No, it’s the rookie. Wait… it’s HER. Oh my GOD, maybe it’s all of them.” 😭

Every time I thought I knew what was happening, Orion Gregory said, “No, bestie, you don’t.”
The pacing is solid steady enough to build tension but fast enough that you’re constantly on edge. The writing style is clean, cinematic, and sharp. You can see every scene like you’re watching a Netflix crime series.

What really stood out to me though was Sydney herself. She’s messy in the best way. She’s trying to figure out who she is outside of success, outside of reputation and you feel that. The guilt, the exhaustion, the stubborn fight to keep believing she can make a difference when everyone around her is playing dirty. She’s not the perfect detective; she’s human. And that makes her story hit harder.
The moral grayness of this book is chef’s kiss. You’re constantly torn between rooting for justice and fearing what it’s going to cost. I love a story that makes me uncomfortable in all the right ways the kind that forces you to ask, “What would I do if the system failed me too?”

Was it perfect? Not quite. Some of the procedural scenes dragged a little, and I wanted a deeper dive into Sydney’s past (that tennis-to-detective transition had so much potential). But honestly, those are minor nitpicks in a story that kept me up way past my bedtime.

By the end, I was stressed, satisfied, and emotionally dehydrated in the best possible way.
If you’re into psychological thrillers with flawed heroes, messy morals, and twists that make you question everyone, this book deserves a spot on your TBR.
Read it. Then message me when you’re done so we can scream about who you think The Enforcer really was. 😩

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Serves You Right’ by Orion Gregory is a crime thriller and the second installment in the Sydney Livingstone Detective Series. Sydney Livingstone, a former professional tennis star, trades the spotlight of the court for the shadows of a quiet Northeast Ohio town. Her hopes for a peaceful life with her tennis boyfriend are shattered when a vigilante takes justice into his own hands by killing former defendants acquitted of murdering their spouses.

Sydney makes several mistakes, and her career in law enforcement seems to be at risk as she tries to redeem herself by investigating the vigilante. When administrators suspect that someone within the department may be involved, trust becomes a scarce commodity. Despite the challenges, Sydney’s passion for being a detective drives her to find the perpetrator.

I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Serves You Right’. The story kept me engaged and constantly guessing the identity of The Enforcer. The narrative begins with intense scenes of the vigilante attacking perpetrators who had committed almost flawless murders. I connected with Sydney and empathized with her as she navigated the moral ambiguity that plagued her investigation. As the story progressed, I couldn’t trust any of the characters, except for Sydney. She was the only one I didn’t suspect as The Enforcer.

Overall, ‘Serves You Right’ is a well-crafted crime thriller. I was left wondering how Sydney and her boyfriend resolved their relationship. I’ll refrain from spoilers, and I appreciate how the story ended. I just wish there were a few pages that explained the outcome, as it was a recurring theme throughout the book.

The first book in the Sydney Livingstone Detective Series is ‘Faults,’ which I haven’t read. I didn’t have any trouble not having read the first book in the series, so I believe the books can be read in any order.

When Orion Gregory’s marketing expert asked me to read and review ‘Serves You Right,’ I found the description intriguing. However, I was also drawn to the story’s setting in Ohio, where I grew up. It was a pleasant experience to revisit my home state while accompanying Syd on this journey.

I appreciate Gregory’s marketing expert for inviting me to read this book. The author kindly provided me with a digital copy of the book so that I could offer an honest review.

I have photos and additional information that I'm unable to include here. It can all be found on my blog, in the link below.
A Book And A Dog

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Orion Gregory’s Serves You Right is a dark, twisty, and deeply satisfying crime thriller centered around Sydney Livingstone, a former tennis pro turned police detective, who finds herself pulled into the aftermath of a botched murder trial, a vigilante justice campaign, and a rapidly escalating series of brutal revenge killings. At the heart of the story is the acquitted-but-clearly-guilty Frank McBride, whose smug escape from justice sets off a chain of events that rattles an entire community and sends Syd on a collision course with both a killer and her own professional limits.

Right out of the gate, I have to say the writing is gripping. Gregory wastes no time dropping readers into the chaos with a gut-punch opening that doesn’t flinch from violence or moral ambiguity. He’s got a sharp instinct for pacing. Chapters fly by, and even when things quiet down, there's always an undercurrent of tension pulling you forward. The prose isn’t flashy, but it’s effective. I liked that. There's no pretension. Gregory writes like he’s trying to entertain, not impress. That said, the structure can get a bit dense at times, especially when the book shifts perspectives rapidly. Still, the characters, particularly Syd, are fully realized, flawed, and human. I rooted for her hard, even when she stumbled.

I was pleasantly surprised by the book’s moral weight. This isn’t your tidy detective story with good guys and bad guys in their corners. Gregory plays in the gray, and he plays dirty. The vigilante plotline, spearheaded by a mysterious online persona known only as “The Enforcer,” hit a nerve. There’s a kind of catharsis in seeing monsters get what’s coming to them, but Gregory doesn’t let us off that easily. He asks real questions about justice, about power, about how far is too far. And while he doesn’t hand us answers, he sure knows how to make us squirm while we look for them.

I’d recommend Serves You Right to fans of gritty police procedurals, psychological thrillers, and morally tangled crime fiction. If you like your stories messy, raw, and a little uncomfortable in the best possible way, then you’ll tear through this one like I did. Gregory doesn’t serve justice on a silver platter. He drops it on your doorstep, blood-spattered and blinking.

[Bithia Rissinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Former tennis pro turned rookie detective Sydney Livingstone thought she’d left chaos behind when she traded the professional circuit for small-town policing in Walsh County, Ohio. Instead, she walks straight into terror.

A vigilante known as The Enforcer is hunting criminals—and exposing a justice system he believes has failed—leaving bodies and chilling digital manifestos in his wake. As fear spreads, a disturbing stalker targets a veteran officer, and mounting evidence suggests the danger may be coming from inside the department itself.

With national attention intensifying and the killer always one step ahead, Sydney must untangle lies, loyalty, and her own role in a case that feels uncomfortably personal. In Walsh County, justice isn’t blind—it’s watching.

The story is told primarily from Sydney’s point of view—a retired tennis player navigating her new life as a rookie detective—though it occasionally shifts to other perspectives for brief periods.

The novel starts strong with a murder right out of the gate, an excellent hook that immediately grabs your attention. However, the pacing sometimes feels rushed, with certain details left unexplained, creating plot holes—some minor, others more significant. I won’t mention specifics to avoid spoilers.

This is the second book in the series, and there are frequent references to Sydney’s past and events from the first installment. At times, it feels like you’re missing important background information, which may be frustrating for readers who haven’t read the previous book.

For someone positioned as an up-and-coming ace detective, Sydney can come across as overly gullible and naïve, often trying to rationalize suspicious behavior rather than trusting her instincts.

That said, this was still an engaging and suspenseful mystery. The culprit is right in front of you the whole time—and yet you never quite see it coming.

[Angela Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serves You Right Brings a Well-Paced, Page Turner. I love mystery/thrillers that actually keep readers guessing a little as the scenes play out. The author creates a very well-developed thriller that moves well and drops enough surprises that cause some second-guessing and a few surprises to hold reader interest from beginning to end. As the author builds the story around The Enforcer and a combination of tech and traditional police investigation, the scenes layer strongly and interestingly. While the story wraps up successfully at the end, there are some loose ends that will pull you into (hopefully) future books of the series.

Expect to Enjoy Sydney's Character--but not all of the Conversation. I loved Sydney's character and the actual storyline development as the puzzle pieces unfolded to resolution. Some of the wishy-washy dialogue and character interactions seemed inconsistent with the other strongly written scenes. At times, the conversations made Sydney and the story seem a little unrealistic, like a "cozy mystery"; however, her actions would then seem more aligned with the other well-developed elements of the thriller.

Would I Recommend Serves You Right? I enjoyed Sydney's character, and I loved the mystery development as the storyline moved along. Despite sections of the dialogue feeling unrealistic for some scenes, the strength of the novel as a whole made it a page-turner that truly kept me engaged in solving the mystery with the characters. It's a great page-turner for mystery lovers.

I received a copy of this book from the author or publisher for use in a blog review. All opinions are my own.

[elena j.]

Serves You Right by Orion Gregory is a pulse-tightening thriller that grabs you by the collar from page one and never loosens its grip. It’s the kind of crime novel where the shadows feel sentient, the silence has weight, and every character carries something they’d rather keep buried.

Sydney Livingstone once a rising tennis star, now a rookie detective searching for a quieter life walks straight into a storm she couldn’t have predicted. Walsh County should have been her calm after the chaos. Instead, she finds herself hunted by The Enforcer, a faceless vigilante whose precision, brutality, and digital reach make him feel less like a man and more like an inevitability. His chilling manifestos, his surgical targeting, the eerie sense that he knows his victims it all builds a creeping dread that never lets up.

Gregory excels at blending psychological tension with real-world stakes. The department fractures under suspicion. A stalker slithers into the life of a veteran officer. Evidence emerges that points inward. And Sydney newly engaged, newly hired, newly exposed becomes trapped in a web where loyalty, truth, and survival blur into a single question: Who can she trust?

The pacing is razor-sharp. The twists hit like cold water. And the atmosphere relentless, claustrophobic, and digitally haunted gives the book a modern edge that makes the threat feel terrifyingly plausible.

For readers of Karin Slaughter, Chris Pavone, Lisa Gardner, or any crime fiction that blends grit with nerve-shredding psychology, Serves You Right is a standout. It’s not just a thriller it’s a warning shot.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @oriongregorybooks for the free book 💖.

Sydney Livingstone left professional tennis to become a detective in quiet Walsh County, Ohio. She thought she was trading fame for peace. Newly engaged and ready for a slower life, she expected small town calm, until a faceless vigilante called The Enforcer declared war on criminals and the justice system that failed them.

As bodies pile up and chilling messages spread online, Sydney realizes the danger isn’t just on the streets. Someone inside the department may be behind things, and the timing of her own arrival feels far too convenient. With trust crumbling and a killer always one step ahead, Sydney must uncover the truth before she becomes the next target.

This was an engaging and easy to follow read: tense, nicely paced, full of great characters and with a satisfying ending. It’s short enough to finish in a day but still packs plenty of punch. The vigilante storyline was a fun and believable concept, with twists that kept things interesting. I especially liked Sydney’s journey into a new professional world—she felt real and relatable, making mistakes, learning from them, and pushing forward despite every obstacle. I think this would make a great movie. I was hooked from beginning to end and really enjoyed it.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
👨‍💻High stakes
👨‍💻Character driven stories
👨‍💻Flawed but strong MFC
👨‍💻Buried secrets
👨‍💻Fast paced reads
👨‍💻Suspenseful crime thrillers/ police procedurals

⚠️CW: Multiple depictions of murders, violence, gun violence, corruption in law enforcement, stalking and targeted harassment, adult language, mentions of suicide.

[Sachin Karnik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serves You Right by Orion Gregory – A Gritty Vigilante Thriller That Doesn’t Let You Breathe

What happens when justice is blind—and someone decides to sharpen its eyes?
In Serves You Right, Orion Gregory delivers a taut, atmospheric thriller where secrets don’t stay buried, and vengeance wears a badge—or perhaps a mask.

Set in Walsh County, Ohio, this mystery introduces us to Sydney Livingstone, an ex-tennis star turned rookie detective with more instinct than experience. But when a string of ruthless murders rocks her quiet community—each targeting criminals who’ve slipped through the cracks—it becomes clear that justice is being served… but not by the law.

As the body count rises, Sydney finds herself tangled in a deadly web of half-truths, departmental coverups, and an elusive figure known only as “The Enforcer.” With every step closer to the truth, the line between right and wrong blurs, leaving readers gasping for breath until the final reveal.

💥 What makes it unforgettable?

Razor-sharp pacing that keeps you turning pages deep into the night!

A morally complex protagonist you can root for!

Twists that hit like a gut punch!

A gritty, noir vibe balanced with emotional intensity!

Orion Gregory’s writing is evocative yet precise—he paints suspense in short, loaded strokes, building tension with every chapter. Fans of Gillian Flynn, Karin Slaughter, and Michael Connelly will feel right at home here.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic read this was!! I can't remember the last time i read a murder mystery that both gripped and excited me at the same time. The premise had me immediately hooked. Told in third person, you follow Sydney, pro tennis star turned rookie detective, as she navigates her first year in Walsh County's police department. The case: well, there's a new vigilante in town, who goes by the name "The Enforcer," taking it upon themselves to make sure justice is rightfully served for those who literally got away with murder. There was something about the writing style that just sucked me straight in. It was gritty, tense and had my mind in constant battle mode trying to pin point exactly who the vigilante was. Sydney was a great main character, and I enjoyed her development throughout the book. She was fiercely loyal and determined, yet flawed in many ways that made her feel real and relatable. In fact, it was hard not to like most of the characters, which often led to me going in a vicious circle, talking myself out of who should be on my suspect list. I actually enjoyed the fact that their wasn't a side plot of a budding romance or a deeply traumatic past to follow here. It was a fast-paced, straightforward plot that hit all the right spots, AND it has a big, dramatic Agatha Christie type reveal at the end that concluded things nicely. I highly recommend giving this a read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serves You Right: Because Waiting for Karma Takes Forever (A Sydney Livingstone Detective Novel) is my first experience in reading Orion Gregory's work. I thought this was a great book to read. I found it to be fast paced, making me continue to keep turning the pages. Right from the first page, my interest was piqued, and held my attention all throughout. Once I thought I knew what was going to happen next, there was a new twist. I was often questioning who done it. I loved the main character of Sydney Livingstone. The plot was so detailed, I felt as though I was on her investigative team and wanting to find out how it would all unfold. I admired her bravery, courage, and determination to keep pushing forward. One of my favorite thrillers I have read so far this year.


I am going to give Serves You Right: Because Waiting for Karma Takes Forever a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who love to read suspense filled mysteries and thrillers. I would love to read a follow up novel to catch up with Sydney Livingstone in the near future. I am curious to find out what Orion Gregory has in store for her.

I received a paperback copy of Orion Gregory's Serves You Right: Because Waiting for Karma Takes Forever from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

A man murdered his wife two years ago and then a jury acquitted him of all charges. Then a random attack puts him in the hospital. Serves him right, no?

Then another murder suspect that “beat the rap” was attacked.

There was somebody called “The Enforcer” doling out justice by encouraging people on the dark web to kill unpunished criminals.

Right away, this was an intriguing premise. I liked the idea of the vigilante justice.

Meanwhile, Syd, a cop on suspension, was asked to look into these “vigilante murders.” Was there a leak among them? Was a county employee also a killer?

This was a pretty engaging read, but sometimes this lagged a little too much, which dulled an otherwise scintillating concept. After a while, the narrative becomes much too long and trivial. For a crime mystery, I expected it to be quicker, shorter, and more suspenseful. The actual writing was pretty good, but the excitement level was mild at best.

All in all, this was a fairly nice read and a good effort.

[Raymond]

I liked this book. The first chapters had me wondering when the protagonist would make an appearance. Murders were committed, and the guilty persons were not punished. But when the guilty were attacked by a vigilante known as The Enforcer, I soon met rookie detective Sydney Livingstone. I was hooked.

Sydney was a professional tennis player before becoming a police officer. This was addressed in the first book in the series, but this book works well as a standalone.

The book was well-paced and well-written. There are many credible suspects. The fact that Sydney was no super smart or perfect person endeared her to me.

I feared that her relationship with her fiancé Enzo would add more of a romantic angle than I'd like, but that never happened. I like that there was never a hint of a potential romantic angle with her fellow police officer friend and confidante.

I'm not sure I will go back and read the first book in the series, but I'll definitely read the next.

I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kendra Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery and Thriller genre is a favorite genre of mine. Serves You Right by Orion Gregory is the latest book in this genre that I have read. It is Book 2 in the Sydney Livingstone Detective Series.

WOW, this book captivated my interest immediately. The setting is in Walsh County, Ohio. Sydney Livingstone has given up a Tennis Career to become a Detective. The Murder spree that Syndey is investigating is very intriguing. Sydney begins to see a corrupt Police Department and so much more, even as a Rookie Detective. I really LOVE that Sydney stays strong against the Vigilante and the one known as "The Enforcer". The actions around town begin to catch the attention of the media and they begin to report things and Sydney is worried if this could do damage to her investigation or even to her. The book has many twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat. I truly enjoyed this storyline from beginning to end. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Mystery and Thriller genre. GREAT BOOK!

[Felina Pittman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This intriguing thriller is not your typical cut and dried crime story from the get-go. The novel highlights a female former professional tennis player turned cop, Syd Livingston who was trying to make a good impression on her superiors.

Being on a short leash and a greenhorn, Livingston's career in law enforcement was on the line when she was assigned to find out more about the vigilante murders perpetrated by the mysterious "enforcer." Livingston's grit, determination and patience paid off eventually when she displayed her shrewd and instinctive detective skills that prompted in resolving the issues surrounding the Walsh County police station. The climax and conclusion were surprisingly explosive when the identity of the castigator was finally revealed.

The author did a meritorious and commendable job of creating a complex web of controversies that draws the attentiveness and scrutiny of the readers. It was the convoluted subplots and twists and turns layered in the conspiracy that made the narrative so engrossing and reviting.