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Tank Rizzo #2
Payback
Payback is personal for a former NYPD detective taking on a corrupt cop and a dirty accounting firm in this adrenaline-laced thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Sleepers and Tin Badges.
"Carcaterra's keen eye and deft style bring New York City to stunning life. A brilliant thriller by one of the all-time greats."--Jeffery Deaver, #1 internationally bestselling author
If there's one kind of person Tank Rizzo hates most in this world, it's a dirty cop. Criminals are at least honest about being dishonest; dirty cops are a disgrace to the badge they carry. Detective Eddie Kenwood is one such disgrace. He's got the highest signed-confession rate in the NYPD and a distinguished career built on putting men behind bars--whether they're guilty or not doesn't matter much to him. When Tank's partner, Pearl, tells him about an old family friend Kenwood put in jail for a murder he didn't commit, Tank and Pearl vow to take Kenwood down.
Also in need of a takedown: the money-laundering accounting firm where Tank's brother used to work--before he mysteriously died, leaving Tank the sole guardian of his nephew, Chris. Chris smells a rat, and enlists Tank's help to bring the men who had his father killed to justice.
Working two big cases means getting out the big guns, and Tank assembles his A-team. With help from a retired mobster, a professional boxer, a Chelsea psychic, a dog named Gus, and the U.S. Attorney--not to mention his and Pearl's own quick wits and Chris's burgeoning skills as a computer whiz--Tank gears up to take on his most dangerous and personal cases to date.
"Carcaterra's keen eye and deft style bring New York City to stunning life. A brilliant thriller by one of the all-time greats."--Jeffery Deaver, #1 internationally bestselling author
If there's one kind of person Tank Rizzo hates most in this world, it's a dirty cop. Criminals are at least honest about being dishonest; dirty cops are a disgrace to the badge they carry. Detective Eddie Kenwood is one such disgrace. He's got the highest signed-confession rate in the NYPD and a distinguished career built on putting men behind bars--whether they're guilty or not doesn't matter much to him. When Tank's partner, Pearl, tells him about an old family friend Kenwood put in jail for a murder he didn't commit, Tank and Pearl vow to take Kenwood down.
Also in need of a takedown: the money-laundering accounting firm where Tank's brother used to work--before he mysteriously died, leaving Tank the sole guardian of his nephew, Chris. Chris smells a rat, and enlists Tank's help to bring the men who had his father killed to justice.
Working two big cases means getting out the big guns, and Tank assembles his A-team. With help from a retired mobster, a professional boxer, a Chelsea psychic, a dog named Gus, and the U.S. Attorney--not to mention his and Pearl's own quick wits and Chris's burgeoning skills as a computer whiz--Tank gears up to take on his most dangerous and personal cases to date.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published August 25, 2020
128 people are currently reading
2567 people want to read
About the author
Lorenzo Carcaterra
49 books694 followersNumber-one New York Times bestselling author Lorenzo Carcaterra's highly successful career spans more than 25 years of writing for the diverse fields of fiction, non-fiction, television, and film.
Born and raised in New York's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, Carcaterra landed his first job in the newspaper business as a copy boy for The New York Daily News in 1976. He worked his way up to entertainment reporter before leaving the paper in 1982, heading for the green pastures of then-Time Inc. and TV-Cable Week, as senior writer. Nine months later, the magazine folded, leaving him unemployed. A four-month stint at People magazine was followed by an odyssey of writing for a string of start-up publications—Picture Week, Entertainment Tonight Magazine, Special Reports Magazine—and freelancing for dozens of others—The New York Times Sunday Magazine, Newsday Sunday Magazine, Family Circle, Ladies Home Journal, and Twilight Zone Magazine among them.
In 1988, Carcaterra turned to television as a Creative Consultant for the syndicated weekly series Cop Talk: Behind the Shield, produced by Grosso-Jacobson Productions. That led to a job as Managing Editor for the CBS weekly series Top Cops, also with Grosso-Jacobson Productions. Running for four seasons, from 1990 to 1994, the show is still in syndication today worldwide. In addition, he worked on a dozen other pilots, one of which––Secret Service (NBC)––made it to air. It was while at Grosso-Jacobson Productions that Carcaterra wrote and published his first two books, A Safe Place and Sleepers.
First published in hardcover in 1993, A Safe Place: The True Story of a Father, a Son, a Murder, attracted widespread critical acclaim, with Newsweek calling it, “unforgettable—a remarkable book.” Currently in its 14th printing, it has been sold to 11 foreign countries and has sold close to 220,000 copies.
The 1995 publication of Sleepers, which was a #1 New York Times bestseller in both hardcover and paperback, catapulted Carcaterra to national attention. Sold to 35 foreign countries and now in its 38th printing in the United States, the book has sales exceeding 1.8 million copies. In 1996, Sleepers was made into a feature film starring Brad Pitt, Robert DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman, Kevin Bacon, Minnie Driver, and Jason Patric. Carcaterra served as co-producer on the project, which was directed by Academy Award winner Barry Levinson. To date, the movie has earned in excess of $500 million worldwide in combined box-office, video, DVD, and TV sales.
Carcaterra made a smooth transition into writing fiction with his first novel, Apaches, a New York Times bestseller in both hardcover and paperback. Published in a 14 foreign countries, the book has sold more than 450,000 copies and been optioned by producer Jerry Bruckheimer.
He followed that with Gangster, published in hardcover in 2001. The book has sold over 375,000 copies since its 2002 release as a Mass Market Paperback. The novel has been optioned by Joe Roth and been sold to 15 foreign countries.
Carcaterra then wrote Street Boys, a World War II saga inspired by an incident which occurred in Naples, Italy, in 1943. Warner Bros. and Bel-Air Entertainment bought the rights to the story in March 2001 before it was written, and developed the project for director Barry Levinson. Carcaterra wrote the screenplay. The paperback was released in July, 2003 and has since sold 150,000 copies.
Carcaterra's next novel Paradise City was published in hardcover by Ballantine in September 2004 with the paperback following a year later. To date, the novel has sold over 100,000 copies and was optioned by Fox Television to be developed as a weekly series.
In 2007, Carcaterra published Chasers, a sequel to his bestseller Apaches. The paperback version was published in the spring of 2008 and movie rights to the story are once again controlled by Jerry Bruckheimer Productions.
With that, Carcaterra took a different turn and has just completed hi
Born and raised in New York's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, Carcaterra landed his first job in the newspaper business as a copy boy for The New York Daily News in 1976. He worked his way up to entertainment reporter before leaving the paper in 1982, heading for the green pastures of then-Time Inc. and TV-Cable Week, as senior writer. Nine months later, the magazine folded, leaving him unemployed. A four-month stint at People magazine was followed by an odyssey of writing for a string of start-up publications—Picture Week, Entertainment Tonight Magazine, Special Reports Magazine—and freelancing for dozens of others—The New York Times Sunday Magazine, Newsday Sunday Magazine, Family Circle, Ladies Home Journal, and Twilight Zone Magazine among them.
In 1988, Carcaterra turned to television as a Creative Consultant for the syndicated weekly series Cop Talk: Behind the Shield, produced by Grosso-Jacobson Productions. That led to a job as Managing Editor for the CBS weekly series Top Cops, also with Grosso-Jacobson Productions. Running for four seasons, from 1990 to 1994, the show is still in syndication today worldwide. In addition, he worked on a dozen other pilots, one of which––Secret Service (NBC)––made it to air. It was while at Grosso-Jacobson Productions that Carcaterra wrote and published his first two books, A Safe Place and Sleepers.
First published in hardcover in 1993, A Safe Place: The True Story of a Father, a Son, a Murder, attracted widespread critical acclaim, with Newsweek calling it, “unforgettable—a remarkable book.” Currently in its 14th printing, it has been sold to 11 foreign countries and has sold close to 220,000 copies.
The 1995 publication of Sleepers, which was a #1 New York Times bestseller in both hardcover and paperback, catapulted Carcaterra to national attention. Sold to 35 foreign countries and now in its 38th printing in the United States, the book has sales exceeding 1.8 million copies. In 1996, Sleepers was made into a feature film starring Brad Pitt, Robert DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman, Kevin Bacon, Minnie Driver, and Jason Patric. Carcaterra served as co-producer on the project, which was directed by Academy Award winner Barry Levinson. To date, the movie has earned in excess of $500 million worldwide in combined box-office, video, DVD, and TV sales.
Carcaterra made a smooth transition into writing fiction with his first novel, Apaches, a New York Times bestseller in both hardcover and paperback. Published in a 14 foreign countries, the book has sold more than 450,000 copies and been optioned by producer Jerry Bruckheimer.
He followed that with Gangster, published in hardcover in 2001. The book has sold over 375,000 copies since its 2002 release as a Mass Market Paperback. The novel has been optioned by Joe Roth and been sold to 15 foreign countries.
Carcaterra then wrote Street Boys, a World War II saga inspired by an incident which occurred in Naples, Italy, in 1943. Warner Bros. and Bel-Air Entertainment bought the rights to the story in March 2001 before it was written, and developed the project for director Barry Levinson. Carcaterra wrote the screenplay. The paperback was released in July, 2003 and has since sold 150,000 copies.
Carcaterra's next novel Paradise City was published in hardcover by Ballantine in September 2004 with the paperback following a year later. To date, the novel has sold over 100,000 copies and was optioned by Fox Television to be developed as a weekly series.
In 2007, Carcaterra published Chasers, a sequel to his bestseller Apaches. The paperback version was published in the spring of 2008 and movie rights to the story are once again controlled by Jerry Bruckheimer Productions.
With that, Carcaterra took a different turn and has just completed hi
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
August 13, 2020
PAYBACK by Lorenzo Carcaterra is the second book in the Tank Rizzo mystery series and the first one that I have read by this author. Tank Rizzo and his former NYPD partner Pearl are retired on disability, but they still do investigations. In this story line, they are pursuing two cases. The first is the death of Tank’s brother and his sister-in-law and the second is the imprisonment of Randy Jenkins for a murder that he says he did not do.
Tank has a wide variety of people that help him solve cases and they are not the usual sort of team that would immediately come to mind. The beginning of the book switched time lines multiple times making it more difficult to achieve a smooth flow and transition. Eventually, the time line became current and worked well. There was no trouble going following the two concurrent investigations. Where I had the biggest issue was the believability factor of the agreements and interactions with the Chief of Detectives and the U.S. Attorney’s office as well as their acceptance of some of the actions taken by Tank and his team.
The secondary characters were well-rounded and enhanced the story. The stakes were high throughout the novel and kept me fully invested in the story despite knowing who the ‘bad guys’ were early on in the book. The world-building enhanced the setting and gave me a clear sense of place. Themes include death, corruption, secrets, lies, family relationships, racism, friendships and much more.
Overall, the plot was action-packed, absorbing and entertaining. The pursuit of justice was not always done in a legal manner and this affected my rating. However, there are many reviewers that could overlook this aspect of the story and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and Lorenzo Carcaterra for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
Tank has a wide variety of people that help him solve cases and they are not the usual sort of team that would immediately come to mind. The beginning of the book switched time lines multiple times making it more difficult to achieve a smooth flow and transition. Eventually, the time line became current and worked well. There was no trouble going following the two concurrent investigations. Where I had the biggest issue was the believability factor of the agreements and interactions with the Chief of Detectives and the U.S. Attorney’s office as well as their acceptance of some of the actions taken by Tank and his team.
The secondary characters were well-rounded and enhanced the story. The stakes were high throughout the novel and kept me fully invested in the story despite knowing who the ‘bad guys’ were early on in the book. The world-building enhanced the setting and gave me a clear sense of place. Themes include death, corruption, secrets, lies, family relationships, racism, friendships and much more.
Overall, the plot was action-packed, absorbing and entertaining. The pursuit of justice was not always done in a legal manner and this affected my rating. However, there are many reviewers that could overlook this aspect of the story and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and Lorenzo Carcaterra for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
August 10, 2020
Tank and Pearl are former NYPD officers, now retired on disability, but still determined to keep active. Tank has a crew that includes not just wheelchair-bound Pearl, but an assortment of misfits, psychics, pickpockets, and hard cases. His girlfriend's father Carmine is and old style retired but still tough as nails mob boss, who now sits around his Italian restaurant in the East Village. Tank and company are do-goodness, but they operate on the edges, way on the edges, and the police chief sends them cases often that can't be sorted out using the system. Here, Tank Ames on two cases, one a wrongful conviction and one hitting close to home with his brother's murderers in his sights. Once the story gets going, the action us fast and furious.
August 22, 2020
I was happy to get the chance to review this book. I last read Lorenzo Carcaterra when I was living in New York. There is something very nostalgic for me as a former New Yorker to read him. He captures the old New York - the one I knew before gentrification and money were everywhere - and old New York cops better than almost any writer I can think of. This book is no different. It's about Tank, a retired cop, and his old partner Pearl, who is now in a wheelchair. Tank is caught up in two mysteries that may or may not be related. The main mystery in the book is about a dirty cop and a money laundering syndicate. The second is who killed Tank's brother. The intertwined stories involve everything you could ever want in a dirty cop book: the Mafia (by the way, Tank is dating a Mafioso's daughter). a dirty cop who sets up murders and extracts false confessions, a tough talking New York cop and his partner, his family, and some classic New York settings and neighborhoods.
To enjoy this book you'll have to enjoy your hero cops non-traditional, violent and ready for battle, but clearly the good guys. These guys go way beyond Harry Bosch and cross many lines some readers might not approve of. As for me, I don't mind. As always, Carcaterra really excels at realistic but tough dialogue and characters that are equally tough with hearts of gold. (Mostly.) I felt like the plot of this book moved a bit more slowly than I like in my mysteries, and centered a little too much on just violent payback (which, I gotta admit, I should have figured out from the title!). I would have liked a little more plot and a couple of twists. Despite that, the beauty of Carcaterra's writing and characters carried the day as always and made this very readable and entertaining. And when the action finally begins it is brutal and fast.
A solid dirty-cop payback book from one of the masters with an amazing sense of atmosphere and place in a New York that you don't hear about as much anymore. 4 stars, this book inspired me to pick up the other books of Carcaterra's that I have not gotten to yet.
Thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books and Lorenzo Carcaterra for the advance copy of this book. My review is honest and my own.
To enjoy this book you'll have to enjoy your hero cops non-traditional, violent and ready for battle, but clearly the good guys. These guys go way beyond Harry Bosch and cross many lines some readers might not approve of. As for me, I don't mind. As always, Carcaterra really excels at realistic but tough dialogue and characters that are equally tough with hearts of gold. (Mostly.) I felt like the plot of this book moved a bit more slowly than I like in my mysteries, and centered a little too much on just violent payback (which, I gotta admit, I should have figured out from the title!). I would have liked a little more plot and a couple of twists. Despite that, the beauty of Carcaterra's writing and characters carried the day as always and made this very readable and entertaining. And when the action finally begins it is brutal and fast.
A solid dirty-cop payback book from one of the masters with an amazing sense of atmosphere and place in a New York that you don't hear about as much anymore. 4 stars, this book inspired me to pick up the other books of Carcaterra's that I have not gotten to yet.
Thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books and Lorenzo Carcaterra for the advance copy of this book. My review is honest and my own.
July 31, 2020
One hard core cop fiction. So many elements!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The first book in the series really made me love the character of Tank. An ex-cop who has a tough exterior but a soft heart really makes you connect with this guy.
Tank and his team consists of an ex-partner who is in a wheelchair but has a brilliant mind. His nephew, who came to live with him when Tank’s brother was killed. Assorted other characters from many walks of life are also along for the take downs. Some with a criminal history. Some on the up and up. Some a questionable blend.
We can’t forget Tank’s girlfriend whom he waited years to connect with and her dad who is a friend as well. This assortment of characters and the unique cases they are given to work on create an intense story full of action, crime, bullets flying, murder and mayhem, and that’s from the good guys.
That’s the thing I like the most about the story is Carcaterra really shows people who the characters are and isn’t afraid to show that even in goodness sometimes we all have a little dark side. Protecting our own just got a new definition with this team.
Payback is an all-around action packed story set in downtown NYC that gives us the city grit and crime with unexpected direction and surprise secrets. So much energy and intensity that you will be hard pressed to put this one down!
* copy received for review consideration
Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/payback-by-l...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The first book in the series really made me love the character of Tank. An ex-cop who has a tough exterior but a soft heart really makes you connect with this guy.
Tank and his team consists of an ex-partner who is in a wheelchair but has a brilliant mind. His nephew, who came to live with him when Tank’s brother was killed. Assorted other characters from many walks of life are also along for the take downs. Some with a criminal history. Some on the up and up. Some a questionable blend.
We can’t forget Tank’s girlfriend whom he waited years to connect with and her dad who is a friend as well. This assortment of characters and the unique cases they are given to work on create an intense story full of action, crime, bullets flying, murder and mayhem, and that’s from the good guys.
That’s the thing I like the most about the story is Carcaterra really shows people who the characters are and isn’t afraid to show that even in goodness sometimes we all have a little dark side. Protecting our own just got a new definition with this team.
Payback is an all-around action packed story set in downtown NYC that gives us the city grit and crime with unexpected direction and surprise secrets. So much energy and intensity that you will be hard pressed to put this one down!
* copy received for review consideration
Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/payback-by-l...
August 16, 2020
A Fantastic cop story of retired cops, current cops, feds..All with street smarts and street friends ready to jump in to give a hand in all crazy situations..And Of Course, Criminals..Those with No morals, care of others, and then there Are some who haven't jumped off the deep end...Yet! Tank Rizzo and his partner, Pearl have retired, on disability..But just because a cop's retired he does Not lose his touch, his smell of a crime, and ability to spot a liar or a problem from a mile away! Luckily for these two their Captain often throws them cold, really frozen cases that have been left unsolved..Then there is word-of-mouth, often bringing cases from those they do not know but will certainly work to help..to get the Answer, to make things Right!
The characters that work with Rizzo in his own special A Team are a fascinating crew of homeless, low level criminals, pick-pockets and his wheel-chair bound partner, Pearl...Add the father of his girlfriend, who is a 'retired' mobster, and This crew is up for Anything!! This is a hard-hitting, realistic story of life on the front line against crime..From the joy to be working through every emotion brought about by shootings, scary moments and hope to keep each other safe. There is quick action, a great plot and scenes you feel you are Right There..Doing Your best to stay unseen by folks you do Not want to be caught in the dark with..
I loved the first in this series and this addition continues with a great, intriguing story I just can Not get Enough of!! I thank the author and NetGalley for an ARC of this book, and I offer You my honest thoughts and feelings in this review.
The characters that work with Rizzo in his own special A Team are a fascinating crew of homeless, low level criminals, pick-pockets and his wheel-chair bound partner, Pearl...Add the father of his girlfriend, who is a 'retired' mobster, and This crew is up for Anything!! This is a hard-hitting, realistic story of life on the front line against crime..From the joy to be working through every emotion brought about by shootings, scary moments and hope to keep each other safe. There is quick action, a great plot and scenes you feel you are Right There..Doing Your best to stay unseen by folks you do Not want to be caught in the dark with..
I loved the first in this series and this addition continues with a great, intriguing story I just can Not get Enough of!! I thank the author and NetGalley for an ARC of this book, and I offer You my honest thoughts and feelings in this review.
August 21, 2020
Simply not taxing my brain with flashbacks in time and chapters that switch perspectives of a dozen characters I can't keep straight make this one a winner in my book. For once, I could sit back and enjoy a book from exciting start to exciting finish. On top of that, the characters are quirky but pretty much realistic (well, as much as in any of the cops-and-robbers TV shows that I love), and I'm eager to read about them again.
This is the second in a series, and alas, I did not read the first. That said, I never felt as if I'd missed anything (although I wish I'd read it just because I like this one so much). "Tank" Rizzo is a highly skilled former police officer who was seriously injured on the job and now handles special cases for the department. He's assembled a crew of helpers that includes his former partner, "Pearl" Monroe, who was injured along with Rizzo and now uses a wheelchair. A year or so ago, Rizzo's brother - who worked at an accounting firm that caters to the hoity-toity - died with his wife in an auto accident. Their son, Chris, now lives with Tank; a computer whiz, he's intent on finding evidence to prove his parents' death was not an accident.
Meanwhile, Detective Eddie Kenwood is still on the job, racking up confession after confession that has provided him with one of the highest case resolution stats of anybody in the department. But it's starting to look as if he isn't coming by those confessions honestly; thanks to Pearl, one case, in particular, has caught Tank's eye. Just because he hates dirty cops - and Eddie in particular - Tank agrees to take on the case.
Almost from the start, it becomes clear that neither case will go down easily; in fact, just heading out the door can prove risky. But thanks to the special talents of Tank and his band of men (and a woman) and their friends - some of whom would make Al Capone's mob look saintly - they keep plodding along right to the end. I love Tank and Pearl, and the interaction among all the characters made the story all the more appealing. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for introducing me to this series by way of a pre-release copy. Now will you please add me to the list to get the next one? Pretty please?
This is the second in a series, and alas, I did not read the first. That said, I never felt as if I'd missed anything (although I wish I'd read it just because I like this one so much). "Tank" Rizzo is a highly skilled former police officer who was seriously injured on the job and now handles special cases for the department. He's assembled a crew of helpers that includes his former partner, "Pearl" Monroe, who was injured along with Rizzo and now uses a wheelchair. A year or so ago, Rizzo's brother - who worked at an accounting firm that caters to the hoity-toity - died with his wife in an auto accident. Their son, Chris, now lives with Tank; a computer whiz, he's intent on finding evidence to prove his parents' death was not an accident.
Meanwhile, Detective Eddie Kenwood is still on the job, racking up confession after confession that has provided him with one of the highest case resolution stats of anybody in the department. But it's starting to look as if he isn't coming by those confessions honestly; thanks to Pearl, one case, in particular, has caught Tank's eye. Just because he hates dirty cops - and Eddie in particular - Tank agrees to take on the case.
Almost from the start, it becomes clear that neither case will go down easily; in fact, just heading out the door can prove risky. But thanks to the special talents of Tank and his band of men (and a woman) and their friends - some of whom would make Al Capone's mob look saintly - they keep plodding along right to the end. I love Tank and Pearl, and the interaction among all the characters made the story all the more appealing. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for introducing me to this series by way of a pre-release copy. Now will you please add me to the list to get the next one? Pretty please?
September 11, 2020
Tank Rizzo and his friend and former partner Pearl are retired NYPD police officers, both injured in the line of duty and 'shot off' the force--Pearl's injuries in fact have left him wheelchair bound. But both continue to work with the NYPD and in this outing, they are looking into Detective First Grade Eddie Kenwood, a gold star detective who has an extraordinarily-high rate of conviction through confessions, some of which have been overturned of late due to evidence proving the wrong man was sent to prison.
In his personal life, Tank's fifteen-year-old nephew Chris has come to live with him after both his parents were killed in an automobile accident. Chris refuses to believe it was an accident and has used his computer skills to dig up some evidence to support his claim, enough to convince Tank to start looking at the investment firm where his brother worked.
Both investigations rile up some people who don't mind using violence to make their problems go away but thankfully Tank and Pearl have a motley crew of misfits who back them up when the going gets rough.
The author's bio says that he is a former writer/producer for the tv show Law & Order and this story does read like a cop show tv script with plenty of action, violence and gore, though interesting characters and friendships/relationships raise it a step above that. This has been an entertaining series thus far and I look forward to reading more.
I received an arc of this new crime novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.
In his personal life, Tank's fifteen-year-old nephew Chris has come to live with him after both his parents were killed in an automobile accident. Chris refuses to believe it was an accident and has used his computer skills to dig up some evidence to support his claim, enough to convince Tank to start looking at the investment firm where his brother worked.
Both investigations rile up some people who don't mind using violence to make their problems go away but thankfully Tank and Pearl have a motley crew of misfits who back them up when the going gets rough.
The author's bio says that he is a former writer/producer for the tv show Law & Order and this story does read like a cop show tv script with plenty of action, violence and gore, though interesting characters and friendships/relationships raise it a step above that. This has been an entertaining series thus far and I look forward to reading more.
I received an arc of this new crime novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.
August 10, 2020
This is a remarkably well written procedural about Tank and Pearl, a pair of Tin Badges (retired NYPD members who were injured seriously and unable to continue active duty). Tank is also guardian of his 15 year old nephew whose parents died in an automobile accident. The boy is a crime junkie and computer guru who has determined it wasn’t an accident and that his parents were murdered. Pearl has an acquaintance who has spent twenty years in Attica after confessing to a first degree murder he did not commit. They and their team take on both cases. The characters are colorful, the action is non stop and the plot more than sufficiently twisted. It takes the reader into New York city’s underground in a fast reading novel that they will stay up late to finish. Thanks to Net Galley and Ballantine for an ARC for an honest review.
February 10, 2021
Tank Rizzo and Pearl are ex-cops, injured in the line of duty, now doing jobs on the side. In this story you know who the bad guys are pretty much from the beginning. Tank's nephew, Chris, is living with him after his parents were killed and Chris believes they were murdered so Tank and his crew take on the case. The other case is trying to prove that Randy Jenkins is really innocent of the murder of a young girl. In the beginning the time line jumps back and forth but it wasn't too hard to follow. The writing style reminded me of a Dragnet episode, just the facts ma'am.
There are a lot of characters and sometimes I had to go back and figure out who they were. I would have liked to see them more developed, especially Chris. I wasn't following the threads as the cases and evidence mounted up but since we knew who the bad guys were there weren't any surprises but I was happy to see how it ended.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and Random House. These are my thoughts.
There are a lot of characters and sometimes I had to go back and figure out who they were. I would have liked to see them more developed, especially Chris. I wasn't following the threads as the cases and evidence mounted up but since we knew who the bad guys were there weren't any surprises but I was happy to see how it ended.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and Random House. These are my thoughts.
April 24, 2023
It was a good read and pretty quick. Just wish there would have been a bit more gripping suspense.
Read
August 25, 2020This is a story about a retired New York City police officer who, under often the direction of the Chief of Detectives, works with a disparate group of people on unsolved crimes. I read the first in the series and enjoyed it. Tank, the main protagonist, is a rough and tough individual who prefers fine wine, good Italian food, and museums to beer and bars.
This time, Tank is working two cases that are close to him. The first involves the death of his brother and sister in law which occurred in the prior novel. Chris, the surviving son, comes to live with his uncle; he is convinced that his parents car crash was more than accidental…it was murder. The second case involves a highly decorated dirty cop whose phenomenal clear record is due to coercive tactics.
This is an exciting, well plotted story. The involvement of the police chief and US Attorney’s office as well as the questionable not to mention violent tactics utilized to solve the cases strained credibility. But, if you can get beyond that, it is an enjoyable read.
This time, Tank is working two cases that are close to him. The first involves the death of his brother and sister in law which occurred in the prior novel. Chris, the surviving son, comes to live with his uncle; he is convinced that his parents car crash was more than accidental…it was murder. The second case involves a highly decorated dirty cop whose phenomenal clear record is due to coercive tactics.
This is an exciting, well plotted story. The involvement of the police chief and US Attorney’s office as well as the questionable not to mention violent tactics utilized to solve the cases strained credibility. But, if you can get beyond that, it is an enjoyable read.
February 26, 2023
Tank, Connie, Chris, Pearl - great characters and interesting plot.
July 14, 2020
A gritty immersive and propulsive tale of achieving justice ... without actually letting the law get in the way. Tommy "Tank" Rizzo is a former NYPD detective who technically is "off the job' but frequently investigates cold cases or pitches in when the the department is stretched too thin. Brought in, almost off the books by his long time friend, Chief of Detectives Ray Connors., Tank has assembled his own "crew" ... a cast of colorful and diverse characters and unlikely bedfellows ... to aid in his investigation. Most important is his old partner, Frank "Pearl" Monroe, although confined to a wheelchair due to an on the job injury ...., he remains indispensable due to his intuitive acumen. Included are: Carmine Tramonti ... a retired mobster and owner of the restaurant, Tramonti's ... who brings old school moxey to the table ; Connie Tramonti ... co-owner of the restaurant, sharp and beautiful and Tank's lifelong girlfriend ; Bruno Madison ... former heavyweight boxer and part-time bartender ; Alexandra Morrasa ... owner and operator of a psychic parlor and of Romanian descent ... the "eyes and ears of the city" ... and along with her comes her "gypsy" friends and relatives (Alban and his crew of cut-throats) ; and rounding out is a new addition to the crew ... Chris ... the fifteen-year-old nephew, who Tank now assumes guardianship since the mysterious death of his brother Jack and his wife in a suspicious car accident. ... Chris brings his amazing computer skills to the table.; rounding out the team is U.S. Attorney Dee Dee Jacobs and Federal Agent, Bobby Gregson . Tank tackles two cases at the same time .... Pearl wants them to investigate the injustice of his family friend rotting in jail for the last twenty years for a crime he did not commit. This will entail them going agains the dangerous and dirty cop, Eddie Kenwood. Eddie excels at railroading suspects into signing a confession, regardless if they are truly guilty. Randy Jenkins was a perfect target... having multiple priors and knowing the victim, They must find out who killed Rachel in order to bring Eddie and his corruption to an end. The second investigation involves retribution for his estranged brother Jack. Chris, with his unparalleled aptitude for the computer has unearthed data that points to a dirty accounting firm ... not only cooking the books , but skimming profits. He suspects his father knew of this and was intent on whistle-blowing. Tanks' crew was not afraid to work outside the law... they were prepared to be as ruthless as their adversaries.
Carcaterra is a masterful storyteller and spins a complex , twisted narrative that unfolds into an escalating and satisfying denouement.. Hopefully we will be presented with the further cinematic tales of Tank and his crew. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. ( at readersremains.com )
Carcaterra is a masterful storyteller and spins a complex , twisted narrative that unfolds into an escalating and satisfying denouement.. Hopefully we will be presented with the further cinematic tales of Tank and his crew. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. ( at readersremains.com )
May 31, 2021
Payback is part 2 of Lorenzo Carcaterra's 2016 novel Tin Badges (the story of 2 medically retired NYC police officers). It is a graphic, poignant, and beautifully written and very human story of Tank Rizzo, his best friend and former partner Pearl both injured and retired, but frequently called on to help solve cold cases. Joining them in this gritty novel are a bunch of colorful characters: Tank's 15 year old nephew, Chris; Tank's girlfriend and her Dad who run a NYC eatery; a number of gangsters who, by aiding the police in the past, have their unlawful activities overlooked; a bad cop who also has the most convictions of any cop and may have been responsible for many innocent people going to prison; and a major accounting firm that young Chris is positive was responsible for his parents' death in a car crash.
Reading this page-turner made me think back to my youth when Dragnet was a big TV hit. Similar, but different. Payback delves into the lives of those involved. Though graphic, Payback is full of touching, often humorous, situations. One example is Tank's friends convinced he and Chris need a dog. They purchase a English Bulldog to give Tank and Chris. "I opened the door to my office and flipped on the light. The gate to the small crate was open and empty. I looked around the office and found the puppy snuggled under my chair...one eye open and glancing up at me. I lifted him into my arms, held him close to my chest and rubbed the back of his soft neck. 'You picked the lock on the crate', I whispered to him. Considering you've only been up here less than an hour, that's impressive. I have a feeling you're going to fit right in."
A moving story, beautifully told.
Reading this page-turner made me think back to my youth when Dragnet was a big TV hit. Similar, but different. Payback delves into the lives of those involved. Though graphic, Payback is full of touching, often humorous, situations. One example is Tank's friends convinced he and Chris need a dog. They purchase a English Bulldog to give Tank and Chris. "I opened the door to my office and flipped on the light. The gate to the small crate was open and empty. I looked around the office and found the puppy snuggled under my chair...one eye open and glancing up at me. I lifted him into my arms, held him close to my chest and rubbed the back of his soft neck. 'You picked the lock on the crate', I whispered to him. Considering you've only been up here less than an hour, that's impressive. I have a feeling you're going to fit right in."
A moving story, beautifully told.
October 16, 2020
I haven’t read any books by Carcaterra, but I will certainly be looking to in the future. Payback is #2 in the Tank Rizzo series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but I will probably go back to read the first book in the series - Tin Badges.
Tank is a former NYPD detective, who along with his nephew, Chris, his best friend and partner, Pearl, also a former cop; and a team of others decide to take on two cases – a dirty cop and a dirty accounting firm that may have killed his brother.
Will Tank and his team succeed?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Was hooked from the first few paragraphs!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC. This is my honest review.
Tank is a former NYPD detective, who along with his nephew, Chris, his best friend and partner, Pearl, also a former cop; and a team of others decide to take on two cases – a dirty cop and a dirty accounting firm that may have killed his brother.
Will Tank and his team succeed?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Was hooked from the first few paragraphs!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC. This is my honest review.
October 7, 2020
I am having fun watch Tank Rizzo build his crew, take down bad guys and become another anti-hero. Here we find a modern hard boiled detective. What could be better. Ok a little humor in the book would help
July 17, 2020
I absolutely love this series! We learn more about Tank’s past. He and his team take on two cases, one involving the death of his brother and the other involves taking down a very dirty cop. I just love the characters and the love, friendship and loyalty they enjoy.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 30, 2020
Ex cp Tan Rizzo and his crew have not 1, but 2 cases to investigate. Tanks crew Is unusual to say the least, his ex partner now in a wheel chair, a crime boss, the Chief of police and his orphaned nephew who now lives with him. One of the cases is very personal to Tank. It involves his brother and sister in law. They are up against some very powerful people who will stop at nothing to protect themselves. This was an action packed book that had me rooting for Tank and his crew. Most of the characters were likable, even tho some weren’t necessarily law abiding. I look forward to seeing these characters in another book. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.
August 20, 2020
To start, just a word of thanks to Random House/Ballantine as well as Netgalley for an advanced digital copy this novel in return for an honest review.
Getting a quick glimpse of the story, I would think that Payback was right up my alley. Two plots intertwined in this novel. The first dealt with the death of former investigator, Tank Rizzo's, brother and sister-in-law. Tank's nephew, Chris, a fifteen year-old computer guru, asks Tank for his help in solving the questionable death of his parents. The second plot dealt with the incorrect conviction of a man, Randy Jenkins, over a murder that a dirty investigator, Eddie Kenwood, "solved". Tank works his way through both of these situations with his paralyzed friend, Pearl, as well as a number of his "team".
For me, the book was a quick, but an unenjoyable read. This is the only Tank Rizzo book I have read, and I believe there are others, so possibly my biggest issue with this novel may have been taken care of in previous Tank Rizzo books. And the issue - there was really, in my mind, little to no character development throughout the novel. I never really felt that Tank and his nephew Chris, for example, were family. Tank and his girlfriend, Connie, never really had much of a relationship, to me, throughout the novel. The book just seemed to discuss how Tank and his "team" would go about taking care of these two issues - the death of Tank's brother/Chris's parents, and determining who framed Randy Jenkins.
Overall, a quick read, but little to no excitement to hold my attention. This novel could be compared to a bad episode of Law and Order. Doubt I will try any other novels by the author.
Getting a quick glimpse of the story, I would think that Payback was right up my alley. Two plots intertwined in this novel. The first dealt with the death of former investigator, Tank Rizzo's, brother and sister-in-law. Tank's nephew, Chris, a fifteen year-old computer guru, asks Tank for his help in solving the questionable death of his parents. The second plot dealt with the incorrect conviction of a man, Randy Jenkins, over a murder that a dirty investigator, Eddie Kenwood, "solved". Tank works his way through both of these situations with his paralyzed friend, Pearl, as well as a number of his "team".
For me, the book was a quick, but an unenjoyable read. This is the only Tank Rizzo book I have read, and I believe there are others, so possibly my biggest issue with this novel may have been taken care of in previous Tank Rizzo books. And the issue - there was really, in my mind, little to no character development throughout the novel. I never really felt that Tank and his nephew Chris, for example, were family. Tank and his girlfriend, Connie, never really had much of a relationship, to me, throughout the novel. The book just seemed to discuss how Tank and his "team" would go about taking care of these two issues - the death of Tank's brother/Chris's parents, and determining who framed Randy Jenkins.
Overall, a quick read, but little to no excitement to hold my attention. This novel could be compared to a bad episode of Law and Order. Doubt I will try any other novels by the author.
September 5, 2020
Payback begins with Detective Eddie Kenwood coercing a murder confession out of a young black man.
We then cut to Tommy "Tank" Rizzo watching his nephew Chris shoot hoops, and a tiny infodump about how Tank and his partner Frank "Pearl" Monroe were shot off the job and how Chris came to live with Tank - more specifically, how Tank's brother and sister in law (Chris' parents) were killed in an auto accident.
This is about the extent of how character development goes throughout the book. As this is book two in the series, perhaps we get to know the characters better in book one. Alas, I've not read it.
Tank and Pearl, ex-cops that they are, get thrown cases by the Chief of Detectives from time to time when the official NYPD detectives are overloaded. In this book, however, the focus is on determining if Tank's brother - as his nephew insists - was murdered in that car accident, versus it being a real accident, and to find out is the company is laundering money for bad guys locally and from around the world. The secondary focus is on Tank and Pearl collecting evidence about Eddie Kenwood and more specifically, getting the young man who confessed at the beginning of the book out of prison.
Tank and Pearl run an investigative service, but there isn't a ton of investigating of the main case done on the page - probably because it's accounting, and pulling up spreadsheets and putting numbers all over the page would slow things down, as it's difficult to put tension into that.
The better parts of the book are when Tank and Pearl actually go back into the field to get informants and cons to talk about Kenwood so they can build a case. Those parts are gritty and seem much more realistic (and are certainly much more interesting) than the primary case.
There are a number of murders, some tough guy talks by fixers from the accounting firm, a few scenes with Tank and his girlfriend, who is the daughter of a local mob boss with whom Tank is friendly, and who Tank brings in to help with the accounting firm parts, and an entirely unbelievable talk with the DA about blanket immunity for a group of Romanians up to and including murder if they have to be brought in to the accounting firm case.
Minus the group talks about the accounting firm, the book is a quick read, and fans of the genre will forgive the things like the DA's immunity agreement, because those things make the story more interesting. Putting Tank's brother's death to rest by finding answers, but I think the two cases in this book would have been fine in a book devoted just to each.
Overall, a three star out of five read for me. Your mileage may vary.
Thanks to Random House/Ballantine and NetGalley for the review copy.
We then cut to Tommy "Tank" Rizzo watching his nephew Chris shoot hoops, and a tiny infodump about how Tank and his partner Frank "Pearl" Monroe were shot off the job and how Chris came to live with Tank - more specifically, how Tank's brother and sister in law (Chris' parents) were killed in an auto accident.
This is about the extent of how character development goes throughout the book. As this is book two in the series, perhaps we get to know the characters better in book one. Alas, I've not read it.
Tank and Pearl, ex-cops that they are, get thrown cases by the Chief of Detectives from time to time when the official NYPD detectives are overloaded. In this book, however, the focus is on determining if Tank's brother - as his nephew insists - was murdered in that car accident, versus it being a real accident, and to find out is the company is laundering money for bad guys locally and from around the world. The secondary focus is on Tank and Pearl collecting evidence about Eddie Kenwood and more specifically, getting the young man who confessed at the beginning of the book out of prison.
Tank and Pearl run an investigative service, but there isn't a ton of investigating of the main case done on the page - probably because it's accounting, and pulling up spreadsheets and putting numbers all over the page would slow things down, as it's difficult to put tension into that.
The better parts of the book are when Tank and Pearl actually go back into the field to get informants and cons to talk about Kenwood so they can build a case. Those parts are gritty and seem much more realistic (and are certainly much more interesting) than the primary case.
There are a number of murders, some tough guy talks by fixers from the accounting firm, a few scenes with Tank and his girlfriend, who is the daughter of a local mob boss with whom Tank is friendly, and who Tank brings in to help with the accounting firm parts, and an entirely unbelievable talk with the DA about blanket immunity for a group of Romanians up to and including murder if they have to be brought in to the accounting firm case.
Minus the group talks about the accounting firm, the book is a quick read, and fans of the genre will forgive the things like the DA's immunity agreement, because those things make the story more interesting. Putting Tank's brother's death to rest by finding answers, but I think the two cases in this book would have been fine in a book devoted just to each.
Overall, a three star out of five read for me. Your mileage may vary.
Thanks to Random House/Ballantine and NetGalley for the review copy.
July 5, 2020
Review of uncorrected eBook file
Injured in the line of duty and now retired, New York Police Department Detective Tommy Rizzo, better known as Tank, works either cold or unsolved cases for Chief of Detectives Ray Connors. Tank has a small team of associates, including his now wheelchair-bound partner, Frank “Pearl” Monroe, a retired mobster, a professional boxer, and a psychic. Also on the team: the United States Attorney, an agent from the FBI, his nephew, Chris, and a dog named Gus. Their investigation? The death of Chris’s parents in an automobile accident.
Computer wunderkind Chris has discovered the accounting firm where his father [Tank’s brother] worked is involved in money-laundering . . . and is responsible for the death of his parents. And, as if that weren’t enough for Tank to be investigating, Pearl wants to free Randy Jenkins, an unjustly-imprisoned family friend.
Detective Eddie Kenwood’s signed-confession rate may be the highest in the department, and he may have built his career on putting men in prison, but he doesn’t mind railroading a suspect into signing a confession, even if he knows that suspect is innocent. The incarceration of Randy Jenkins is just such a case, and Tank is determined to free the innocent man, find those responsible for his brother’s death, and bring Eddie Kenwood to justice. Has he finally taken on more than he can handle? And will bringing down the corrupt cop force him to reveal his deepest secret?
Second in the series [following “Tin Badges”], this absorbing tale is as gritty as it is fast-paced. Short chapters help ramp up the tension, but there’s suspense built into the situations Tank and company find themselves in as they investigate the accounting firm and look for a way to prove Kenwood’s crimes in order to free an innocent man and find justice for those wrongly convicted because of the man's corrupt actions.
Anchored by a strong sense of place, the narrative brings realistic, nuanced characters to the telling of the tale. There is no shortage of action here . . . the unfolding story races along at breakneck speed. The complex, twisting plot pulls readers in from the first page; unexpected revelations keep those pages turning as readers root for Tank and his crew.
The intriguing story wraps up nicely with the turning of the final page and readers are sure to find themselves ready to jump right into a new adventure with the honest, justice-seeking Tank.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine / Ballantine Books and NetGalley
#Payback #NetGalley
Injured in the line of duty and now retired, New York Police Department Detective Tommy Rizzo, better known as Tank, works either cold or unsolved cases for Chief of Detectives Ray Connors. Tank has a small team of associates, including his now wheelchair-bound partner, Frank “Pearl” Monroe, a retired mobster, a professional boxer, and a psychic. Also on the team: the United States Attorney, an agent from the FBI, his nephew, Chris, and a dog named Gus. Their investigation? The death of Chris’s parents in an automobile accident.
Computer wunderkind Chris has discovered the accounting firm where his father [Tank’s brother] worked is involved in money-laundering . . . and is responsible for the death of his parents. And, as if that weren’t enough for Tank to be investigating, Pearl wants to free Randy Jenkins, an unjustly-imprisoned family friend.
Detective Eddie Kenwood’s signed-confession rate may be the highest in the department, and he may have built his career on putting men in prison, but he doesn’t mind railroading a suspect into signing a confession, even if he knows that suspect is innocent. The incarceration of Randy Jenkins is just such a case, and Tank is determined to free the innocent man, find those responsible for his brother’s death, and bring Eddie Kenwood to justice. Has he finally taken on more than he can handle? And will bringing down the corrupt cop force him to reveal his deepest secret?
Second in the series [following “Tin Badges”], this absorbing tale is as gritty as it is fast-paced. Short chapters help ramp up the tension, but there’s suspense built into the situations Tank and company find themselves in as they investigate the accounting firm and look for a way to prove Kenwood’s crimes in order to free an innocent man and find justice for those wrongly convicted because of the man's corrupt actions.
Anchored by a strong sense of place, the narrative brings realistic, nuanced characters to the telling of the tale. There is no shortage of action here . . . the unfolding story races along at breakneck speed. The complex, twisting plot pulls readers in from the first page; unexpected revelations keep those pages turning as readers root for Tank and his crew.
The intriguing story wraps up nicely with the turning of the final page and readers are sure to find themselves ready to jump right into a new adventure with the honest, justice-seeking Tank.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine / Ballantine Books and NetGalley
#Payback #NetGalley
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September 2, 2020*Many thanks to Ballentine, Lorenzo Carcaterra and NetGalley for extending an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review"
Payback is my first Lorenzo Carcaterra novel and will not be my last. There are two facets to this book which I love - The backdrop of Greenwich Village, which is my hometown, and my longtime obsession with the Mafia. And of course, my love of all things Italian.
"Tank" Rizzo is a former Cop, who along with his partner, Pearl was involved in a shootout several years prior. Both were given early retirement and Pearl was paralyzed from the waist down. When Payback opens, it starts off with "bad cop" Eddie Kenwood, forcing a guilty plea from an innocent person. 20 years into the future, the mystery begins when we are introduced to Tank and his 15yo nephew, Chris. Chris has just been orphaned as his parents are killed in a car accident, that is deemed mysterious. He is somewhat of a sleuth and has figured out that all is not what it seems. He asks Tank and Pearl for their help in figuring out what happened to his parents.
There are many wonderful characters in this book. From the retired Mafioso, his beautiful daughter, The confidential informants all over the city, the knife gang....It all comes together seamlessly to solve a mystery. Or in this book, two. Yes, there are two plots happening here. The first one being a dirty accounting firm, the second being the bad cop Eddie Kenwood and trying to take him down. I absolutely loved the backdrop of the city and the fast pace of the book.
I would definitely suggest reading Tin Badges before reading this book. While this one is not a sequel, it might help to know the characters. Also, it was hard to understand the relationship between Connie and Tank without reading the first book. There didn't seem to be any connection there or any affection at all. They didn't spend any time with each other and barely spoke fondly of each other.
I would give this book 4 stars. The writing is superb, the characters multi-layered and complex and the story line well thought out.
Payback is my first Lorenzo Carcaterra novel and will not be my last. There are two facets to this book which I love - The backdrop of Greenwich Village, which is my hometown, and my longtime obsession with the Mafia. And of course, my love of all things Italian.
"Tank" Rizzo is a former Cop, who along with his partner, Pearl was involved in a shootout several years prior. Both were given early retirement and Pearl was paralyzed from the waist down. When Payback opens, it starts off with "bad cop" Eddie Kenwood, forcing a guilty plea from an innocent person. 20 years into the future, the mystery begins when we are introduced to Tank and his 15yo nephew, Chris. Chris has just been orphaned as his parents are killed in a car accident, that is deemed mysterious. He is somewhat of a sleuth and has figured out that all is not what it seems. He asks Tank and Pearl for their help in figuring out what happened to his parents.
There are many wonderful characters in this book. From the retired Mafioso, his beautiful daughter, The confidential informants all over the city, the knife gang....It all comes together seamlessly to solve a mystery. Or in this book, two. Yes, there are two plots happening here. The first one being a dirty accounting firm, the second being the bad cop Eddie Kenwood and trying to take him down. I absolutely loved the backdrop of the city and the fast pace of the book.
I would definitely suggest reading Tin Badges before reading this book. While this one is not a sequel, it might help to know the characters. Also, it was hard to understand the relationship between Connie and Tank without reading the first book. There didn't seem to be any connection there or any affection at all. They didn't spend any time with each other and barely spoke fondly of each other.
I would give this book 4 stars. The writing is superb, the characters multi-layered and complex and the story line well thought out.
November 22, 2020
PAYBACK is the second police procedural in Lorenzo Carcaterra’s series featuring Tank Rizzo, a disabled and retired New York City police detective. His disability stems from the sad fact that he was shot while not on the job. That incident included several shootings, and Tank’s old partner, Frank “Pearl” Monroe, was left a paraplegic who has been confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Nevertheless, Tank has remained on good terms with the Chief of Detectives Ray Connors, who occasionally calls upon him to solve cold cases.
The novel opens with a flashback to Detective Eddie Kenwood questioning a young man in an interview room. He would stop at nothing to close a case, and his tactics included forcing innocent people, usually young black men, to confess to crimes committed by someone else. One of these individuals is Randy Jenkins, who has been accused of murder. It was under threats of harm from Kenwood that he felt he had no choice but to sign a false confession. Pearl knows that Jenkins is innocent, so he wants Tank to clear him of all charges and take down Kenwood.
Meanwhile, Tank looks after his 15-year-old nephew, Chris, whose mother and father recently died in a suspicious car accident. Tank and his brother were estranged for years, and Carcaterra fills readers in on the family trajectory: “The past never leaves us. It hovers over us, hidden by the passage of time, waiting to strike when we least expect it. It can do damage or ease suffering, its path never truly known until it confronts us.” Chris has done enough computer searches to convince himself that his parents were murdered due to a money-laundering scheme, and he enlists his uncle’s help in bringing those responsible to justice.
Carcaterra's characters are finely honed and believable. Readers will find PAYBACK’s tightly woven plot to be well-written and suspenseful. Not one word is out of place, which makes for a stellar reading experience.
Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum
The novel opens with a flashback to Detective Eddie Kenwood questioning a young man in an interview room. He would stop at nothing to close a case, and his tactics included forcing innocent people, usually young black men, to confess to crimes committed by someone else. One of these individuals is Randy Jenkins, who has been accused of murder. It was under threats of harm from Kenwood that he felt he had no choice but to sign a false confession. Pearl knows that Jenkins is innocent, so he wants Tank to clear him of all charges and take down Kenwood.
Meanwhile, Tank looks after his 15-year-old nephew, Chris, whose mother and father recently died in a suspicious car accident. Tank and his brother were estranged for years, and Carcaterra fills readers in on the family trajectory: “The past never leaves us. It hovers over us, hidden by the passage of time, waiting to strike when we least expect it. It can do damage or ease suffering, its path never truly known until it confronts us.” Chris has done enough computer searches to convince himself that his parents were murdered due to a money-laundering scheme, and he enlists his uncle’s help in bringing those responsible to justice.
Carcaterra's characters are finely honed and believable. Readers will find PAYBACK’s tightly woven plot to be well-written and suspenseful. Not one word is out of place, which makes for a stellar reading experience.
Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum
August 5, 2020
I received a free ARC of Payback from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Payback is the second entry in the Tank Rizzo series about a retired cop and friends who pursue justice in a rather illegal manner. Tank, forced to retire from the police force after an on-duty injury, joins his former partner, Pearl (also disabled after the same on-duty event) and the cast of characters that include some aging mobsters, some FBI agents, and his young nephew in order to find and punish those responsible for the deaths of Tank's brother and sister-in-law. This time around, the crew is also working on a case where a dirty cop has forced confessions from innocents. These innocents then languish in prison for years. Although these two investigations appear disparate, they do share a common thread.
There is lots of violence in this series and an incredible amount of "looking the other way" by law enforcement officials. Tank, his fellow crew members, and even the law enforcement officials believe they know what real justice should be and that is not necessarily the kind that can be found in a court of law. Although this entry was a good read, the frequent, bloody vengeance and the disregard for the scope of law means that characters do immoral things as they mete out their personal form of justice.
#Payback #NetGalley
Payback is the second entry in the Tank Rizzo series about a retired cop and friends who pursue justice in a rather illegal manner. Tank, forced to retire from the police force after an on-duty injury, joins his former partner, Pearl (also disabled after the same on-duty event) and the cast of characters that include some aging mobsters, some FBI agents, and his young nephew in order to find and punish those responsible for the deaths of Tank's brother and sister-in-law. This time around, the crew is also working on a case where a dirty cop has forced confessions from innocents. These innocents then languish in prison for years. Although these two investigations appear disparate, they do share a common thread.
There is lots of violence in this series and an incredible amount of "looking the other way" by law enforcement officials. Tank, his fellow crew members, and even the law enforcement officials believe they know what real justice should be and that is not necessarily the kind that can be found in a court of law. Although this entry was a good read, the frequent, bloody vengeance and the disregard for the scope of law means that characters do immoral things as they mete out their personal form of justice.
#Payback #NetGalley
September 9, 2020
PAYBACK is an action packed thrill ride in which a retired former NYPD detective named Tank Rizzo and his crew take on the challenge of investigating not one, but two cases. One case involves clearing a con wrongfully imprisoned for a murder because of a now retired crooked cop while the other case is more personal since it involves the contract murder of Tanks brother and his wife by the bosses of a high profile accounting firm whose side business is laundering large sums of money for their “clients”.
Tanks unusual crew include members ranging from his wheel-chair bound former partner and a professional boxer to his deceased brother’s son and an ex-mob boss. And that’s just the tip of this iceberg. He also has the support of the local police chief as well as a U. S. Attorney.
Tank is quick to discover that he will have to keep his wits about him if he hopes to get his crew and himself through the investigations in one piece.
Although Carcaterra is a gifted storyteller who manages to weave an intriguing, though often implausible, tale
the majority of his characters lack true depth and dimension. The dirty cops are the scum of the earth while the ex-mafiosos and gang leaders are only out to seek “justice” for friends and family members.
All of that aside, there is enough going on in the blood and guts department to keep the reader turning pages.
Tanks unusual crew include members ranging from his wheel-chair bound former partner and a professional boxer to his deceased brother’s son and an ex-mob boss. And that’s just the tip of this iceberg. He also has the support of the local police chief as well as a U. S. Attorney.
Tank is quick to discover that he will have to keep his wits about him if he hopes to get his crew and himself through the investigations in one piece.
Although Carcaterra is a gifted storyteller who manages to weave an intriguing, though often implausible, tale
the majority of his characters lack true depth and dimension. The dirty cops are the scum of the earth while the ex-mafiosos and gang leaders are only out to seek “justice” for friends and family members.
All of that aside, there is enough going on in the blood and guts department to keep the reader turning pages.
April 24, 2023
I think I'm really starting to like Tank Rizzo and this series! I think I was teetering on the fence after the first book, but I felt like Payback really picked up the pace and the storyline, which has me more convinced to at least give another book a shot!
I've not read a whole lot written by Lorenzo Carcaterra, but the few I have read, I have enjoyed. I think he writes a good story and I like that the two stories that I've read haven't been your typical run-of-the-mill mystery books. They've had a bit of a different storyline than your typical mystery book and I really appreciate that!
Like I mentioned above, I really like the whole cast of characters in this series. It's like they are all a band of misfits that fit perfectly together and mesh well which molds into a great story!
Peter Simonelli narrated Payback and I feel like he is the epitome of the Tank Rizzo character. His voice suits what I feel Tank should be to a T!
Overall, I look forward to reading the next book in this series and see what new adventures Tank and his crew go on next!
I would like to offer a HUGE THANK YOU to Lorenzo Carcaterra, Random House Publishing, and Netgalley for providing me a copy of Payback, which has allowed me to provide you with this honest and unbiased review!
I've not read a whole lot written by Lorenzo Carcaterra, but the few I have read, I have enjoyed. I think he writes a good story and I like that the two stories that I've read haven't been your typical run-of-the-mill mystery books. They've had a bit of a different storyline than your typical mystery book and I really appreciate that!
Like I mentioned above, I really like the whole cast of characters in this series. It's like they are all a band of misfits that fit perfectly together and mesh well which molds into a great story!
Peter Simonelli narrated Payback and I feel like he is the epitome of the Tank Rizzo character. His voice suits what I feel Tank should be to a T!
Overall, I look forward to reading the next book in this series and see what new adventures Tank and his crew go on next!
I would like to offer a HUGE THANK YOU to Lorenzo Carcaterra, Random House Publishing, and Netgalley for providing me a copy of Payback, which has allowed me to provide you with this honest and unbiased review!
August 23, 2020
Tank might be medically retired from the NYPD but he's still working. His nephew Chris has made a convincing case that the car crash that killed his parents was not an accident but somehow jiggered by the accounting firm where his dad worked. Tank's also out to free Randy Jenkins, who has been in prison for 17 years as a result of a coerced confession to Eddie Kenwood, a bad cop whose lies are beginning to come to light. To accomplish both these things, he frees up his partner Pearl from the rehab center where he's been living, enlists his girl friend Connie, her father Carmine, Alexandra the "psychic," Roy the Chief of Detectives, the US Attorney, and Bobby Gregson. Whew. This has wonderful characters, a zippy plot, a personal secret that had split Tank and his brother for years, and a genuine let's do it spirit. It's never really gritty or gory. Don't worry you didn't read the first one- this will be fine as a standalone. My only quibble- in almost every chapter someone (at least one person) sips from a drink- water, coffee, cappuccino, an amaro, espresso, specific wines-I started to look for it. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I very much enjoyed this and look forward to seeing where it goes next. Oh- and there's a dog.
December 11, 2020
I actually did read the first book in this series, Tin Badges, so it was nice to have the background, although I don’t necessarily think you need it. If you start with this book you can pull most everything together without reading book one. This book starts where book one left off, with our reluctant hero Tank now having taken on the responsibly of being guardian to his 15 year old nephew after the untimely death of both of his parents. Book one introduces Chris, the nephew’s, theory that his parents death was an arranged homicide, and we pick up there as Tank and his unlikely team start digging into the meat and bones of just who could have wanted Chris’s parents dead. While this investigation starts to get underway, Pearl comes to Tank requesting his help investigating a possible false imprisonment after the cop tied to the arrest is found to be linked to a series of wrongful charges. So Tank sets about to correct two wrongs. The characters are always a fun part of this story, even if some things seem a little far fetched. There is more heart in this novel perhaps than book one, although this one was also a little cornier to me. If you liked book one, you should also like this one. Thank you to Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2020
This story is about a filthy cop who is out to be the best at arrests and not caring if the people he puts behind bars are guilty or not. Detective Eddie Kenwood is about to get his 'payback' from Tommy 'Tank' Rizzo and his partner Frank 'Pearl' Monroe. When this story takes place, all the above-mentioned cops are now retired either by years served or by medical reasons. Tank's brother, Jack, and his wife died in a car accident, Their son Chris is now living with Tank, and he has investigated on his own and has a good reason to believe his parents were murdered by the accounting firm where his father worked. Curtis, Strassman, and Randolph are shady, to put it mildly. They are skimming money off of their clients. Tank and his group of retired cops, and some unsavory characters are out to do two things: Free a man whom Kenwood put in prison and prove the accounting firm are murderers. Not an easy task since Tank has a past he doesn't want to be revealed that could ruin him. Can they get all this done and stay alive themselves? Enjoy PAYBACK and see for yourself! I was totally drawn into the story. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.
February 15, 2021
Tank Rizzo and his team of misfits are back in book #2 of this series. This book could easily be read as a stand alone, but the first book, Tin Badges, is a 5 star read too. Lorenzo Carcaterra has rolled his extensive background in journalism focusing on police work into a really great story of.....you guessed it.....PAYBACK.
Tank Rizzo and his former NYPD partner, Pearl, may be retired on disability but that does not mean they have stopped insuring the bad guys get what they deserve. Sometimes, the police need a little help. That's where Tank's crew steps in.
Two story lines run concurrent through PAYBACK. An investigation into Detective Eddie Kenwood. He has a track record for confessions that seems just a little too good to be true. Some of his convictions are now being overturned when new evidence clears the defendants. The next story is too close to home to be comfortable. Tank's brother and SIL died in a car accident that shows signs of being intentional. Tank's crew includes his 15yr old nephew and Tank will keep his promise to his nephew.
This could easily become a television series along the lines of Leverage. I'd certainly watch it.
Tank Rizzo and his former NYPD partner, Pearl, may be retired on disability but that does not mean they have stopped insuring the bad guys get what they deserve. Sometimes, the police need a little help. That's where Tank's crew steps in.
Two story lines run concurrent through PAYBACK. An investigation into Detective Eddie Kenwood. He has a track record for confessions that seems just a little too good to be true. Some of his convictions are now being overturned when new evidence clears the defendants. The next story is too close to home to be comfortable. Tank's brother and SIL died in a car accident that shows signs of being intentional. Tank's crew includes his 15yr old nephew and Tank will keep his promise to his nephew.
This could easily become a television series along the lines of Leverage. I'd certainly watch it.
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