Payback

A Novel (Tank Rizzo, Book 1)

By: Lorenzo Carcaterra

Narrated by: Pete Simonelli

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 number one New York Times best-selling 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, number one internationally best-selling 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 US attorney - not to mention his and Pearl’s own quick wits and Chris’ burgeoning skills as a computer whiz - Tank gears up to take on his most dangerous and personal cases to date.

©2020 Lorenzo Carcaterra (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Set aside a day for this book, because you’re not going to be doing anything but reading - or should I say, speeding - from first page to last, in the company of some of the most memorable characters we’ve ever met in crime fiction. By turns wry, moving, and gut-punching, Payback is a novel you won’t forget. And as always, 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, number one internationally best-selling author)

“A gritty, old-school crime novel that flat-out delivers the goods. Payback is an engrossing, emotionally satisfying read with good guys you pull for and bad guys you want to plug yourself. No one knows the streets of Manhattan like Lorenzo Carcaterra, and it shows from page one. A stone cold winner!” (Christopher Reich, New York Times best-selling author of The Take and Crown Jewel)

"Rambunctious ... Cases intertwine in an action-filled plot spiced with gangster lore and New York history. Those who like their cop novels to take retribution to wild and wicked extremes will have fun.” (Publishers Weekly)

Exceptional

Absolutely loved this book! Pete Simonelli has a voice for every character - loved the plot, the action and the tension!
Can’t wait to listen to the other Carcaterra books!

This is really Tank Rizzo #2

Fun book, well read, but this should be labeled Book 2 and Tin Badges should be labeled Book 1. Much of the plot of Tin Badges is referred to in this book, and not as flashbacks

Absolutely loved it!

I could easily listen to this again. I love the reader's New York accent, which fits the book perfectly. I can't wait for more stories about these characters and wish books by Carcaterra came out much more frequently. I am wondering, though, why it is called Tank Rizzo, Book 1, if it actually the second about these characters. Listening to this book did not feel like 8 1/2 hours. It went by quickly. The story picks up from the first book and is well paced, perfectly detailed, and very realistic.

Narrator

Read well! Easy to understand, follow. Could even understand which caricature he was. Love Lorenzo Carcaterra’s books

The storyline, of course, it was very good

I liked all the good guys, of course! The author did a wonderful job of describing each character and their relationships.

Ridiculous story

This book was beyond ridiculous. The plot was completely unrealistic and completely immoral. An AUSA is not going to turn a suspect over to a criminal to be murdered. The book is also full of broad ethnic stereotypes that are jarring to hear and ultimately tedious.