Title: THE DEBT COLLECTOR
Author: Steven Max Russo
ISBN: 9798989923403
Publisher: Independently Published
Pages: 268
Source: Review copy from the Author
Abigail Barnes is young, pretty and petite, but her looks and size can be deceiving. She’s a tough as nails drifter who makes her living collecting outstanding debts for low-end bookies and loan sharks, Abigail arrives in Hackensack, NJ, from Baltimore, MD, and gets a job collecting for a small-time bookie, who winds up dead.
With a large Wall Street firm moving into town bringing jobs, prestige, and money, the press is soon up in arms about the killing. So the cops to put the squeeze on Ronnie “Slacks” Falcone, a mobster who heads organized crime in the Jersey City area, to help find the killer.
Soon Abigail finds herself being sought by a gang of hoodlums, the mob, and the police. She knows she can’t run and she won’t turn herself in because she has a past that could send her to jail. She has little choice but to try and find out who killed the bookie – without getting killed in the process.
Official Summary
05 September 2024
I would like to apologise to the author for taking so long to read and review his book. It is no reflection on the book at all, I have simply been swamped lately.
*The Debt Collector* delivers a gritty and suspenseful ride through the underbelly of New Jersey’s criminal world. Abigail Barnes, the novel’s protagonist, is a refreshing take on the hard-boiled anti-hero—young, petite, and pretty, but with a steel core that belies her appearance. Her life as a drifter, collecting debts for unsavoury characters, quickly spirals out of control when she finds herself entangled in a murder mystery that puts her in the crosshairs of mobsters, hoodlums, and the police.
Russo excels in creating an atmosphere thick with tension and danger. The setting, Hackensack, NJ, is portrayed with a noir-ish vibe that perfectly complements Abigail’s dark, perilous journey. As she navigates this treacherous landscape, you are drawn into a world where every character seems to have something to hide, and trust is a rare commodity.
What I found particularly compelling about this book is Abigail herself. She’s a complex character—tough and resourceful, yet burdened by a past that she can’t escape. Her determination to uncover the truth about the murder, despite the overwhelming odds against her, makes for a gripping read. The stakes are high, and Russo doesn’t shy away from putting his protagonist through the wringer.
The plot is fast-paced, with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. Russo’s writing is sharp and lean, perfectly suited to the genre. However, what sets *The Debt Collector* apart is the way it balances action with character development. Abigail is not just a victim of circumstances; she’s a fighter, and her journey is as much about survival as it is about finding redemption.
If I had to nitpick, the large cast of characters can sometimes be a bit overwhelming, and there are moments where the plot feels almost too dense with action. But these are minor objections in an otherwise brilliant crime thriller.
In conclusion, *The Debt Collector* is a must-read for fans of gritty, character-driven crime fiction. Steven Max Russo has crafted a novel that is both thrilling and thought-provoking, with a protagonist who is impossible to forget. Abigail Barnes is a force to be reckoned with, and her story will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
Also by Steven Max Russo
THE DEAD DON’T SLEEP
Frank Thompson, a recent widower and aging Vietnam veteran is down from Maine visiting his nephew, Bill, and his family in New Jersey.
While at a trap range, he and his nephew have a chance encounter with a strange man who claims to remember Frank from the war.
That night, the windows in Bill’s home are shattered along with the quiet peaceful lives the two men had been living.
Three veterans from a special combat unit directed by the CIA during the Vietnam War have gathered to discuss what they are going to do about a man they claim killed one of their own over forty years ago.
Jasper, Birdie and Pogo were part of a team that called themselves the National League All Stars. They were a squad of psychopathic killers trained by Special Forces to cause death and mayhem during the war. Now, they have banded together to hunt down and kill the professional soldier who led them all those years ago.
Drawing on his military training and a resurgent bloodlust from his tortured past, Frank prepares for a final, violent reckoning that will bring him full circle with the war that never left him.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Steven Max Russo has spent most of his professional career as an advertising copywriter and agency owner. He got interested in writing fiction after one of his short stories was accepted by an online literary journal in 2013. Then he caught the bug and began writing seriously. The publication of his first novel, THIEVES, has garnered praise from renowned crime and thriller authors from around the globe. With a gritty writing style and unique voice, he is quickly winning a legion of new fans. Steve is proud to call New Jersey his home.
Thank you for visiting my blog and reading my review! A big thank you to Steven Max Russo for reaching out and sharing a copy of this book with me. My apologies for the delay in getting to the review, but it was well worth the wait! If you’re looking for a thrilling read, be sure to add this one to your TBR – it’s fast-paced and gripping.
If you’ve read this book, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Please leave a comment below.
Until next time… happy reading!
