Payback – Tales of Love, Hate and Revenge, the second book of the Passaic River Trilogy, is a drama so intense that it would be improbable anywhere but 1946 Newark. Across the country millions were dealing with the loss of loved ones, and horrible memories were being buried for the greater good. But not in Newark. Two mutilated bodies were pulled from the putrid Passaic River, and the sawed-off … and the sawed-off arm of a third man was found neatly wrapped and tied at the city dump. The three victims were members of the German-American Bund, Hitler lovers who had to pay the price for supporting a murderous madman. Someone was sending a message that only revenge could clear the mind and free the soul.
It didn’t take long for Police Lieutenant Nick Cisco and his partner, Sergeant Kevin McClosky, two veteran homicide cops [first introduced to readers in “Father Divine’s Bikes” the first book of the Trilogy], to realize they were in over their heads as they grappled with ambition, greed, racial tension, international intrigue, and a powerful church on the take. The three murders could not have come at a worse time for Cisco. His wife, Connie, had left him, and his close-knit Catholic family had disowned him because of his affair with his lover, Grace.
To add to the chaos, Cisco learned that he could have another homicide on his plate. Father Terry Nolan cornered Cisco at the city morgue and demanded his help. The senior counsel for M.L. Kraus, manufacturer of the poisonous gas Zyklon B, and his German wife were severely beating a Catholic orphan they were seeking to adopt. The Archdiocese had weighed Kraus’ huge cash contributions against a helpless girl’s plight and did nothing.
Kraus, facing a host of war crime indictments in Germany, was fighting for its massive pre-war chemical holdings in New Jersey. A federal court in Newark would soon decide Kraus’ fate. The outcome of the case would have a bearing not only on the company’s future, but Europe’s as well. Watching it all from the banks of the Passaic River was the dark specter of a murderous madman seeking further revenge.
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This is the first book that I read by Steve Bassett and I was really very positively surprised. It describes how the underworld in the Jersey area worked (as well as the police) and how hatred resulting from WWII still had a tight grip on many people. At the same time, it also covers the personal life of a police lieutenant and his relationship with his own family and that of his wife´s. At that time, divorce was not well accepted by society in general and the couple undertakes guidance from the church – role now performed by couples´counselling professionals. The plot thickens as a “perfect” German family tries to adopt a girl that was being taken care of by a Catholic Convent and the church´s relation to the law and to the community is exposed. The story has quite a few twists and turns and calls for the reader´s attention. It´s truly enjoyable and in spite of everything that happens it has a happy ending.
I received a free copy of this book from the author/Hidden Gems books in exchanged for an unbiased review.
This second book in the Passaic River Trilogy by Steve Bassett was definitely a suspenseful cat-and-mouse story between those seeking revenge and those seeking justice in the years following WWII. The police officers were depicted as willing to do whatever it takes or the ends justify the means kind of guys who were more than willing to cross the little blue line of law in order to prevent further murders, as well as finding and bringing those responsible to justice. The suspects were depicted as determined, even though they were not in complete control of the situation or their actions. Underlying this storyline was another developing issue of saving Germany by returning assets confiscated by the US government during the war. There were a couple of vividly described grisly and gory bodies and parts thereof. The story moved quickly along from beginning to the nicely wrapped ending. This is a voluntary review of an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from Hidden Gems Books.
Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views (9/19)
“Payback – Tales of Love, Hate and Revenge,” the second book in the Passaic River Trilogy by Steve Bassett, is exactly what the title suggests – penetrating love, obsessive hate and grisly revenge weaved intricately through a post WWII world that only gets more intense as it goes along.
The setting is 1946 and the world is still reeling from the aftermath of WWII. It’s no different in Newark, NJ, where acting homicide chief Lieutenant Nick Cisco and his partner, Sergeant Kevin McClosky are investigating a series of bizarre homicides that stink of retribution and find themselves knee-deep in cover up, ambition and power struggles. Two bodies pulled from the Passaic River, and a single arm of another found at the city dump, the victims are all identified as members of the German-American Bund, a pro-Nazi organization. The message behind the murders is clear – retaliation for crimes against humanity. Add in some racial tension, corporate greed, sexual dalliances, a marriage on the ropes, child abuse, gangsters, mind control, a mysterious madman, and a corrupt church – and you end up with an INTENSE drama that will keep you reading well into the night.
I had the pleasure of reading Steve Bassett’s first novel in the series, “Father Divine’s Bikes” and was excited for the opportunity to read his next journey along the Passaic River. True to form, Bassett’s gift is in the telling of his stories through his many, multifaceted characters. Their quirks, their faults, their strengths and weaknesses, one is delivered deep down into the psyche of each character, giving the reader a true sense of who they are and how they will react based on their thoroughly developed traits. But – that by no means implies they are predictable, and just when you think you know what’s going on and who’s who, Basset throws in a twist! And, as there are numerous characters essential to the plot, there are multiple sub-stories going on within the overall picture of the homicide investigation adding dimension and delicious layers to an amazing story. Basset’s use of historical figures and events also adds authenticity to the story, as does the use of local dialect and mannerisms of the time, along with vivid imagery of the various settings.
What I enjoy most about reading books in a series is that I often find myself invested in the characters and want to learn even more. With Bassett’s characters, you definitely get a strong sense of who they are and it’s exciting to see what they’ll do next. That and ok, I’m a total book nerd, but I like to look for subtle (or not so subtle) references to the previous story in the series. It’s fun to be able to point out, “Hey, I remember that!” and/or, “Wow, I see so-and-so is up to his old tricks!” In other words, recognition and familiarity breeds dedication, and I always look forward to seeing how the characters evolve in subsequent stories.
Overall, “Payback – Tales of Love, Hate and Revenge,” the second book in the Passaic River Trilogy by Steve Bassett, reads very well as a standalone novel, but go ahead and get the set. You won’t regret it. I highly recommend this book, and the series to fans of mystery/thriller, historical fiction and crime novels – really to anyone who enjoys a good story with memorable characters.