Wardwell’s ‘Retribution’ is a suspense action packed thriller which is very engaging and entertaining. A slight science fiction book that sets its action starting in the near future of 2022 for the prologue and then jumping to 2026 for the main course of the action.

Wardwell has masterfully put together a plot that jumps from chapter to chapter to different locations and different perspectives with a sense of urgency which carries the reader through the overall arch of the story. At times, it feels slightly overwritten but it is very captivating and has a strong sense of itself.

The characters are strongly written and very intriguing with their fully developed personalities. Wardwell has shown an excellent skill of dealing a myriad cast of characters and enable to keep them fully realised. I am very impressed that even the smaller one chapter characters are fully realised.

The action is fast and furious and the reader is compelled to read keep reading. Wardwell does use foreshadowing to a great extent and although it does not take away from his writing, at times, it does come forth in a repetition fashion. The story is rich in its portrayal of the legal system, drug cartels, law enforcement, computer technology and the authors has taken great strides to include the reader in each of the worlds. He has a fantastic way of taking the reader by the hand and carrying them through the plot.

The book is a fantastic read and one that has a lot of meat on it. At times, it feels quite dense but there is nothing here that takes away from my immense enjoyment of the novel. I am a bit disappointed with the ending as it is the first in a series and would have liked to have a bit more closure. Saying this, I can’t wait to read the next book. I am now a fan of this series.

Retribution by Samuel Wardwell

Action-packed suspense from beginning to end – this is a book that had me eager to find out what would happen next as corrupt police, lawyers and judges put innocent people in jail to pad their pockets. There are three main characters: a cat burglar, policewoman and computer architect. There is a prologue that begins in 2022 that sets the stage for what happens four years later. Marc Ransom, Linda Greer and Debra Yancy are definitely defined by their pasts. All three were faced with decisions that would impact their lives, had to fight for their lives and worked to make their lives better while not losing their humanity.

As a reader, and reviewer, I look forward to encountering new-to-me authors that provide stories worth reading. This book, though not in final form, was definitely worth reading. The story was well plotted. The characters were people I could relate to. The writing kept me engaged and at the end I knew that I would like to find out how Marc, Linda and Debra are doing in book two. This book included theft, drug gangs, corruption, threats to life (in and out of prison), good guys, bad guys and oh so much more. If you are looking for a new author with an engaging story this might be the book for you.

Knowing this is an advanced readers’ copy of the first book in what will be a trilogy, and debut novel, my review reflects my feelings toward the writing and the storyline rather than looking at this book as if in final form. I would like to thank NetGalley and Mill City Press (MCP) for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4 Stars