The Debt Collector is a fast paced action thriller filled with suspense. Perfect for anyone who enjoyed First Lie Wins. This book was filled with twists and turns with humor mixed in. What more could you want in a book? I like going into books blind and this did not disappoint. Thank you to net galley and to Steven max Russo for my ARC and the pleasant experience reading this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Steven Max Russo's 'The Debt Collector" takes readers on a gritty and intense journey through New Jersey's dark underworld of bookies, hoodlums, and organized crime. With fascinating characters and dangerous liaisons, this novel delivers suspense and playfulness in equal measure.

"Abigail Barnes", our tough-as-nails protagonist, defies expectations. Young, pretty, and petite, she leverages her appearance to thrive as a collector, intimidating people to pay their debts to low-end bookies and loan sharks. When she arrives in Hackensack, NJ, from Baltimore, MD, she lands a job collecting for a small-time bookie. But when the bookie ends up dead, all signs point to Abigail as the main suspect.

As the press buzzes about the killing, Abigail finds herself hunted by a gang of hoodlums, the mob, and the police. Her past, which could send her to jail, forces her to unravel the mystery of the bookie's murder without getting killed in the process. The stakes are high, and Abigail's intelligence, toughness, and calculating nature come into play as she faces off against powerful and dangerous forces.

Russo weaves an engaging tale, filled with unexpected twists and "oh shit" moments. Abigail's journey through this labyrinth of crime keeps us on the edge of our seats. Will she uncover the truth before it's too late? And could there be more stories featuring Abigail in the future?

I, for one, hope so, as Abby is one of my favorite female characters in the mystery realm in decades!

This book is full of action and suspense! Abigail is a young woman who is a debt collector. She works to collect debts from loan sharks, bookies, and other questionable. I love how tough Abigail was! Eventually, Abigail has a lot of people after her. This all makes for a very entertaining and tense book! I felt liked the characters - even some of the questionable ones. There were great twists and turns. I went into this book blind, and I was pleasantly surprised. There was also humor throughout the story, and I really enjoyed that part of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Debt Collector is a pacey, tightly plotted thriller, featuring a well disguised twist at the end. The writing is sharp and punchy which brings the New Jersey low-level criminal milieu to life. The central character - Abigail, a petite, attractive female debt collector in a world peopled by vicious male thugs - is a refreshing departure from the norm but many other character types will be familiar from television and film. An entertaining if undemanding read.

The Debt Collector is an electrifying thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seats from start to finish. Abigail, the protagonist, is feisty, fearless, and charismatic. This is a fast-paced story, full of action and clever twists and turns that keep me guessing until the end.

The characters are brilliantly crafted, blending toughness with wit and vulnerability. Russo’s writing is filled with humor and heart, making Abigail a character we want to follow through every twist and turn of the story. There’s strong elements of suspense, intrigue, and danger, creating a gripping narrative that left me breathless at some points.

Overall, this is a thriller full of suspense and strong female characters. I wish there was more to the story since it came to a close all too soon. I really enjoyed this thriller and recommended it to all that enjoys a pulse-pounding action.

Thank you, NetGalley & the publisher, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.

I LOVED IT!
“She certainly wasn’t like any chick he had ever met before. First off, she had more balls than most guys he knew”

Abigail becomes a suspect in a murder enquiry after the debt collection job she does, ends badly. Tangling with mobsters, dirty cops and local scumbags, can Abigail avoid taking the rap?

Abigail is feisty, fearless and just exudes main character energy! She is spunky, sassy and just an awesome bad ass chick. She’s also hilariously funny. Is it possible to have a girl crush on a fictional character?

It’s action packed from the start, a fast flowing thriller with some clever twists and turns that keep you turning the pages.

Even the bad guys in this are likeable (Gino, I’m looking at you!) and I was 100% behind Abigail and adored her friendship with Hector (A star for ingenuity on their meeting!)

I need more! I need to know what Abigail gets up to next!

My only complaint is I’d have liked it to be longer. I wasn’t ready for it to end there!

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for my advanced copy. I’d never read a book by this author before, but I definitely will again.

The Debt Collector is a fast paced thriller that kept me reading into the night.
I read this authors novel Thieves and found it to be one of my favorite books. Given the opportunity to read his newest book was a no brainer for me
Meet Abigail. She’s a debt collector. She works for those individuals on the fringes. Bookies and the like. She gets their money and takes her cut. But Abigail is one tough woman. She’s barely 30 and looks about. 20. She’s pretty and easily underestimated. She does get the job done.
Abby arrives into New Jersey and meets Hector and soon the two are friends and Hector sets her up with some work.
But things go side wise and a murder of a man she just collected from make her a suspect. And this murder gets attention and that’s not what she needs. Because this man is connected to thugs, mobsters, and cops. If she want to stay alive she’s gonna have make some moves and they may get her killed or jailed.

Great characters, plot, and pace make this a terrific and suspenseful novel.
5 big stars. And when you finish this book, read Thieves by this author. Another solid suspense filled novel.