I liked Hamdy's last book The Other Side of Night, because it had a great twist at the end. Although I liked the way this eventually came together, I just didn't like how it got there.

The main premise is that Peyton Collard is a deadbeat. He's a divorced dad whose life was on track after a career in the military and a successful re-entry into civilian life--until he chose to drive drunk and killed someone. Now he has no income, no friends, and his ex wife rarely lets him see their daughter. That is, until he gets an anonymous message offering him a staggering amount of money to kill someone, and this turns into more. Peyton starts to wonder who is paying this money and why and starts to investigate on his own.

My main problem with this book was how much I hated the main character. He was constantly getting drunk/high at the absolute wrong times and making a bumbling mess of everything. You'd think with all of his cash motivation and wanting to do right by his daughter that he'd at least try to make better choices but for as intelligent as he was supposed to be, he was caught in an endless pity party and making bad choices right and left.

Like I said, I did like the way it all came together, but it took SO long to get there. I honestly got a bit bored of reading about all of the places he left his car when drunk and partying, how he didn't want to go back to jail but wasn't making any inroads to prevent that happening.

I'm definitely in the minority, many people have liked this book a lot more than me so if you think the premise sounds good then definitely give it a try.

3.5 stars ⭐️

Adrenaline Thrillers aren’t my favorite genre, but based on positive reviews and the fact that I found his last book, “The Other Side of Night” intriguing-I decided to give this one a try.

The book opens with a CONFESSION:

Peyton Collard, a former Military man, who was voted “most likely to succeed” in high school, is admitting that he is now a KILLER.

He lost EVERYTHING 5 years ago, after taking a life in a car accident-He should NOT have been driving drunk. And, now, he is back in a jail cell for something else and unable to make bail.

But an anonymous benefactor has gotten him released and made him an offer he can’t refuse-Kill an evil man with two shots to the head, and claim $100,000 cash. Seems too good to be true-and you know what they say about that…

Why was he chosen?

Why was he offered a fresh start, and a College fund for his daughter so she can go to school to become a Doctor and not have HER own life ruined because of HIS poor choices?

He convinces himself that taking the offer would be no different than (for example) what a CEO who could prevent workplace accidents does by not enforcing higher standards, and the many examples he came up with to rationalize his behavior made this story a bit deeper than most others in the genre, and I enjoyed this aspect.

So, YES-he takes the job out of DESPERATION.

He tells himself he is doing it for LOVE.

Peyton Collard repeatedly makes REALLY POOR CHOICES, despite his conscience trying to steer him off of his chosen path, and there is quite a lot of repetition- DRINK-KILL-GET BEAT UP-REPEAT.

To put an end to it all, Peyton will have to figure out who his anonymous benefactor is, and his or her end game.

The book reads a lot like an Adrenaline Thriller you might WATCH at the movie theater so I wasn’t surprised to learn that Adam Hamdy is a Screenwriter. It’s still not my favorite genre to read-but this SEEDY story is ENTERTAINING though VERY Over-the-Top! If you love those kind of films-this book is for you!

Prepare to suspend your disbelief! 🍿

A buddy read with Mary Beth and MarilynW. Be sure to watch for their thoughts too!

Expected Publication Date: December 3, 2024

Thank You to Atria Books for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always these are my candid thoughts!

This was a fun read. I loved how gritty and raw it was. The main character, Peyton, was entirely unlikeable, but I really enjoyed him, nonetheless. He was a fun character, and he wanted better things for his daughter which I can appreciate. I loved that this book was written in the first person. It made me feel much closer to Peyton and his struggles. I think that Peyton was in a loose situation and really struggled with what to do. As the book went on, there were so many twists and that was fantastic. The ending was fantastic, and I loved how it worked out. The themes of the book were dark, and this book is heavier in terms of what I read. The pacing was fast, and I blew through this book in one sitting. I finished it over the course of a few hours one afternoon. I also appreciated the short chapters which helped hold my interest and keep me engaged.

If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller that will make you question your morality, then you need to check this one out.

Adam Hamdy is becoming an auto read author for me. Deadbeat follows Peyton, a single divorced father to Skye, just trying to not be a fuck up for the sake of his daughter. After serving 3 years in prison for accidentally killing a young girl in a car accident, he’s surviving best he can when he receives an offer he can’t refuse. Kill a seemingly random man and get $10,000 cash.

From here the wildness unfolds, the stakes continuously get higher and Peyton becomes entangled in a game he’s not sure he knows the rules of playing. Who’s leaving the money and who is controlling the game?

The ending was perfect, exactly what I’ve come to expect from Hamdy. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I seriously can't belive this is the same author who wrote The Other Side of Night? This was one of the worst books I've ever read. If you want some humiliating wanna be bad buy fiction, go for it. Otherwise, steer clear.

Oh boy! What a book! I was gripped from page one, the short chapters and the ending kept me on the edge of my seat. I absolutely LOVED how everything ended up being connected - and If our MC didn’t keep making the dumbest choices this would have been an easy 5⭐️s, but alas. Aside from Peyton, being absolutely awful - this book was fantastic and you definitely need to pick it up December 3rd!

Hamdy’s previous book <i>The Other Side of Night </i> was one of my top favorite books a few years ago when it came out so obviously i’ve been anticipating his next novel. This one is quite different, more of a straightforward crime thriller, gritty and action-packed, which admittedly isn’t my personal taste but it’s definitely a well done story if that’s your style. Peyton was a fun morally grey character to follow, I just had super high expectations for this after the twists and turns of his previous book.

If you're looking for a dark and gritty novel with an unlikable main character who knows he's not the greatest, then this is for you. The thing about Peyton was that at the center of his actions, he was always thinking of his daughter. So while I spent the whole book thinking 'well, this out to end well,' I still wanted him to figure out how to straighten out his mess of a life because he cared so much about being a dad. The plot was fast and chock full of suspense. I carried my kindle around my house as I read because I had to know what was fueling the mystery aspect of the plot. I was engrossed from beginning to end, and I really like how this author writes a story.
Atria eARC

Peyton Collard is way down on his luck. Living in an apartment under the freeway, divorced and his car is repossessed. He is offered a chance to earn money, but it is a moral dilemma. Is it worth committing the crime to justify the money. This book was interesting, though it did drag in places for me. I was interested enough to finish it but it was only a 3* for me. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

My first Adam Hamdy novel but definitely not my last. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. A fresh new take on the vigilante thriller. A great cast of characters that made it impossible to put the book down. Kept me flipping pages long into the night. I loved the ‘real world’ question of exactly what is the line when it comes to protecting our children. Lots to think about.
Thank you NetGalley, Adam Hamdy and SS Atria Marketing for the opportunity to read and review this cracker of a book.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

WOW!!! What a great book!! This one had me hooked from page 1! This was a first for me from this author and I will not be my last! This one was a win for me!

This is a really good read unlike any other book I have read recently. A man who is down on his luck and an alcoholic is offered the chance to earn some serious money. The only hitch is that he has to do awful things to terrible people to earn this money. It reads from the first person and tells a really interesting story. As bad as Peyton's life is, you sort of root for him which is twisted in its own way. He wants his kid to have a better life and this is the only option to him as far as he is concerned. I enjoyed his weird sense of right and wrong and hope to read more from the author in the future. A good thriller and mystery.

Deadbeat is a thriller centered on MMC Peyton Collard who, after a horrible accident, is now "divorced, drunk and severely damaged." Peyton is offered a huge sum of money to kill a supposedly evil man, but as he goes on his mission, which leaves a trail of bodies across California, Peyton begins to wonder who this man really is, and why he's going to such great lengths to kill him. These questions ultimately lead Peyton down an ever-twisting, darker road.

I'm very conflicted about this one! Deadbeat is full of twists and turns I did not see coming, its chapters are short and propulsive, Peyton is a great character that fills that "tortured anti-hero" trope really well and starts to hear his victims' voices in his head (which is a touch that I enjoyed), and the ending is explosive. However, without revealing too much, all I can say is that the reveal that happens at the end, while unexpected and very clever, didn't fully satisfy me. That being said, I did enjoy this read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Adam Handy for providing this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Deadbeat is an interesting book with a moral dilemma at it's center.
Peyton had it all and lost it. His drinking brought him down and he served some time in jail., When he comes out he continues to drink in a major way. With his life a mess he is unable to care for himself or his daughter.
He is offered a chance at fixing all of that if he will commit a murder. The victim, he is told, is an evil man.
How far will a person go to change his life at the expense of taking someone else's.

Lots of twists and turns and an interesting ending keep the book moving. Sometimes Peyton keeps replaying thoughts in his mind and it gets a bit boring.
The ambiguous morality in the book made this less than appealing to me. Still it is worth it to continue to the end.

Peyton Collard had it all, a great military job, beautiful wife and daughter. Then his life spiraled out of control. Drugs and alcohol are his downfall. He finds himself in jail with a large bond. A mysterious benefactor bails him out of jail. Once he gets back to his home, he receives a unbelievable offer. everything has consequences, or does it? A super fast paced thriller with some crazy twists.

4 stars

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Adam Hamdy’s “Deadbeat” is a gripping thriller that plunges readers into a world of moral ambiguity and relentless suspense. This novel stands out for its intense character study and the dark, twisting journey it takes through the human psyche.

The story centers on Peyton Collard, a man whose life has been irrevocably altered by a horrific car accident. Once a good man, Peyton is now divorced, struggling with alcoholism, and physically and emotionally scarred. His life takes a drastic turn when he is offered a substantial sum of money to kill a man he is told is evil. As Peyton embarks on this vigilante mission, leaving a trail of bodies across California, he becomes obsessed with uncovering the identity of his mysterious employer.

Hamdy excels at creating deeply flawed yet compelling characters. Peyton Collard is a protagonist who evokes both sympathy and unease. His transformation from a broken man to a relentless seeker of truth is both tragic and riveting. The supporting characters, including those he encounters on his journey, are well-drawn and add layers of complexity to the narrative.

Hamdy’s writing is taut and evocative, perfectly suited to the novel’s dark themes and high-stakes plot. The pacing is relentless, with each chapter ending on a cliffhanger that propels the story forward. Hamdy’s ability to create a sense of urgency and tension is masterful, making “Deadbeat” a true page-turner. His descriptive prose vividly brings to life the various settings.

“Deadbeat” explores themes of redemption, morality, and the consequences of one’s actions. The novel delves into the psychological toll of living with guilt and the lengths to which people will go to find redemption. Hamdy’s nuanced portrayal of these themes adds depth to the narrative, making it more than just a straightforward thriller. The moral ambiguity of Peyton’s actions and the ethical dilemmas he faces are thought-provoking.

“Deadbeat: A Novel” is a compelling and thought-provoking thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Adam Hamdy has crafted a story that is both emotionally resonant and suspenseful, with well-developed characters and a plot full of twists and turns. .

Dark, tragic and unsettling, Deadbeat is a soul-searching tale of love, loss, and living with the consequences of your actions. A tense and anguishing story that makes you contemplate good vs. evil and reflect on how far you’d go to take care of your family. Adam Hamdy has delivered another thought-provoking and devastatingly powerful novel that will linger in your mind long after you’ve finished reading.

Peyton Collard’s life was shattered after a drunk driving car accident left a young woman dead, leaving him broken, estranged from his wife and daughter, and drowning in alcohol. After his latest transgression, an anonymous benefactor bails him out and makes Peyton a lucrative offer he is unable to refuse… life changing money if he agrees to kill specific malevolent individuals. As Peyton sets out on a violent spree across California, he starts to question the motives of the unseen figure pulling the strings and wonders about the true identities of those he’s executed. Now finding himself investigating the very murders he committed, he is determined to unmask the identity of the person behind the contracts and the dark reasons behind the killings he’s committed.

The pages of Deadbeat are filled with desperation, violence and regret. But they are also packed with hope, sacrifice and determination. Which is why it’s so hard to determine if Peyton is likeable or loathsome. He does some absolutely abhorrent and morally corrupt things, but his motivation can be seen as pure and in the name of seeking redemption. In the end, it’s up to the reader to make up their own mind on where Peyton stands with them. But there’s no middle ground. Either you will be understanding of his ends-justify-the-means approach and find him worthy of your support, or you will gleefully root for him to rot in prison for the rest of his days.

That there’s even a choice to make given the Peyton’s actions speaks to the brilliance of Adam Hamdy’s storytelling. He finds humanity in the darkest corners of even the most hopeless of souls. Using his brilliant and flowing prose to suck you into a debate about virtue vs. vileness. Requiring reflective contemplation that may not have a satisfying conclusion in the end. Regardless, you will be entertained while reading this powerful story and its impact won’t end for quite some time, as the angel and devil in your head will continue the conversation for many days after putting the book down.

This was a good book, though I found that there were sections that went on longer than I thought necessary, brought the pace of the story to a standstill, but still I would recommend as it is a good book. Peyton Collard is having a rough moment in life, he's broke, behind on child support, has a serious drinking problem when he gets a package in the mail with cash, all he has to do? Kill someone and he'll receive the balance of the money promised. The name of the person he's to kill is provided, he does some searching online to find out more and goes off and does the deed, the next day he gets a bigger package of money which he's able to use to pay his ex-wife child support. But a group of men show up and beat him up and steal his money (getting beat up is a frequent event for Peyton). Not long after, he gets another package with another name and a promise of even more money once done, so of course he does and he gets even more money, he's caught onto the fellows breaking in and stealing his money and starts to avoid his house. He eventually moves into a rental in a more desirable part of LA, but guess what?? The bad guys show up again, Peyton has hid the money is a safe place and they can't find it, though they threaten him with all kinds of a beat down if he doesn't give them a bunch of money by a certain date. Peyton begins to think maybe he's being setup and starts to investigate who is giving him the money and instructions. The book gets real interesting at that point, Peyton had done something really bad when he was really drunk and it still pains him. That something ties into why he's being paid to do the killings, a very good ending. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Atria for the ARC.

Fast paced and twisty! Peyton Collard had it all once upon a time. He had a beautiful wife, Toni, a beloved daughter, Skye, and a respected job as a military engineer. But through a series of unfortunate events, Peyton found himself divorced and imprisoned. Struggling to find his way in the world after prison and fighting a serious alcohol problem, Peyton is offered enough money to change his life by an anonymous benefactor. To earn this money, he only has to kill an evil man. Can he do it? Is it worth it? He could greatly improve his circumstances and also provide for his ex wife and daughter. He could regain some respectability. But who is this anonymous person asking him to commit this heinous crime? Clearly this book presents a huge moral dilemna. I haven’t felt this conflicted since reading The Chain by Adrian McKinty. The chapters are short and riveting and the suspense builds until the explosive ending. Don’t miss out on Hamdy’s thrilling new novel! Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on December 3, 2024

Damn. I'm so conflicted. The whole time I was reading this I was asking if anything happy was going to happen. Then the twists and bang ending came along because it's Adam Hamdy and that's what he does. I'm still conflicted. This book is one of those books about the morally gray tough choices that we don't ever want to have to think about. Would you kill an innocent person to save your kid? Dive into this book to reason out if you would....