I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Written by JT Sawyer and published by Inkubator Books in 2025, this is the next in a series of thrillers about ex-CIA Special Operations officer Kyle Payne. In this story, Payne is on an extended vacation along the West Coast of the United States. He is now in Northern California for his last day before crossing into Oregon. He is traveling with his Indian Motorcycle, and has stopped at a campground near Absynth, CA to eat, and to sleep in his hammock.

Payne is surprised the next morning when two deputies from the town of Absynth Sheriff’s Department accost him at the campground while having his breakfast and arrest him for murder. He is hustled off to jail in the town by Deputy Monroe and Deputy Kessel. Monroe is the senior of the two and is calling the shots. She has spent her entire life in Absynth and knows everybody who lives in that small town. It doesn’t take long for Monroe to figure out that Kyle could not possibly have committed the murder because he was recorded by security video cameras at a park he had visited the day before and was still there at the time of the murder.

There is major criminal activity afoot near the town of Absynth, and it doesn’t take long before Payne’s curiosity and instincts embroil him in the battle against it. In addition to the numerous cannabis-growing operations in the local forests, there is one that is large and well-organized. The majority of the local Marijuana crop-tenders seem to be Filipinos, some of whom are violent killers. The story kicks off with the murder of a local entomologist who has discovered a strain of bark beetles at an uncommon wheat field in the forest. That field was at a giant agribusiness entity known as Wayland, and that company turns out to be the master villain in this story.

The only major editing error that I noticed was the description of the murder victim’s sister at LAX Airport in Los Angeles. After retrieving her luggage, she enters a taxicab and speaks to the taxi driver about her destination. Like Deputy Monroe, she was born and raised in Absynth. Unlike Monroe, she left the town and became an international journalist. Just a couple of pages later, however, the taxi has become an Uber Toyota Prius with an Uber Driver at the wheel.

One loose end that I noticed, and that I thought was unnecessary, was the described telephone conversation between Eva’s brother’s boss, a man named Gabe, who does not seem to contribute much to the story line. All in all, however, the story is an entertaining read, and I would like to read additional books in the series. I award four of five possible stars for this novel, along with a recommendation to read it.

This is a very good action book, with great characters and a good plot. The action this time is no-nonsense, and the book is very entertaining.

This is my first book by JT Sawyer and it doesn't disappoint, but second in the series featuring Kyle Payne and a stand alone. In this novel, Payne is arrested for a murder which he didn't commit in California. On his release, he sets about trying to find out who wants to frame him and gets caught up in a drug smuggling operation. For fans of Jack Reacher, plenty of action in this book!!!!

JT Sawyer is a new to me author, I’m a huge fan of Tom Wood and Lee Child so looked forward to starting this new series.

I enjoyed this book, it was fast paced, with the expected high body count and a good take on the ex-military, lone survivor genre. It’s exactly what you’d want from an action packed read, Payne is the wrong place at the wrong time, and don’t the bad guys know about it!

I hadn’t read book 1 in the series but didn’t find that an issue and I will be keen to read the next instalment to see where Kyle Payne goes next.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free copy for my honest review.

The second book in the series has Payne stopping in a small town in Northern California. It should be an uneventful trip, but he ends up arrested for a murder and that sets him to finding out what is going on around what should be a small quiet town. The story is full of action from the beginning to the end and many different characters help the story along. A good book and very much worth the read.

Review: Kyle is still delivering Maximum Payne with this installment. Although the Jack Reacher shtick gets old with over-use , this series is still palatable. "Why" you say? Although formulaic (new town/love interest, evil henchmen, righteous retribution) there is something compelling about simple expectations being met. The venues are always interesting and set in less populated areas. Kyle's OTT martial skills are so absurd as to be laughable, yet is tempered with a dry wit. This humble and snarky combination tend to endear the reader.

The best part of Kyle is that he does not take himself seriously and neither should you.

I received this ARC for an honest review.

Great continuation of the Kyle Payne series. Payne finds himself in trouble again and in the middle of a bigger situation. Wrongfully arrested, drug dealers, international conspiracy. He must save the day again.

A fast pace fun read you won't want to put down. You don't need to read the first book in the series to keep up and understand. I look forward to more books in the series and more of the authors other books.

They tried to frame him for murder. And opened the gates to hell! Great book and series!! Can definitely be read as a stand alone! This book had it all! It had chilling suspense, mystery, gruesome murders, action packed moments, big shoot outs, and some wild scenes! It was like an action packed movie!! I highly recommend reading this book and series! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!