Runt by Michael Golvach is a noir crime thriller starring Detective Payden Jeffrey Beck. He is more of an anti-hero, with a checkered past. He is transferred from the city precinct to a rural area, where his new captain and his new partner, Detective Franklin Brennen, have planned to set Beck up for a murder he has not committed. Behind the scenes and in the shadows, an old flame, Lisa Reid, has discovered the scheme and is helping him to not only avoid the charges but to exonerate him. There are many other characters in the story, including three beautiful women who all have their problems, and an earlier history with Beck. He appears at first to be both a drunk and bent, taking a bribe for his implication in the cold-blooded murder of a suspected drug dealer. But things are not quite what they seem.

Michael Golvach’s fifth book in his Detective Payden Beck series is not your average crime thriller, as it contains scenes of sexual abuse, complicated relationships, and hints about situations occurring in the earlier books. You will love or hate the star, be curious about his current and previous relationships with several gorgeous women, and be puzzled by his seemingly erratic behaviour. The intrigue deepens as to how he can free himself from the damning evidence against him. The reader is also kept in suspense as one event follows another in quick succession, apparently unrelated to helping to solve his problem. There are so many twists and turns that as the tension builds up, the difficulties appear to become worse rather than better. It’s a unique approach to a crime thriller with an emotionally charged undercurrent, taking an unexpected turn against all odds. Runt is both fast-moving and page-turning, and fans of this author will certainly enjoy his latest book

In Runt by Michael Golvach, Payden Beck, after transferring from his old precinct, is matched with a new domineering partner, Frank Brennan. Their captain thought that Beck, as their precinct newbie, needed to be initiated to conform to their culture, values, work behavior, and standards, if ever they had any. On the other hand, Payden’s previous partner, Lisa Reid, who abruptly disappeared and went AWOL, was cleared as a murder suspect. If Lisa were to make a comeback, Payden knew that she had some unresolved business to attend to. As his loyal ex-partner, she managed a high-risk act that paved the way for Payden to clear his name. Will he be able to help Lisa seek revenge for the heinous wrongdoing that scarred her? Will Payden finally have the resolution and happy ever after that he found elusive throughout his somewhat miserable existence?

Runt is Michael Golvach’s fifth installment in his Payden Beck Crime Thriller series. Its dark and brooding atmosphere is conveyed by the characters' cynicism and attitudes, terse and frank dialogue, and descriptive writing that underscores character traits, settings, or the action that taps into the reader’s imagination and senses. Graphic depictions using violence, sexual scenes, and innuendo allow for the development and complexity of morally dubious and ambiguous characters, situations, and narratives. The harshness and crass behavior found in reality are woven into a deep and disturbing plot that stays with the reader for a long time. This moderate to fast-paced novel uses the more positive aspects of noir for the prospect of better days as the main character's focus, direction, and motivator. Heavy themes dealing with abuse, police corruption, toxic relationships, hostility, mental instability, and dissidence are present, as well as glimpses of romance, friendship, loyalty, honesty, decency, and redemption. Runt is a thought-provoking and entertaining work that fans of neo-noir and crime fiction shouldn’t miss.

Runt by Michael Golvach is the fifth Payden Beck Crime thriller. It plunges readers into a gritty world of crime following Payden Beck, a detective with a tarnished past and complicated relationships. This tense narrative sees Beck tasked with navigating the dark streets of a city rife with corruption, tragedy, and personal demons. He interacts with characters such as his former partner, Bryan Verrill, who faces his insecurities and infidelities, and Valarie Dooley, burdened with sorrow after the death of her daughter. Can a woman from his past with unclear motives help Beck get back on his feet from rock bottom?

Michael Golvach’s Runt reads like a standalone novel. The prologue provides a backstory and unveils the psyche of a man beaten and struggling with guilt and a strong sense of failure. Set against a backdrop marked by emotional and physical brutality, the characters inhabit a world where personal relationships are fraught with tension and betrayal. Payden Beck, a deeply flawed character, symbolizes the struggle for redemption while battling his addiction and a fierce sense of loyalty that complicates his judgment. His haunting interactions with Valarie, Bryan, and even Lisa Reid, who’d left town on a bus headed to anywhere, show the emotional stakes that drive his actions: love twisted by guilt, desire tinged with regret, and the price of power in their relationships. Beck's relationships with women oscillate between brutal objectification and nuanced affection. Runt is an emotionally rich tale with strong psychological underpinnings. The streams of consciousness, the soliloquies, and the author’s attention to detail are the elements that ground the characters.

In Runt by Michael Golvach, Detective Payden Beck has not been assigned a significant case since joining his new precinct. When Beck is summoned to the captain’s office, he hopes it means something worthwhile is finally coming his way. Instead, Beck is partnered with Frank Brennan, the only other detective in the precinct—a man who has been working alone for years. Beck assumes their new assignment will be enough to keep them occupied, but it quickly becomes clear that Frank operates on his own terms. Frank argues that problems are best resolved before they even start and that everyone gets paid as long as they play their part. Frank lays out the rules of their partnership bluntly: Beck will do things his way, or not at all. Now Beck must decide—can he maintain his integrity as a detective, or will he be forced to fall in line with Frank’s way of doing things?

The storyline in Runt by Michael Golvach was fast-moving and filled with action. It was an exhilarating journey of murder, violence, mystery, and danger. The writing style captured my interest from beginning to end. The events were vividly portrayed, leaving little to the imagination. I could easily picture each event. The depictions of violence were detailed and unapologetic. Themes such as trauma, abuse, and assault were addressed with considerable care. The characters were deeply developed and believable. Some of the characters were not who they seemed, and I was astonished to discover their true identities. This was an exceptional thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I was constantly surprised by what happened next, and I was never let down; there was always an unexpected twist awaiting me.