Vengeance Can Be Deadly by Gary Smith is a crime thriller with a sprinkling of romance. Marie was shot at close range, between the eyes, soon after Warren left her house. Warren, a writer, was her lover and the prime suspect in the assassination case. He had to investigate the murder by himself for two reasons; he didn’t intend to go to jail for another’s crime and to avenge Marie’s death. Pulling up all his connections and calling in favors, Warren shuttled between America and Italy, where he realized that “still waters run deep." He discovered a dark web spun by the high and mighty of the creative world, which he will either untangle or it will consume him.

Vengeance Can Be Deadly is the fifth volume in The Warren Steelgrave series, and I must confess that Gary Smith has created a brilliant novel. It will appeal to lovers of books based on crime, espionage, and cartels. Warren is the human representation of cats having nine lives. Gary spun such a web that created complex characters, heightened the suspense, and evoked a cocktail of emotions. Warren presented as a writer, but I saw a sound detective, always two steps ahead. I enjoyed the plot, as it gave me realistic answers. Also, there was so much going on in the book, which is normal for its genre, but Gary neatly tied up all the loose ends. The book taught me a tangible lesson that favors are debts which we all must repay at some point. I thoroughly enjoyed this engaging book and would love to read more from Gary Smith.

The Warren Steelgrave series by Gary E Smith gets a mouth-watering fifth installment: Vengeance Can Be Deadly. When a woman is murdered in her house in Florence, Italy, Warren Steelgrave becomes the prime suspect as he is the last person to see her alive. Warren is distraught at losing a close friend, so he makes plans to find her killer, bring them to justice, and clear his name before returning to the United States. With the help of an FBI acquaintance, a close mutual friend, and some other people linked to the deceased in one way or another, Warren discovers some secrets that involve an art gallery and possible espionage, which could get him killed if he digs too deep. Will Warren come out of this manhunt in one piece as he also battles with his health?

Gary E Smith employs a natural style of writing that slowly grows on you and keeps you glued until the explosive end. I was surprised to find out that I had almost finished the book as I was enjoying it so much that the time seemed to have flown by. As the plot unravels, the suspense, action, and danger increases until it reaches a climactic point towards the end. The plot extends beyond vengeance and covers several other themes, including aging and dealing with mortality, family, lovers, spies, crime, friendship, regrets, and more. With the seamless inclusion of things that we deal with on a regular basis, the story feels completely real. In conclusion, Vengeance Can Be Deadly is a fantastic, first-rate option for mystery and suspense enthusiasts.