The Revenge Paradox

by Regina Buttner

Overview

"Deception, family drama, and more secrets than I could count permeate the pages of this gritty portrait of an untapped slice of Americana." -Dan McDowell, award-winning author of When She Comes Knocking

Revenge has a way of backfiring sometimes.

College dropout-turned-Amazon reseller Rudy Hodgens vows revenge when his parents evict him for refusing to get a real job and generally being a slacker. If it weren't for his friend Fudgie offering him a place to crash, he'd be on the street. Good thing he stole his stepfather's gun before he moved out.

Rudy thinks he's onto a promising new business venture when he sells the gun to a shady acquaintance who's eager for as much illicit merchandise as Rudy can supply. Plus there's Laci, the alluring pink-haired girl he recently met at the bus stop. They begin dating, and Laci persuades Rudy to return to school. All of a sudden, life's looking up.

But the stolen gun triggers a chain of events that threaten to derail Rudy's newfound happiness, and his desire for vengeance takes a violent turn. Only Laci can save him from his worst impulses, but there's a catch-Laci's secretly out for revenge too, and Rudy's standing in her way.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781685134969
Publisher:	Black Rose Writing
Publication date:	10/24/2024
Pages:	242
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.55(d)

About the Author

Regina Buttner was raised in beautiful upstate New York where she spent many happy years exploring the small towns and scenic hiking trails of the Adirondack mountain region. She recently traded the snowy northern winters for the tropical breezes of the Sunshine State where her favorite pastimes are kayaking among the mangroves, strolling the gorgeous beaches, and teaching tricks to her crafty little corgi, Pekoe. Connect with her on her website: www.reginabuttner.com

Editorial Reviews

2024-08-23
A troubled young man’s eviction leads to disaster in Buttner’s thriller.

Revenge may be a dish best served cold, but in this tense novel, the temper of 25-year-old Rudy Hodgens is red-hot as he seeks payback from his stepparents for evicting him from the house where he lived for two decades. When Rudy was in kindergarten, his mom died in a car crash; she had been married at the time to Iraq War veteran Mitchell, who was not Rudy’s biological father. A year after the accident, Mitchell married Debra, who became an instant mother to Rudy. Now Debra sobs as her deadbeat stepson packs up and leaves by court order, but Mitchell stews—Rudy has had multiple chances to turn his life around. Before Rudy leaves, he steals a Glock from Mitchell’s collection of guns, ammo, and fancy knives. Rudy tries to sell the Glock to a local thug he knew as a child, but seeing the gun reminds the potential buyer of all the weapons in Rudy’s family’s basement. Rudy also commits “domestic terrorism” by sneaking into the house at night to scare the easily frightened Debra while Mitchell works his overnight shift as a security guard. To make Debra feel safer, Mitchell helps her buy a pistol and (because he loves her) a gun bag in a “pink camouflage pattern.” But is Debra the “wimpy little woman” she appears to be? Complicated, marginalized characters converge in this edgy narrative that zips quickly along. The author excels at writing about people with both minor and major flaws, stashing secrets in each character’s backstory. Lies unfold, revenge is plotted, and suspense builds quickly to a satisfying ending. Well-observed details enrich the story, such as descriptions of the coffeeshop fireplace “that looks warm and cozy, but doesn’t actually emit any heat” and “the sleety snowfall that’s studding the front stoop.”

Fast-turning pages filled with hearty servings of revenge, reconciliation, and remorse.

Kirkus Reviews