VENDETTA

Vendetta is not a typical novel - certainly not in the form I'm accustomed to. It reads more like a mix of personal stories and fiction all rolled into one. But once I got into it, I found myself really moved by Barrett’s journey. The first part of the book about his childhood was very powerful. The way he describes growing up in Idaho, the good and bad moments, and especially the tragedy of what happened to his father—it really stays with you. You can tell this was written from the heart. Later in the book, Barrett’s experiences as a gay man and how he built a life for himself despite all the hardships were inspiring to read. The parts about the charity work and the awards ceremony were interesting, though they felt a little more like a movie script at times. Still, it was great to see how much good he had done and how people came together to honor him. This isn’t a perfect book. Sometimes the writing jumps around, and there are a few typos and awkward sentences. Some of the dialogue later on felt a bit too polished or dramatic. But overall, none of that took away from the real message of the story: finding your place in the world, standing up for what’s right, and helping others. I’m glad I read this. It’s not like most books I’ve picked up lately, but that’s what made it special. If you like personal, emotional stories that make you think, I’d recommend giving it a try.

As someone immersed in psychological studies, I found Davis's "Vendetta" refreshingly thoughtful in its portrayal of revenge motivation and family dynamics. The novel follows actor Barrett Oleson facing both an enemy's revenge plot and discovering an adult biological son, but what captivated me was Professor Gibbons' character—finally, a fictional psychologist who doesn't rely on tropes! His application of behavioral analysis to predict the antagonist's deteriorating mental state reflects genuine forensic psychology practices, particularly when he employs the Scorpion and Fox fable to explain fixed behavioral patterns under stress. The timeline occasionally jumps awkwardly, and some psychological explanations feel shoehorned into dialogue rather than organically revealed through character interaction. Nevertheless, Davis skillfully demonstrates how obsessive vengeance creates cognitive distortions that ultimately harm the revenge-seeker—a phenomenon I've encountered repeatedly in research. What elevates this thriller is its exploration of identity formation and familial attachment across biological and chosen family systems. Davis has created not just an entertaining thriller, but a case study in how trauma and revelation reshape human connections.

Vendetta is more than just a story about revenge—it's about courage, sacrifice, and the lasting impact of standing up for what’s right, even when the price is terrifyingly high. A must-read for fans of intelligent thrillers with heart and grit.