What do You think about Payback (2005)?
I’m not even sure where I picked up this novel, perhaps at a garage sale. I’m sure I was attracted to the quotation on the front: “Friends make every burden lighter, and every triumph sweeter . . . . “ And the blurb on the back about the “sisterhood.” Friendship is one of my favorite subjects. However . . . The title should have gotten my attention—the novel is one of the Sisterhood series which is about seven very different women who become vigilantes, pursuing justice and revenge against those who have wronged them in some huge way (drunk driver who kills a daughter, an insurance company that refuses needed treatment to children and others, a philandering husband who gives his wife HIV/AIDS). Money is no object, expertise is available, missions for each of the seven women occur. Definitely a pop novel—a quick read--pure escape.
—Georgia Herod
1.75starsI've rather enjoyed a couple of the later books of this series, but find the second installment far less appealing. The overall premise of women banding together for vengeance is a fine driver for this long-running series, and lends itself to a variety of situations for our protagonists. This time out the senator husband of one of the sisterhood has not only drained their financial accounts, he has given her a death sentence. Before she takes her last breath, Julia would like nothing better than to completely and irrevocably destroy the separate life of handsome, distinguished Mitch Webster and make him pay for not only taking her life, but for thinking to leave her destitute and dependent upon him. We're also treated to a thread featuring a broken hearted Nikki whose ex-fiance is attempting to: 1) verify there is a sisterhood; 2) discover their plan; 3)derail their current plan; 4) prove they are behind a work problem he is having and; 5) win Nikki back. The final major thread here has sisterhood founder Myra using and (frequently) talking to her deceased daughter's ghost. I enjoyed seeing some of the characters from the later books and noting their changes. The elaborate scheme, interaction among the characters and the intricately woven threads all work for good and make this a serviceable series. One of the major things that didn't work for me in this effort was the stiffly formal speech (or maybe the rich are just that different) - I wish that were all that bothered me. The whole ghost thing didn't seem natural to me for this setting so I had a hard time accepting it - again, I wish that were all that bothered me. What bothered me was the insult I felt as a reader, a woman and an African American. In the end, I could never recommend this book to anyone ever due to the amount of illogical conclusions, TSTL actions of characters that should have known better and the stereotypes. Too many things didn't work here to not be annoyed with this read.
—PepperP0t
In this second book of the Sisterhood series, the women take on the mission of righting injustices done to Julia Webster, a doctor infected with the HIV virus by her philandering husband Mitch, a senator.Julia's mission is two-pronged in "Payback (Zebra Romance)." In addition to making Mitch pay, she also wants to punish a greedy HMO that sentences patients "to death" by denying claims for treatment.Again, technologically savvy Charles Martin's expertise is critical to the success of the plan that unfolds over the next several chapters. There are some other wrongs to right along the way, too; the women must somehow halt a nosy DA (Nikki's ex-fiance) who threatens their goals by following them, stalking them, and trying to hinder their efforts.Some of the details of the plans were quite complex and took sheer genius to bring about. And yes, it was fun to see the "bad guys" getting their just desserts. But enough is enough.After reading the first book in the series (Weekend Warriors) and others that are later in the series, I think I'm done with these books. I enjoy other books by this author a lot more. I'm giving this one three stars.
—Laurel-Rain
