First Justice (Vigilante Justice Book 1) by John Etzil

Author John Etzil gives a riveting peek into Jack Lamburt’s vigilante origins in First Justice. Long before becoming a secretive small-town sheriff, Lamburt must wrestle with his grief and constant hunger for revenge, channeling his anger into a high-risk mission on foreign soil, while rekindling his connection with a stunning and deadly assassin, Frankie.

What begins as giving Frankie a ride to Cuba soon devolves into an all-out black ops mission, and it seems that neither of these two deadly ex-lovers were given the whole story. Combining fast-paced storytelling and Lamburt’s rugged charm, this novel is clever, heartfelt, sexy, and downright thrilling. The in-depth lingo about aircraft and military jargon make the book immersive and believable, while the matter-of-factness in the writing mirrors the cool confidence of Etzil’s protagonist.

There is a certain pulp thriller feel to Lamburt’s adventures, but that doesn’t make them any less enjoyable, and this storyline does keep you guessing. The dialogue, as has been the case in many of Etzil’s books, is occasionally too perfect to be believable, and may elicit an eye-roll from time to time.

Overall, this first installment is a quick and entertaining read with just enough bullets, beauties, and bad jokes to have wide appeal. Etzil has delivered an excellent introduction to an already iconic character.