Pointless: Revenge is a Rationalization, Not a Motivation (Revenge, Unhinged #1) by Michael Geczi

On the Spine of Things:

This was a LibraryThing Early Reviewer book kindly sent to my by the author, Michael Geczi. It was the cover which first attracted me. When I read the blurb, I simply had to place a request. I added it to my wishlist as well, just in case I was unsuccessful. I mean, who can pass up a dark revenge story? Not I, for certain!

Beyond the Binding:

Pointless: Revenge is a Rationalization, Not a Motivation (The Revenge, Unhinged 1) by Michael Geczi

Pointless: Revenge is a Rationalization, Not a Motivation is a killer start to Michael Geczi’s new Revenge, Unhinged series. Ostensibly, this is the story of an ex-FBI member with a grudge, chucking a tanty by exacting revenge for every perceived wrong with no care for who is caught in the crossfire. This isn’t a spoiler, by the way. We’re told this from the beginning.

Don’t let that fool you, though. This isn’t just another ‘dime-a-dozen’ revenge fantasy. This book is complex, tightly woven, and emotionally intense. Every part of the plot is carefully planned for maximum engagement. More than once, I set out to read a chapter or two before performing some task or other, only to find myself still reading an hour later, so this probably isn’t the best choice of reading material for your lunch break. The ‘just one more chapter’ is strong in this one.

The subtext of the story has political overtones, dealing with issues of prejudice, law, and morality, and challenging the common perception that justice, law, and retribution are black-and-white. Senior Special Agent Kari Dineh, for example, struggles with internal conflict related to misogyny, prejudice and the internal politics within the Bureau.

As far as the writing is concerned, the book sports a diverse cast of characters. The plot moves at a good pace, the twists are well done, and a lot of chapters end on cliffhangers. Revealing the villain early in the piece increases the tension and allows Geczi to explore revenge not just as actions, but as an idea or justification.

I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of the opposing podcasts. Seeing the public reactions like this adds a depth that isn’t generally present in crime novels. We know from real-world experience that it’s probably happening, but we generally don’t get shown this glimpse into the narrative on the page. This was a good call on the part of the author. Also, can I just say how much I love the title of that one podcast: “FB, I Don’t Think So.” Ha ha ha! Genius name! Hilarious!

And that ending? Outstanding! Have you ever wanted to praise and shout at an author at the same time? Yeah, that was me after finishing this book.

If I had one piece of advice, it would be to either indent paragraphs, or add a blank line in between them, because some of us have trouble concentrating when the only breaks in the text are the chapter headings. However, I was reading a review copy, so that issue may have been caught and fixed in the final edit.

Overall, I felt this was a highly entertaining and thought-provoking read which explores a lot of deep issues without being preachy about it. I highly recommend picking it up at your earliest opportunity.

In the Margins:

“Zuri, us showing up at the door at this hour, with her husband not making it home from work last night, will deliver the notification message before we even open our mouths. She’s probably been out of her mind all night.”
Gutiérrez in Pointless: Revenge is a Rationalization, Not a Motivation by Michael Geczi

My Binding Verdict:

Did I enjoy it? Yes.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely.
Will I reread it? Without a doubt.
Will I continue the series? Just try and stop me.

Content Warnings:

Graphic: Car accident; death; excrement; fire/fire injury; gun violence; murder; poisoning; vomit
Moderate: Blood; kidnapping; medical content; misogyny; racism; sexism
Minor: Police corruption