Raw, gripping, and morally complex, Deadbeat is a pulse-pounding dive into one man's dark descent—and his desperate quest for redemption.

Peyton Collard is far from a hero: broken, drunk, and clinging to the wreckage of his life. But when he’s offered a fortune to kill a man deemed evil, his reluctant “yes” sets off a chain of blood-soaked events across California. The deeper Peyton dives into his vigilante spree, the more questions he has about his faceless employer—and the truth behind the lives he’s taken.

Adam Hamdy delivers a dark thriller with gritty realism and unrelenting tension, forcing readers to grapple with questions of morality, revenge, and redemption. If you love morally ambiguous antiheroes and nail-biting suspense, this one’s for you.

⭐ Rating: 5/5
💡 Perfect for fans of: Dark thrillers, vigilante justice stories, and antiheroes with layers.

This book honestly surprised the heck out of me. It started off with a confession of murder and then continued on a little slowly at first. There was enough going on to keep me intrigued though. About midway through the book, I couldn’t put it down! I read through most of my workday because I HAD to know how it would end. Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC and thanks to Atria for a physical copy in exchange for an honest review. I have not read Adam Hamdy before, but I most definitely will be now!

How often have you read a book with a character that couldn't get out their own way? Peyton Collard is that guy. He is a full-blown alcoholic - not even a functional alcoholic - just a drunk. Everytime he wakes up cover in his own sick, he promises to himself that he will change and be better. But he can't do it. One beer or drink turns into twelve and next thing you know he's waking up in a doorway. Over half the book is an endless cycle of drunk-to-promise-to-drunk. And oh yeah - he starts killing people for money. The last fifty pages there's finally some redemption as the author reveals what's going on. It's kind of a wild twist. Is there redemption? No spoilers. Be prepared to be inside the head of an addict for a while with this one.

An interesting read for sure. The story was of greed but also what would you do to protect your family? A man has already tainted his own soul so why not go further to be able to provide for your daughter instead of being a “deadbeat”. While also on a quest to find out who is forcing this life on him. It was a comical story and the audio version was good.

Adam Hamdy’s Deadbeat is a relentless, high-octane thriller that grips you from the very first page and doesn’t let go. The story follows Peyton, a man grappling with the weight of his past and the scars of addiction, who is thrust into an unimaginable situation when an envelope of money and a mysterious link turn him into an assassin overnight. Desperate to provide for his ex and daughter, Peyton dives headfirst into a dangerous new life that forces him to confront his demons while navigating a deadly game of survival.

Hamdy masterfully crafts a story that is both fast-paced and emotionally resonant. Peyton is a deeply flawed but sympathetic protagonist whose struggles with addiction and fractured relationships add a layer of humanity to the otherwise adrenaline-charged plot. The tension is palpable as one chaotic event leads to another, leaving readers breathless and eager to see how Peyton will navigate the twists and turns of his new reality.

The action sequences are vivid and cinematic, propelling the story forward with relentless energy. Hamdy’s ability to balance edge-of-your-seat thrills with moments of introspection and character development makes Deadbeat more than just a typical action thriller—it’s a story about redemption, resilience, and the lengths one will go to for family.

For fans of gritty, action-packed narratives with complex characters, Deadbeat is an exhilarating ride that doesn’t disappoint. Adam Hamdy proves once again that he is a master of blending heart-stopping suspense with thought-provoking storytelling.

I think most of my problem with this story is the writing style, I mean I didn't like the main character but I don't think you are really meant to, I just wasn't able to connect with the writing/ story in any way that compelled me to keep reading.

This story is told in first person by Peyton. Peyton has had what he believes to be a run of bad luck and spends his time drinking and making bad decisions while looking at the rest of the world through envious blinders. When he’s offered the opportunity to make enough money to pay off his debtors, start a college fund for his daughter, and turn his life around, he’s initially hesitant since it involves a kill for hire position. But the target is a bad guy, so that’s not so bad right?

This story started a bit slow for me. Peyton is a bit of an acquired taste. I admit that I didn’t have much sympathy for him during most of the book as he continued to make bad decision after bad decision. Once he stops wallowing and gets serious about his investigation into the identity of his anonymous donor, the story gained momentum, and I enjoyed the last half of the book.

While I thought the perpetrator was obvious and Peyton was a bit oblivious, there was still a twist coming that took me by surprise. Overall, I enjoyed the story even if the main character made me crazy for most of it. Limited recommendation for readers with a high tolerance for main characters that make bad decisions.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for a copy provided for an honest review.

Overall I found this book entertaining, and quite the wild ride. While I found some plot points to be a little predictable, and I did have some issues with the pacing of the last half of the book., Ultimately I found this to be a fun book that I could see myself recommending

Deadbeat, by superior author Adam Hamdy, is a must-read novel. What happens when an ordinary guy has personal, financial, and legal trouble? Read Deadbeat and find out. Peyton is a regular guy except when he receives a thought-provoking offer- Kill somebody and get paid a lot of money. He listens to the offer, and the moral and ethical battle commences. If Peyton accepts the offer, does that make him a bad guy? Or just somebody without another avenue of escape.
The tension is never-ending, as the internal conflict threatens to spin out of control. Add a cast of shady characters and a healthy dose of desperation, and you will quickly see why Deadbeat is one of my favorites.

DEADBEAT
Adam Hamdy

I was sent this book, and I accepted it based on the synopsis. I did not look into my previous experience with Hamdy. Had I, I would’ve declined it. I have read a few books co-written by Hamdy, a couple of books in a James Patterson series. A series that I gave up on.

It’s not the writing, although I did struggle with parts of it. It’s not just the characters, although they were rough around the edges. It has more to do with the content of the storyline.

It is much more of an action-adventure story than I typically enjoy. And several parts of the story are just unbelievable and completely farfetched. So much so that it took away from whatever enjoyment I was able to experience with the material.

The roles Hamdy gives to women in his stories have a lot to do with how they supplement the men in his stories. They are simply there to accentuate or highlight the men’s personalities and are not well-formed characters that would withstand on their own.

This is unfortunate, but not original to Hamdy.

Not for me and I will do a better job of avoiding Hamdy’s material in the future.

Thanks for the opportunity!

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy!

DEADBEAT…⭐️⭐️

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wild ride by Adam Hamdy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Peyton Collard was a good man once, but his life changed after a horrific car accident. Now he's divorced, drunk, and severely damaged, Peyton is offered a life-changing sum of money to kill an evil man. But as he goes on a vigilante journey that leaves a trail of bodies across California, Peyton wonders about the identity of his anonymous patron. Soon, his questions become an obsession, and he embarks on a tense and potentially deadly investigation to discover the truth about the murders he’s committed.

This is like an action movie where you have to suspend some disbelief, but you are totally in for the ride, wherever it takes you. This book is written in the first person, which made it even better. You feel like Peyton is talking to you, asking you to understand him, and to put yourself in his shoes. And you do think about where that line is on what you would do if you were desperate. Peyton was trying so hard to be a good dad to his daughter, Skye, and he just kept making bad decisions. And drinking and running his mouth, which of course, go hand in hand. It's gritty, raw, with that dark humor that I love. It has short chapters and I kept telling myself just one more because I didn't want to put it down. Grab some popcorn and enjoy!

Peyton once was a good man, married with a daughter. Then after life changing accident, he is divorced, drunk, and damaged. When he’s offered money to kill an evil man, his life becomes a vigilante journey leaving bodies behind.

Toeing the line of black and white, good and evil, this story gives you tons of action and excitement, but also makes you question your like of the main character. He does some crappy things, but you also really feel for him, especially as all is revealed. It’s not just an action book; while it keeps you entertained, it has back history, emotion, and a man trying to fight his demons. I loved the ending and how it all wrapped up nicely.

“Far away death was easy. Up close like this was hard.”

Deadbeat comes out 12/3.

Adam Hamdy's "The Other Side of Night" was a delightful surprise and I was excited to see what he came up with next but while there are a few interesting themes here, most of the book is repetitive and annoying.

Peyton Collard, our deadbeat protagonist is not likeable at all thanks to his never-ending self-pity and excuses for poor choices and bad behaviour. I understand the author's point about class division and how far we'd all go to protect our loved ones and yes, Peyton's partly a victim of circumstance but he mostly refuses to take accountability for his actions and continues to make questionable choices.

Best of all was Jim Steadman who I thought was a well-written character.

Thanks to Netgalley & Atria Books for the e-copy!

*3.5 stars rounded up. As readers, I think we like to be able to relate in some way to the protagonist of a novel. That is so impossible to do with Peyton Collard who is telling this story. His life is in a downward spiral and he admits he's a deadbeat, which he defines as 'someone who's burned their soul until the light within has gone out.' He's made one bad decision after another in his life. He's an alcoholic and a druggie, served jail time for vehicular manslaughter while drunk. His wife has divorced him and he's an embarrassment to his teenaged daughter.

Now he's been offered a great deal of money if he will just do one little thing--a hit job. Peyton wants to be a good guy but man, he could sure use the money...to pay what he owes his wife for child support, to send his daughter to med school, to create a better life for himself. What if the person he's to kill is bad--does that make it alright?

Everything keeps racketing up until the pretty exciting ending. What's your moral judgment about went on in the book? Food for thought. It's a pretty creative plot.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new thriller via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Holy smokes this was good!!! I couldn’t put this down and kept turning the pages because I had to know. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.

“Deadbeat,” by Adam Hamdy, Atria Books, 368 pages, Dec. 3, 2024.

Peyton Collard was a good man once, but his life changed after a horrific car accident. Now he is an alcoholic and drug user.

After getting arrested again while on parole, he is facing a 10-year prison term. But he is bonded out before trial. He doesn’t know who posted his bond. When he gets home, he finds that someone left $1,000 in his mailbox. He then finds a message, offering him $100,000 if he kills Walter Glaze, a drug dealer who is suspected of multiple murders.

That’s how Collard becomes a hit man for an anonymous patron. He justifies it by saying his is securing the future for his daughter, Skye, 13. But as he goes on a spree that leaves a trail of bodies across California, Peyton wonders about the identity of his anonymous patron.

Soon, his questions become an obsession, and he tries to discover the truth about the murders he’s committed. Meanwhile, he becomes a suspect in Glaze’s murder and some other men are after him for money.

While I really enjoyed Adam Hamdy’s last novel, “The Other Side of Night,” about a man regretting losing contact with his son, as I read “Deadbeat” I kept thinking what a terrible person Collard is. Although the characters aren’t likable, the plot is engrossing. The ending is good and ties up the loose ends.

I rate it out four of five stars.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Deadbeat by Adam Hamdy is a dark, twisted, and thoroughly engaging thriller. Peyton Collard, a broken man struggling after a devastating car accident, takes a morally complex path when offered money to become a hitman. The story grips you as Peyton’s vigilante mission unfolds, leaving a trail of bodies and unanswered questions about his mysterious employer.
The narrative is fast-paced and filled with tension, keeping you hooked as Peyton’s obsession drives him toward uncovering the truth. With its morally gray protagonist and suspenseful twists, Deadbeat is an entertaining read for thriller fans who enjoy thought-provoking, high-stakes stories.

3.5 rounded up. Peyton is going through a hard time that continues to get worse. He was once arrested after a drunk driving accident that took someone’s life and he never recovered after that. His family divorced him, he is drunk all the time, and continues to mess up. One day after another dumb mistake, he’s bailed out of jail by an anonymous patron. When he gets home, he finds money and an audio link, notifying him that if he kills a few targets for them, he will receive money he has never dreamed of. Is he willing to risk it all to support his family?

This was an interesting read. At times it would keep my interest and other times, I considered it might not be for me. I think the first half was a bit slower than the second, which picked up my interest with more action and twists. Additionally, it’s hard to root for Peyton. He’s not super likable and I don’t think I could justify what he did for money - I hope to never be that desperate. I did enjoy the twist a lot and riding alongside as he figured out who he was working for. Did not see it coming!

Deadbeat by Adam Hamdy was a thrilling and entertaining story.
This is an extremely well written story with an intricate plot and skillfully drawn characters. it's a real page turner with twists and turns that seem to spin out of control. The ending was explosive and totally unexpected.
It grabbed me from the first page and kept me guessing.

This book wasn’t for me. The main character, Peyton, is deeply flawed and pitiful, and while I’m supposed to dislike him, I couldn’t get past how frustrating he was to follow. The plot was interesting but also over the top at times, and the story spent too much time in Peyton’s head, which made it drag—especially since I just wanted to get to the point.