Book Review: Retribution by Wendy Whitman

Wendy Whitman’s crime fiction is more than entertainment. It’s also a means through which she can show readers the harsh realities of criminality and victimization—an area she is intimately acquainted with. A graduate of both Tufts University (with a degree in English and Photography) and Boston School of Law, she later spent two decades working at Court TV and HLN; at the latter, Whitman served as both a producer and on-air reporter for the Nancy Grace show. Then, she made the transition to novels with 2021’s Premonition, the first entry in her “Deer Killer” series. This July, Whitman returns with a direct sequel, Retribution.

The book opens immediately following the events of its predecessor; consequently, it’s difficult to discuss one story without spoiling the other. What can be said is that a cunning predator—who the media has dubbed the “Deer Killer”—continues to use pastoral Fairview County, Connecticut, as his hunting grounds, leaving a growing trail of death and devastation. Detective Harriet (“Hank”) Nowak is in hot pursuit, though recent crimes have hit uncomfortably close to home, threatening her objectivity. Assisted by her father (a former detective), family friend/PI Vito Loggia, and Sergeant, Joseph O’Malley, she nevertheless persists, putting those she loves in imminent danger.

This time, the stakes are personal. Hank is in a romantic entanglement with TV journalist Cary Mackin, whose own involvement in the case renders their relationship improper. Further, disclosing their affair would mean revealing Hank’s bisexuality to both her father and O’Malley (who she once had a fling with). There’s also the risk that the media could pick up on it, which would compromise the appearance of impartiality and suggest a conflict of interest. And yet, Hank can’t shy away from the press, either, as keeping the case in the headlines (via Crime Watch’s Nancy Grace-like host) is their best chance for turning up new leads and identifying the killer. It’s a potentially career-ending cluster you-know-what, and one that will have catastrophic fallout.

Fittingly, the author regularly occupies Hank’s point of view, which allows for an intimate exploration of the internal struggles that are largely in contrast with the outward composure and competency expected of her. Whitman also utilizes the “Deer Killer” as a POV character far more extensively than in Premonition, showcasing his pension for terror and violence and the blatant disregard with which he holds for life—and not just the human kind. As a result, the book offers all the thrills of a page-turner but far exceeds escapism. Rather, it’s a stark reminder about the ever-present dangers that exist, those who endeavor to protect us from them, and the ones who would make us their prey if given the chance. To that end, Whitman dedicates the book to two actual crime victims, Tracy Paules and Channon Christian (and “all the others”), and regularly cites infamous cases and criminals. 

Retribution is a provocative and stirring amalgamation of psychology, procedure, and politics. Though a sequel to Premonition, it can be read as a standalone—but with this caveat: those who are familiar with the first book will have a far greater appreciation for character and context. Wendy Whitman is clearly growing into her talent as a storyteller, which comes across in the assuredness with which she writes here. She is not only an authority on criminology and victimology but a devoted student of craft whose work is both notable as it stands now and shows the promise of what’s yet to come.

Watch my interview with the author below as we discuss Retribution.