British writer Colin Harvey first published Vengeance as an ebook in 2001 and then as a trade paperback four years later. Last year, Swimming Kangaroo published a revised version in both formats with cover art by Berin Auriegas, depicting the spellhound that figures prominently in the story.

In the far future, Jocasta Pantile, an enquiry agent (the British version of a consulting private detective), takes on the task of tracking down the magical spells stolen from Stanislav Duff, a nasty but extremely wealthy little man. She sends her genetically enhanced spellhound all around the globe (and even into the distant past) in search of the stolen goods. But Duff doesn't just want the return of his property. He wants revenge, insisting that anyone who used the spells or broke the seals on them and touched them was to be killed. Though the spellhound pounds most of the pavement and does most of the killing, Jocasta isn't above executing her client's wishes to the letter.

As the tale unfolds, the reader soon discovers a lot about the world Jocasta lives in and also a lot about the people who eventually come into contact with these magical spells, even seeing how some of the spells work. There is so much detail in each person's story that I began to wonder why the author was spending so much time on the personal back-stories of the characters who handled each spell. I asked myself often, "Isn't this just a straight PI story about tracking down stolen goods?"

Vengeance, however, is anything but straightforward or simple. It is a complex psychological novel that delves deeply into the motivations behind revenge, and the extent to which a person can go when consumed by it. The details of the lives of each spell possessor, who are ultimately snuffed out, adds emotional color to Duff's ego-centric request to destroy anyone who had touched his precious goods. Jocasta and her spellhound do their duty to the letter and then some.

Vengeance is an interesting read. The final chapter will leave you with your mouth hanging open!