The Mitigator
Samuel Colabufo
Independently Published (2026)
ISBN: 979-8185352441
Reviewed by Dawn Colclasure for Reader Views (07/2026)
Joe Goodness is a guy with a special talent: he can see things happening before they actually do. Which is why he tries to put himself into the action, so that he can stop it before it starts. The problem is, he comes up against a case where the stakes are high, and his life is on the line. A case involving human trafficking and the murder of undocumented immigrants who are being used as pawns for some kind of crime ring. A ring that was created by someone very powerful, as well as very deadly. And the further that Joe gets involved in this case, the closer he comes to being a target. He knows that if he’s not careful, his name will be next on a list of murdered men, and that this crime ring will continue, with many more innocent people being murdered. The Mitigator by Samuel Colabufo is an intense crime thriller novel of shady men with no qualms about murdering anyone who tries to stop them, and one man’s attempt to end the terror they have inflicted upon a group of men which no one will look for if they go missing.
A lot of the story is about Joe investigating a certain group of people who are involved with the guy in the case in some way. His investigations take him all over the place and he is very careful so that no one can see him. Recovering from a shoulder injury, he has to contend with some pain and awkwardness as he tries to either hide himself very well or move in such a way as to not give away his location.
But while Joe is investigating what is happening to the undocumented citizens, a police detective is on his tail. She knows Joe is up to something but he is very careful not to incriminate himself or give any details away. She even puts two other cops on his tail, but he’s usually pretty good at losing them.
The stakes get pretty high the more Joe gets involved in his investigation. Fortunately, he has friends in the right places, but after an unsuccessful raid by ICE, Joe realizes that he needs to be a little more discreet. He understands that he is on his own to try to save the lives of more undocumented citizens before they all perish at the hands of a criminal mastermind.
The action and suspense really drew me into this story and every time Joe went on an investigation to learn more, I was always wondering if this is when he’d get caught. Would he ever get caught? Would he ever get to the bottom of these murders and find out why it was happening? Would he ever find out the real identity of the people behind these murders?
Samuel Colabufo’s The Mitigator is an action-packed story filled with lots of mystery and suspense. This book kept me hooked from the very beginning and fans of crime novels are sure to enjoy this story.
At a Glance:
A crime thriller with a paranormal edge, this novel follows a man who experiences glimpses of future events and risks everything to stop a brutal human trafficking operation. Fast-paced and suspenseful, it includes violence, murder, and themes of exploitation.
Best for Readers Who Enjoy:
crime thrillers, vigilante justice, psychic abilities, human trafficking investigations, serial crime conspiracies, cat-and-mouse suspense, fast-paced mysteries, undercover investigations, high-stakes action, morally complex heroes