Payback Vol. 2 – The Executioners

How history's deadliest men delivered death.

By: Jonathan J. Moore

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Paperback | 25 November 2025

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They were the last face their victims ever saw.

From the swinging axe to the smoking electric chair, The Executioners, the second book in the gritty Payback series, steps into the shadowy world of history’s deadliest profession. These men didn’t just kill — they turned death into a craft shaped by ritual, rules, and cold necessity.

Meet Johann Reichhart, the Nazi regime’s tireless guillotine operator who executed over 3,000 men and women with chilling efficiency. Discover Frantz Schmidt, Renaissance Germany’s feared executioner, who became a master of his trade. From the dynasties behind France’s infamous guillotine to the methodical hangmen of Britain and America, these are the men who made death their duty and their trade.

Through historical records, personal accounts, and chilling procedural detail, ‘The Executioners’ reveals the psychology, pride, and paradox of those who delivered death on Sing Sing’s 'Old Sparky' or with Thailand’s sub machine-gun. What toll did their grim work take — and what drove them to keep coming back?

Exploring the fine line between brutality and professionalism, this gripping volume dares to ask: when death is a job, who chooses to do it?

You decide: Were they monsters ... or men doing society’s darkest work?

'An unflinching look at history’s darkest profession.'

About the Author

Jonathan Moore, born in 1964 in Melbourne, Australia, is a seasoned history enthusiast and true crime author. With a background in teaching and multiple successful businesses, he has written several highly acclaimed books, including Hung, Drawn and Quartered andSpies, Lies and Traitors. A passionate traveller, military reenactor, and expert in historical and criminal subjects, Jonathan’s work has been translated globally and earned him a loyal following. His engaging storytelling and in-depth research make him a standout in the true crime genre.

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