Mike Newton (1) (1951–)

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Title: Terrorist Dispatch
Series: The Executioner #448
Author: Don Pendleton alias
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Action/Adventure
Pages: 196
Format: Digital Edition

Synopsis:

A terrorist group makes an attack at show more a memorial in Washington, DC and no one is sure if it was Russian terrorists, Ukrainian terrorists or somebody pretending to be the other. Mack Bolan doesn't care. With information from the Stony Man intelligence farm, he goes after the local russian and ukrainian mobsters and then heads to the Ukraine to do the same to both their bosses.

Hitting both sides equally, Bolan pits them against each other, thus allowing them to wipe each other. Scratch two bad guys form the list of the world's badguys.

My Thoughts:

I read the original 30 some Executioner books by the real Don Pendleton a couple of years ago. Vigilante Men's Action/Adventure perfectly sums up these books. Mack Bolan was a driven man, capable, rational and unafraid of blood and violence against those who deserved it. Planning, action and guts were the characteristics of his moves.

This book, written by a ghost writer mentioned in the end credits, is produced by Gold Eagle, a division of Harlequin. What bodice ripping romance books are for women, Mack Bolan books are for men. Sadly, the character of Mack Bolan as depicted originally isn't the same guy portrayed here. Some of the same “words” are used, but the man portrayed in this book uses the word “whatever” a lot. The Executioner doesn't use the word “whatever”, that implies a lack of caring about planning and intel gathering. Considering he uses it at least three times in this book, it makes Mack Bolan feel very caricature'ish here.

I am glad that I read this but it has put to rest my curiosity about how the franchise has proceeded. Simply put, it has been simplified even more, to the point that I don't want to read more. Not recommended unless you need a serious brain break for a day or two.

★★★☆☆ show less

This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes.blogspot. wordpress.leafmarks.com & Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road Facebook Group by Bookstooge's Exalted Permission. Title: The Violent Streets Series: The Executioner Author: Mike Newton & Don Pendleton Rating: 3 of 5 Stars Genre: show more Action/Adventure Pages: 185 Format: Scan Synopsis: Toni Blancanales, one of the members of the new Able Team investigators, is raped and almost killed while on the job. Her brother calls in Mack to find the sicko who did this. But it looks like the killer is being protected by some of the Men in Blue. Bolan might have to cross a line that he has never crossed before. Can he kill a cop? My Thoughts: I only have 3-5 more of these left on my kindle and I have to say, I won't be sad to see them go. This wasn't quite what I was expecting. Instead of Bolan drawing down on a serial murderer/rapist, he gets involved with some high level dirty cops and blackmailed politician. The violence level was way down and my thrillometer barely got beyond the 1TPM [thrill per minute] threshold. It was interesting to see him debate with himself about taking out dirty cops now. He realizes his war has changed but isn't exactly sure what the new ground rules are. Between that and the whole thing happening to a friend, this was a very "personal" Executioner book. I'm hoping the next book has more ♪lawyers♪, ♪guns♪ ♪and money!♪ " show less

An exciting entry in the long running series. Paradine, an enemy that got away from Bolan before, captures world leaders and uses them as a lure to bring Bolan to him. Mike Newton is one of the better Bolan writers and this book is a prime example of his skill.

Far less violent than I hoped it would be