War Against the Mafia

I just re-read this in two days, having read it literally 33 years ago, It was even better the second time around! If you can read only ONE Executioner novel, it has to be this one! How the hell did Mr. Pendleton write such a great entry, but have enough great ideas to pen another 37? This book still holds up great even in modern day. I've read the later Bolan stories, but what I love about the first one is really getting into his head about his values and motivations. I'm hooked on this series...AGAIN!!

This book starts Bolan's journey off with a bang. This is a book with action throughout the whole book. He get a little bit of backstory and why he is on his "War Against The Mafia". He starts off in Vietnam and the he heads over to America. The relationship between Bolan and the cops is great and it shows an insight to Bolan as a character. The rest of the story takes place in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and it is a real joyride. The action is thrilling all the way through this book. Bolan kills in the concrete jungle. My favorite action scene is the last one at Sergio's home. It is just so crazy that it has to be the best one. 9/10 Places: -Vietnam -Pittsfield Massachusetts

I first read this when it came out. I was ten and a massive James Bond/The Saint fan, being British of course! Me included. However, I was immediately struck by the, then unheard-of retaliatory strike against the machinations of the Mafia. Nowadays this would be rather passé as time changes all cultures and our expectations. A Vietnam veteran, (pre-Rambo) single-handedly takes on one of the most powerful organisations in the world and beats them! Totally unbelievable but an absolutely fantastic read, especially for a young boy seeking a powerful male role model. Even today, on rereading it still stands up despite the passage of time. Don Pendleton really created something special here, especially with the addition of the Gold Eagle Books franchise deal and numerous spinoff series. There are now almost 1200 titles and rumoured plans for a movie. War Against the Mafia would make the perfect opener! Just so long as Hollywood doesn't update it in their reboot mode.

Absolutely great book. Awesome plot and a great starter to the series. This was the first book I read in the series and have now read about 25 from Pendleton. This remains one of my favorites.

Having read a smattering of randoms Executioners over the years I'm glad that I finally got around to reading the first book in the series. Mack Bolan's motivations and actions are clearly more morally ambiguous in this book, and although Bolan has dedicated himself to a relentless and brutal destruction of "evil", readers may find this somewhat bordering on psychotic. I think that this level of depth makes Bolan a fascinating character, much more than a typical action hero. All in all an excellent action book. I'm looking forward the the next entries in the series.

Well.... I was a Phoenix Force fan during my childhood and couldn't wait to read book after book. That being said I never read any Mack Bolan or Able Team. Now in my early 40's I find myself drawn back to these books to give em a try. I have to say I am happy i gave them a try. While not as well written as some newer stuff I loved the simple action and good vs evil. I will continue for sure.

This is a classic! Love the book. It started me down the path of reading many of the other Executioner books. I haven't read them all but have read the first 40 and am working on the rest. Great book. I love the 60s/70s flavor of the book. In many ways they were simpler times. Good and evil were clearly defined compared to the present. Enjoy!

8 out of 10 Don Pendleton is dubbed the father of action adventure or rather Men's adventure and War Against the Mafia is the very first book in The Executioner series coming out in the late 60s. Its pulp fiction at its finest, where Mack Bolan is a Vietnam Sniper, a very skilled one at that and comes home to find his family dead, except his younger brother who tells the chilling tale. Indirectly, the Mafia had a hand in it, so Mack decides to take the law into his own hand and this is how a legend is born. The writing is of its time, the sex scenes are gratuitous (Mack has sex with two hookers in vivid detail and falls in love with a virgin lol all in like two days ) the action is over the top, but actually done pretty well and the books are really short, less than 200 pages so plot is a bit rushed. Yet, i love it. When i was younger, i discovered Mack Bolan at Walmart, read the blurb of this one man killing machine and knew it was just what i was looking for. You see, I read alot of shall we say mainstream books that are better written than this series but sometimes you need a break from those type of books.. its like when you go see a mindless popcorn flick. Don Pendleton isn't the best author i've ever read, he tends to overuse some phrases but he gets the point across. Mack Bolan is akin to the Punisher (The Punisher is in fact sort of a ripoff of the Executioner. Marvel has admitted to such) Slyvester Stallone used an Executioner book as the basis for a Rambo movie. There's been over 400 Executioner novels alone and a few spinoffs bring the total to over 800 books (Don Pendleton wrote about the first 38 (number 16 is written by Jim peterson due to a legal dispute in the series before selling the rights to Gold Eagle, an imprint of Harlequin) Its a dying genre sadly, but for the time and through the 80s into the 90s Mack Bolan was the action hero that people would read. Recommend to anyone who likes pulp fiction and wants a light, fun read.

What a great way to.start the franchise. Ive been reading the series since 1983 when I picked up #52 Tuscany terror. Never was able to get into the mafia wars. A few years ago I aquired the first 38 books(minus #16 I heard it was awful) that being said I just started going though the oringinal series starting with this title. Loved everything about it exceeded my expectations. From inflitration to execution. I especially enjoyed the scenes between Mack and Val. This book is a real winner. If you hav not read this youre missing out.

What can you say about War Against the Mafia? I assume that everyone knows the plot as it gets recapped in just about every Executioner novel. In fact, I had just read a pretty detailed summary in Death Squad two weeks earlier. So with that in mind, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the book considering I knew the plot already. For example, having read later installments I knew a certain character was an undercover cop, but it was surprising to learn that this future ally was actually instrumental in the death of Bolan’s family. It was also interesting to see a rookie Executioner who makes more than his fair share of mistakes and at times only survives through dumb luck. Some people on this site were critical of the prologue chapter but I thought it did a good job of establishing Bolan’s close relationship with his sister. Without this relationship it would be harder for the audience to accept his war, especially in the late 60’s. Speaking of the 60’s it’s hard to believe that the book was written that long ago as the writing is as exciting and fresh as ever. It was interesting to see how Don Pendleton established his formula so early on and it’s easy to see how this became a hit. However, Mack Bolan’s character wasn’t quite as established in this first book. Early on Bolan actually works for the Mafia as a way of gaining intelligence. That’s fine, but he also takes part in the spoils of organized crime as he spends some time with a high class prostitute (though technically she’s working for free). I can understand his temptation after being in the army for the entirety of his adult life, but he seems to have forgotten that his sister was recently forced in to that lifestyle. Later he busts up a brothel and as he’s clearing the place out he’s either kissing hookers or slapping their asses. While this can be rationalized to fit the Executioner we all know, it’s still pretty jarring to read. Some people may see this as a negative but at the very least I thought it was interesting in a historical sense. There’s not much else to say, this one is a classic for a reason. Executioner Kill Count: 38

This is the one that got me hooked on Mack Bolan. My older brother read them all the time. I was hooked on Phoenix Forces at the time. I'm now reading them all in order. This is a must read to give you the true story behind the man and his family. How Leo became a good friend to him and how his wife shoot Mack. Just remember the time in which this book takes place. How things were different back then.

Well I have read this title SO MANY times I really should try and get a life. Having not lodged any reviews on the original Pendleton titles as yet this has been in the to do basket for a while to re-read them and lodge reviews and quite possibly slated when I have finished the current SOB's series I am currently working through. What can I possibly say regarding this title that has not already been said by the previous reviews? Nothing at all but I can tell you how I felt upon reading this for the (lost count) time a title which thanks to an idea so long ago has exploded into five different series amounting to just over 900 titles released to date at the time of this writing. Reading this after reading hundreds of the other titles I felt no sense of reading something which has become dated I love the character and found him somewhat naive at the start certainly to be expected and what about the other characters introduced in the first title. Val, Leo, Weatherbee, Sergio Frenchi, Plasky etc. etc. the Big Guy serves it up to them straight into their faces and you can almost sympathize their predicament ripping them apart with army ordnance and a strategic mind. LOVED it and I am going to read it yet again soon when I start making my way through the original 38. Won't bother saying HIGHLY RECOMMENDED reading simply if by some chance you are reading this and have never read it you have missed out on one of the best things going and drop everything and grab this it is just so good.

Hmm... where to begin? Aha... I have a quite a bit of a tale to share! When I was 7 or 8 years old in mid 80's, I told my Grandfather that I wanted his entire book collection when he died without realizing implications of what I was asking! My grandpa laughed hard at that! So, over the years, he has been bequeathing some of his collection to me such as Survivalist, Death Merchant, and SOBs series. I enjoyed them immensely when I was a teenager. By the time I was in my 20's my Grandpa and I have begun hunting books together. Although, he and I had different tastes at the time. He was after the missing Mack Bolan series while I was going after Fantasy section. He did mention that he has put my name to take all of his books in his will. Now, I am in my 30's my grandfather decided to give me seven office file sized boxes full of The Executioner, Able Team, Phoenix Force, Stony Man and some of other odds and ends over the recent Thanksgiving break. I actually began reading the Executioner series immediately. It wasn't until I needed to look up the series list to find out what I am missing when I hit #63. Turns out I needed to read Terminal Velocity to link up the series. That's how my search found me here and I decided to go back to the beginning and give ratings with each book since I'm still in early Mack Bolan series. I can easily devour 180 pages in two hours flat. This won't pose a great difficulty. :) Now, time for my actual review! I completely enjoyed this first installment of the series, I could feel the rage that Mack had boiling underneath his hide for the loss of his parents and sister. I have to admit since this one was published way before I was born, I was blown away by awesome battle scenes and how Mack begun his impossible trek against the Mafia. We meet Leo Turrin who would become one of his strongest allies over the years. I wondered how the heck does Mack manage to put Leo's handling of his sister Cindy behind him when he must be holding back the rage he feels towards him. I would have at least popped a fist on his chin for that! Other than that, the book was well-written and I was able to get hooked into Mack Bolan series right away. It is filled with enough battle scenes to make it plausible. However, the sex scenes seemed over the top. Then again, considering how long he hasn't had been with a woman while being the Penetration Specialist in Vietnam for a long time. I can almost forgive those sex scenes. I would've done the same thing if I was in his boots. Though, I wouldn't know what it's like to walk in that first mile! My recommendation: If you are hooked into Mack Bolan books, this one kicks it off to awesome start and his illustrious career as one man blitzing army! You gotta have this one to understand the beginnings of his Mafia war!

I really enjoyed the heck out of this book. Being new to the series, I really didn't know what to expect when I started out reading this. The style is different than anything I've read before, due in part, I'm sure, to the fact that it was written in the late 60s. However, in my opinion, it still holds up very well even today. I was expecting over-the-top, non-stop killing and ridiculous, unbelievable scenarios but I was quite pleasantly surprised to see the hero, Mack Bolan, take a more thoughtful and realistic approach. His character seems more real and believable than the average adventure hero. And the stuff he does in this book, while perhaps a bit implausible, doesn't come across as totally ludicrous or impossible, lending a bit more credence to the whole thing. I have ordered the next several books in this series and am excited to read and learn more about this excellent character. If the following books are as good as this first one, I think I'll be in for a real treat.

I read War Against the Mafia after reading dozens of all books. My first Pendleton read was "Death Squad", which I rated higher than this. The book has several strong points that no doubt provided the foundation for a great series. First, there is a tremendous background on Bolan. His family, thoughts about living life, and his view about his specific role in fighting the Mafia is all very clearly and entertainingly spelled out. For anyone wanting to read the series, this book gives tremendous insight into the Executioners mind that is certainly not contained in the newer books. Secondly, his interactions with other key characters, such as Leo and Lt Weatherbie, provide developing dialogue throughout the book, developing Bolan's character right up to the final chapter. This is another feature foreign to the more current shoot-em-up style. Thirdly, the scene development is extraordinaire. Pendleton's style draws emotion from the reader. You can almost feel Bolan's anguish and confusion in the first 30 pages, and you really emphathize with the Executioner as the anger builds against the mafia, for what they've done, and the cops, for what they've been unable to do. My chief complaint against Pendleton's initial work is the un-necessary, much to vivid sex scenes and description throughout. This is a action-adventure book, and not a romance novel. The irony is that Pendleton is writing a novel where the key characters are passionately opposed to this "sex-crazed" style of life, but then he writes these detailed sex scenes that seemingly promote it. I wish Pendleton would've taken the Fleming style of suggestiveness and left this garbage for the romance writers. With all that being said, War against the Mafia is a must read for anyone venturing into the world of Mack Bolan! Just skip the pages where the undressing starts.

I had a hard time rating this one. I gave it a six in reflection of having read the first seven. I agree with some of the earlier critiques that the relationship with Val was campy. I chuckled through the 'overly-gratuitious' sex scenes. I also felt the end was rushed. Seriously, in 8 pages, he wipes out 50 mobsters, shoots down a helicopter, outruns the cops while bleeding, and confronts a double agent. The end sucked as far as storytelling goes. But, that cunning layout of how the tale unfolds was great. From the time the first group of loan sharks eat lead, to when he walks back into the loan office, robs it before dumping all the loan records on the floor and torching them; I decided I liked Bolan enough to keep reading the series.

Oh my goodness, I just have to write to say I loved this book and this series. I know times changed, and there was the whole Stony Man set up, but War Against the Mafia and the whole mafia series are the true Executioner for me. I have so many good memories, a buddy and I swapping the books during first period, reading them through out the day and giving them back to each other after school. We loved these books for the action, the guns and yes, the women, but most of all because Mack was a true hero. He never backed down, and growing up in the late 70's with the fallout from Watergate and Vietnam still clinging to our country, it was great to read something so pro and so truly American. Stay Hard.

The last time I read an Executioner novel I was still in High Scool back in the mid 1980s. I stumbled into War Against the Mafia at a used bookstore. I was feeling a bit sentimental so I picked it up. I wasn't expecting much. I figured that it was fun to read as a teenager but now that I am in my 40s i would be disappointed. I was so wrong! The Executioner is a fun read! I devoured it and wanted more. I poked around eBay and I was shocked to find out they were still being published. In the last three weeks I have read some old and some new but War Against the Mafia is holds a special place in the Mack Bolan mythology. Don Pendleton's writing is crisp and the pace is very fast. His work is very evocative and I found myself pulled in to Mack Bolan's world. Can't wait to tear through the rest of the series.

The prologue felt as though a half committed sixth grader had written it. The sex scenes were, indeed, far too gratuitous and mack Bolan's ideology made little to no sense. The book was pretty poorly written as a whole but despite it all the characters were memorable. half the time all that kept me going was the kick ass cover (mack shooting a rocket launcher at a mafia mansion while the police waited hastily on the overhanging cliff). Nonetheless this was the first Mack Bolan book I read and I didn't stop there so there must be something to it.

I began reading this series back in the early 80s when Phoenix Force first hit the shelves. I recently came across the first three Executioners at a local swap meet and thought to myself it's time to get cought up on one of the most entertaining book series I ever read. So starting with Executioner number one War Against the Mafia I have to give this book a 10. It set the standerd for Mack Bolan and the Entire series. Although I read this many times in the past it was just as fun as the first time I ever read it. It moved along at a great pace and had many memorable characters.I really felt Pendeltons passion for writing the big mans story! War against the Mafia is a must read for anyone venturing into the world of Mack Bolan!

I grew up reading the 80's books. This is a very different Mack Bolan, and a very different presentation. Pendleton has a great economic writing style, and he does more with 180 pages than most of the authors in the series. He also knows how to put some authentic sounding dialog in the mobster's mouths. The plot is generally logical and believable, with the exception of the entire Valencia interlude. On the negative side, it drags in places, and the explicit sex scenes are jarring and completely gratuitous to the storyline. This Bolan is also not above joining in on the spoils and lifestyle of the criminals, or dropping obligations when they're inconvenient (like the 'kid brother') - which is tough to read for a fan of the later books. It's worth picking up, but I'll take the new Bolan over this self-serving guy any day.

Amazing. I found this at a used book store and started reading it today. I finished it in less than twelve hours because I couldn't put it down. I loved reading Bolan's origin so to speak after reading so many of the recent ones. It was more action packed than I expected, and all the action sequences were great. I liked Bolan's clever strategies in defeating the Mafia, especially the finale. That was spectacular. I can't wait to read more from Don Pendleton.

When I was a kid I read two of the Executioner books. Jersey Guns and San Diego Siege. I stumbled across them again in an used book store and after checking around was surprized to see that the series was still alive and well. It took awhile, scrounging around used book stores, but I finally put together copies of the first fourty or so books. Finding 'War Agaist the Mafia' was something I had waited long for. I was not disappointed. I have since read over a hundred Executioner and Mackbolan books and have yet to read a bad one. Thanks.

Sergeant Mack Bolan returns home to bury his family. He also ends his life as a civilian, and becomes a fugitive for justicer. A well-told origin story of legendary Executioner. It’s a shocking read. Not only is Bolan a civilian for the first and only time (he even had an apartment), but he is a green rookie in his early days as The Executioner. He makes mistakes. He is a cocky, grinning guy who swears his revenge. Pendleton details out specifically his moral code of honor and conduct, of Bolan’s sense of duty and justice. This is the touchstone of the rest of the Mafia wars and of the character himself. There is also a shocking amount of sex in this entry. I did find it a bit much that he would seek/have enjoyment in the same brothel that his sister worked at. But that does not matter. This book is critic proof. This is the first entry of the most successful and prolific action-adventure series of all time. This is a glimpse before he becomes battle-hardened, before the modern Bolan. If you look for it, there is also a glimpse or indication what would have happened to Bolan if he had not taken arms against the Mafia.

This is the book that started it all. While I am sure this book was as profound as The Wild Bunch in 1969 it, like the classic Sam Peckipah film, has lost little over time. This book is still a profound piece of literature. It shows a man on a “holy war” of blood and fire. We are introduced to Mack Bolan and a very clear picture of him is painted. He is explained to us in a form that now, nearly forty years later, is still essentially how he is. A thoughtful, ruthless soldier fighting an eternal war. The powerful narrative and logical actions of the characters make this an engaging read from beginning to end. The plot is solid and only few actions seem forced. This should be the book that all other Bolan titles are compared to for good reason. Reading this showed me the violence revolution that was overtaking popular media in the late 60s. A revolution that went on to create one of my favorite genres. Intelligent violent media. This book was a facet of a profound change in the form of American entertainment. Little detracts from this book. The writing is solid and never is the action confusing. However the book becomes a pure product of the 60s in the excessive sex scenes. I am not easily offended (if I was this would not be the book for me) but the scenes added nothing to the story and served only to be excessive passages that could have been dedicated to something that advanced the story. Again, this was 1969 and different things were expected from popular entertainment but these scenes serve to seriously date the book. Also the introduction of Valentina seemed forced and I never once felt like she was a believable or real character. He emotions seemed forced and she is openly contradictory on may occasions. The ending of the book also left many issues and feelings unresolved but not in a good way.

I thought this book was the best so far. I didn't think the first book would be that action packed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I first got into "The Executioner" because of Marvel Comics "The Punisher." I started reading "The Executioner" at number 312. I was hooked and I had to get more of them! I also picked up the executioner comic book and thought that was ok. But the War against the Mafia book was even better. To me, this story was amazing to read and even better than I expected. It's great to know that after over 300 books, this stories keep getting better.

When I first started reading the Executioner series I did not start with this first one. I started from #3 and jumped around in Pendleton's series. Then I would skip to the gold eagle versions, then back to the Pendleton series. But I was always determined to read the very first one. It was superb. What struck me about this story was the very pro-active way Bolan fought the Mafia. Its an element that does not exist to the same degree nor done the same way in the current Executioner books. Also I loved how Pendleton described Bolan's motivation for doing the things he does. Also Bolan had an assertiveness about him when he was sabotaging the Mafia's "legitimate" fronts without killing anyone. They were not battlescenes, they were just good strategies against the enemy. I especially liked the scene where Leo Turrin reveals to the Executioner that he's an undercover cop. (And I always wondered over the years how, specifically, Turrin and Bolan first realized they were on the same side). That scene also showed that Bolan is understanding enough to recognize the extenuating circumstances surrounding Turrin's undercover role in doing some of the Mafia's dirty work with the prostitution ring. The one good thing about this and other Bolan stories by Pendelton is that the mafia is not romanticized (as they are in some movies or some peoples' daily sentiments). Instead, the mafia is portrayed as they are in real life: brutal and vile, an evil to be fought. My only minor problem with this story was Sam Bolan's killing his family and himself. I could understand why Pendleton wrote it that way: he was trying to show the indirect,corruptive influence crime has on civilians. However, I think Pendleton should have kept that but also added a Mafia goon killing some of the Bolan family--just to add more believability to Bolan's initial revenge motive. Overall, a very good first adventure for Bolan and us fans.

The Begining, The Executioner, tough but still with a heart, is such a big character, Still enjoy the first dozen stories, because each is like a jigsaw they fit together to form the bigger picture. And "War against the Mafia" is the raw beginnings, Mack makes more mistakes in one story than in the bulk of the rest of the series (1-38) Having just watched the "Punisher(04)" I had repeatedly said rip off! If I looked hard enough I can see where the few good parts had origins in the Executioner Series, the parallels between Mack torching the Loan Slips and the raining money scene are very good example. As repeatedly stated in other reviews not perfect, but as the Start, it would be nearly impossible to improve, because part of the charm of the series was the character growth.

The only reason I didn't give it 10 stars is because Don Pendleton once said he would change a few things if he were rewriting it. He did not specify what he would change, but it's hard to argue with the creator. Of all the books in the series, I have reread this one the most.

This is the grandaddy of the Men's Adventure genre, and still a damn fine read after more years than I wish to recall. Don Pendeleton smoothly caught the essence of the the classic figure, the reluctant hero; a person who would rather be doing anything else than the terrible, and bloody task at hand. The character of Mack Bolan has always, basically, been a man of peace, forced into warfare. If the ancient Greeks had thought of such a thing, they would have happily encorporated Mack into their mythology, and as teenagers we all would have been forced into reading about him in high school. As it was, most of us were lucky enough to discover Mack on the paperback rack of some local bookstore,and felt slightly changed ever since. This first novel set the stage for the hundreds of adventures that followed. Yes, some were better than others, but this is the book that started a social phenomenon that is still being read, and talked about, and discussed, by everybody from the casual readers to great literary scholars. Don Pendleton did more than touch our heartstrings with this book, he spoke loud and clear in the voice of America, "Don't Tread on Me!" And the words still ring clean, and clear, today. Nick Pollotta

I remember reading a smattering of Executioner novels as a youngster, and--reminiscing about how much I enjoyed them--I recently bought a bunch of old Pendleton titles. Of the first several novels in the series, War Against the Mafia still stands out as my clear favorite. The action is hard-hitting, and the story moves quickly while still taking the time to establish the characters and settings. Another thing that struck me while reading this is how morally murky the Executioner's beginnings are. By that, I don't mean that Bolan himself comes across as confused or morally conflicted. Rather, the series of events that leads to him becoming The Executioner are realistically tangled. The mob doesn't kill his family--they drive his father to commit a terrible act of murder and suicide. His sister isn't forced to become a prostitute, she does so because she thinks she's helping her father and her family. And once Bolan infiltrates the Pittsfield syndicate, he grows to like and respect the man whom he originally most wanted to kill--Leo Turrin, who first ushered his sister into the mob's prostitution ring. All these moral ambiguities aside, what stands out most strongly in this novel is the savage purity of Bolan's warrior code, and his committment to eradicating the cancerous element of organized crime in the United States. Still, I like the little bits of depth and complexity that Pendleton gives to a story that mostly exists on a comic-book level. Also, there's still an element of tension in this novel as far as Bolan being a "wanted man" goes. In subsequent novels, he's able to avoid massive, nationwide police dragnets without breaking a sweat, but in War Against the Mafia, there's the sense that he's very close to being captured at any moment, which adds a great deal of suspense. For my money, this book is really about as good as pulp adventure writing gets.

I thoroughly enjoyed War against the Mafia. I had been reading the series for some time before I finally found War... in a used bookstore. The books I had already read explained a great deal about what spurred Mack's war on, but it was fantastic to read the beginning for myself. However, having said this, perhaps some of the sex scenes could have been left out. Did not really advance the story. Still, though, a great book for any Mack Bolan fan. Sam

O.k why didn't I give this book a ten star rating you ask? because the truth is I truly thought that Death Squad was a better book and I gave that a ten star rating, I doubt if I will be giving another ten star rating unless I enjoy the book more than Death Squad and that hasn't happened yet [early days]. Having said that the prologue is to long but once you get past that the book rocks.This book is the essential book for any Bolan fan and Valentina is to die for.

While most 1st books in an action series may start off slow as they must introduce the characters and such this was not the case with War Against the Mafia. While it was originally printed way before I was even born I find that despite the age of the book it can still be read by a modern reader. The action is wonderful and it truely gives a picture as to why Mack does the things he does now.

Overall I thought that this was a great introduction to this series. The action sequences were outstanding and the characters were very well defined. The only complaint that I had was the sex. Don't get me wrong, I like it as much as the next guy, but I thought that it should,ve taken a back seat to the action. It just didn't fit the character in my opinion. An excellent read none the less. Way to go Don (RIP).

This book was not only an enjoyable read it was also an epic of it's time. During one of the most turbulant times in American history one man dared to stand up for the commen man. While the law enforcement communities were learning how dificult it was doing their job, and trying to protect individual rights, along comes the story of someone. that simply wants to make a difference. What really set this story apart from all the other heroes was the fact that Mack was not trying to be a hero. All he was trying to accomplish was to show the bullies that there are some in the world that cannot be bullied I give this and all Bolan stories a ten. One man really can make a difference Stay hard Mack

The late sixties were a turbulent time in America. The country was literally divided into two camps, the establishment and the anti-establishment. Into this time a new author named Don Pendleton stepped up and created a unique character in the annals of fiction. A character who was a man trained to kill by the establishment, who fought the good fight under the wing of the establishment, who is then forced to become the ultimate anti-establishment warrior. A man who fought a war of his OWN, whose only guideline was his conscience and his deep founded sense of right and wrong. That man, of course is Mack Samuel Bolan. Pendleton created a character truly original. He was often imitated but NEVER duplicated. His initial offerings stnad as the hallmark to which all modern action adventure must be judged against. Mack Bolan breathes...he reaches off the page and grabs you. And this book, the one that started it all, stands above all the rest. Many, many writers have tried their hands at the Bolan legend since Don gave up the series. Some more successfully than others...yet most, if not all, have done an admirable job of showing what their vision of Mack the Bastard is and have remained true to the basis of Don Pendleton's unique vision. But nothing can top the work of his creator, and the greatest most gripping tale of the man called The Executioner is and will remain always...War Against The Mafia!

Having read this book a year ago, I was utterly amazed. It gave me a good definition on who and what Mack the man really is. I HIGHLY recommend this book for newbie readers to the series. I give this book a 10 out of 10 because it is truly a masterpiece. Rock on, Mack.

Everything has been said about this one, and it deserves the 10 stars it gets. I'm not surprised this book has spawned the hundreds of books we see today. Anyone who hasn't read this book is missing out on how it all started, as well as one of the best books ever written in the series.

I read about 50 Executioner book's before this one. This is by far the best one yet.

THIS IS THE BEST AND THE ONE THAT STARTED IT ALL. A CLASSIC AND I LOVE TO READ IT TIME AND AGAIN. MACK (MERCY) IS THE BEST.

It's taken me almost three years to find this damn book. I'm 16 years old now and i began to get intersested in the Mack Bolan series after my uncle gave me one to red. When i finaly found this book I couldn't wait to finish reading it. I've always wanted to now the begining of Mack's war. It takes me atleast three days to read one book, but I read this one none stop for four hours. Its great.....

I picked this book up at a Stars and stripes bookstore in Bamberg,Germany around 1972. I read the first 35 books and got away from them. Now in the past year I have started to read them again. I started back when I picked up #241. From that time on I have tried to never miss a one. This book started it all. And it is good.

This book started it all some 30 yrs ago. I started in 86 with #93 got hooked and started again at #1. This is the greatest action adventure series ever written. I finished #135 a month ago and can boast that I have the entire collection of #1 - #279, all super, and all stonyman, Those collection I have read halfway through. Mack Bolan represents what we all would like to be: the hero who saves the day. Can the executioner make it to #300+ I hope so, can we see an explosive superbolan #100 with all the surviving characters: You betcha. can mack track down bin laden and send on his way to allah: maybe only mack and friends can. Real life gives mack many new adventures but if anybody is up for the task he is. SO stand up, salute the flag, and repeat after me. God Bless America, God Bless Mr. Bush, God Bless our Troops, and God Bless Mack Bolan for living large and never quitting the good fight.

Terminator, Predator, Jurassic Park, the beginnings of great movies and more to follow. the first one, the one that stands out. where everything began. how can you not give it a 10

What can I say? Fantastic!! The one that started it all. I now have 1-100 except for #99,and am still working my way up. This one shows DP's genius and inspiration. R.I.P. and God keep Don!

What can I say That hasn't already been said! I was leary at first when I seen it in the book store.I picked it up,read just the back cover, and had to buy it.I haven't stopped reading about Sgt.Mercy since.How can I ever thank you?

This book is definetly the best book in the series. I have read about half the books so far, and though there are many great books, this has to be the best. The whole Mafia Wars series (1-38) were just amazing. READ THEM. Its well worth the effort to get your hands on the first 38.

I was born in 1981 and being so young and not around when most of the early books were published I never had a chance to fully appreciate the series for what it is, because there is a lot of things that you cant piece together. But recently I won an auction and have just recieved the first 100+ books in the executioner series and boy what a well writen and extrordinary book. I loved every minuite of it. A great fast read.

I STARTED READING THE SERIES IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES AND WAITED EAGERLY FOR EACH TITLE TO APPEAR. ALTHOUGH A HIGH SCHOOLER THEN, I UNDERSTOOD THE BASIC CONFLICTS THAT EACH NOVEL ADDRESSED. I MUST ADMIT HOWEVER, THAT I WAS NOT MUCH OF A FAN AFTER THE SERIES WAS SUBLET. I NEVER REALLY REGAINED THE PASSION I LOST WHEN DON STOPPED WRITTING THE BOOKS. I STILL VALUE MY COMPLETE FIRST EDITION SET VERY HIGHLY. I WISH DON HAD CONTINUED TO WRITE AFTER THE "LAST MILE." ANYWAY, I ENVY ALL OF YOU READING THE SERIES FOR THE FIRST TIME. THIS FIRST NOVEL WAS ONE OF THE FINEST ACTION NOVELS I HAVE EVER READ.

This the book that puts the fever in your veins. I read it back in 96' and I've been hooked ever since. My wife even enjoys the series.

This is one of the geeat action adventure novels. As the start of the series that ended with Volume 38, it is one of the all time great adventure series. After #38, the whole series went down hill, partially because the common theme of a war against the Mafia was ended. The proof of this is easy to see. Go to any used book store and you'll see hundreds of the later books and rarely any of the first 38.

This book is the best.It started it all,Mack Bolan isn't just a series,it is like knowing him when you read the books.He is my hero,and the best legend ever.You really get in to the books quick,and can't stop reading them.

What can I say that hasn't been said? Mack Bolan is my hero and this is where it all began. Don Pendleton started more than a series, he created a legend with a heart, soul, and a mission. If you can find ANY of his works (up to Satan's Sabbath) GET THEM, KEEP THEM, AND NEVER LET THEM GO!! I dont put the others, although good in their own right, in with the first generation for one reason. Mr. Pendelton had an amazing ability to give the 'Man from Blood' a soul. Mack will always be The Executioner... but sometimes I miss Sgt. Mercy. (You fans know what I mean, and the newcomers... well it just gives you another reason to read the books.)

I dont give 10 rating very much, BUT this is the book that started it all, and it lived up to all the hype. Its funny reading the first Executioner book. Mack has changed in so many ways over the years. GOTTA READ IT

The best of the series. It shows us all where Mack Bolan begins the war that has led him to where he is today.

Just finished this book (in less than a day) and I can't wait to read more. This book has great action sequences and a great lead character in Mack Bolan. But there are also some nicely drawn supporting characters, a couple of pretty tense moments and at least one pretty neat surprise in the tale. I had read several of The Executioner series during the 70s and early 80s while in the army but hadn't picked one up again until now. Wish I hadn't waited so long! If this book doesn't get you hooked into the series then I don't know what could. Get it, read it and start living large!

The book that started it all. War Against the Mafia is not only the start of a series, but the start of a life; none other than Mack Bolan's. It was also the start of much fascination for millions of fans who have watched the many stages of Mack's war. Whereas many other books have long boring stretches of page-filling material, War Against the Mafia gets right to the point (Well,almost.I do like a bit of page filler.)and tells you how a man learns of his family's slaying on the other side of the globe,what else he finds out when he gets there,and what he's going to do about it now. Overall, one of the best books I have ever read!If you have never read it, get your hands on a copy!

This book deserves every allocade it gets. It was the series that started this entire genre, and introduced a man of intelligence, wit and dry humor, as well as great moral strength and the resolve to do the very thing which could end his life. This is where the legend was truly born.

This is the model for everything that followed after -- and what a model. Don Pendleton wanted to explore the metaphysics of violence through the eyes of one uniquely talented man, and in the process, wrote a book that shows how violence can change a man's life forever. If you haven't read it yet, do whatever you can to get a copy and read it. I nearly wore out my copy reading it over and over.

We read this book in class it is very good. I thought that Don Pendleeton did a very good job on this story i give it a 10.

its good. i read it in english class. i was rocked out of my seat.

I have as of yet found an Executioner book that didn't keep me glued to my seat.I started reading the series in 1994,So I've been playing catch up these books are so good that they are hard to find.

These Executioner books were all right, but the idea of one man against the mob was hardly original. Richard Stark introduced this concept in The Hunter (Point Blank). So Don Pendleton, a series of authors hiding behind this pen name, was yet another of one of the thieves and imitators some people on this board went on about.

This was the first Mack Bolan book that I read, way back in 1985, and now 15 years later I have finally reread it. I felt that the prologue dragged somewhat, but after the first chapter the action really starts and the ground work for what has become the classic Mack Bolan was laid. I much prefer this Mack Bolan to the one we are now reading, the character was much more rough around the edges. I did notice however, that there was no mention of the bodies of Frenchi, Plasky or Seymour being found, and that leaves room for one of them to perhaps return in the furture. An excellent story.

C'mon! ya gotta give it a 10. It's the foundation of the whole movement. Anyhow, it deserves a 10 on it's own merits. Before the end of the Prologue, Bolan is blowing Mafia soldiers away. We are let in at the very beginning of his personal war. The scene where Johnny fills Mack in on what happened is amazing and you can almost feel the anger rise in Mack as he listens. Often overlooked but an integral part of this first story is the fencing with Lt. Wetherbee of the Pittsfield Police. They prefigure Mack's relationship with Hal. The scenes with Leo's wife are great as she rises to the occasion to save her man. One wonders if Don Pendleton knew what he had started. When it first appeared, it was different than anything that had been published before and started a revolution in paperback original series. Every cheap paperback house came out with their own Man against the Mafia series (Sharpshooter,Marksman, Soldato, etc. )and only Mack survives today. The Executioner spawned (for better or worse) even more action adventure series:The Destroyer, The Penetrator, The Butcher, The Death Merchant, The Expeditor and a whole slew of other series characters. Only Mack and Remo remain. The cream always rises to the top. Thank you, Mr. Pendleton!

A great beginning to the series! This is the first Bolan book i had the privledge of reading, and i was suprised with how great it was, i finished it in less then a day. Can't believe it took me so long to pick my first Bolan book up and read it. Now i have the rather large task of reading the next 252 books in this series.

The book that started it all... and WHAT A BOOK! The Bolan legend begins, and no matter that it's now the year 2-thousand... I have read and re-read this book many times and have used it to hook fellow workers on the Bolan story. It never fails. If you can find it, and I searched for years before finding my copy in a used book store, it is well worth it to read, in detail, how the Bolan story began.

I have been reading Bolan since 1986 & I have read & re-read this one many times. What a book!! It is a great beginning to the best series of all time.

I have collected and read almost all of the executioner series books.Ive been reading them for the last 19 years and I still find them as exciting as I did way back then!!

one of the best series of books of all time, Mack Bolan is the ideal American knowing the difference between law and justice

A great read. This novel gives a preview of what is to come: Interesting reading.

I'VE REREAD THIS ONE COUNTLESS TIMES, IT GETS BETTER EVERY TIME. THE ULTIMATE BOLAN CLASSIC. OF COURSE, IT'S THE ORIGINAL! THIS BOOK STARTED IT ALL. A 10 OUT OF 10. A MUST READ FOR ANY BOLAN FAN.

10 STARS. WHAT A WAY TO START OFF AN EXCELLENT SERIES!!!!!!!!!

The very first book that I read from the series.I didn't want to put it down,I think I finished it the first day....and couldn't wait to get the next book.An excellent story and very believable.I have since started collecting every book written by Don Pendleton and all the offshoot series by Gar Wilson and Dick Stivers.....keep them coming....and LIVE LARGE!!

I am not about to give an indepth review of all the Mack Bolan books that i have read. I have read them all. All I can say, is that Mack Bolan: The Exocutioner, is the best series of books that I have ever had the oppertunity of reading. I am happy that I picked up the first Mack Bolan book over 6 years ago, and i have not put them down since. Gongrats to Don. One of the best writers of all time.

A great book. I was lucky enough to get an original copy. Gather all your resources and find this book. Great ending.

A great start to an excellent series.

This book was wonderful!It was the classic first book that has created a wonderful,exicting series.

It was fairly decent. Not what I thought it was going to be. The final wipeout was classic