SuperBolan · #89

Strike and Retrieve

by Ron Renauld · March 2003

6.0 / 10 average from 7 rated reviews

FORBIDDEN CITY A top-secret military spy plane is launched on its first test run -- flown by ace Stony Man pilot Jack Grimaldi. On the ground, Mack Bolan deals himself into a web of intrigue, espionage and blood that stretches from California to the heart of the Himalayas when sabotage puts Grimaldi down in hostile Chinese territory. It starts with a wave of violence in the Mojave Desert as Bolan shakes down a network of Triad gangs infiltrating a U.S. air base for Beijing's secret police. Global tensions mount when a link between industrial espionage and Grimaldi's disappearance puts the state-of-the-art prototype in the hands of the Chinese. Bolan enters the belly of the beast to pull off the impossible: rescue his buddy, save the American military's next-generation aircraft -- and avert international disaster.

Reviews (7)

ice_cracked 6/10 July 12, 2010

Overall I liked this one with a couple of caveats mentioned later. I also liked the start where the Big Guy stumbles into this mission and is accompanied this time with Cowboy and Jack. Surprisingly for me anyway Jack actually plays little part in the title. Action scenes abound and some of them are excellent reading indeed coupled with some fine characters introduced make this a pretty good read in the series. Couple of things I disliked here firstly the Big Guy slices a finger and part of an ear from a prisoner he is interrogating (a little out of character I would suggest), secondly with a vague memory from too long ago of another title I cannot believe the amount of spelling errors, missing words and grammar errors within this where it became annoying during the second half of the book. Aside from that a pretty good read up to you.

D-sol 7/10 January 20, 2009

This book was entirely from Bolan's perspective, which isn't bad, but I like it when the perspectives switch throughout the book. I like how Bolan accidently stumbled upon this whole plot. All the action sequences were very well done, especially the raid on the factory in California. I liked how this was a personal mission for Bolan because he had to save his missing comrade, Grimaldi. This is the first time I've seen Cowboy Kissinger out of the farm, and I liked how he actually got to shot some villians. The beginning and middle of the novel was very well written, but the ending seemed rushed. But still overall, it was an exciting read.

Itteperkele 4/10 July 11, 2004

This entry had as much appeal as savoury fruitsalad. It had everything that is wrong about red chinese fitted under one covers even begining from boxer rebellion. It had quite good first part but it just keep getting just more sillier when it progressed... Chinese soldier armed with bow and arrow ??? Bayonet torturde performed by Bolan ??? Off the all hiding places in Tibet for hijacked plane URANIUM MINE ???

Gunslinger 6/10 September 25, 2003

Very enjoyable Renauld book, but not great, mind you. I also liked how he stumbled onto this plot by accident, then the whole thing spiraled into what it was. It added a bit of suspense to the mix. Wasn't expecting Grimaldi to have such a small part, and the same for any of the villains, but it worked out to my liking.

gafaicheng 7/10 April 22, 2003

I liked this book; and say it deserves a 7.5 stars. Bolan kicking ass with Grimaldi and Kissinger was great. Also liked the supporting characters of the County Sheriff and FBI agent Jen Li. Good action, and I liked how Bolan stumbled onto this case by accident. The book started off slow, but afterwards held a good pace.

Matt 2/10 April 5, 2003

I have to disgree with the first review posted there. I personally thought that this book blew chunks. There was nothing new just the same old same old, I could predict the entire outcome.

Desert Storm Vet 10/10 April 3, 2003

I kept waiting for the obligatory cutaway scenes to the bad guys going through their paces, but nothing doing in the rip-roaring page turner that takes place entirely from Bolan's perspective. A great opening sequence in Barstow, California of all places, and things continued to heat up as Bolan went overseas to try to track down his long-time colleague Grimaldi. Renauld usually spends a lot of time getting into the heads of other people besides the protagonists, and though I like that, this was a nice change of pace for him.