Run to Ground

This was a different kind of story, not the ususal "infiltrate the bad guys organization and take them out, or locate and destroy the bad guys". The story starts off like it's part two from a previous book where Bolan launched an assault but narrowly escapes while being wounded. This book, Run to Ground, picks up at that point. Bolan holes up in a remote town where help from the outside world is easily and quickly cut off from support by the bad guys chasing Bolan. Most of the gun battle is saved for the last 2 or 3 chapters. Most of the book shows the back stories and motivations of the supporing characters. It's a bit of a "rally the common man" to help Bolan, but it works. I would have given the book 8 stars, but the last chapters were average. Good book, but not a classic.

wow! I really liked this novel a lot. Great Characters, good plot and a great setting. The bad guys were really bad in this one. Mack is wounded and on the run in this one. finds shelter in a Doctors office. passes out and then is discovered by a woman who happens to be the town doctor. the dialog between them was well written. I really liked the Character's liked Rick and old war veteran. this is very good writing by Mike Newton. highly Recommended reading.

Classic Mike "Doomsday Numbers" Newton! A very entertaining read from start to finish, sometimes I tune out some of the background information for the supporting characters, but not here, all well done, the author described a real believable cast. Bolan is wounded and on the run, will the townsfolk turn him over to the wolves? Or will they take inspiration from the Big Guy and fight back? Will Johnnie get there in time to save his brother? Spoiler Alert - no, yes, not really. I really liked the description of the Bolan hideout in this one, there are times when I wonder, what would Bolans house look like? Anyways, great book, check it out!

It seems like every second title you read at this stage of the series has been written by Mike Newton and he certainly shows again and again why he was personally selected by Don Pendleton as the one author to continue the series and shows his talent in each and every title at this stage of the series and so it is again with this title. This time around the Big Guy has been across the border sticking it to a drug cartel when things all of a sudden don't go well. Shot in the side and bleeding heavily he just manages to escape in a stolen set of wheels but unfortunately a short time later the vehicle breaks down forcing him to try to escape on foot across the desert being chased by an army of killers. The Big Guys inner sense of never giving up and will to keep going are rapidly waning as his life blood is leaking from his body and all of his senses are screaming at him to just let go and give it up but of course he does not and ignoring his failing body he forces himself to keep going on and on until he finally comes across a dying town in the middle of no where and tries to find assistance. Not far behind chasing is the Drug Cartel leader who has taken the attack on his stronghold personally and with his army of killers in tow is rapidly catching up. So a good setup plot for the title and a wonderful read ensues including some excellent characters introduced from the small town the doctor, the young boy and his girlfriend and the old vet who stashes himself on the roof of a premises and starts picking off the bad guys one at a time were memorable even the corrupt Sherriff who finally does the right thing. The Drug Lord shows no mercy at all to anyone in the town and after a few random killings it quickly becomes aware to everyone that no one is going to be spared with the whole population of the town due to be executed. Add in an appearance from young brother Johnny who comes running after hearing his brothers plea for help and this is one nice title to read. Recommended reading in the series folks for sure.

As I've just completed the Pendleton 38, and am jumping around the long history of Mack, Mike Newton is rapidly becoming my favorite Mack ghost writer. Run To Ground is an excellent adventure. Mack does not do much in this novel as he is hole up with an injury in a small, desert town with goon closing in. Newton gives us a memorable array of townsfolk deftly drawn with a few quick descriptions and it's easy to care about what happens to these people. When the brutality erupts, their fate drives the story and it's great to see Mack and crew defend what the town. Also the story works as a microcosm of Mack's war: a small, American town, like any town, beset by evil men in the shadows who commit atrocities on the citizens until something is done to remove them. This is an excellent novel. One that would easily have earned 10 stars if not for the fact that it needed to be cut down by about 40 pages. Newton has an annoying habit in this story: every time we cut back to a character, we are treated to about half a page detailing everything they've done to that point (and we've just read) as well as their thoughts on what they are doing and how they feel about maybe not making it in the end. These are far, far too frequent and slow the book down. I mean halfway through the novel, the reader is well aware of how each of the main characters feel. As mentioned above Newton does a great job of painting these characters. It's a minor point but as it slightly affects the reading experience, it cost the book a star. But barring this, Run To Ground is one of the best Bolans I've read. Hunt up a copy and give it a try. It does not disappoint.

I loved this book, this is the kind of writing that keeps me wanting to read more Bolan stories. Good stuff from Mike Newton.

Nice re-telling of HIGH NOON with a little RED HARVEST and spaghetti Westerns thrown in for good measure. Like the interplay between Bolan and Johnny, too. Would have rated it higher only the borrowed premises and references seemed a little too obvious.

Very good Bolan story. Minor quibble--he starts off wounded, and relates how he got wounded in a flashback. Why not describe the battle where he is wounded in real time? This would build tension, I feel. However, the book is still excellent. The heroism of the townfolk is what impressed me the most ... little vignettes relating how each person decided to make a stand for their town. Very good book.

This was the second Bolan novel I read, and as soon as I started I couldn't put it down. The fact that he's being hunted down and is holed up in a small town added something new to the series as we all know that he's the one who normally intiates the hunt! It also reminds me of the old spaggetti westerns, where a gang of hardmen take on the lone warrior in an all out battle to the death - once i read this one I've been hooked ever since. Must read!!!

One of my all-time favorites. A great Bolan brothers story.

ANOTHER GREAT BOLAN BOOK THAT PROVES THAT BOLAN SEEMS TO BE AT HIS STRONGEST MENTALLY WHEN HE IS AT HIS WEAKEST PHYSICALLY. IT WAS COOL TO HAVE JOHNNY FIGHTING ALONGSIDE MACK AGAIN TOO. GREAT ENDING AND A DEFINATE SALUTE TO VICTORY IN THIS BOOK.

To me, this is as close to perfect as Bolan could get. He starts off on the run, vulnerable. We see Bolan is not some invincible superhero. He takes refuge in a town with a doctor who is debating whether to turn him in. He has to convince her to keep him in hiding for the time being, pretty much justifying himself to her. Anyway, the bad guys roll into town and things really start heating up. We see the bad guys preying on the innocent townspeople and we see the townspeople fight back. Interesting alliances are founded between Bolan, Johnny, and some of the townspeople. I like this book because it takes place in a small dying town that hardly seems worth protecting - yet the proud townspeople take up arms against the invading drug dealers. The human spirit is alive and well, even in this dilapidated town. I love the epilogue of this one too. This story doesn't just end on a dime like the newer ones tend to. It closes with an examination of the healer's life and the warrior's life - very cool. It closes, then, with: "The enemy was waiting for Mack Bolan, and he did not have to ask about the setting of his next campaign. The goddamned war was everywhere."

Tres cool book. I liked the boys together and the action was great but what got me was all the cool secondary characters the old sniper dude was funny. And the crazy ass cop who killed himself...GREAT action. Great read...and thicker than most Executioners.. Hunter/hunted stories always get me...LOVE EM'

A great read and it was good to see the brothers bolan in action.

A very suspenseful story that had me cheering for Mack and Johnny as they came together to fight Animal Man.