Jersey Guns

This in my opinion is the best book of the series that I have read starting from number 1. Great story template that will be used in future titles. Mack's wounded and harried he's taken in by decent people and nursed back to health. So much good stuff in this story. I was kind of taken back by Mack giving the Mob the white flag. But thats what separates Mack from the scum he is fighting. The desciption of a turkey was eye opening. And I'm some turkey makers got the cleansing fire. Cant say enough about this book. Don was really on the mark with this one. Great book highly recommended.

This is the first Executioner novel I’ve read, so why am I leaving a review? I happen to think that it’s worth evaluating things from all perspectives; In this case, from people who have read everything all the way down to a newbie like me. So, a little background on myself; I’m a pretty big fan of The Punisher comic book character but I had always heard he was based (or blatantly ripped off) from a pulp character, though both franchises evolved away from each other over the years. So I was interested in reading The Executioner but never found any of the novels growing up in the 90’s (maybe they weren’t as popular in Canada?). Fast forward to a couple weeks ago I find Jersey Guns on sale at an antique store. I’d rather start at the beginning of a series, but 17 out of 425 is practically the start, right? For a quick story synopsis; Mack Bolan is more than half way dead and barely armed as he continues his war on the Mafia. He is taken in and nursed back to health by a brother and sister who are putting themselves in harm’s way from the mob by doing so. When the mobsters come for them, Mack is able to save the sister but the brother is taken. Mack goes after him but when he is tortured to death Bolan’s rescue mission becomes a vendetta. I was quite impressed by how Don Pendleton was able to fit good action, a concise story and efficient character development in to just 180 pages. It’s not a complicated story written in flowery language; it’s a down and dirty, somewhat sleazy revenge story. Or to put it another way; just the way I like it. Being familiar with the Punisher, I was pleasantly surprised with the differences between the characters. I was not expecting Bolan to be merciful at times nor was I anticipating his use of subterfuge. Reading some of the reviews here, some people didn’t like the chapter where Pendleton takes time to defend his creating against the critics. I for one found it interesting and I can’t think that delving in to the philosophy of your character for a few pages is a bad thing. That’s not to say I thought this was without its flaws. I thought it was quite tense at the beginning with Bolan injured and hunted by the Mob but by the end he is completely recovered. While I don’t expect him to be in a wheel chair, but acknowledging some after effects would be nice. He almost seems like a bit of a ‘Mary Sue’ when he can throw a grenade ‘with the speed and accuracy of a major league pitcher’ but you’d think he might be a bit sore while he does so. Also, he went from having just a handful of bullets left in his gun to being fully armed very quickly. You would think the tension would be ramped up if he was under equipped but I suppose those are the sort of things that get done quickly when you’re trying to fit everything in 180 pages. So what did I think of my first Executioner? Let’s just say I spent a good chunk of time this weekend hitting all the used book stores in town, ending with me now having a complete set of 17-38 with a smattering of earlier books to boot.

Following on from his absolute destruction of anything in Sicily related to the enlistment and training of troops to be sent to the US to bolster the Families numbers the Big Guy arrives in New Jersey via Algeria carrying a bullet lodged in his body as well as numerous wounds festering screaming for medical attention. The Talifero crews led by Mike as Pat is still in a vegetable state and on life support know he is coming and a reported 1,000 guns are waiting eager to grab a piece of the Bastard Bolan and so the title opens where he finds he is being followed by a crew wagon with few options of where to run to and a body failing him big time due to his injuries carried. Dealing with the following crew the Big Guy manages to make his escape for a short time but near death collapses in a stream bed and blacks out. Regaining conscious he is being tended by a ex Vietnam vet medic who has treated his wounds and removed the bullet and although still hovering close to death takes refuge with the medic and his sister who protect him as he slowly regains his health from the wounds he suffered. Lots of good stuff to read here as he regains his health and the Talifero crews beat around the bushes of where he is being hidden also the relationship he has with the sister of the medic in their isolated chicken farm. Sure as eggs you know that as soon as he moves away from the farm the Mob will descend on the location and take the medic and his sister into custody and so it is and faced with a delemma he manages to rescue the female but not the medic. Mike Talifero just wished that he had the Big Guy instead of this chicken farmer but that doesn't stop him calling in the turkey makers to extract any information he has in his pursuit of the Big Guy which has already occurred prior to the arrival of the Big Guy. Festering rage we all know what the Big Guy thinks on this subject and an all out blitz is launched on the Mob hard site. Couple of notable occurrences in this title where the first "white flag" Bolan had ever given in the heat of a Mafia war is issued for the bad guys to safely remove Augie Marinello minus his legs for medical attention. Then he picked up the weapon of the night, the M-16/M-79 over-'n-under configuration, and went quietly up the hill. Not sure and I am not going back to read the previous 16 titles but am pretty sure that this piece which goes on to be one of the most used in his battles is used for the first time in this title. So all that is left is Mike and his underlings and in a final mop up finally the feared Mike Talifero is no more as are most of his cohorts after a successful obliteration of the enemy again. Excellent title in the series where action scenes abound and the Mob are running around and AWAY (so what can you actually buy for $500 bucks a day when you see your fellow soldiers being blown to pieces) with their tails between their legs highly recommended.

This book was great from alot of fronts. #1) We see Bolan's character continue to develop. This wasn't the jacked-up, wanna-be bolan that Peterson messed up for "Sicilian Slaughter", but this was the real deal -- Mack Bolan. We see Bolan's continued aggression toward the mob, his merciful side show toward the support characters (Sara, Bruno), and we even see his mercy toward the mob boss with the white flag. Pendleton does a great job of showing that inner balance Bolan has ... justice and mercy. #2) We get a pick into Bolan's upbringing. Pendleton uses the good part of a chapter describing Bolan's high school experience, including interview with teachers and classmates. This gives us a great perspective on the pre-war Mack Bolan. #3) I love the battles with the Taliferos and heres another. After the Talifero's imposing on Bruno's life, it makes me wonder if Bolan had any regrets from Vegas. #4) Pendleton continues to develop Leo's and Hal's characters seemingly setting the foundation for the Stony Man series. Leo's been a mainstay somewhat in previous adventures and now we are seeing Hal fall in line. This was a great story and a wonderfuly return to Pendleton's character after the atrocious Sicilian Slaughter, which really only slaughtered Don Pendleton's wonderful characters. This, along with books 2, 3, and 4, are on top of my favs list for the Bolan adventure! Thanks, Don.

Augie and a Talifero, Bolan on the run for his life, great description of turkey meat, romance, classic Bolan ramblings about the nature of the Universe and Earth Mothers, this is stuff that classics are made of ! Seriously, I just reread this one and hoped it would be as good as I remembered it, and man was it ever !! I first read it back in the mid-late 80's , and it did live up to my own hype ! CLASSIC !

Sorry people but I thought this was the one of worst written Bolan book period. It also shows what a good editor will do. The chapter Apologia to me drove this book down to a three. This chapter just drove an otherwise good novel to a scretching halt. The flow of the novel was rather good until we came to this chapter. Why? Pendleton decided to write 4 pages on what is a soldier and how war is the first artform. Is this from the mind of Bolan? Nope. Does it further the novel? Nope? It is nothing more then an editorial piece on what war is. Also the last page of this chapter where Pendleton says this is the World of Bolan? It seems written for people who don't like the series. It had no place in the novel. If Pendleton wanted to do this as dialogue about what a soldier is thats fine and it would fit. If Pendleton wanted to write a Author's Introduction and do this that would have been fine and interesting or better yet a War Journal chapter like in novel #14. Did I otherwise like the novel? Yes. Did Pendleton destroy the novel with this chapter? Yes. He broke voice and rythm. The description on what a turkey is was very good and the small world concept of how Bruno found Mack and how they knew each other in Vietnam. I also liked the description of Mack as a child from his classmates. Also how he started the novel seemed bad. REferring to this book as installment 17. It seems like these novels were someone's journal kind of like the author is a character. I agree it added to the mystique of Bolan but it was done very poorly especially with that Apologia chapter.

I had to give this one a 10 because after so many books, Pendleton somehow manages to come up with a super great story from beginning to end that makes you think he started all over again refreshed and new. If anybody wants to find an older mafia book to check out, this is one of the best 2 or three from the mafia wars.

Wow! A refreshing thriller that really hits the spot. This one was particularly fun coming right after I suffered through Sicilian Slaughter. Maybe I'm rating it too high due to comparison. But Mack Bolan's character is again true to form and this book makes great use of that. Bolan begins this tale wounded and just trying to get out of New Jersey after the action in Panic In Philly. (A few places in this book there were efforts made to try to alter it to fit in after Sicilian Slaughter but it's clear from the narrative and Bolan's wounds that this story is the continuation of the series after Panic In Philly.) He's got the Taliferi on his trail and after fighting off his closest pursuers he is rescued and patched back together by a friendly farmer and his sister. Of course, anyone who helps The Executioner is in danger and that is certainly true here. The Taliferi threat to Bolan's new friends is what drives the last two thirds of this story. The great Pendleton action is here in spades, from the opening battle by a hurting Executioner, through some bloody skirmishes with the Mafiosi after him and on to the final fierce battle against one of the Talifero brothers and his underlings at a hard site. Great stuff that brings you to the edge of your seat. Besides the action we also get some deep looks inside the big guy and some very touching scenes with his two rescuers. This is the other part of a Mack Bolan story and the way Don Pendleton does it, it's every bit as interesting as the action. I'm giving this one a perfect score of ten well deserved stars. Welcome back, Mack! I missed you!

Just doing an update of my previous review, since I re-read it. I have to say that this is one of the strongest books which deals with the Bolan character and mystique. You get an insight into when Bolan was little, what different teachers and women had to say about him. And of course the story is a good one, with the grim turkey, and an excellant confrontation with Marinello and the Taliferos. Some really great philosophical writing!

Bolan tears it up in this one. I highly recommend this one.

A good read. Seems to start off pretty much at the end of #15, as Pendleton did not consider Sicilian Slaughter part of the actual flow of books.

GOOD ONE. STRIKE ONE PERSONALLY AGAINST AUGIE MARINELLO. TOO BAD ABOUT BOLAN'S FRIEND BRUNO THOUGH.

A classic which ranks among the best.

Can't remember too much from this book, but I think it was a decent effort. Bolan's friend being turned into turkeymeat was memorable.