Assault Reflex

The final Hydra trilogy volume opens up with a better transition than the middle book. I thought Assault Reflex had a strong start, at least the first third was excellent reading as Bolan is now in the Philippines taking on the next group in this huge conspiracy. Things kind of went flat in too many ways for the rest of the book. The Borneo section featured some good elements, like Bolan's allies, and the journey to and from the compound dealing with the natives. The compound battle itself was the usual mayhem of explosions and fire and body count found in earlier scenes of the trilogy. Then it is on to Russia, the final leg of the overall mission. Not much to see here, standard scenes seen many times before with Bolan and Grimaldi blitzing in Moscow. Later the final scene at the Siberia compound and it is more of the same explosions and fire and body count and Grimaldi blowing everything up from his helicopter. This book showed promise at first, but does not deliver enough new material. A lot happens in this book, there are sections of good reading, but too many cookie cutter sections fail to bring the story out of mediocrity when it is all said and done.

Goodness me the crap continues for another title. This is ridiculous/over the top/absolute garbage AND quite frankly that would be praising the title up. A continuation of the first two books in the trilogy Mack and Jack go from location to location and SLAUGHTER everyone there. But surprise surprise the head guys manage to escape every time and they manage to have one wounded casualty left over EVERYTIME and wow how convenient they always know where the big guys will be going to next. There is no storyline/plot except that the head guys are all going to have their very own countries to preside over when the supposed plot happens. Vague references are made to viral attacks, nuclear blackmail etc. but there are so many groups involved in this that you have no idea what is supposed to be going on BUT that doesn't matter as their only inclusion to the story is for them as a group to be SLAUGHTERED at different parts of the book. It just goes on and on and on and on. I kept waiting and waiting for something to happen but was left waiting. Even the ending section when the head guys are taken out it is extremely disappointing and apart from the ex KGB assassin the ex special forces guy and maybe one of the ex Russian generals we don't even find out who is actually sitting on the council running the show. But that doesn't matter as they serve as more human canon fodder. This trilogy was a complete and utter disappointment for me and I would suggest if you are looking for a good read in these series you should bypass these entire three books.

A very action-filled 3rd parter to an overall excellent Bolan trilogy. This book had the dynamic duo of Bolan/Grimaldi all over the map mopping up the last remnants of their enemies. I enjoyed the Borneo part of this book the best. Dan Schmidt did good & really delivered with this Bolan trilogy.

A good addition the series, seeing Bolan and Grimaldi together again was great. It dragged on at points but overall showed a side of the Executioner rarley seen.

This book is very good. I love reading action filled novels like this one.