This book started off good enough, with an interesting plot, and some good action. An elite Mafia organization has formed, called the Star, and it also involves being friends with other crime organizations all over the globe. Bolan is called in to stop nuclear bomb materials from being sent to an Arab terrorist in Algiers. The Star is out to make cash, and moving this weapon through their network is part of the business.
Ok so we have another Mafia story, which blends into an Arab terrorist with a nuke story. Not bad, and with Newton's experience with Mafia adventures, this should be a good one. There are three main phases of Bolan's war here.
One is Michigan, and Bolan does the typical mob busting, along with an excellent car chase. Nothing too new here, but it is moving right along.
Phase two is Italy. This is really where the book went wrong. Starting with mainland Italy, Bolan, along with Grimaldi go into blitz mode, going from mob boss to mob boss, town to town, taking them out with ease, taking candy from a baby as they romp all over mainland Italy.
Omega Game is an exercise in redundant repetition. Far, far too many scenes are the same, with one scene blending into the next in rubber stamping fashion. Newton seemed to think that giving Grimaldi his own scenes qualified as diversity. Just add more of the same scenes but use the name "Grimaldi" instead of "Bolan", and there you go. Mysteriously, they both take down all these capos, without a scratch, without a hitch, and they leave the scene without anyone bothering them or seeing them. They always seem to have just the right tools and weapons for the job at hand. But this phase is not done yet, oh no. This phase has a sub-phase. Sicily!
Ok, so we now move on to the Island of Sicily, the birthplace of the Mafia, and the mobsters are well aware by now that someone, they don't know who, really has it in for them. This part of the blitz was a little more interesting, with Bolan's informant being more involved. Unfortunately, just when this character's storyline was developing, Bolan was done in Sicily, and Italy was left behind.
So, what happens in Sicily? As much as I liked seeing the REAL Mack Bolan, along with his old friend, kickin ass and taking names in Sicily, we are treated to the same old same old repeated scenes all across the island. Borrrrring.
Phase three moves Bolan and Grimaldi to Algeria. Another informant here adds some spice to the story, and the action is a little more diverse, but not enough. More blitzing until the old ally-captured-Bolan-turns-up-the-heat-until-ally-is-returned gag Newton likes to use comes in. Finally, its a decent chase to the final compound in the desert, in a decent battle there, and another chase to the final confrontation. Not too bad of a finish, but it was yawner for much of the book to get there.
If there was an editor on this novel, they must have been as bored as I was, and never bothered to read it. Typos and miscues of various sorts abound in this book, sometimes several on the same page. I lost track of how many time I rolled my eyes. Newton also seemed to get stuck on the word "adversaries". If I had a dollar for every time this word was used, I could buy a car. And a garage to put it in. And a mansion to go with the Garage.
If you want a better Mafia story, read Vendetta. If you want a better Bolan blitz, read Assault. If you want a better all around story, read Blood Strike or Flesh and Blood. You get the idea. Omega Game is nothing more than an also-ran, and Newton sleepwalked through too much of this book. He has written many better Super Bolan's than this, so don't waste your time.
Well it's a Mafia story (good so far).
The plot involves the Mafia going International where they have joined allegiences with some big names indeed. With traced links to Sicily, Corsica, Bangkok, Bogota, Ankara, Paris, Tokyo and Montreal and confirmed involvement by the Chinese Triads, Yakusa, the Union Corse and the Columbian cartels the new International group is to be called The Star (even better so far).
Indeed this new International crime group are big league players hence the prologue where 2kg of weapons grade Uranium is stolen to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.
Now the start is kick arse stuff let me tell you where the big guy is in the process of taking out one of the Capos in the states and his visitor from the old country Italy prior to travelling to Italy to take out the Boss of Bosses there. Unfortunately a VAST underestimation of the opposition results in the big guy doing a big retreat as fast as possible which results in a shit hot car chase scene with two pursuing crew wagons (excellent so far this is set up to be a cracker).
Okay off we go intelligence from Leo gives an address where the Capo and his visitor have taken off to after the botched assault and for an appetizer he quickly slips out there and takes them both out as he has requested Jack to accompany him on this one and they are both booked on the Concorde flight there so not much time.
Arrive in Italy on route to Sicily to take out the Boss of Bosses and what happens....
3 Capos taken out 2 by sniper scenes (love these) as a warm-up
Contact with informant to obtain list of targets
4 Capos taken out 1 by sniper scene and then the stunning reading.....
The Boss of Bosses can't figure it out, who is hitting him and his fellow capo's?
Page after page of wonderful reading here while he ponders his choices yawn.....
Bang Bang two more Capo's taken out
At last a meeting with an informant who supplies a list of targets in Sicily
Informant requests to accompany the Big Guy and Jack to Sicily and as a lawyer and completely untrained the Big Guy of course replies sure come along for the ride.
Why?
Well we need a hostage scene where he will be captured so the Big Guy can start rattling those old cages and leaving messages for the safe return of same <sigh>.
4 Capos taken out 2 by sniper scenes and then OH NO THE INFORMANT HAS BEEN TARGETTED FOR ABDUCTION.....
What to do?
Leave a message of course.
3 Capos taken out 1 by sniper scenes waiting for an answer from the abductors.
AND what the informant is killed bugger that so off to the Boss of Bosses and whack him.
We are currently at page 219 of the title and a total of 17 Capo's have been taken out with an assorted number of chaff soldiers and have managed to include six yep count them six sniper scenes and I am beside myself with the excitement of the ongoing original stuff I am reading.
So off to Algiers to track down the buyer of the Uranium.
I finished it as I wouldn't be typing this but can't be bothered any more.
Blah Blah Blah yet again you have already read it ONCE AGAIN the final section is just cut and paste yet again.
Very disappointing after the start.
1 star added for the excellent start ;-)
