The Iranian Hit

A rather forgettable entry to the series. I see I wasn't the only one who caught the Barretta screw up. The person Bolan is supposed to be guarding is so obviously a bad guy, I wondered why we were supposed to care. Later when he is revealed to be said bad guy, not exactly a surprise. The action scenes were the only saving grace. The ending with Grimaldi seems like a cheap plot device thought up at the last moment. Ok read. but certainly not among the best.

I have been going back and re-rreading some of my Bolan books and have thoroughly enjoyed it. This book was an ok read. I enjoyed many of the action scenes, but found some of the dialogue to be lacking. The conversation between Hal and April at Stony Man Farm was so out of character for both of them. And the ending was a bit anti-climatic. Grimaldi just happens to be circling in the sky for hours in an F-14 until he gets the go ahead from Mack to take out the bad guy? How did Mack even know they would make it to the helicopter? The plot was weak. The dialogue was weak. Probably not one I'll come back to.

Guess I'm the odd man out here: I found the book to be ordinary at best. Bolan's tasked with protecting an Iranian exile but of course nothing is what it seems once he arrives at the guy's mansion. After an unsatisfying rescue scene involving Nazarour's wife, Bolan spends some time getting to know the general's staff and associates. Surprise, surprise, he doesn't really like any of them! And herein lies one of the biggest issues with The Iranian Hit: aside from Carol Nazarour and the general's brother - who could be removed from the story entirely and nothing would change - nobody shows any appreciation for Bolan's presence or his efforts and teeter from indifference to outright hostility. Wow! I totally want these assholes to live after their introductory chapter. The story's biggest issue? I'm glad you asked! Here's a spoiler space. The general gets killed off at the very end of the story. Not by the assassins, no, that would make sense. His escape plane is shot down by Grimaldi off-screen (well, off-page I guess) on Bolan's orders. It makes sense in context, but... what was the point of going through all that effort to protect the guy? Bolan already hated him and had no reason to actually agree to protect him because of who and what he is. This was just completely idiotic. I don't know. If anyone aside from Carol was likable then the book would've improved drastically. It's not bad or anything, but nothing really jumped out at me aside from the final battle, which was exciting stuff and had some rocket launcher shenanigans for good measure.

Another successful entry in the New War of Bolan! Fast pacing and continual action are used to excellent effect in this book. Mack races from one problem to the next at top speed almost non-stop. Furthermore, every problem is solved with an Uzi, Big Thunder or a well placed judo kick. Striker hasn't any time for sneaky undercover role play in this title! The enemies are repugnant, the worst kind of filth. Animal torture, woman beating, drug and weapon deals...you will cheer as Mack deals out justice. Hal, April and my favorite Jack Grimaldi are on hand to assist. Now...to discuss the two issues that seem to be mentioned in almost all past reviews. As far as the "ghost gun" goes, I missed it. Even though I had been warned to look for it (via mentioned reviews), I sailed right past it. I was so invested in the story that the read was over before I even remembered to look for the mistake. So, to write a fair review, I went back and searched for it after completion. I guess I win the Obtuse Award because I still could not find it. Can someone give me a page number? Either I have a special copy, or I'm stupid. Sadly, I'm certain my copy isn't special. Onto the argument between April and Hal. Well, to each their own, I suppose. I found their heated exchange natural and believable for two people working closely in a tense situation round the clock. Both care for Mack...but neither can really assist him when he needs it most. Frustrating. In addition, each carries special feelings for him. April's are romantic. Hal's are guilt, I think. Hal has the "same" job as Bolan; stop the bad guys. But Hal has a life Bolan never can; a wife and children. Hal considers Mack his best friend. How can a man like Hal NOT feel guilty when Striker has given up EVERYTHING to fight crime while you (Hal) do it 9 to 5 as a job? The guilt and self doubt clearly is, to me, a motivating factor for working 24/7 and basically ignoring his home life. Naturally, that kettle is going to blow at times, and April makes the perfect target for Hal's outburst. Kudos to the author for exploring this in a "simple" action pulp. On a final note, the seamless integration of past novels and usage of secret Stony Man communiques really heighten the universal reality feeling of the Bolan-verse. Okay, since I'm re-reading chronologically, off to visit Gadgets for a bit. Then a quick detour to see Gary and David and I'll see you in 43.

The "Iranian Hit " is the best book since the New Wars started…slightly better than book 40. While I agree there was some strangeness to the book -- who has the Berretta, April and Hal's spontaneous argument -- this book was good! I'd have given this a 10 if not for some of that weirdness. Hal gives Mack the task of stopping the assassination of an Iranian general, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. Soon, Mack is confronted with a desperate wife, an unknown traitor, Iranian bounty hunters (of sort), and an impending attack. Shortly thereafter, Mack takes the reigns of the General's protection crew and the action begins there. I really enjoy how these early writers -- those right after Pendleton -- bring Bolan history into these novels. It is key to making these books feel related to the early Pendleton efforts. That is something I wish the current writers would do. This book had action, intrigue, damsel in distress, a sort of villains, and a solid ending. I couldn't have asked for a better last 15 pages!

Brilliant first chapter which will certainly get you in the mood to enjoy what is coming up in the title. Information on a kill squad from Iran targeting an Iranian General currently in the United States and about to be deported results in the Big Guy being tasked with baby sitting the General on his last night before leaving the country the following morning. Excellent story where Bolan goes about his job and prepares the General's hard site for the impending attack which must occur this night. Heaps of good characters introduced but each of them plays a part in the twisted plot which slowly starts to unravel as you make your way through the title. Many top notch action scenes are contained within the title which reads like silk from start to finish. The ending is a bit of a surprise followed by yet another surprise as all of the story thread lines are tied off finishing off the title most satisfyingly. The authors knowledge of who he is writing about is exemplary where you at times think you are in fact reading a DP title well done. Superb read and highly recommended title to pick up in the series.

This was one of my least favorite Bolan books. Between the "Magically Disappearing and Reappearing Beretta" to Brognola and April Rose yelling at each other in a disjointed scene that had nothing to do with the main plot to Minerva going from "mall cop" to major Mafioso, this book struggled for identity. Why the heck was Rafsanjani killing rabbits with sonic waves??

Peter Laurie killing bunnies. A sociopath with a drug addicted brother. A woman so oppressed by her crazy husband that she can't escape him. And yet another mob connection. When I was a kid I did enjoy reading this one. I remember waiting for the Harrier to show up. I figured Jack Grimaldi would hose down some bad guys. That was not my only disappointment on my second reading. The New War is just getting rolling but for some reason nearly every book seemed to have some mafia connection. That bugs me more as an adult then it did when I was a kid. But that is a minor gripe compared to the whole situation. The supporting characters are flat. Their plight is not sympathetic. The one character meant to generate sympathy is just pathetic. The only thing that kept me going were the decent action sequences ... well, with the exception of the airport sequence. I can't say I would recommend this one.

Although this book has a few errors , more or less , it has enraptured me with its plot. Why make a good book look bad when it has only little errors in it? Sure , the thing with the Beretta confused me , but the plot of the story was good... very good. It was very good because of its plot , its very understandable , straightforward action scenes , as well as its very understandable story. The double crossing of the Iranians among themselves and of Mack left me guessing ... who really was the traitor? It was shown in the denouement that they were all illegitimate people .... traitors in their own special way. I measure the goodness of a book by the speed I read it ... I could have sworn I'd have read this in 2 hours... It was just that GOOD!

I liked this one, a good solid all around adventure, with good action. My friend didn't like it, I don't know why, I thought is was great, but you be the judge.

This was a very exciting read. The entire novel takes place over the course of eight hours. Bolan is charged with protecting a corrupt Iranian general exiled to Baltimore. In addition to the assassination squad after the general, the general has hired the mob to protect him, forcing Bolan to watch his back. In addition, Bolan must also protect the general's wife from her abusive husband. This makes Bolan's job protecting the general that much more repulsive. The action in this is great, and it would have been a 9-star easy if not for a HUGE oversight. Specifically, Bolan kills his enemies with a gun that he doesn't have! Bolan gives his Beretta to the general's wife. Then, 10 pages later, he uses it to take out the invaders! This really bugged me--it was very jarring. To make matters worse, the gun then disappears from Bolan back to the general's wife! This continuity error cost an otherwise excellent book 2 stars. Beside that, this was a top-notch book.

An Iranian hit team is in the USofA after a former official of Iran in exile. Bolan is sent to stop the hit team and keep the expatriot Iranian alive for one night until he and his entourage can get out of the country. Before the Executioner makes it into the compound he gets involved in action when he thwarts an apparent abduction of a young woman. Surprises and complexities await Bolan as the evening moves on. The target and his companions all have secrets and conflicting motives that might pose additional danger to the big guy. When the attack comes from the hit team it comes hard and fast. The action goes on for a good stretch and is pretty good. It never crackles like the best of Don Pendleton's action writing but it gets the job done. One problem with the narrative: Bolan gives his Beretta to a lady in chapter 9 so she can defend herself. He doesn't see her again until the end of the book but in chapter 11 "the silent Beretta was in Bolan's big paw before there was time for the conscious mind to send the signal." WOW! That's some draw the big guy has developed! Maybe he was using "the force" or something. Whatever it was that happened it bothered the heck out of me and drew me out of the narrative. The plot wasn't too interesting but it did the job and there were some interesting quirks in the characters so no complaints there. The action at the front end was OK and the hit squad attack was pretty good. The last action at the airstrip was not very satisfying and seemed like a pale imitation of something that had been done better by Mr. Pendleton. The last plot point was resolved in a manner that was just a big offstage cheat. I'd have bought it if there had been some indication earlier but the attempt to spring it on the reader just didn't work. April and Hal were in support at the farm and later in a limited role on site. Their scenes together didn't seem to really work. But the author does bring up a good point: doesn't Hal have a home and family to go to? All in all it was worth reading but not in the top tier of series entries. I'm giving this one 6 stars.

This book was awesome! All throuought this book, it got me guessing on who the real bad guy was and it got me guessing if the exiled general was a good guy or a bad guy and if Bolan would kill him or not! Awesome book.

I liked the story but the errors in it made it hard to really enjoy.

An action-packed book.

There was a lot of action, but some of it didn't make any sense. The book didn't have a very good plot foundation. I guessed that's because it's only 180 pages. But could of been better.

I THOUGHT THAT THIS ONE WAS GOING TO BE BORING BUT I WAS WRONG. IT TURNED OUT TO BE QUITE A PLEASER. NICELY BUILT UP TO AN EXPLOSIVE CLIMAX.

NOT TOO BAD. PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD WITH PLENTY OF ACTION.