Paramilitary Plot

Mike Newton is back with Paramilitary Plot. And unlike his previous effort, The Violent Streets, action and gun play take the lead role in this case. From the cool looking cover art to the recently declassified Bolan/Phoenix profile, along with everything in between...I really enjoyed myself. The plot is solid; a horrible man-made plague weapon is about to be unleashed on the world. The trio of villains are interesting; a rich megalomaniacal psycho, a mixed up professional soldier, and a weasel-like mobster. The people in need of rescue are also well done; a brave scientist responsible for the plague, and his spunky daughter who attempts to save him. Nothing special nor groundbreaking, but it doesn't need to be. Just good, fun, pulp adventure that delivers. Looking back, you realize just how good the earlier Bolan books were. Within the first 65 novels, there are not many clunkers. Even the "bad" books of the time were generally a decent read. And in my opinion, many of the all time classic Executioner books are from this time period.

It had everything I enjoy in a Bolan book. An evil mastermind, the mafia, bio-chemist, and a missing agent all draw Mack into another adventure. Bolan researches a missing agent and stumbles upon a plot to create a bio-weapon that'll support the efforts of a paramilitary group. Mack infiltrates a hidden compound in Florida, saves a father & daughter, and then destroys the place piece by piece. There are several great action sequences, simply written, that culminate in an air-to-air helicopter battle. All the while, Mack has to ensure he doesn't let this airborne biological weapon released. I enjoyed the plot, the characters, and the great history of Bolan's life these early books contained. Through the use of a mafioso, the author used dialogue to describe Mack's past efforts in taking down the mafia in Florida. There is also a chapter containing a page from Col Phoenix's journal that gave good insight into Bolan's character. Historical stuff is great...

Set in the Florida Everglades the Big Guy is searching to try and locate a Bio-Chemist possibly involved in the death of an undercover FBI agent who was killed by some sort of engineered bacteria. Pretty good read here where the Big Guy locates the hidden compound and starts to do what he does so well. It amazes how often he can waltz into a secure compound and walk around the place as if he owns the joint but he does and some fine reading ensues. Good inclusion of characters where the daughter of the Chemist is also trying to locate her father and has also discovered the location of the compound. The main Bad guy is a stereotypical take over the world psychotic with more money than sense who has enlisted the assistance of a group of highly trained Mercs to assist him with his plan, he also has teamed up with organized crime and has a Mafia partner. Some very good action scenes throughout especially with the air boats along the mangrove swamp and at the hidden compound itself. Entertaining recommended read here folks.

I was pulled into this classic Bolan bloodbath from the second chapter on. This one reads like a Pendleton book, and it seems the author really knows the Bolan character well. At the end of the book is a real treat for fans...a de-classified profile of Stony man One - Mack Bolan a.k.a. Col. John Phoenix with some interesting info which I did not before. His age for instance. According to the report Bolan joined the Army at age 17 and since then has undergone 25 years of on the job military training, including his missions with 'Penetration Team Able' in Vietnam. That would make Bolan 42 years old when this book came out. Man!! I wonder how old he is now ? I haven't really read any of the new books, but on the covers he still looks 42. Maybe Mack Bolan is like the guy in Highlander and doesn't really age and you can't kill him unless you cut off his head. It's the spirit that lives on and can never die. And speaking of spirit..this book has plenty of it. This book is filled with lots of Bolan philosophy and outtakes from his journal as Bolan finds himself out in the the Florida Everglades trying locate a missing Bio-Chemist connected with the death of an FBI Agent, who has died from a deady baccilus (the black plague). The Scientists Boss is a real a twisted dude and has set up a secret military base for his private army and a labratory to develop a powerful Biological Weapon which he intends to use to take over an island in the Carribean. That is after he wipes out the entire population and then shows up as mother Theresa with an antidote. But he doesn't get very far after Bolan shows up and finds out what's going on. What made the book fun for me to read was Bolan finding the scientists attractive daughter sneaking around out in the swamp with a gun. Of course she has no idea was shes gotten herself into or what the hell she's doing either and luckily has the big guy on her side to help get her father back. The interaction between the two was well written by Newton with some entertaining moments; as well as Bolan finally catching up with an old enemy..Nicky Fusco (a la Miami Massacre) who is in leauge with the mad-millionaire and Cpt. Charles Rosky, who Bolan also knows as 'Can-do Charlie' from his days in the nam. The scene where Bolan rescues the scientist and daughter from the Paramilitary Base and then escape per airboat while taking out half of Rosky's entire Army is Bolan at his bad-ass best! It's a real romp ! I gave the book 7.4 stars for this quick moving action-thriller plus 1 star for the de-classified report at the end.

Yeah ... straight to the point terrorist butt kicking action, Bolan busts up a terrorist camp in the swamp, this is one of those real quick easy to read , hard not to enjoy books ! This ain't no thinking mans book, but that ain't what you're looking for when you pick up Bolan. Fast paced action packed villain blasting fun, what Bolan is all about - Eh Kay says check it !

This book was a bit of a surprise as there wasn´t any real mystery and the plot was very simple. Yet the book was an entertaining one!!!!! What made the story simple is the fact that Bolan was making his usual "magic" in one place instead of flying around the world with confusing time frames as so often in the books. His constant penetration to the enemy camp was amazing yet again the enemy were as always very secure that Bolan wouldn´t try to penetrate them again. Of course this was their downfall!!!. The villain of the book, the "fanatic patriot" Thruston Ward, was only portrayed as a rather mild criminal hoping to create a new "heaven" for him and his gang and similar criminals. The pace of the book is fast from the first to the last page and almost no stop action throughout. The book was rarely dull all though it only happened in one place and over a course of one day. The verdict............well, entertaining and simple book yet it leaves it´s mark on me. I really didn´t expect it before I started to read this one!!! (2003)

This is an explosive rockem sockem buttkickin Bolan adventure. This is classic Mack beatdown. I would have givin it a 9 star, but it too closely resembles the The New War.

Mack Bolan enters the swamps of Florida to rescue a man from the the wire-enclosed compound of an armed paramilitary group who have a devestating weapon at their command. A girl becomes involved in Bolan's mission and Jack Grimaldi and his helicopter help with fire support and transport. This is actually a pretty good action tale. Problem is it has exactly the same plot as #39- "The New War". Change the location, the affiliation and motives of the bad guys and the reason the hostage is being held and you have this book. Very few differneces in the narrative. Not to say this book isn't worthwhile. I liked it a lot because the action opens up in the first chapter and keeps on to the end without any lengthy stretches of quiet. If you like things to go BOOM frequently you'll enjoy this story. It gets 7 stars (1 less than it got as "The New War) so read it.

Good entry into the series, I liked the swampland action scenes.

AWESOME. DEFINATELY WORTH READING.

Pretty good.