Prairie Fire

In the Mack Bolan books I have read it is usually the executioner on the offensive. It was a fun time reading him be on defense. I also liked all the characters in this one, just enough back story to get to know them and care but not wasted details. And the character traits of Bolan are well described in this story. This one also slowly builds as the story goes too. Highly recommend.

Another outstanding effort by one of my favs -- Mr. Mike Newton. The only thing that kept this title from a perfect 10 was the sex scene...which seemed real out of place given Bolan's preceding 48 hours and the recent death of April. After being held by an assassin/bounty hunter and beaten rather severely, Mack escapes and holes up at a farm in Kansas. With Mack knowing its only a matter of time before he's tracked down again by "Cowboy" and his thugs, the Executioner must quickly convince the farmhand and his family (Chadwicks) that they're too in a grave situation. Upon doing so, Mack masterfully collects miscellaneous items from around the farm and fortifies as good as possible...awaiting the attack. Once the attack starts, its Bolan back at it as only he can do. Great stuff! Unlike one or two of the other reviewers, I rather enjoyed the author's 120-page build-up to the action. I thought Newton masterfully created tension that kept me page-turning awaiting the conflict to begin. This build up began in the early pages as there was a hint of wonderment as if this unnamed, wounded man could actually be Mack Bolan. This book goes up there with my Bolan favs. It breaks the typical mold for a Bolan novel and is very unique, but it maintains the time-honored expectations with a Mack Bolan story. I would've give a 10 without hesitation except for the silly sex scene.

Very enjoyable read here. The Big Guy was captured by a master assassin and his bunch of cut throats and scheduled to be killed prior to an opportunity to escape presented itself and was duly grabbed. Unfortunately things did not go well at all handcuffed and wounded not only with a gut shot but a further bullet wound on the thigh the Big Guy has been chased for two days and is rapidly approaching the limits of his reserves. Bleeding still and with no food or water the end is rapidly approaching when he comes across a remote farm and takes refuge in the barn there to try and gain not only sustenance but rest and treatment of his wounds. Discovered by the farmer in his dishevelled and handcuffed state and taken for an escaped prisoner he is again held captive whilst the Sheriff is contacted allowing the hounds chasing him time to catch up. Aware of the danger he has brought upon these people and unarmed the Big Guy has to use his wits big time to protect the farmhouse and its occupants from certain death. As has been previously said the action doesn't take place until later in the second half of the title but a very good read none the less on how he sets up for the upcoming attacks by the bad guys. Action scenes when they do eventuate are good reading and well paced. Well done Mike Newton lots of original stuff here and a good read to boot recommended.

While this was a very engaging storyline from Newton, it didn't really take off until well into the second half. It did have its moments of suspense as Bolan takes refuge with a farming family while the jackals gather outside. A much better product overall was Newton's "Run to Ground", but this one does have some good points as Bolan, outnumbered and outgunned has to rely on his wits, household items for weapons and innocent civilians for allies. The final battle was indeed tense as the purveyors of death get more than they bargained for.

This is simply an excellent read for folks who are fans of Mack Bolan as opposed to fans of The Executioner. A lot of meaty character moments that lead up to a burst of action in about the last third of the book that is well-constructed and feels very believe-able. Mack's weapons are what he can find (a .22 pump-action rifle with 11 rounds is his head weapon for much of the story) or make (Cowboy's men really pay a price for Mack discovering their little C4 car-bomb and defusing it to build his roofing-nails/tin can grenades). The ending of the book with Cowboy's men besieging the house with silenced automatic weapons has enough broad similarities to the original Assault On Precinct 13 to make me wonder if the movie wasn't an inspiration to Mike Newton. I agree that the sex scene with Toni feels completely out of place, but it also is a convention of the pulps that the hero gets the girl....and there are similarities here back to #17 Jersey Guns with the widow of a soldier being attracted to Mack. This book is a very quick read. I literally read it in about two hours one day while commuting to work. Newton's writing flows easily and his style has enough of the "voice of Pendleton" to satisfy if you enjoyed Don's writing style during the Mafia War. This definitely is a book to reread.

A little different than the others in this series - others have noted the originality of this one, and I agree with them, It was a refreshing take on a Bolan book, Newton really does a good job on this one. Lots of action and some cool shootouts, and it was really cool to see Bolan trying to build up the defenses of the Farm House. A kinda Mack Bolan meets the A-Team.

Mike Newton gets major points in Prairie Fire for originality. He does something with an Executioner book that had not been done previously. Bolan, injured and without support is run to ground and has to defend himself rather then his normal offensive mode. However, the good points of the book don’t go far beyond there. Essentially this book is only the final act of the story. It is incomplete. While this piece works wonderfully as a companion to the other lone wolf era Bolan books it does not stand on its own very well. This book is recommended to fans of the series but not to the casual reader. And what the hell was up with the sex scene? It seemed so out of character. Bolan is running against the clock with so much to do... oh let’s slip off into the barn for a quickie. Focus on the task at hand Mack, jeez.

This book is clearly as good as the books in the 90s sequence. I would put it about equal to Blood Testament. This book is a vastly different type of novel. Scene a field, barn and farm. Usually there are over a dozen scenes at least. It kind of reminded me of old black and white movies - Bogart or Cagney as Mack? The Chadwick's were such a believable family. I really liked the father in law. Sure he was a GOM but highly ethical and wanted to do the right thing - most GOMs I find are. This family epitomizes who Mack fights for. Sure there was little action but for characterizations it made up in spades. Sometimes a character driven story is good especially one that shows how innocent deal with killing zones. I think this could also make a great fanfic story involving Mack's kid. Toni and Mack's child would be interesting to see. Not sure why Mack slept with her but then he did lose April so many he wanted intimacy. I agree wih Doug this could have been omitted. The action scenes were very good. I did find it incredible how Mack can get shot and still function well. Also what incredible pain control Mack has. The downside to this novel was how dumb the bad guys acted storming the house. Long range rifles and patience would have been the best plan. Also who was Cowboy's boss? This was never established. Strakhov maybe? Although I think he would have been on scene. A clear 10 you can't get much better then this.

Mack Bolan is wounded and hunted by a crew of killers as "Prairie Fire" opens. He's handcuffed, unarmed alone. This book tells a great, suspenseful story. After escaping from some professional hardmen the Executioner is in bad shape when he takes refuge in a barn. He is discovered by the farmer and his family but they don't know what to make of the handcuffed wounded man. But Bolan's presence puts these people in danger from the men hounding him. The action in this story is almost entirely in the last third of the book. Up until that point the only action true action scene is the flashback to Bolan's capture and escape. But when the book does turn to action it is terrific. Bolan uses his brain for the first time in a long time in the fight agains the baddies. Very nicely done by the author. It's a welcome change to see Bolan cut off from help and without a vast array of potent firepower for once. But don't think that the book doesn't get good until the action starts. This book is solid drama and great storytelling building up to the big action at the end. Wonderful supporting characters in the Chadwick family. And even though the main villain and his crew aren't unforgettable, they provide a potent threat to Bolan and his allies. Even Mack Bolan's inner musings get a little bit of space here and are handled nicely by the author. It's nice to see somebody paying attention to the big guy's mind and doing such a good job. This book is a real pleasure and I was compelled to read it in one evening. The only thing keeping me from giving this book that last star is the sex scene. I thought it was out of place, unnecessary and awkward (of course, so is real sex sometimes.) It detracted from my enjoyment just enough to keep this book at the 9 star level. But that's a good solid 9 stars. Read it.

Wow! Newton reasserts himself as my favorite writer after this one.A nice change of pace from the usual when Bolan finds himself in a place where he's stuck in place and surrounded by bad guys trying to execute him.This one is a classic.

ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE BOLAN BOOKS. BOLAN BEING HUNTED AND TRAPPED HAD HIM AT HIS DEADLIEST.

I LIKED THIS ONE. THERE WAS GOOD TENSION AND THE WITTY DIALOGUE BETWEEN BOLAN AND THE COWBOY BEFORE THE FIGHT WAS MUY COOL.