Moscow Massacre

I did not like this book very much. this book reminded me of Beruit Payback and Appointment in Kabul. I thought those books were pretty weak also. 6 stars

Again and again this author just keeps releasing high quality titles one after the other and this one is no exception. One of the all time best villains Greb Strakhov who has been pursued by the Big Guy for so many titles since the demise of April is finally caught up with and a semblance of revenge is enacted. Aside from a terrific plot the storyline throughout is excellent and the return of some past characters is again welcome. Treachery betrayal and a huge surprise ending await the reader here which I have no intention of giving any of it away here you should give this one a go it will certainly keep you entertained and turning the pages. The infiltration of the prison to rescue Katrina is a standout section that with the exception of the ending would be worth the read by itself but the rest of the title just oozes class from one of the master writers of the series. I loved it and would be amazed if you did not think the same upon reading this. Highly recommended.

I wanted this book to be better than it was. The build-up and basic plot line had a lot of promise that I didn't think was ultimately delivered. Bolan moves through the heart of Moscow and walks in and out of the most feared prisons of the KGB with unrealistic ease. The author keeps referring to the 7.62MM light machine guns mounted on armored cars as submachine guns. Cars explode like they were in a John Woo movie. The militia police are all clearly holders of Advanced Storm-Trooper Marksmen degrees as they keep shooting each other up. It is a small point but the author forgot that Mack has used blacksuits with a reverse-side that is pure white for winter fighting (definitely with the time and government involvement Mack has...he would get a winter-colored suit as he is headed into a Moscow with snow on the ground). The sequence where Mack sneaks into a prison by hanging on the frame of a truck jarred because after pages of describing Mack's bare hands freezing as he holds onto the truck...he suddenly has gloves as he is climbing a wall. I found the whole sequence where Mack suddenly has a KGB ID that lets him act like a Black Ace against the Mafia...within the very headquarters of the KGB itself extremely jarring. The people he does this to are described as the top leaders in the KGB. The author doesn't do anything to lay the groundwork for these men to suddenly be bowing down to Mack just because he has some ubertop ID. How these men would not know the identity of a superagent working at a level where they had to immediately obey him is just too odd to accept. The sequence where Strakhov has to get to the roof to fire a flare to signal his troopers to attack the dissidents doesn't make any sense. Why wouldn't Strakhov just use a radio or a phone call? It basically only seems to be there so Strakhov can shoot himself with his own flaregun and thus die some "symbolic" death. For those keeping track, this book establishes that Bolan can pilot a chopper. He steals a Hind and uses it to basically level the compound at the end....although even that is weirdly written as the author sets up that Bolan has to escape NOW before he is overwelmed...then has Bolan spend quite a chunk of time in burning the complex down with the Hind before actually leaving. So in a lot of places, the book is not self-consistent. This happens enough to be really noticeable and disturb the flow of the story. This is not a bad book. I might read it again...but there are better books in the Bolan adventures.

It looks like I'm in the minority on this book. It was simply not well thought-out. Spoilers ahead. Bolan is on a revenge mission in honor of the love of his life - April Rose - yet throughout the book he's all about Katrina, Tanya, and Zara. It diluted any sense that he still has April in his thoughts. Strakhov is simply not that interesting. Maybe you have to read other books he's in, in order to root for his demise more. The Flare Gun. Wow, the author just kept plugging this, over and over again. By the end of the book I'm expecting a nuclear missile to come out of the thing. Strakhov can't call his minions on a telephone? He has to shoot a flare off? Why?! It should have been mentioned once, and only once, on the roof, if at all. The briefcase. It's like a clown car. Everything used in the mission is in this thin briefcase. And there's room for 7 guns, and enough gas to kill a roomfull of guys. It's bottomless apparently. Tiny in-nostril gas filters? This is really pushing it. The fight scenes were ok, but just not very engaging, and some of the timing and physics bordered on the unbelievable.

This was an excellent entry in the series. The first one I've read where Mack heads to the Soviet Union. I liked everything about the book. Mack saying farewell at the grave of his dead love, "sneaking" behind the Iron Curtain Bolan-style, the colorful cast of characters... The story also had some great twists and turns that kept this reader guessing. The action was great as well since Mack had a personal motivation behind what he was doing. Also it was good to see him undercover again. This is the first Stephen Mertz Bolan I've read and I was very impressed. Snag a copy of this one if you can. It's Mack at his best!

Holy Cow!!! Best Bolan Book Ever... No other Mack Bolan books even compare.

One of the last Mertz novels, its one of his best.I really liked the gas in the briefcase trick, its one of the more memorable scenes from the book. Whatever happend to Mertz?

Awesome!One of the all time greats in the M.B. saga.Strakhov,perhaps out of all of Mack's enemies,is the one who can be called evil personified.The way he gets it in the end could not be more fitting.

I think I've nearly worn out my copy. Great way to tie up this era in Bolan's Everlasting War, with some stand-out scenes. Probably better if you're familiar with the history, but I think it could stand well on its own. Love the final battle!!

A bravura effort in tackling the difficult task of tying up a long-loose end in the Bolan saga. There was a nice balance of keeping the onstage action percolating while filling in the backstory, which I'm sure gave some new readers problems. And, yes, as others have said, the climax rocked!!!! If you can't find this book but want to read a similar storyline about a major character going head-to-head with a long-ago arch-rival, check out Vector Three, which deals with a 'ghost' from T.J. Hawkins' past.

This is the second Bolan that I've read. It was a little bit confusing, because I did not know some of the history. The conclusion is surprising and acton-packed. This one is a must-read.

A good one, and it helps to wrap up a long lasting plot in the series. A fun read, but if you have not read the others, you may want to get some background before reading this one.

The final confrontation between Bolan and Strakhov is an absolute classic. I loved it.

All time favorite, I loved the way Mack was so focused on one mission the entire way through.

A great book. The final confrontation at the office was awesome. That was a close one. You'd never suspect the ending. A must read!

Mack's final vengeance for his beloved April is the heart and soul of this entire novel. And the scene where Tanya, after being ambushed, looks up and sees the impassive form of the Executioner, brandishing Big Thunder against a Soviet Armored Troop Carrier was as classic an entrance as you could ever get.

This book is awsome it has everything I would want in an Executioner novel, and the last fight at the end of the book was very well written indeed. One thing though, don't you think that Mack gets over the loss of loved ones in such a nice manner?

EXCELLENT BOOK AND EXPLOSIVE SUPRISES. A PERSONAL FAVORITE. LATER STRAKHOV, YOUR EXECUTIONER HAS ARRIVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*****ONE OF THE BEST IN THE ENTIRE BOLAN SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!*****

From beginning to end this one rocked! Bolan finally put an end to his war with Strahkov and avenged April. A definite classic.

This is the best Executioner book I have read. This book has it all. Action, suspense, betrayal, revenge... The ending is explosive & I love the cover. This is as good as it gets!!