Death Merchants

Another first up effort from one of the contributing authors to the series and again a wonderful debut title. I enjoyed the two main characters introduced and their behind the scenes plans to take each other out. Quite a few other characters introduced who play a good part of the overall titles plot and story line where everything seems to flow quite nicely to a satisfying ending. This is a good read in the series and certainly worth your while to have a look at.

Up until the last 50 pages or so, I wasn't sure I would finish this one. It's actually quite boring aside from a few fire fights and the fact that Mack finally gets some lovin' after so many books. The villain is pretty cliche, the action is little (and sorta confusing in places), and the story itself doesn't hold much water. Death Merchants concerns a mob group creating a new drug that kills off a good percentage of it's users the first time they apply it, Stony Man Farm catches wind of this and dispatches Bolan to take out the kingpin. Things don't go as planned and a full scale war breaks out between the DEA and the drug lord's army. The only thing to recommend this on is the inclusion of Carl Lyons toward the end, he adds a lot to the small ammount of book he's present in.

I didn't buy part of the premise. Ok Samson and Vega were making a very potent addicting pain-killer to sell on the black market like Oxycontin and cocaine. Now why chance getting caught by stealing the medication at hospitals? I understand one hospital to get a way to see how the drug is made but to steal it then sell it when it would be far safer and smarter to wait a few months seemed needlessly risky. This is why the book is getting a 6 I didn't buy this part as being believable. It came across as dumb. I also found Samson and Vega fairly ordinary for villians except for the twist their sons being dead via the DEA. I did love the action. Very well written. The airport scene was done well and the scene in the plant with Pol and Mack fighting side-by-side. Wow!!!! I also loved how Pitt, Waters and the other good guys were trying to figure out Belasko (Mack). I liked how they tried to find out who he really was. This was really astute of Tresslar. I also liked Juan Vega. A banker, son of Vega who wanted revenge on Pitt the head of the DEA for the death of his brother. Granted he may have been a very good banker but because of cocaine he lacked total common sense. He should have just instantly killed Pitt not yammer at him. Or at least gut-shoot him then while dying tell him who he is. Stupid Juan but believable because of the cocaine swilling in his head. Carl was a total GOM - grouchy old man. Good lord was he annoying taking over Pitt's security. Almost overdoing it. Also his reaction to Hal at the end was also annoying. I wasn't really sure why he was so frustrated something must have triggered it. It seemed it was far more then the lack of recognition. He was offered a job by Pitt. A solid 6 slightly above average but not by much. Also and this has nothing to do with Tresslar but the print was far to close to the binding. I really had to open it up wider then usual and was worried about the binding breaking.

An excellent debut in the series from Tim, I would put it on par with Cutting Edge and Blood Trade, two other great debut novels I've read recently. This story is not only full of action, but has a great balance of focusing on the good guys and the bad guys. A large cast of characters are woven into this book. The scenes with the DEA and police were all done very well. A good amount of interaction between the various drug dealers in their sceming and background to the characters, tense scenes, good dialogue, and much more. Jack Grimaldi gets in on the action, as well as a great undercover role Bolan has alongside Pol Blancanales. Carl Lyons is in here too! Another good writer to keep this series alive and kickin ass.

Another good first novel by a new author. Loved the action, and including Pol and Ironman. Carl was just a bit moody, wasn't he? For a moment I thought I was reading an old Able Team book. The final battle with double barrel action was well-done, but the only thing that really bothered me was the psychotic nature of Vega. I guess I would have expected the head of a multi-million dollar business to be more level-headed, but he was still interesting. I did like the angle with the son trying to assasinate the head of the DEA. Gave the book some added suspense. And what was up with Price seeming jealous at the mention of the female DEA agent in the epilogue? I've never seen that out of her character...ever.

This was a pretty good book, the action was well paced, kick ass too. It was great to see Pol and Carl of Able Team show up, and not just cameos. It was nice to see Mack take down drug dealers , which takes us back to his roots of fighting organized crime. No big issues with geo-politics here, just straight punish the bad guys beyond the reach of the cops. Mack just banged up a little too, which I thought added some realism. This one is worth reading. Maybe not a page turner, because you know what would happen, but still good. 7 outta 10.

I enjoyed this a great deal. A good old fashionned vigilante-styled gangster smashing tale. No North Koreans, no A-rab terrorists, no ex-KGB spooks stealing nukes. Just Bolan taking on some drug dealing scum. Both main villains were well fleshed out, and though evil bastards, they had a human side, one could almost sympathise with their pain. Bolan himself went back to his Frankie Lambretta/Omega roots, with some foul mouthed undercover work. And then, you have action, plot twists and even some sex with a strong female protagonist. Apparently, Mr Tessler is new to the writing team. This reader is hoping he stays on for a while.

This was a good book. I enjoyed the off centered relationship between Emilio Vega and Victor Sampson. I thought Sampson using Vega's son, Juan, for an assassination attempt was an original idea. But, Emilio Vega was garbage and it was about time Mack took out the garbage. An Added plus to this book was having Blancanales and Lyons from Able Team assisting Mack on this mission. Although, I have to say even with Lyons heading in the protection of Ray Pitt, This part of the book dragged and took away from the rest of the book. I wanted to get back to the action with Mack. Lastly, (hopefully not for Mack) The red head, Madeline Glynn, got her taste of victory. This is one of those times you wish you had pictures. Mack is the man. And he conquered once more. Isn't that right Maddie?

After a long dry spell, Mack Bolan gets laid with a hot red-head. Oh yeah, and he fucks up a couple really bad dudes looking to take over a brand new narcotic for illegal use, and the tangled web of their relationship. One thing I truly enjoyed was the tension between Sampson and Vega. Both publically want revenge against the DEA, and want to make lots of money, but privately, they also want to maneuver their partner into position to die, thanks to what each did to the others' son. A brilliant plot twist that allows for a lot of dramatic tension stacked on top of Bolan ripping through Florida and Georgia with a no-nonsense professional attitude, and plenty of whoop for all the ass thrown at him. Lots of good attention paid to supporting cast, lots of intrigue, and lots of people getting blown to chunky bits. Add in 2/3d's of Able Team also smacking the fight fantastic, and you've got a killer fucking debut novel.