brudu

This is a tightly written and gripping tale that starts with a bang and doesn't let up. I was swept in by the moody atmosphere to the extant I felt I was witnessing the tale unfold in real time. Of special note is the scorpion sequence near the beginning and Bolan's escape towards the end. Like Meyer's previous effort, the amount of research was intricate and detailed, adding to the realism of the African locales. My only nits concerned the young girl and the data Bolan was sent to retrieve. At times I felt the girl was there only to guide the story along a certain path, while the importance of the data itself got lost in the action. Minor things, though. This is a page-turner.

As a first pass at a Bolan book by a new author, I think it's a very good read. Not only was the plot intricate, the way I like it, the amount of research spoke volumes about Meyer's dedication to the series. That level of detail easily immersed me in the story, and I had no trouble visualizing the Chechnya locales. From start to finish I found Rebel Force a roller coaster ride of action--a standout being a car chase that was gritty and thrilling. My only gripe came with some scene transitions that led me to believe an editor may have become somewhat overzealous, without realizing the harm they were doing to the continuity of the story. Still, I can't penalize Meyer for that, and I look forward to more from this author.