Review: The Fist of Fatima

The Fist of Fatima by Paul Edwards
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This Robert Lory installment is an improvement over his previous effort The Laughing Death, this time John Eagle is engaged early in the book and his mission is personal. There were several interesting historical or geographic references that I was inclined to look up, including the 1973 attack on the Saudi Embassy in Khartoum, and the nomadic Tuareg people of the Sahara dessert. Eagle’s college roommate is killed by terrorists in an attack much like one one in Khartoum and Eagle vows vengeance. He travels to Libya and becomes allied with a band of Tuareg nomads that include the chief’s horny daughters, who find Eagle irresistible, and their jealous suitor. In true adventure book fashion Eagle must endure various challenges and fights to prove himself worthy during the trek across the Sahara to the mountain lair of the terrorists, the setting for the action-packed climax. This fourth book in this obscure series is more of an adventure novel rather than the previous action/espionage and is my favorite thus far.

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Review: Sheba

Sheba by Orrie Hitt
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

A quick and easy read, without much else going on for it. The prose is dumbed down to the point of annoyance, and the plot consists mainly of Sheba fending off, or drunkenly accepting, sexual advances from every character in the book who is not related to her. I've read several terrific Orrie Hitt books. This is one is truly a clunker.

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Review: Atlanta Deathwatch

Atlanta Deathwatch by Ralph Dennis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Excellent hard-boiled private eye novel with an engaging '70s vibe that grabs you and won't let go. Jim Hardman is a strangely endearing PI with self-doubt issues and a tendency to work both sides of the law to further his interests. The story is expertly plotted and paced as the clues to the murder mystery fall swiftly into place. Hardman and his partner Hump are inclined to get themselves out of dangerous situations using cunning and stealth rather than shooting their way out - a plus in my opinion. I've heard good things about this series over the years and I'm glad to see that it's finally back in print. Recommended.

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Review: The First Mountain Man

The First Mountain Man by William W. Johnstone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first entry in the Preacher series, this one tells the story of how the mountain man called Preacher, a self-sufficient loner, goes against his druthers and helps a wagon train of Eastern greenhorns across the untamed West while being pursued by a violent band of outlaws and getting involved with various skirmishes with Indians. Johnstone knows the time period and places exceedingly well giving the novel a sense of authenticity. Preacher is a fascinating character and I loved the banter between the mountain men and the pilgrims. Johnstone's take on this fairly standard plot is a very good one.

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Review: Blaze! Bitter Valley

Blaze! Bitter Valley by Wayne D. Dundee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really like Dundee’s take on this series, adding some humor and playful banter between the gunslinging couple, and sex scenes that seem less gratuitous. The Blaze’s are recruited by a former prostitute who has recently married a rich ranch owner and has been “acquainted” with J.D. in the past, sparking some jealousy from Kate. It seems that the heirs to the ranch are not happy with the new wife and soon an elaborate murder mystery becomes the focus of the book. Solid entertainment and probably my favorite in the series thus far.

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Review: Slaughter At Buzzard's Gulch: Caz: Vigilante Hunter: A Western Adventure From The Author of "Mojave Massacre"

Slaughter At Buzzard's Gulch: Caz: Vigilante Hunter: A Western Adventure From The Author of "Mojave Massacre" by Scott Harris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This fast paced and compelling short novel tells the story of Caz, a compassionate bounty hunter, who finds himself in a violent battle with an saloon owner and his team of outlaws when he uncovers forced prostitution in the establishment. Caz is an interesting character and is complemented by a strong supporting cast that included Bess, a young reluctant prostitute, and Etta, a feisty boarding house owner. I liked this novel at lot and am looking forward to reading the further adventures of Caz.

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Review: The Hand of Dracula!

The Hand of Dracula! by Robert Lory
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sure, it's silly, but it's a blast to read. An oddball team consisting of a wheelchair bound professor, who's quite an ass, an enormous Puerto Rican ex-cop, a shape-shifting, mind reading woman enslaved by Dracula, and of course the extremely violent Count who is always on the verge of being out of control, and who hates the professor and subverts his efforts when he can. The oddball team works loosely together to try solve a murder mystery with a wager between the Count and professor on the line. There's a lot of weirdness going on, a Manson-like cult, Mafia hit men, a nefarious funeral director and his brutish hunchback assistant, all of which make for a fun and crazy ride.

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Review: Assault on Soho

Assault on Soho by Don Pendleton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bolan is ambushed at the airpot by mobsters in London on his way back from his adventure in Paris and is rescued by a beautiful kinky sex club owner. The Mafia raises the price on Bolan's head and recruits an army of assassins and mobsters, including Bolan's friend and mob infiltrator Leo Turrin. Bolan fights for survival with the aid of the sex club owner all while solving a murder mystery and taking more vengeance on the mob. A fun read, albeit a bit wacky, and definitely incentive to keep reading the Executioner series.

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Review: Kiss and Kill

Kiss and Kill by Richard Deming
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Crisp plotting and a nice twist drive this short noir that tells the story of a sociopathic grifter and his wife/accomplice whose scams escalate to murder as they travel across the country bilking single women out of their money. The dollar was clearly worth a lot more when this was published. This era of paperback originals spawned several novels where the narrator was unreliable or a jerk. This is certainly one of the better ones. Recommended.

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Review: Slocum and the Family Business

Slocum and the Family Business by Jake Logan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Written by the late Ellen Recknor, a talented writer and storyteller of the Old West. This short novel is light on the action, and heavy on the eating for an Adult Western, not necessarily a bad thing. Slocum attacked by a fella named Goose who accuses him of killing his bother, then meets up with a young kid who thinks that Slocum is his father. The three of them end up working together to track down cattle rustlers at the ranch of Hiram, who feeds them well and in great detail. The sex scenes are less awkward than found in most AWS, perhaps because it was written by a woman. Nicely character driven with authentic prose and dialogue I think that this is a fine entry in the series. Book 366 in the series Slocum and the Rustler on the Run is also written by Recknor and continues the storyline. I've added it to the list of books that I'm looking for.

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