What do you think?
Rate this book
The Executioner #9
Vegas Vendetta
Showdown in Glitter City
The glamorous home of glitz, showgirls and gambling, Las Vegas, Nevada, is the festering core of the Costra Nostra crime betwork.
And now the all-night Western playground is about to be rocked by the rampaging Executioner express. For wherever his sworn enemies-the mob's top kingpins-choose to congregate, that's where
the next bloody Mack Bolan battle field is bound to be!
In the lethal Mafia stronghold, it looks as though the dons are the ones holding all the aces. But the Executioner has come to the deadly neon jungle to play hard...and for keeps!
The glamorous home of glitz, showgirls and gambling, Las Vegas, Nevada, is the festering core of the Costra Nostra crime betwork.
And now the all-night Western playground is about to be rocked by the rampaging Executioner express. For wherever his sworn enemies-the mob's top kingpins-choose to congregate, that's where
the next bloody Mack Bolan battle field is bound to be!
In the lethal Mafia stronghold, it looks as though the dons are the ones holding all the aces. But the Executioner has come to the deadly neon jungle to play hard...and for keeps!
157 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1971
57 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
About the author
Don Pendleton
1,517 books188 followersDon Pendleton was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, December 12, 1927 and died October 23, 1995 in Arizona.
He wrote mystery, action/adventure, science-fiction, crime fiction, suspense, short stories, nonfiction, and was a comic scriptwriter, poet, screenwriter, essayist, and metaphysical scholar. He published more than 125 books in his long career, and his books have been published in more than 25 foreign languages with close to two hundred million copies in print throughout the world.
After producing a number of science-fiction and mystery novels, Don launched in 1969 the phenomenal Mack Bolan: The Executioner, which quickly emerged as the original, definitive Action/Adventure series. His successful paperback books inspired a new particularly American literary genre during the early 1970's, and Don became known as "the father of action/adventure."
"Although The Executioner Series is far and away my most significant contribution to world literature, I still do not perceive myself as 'belonging' to any particular literary niche. I am simply a storyteller, an entertainer who hopes to enthrall with visions of the reader's own incipient greatness."
Don Pendleton's original Executioner Series are now in ebooks, published by Open Road Media. 37 of the original novels.
Wikipedia: Don Pendleton
He wrote mystery, action/adventure, science-fiction, crime fiction, suspense, short stories, nonfiction, and was a comic scriptwriter, poet, screenwriter, essayist, and metaphysical scholar. He published more than 125 books in his long career, and his books have been published in more than 25 foreign languages with close to two hundred million copies in print throughout the world.
After producing a number of science-fiction and mystery novels, Don launched in 1969 the phenomenal Mack Bolan: The Executioner, which quickly emerged as the original, definitive Action/Adventure series. His successful paperback books inspired a new particularly American literary genre during the early 1970's, and Don became known as "the father of action/adventure."
"Although The Executioner Series is far and away my most significant contribution to world literature, I still do not perceive myself as 'belonging' to any particular literary niche. I am simply a storyteller, an entertainer who hopes to enthrall with visions of the reader's own incipient greatness."
Don Pendleton's original Executioner Series are now in ebooks, published by Open Road Media. 37 of the original novels.
Wikipedia: Don Pendleton
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
February 22, 2020
Mack Bolan stops off in Vegas to relieve the Mafia of a load of cash and ends up rescuing undercover cop Carl Lyons who tells Bolan about some sinister mob activity in town. Bolan decides to stick around, help out a comedian that has been targeted, and take down a Casino-Resort that is mobbed up. The hip 70’s idioms were a gas, the police are called “the fuzz” and independent women are “Women Libbers”. Bolanverse regulars Hal Brognola, Jack Grimaldi, and the deadly Talifero brothers all make appearances too. Another lean and muscular action thriller in the long running series that is difficult to put down.
October 30, 2021
Bolan heads to Vegas to take down a mob run casino. Several series regulars pop up in early appearances. An interesting look at the political and entertainment scene at the time by featuring a stand up comic that runs afoul of the mafia. Mack delivers his usual violent and bloody justice in the back rooms and on the gambling floors of Sin City.
June 23, 2025
Another 70s action adventure, with Sarge encountering Nevada's sin mecca. He uses the Mob's suspicions about each other to his own advantage, and finds some new allies.
November 22, 2012
The stuff that teenage memories are made of.
These books are violent and exciting. They also read very quickly. What’s not to like if you’re a boy?
This particular novel is one of the earlier entries in the series (which now encompasses 600 or so novels), and was still actually written by Don Pendleton. Goodreads currently shows the Mack Bolan series as different series’ such as The Executioner, Mack Bolan – The Executioner & Super Bolan, but it’s all part of the same thing. Super Bolan? Is it just me or does that sound a bit corny?
A variety of writers have been writing the books over the years, even though the Don Pendleton name still appeared on the covers. Vegas Vendetta contains a lower body count than some of the others I’ve read, but it is a lot of fun. All in all, it’s still exactly what you would expect from an Executioner novel – not rocket science, just rockets.
December 30, 2019
Bolan lands in Vegas and wreaks havoc.
The Talifero brothers are again on Bolan's trail but they are as ineffectual this time as they were last time. I think Mr. Pendleton really missed an opportunity to make these guys a really scary opponent for Bolan. Although it wasn't explicitly said, it looks like one of the brothers didn't make it. Hopefully we'll find out later.
This was the second book in a row where none of the female characters were mutilated, raped, tortured or killed. Of course, the named female characters didn't have a lot of screen time in this novel.
This was the first time Jack Grimaldi's name was mentioned. He plays a much larger role in the future.
Carl Lyons makes an appearance in this novel but his role is very minor. Bolan saves Lyons after he has been tortured and puts Mack on the trail of the Vegas bad guys.
Hal Bragnola makes an appearance also. He's in the field to personally take Bolan down although he doesn't want to. At the end of the novel, Hal has the drop on Bolan. As Hal pulls the trigger on his sawed-off shotgun, a mofia bodyguard jumps in front of Bolan to take the blast and his dieing shot hits Hal in the leg. Bolan makes his escape. Although Bolan didn't fire the shot, I wonder how Hal will feel about getting shot.
Overall, another fine novel in Mack Bolan's war against the Mafia.
The Talifero brothers are again on Bolan's trail but they are as ineffectual this time as they were last time. I think Mr. Pendleton really missed an opportunity to make these guys a really scary opponent for Bolan. Although it wasn't explicitly said, it looks like one of the brothers didn't make it. Hopefully we'll find out later.
This was the second book in a row where none of the female characters were mutilated, raped, tortured or killed. Of course, the named female characters didn't have a lot of screen time in this novel.
This was the first time Jack Grimaldi's name was mentioned. He plays a much larger role in the future.
Carl Lyons makes an appearance in this novel but his role is very minor. Bolan saves Lyons after he has been tortured and puts Mack on the trail of the Vegas bad guys.
Hal Bragnola makes an appearance also. He's in the field to personally take Bolan down although he doesn't want to. At the end of the novel, Hal has the drop on Bolan. As Hal pulls the trigger on his sawed-off shotgun, a mofia bodyguard jumps in front of Bolan to take the blast and his dieing shot hits Hal in the leg. Bolan makes his escape. Although Bolan didn't fire the shot, I wonder how Hal will feel about getting shot.
Overall, another fine novel in Mack Bolan's war against the Mafia.
Read
August 2, 2020A big part of the fun of reading these books for me is the way they take me back in time. The settings are pure 60s/70s, the clothes, the technology, the cars, the hippies. Even the pulpy nature of the stories conjures a bygone era. But the books, themselves, have a look, a feel, even a smell that takes me back. This one even has a Kent cigarettes ad bound right into the middle of the book! Within the fold out ad is a coupon you can redeem for a mini hair dryer, lamp, timer, or digital clock -- all for a few dollars plus two bottom flaps from packages of Kent cigarettes. Amazing. I like to imagine some guy headed to work on a city bus smoking a Kent cigarette while reading a Mack Bolan book, lamenting the fact that he knocked over his desk lamp that morning and broke it; he gets to the ad and is like, "Hey, it must be my day!"
Enough of that. On to the review.
I think I enjoyed this chapter of the Bolan saga as much as any of the preceding ones, thanks to several factors. First, the reappearance of some favorite characters. Carl Lyons (from books 2 and 3) is back. The Talifero brothers apparently did survive the Miami Massacre (book 4). Second, the plot involved more intrigue than murder. I seem to prefer the stories where Bolan (I almost typed "Bond," haha) tricks the bad guys into conflict against each other, rather than a full on assault against some bad guy hideout or whatever.
The one exception here was when he shoots out the tires of a landing Mafia airplane. That was pretty bad ass.
There's almost a whole chapter devoted to a stand up comic's onstage monologue that seemed at the far end of Pendleton's writing ability. I can't say I could have written it any better; it was an ambitious task. Basically, the comic had been muscled by some mobsters just prior to getting onstage. His act was supposed to start funny and then transition to more of an anti-crime tirade. Ambitious for a writer, right? Suffice to say, it didn't really work for me. Kind of just made me cringe as I was reading it.
Small gripe overall. Like I said, I really enjoyed this one. This series is definitely starting to feel like a modern TV show, each episode a chapter in a larger story. Burn Notice is probably the closest parallel -- not in tone but in presentation. And with me reading about 1 of these a week, it makes the TV parallel feel that much more accurate.
Enough of that. On to the review.
I think I enjoyed this chapter of the Bolan saga as much as any of the preceding ones, thanks to several factors. First, the reappearance of some favorite characters. Carl Lyons (from books 2 and 3) is back. The Talifero brothers apparently did survive the Miami Massacre (book 4). Second, the plot involved more intrigue than murder. I seem to prefer the stories where Bolan (I almost typed "Bond," haha) tricks the bad guys into conflict against each other, rather than a full on assault against some bad guy hideout or whatever.
The one exception here was when he shoots out the tires of a landing Mafia airplane. That was pretty bad ass.
There's almost a whole chapter devoted to a stand up comic's onstage monologue that seemed at the far end of Pendleton's writing ability. I can't say I could have written it any better; it was an ambitious task. Basically, the comic had been muscled by some mobsters just prior to getting onstage. His act was supposed to start funny and then transition to more of an anti-crime tirade. Ambitious for a writer, right? Suffice to say, it didn't really work for me. Kind of just made me cringe as I was reading it.
Small gripe overall. Like I said, I really enjoyed this one. This series is definitely starting to feel like a modern TV show, each episode a chapter in a larger story. Burn Notice is probably the closest parallel -- not in tone but in presentation. And with me reading about 1 of these a week, it makes the TV parallel feel that much more accurate.
February 23, 2021
Mack Bolan takes his war to Vegas! This wasn't bad, but it wasn't one of the better Bolan novels either. Bolan just waltzes into the mob strongholds pretending to be a mobster a little too often. It seems a little silly to think he could get away with pretending to be a member of the mafia, especially since he does it all the time. If you can get past that, it's more of the war on crime he's been waging since the first novel in the series.
I like the way the settings of the novels keep changing, and I would have to think this series was influenced at least partially by Ian Fleming's James Bond stories.
Overall a good volume, but not really anything special.
I like the way the settings of the novels keep changing, and I would have to think this series was influenced at least partially by Ian Fleming's James Bond stories.
Overall a good volume, but not really anything special.
July 11, 2020
A nice entry in the best series of the men's adventure genre. Probably closer to a 3.5 but rounded up. Has plenty of action and written as well as most of the Pendleton entries, though I thought the plot was a little off on this one. However it bulldozes through with nice set pieces and does include a lot of the charcters that will be very important in the series and the spinoffs. Also introduces a chatcter for the first time in the series that will be a regular for many years in this series and the spinoffs. Was a nice bonus since I didn't remember it from my first read through a couple of decades ago.
Recommend for fans of the series, though the first 40 of these or so are better read in order there is a overall story arc.
Recommend for fans of the series, though the first 40 of these or so are better read in order there is a overall story arc.
January 15, 2016
Bolan using the confusion factor to the fullest and making a big dent in the Mafia money making machine of Las Vegas.
May 17, 2024
A good one! Introduces some new characters that will also come back in future episodes. (Carl Lyons, Toby Ranger, Tommy Anders)
December 10, 2020
Las Vegas has always had the reputation of being a mafia-controlled town. This was especially true in the 1970’s when the city was young and growing so rapidly that Law and Order hadn’t fully gained control. This was the era of Sinatra, Martin, 24-hour gambling, seedy bars and backrooms, high-priced escorts, and every hotel having some form of live entertainment. Behind the scenes was the mafia with their hands in everything. Whether it was as bad as I picture it is not for me to say. It just has the perfect reputation that would make it a natural target for Mack Bolan to come in and shake things up.
The book once again opens with a really good action scene. It starts outside in the desert near Vegas. Bolan knows about the cash transfer and prepares to attack the convey. He takes out the limos and then a machine toting jeep with just his trusty .45 colt in a scene reminiscent of an 80’s action film but done here first. All looks good for Bolan. He has the cash. The reinforcements are still miles away. It would have been the perfect snatch and grab, except that one car had a prisoner in the backseat who was being taken out to be eliminated. You can almost sense Bolan’s hesitation as his plan worked perfectly, but now a prisoner is an unexpected hitch. Who is the prisoner? None other than Carl Lyons, the cop who was part of the anti-Bolan task force from earlier books and will later become part of Able Team in the post-Pendleton Executioner books.
Lyons is wounded thanks to Bolan’s attack and takes a backseat during the story but does provide some interesting information about a mafia conspiracy called the California Carousal. Lyons is part of a task force led by Hal Brognola (future Stony Man leader and also last scene several books ago) that appears to be infiltrating the mafia. It didn’t go too well for Lyons as his cover was blown and he was being led out to the Vegas desert. This kickstarts the book where Bolan makes several changes of disguises and at one point takes literal control of the mafia in Vegas (Too long and spoilery to explain).
There are a lot of memorable characters in this book, which was for me the best part of the book. Johnny Anders a Vegas comic who makes a lot of politically incorrect (even for the 1970s) jokes, but provide a lot of information about the mafia influence in the entertainment field. We are also introduced to the Ranger Girls. They are four Vegas dancing girls who will help Bolan escape from the hotel. Their “leader” Toby turns out later in the book to possibly be an undercover cop or someone really good with a machine gun.
The Golden Duster Casino, is run by Vito Apostinni, who lives in the fortified penthouse and keeps all the unofficial books of the casino. He is described as being very cautious but shows a lot of arrogance in thinking that he is truly in charge. Bolan quickly humbles him.
Finally the Talifero brothers, who made a brief appearance in Miami Massacre also show up leading a mafia anti-Bolan task force. I was glad for the Talifero brothers return. They were really built up in Miami Massacre, but barely even confronted Bolan.
Finally, there is Joe “the Monster” Stanno, one of the mafia enforcers who has an impressive name and you think will be the biggest threat of the book. Well he is actually caught sleeping at the least opportune time.
Pendleton once again does a masterful job delievering a quick story with memorable characters that wraps up extremely well. It also does a good job of setting up Bolan's next adventure, which looks like it will take place in Puerto Rico.
The book once again opens with a really good action scene. It starts outside in the desert near Vegas. Bolan knows about the cash transfer and prepares to attack the convey. He takes out the limos and then a machine toting jeep with just his trusty .45 colt in a scene reminiscent of an 80’s action film but done here first. All looks good for Bolan. He has the cash. The reinforcements are still miles away. It would have been the perfect snatch and grab, except that one car had a prisoner in the backseat who was being taken out to be eliminated. You can almost sense Bolan’s hesitation as his plan worked perfectly, but now a prisoner is an unexpected hitch. Who is the prisoner? None other than Carl Lyons, the cop who was part of the anti-Bolan task force from earlier books and will later become part of Able Team in the post-Pendleton Executioner books.
Lyons is wounded thanks to Bolan’s attack and takes a backseat during the story but does provide some interesting information about a mafia conspiracy called the California Carousal. Lyons is part of a task force led by Hal Brognola (future Stony Man leader and also last scene several books ago) that appears to be infiltrating the mafia. It didn’t go too well for Lyons as his cover was blown and he was being led out to the Vegas desert. This kickstarts the book where Bolan makes several changes of disguises and at one point takes literal control of the mafia in Vegas (Too long and spoilery to explain).
There are a lot of memorable characters in this book, which was for me the best part of the book. Johnny Anders a Vegas comic who makes a lot of politically incorrect (even for the 1970s) jokes, but provide a lot of information about the mafia influence in the entertainment field. We are also introduced to the Ranger Girls. They are four Vegas dancing girls who will help Bolan escape from the hotel. Their “leader” Toby turns out later in the book to possibly be an undercover cop or someone really good with a machine gun.
The Golden Duster Casino, is run by Vito Apostinni, who lives in the fortified penthouse and keeps all the unofficial books of the casino. He is described as being very cautious but shows a lot of arrogance in thinking that he is truly in charge. Bolan quickly humbles him.
Finally the Talifero brothers, who made a brief appearance in Miami Massacre also show up leading a mafia anti-Bolan task force. I was glad for the Talifero brothers return. They were really built up in Miami Massacre, but barely even confronted Bolan.
Finally, there is Joe “the Monster” Stanno, one of the mafia enforcers who has an impressive name and you think will be the biggest threat of the book. Well he is actually caught sleeping at the least opportune time.
Pendleton once again does a masterful job delievering a quick story with memorable characters that wraps up extremely well. It also does a good job of setting up Bolan's next adventure, which looks like it will take place in Puerto Rico.
June 24, 2024
Everyone's favorite Mafia hunter, Mack Bolan, wages war in the City of Sin, neon-soaked Las Vegas, in this rather weak entry in Don Pendleton's long-running series.
Actually, this is the first of Pendleton's original 37 novels to disappoint me, as it squanders its solid premise in favor of bloated dialogue and cryptic hints at a deeper Mafia scheme, instead of giving Bolan a scheme to foil in this novel.
There are some solid bits, including a brief appearance by tough-guy cop Carl Lyons and the promise of the Talifero Brothers, the deadly hitmen who survived the Miami Massacre to continue their vendetta against The Executioner. But these good scenes and ideas are crammed into a book more interested in wandering chapters devoted to a two-bit comedian's standup routine (which is mostly him whining about how people are too easily offended...yes, fifty years ago this was still a topic), a whole lot of Bolan talking to people and not doing anything, and a lengthy segment devoted to explaining to us how casinos worked. I kid you not.
The story struggled to find its pace, lurching from scene to scene until the finale, which was really the only other action setpiece aside from the opening.
The one other highlight was Bolan sniping the Talifero Brothers' plane as it landed, in a scene that made me think the novel was turning around. I was not correct, because it was right back into the slog after that bit of excitement.
The biggest crime Pendleton commits is wasting Pat and Mike Talifero, the twin hitmen who should be Bolan's biggest threat. Instead, they are barely seen, smoking cigars and drinking scotch after the plane incident, before they both stumble around in the finale being totally useless.
This isn't a total waste, but after all that came before, it's definitely tired and empty compared to the full-throttle action of earlier installments.
Actually, this is the first of Pendleton's original 37 novels to disappoint me, as it squanders its solid premise in favor of bloated dialogue and cryptic hints at a deeper Mafia scheme, instead of giving Bolan a scheme to foil in this novel.
There are some solid bits, including a brief appearance by tough-guy cop Carl Lyons and the promise of the Talifero Brothers, the deadly hitmen who survived the Miami Massacre to continue their vendetta against The Executioner. But these good scenes and ideas are crammed into a book more interested in wandering chapters devoted to a two-bit comedian's standup routine (which is mostly him whining about how people are too easily offended...yes, fifty years ago this was still a topic), a whole lot of Bolan talking to people and not doing anything, and a lengthy segment devoted to explaining to us how casinos worked. I kid you not.
The story struggled to find its pace, lurching from scene to scene until the finale, which was really the only other action setpiece aside from the opening.
The one other highlight was Bolan sniping the Talifero Brothers' plane as it landed, in a scene that made me think the novel was turning around. I was not correct, because it was right back into the slog after that bit of excitement.
The biggest crime Pendleton commits is wasting Pat and Mike Talifero, the twin hitmen who should be Bolan's biggest threat. Instead, they are barely seen, smoking cigars and drinking scotch after the plane incident, before they both stumble around in the finale being totally useless.
This isn't a total waste, but after all that came before, it's definitely tired and empty compared to the full-throttle action of earlier installments.
February 7, 2025
The basic plot of all of the early Executioner novels is the same. Mack Bolan is going to come into town and kill a whole lot of organized crime figures. Almost always, a beautiful woman falls for him on the way. The fun is both in the action that eliminates the mob and in seeing what tactic Bolan will take this time to get the job done.
The element that distinguishes this novel from the others is that in the opening pages, Bolan is carrying out a strike specifically to steal a lot of money from the mob so that he can bankroll his war against them. But his plans get thrown for a loop when he discovers that the vehicles carrying the money are also carrying a prisoner. He rescues the prisoner and leaves the money behind, discovering only after doing so that the man is a cop he knows—a cop who has left California to go undercover against the mob in Las Vegas. The tiny bit of information he gets from the cop changes the whole tone of the novel as he seeks to protect a target of the mob while getting them to kill each other.
His plans are both complicated and aided by the arrival in force of more mob enforcers and the FBI. Bolan often pretends to be a made man himself in these adventures as he penetrates mob businesses and strong holds. And the FBI have been basically told to put Bolan down like a mad dog. Everyone has their guns out for Mack (again) and I really enjoyed the way he turned the tables and got away.
The element that distinguishes this novel from the others is that in the opening pages, Bolan is carrying out a strike specifically to steal a lot of money from the mob so that he can bankroll his war against them. But his plans get thrown for a loop when he discovers that the vehicles carrying the money are also carrying a prisoner. He rescues the prisoner and leaves the money behind, discovering only after doing so that the man is a cop he knows—a cop who has left California to go undercover against the mob in Las Vegas. The tiny bit of information he gets from the cop changes the whole tone of the novel as he seeks to protect a target of the mob while getting them to kill each other.
His plans are both complicated and aided by the arrival in force of more mob enforcers and the FBI. Bolan often pretends to be a made man himself in these adventures as he penetrates mob businesses and strong holds. And the FBI have been basically told to put Bolan down like a mad dog. Everyone has their guns out for Mack (again) and I really enjoyed the way he turned the tables and got away.
March 26, 2024
Rating 4
High rating for a pulp mens action adventure novel - probably yes.
However for a couple of reasons for me - firstly as an early entry in the series DP kept the story and writing tightly controlled, action orientated and fast moving , basically exactly what a mens actions adventure genre novel should do; secondarily reason is that DP gives Bolan much more of a character with a morality and personality than is normally found in a novel of this type, he isn’t just a blank right wing cypher that kills the bad guys and leaves town fast.
The story itself is another basic one where Bolan follows the trail to Las Vegas where the mafia control the gambling and sending money somewhere else to fund another of their projects, the ending itself leads quite quickly into the next novel in the series.
I had read this decades ago but forgotten everything about it so it felt new to me, interesting that the character of Carl Lyons a cop from la reappears presumably he last appearance before the creation of the Able Team spin-off.
Overall a very good read I found exactly what you expect the series to be. Start at the beginning rather than jumping straight in to this one I think though.
High rating for a pulp mens action adventure novel - probably yes.
However for a couple of reasons for me - firstly as an early entry in the series DP kept the story and writing tightly controlled, action orientated and fast moving , basically exactly what a mens actions adventure genre novel should do; secondarily reason is that DP gives Bolan much more of a character with a morality and personality than is normally found in a novel of this type, he isn’t just a blank right wing cypher that kills the bad guys and leaves town fast.
The story itself is another basic one where Bolan follows the trail to Las Vegas where the mafia control the gambling and sending money somewhere else to fund another of their projects, the ending itself leads quite quickly into the next novel in the series.
I had read this decades ago but forgotten everything about it so it felt new to me, interesting that the character of Carl Lyons a cop from la reappears presumably he last appearance before the creation of the Able Team spin-off.
Overall a very good read I found exactly what you expect the series to be. Start at the beginning rather than jumping straight in to this one I think though.
December 20, 2020
The Talifero brothers, Pat and Mike, have made this vow to each other: “We will have no happiness, no rest, and no life until we have washed our hands in Bolan’s blood.”
This is a vow to the death, Sicilian style. It is the Big Vendetta, and its partners are the two most feared men inside La Cosa Nostra; they are the lord high enforcers of the national governing council, La Commissione. They have met Bolan once, and failed ignominiously. It is not their intention to fail again, and fate has set their course for The Talifero brothers, Pat and Mike, have made this vow to each other: “We will have no happiness, no rest, and no life until we have washed our hands in Bolan’s blood.”
...in his combat-conditioned mind, the tussle for tinsel-town was already underway. The Executioner was closing on Vegas.
Read this book on Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/392560528
This is a vow to the death, Sicilian style. It is the Big Vendetta, and its partners are the two most feared men inside La Cosa Nostra; they are the lord high enforcers of the national governing council, La Commissione. They have met Bolan once, and failed ignominiously. It is not their intention to fail again, and fate has set their course for The Talifero brothers, Pat and Mike, have made this vow to each other: “We will have no happiness, no rest, and no life until we have washed our hands in Bolan’s blood.”
...in his combat-conditioned mind, the tussle for tinsel-town was already underway. The Executioner was closing on Vegas.
Read this book on Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/392560528
May 10, 2022
In comparison to the similar Nick Carter spy action novels of roughly the same vintage, Pendleton's Executioner series manages to be faster paced, but there's almost nothing to the plot once you've spent some time bringing him to the current location and set aside some time to take him to the location of the next book. In the scant pages between, there's hardly time to breathe while our protagonist Mack Bolan is hard at work turning his opponents to pulp (an evocative word used repeatedly in later volumes).
They're trash, we all know it, and yet after a couple weeks have passed, I find myself reaching for them and their ilk again. I'd be hard pressed to recommend them, but if you find yourself drawn to these Hardy-Boys-for-adults series, I'd be the last person to stand in your way.
They're trash, we all know it, and yet after a couple weeks have passed, I find myself reaching for them and their ilk again. I'd be hard pressed to recommend them, but if you find yourself drawn to these Hardy-Boys-for-adults series, I'd be the last person to stand in your way.
June 7, 2022
More of the same thing, just this time Bolan is slaughtering mafiosi in Vegas. I had hopes this one would be
in the same vein as "Nightmare in New York" but alas, it lacked that one's excitement or insanity. Still
though, there is something to be said for consistency as these books never stray far from the same storyline and somehow keep things moderately fresh and interesting.
While they never deviate from the overall plot, they somehow never get too old or boring. And they're always good for a quick, fun read.
in the same vein as "Nightmare in New York" but alas, it lacked that one's excitement or insanity. Still
though, there is something to be said for consistency as these books never stray far from the same storyline and somehow keep things moderately fresh and interesting.
While they never deviate from the overall plot, they somehow never get too old or boring. And they're always good for a quick, fun read.
October 16, 2018
Not as satisfying as it could have been and has some issues, but Vegas Vendetta is fine. I feel like it was mostly set up for the next book rather than concentrating on telling a standalone tale. The continuity was good though and its great seeing Lyons and Brognola again. The book though was very light on the action and too many pages were used on Anders "Stand up" comedy. The end was fine and I can appreciate Pendleton doing something different, I just wish there was more action in this one.
Read
January 5, 2018Peter Castrillo-- The Executioner was more of a Luca Brasi chacter who finishes five tours with the military elites, and then becomes a hitman for a Chicago outfit thats taking over a Vegas casino by killing off the owners/gangster army of killers. It was like 1950 characters in an action packed 2017 movie. It was interesting, different, and enjoyable. I recommend for hard true crime enthusiast.
December 20, 2017
If you are not looking for literary excellence and want to clear your head between more erudite reads then this series is just the thing. I am finding that books written so long ago have some interesting predictions in them.
July 11, 2019
Classic American Action/Adventure At It's Best!
As always the great Don Pendleton once again delivers absolute perfection when it comes to the genre of action/adventure with his all-American hero Mack Bolan aka The Executioner.
As always the great Don Pendleton once again delivers absolute perfection when it comes to the genre of action/adventure with his all-American hero Mack Bolan aka The Executioner.
September 21, 2019
A typical Bolan novel. There were a couple of surprises caught me off guard and so I give it four stars. The novels seem to be getting close to more of the same.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
March 28, 2021
Nice little respite from reading larger novels. Not as much action as previous but still a good read.
October 26, 2022
Typical of the series- never boring. Well written, writer obviously did his research. Unexpected social commentary that, 50 years after it was written, still holds true.
November 30, 2023
The only one who scores a Jackpot in Vegas in this story is Mack Bolan when he killed the two Mafia Hit men sent to kill him.
June 1, 2016
Vegas Baby! Pendleton puts Bolan through his paces as Mack pulls off what may be his most audacious con since 'Battle Mask'. What should be really interesting for many is the comedy routine given by one of the characters. The phrase politically correct wasn't around then, but that is certainly what is being hacked to bits.
These first 10 or 12 novels are the best of the series with Mack's final week before becoming John Phoenix run a very close second.
Find 'em, read 'em and love 'em!
These first 10 or 12 novels are the best of the series with Mack's final week before becoming John Phoenix run a very close second.
Find 'em, read 'em and love 'em!
February 9, 2015
"Where we going, Joe?"
"Where the hell do you think? We're going to Vegas. To nail down that red carpet."
Joe the Monster's "red carpet" was actually a shroud.
And he meant to personally drape it over Mack Bolan's bleeding body.
For double-dam sure, there was no such thing as a sure thing.
It looked as though his dice had come up acey-deucey. It was a crap out.
"Where the hell do you think? We're going to Vegas. To nail down that red carpet."
Joe the Monster's "red carpet" was actually a shroud.
And he meant to personally drape it over Mack Bolan's bleeding body.
For double-dam sure, there was no such thing as a sure thing.
It looked as though his dice had come up acey-deucey. It was a crap out.
October 4, 2019
An excellent men's adventure series from the 60s, 70's and 80's. The first 38 books are outstanding but then the series is taken over by a bunch of new writers, writing under the name of the original creator and they take the series into a new direction I did not care for. The first 38 books are very recommended
February 1, 2012
I live in Vegas right now and this one was fun. Shooting the front wheel out of a plane landing at McCarran International was awesome. :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews