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Special X #11
Swastika
As Special X, an elite team of investigators, gets closer to Swastika, a group of Aryans determined to cleanse society, they uncover a horrifying government conspiracy linked to World War II-era Germany and become hunted by relentless killers who want this secret buried forever. Original.
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 13, 2005
10 people are currently reading
283 people want to read
About the author
Michael Slade
31 books266 followersSlade on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MountieNoir
Slade on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MountieNoir
Criminal lawyer MICHAEL SLADE has acted in over one hundred murder cases. His specialty is the law of insanity. He argued the last death penalty case in Canada’s highest court.
Backed by his forensic experience, Slade’s Special X and Wyatt Rook thrillers fuse the genres of police and legal procedure, whodunit and impossible crime, suspense, history, and horror.
Slade was guest of honor at both the Bloody Words crime convention and the World Horror Convention. As Time Out puts it, “A thin line separates crime and horror, and in Michael Slade’s thrillers, the demarcation vanishes altogether.”
Slade was guest speaker at the international Police Leadership Conference and several RCMP regimental dinners. As Reader’s Digest puts it, “The Slade books have developed a strong following among police officers because of their strict adherence to proper police procedure.”
For the stories behind his plots, visit Slade’s Morgue at www.specialx.net.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 7, 2015
A tough book to review. Two story lines, one in WWII Germany and the other murders in Vancouver. The book has some gruesome descriptions of slave labor camps in Germany, albeit based on true facts. Since the narrative covers three generations it is hard at times to keep the characters straight and a needless twist at the end makes it even harder. Still I had a hard time putting the book down, it was my first read of Slade and I will try another.
March 11, 2016
Another of this brother/sister duo's research/imagination efforts. In this one, again, they dig into the most sordid aspects of history and link them to events in B.C. featuring a mythical Mountie division that always "gets its man". They manage to link Dr Mengele with flying saucers and Roswell. It seems somehow wrong to mingle horror figures with humour, but that's what they do.
November 28, 2024
Great thriller relating to a mystery going back to World War II. Thanks to Goodreads, I realize it's part of a series. I'll look for more of Michael Slade's books.
March 13, 2023
1) The WW2 history portions were fascinating, albeit disturbing. But then, find a Nazi who wasn't disturbed. And I did check the authenticity of key players, camps, and byproducts thereof. A sign of a good book is if I find myself wanting to learn more. I know a lot about WW2 history, but damn, did I ever learn more!
2) I hate that Nazis are why humanity has been to the moon (true story). If they put that kind of energy into advancing humanity instead of attempting to decimate it, just think of where we could be!
3) Don't f*ck with our Mounties, especially American Black Ops arses who are exploding with hubris. The Mounties will not only win, but make you regret your life's choices (damn, I love being Canadian). I will laugh my ass off when you get destroyed by a bunch of guys in red tunics and riding breeches.
4) GREAT twist! I haven't come across a twist that solid in years. I applaud thee.
5) F/Lt. Jack "Johnny" Clark, I salute you. Thank you for your service, Sir, and for inspiring certain aspects of the story.
6) The mountain with the Piper playing Flowers of the Forest. In my experience, that's always the song used to pipe in the colours on Remembrance Day. Even in print I could hear it, and damn,... sucker punch!
7) Fun spin on Roswell.
8) I knew Mengele was a psychopath, but damn, he was his own special kind of nutjob!
9) Do not read if death, torture, and torment disturb you. There are scenes that will haunt your sleep.
10) Did I mention that I freaking love our Mounties? Royal Canadian Mounted Police for those of you who aren't Canuck.
2) I hate that Nazis are why humanity has been to the moon (true story). If they put that kind of energy into advancing humanity instead of attempting to decimate it, just think of where we could be!
3) Don't f*ck with our Mounties, especially American Black Ops arses who are exploding with hubris. The Mounties will not only win, but make you regret your life's choices (damn, I love being Canadian). I will laugh my ass off when you get destroyed by a bunch of guys in red tunics and riding breeches.
4) GREAT twist! I haven't come across a twist that solid in years. I applaud thee.
5) F/Lt. Jack "Johnny" Clark, I salute you. Thank you for your service, Sir, and for inspiring certain aspects of the story.
6) The mountain with the Piper playing Flowers of the Forest. In my experience, that's always the song used to pipe in the colours on Remembrance Day. Even in print I could hear it, and damn,... sucker punch!
7) Fun spin on Roswell.
8) I knew Mengele was a psychopath, but damn, he was his own special kind of nutjob!
9) Do not read if death, torture, and torment disturb you. There are scenes that will haunt your sleep.
10) Did I mention that I freaking love our Mounties? Royal Canadian Mounted Police for those of you who aren't Canuck.
September 19, 2014
I still can't explain why I took an 8 year break from reading Michael Slade novels. Just held on to this and a couple others and waited for the perfect moment to get back into him, I guess. And, well, given the fact that he is currently working on re-imagining the early Special X novels for e-book format, and is working on yet another book in the series, well, the timing was perfect!
I loved this story. As is the norm with Slade, you get engrossed in their research, which is always extensive, and keeps you wanting to learn more about the subject. Slade has an uncanny ability to really delve deep into history, and cleverly blend in myth, conspiracy theories, mystery, suspense, and sheer horror for an all-out thrill ride! Swastika was no exception to that rule. I was thrown by the twist at the climax, and got a chill over the ending. If you like horror, and like to have some chilling real life history mixed in, this is a must-read for you!
I loved this story. As is the norm with Slade, you get engrossed in their research, which is always extensive, and keeps you wanting to learn more about the subject. Slade has an uncanny ability to really delve deep into history, and cleverly blend in myth, conspiracy theories, mystery, suspense, and sheer horror for an all-out thrill ride! Swastika was no exception to that rule. I was thrown by the twist at the climax, and got a chill over the ending. If you like horror, and like to have some chilling real life history mixed in, this is a must-read for you!
January 25, 2008
Michael Slade [actually a father/daughter team] writes books that combine History/fiction, the past/the present, and real people/fictional characters. It takes me a few chapters to get into their books but once I do the books captivate me. The heros are always the Special X of the Canadian Mounties. This book is about serial killing in Canada and Nazi Germany during WWII. Very interesting reading and once about half way thru I didn't want to put it down.
January 15, 2018
Притеснително възможни "лица и събития" и интересна версия за Розуел.
Признавам, в началото ми се искаше да изчета първо линията за Втората световна война и тогава да почна другата, сегашната. Радвам се, че не го направих, защото можеше да си разваля част от крайната изненада. В този ред на мисли, непрекъснатото редуване на двете сюжетни линии на моменти ми идваше в повече.
Признавам, в началото ми се искаше да изчета първо линията за Втората световна война и тогава да почна другата, сегашната. Радвам се, че не го направих, защото можеше да си разваля част от крайната изненада. В този ред на мисли, непрекъснатото редуване на двете сюжетни линии на моменти ми идваше в повече.
February 7, 2008
Blood, guts, gore, psycopaths, & intrigue-what more could one want in escapist literature?
Michael Slade was originally four criminal lawyers from
Vancouver-now, just one and his daughter.
http://www.specialx.net
For more information-
Michael Slade was originally four criminal lawyers from
Vancouver-now, just one and his daughter.
http://www.specialx.net
For more information-
September 23, 2016
Really enjoyed this book! It is very different from the genres i usually read, but so glad it was recommended to me! Very graphic but spellbinding! I will be reading more from this author that is for sure.
October 4, 2021
It’s been quite sometime since I read a Michael Slade thriller and this one wasn’t that good. The story shifts between the last days of WWII in Berlin and the present in Vancouver BC. In the latter a serial killer is on the loose and it down to RCMP special X to track them down.
As with all Michael Slade thrillers the research the story is based on is excellent but the story itself is poorly developed in this instance. More that half the book is devoted to back story which is a little too much and it’s not integrated into the present day action as well as it usually is. Not the worst read ever but try some of his earlier books for a more involving story.
As with all Michael Slade thrillers the research the story is based on is excellent but the story itself is poorly developed in this instance. More that half the book is devoted to back story which is a little too much and it’s not integrated into the present day action as well as it usually is. Not the worst read ever but try some of his earlier books for a more involving story.
December 28, 2025
This is the 11th book in the Slade Special X series. It was average to me. I love this series but I'm a little spoiled because the first 4 books were amazing. Since then, the rest of the series is good just not great.
The WW2 flashbacks were great and well researched. The contemporary plot with the Swastika killer and the Stealth Killer was good but not enough of the Special X crime thriller cop procedural themes I am use to.
The twist at the end on who the Stealth Killer is was "Ok" and not the authors best twist.
I enjoyed it and it was a fast read but I'll give it 3 stars.
The WW2 flashbacks were great and well researched. The contemporary plot with the Swastika killer and the Stealth Killer was good but not enough of the Special X crime thriller cop procedural themes I am use to.
The twist at the end on who the Stealth Killer is was "Ok" and not the authors best twist.
I enjoyed it and it was a fast read but I'll give it 3 stars.
March 1, 2019
An ugly book to read and you need a strong stomach. Also too much shifting back and forth between time periods and characters. Found this book hard to read and did not enjoy it. Just wanted it to be over.
July 5, 2017
Don't take my review too seriously. I only made it about 1/3 of the way through. I just could not connect to this book at all. It was choppy and very little character development.
June 22, 2018
For a random book I picked up at a secondhand book store, this one really surprised me. A serial crime thriller with WWII history and mysteries thrown in? Yes please.
January 7, 2020
I really good read - great hooks to keep you going and a nice twist in the end :)
July 24, 2016
Awesome story which cuts between events in the late days of WW2 in Nazi Germany and current day Vancouver Canada to stitch together a brilliant serial killer story. I found that the author was ingenious in the way he mixed real world people and events with fantasy. Coming into the Special X series late in the game I didn't feel like I was missing anything, now my plan is to start from book 1 and complete the series. A must read!
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May 1, 2010not one of my favorite, but still interesting
October 24, 2014
ugh. this was terrible. one cliche after another.
October 15, 2014
Overkill, but the last 70 pages were okay.
April 6, 2015
Two Nazi psychos in this book but while it was certainly readable I didn't 'feel' it as much as the others in the series.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews