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The Executioner #37
Friday's Feast
In Baltimore the Executioner prepares for his final showdown with the mob
For four days Mack Bolan has carried the battle against organized crime all across the country in a take-no-prisoners firefight that’s hotter than any he’s ever fought. After crippling Mafia operations in Florida, he makes his way to Baltimore, home of the last great capo, where the minions of organized crime prepare to make their final stand. One way or another, the Executioner’s endless war is about to come to a close.
With the help of his oldest ally, undercover cop Leo Turrin, Bolan infiltrates the establishment one last time. With Turrin feeding him information from the inner circles of Mafia power, it should be a cinch to crush this last outpost of mob resistance. But even a dying snake has venom in its fangs, and the ruthless killers of Baltimore will bring mortal danger to Bolan and his closest friend.
For four days Mack Bolan has carried the battle against organized crime all across the country in a take-no-prisoners firefight that’s hotter than any he’s ever fought. After crippling Mafia operations in Florida, he makes his way to Baltimore, home of the last great capo, where the minions of organized crime prepare to make their final stand. One way or another, the Executioner’s endless war is about to come to a close.
With the help of his oldest ally, undercover cop Leo Turrin, Bolan infiltrates the establishment one last time. With Turrin feeding him information from the inner circles of Mafia power, it should be a cinch to crush this last outpost of mob resistance. But even a dying snake has venom in its fangs, and the ruthless killers of Baltimore will bring mortal danger to Bolan and his closest friend.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1979
About the author
Don Pendleton
1,538 books196 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
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 5, 2021
The inviolable respect of secrecy, the absolute authority of rank, the unquestioned use of power, in whatever form, to gain a common goal; if these were the triune upon which had been built the fantastic successes and excesses of the modern Mafia, then they were, by the same token, the inherent flaws which could be operated by a wily opponent.
July 29, 2022
Mack Bolan has reached his next-to-last day in his 6-day blitz across the country to finish off the Mafia before switching his focus to battling terrorists.
Much of this book involves Bolan using his "Frankie the Ace" persona to take charge of a Mafia hard-site and figure out what the mobsters are up to. It's a good plot, but it doesn't leave much room for action for most of the novel. Still, Pendleton keeps it interesting as Bolan cleverly gains information from the hoods. There's also some nicely done human moments where Bolan sends several particularly young guys out of the compound rather than have to kill them when he eventually makes his final moves.
When the action picks up for the last few chapters, we get a nifty battle scene in which Bolan stops a merchant ship carrying Mafia funds. He does so while riding in a helicopter and firing a bazooka. I like the fact that Bolan--though indifferent to killing the Mafia hoods he sees aboard the ship--takes extraordinary care not to kill any presumably innocent sailors.
The finale is an assault on the Mafia hardsite.
"Friday's Feast" is a little too lacking in action (which, after all, why we read Executioner novels, but it is still a well-written tale and the action we get is unique and exciting.
Much of this book involves Bolan using his "Frankie the Ace" persona to take charge of a Mafia hard-site and figure out what the mobsters are up to. It's a good plot, but it doesn't leave much room for action for most of the novel. Still, Pendleton keeps it interesting as Bolan cleverly gains information from the hoods. There's also some nicely done human moments where Bolan sends several particularly young guys out of the compound rather than have to kill them when he eventually makes his final moves.
When the action picks up for the last few chapters, we get a nifty battle scene in which Bolan stops a merchant ship carrying Mafia funds. He does so while riding in a helicopter and firing a bazooka. I like the fact that Bolan--though indifferent to killing the Mafia hoods he sees aboard the ship--takes extraordinary care not to kill any presumably innocent sailors.
The finale is an assault on the Mafia hardsite.
"Friday's Feast" is a little too lacking in action (which, after all, why we read Executioner novels, but it is still a well-written tale and the action we get is unique and exciting.
December 21, 2022
Generally speaking, I tend to not be a fan of The Executioner books when Bolan’s escapades of violence are replaced with the soap opera wheelings and dealings of the mafia.
However, much like it did in Panic in Philly, Bolan’s infiltration of the mob and his uncanny ability to sow massive discontent amongst its members worked amazingly got well in Friday’s Feast.
The drama he manages to cause and the subsequent inner charter civil war that tears apart “the family” from the inside out made for some of the most fun and satisfying reading of this series in a awhile.
With one final book left in the original run, Pendleton is closing the story by wrapping up loose ends and, hopefully, working towards an ending that makes all 38 of these books worth
However, much like it did in Panic in Philly, Bolan’s infiltration of the mob and his uncanny ability to sow massive discontent amongst its members worked amazingly got well in Friday’s Feast.
The drama he manages to cause and the subsequent inner charter civil war that tears apart “the family” from the inside out made for some of the most fun and satisfying reading of this series in a awhile.
With one final book left in the original run, Pendleton is closing the story by wrapping up loose ends and, hopefully, working towards an ending that makes all 38 of these books worth
March 28, 2022
A fairly good installment in the series. Bolan is still doing his finally week of mop up work against the mafia. This time in Baltimore where he finds out that the Mafia is really reeling and is laying it all out to protect their investments. But Bolan and friends aim to to strike a killing blow. Bolan gets to pretend to be Frankie the black ace again and thats always fun.
Might be closer to a 3.5, the beginning was a little dull, but once it kicks in it races to a satisfying conclusion. Still recommended, even the worse Pendleton written Executioners are enjoyable reads
Might be closer to a 3.5, the beginning was a little dull, but once it kicks in it races to a satisfying conclusion. Still recommended, even the worse Pendleton written Executioners are enjoyable reads
February 18, 2021
Near the end.
Prime freebie. Mack bolan is a huge favourite with the action/ adventure fans. At this point Bolan has done 36 missions against the mob, and the government has offered to legitimize his actions and help him to disappear. Bolan will eventually be shooting every sort of enemy you can imagine. This is a fairly typical blitz to stop a gold shipment.
Prime freebie. Mack bolan is a huge favourite with the action/ adventure fans. At this point Bolan has done 36 missions against the mob, and the government has offered to legitimize his actions and help him to disappear. Bolan will eventually be shooting every sort of enemy you can imagine. This is a fairly typical blitz to stop a gold shipment.
October 26, 2019
Next to Last Day
Its Friday, the next to last day Mack Bolan and his war on the Mafia will exist
But will it be his very last day? Who has been skimming from the Mob? Who killed the Mob boss before Bolan could? Read it, and find out. You'll be glad you did!
Its Friday, the next to last day Mack Bolan and his war on the Mafia will exist
But will it be his very last day? Who has been skimming from the Mob? Who killed the Mob boss before Bolan could? Read it, and find out. You'll be glad you did!
September 13, 2026
2026 - War Against the Mafia (The Executioner series by Don Pendleton. One book a week for the year with a bonus short story.)
Week 37
3.5⭐️
Best book in a while. Setting up Mack’s final day of his War Against the Mafia. I honestly don’t remember how it ends but will find out soon.
Week 37
3.5⭐️
Best book in a while. Setting up Mack’s final day of his War Against the Mafia. I honestly don’t remember how it ends but will find out soon.
April 27, 2019
Second to last day in the 'final' week against the Mafia
July 8, 2014
This was more like it. This novella showcased the true talent of Don Pendleton. Not only was there a decent mystery going on in this volume, but the action scenes at the end of the story reminded me of the early days of this series. Even the typically annoying Toby Ranger and April Rose were less grating than normal.
This is the wrap up of Pendleton's portion of the series, only one book left and this installment left me hopeful that the last book will be among the best in this series. We shall see if that is true soon enough. Currently, I'm reading 'World War Z,' and soon-after I'll begin '#38 Satan's Sabbath.'
This is the wrap up of Pendleton's portion of the series, only one book left and this installment left me hopeful that the last book will be among the best in this series. We shall see if that is true soon enough. Currently, I'm reading 'World War Z,' and soon-after I'll begin '#38 Satan's Sabbath.'
May 12, 2015
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
June 24, 2018
I'm a fan of Pendleton's writing. I will say the Omega/Frankie/Black Ace character has run its course with me. Its unlikely that this would have been sustainable as long as he has used that character. I still enjoy the action and the plot.
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August 17, 2016read some time in 1981
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews