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Mack Bolan the Executioner #56
Island Deathtrap
A foreign terrorist group had taken over a small island off the coast of Maine as a conduit for the importation of men and arms into the U.S.
To ensure the secrecy of their hardsite, the criminals needed the help of the local lobstermen and independent fishermen. The mob had begun a campaign of terror aimed at wives and families to "soften up" the boatmen.
One man, Ed Warner, had gotten through to Stony Man headquarters. Mack Bolan was determined to avenge the misery of Warner and his neighbors. He plunged head-on into the island deathtrap to grind hardened killers into minced meat. . . And in his most perilous impersonation yet, Bolan breached the gangs defenses and became walking Death.
To ensure the secrecy of their hardsite, the criminals needed the help of the local lobstermen and independent fishermen. The mob had begun a campaign of terror aimed at wives and families to "soften up" the boatmen.
One man, Ed Warner, had gotten through to Stony Man headquarters. Mack Bolan was determined to avenge the misery of Warner and his neighbors. He plunged head-on into the island deathtrap to grind hardened killers into minced meat. . . And in his most perilous impersonation yet, Bolan breached the gangs defenses and became walking Death.
190 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1983
2 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Don Pendleton
1,520 books189 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
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 31, 2021
Why, oh why, oh why did I read a Mack Bolan "men's adventure" book?
Oh, it's a long story. Let's just say I was double-dog dared to read it.
The story itself was not bad. A terrorist group has taken over a small island off the coast of Maine and is using it as a base to import arms into the country. Never fear! Mack Bolan will storm this island deathtrap, shoot all the bad guys right in their kneecaps or aortas, and of course, save the day.
The dialogue is trulyoffal awful. For added fun, try reading the following passage aloud to friends and family:
"Mack responded fast on this one out," she told Hal.
"What do you mean? Is this woman's intuition talking?"
"Mack wants to go back where he belongs," she murmured in reply. "He's searching. He wants to find his own America. He wants to act one on one, be responsible for his own actions."
"Professionally," Hal said, "I discount your views because of your convalescence - your health could be marring your judgement. But personally," he added, "I believe you may be right, April. We both knew Mack when he was on the lam, a renegade, and there's something in him now that reminds me of that."
"Hal, his commitment to justice has never been stronger," she replied. "Let him go to Maine. Let him go to the furthest edge. On his own. Let him find himself."
Bolan is a man of few words, thank God. His conversation tends to run toward recited credos like "I don't belong to any organization. Think of me as justice." and advice - "The time to unholster a weapon is before it's needed. Not after."
Most of the time, he's just a strong, silent killing machine.
For an action thriller this book is sadly not THAT thrilling. Sure, there's an enormous body count, but there's little suspense in knowing that NO ONE will get the drop on Bolan and his trusty Beretta. How can you possibly hope to best a man who can become as one with the fog and dark and can appear as one shadow among many and a moving bit of black among the trees?
You can't! And don't you go forgettin' it!
And as soon as Mack Bolan finds himself, he's comin' for you! So guard your aorta and say your prayers.
Would I ever read another one of these things? Only if you triple-dog dared me.
Oh, it's a long story. Let's just say I was double-dog dared to read it.
The story itself was not bad. A terrorist group has taken over a small island off the coast of Maine and is using it as a base to import arms into the country. Never fear! Mack Bolan will storm this island deathtrap, shoot all the bad guys right in their kneecaps or aortas, and of course, save the day.
The dialogue is truly
"Mack responded fast on this one out," she told Hal.
"What do you mean? Is this woman's intuition talking?"
"Mack wants to go back where he belongs," she murmured in reply. "He's searching. He wants to find his own America. He wants to act one on one, be responsible for his own actions."
"Professionally," Hal said, "I discount your views because of your convalescence - your health could be marring your judgement. But personally," he added, "I believe you may be right, April. We both knew Mack when he was on the lam, a renegade, and there's something in him now that reminds me of that."
"Hal, his commitment to justice has never been stronger," she replied. "Let him go to Maine. Let him go to the furthest edge. On his own. Let him find himself."
Bolan is a man of few words, thank God. His conversation tends to run toward recited credos like "I don't belong to any organization. Think of me as justice." and advice - "The time to unholster a weapon is before it's needed. Not after."
Most of the time, he's just a strong, silent killing machine.
For an action thriller this book is sadly not THAT thrilling. Sure, there's an enormous body count, but there's little suspense in knowing that NO ONE will get the drop on Bolan and his trusty Beretta. How can you possibly hope to best a man who can become as one with the fog and dark and can appear as one shadow among many and a moving bit of black among the trees?
You can't! And don't you go forgettin' it!
And as soon as Mack Bolan finds himself, he's comin' for you! So guard your aorta and say your prayers.
Would I ever read another one of these things? Only if you triple-dog dared me.
September 3, 2025
I love the little coastal island off Maine as a setting. The story feels a bit more personal as Bolan is trying to protect the townspeople on the mainland more so than battling a great international threat.
July 30, 2013
If you've ever watched Corner Gas and you have fond memories of the book club episode you will be familiar with the Mack Bolan series. That can be one motivation for reading this book. The other can be a dare by another bookworm. Ah, the ultimate book dare - read a Mack Bolan book! Either way I ended up with this book in my hands and actually read it.
It turned out to be a mixed blessing. I enjoyed the 'man-adventure', which is code for explosions and an excessive body count (which I believe topped out at forty or forty two?) But, I also realized I'm the kind of guy who likes reading about needless explosions and one man killing machines who have their own brand of justice. Who am I?
You may look at yourself in a whole new light after reading this book. I know I did.
It turned out to be a mixed blessing. I enjoyed the 'man-adventure', which is code for explosions and an excessive body count (which I believe topped out at forty or forty two?) But, I also realized I'm the kind of guy who likes reading about needless explosions and one man killing machines who have their own brand of justice. Who am I?
You may look at yourself in a whole new light after reading this book. I know I did.
May 17, 2023
56 books in and it’s pretty much the exact same thing as the previous 55 (especially all the previous Gold Eagle publications).
Bolan is once again rescuing innocents from yet ANOTHER terrorist organization. This time it’s back in the good ole’ U S of A on an island off the coast of Maine, but aside from that, Island Death Trap is basically the same story we’ve read 50+ times before.
The story itself is…fine, I guess. It does have some fun moments of action, however its 189 pages become repetitive, lack any distinguishing characteristics, and it quickly feels like!Groundhog’s Day as nearly every moment within is a rehash of a previous plot. E. Richard Churchill’s over reliance on tracing the path of every bullet through the body also gets incredibly tedious after the 5th time.
This may not be worst Executioner novel but it’s a far cry from “Terrorist Summit” or Doomsday Disciples
Bolan is once again rescuing innocents from yet ANOTHER terrorist organization. This time it’s back in the good ole’ U S of A on an island off the coast of Maine, but aside from that, Island Death Trap is basically the same story we’ve read 50+ times before.
The story itself is…fine, I guess. It does have some fun moments of action, however its 189 pages become repetitive, lack any distinguishing characteristics, and it quickly feels like!Groundhog’s Day as nearly every moment within is a rehash of a previous plot. E. Richard Churchill’s over reliance on tracing the path of every bullet through the body also gets incredibly tedious after the 5th time.
This may not be worst Executioner novel but it’s a far cry from “Terrorist Summit” or Doomsday Disciples
January 2, 2018
Mack goes on the offensive right off the bat in this one. A tiny little island off the coast of Maine is being used for nefarious reasons. Reasons that even the author does not explain thoroughly. It seems that local fisherman are being forced into doing a gang of terrorists bidding. What the gang's aim is still in the dark. It seems one man got word out. Enter The Executioner.
E. Richard Churchill is the author of this outing. He also did Mountain Rampage, The Executioner #54 which I gave 4 stars. This book falls just shy of that one. Still, it is chalk full of action. It's one of the more gory books in the series that I can remember. Flesh rippers penetrating skulls with the brain matter flying was paramount. I just wish we could of had a better look inside the bad guys plan. What the ultimate mission was. Either way, a bit above the standard Executioner entry in the series.
E. Richard Churchill is the author of this outing. He also did Mountain Rampage, The Executioner #54 which I gave 4 stars. This book falls just shy of that one. Still, it is chalk full of action. It's one of the more gory books in the series that I can remember. Flesh rippers penetrating skulls with the brain matter flying was paramount. I just wish we could of had a better look inside the bad guys plan. What the ultimate mission was. Either way, a bit above the standard Executioner entry in the series.
October 11, 2023
The second of these by Churchill who does a pretty solid job though closer to a 3.5. He tends to waste to many words on the exact path a bullet takes through a body, he does this often enough to be slightly annoying. Though the story is good, a small community of fishermen on an island off the coast of Maine is in trouble. A very well organized terrorist group has took over, to have a base of operations for their gun running and to import certain dangerous people into the country. One man got word out and Bolan decided to check it out. He decides to take out the whole operation and has help from a local kid.
Recommended, its fairly basic but has enough action to keep you interested and a solid storyline. The writing is fine other then the bullet tracing I mentioned earlier that he does way to often.
Recommended, its fairly basic but has enough action to keep you interested and a solid storyline. The writing is fine other then the bullet tracing I mentioned earlier that he does way to often.
April 2, 2025
Pretty good once you get past the first chapter
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews