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The Executioner #27
Dixie Convoy
Bolan blitzes a billion dollar Mafia operation in Atlanta!
177 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
63 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Don Pendleton
1,524 books190 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 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 8, 2025
Mack Bolan and CB Radios. What’s not to love
April 6, 2020
I remember reading this back in the late '70s, as the CB craze was going on, which is the driving engine in this Bolan tale.
Almost typical Mafia hi-jinks set in the Atlanta area, with a damsel-in-distress and some enlisted help from an 18 wheeler cowboy. Fun times in the action/adventure genre.
Almost typical Mafia hi-jinks set in the Atlanta area, with a damsel-in-distress and some enlisted help from an 18 wheeler cowboy. Fun times in the action/adventure genre.
September 22, 2023
It’s been quite a while since I’ve read anything in this series. Mack Bolan takes on the Mafia in Georgia. It’s the 1970s and you have Bolan, Truckers, and plenty of action. Not as good as some, but better than later books not written by the original author.
March 6, 2021
Battlefields changed, sure—tactics evolved and weaponry improved—but the basic ingredient of all warfare remained pretty much the same. It all boiled down, finally, to a contest between gladiators... Warriors did not supply the reasons, merely the means. Their only goal was victory; their only hope, survival. Men did not make wars. They simply fought them...No man had ever died in combat who truly understood why he must be there and why he must kill and be killed. The effective gladiator did not cloud his mind with such abstracts. He simply stood and fought, with all his mind and heart and body. The universe itself took care of the rest. So, no—Mack Bolan did not question why he was here, on this haunted battlefield between Chattanooga and Atlanta. He asked neither why he must kill nor if he must kill. He knew the ways of warfare. And he knew what must be done. The grim-eyed warrior final-checked his weapons...he muttered to the wind: “Here we go again, guy.”
The time was precisely midnight when he gained the low knoll that had been selected as fire base for this mission...The Southern skies were reflecting the far-off lights of the queen city, Atlanta, about twenty miles down country. At his left hand, Marietta slumbered quietly; at his right, the dark shadow of Kennesaw Mountain rose into the night. Directly ahead, in a cluster of muted lights, lay the target— collection of warehouses and service buildings, at a range of about five hundred meters. It looked innocent enough, much like any other trucking terminal...The main difference here was the high chain link fence topped with barbed wire, the manned gatehouse, uniformed security patrols. But Bolan had been in there twice already—once in a casual daylight recon from the cab of a truck and again in a quiet nighttime infiltration for a prolonged scouting mission. And, yeah, he had their numbers. The “security guards” were genuine Mafia hard men, captained by one Thomas Lago, née Lagossini, an old hardhead from the New York wars. The full force numbered twenty men, with the normal shift staffing no more than three guns, beefed up to six to eight during critical operations...knew what was moving through those warehouses: contraband of several varieties, including drugs, guns, untaxed cigarettes, and whiskey.
The time was precisely midnight when he gained the low knoll that had been selected as fire base for this mission...The Southern skies were reflecting the far-off lights of the queen city, Atlanta, about twenty miles down country. At his left hand, Marietta slumbered quietly; at his right, the dark shadow of Kennesaw Mountain rose into the night. Directly ahead, in a cluster of muted lights, lay the target— collection of warehouses and service buildings, at a range of about five hundred meters. It looked innocent enough, much like any other trucking terminal...The main difference here was the high chain link fence topped with barbed wire, the manned gatehouse, uniformed security patrols. But Bolan had been in there twice already—once in a casual daylight recon from the cab of a truck and again in a quiet nighttime infiltration for a prolonged scouting mission. And, yeah, he had their numbers. The “security guards” were genuine Mafia hard men, captained by one Thomas Lago, née Lagossini, an old hardhead from the New York wars. The full force numbered twenty men, with the normal shift staffing no more than three guns, beefed up to six to eight during critical operations...knew what was moving through those warehouses: contraband of several varieties, including drugs, guns, untaxed cigarettes, and whiskey.
September 18, 2013
Here we are, #27. Only 11 more to go and the entire 'War against the Mafia' portion of this series will be finished. That was the goal I began three years ago, and expect to completed by 2015.
There were some fabulous scenes in this book. In particular, the showdown between the infamous Mafia hitman known only as Domino was enjoyable. In fact, how Mack keeps one step ahead of Domino and slowly breaks him down was cleverly written, if not a little silly when you really think about it. I will not spoil those moments for the next reader.
I felt there was a seriously high content of corn in this book. There are entire chapters written in CB chat (Civilian Broadcast.)It was very annoying, so annoying in fact that I looked at the print date. 1976, and I thought, yup, about the same time as 'Smokey and the Bandit' was in theaters. However, after some quick fact checking, 'Smokey and the Bandit' wasn't released until the summer of 1977. Don Pendleton stands ahead of the curve once again.
I give this book 3-stars because it was average to the series. There are some great books in this series, and this isn't one of them. Dixie Convoy proved to be a fun read, just don't expect much more than that with #27.
There were some fabulous scenes in this book. In particular, the showdown between the infamous Mafia hitman known only as Domino was enjoyable. In fact, how Mack keeps one step ahead of Domino and slowly breaks him down was cleverly written, if not a little silly when you really think about it. I will not spoil those moments for the next reader.
I felt there was a seriously high content of corn in this book. There are entire chapters written in CB chat (Civilian Broadcast.)It was very annoying, so annoying in fact that I looked at the print date. 1976, and I thought, yup, about the same time as 'Smokey and the Bandit' was in theaters. However, after some quick fact checking, 'Smokey and the Bandit' wasn't released until the summer of 1977. Don Pendleton stands ahead of the curve once again.
I give this book 3-stars because it was average to the series. There are some great books in this series, and this isn't one of them. Dixie Convoy proved to be a fun read, just don't expect much more than that with #27.
August 13, 2022
Of the original 39 Executioner books, this was probably the one I was most looking forward to; That cover is amazing and promised an all out assault on the roadways of Georgia.
Now, while that did eventually happen in the last 10 pages, Dixie Convoy instead ends up being a weird mashup of quickly revealed (and barely explained) side plots involving heroin, family double crossing, and a pair of sisters who basically have Stockholm syndrome.
Usually this would sound like a great novel but none of those things ever really works well and leaves this one kind of a mess. Even worse the entire story is really just more of the same kind of thing we’ve seen in 26 previous entries. It’s officially gotten to the point where I have no problem saying I’m bored of this.
Now, while that did eventually happen in the last 10 pages, Dixie Convoy instead ends up being a weird mashup of quickly revealed (and barely explained) side plots involving heroin, family double crossing, and a pair of sisters who basically have Stockholm syndrome.
Usually this would sound like a great novel but none of those things ever really works well and leaves this one kind of a mess. Even worse the entire story is really just more of the same kind of thing we’ve seen in 26 previous entries. It’s officially gotten to the point where I have no problem saying I’m bored of this.
July 8, 2015
"It's a blitzing, blazing trip through the high-speed world of fearless diesel jockeys and a mechanized Mafia. Bolan and the CB'ers create a convoy of retribution that turns the Dixie Corridor into a highway of carnage fo rthe Dixie mob." (from back cover)
It's Mack Bolan's one-man, open-war against the Mafia again, this time in the area in and around Dixie Corridor and into Atlanta, Georgia. Bolan is out to stop the movement of a billion dollars a year in stolen goods, drugs, and contraband where it is repackaged and sold in seemingly legitamate businesses. Bolan enlists the help of a trucker and his CB "good buddies", along with the usual sexy girl suspect. Great fun. Lots of action. But then, it's a Mack Bolan novel.
It's Mack Bolan's one-man, open-war against the Mafia again, this time in the area in and around Dixie Corridor and into Atlanta, Georgia. Bolan is out to stop the movement of a billion dollars a year in stolen goods, drugs, and contraband where it is repackaged and sold in seemingly legitamate businesses. Bolan enlists the help of a trucker and his CB "good buddies", along with the usual sexy girl suspect. Great fun. Lots of action. But then, it's a Mack Bolan novel.
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
July 24, 2017
The mob is alive and well in Atlanta. They’re up to their usual tricks of smuggling and shipping drugs, guns, and stolen electronics and appliances. The Executioner decides it’s time to put a stop to the party. Even though the mobsters import muscle from New York, they’re about to find out what happens when the executioner fights with southern hospitality and style! :-)
September 18, 2015
For my first foray into this series I thought it was very good. I am considering continuing to read it
Read
March 30, 2025Plot:
After his last adventure in Acapulco, Bolan follows the heroin trail up from Mexico to Atlanta where he discovers the mob’s national hub for illicit goods — not just drugs but electronics and other contraband. During his attack on one of the warehouses, he discovers another mafia “turkey” (the body of someone who’s been tortured to death). The question of the turkey’s who and why leads Bolan into a mystery about a local mafia boss named Sciaparelli who’s either protecting or holding captive two daughters of a dead mob assassin, and a mob hunting party sent from New York with a hidden agenda.
In a fun twist, we’re first led to believe that the delegation from New York is another hit team sent to intercept Bolan — a plot devious that’s grown a bit tired by this point in the series. But Bolan later learns that they were dispatched before he arrived, with orders to escort Sciaparelli back north.
Reaction:
This was a breezy read. I think the entire book spans less than two days. It felt rather unsatisfying though; the action isn’t particularly interesting and the mystery is frustratingly vague, especially its “resolution” (in quotes because it doesn’t really resolve). What this book does have going for it is Pendleton’s obvious enthusiasm for the 70s CB craze.
You can tell that this book’s raison d’etre was Pendleton’s fascination with citizen band radio. It comes off initially as a bit… hm, manipulative? You know when someone you know has just discovered a new interest and they want to convince you to like it as much as they do? That's how it felt at first. But I eventually warmed up to it as the book went on. Toward the end there’s a scene where Bolan is searching for a car on the highway and uses the network of truckers via CB to find and track his target. As they relay the messages back to him, I couldn’t help but feel some of what must have excited Pendleton about the technology. It really is kind of like a rudimentary internet. Messages sent from “server" to “server" to their destination and back again, only each server is not a machine but another human communicating the message by choice and a desire to be helpful. Kind of warms the heart a little.
Regarding the unsatisfying mystery: The central question is, why has Sciaparelli been guarding the sisters so closely, and what is New York’s interest? By the end, that question is never answered with any specificity. Bolan deduces that some faction of the mob has been paying to keep the sisters on ice, while framing another faction for those payments. To what end, we never learn. They are the daughters of an assassin who was taken from his home one night (when they were young girls) and killed. Since then, the two women have been cared for by mob benefactors; some kind of insurance against… something. Maybe the next book will have answers?
Guest Appearances:
Hal Brognola returns by phone when Bolan asks him to recommend a local fed that Bolan can trust to assist him.
Leo Turrin also makes an appearance by phone to tell Bolan that he is in danger (some mysterious faction of the mob considers him a threat -- is it the same faction behind the Sciaparelli mystery??). Brognola wants to pull him out, but Turrin doesn't want to quit just yet, especially if Bolan can help. So that’s where Bolan is headed at the close of the book.
Book Cover:
While Bolan does shoot it out with some mobsters in trucks in the final battle of the book, he doesn’t use a machine gun. Nor does Jennifer have or shoot a gun during that scene.
Final Thoughts:
Finally, I want to share an interesting thought I had while reading this book: A lot of these stories begin with Bolan doing some routine mission, and stumbling upon somebody who is either captive or dead, and that person becomes a launching off point for the plot. It can start to feel like an overused contrivance. It’s like, come on, what are the odds? But what if the books do not comprise the entirety of his war against the mafia? What if they are just selections, and Bolan is also waging his war in between books? The presence of these characters and their subplots then become the reason for the book. Kind of like how we can assume that Starsky & Hutch have whole days when they’re writing reports at the typewriter, and we only see the adventures that are worthy of television episodes. This would also resolve the timeline issue I’ve been struggling to explain — how years and years are passing despite the events within the books spanning much less time. I think that because the first dozen or so books do form a continuing story, I just assumed that this was Pendleton's intention. But there have been enough books that don't follow directly from the preceding one that I think it's safe to say he abandoned that conceit at some point.
After his last adventure in Acapulco, Bolan follows the heroin trail up from Mexico to Atlanta where he discovers the mob’s national hub for illicit goods — not just drugs but electronics and other contraband. During his attack on one of the warehouses, he discovers another mafia “turkey” (the body of someone who’s been tortured to death). The question of the turkey’s who and why leads Bolan into a mystery about a local mafia boss named Sciaparelli who’s either protecting or holding captive two daughters of a dead mob assassin, and a mob hunting party sent from New York with a hidden agenda.
In a fun twist, we’re first led to believe that the delegation from New York is another hit team sent to intercept Bolan — a plot devious that’s grown a bit tired by this point in the series. But Bolan later learns that they were dispatched before he arrived, with orders to escort Sciaparelli back north.
Reaction:
This was a breezy read. I think the entire book spans less than two days. It felt rather unsatisfying though; the action isn’t particularly interesting and the mystery is frustratingly vague, especially its “resolution” (in quotes because it doesn’t really resolve). What this book does have going for it is Pendleton’s obvious enthusiasm for the 70s CB craze.
You can tell that this book’s raison d’etre was Pendleton’s fascination with citizen band radio. It comes off initially as a bit… hm, manipulative? You know when someone you know has just discovered a new interest and they want to convince you to like it as much as they do? That's how it felt at first. But I eventually warmed up to it as the book went on. Toward the end there’s a scene where Bolan is searching for a car on the highway and uses the network of truckers via CB to find and track his target. As they relay the messages back to him, I couldn’t help but feel some of what must have excited Pendleton about the technology. It really is kind of like a rudimentary internet. Messages sent from “server" to “server" to their destination and back again, only each server is not a machine but another human communicating the message by choice and a desire to be helpful. Kind of warms the heart a little.
Regarding the unsatisfying mystery: The central question is, why has Sciaparelli been guarding the sisters so closely, and what is New York’s interest? By the end, that question is never answered with any specificity. Bolan deduces that some faction of the mob has been paying to keep the sisters on ice, while framing another faction for those payments. To what end, we never learn. They are the daughters of an assassin who was taken from his home one night (when they were young girls) and killed. Since then, the two women have been cared for by mob benefactors; some kind of insurance against… something. Maybe the next book will have answers?
Guest Appearances:
Hal Brognola returns by phone when Bolan asks him to recommend a local fed that Bolan can trust to assist him.
Leo Turrin also makes an appearance by phone to tell Bolan that he is in danger (some mysterious faction of the mob considers him a threat -- is it the same faction behind the Sciaparelli mystery??). Brognola wants to pull him out, but Turrin doesn't want to quit just yet, especially if Bolan can help. So that’s where Bolan is headed at the close of the book.
Book Cover:
While Bolan does shoot it out with some mobsters in trucks in the final battle of the book, he doesn’t use a machine gun. Nor does Jennifer have or shoot a gun during that scene.
Final Thoughts:
Finally, I want to share an interesting thought I had while reading this book: A lot of these stories begin with Bolan doing some routine mission, and stumbling upon somebody who is either captive or dead, and that person becomes a launching off point for the plot. It can start to feel like an overused contrivance. It’s like, come on, what are the odds? But what if the books do not comprise the entirety of his war against the mafia? What if they are just selections, and Bolan is also waging his war in between books? The presence of these characters and their subplots then become the reason for the book. Kind of like how we can assume that Starsky & Hutch have whole days when they’re writing reports at the typewriter, and we only see the adventures that are worthy of television episodes. This would also resolve the timeline issue I’ve been struggling to explain — how years and years are passing despite the events within the books spanning much less time. I think that because the first dozen or so books do form a continuing story, I just assumed that this was Pendleton's intention. But there have been enough books that don't follow directly from the preceding one that I think it's safe to say he abandoned that conceit at some point.
August 22, 2021
More like a 3.5. Would have to say this was a weaker one in the Pendleton written ones. It has a nice ideal in using the CB craze of the 70s in a storyline. Especially when its very feasible that the Mafia would have trucking interests so the Executioner going after a mob up trucking outfit fits. But the girl and the games the NY mob bosses were playing with each other with the failed hit on a soon to be boss 15 years before.... Dont know it just never really made much sense. However I did like the characters and its always fun when Bolan plays games with the mafia which he did quite a bit in this one.
Wouldnt be my pick for a first read but wouldnt advise skipping if you are going through the series. It does seem to be starting something thats going down back to the beginning in Pittsfield.
Wouldnt be my pick for a first read but wouldnt advise skipping if you are going through the series. It does seem to be starting something thats going down back to the beginning in Pittsfield.
September 22, 2021
This is the Executioner's shout-out to the short-lived CB craze that swept across the country in the mid-1970s and thus is perhaps the most dated entry in the original series. Mack Bolan turns out to have a lot of fans among the trucker community and uses them and their CBs twice during the novel--once to get the truckers to drop loads that carry Mafia contraband and then to help him track down a fleeing bad guy.
The CB jargon (which, looking back at it 40+ years later is kind of silly-sounding) takes up too much time in this short novel and some aspects of the slightly complicated plot are not adequately explained. But the action scenes are (as always) fun and there are several great supporting characters. There are also hints of a purge taking place in the Mafia ranks that lead into the next novel in the series.
The CB jargon (which, looking back at it 40+ years later is kind of silly-sounding) takes up too much time in this short novel and some aspects of the slightly complicated plot are not adequately explained. But the action scenes are (as always) fun and there are several great supporting characters. There are also hints of a purge taking place in the Mafia ranks that lead into the next novel in the series.
May 30, 2023
4 1/3 stars. Like many of the early Bolans this one starts off with a bang. No pun intended. Bolan makes more use of helpers in this one. For those old enough to remember the CB craze of the 70s this book is like a fond memory.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2023
Mack Bolan and truckers
I love going back and reading the early Executioners. I thought this was a fun read and enjoyed how truckers and CB lingo were interwoven into the story. Very enjoyable.
I love going back and reading the early Executioners. I thought this was a fun read and enjoyed how truckers and CB lingo were interwoven into the story. Very enjoyable.
December 9, 2025
Tapping into the CB craze lends a nice gimmick to this instalment of the Executioner series. There is a slight mystery concerning a couple of characters that doesn’t quite come to a satisfactory fruition but it makes it a little more gripping than the average Executioner novel.
September 12, 2018
The series continues
January 1, 2022
Great storyline
Once again the author gives the reader an enjoyable combination of action , mystery and mayhem. Thoroughly enjoyed this latest book x
Once again the author gives the reader an enjoyable combination of action , mystery and mayhem. Thoroughly enjoyed this latest book x
February 8, 2023
I love the tales of was against mafia read many. Since living in the deep south during this time period, it was painful to read dialog.
July 22, 2016
A good read! This series is a fun one to read. I like to read several of these and then read something else....coming back to this series for a few more.
November 15, 2018
read some time in 1980
March 26, 2017
A definite waste of money.
There was no sense of adventure in this book. Reminds me of grAndpa telling us a story between sips, snorts puffs and losing his thoughts along the way. A real yawner.
There was no sense of adventure in this book. Reminds me of grAndpa telling us a story between sips, snorts puffs and losing his thoughts along the way. A real yawner.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews