Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Ben Hope #18

The Rebel’s Revenge

Rate this book
Even when ex-SAS major Ben Hope is taking a holiday, trouble seems to find him. What started as a relaxing trip to the Deep South spirals into a nightmare when he’s wrongly accused of a vicious murder and forced to go on the run.

Target of a state-wide manhunt, the only way Ben can prove his innocence is to unearth a long-forgotten secret and track down the killers who slaughtered an innocent woman in a vendetta dating back generations. His quest takes him into the wild heart of Louisiana’s swampland, where all hell’s about to break loose. The bad guys will soon discover they made a big mistake…

An explosive new thriller from the master bestseller.

432 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2018

419 people are currently reading
619 people want to read

About the author

Scott Mariani

74 books1,164 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
805 (50%)
4 stars
584 (36%)
3 stars
189 (11%)
2 stars
18 (1%)
1 star
11 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
Profile Image for Matt.
4,848 reviews13.1k followers
February 20, 2019
Ben Hope is back for another adventure that will keep series fans enthralled. Scott Mariani has been able to keep the intensity high in this latest piece, pulling Hope out of his comfort zone and into America’s Deep South. It would seem that even on vacation, Ben Hope cannot escape trouble. Upon his arrival in Louisiana to attend a jazz concert, Hope trips upon a crime at a backroad establishment. Unable to stand down, he flexes his muscles while trying to remain anonymous, putting him on the radar of the local sheriff. When the proprietress of the establishment in which Hope is staying is slashed and left for dead, he rushes to her aid, listening to a cryptic message she has before she succumbs to her wounds. With only a brief glimpse of the suspected killers, Hope is unable to catch them. Knowing that he will likely be sought for questioning—and not wanting to make any more of an impression than he has—Hope flees the scene, trying to piece together some of the news he’s recently learned. While Hope becomes an apparent fugitive, he learns of the Garretts, a family well-established in this neck of Louisiana for many nefarious reasons. Staying one step ahead of those who seek him, Hope learns that the mystery of his acquaintance’s murder has ties to local history that dates back to the American Civil War, where another Garrett sought vindication. With the authorities on his tail, Hope refuses to stand down until justice is done, even if that means peppering his trail with a few more bodies, Garretts or not. Mariani does a masterful job in this thriller, pushing his protagonist in new directions while keeping the story strong. Series fans will likely want to get their hands on this, while those new to Ben Hope’s mysteries will want to start with the first novel, to relish in the strong writing style.

I undertook a binge of the Ben Hope work a few years ago and was so impressed that I have tried to stay up to date with Scott Mariani’s writing ever since. The stories span not only various geographic locales, but place Hope in a number of employment positions that flavour his actions throughout the novels. Deep into this series, there is little expectation of backstory and Mariani does not offer much, but does remind the reader of some threads from past pieces that help justify Hope’s place in the United States. Rather, the reader is able to see Hope’s steel resolve as he seeks to right wrongs done to those around him, not worried about personal consequences. His grit is not lost in this piece, though it is balance nicely against a compassionate side that series fans will recognise. Others in the book offer an especially interesting flavour to the narrative, with most of them capturing the local Louisiana culture. Mariani effectively presents them, both through their characteristics and unique dialogue, to pull the reader from wherever they find themselves into the bayou parishes of the state. The story is strong and while it is away from the big city, there is no shortage of action. With a strong narrative that binds a mix of short and longer chapters, the reader is able to lose themselves in this piece that stretches Mariani well outside of where he’s dropped his protagonist in novels past. One can hope that other series readers will be as impressed as I was with this piece, which kept me
wanting more with each turn of the page.

Kudos, Mr. Mariani, for such a wonderful novel. I don’t want to go to the well too many times, but I hope you have more in store for Hope before too long.

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Profile Image for Alan Cotterell.
562 reviews190 followers
March 24, 2019
Another great history lesson

Remind me never to go on holiday with Ben Hope!
Trouble will always find him, but he will be the one that walks away with a few more battle scars. And occasionally a new friend generally female.
Although the pace of this book faltered a little in the middle it soon picked up and ended in the usual way.
Profile Image for Kate.
1,632 reviews395 followers
October 14, 2018
The Ben Hope thrillers are my favourites of all thrillers. I adore them and have read them for years. The Rebel's Revenge, a self-contained stand alone novel set in Louisiana, is absolutely fantastic and an excellent addition to a series that I couldn't be without. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
Profile Image for Adrienne.
527 reviews129 followers
January 28, 2021
Absolutely wonderful. A terrific adventure featuring ex-SAS major Ben Hope and combining historical fiction. The latter focused on the American civil war. In particular the one family and it's descendants were focused on killing the descendants of a black slave girl who obtained and passed on her master's strategy secrets to the Union. A great yarn
Unputdownable
Profile Image for David Highton.
3,758 reviews32 followers
June 9, 2019
Ben Hope is in the US rather than Europe for this adventure, getting caught up in a Louisiana vendetta which traced back to the Civil War. The death toll at the end seemed a bit over the top to me.
390 reviews1 follower
February 20, 2019
Major Ben Hope flies to the USA, to America's deep south, Louisiana's swamp lands to attend a farewell concert by one of his favourite jazz artists. All goes according to plan and he arrives at his hotel in Villeneuve in Clovis Parish and after his evening meal and a few beers he goes in search of something stronger to drink. At a late night liquor store he finds a bottle of single malt whisky to his liking and then in a matter of seconds his pleasure trip turns into fight for his life and the lives of others. Ben finds himself not only fighting the bad guys but also staying out of the clutches of the local cops who want him dead or alive. As usual this book is high octane story telling of the highest order. Reading any Ben Hope adventure including this one will set your heart racing and you will physically cheer him on as he faces overwhelming odds in his pursuit of doing the right thing or serving justice on those who deserve it, even if Ben Hope's justice is not always lawful, but in my mind it is morally right. This book is brilliant and once you start reading it you will find it difficult to put down. Read it, you won't regret it.
Profile Image for Grace.
507 reviews11 followers
August 16, 2019
4½ stars
As usual this followed the high standard previously set by the author and entertained from start to finish.
As is normal with these books, there was a historical element to the tale and as usual its conclusion happened in modern times. If you like Ben Hope as a hero then it won't disappoint
Profile Image for Rosalyn.
445 reviews1 follower
December 23, 2018
Unable to put this down from start to finish Ben Hope at his best.
Fell into the trap of reading the snippet of the next one to come, wish I hadn't as now how on earth am I going to manage to wait till the full book comes out.
Profile Image for Jamie.
Author 1 book17 followers
April 12, 2020
In 'The Rebel's Revenge,' Ben is once again staring down true evil in the form of the Garret brothers. Let's just say these boys were not brought up in a Christian home. The whole county lives in fear of them. They take what they want and kill for fun, feeding those who disappoint them to their pet gators. Fun guys.

This is my second book by Scott Mariani. I still like the Moscow Cipher best due to its amazingly well done premise. This Ben Hope tale has the requisite suspense and action with a solid premise. All Ben wants to do is relax and attend a jazz performance. But Louisiana has a life of its own. As per usual, Ben has no problems finding trouble. The Civil War is not over for some, says the book. A sinister conspiracy unsanctioned by a desperate Confederacy reaches out in time with a dark menacing hand.
Profile Image for Lukerik.
608 reviews8 followers
April 21, 2025
Entertaining. It’s set in Louisiana and has a ridiculous plot involving hurt feelings that trace back to the Civil War. Obviously, Americans would not still be upset about something like that, but it is just a story. There is also a Magical Negro which is a sign that Mr Mariani thinks he’s funny. There’s a nice theme of secrets and their discovery. Unfortunately, Ben Hope’s personality is also apparently a secret and he’s rather passive for the first part of the book. For that reason this isn’t one of the best in the series, but still good for a break.
Profile Image for Joe Geesin.
176 reviews4 followers
January 14, 2019
As good and action packed as ever. Yes there's a cliche or two, and story that has similarities to The Fugitive, all taken with a pinch of salt.
A trip to the Deep South and an authority figure as sound as a nine bob note, it's a well written fantastic read. And it ends wiht the mother of all gun fights too.

Profile Image for Dchamp.
312 reviews
September 30, 2019
Another great book... just a tiny bot over the top in some areas, but great ending!
25 reviews
June 27, 2020
If you like Jack Reacher type heroes you will like this. No dull moments, action from start the finish. I will be ready more of Scott's books featuring Ben Hope.
Profile Image for Stuart McIntosh.
Author 19 books5 followers
February 9, 2024
I'm thinking this is the eighteenth book I've read in the Ben Hope series. It has been a wee while since I read the previous one and I don't know why. I love the way Mariani writes and the way the Hope adventure is formed. It's my English 'Reacher'.
Profile Image for Mel Horne.
298 reviews1 follower
November 24, 2018
Well I almost gave up on this one, the first third of the book was a struggle and the inclusion of a new writing style, where prophetic comments on future events were left hanging , was really annoying. But of course Ben is Ben and slowly the story came together and allowed Ben to shine out. Having said that, I feel the book was written to a formula , some of the characters were just pretty clumsy stereotypes. I’m not sure I will rush to read the next one. I think Ben needs to have a chat with Scott and help him to find a truer path.
Profile Image for Andra Nicoara.
201 reviews11 followers
December 23, 2018
I couldn't wait to read this book and I wasn't disappointed. Fast-paced, intriguing, a historical mystery - all markers of the Ben Hope stories we love. I did feel at times that some of the characters were stereotypical and that Louisiana's picture was more of a caricature, but it kept me hooked nonetheless. Once again Ben gets dragged into some kind of a mess and manages to pull through by punching his way out when outsmarting won't do.
15 reviews
July 14, 2019
Pretty good, slow in places but a good plot and style of writing
Profile Image for Melly Dimitrova.
119 reviews37 followers
April 25, 2019
I like the Rebel's Revenge, it was more interesting to me than The Moscow Cipher. I suppose Ben can't have a normal holiday, it won't be him if he doesn't get into any trouble. It seems he draws it like bees on honey.
I like historical stuff and mysteries. My brain screams "yes!" at any opportunity to solve mysteries and such. Funny enough, I've never been patient enough to do puzzles as a kid unless they're cartoon ones with relatively bigger pieces. 😂 I did one a few years back(got it for free and I wanted to make it and see what it looks like), Jesus, that thing was so annoying, I almost ran out of patience, not that I'm too patient of a person anyway. But I digress, again. So sorry, I have a habit of going off topic, oops.
This time, Ben had no intention of going on a rescue mission or any of the familiar stuff, he was just going for a holiday to Louisianna, USA and enjoy some jazz music. As you can guess, it doesn't work like that, no surprise whatsoever. He's accused of a crime he did not commit and now forced on the run, he knows what he must do - understand who did this and why and then find them, something he's pretty good at. It's so funny when people have no idea what they're getting into. Especially with Ben, he's a weapon himself, hell, as I love to put it - he's a one-man army.
To be honest, I'm least familiar with American history and the US overall. I know about the Civilian War, well, we do have to learn world history but I wasn't particularly interested in this topic. Though, I might say I'm intrigued by Abraham Lincoln because he's born on the same date as me. Anyway, I know that the US was divided between the North and the South during the war and even now, the North is still more advanced and upgraded in contrast to the Deep South. Everything is connected, however, like a chain reaction. The original thirteen British colonies, the South eventually falling to the Spaniards... These things made the differences. And Ben needs to get into the History of America in order to put together the pieces of the puzzle behind the murder because this is no ordinary crime. Not when you use a weapon with historical value and a deep meaning behind it. A brutal crime turns out to be a vendetta.
I like how the main antagonist characters were described. Especially the eldest of the brothers, he was like a counterpart to Ben Hope - equally strong, smart and treacherous but with deep malice in him, unlike Ben. It's nice when Ben faces a match otherwise, he beats them without a doubt. Not that he doesn't anyway but still, better to have more of a challenge. And I don't mean just someone high in the hierarchy, more often than not, these on top are rather more comfortable as bosses giving the orders but facing someone as Ben alone? Not a chance.
The book was intense and interesting, a very good thriller indeed. I enjoyed it a lot, well honestly, I can't wait to get my hand on Valley of Death. I read the sneak peek of course, maybe that just served only to tease me more but now I have a fairly good idea of what exactly's going to happen, judging by the summary as well. Can't wait to see what Scott has in store for us with the next book(coming out soon!)!
Profile Image for Giuseppe Ruotolo.
153 reviews1 follower
September 10, 2022
Another good turn from Mr Mariani. The beauty of the Ben Hope series is you always learn something out of the obvious capers of the protagonist. Some books back it was the Irish potato famine, this one was the American Civil War, how it wasn't just about slavery and the South having started well could have won outright and America would have been a completely different affair. Just think. No rap music, no Jay Z, no Nicky Minaj. LOL.
Back to the book, Mariani educates as well as entertain. Ok sometimes there is too much technical information and chases that have Ben running for about four pages and, the unthinkable, when sometimes it looks as if he won't make it out of this one. But then curiously, the bad guy's gun jams as he tries to finish Ben off or, my favourite line in any Ben Hope book so far "And then a miracle happened!" And Ben once again lives to tell the tale.
If they ever televise Ben Hope they will have to resurrect the guy in the Milk Tray advert because no one else comes close. O-)
Profile Image for Rosie Amber.
Author 1 book83 followers
December 31, 2019
Rebel’s Revenge is book #18 of the Ben Hope action adventure series.

This story takes place in Louisiana. Ex-SAS Major Ben Hope has tickets for a Jazz concert, but he is quickly caught up in a liquor store hold-up. Ben’s intervention puts him in the public eye and suddenly he is being accused of a vicious local murder. High profile media coverage of the story takes Ben from tourist to fugitive in just a few days. With the police searching the area for Ben, he desperately tries to find out why the murder took place so that he can prove his innocence.

I like tales set in this part of America; I find the rich history of the area and the connections to Voodoo fascinating. The links to the American Civil War theme were also very interesting, even though my own knowledge of the era is very basic.

Overall, the balance of fiction and combat work well and there is plenty of action to keep fans of the series engaged with the story.
762 reviews2 followers
February 7, 2019
The Ben Hope series of novels is addictive. I can't wait for 'Valley of Death' to come out in May.
Ben Hope is taking some rare leave from Le Val and has gone to Louisiana to watch the last ever live gig by Woody McCoy and his Quintet. But life is never that easy for Ben. He stumbles into Clovis County, where the fun begins with a liquor store hold up. Events move quickly and Ben is charged with murder amd goes on the run. Nothing new there.
With the local Sheriff and his deputies chasing him, Ben goes after the real murderers, with the aid of a local family, who have their own reasons for not liking the sheriff. Eventually, after many deaths, near misses for Ben, the law enforcement officers, along with Ben Hope's advice, win.
Ben reunites a woman and her three children with their husband/father and has a surprise coming before he's allowed to fly home to France.


Profile Image for Balthazar Lawson.
775 reviews9 followers
November 15, 2022
Ben Hope takes and a long overdue holiday. He briefly visits his son before travelling onto Clovis Parish, Louisiana to attend the last concert of a jazz great. In the day before the concert trouble finds him and he is set up for the murder of woman that is the result of revenge going back to the Civil War. But as usual Ben isn't just going to sit there and let things happen the way others want them to and sets out to clear his name and exact his own revenge.

This is an enjoyable book, though it does have a high body count as most books in the series seem to have. It's a violent action thriller that keeps you wanting to know what happens next. Well worth reading.
Profile Image for Tamil.
123 reviews5 followers
July 28, 2019
18th book in the series. In every book you get to know something about Ben. Ben's character development was amazingly done by Mariani. In this book Ben goes to South of states to enjoy a jazz concert. But things went South when he got framed for a murder and becomes a fugitive on the run. Only way to prove his innocence was to find out the truth behind the murder without getting caught in a state wide manhunt. A story and vendetta which dates back to 19th century forms the backdrop for the murder. Typical Ben hope book with action and history.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
139 reviews3 followers
May 7, 2020
Another thrilling read

Lots of interesting historical facts as ever coupled with an exciting modern plot. I read this in just over a day which is something I seldom do preferring to take my time and enjoy it.

A couple of less believable characters but, hey, its fiction and no less enjoyable for it. I just wish Ben wouldn't smoke so much.

Moving on to no 19 now. I bought them out of order which is something I don't usually do so I've got a nice little stack to help me through lockdown.

Stay safe, Everyone.
Profile Image for Oismiffy.
214 reviews3 followers
February 10, 2021
I have a general rule that if I’m not into a book by (about) page 50 then I dump it and move on. There are just too many books around to waste time on bad ones.

I only made it to page 18 of this one, purely because it’s full of cliches and lazy similes, and not worth my time reading.

At school we’d be marked down for this type of thing, so it’s hard to accept someone has actually been being paid for it. I blame the editor/publisher rather than the author, as the amount of positive reviews suggests the story is good. It needs rewriting, which is their job to point out.
Profile Image for D.S. Mac.
Author 1 book38 followers
February 9, 2022
'Boy, y’all sure know where to go lookin’ for trouble. Reckon you found more’n you bargained for this time.'

This has been another of my faves so far. Mainly because this time Hope isn't up against some secret government organisation or some crazy rich man with all kinds of equipment at his disposal.
He's up against some redneck criminals, who have tried to frame him for murder.

On the run from Louisianan police and every gun toting hick looking for a reward. All over and centuries old vendetta.
Profile Image for Ian Davies.
27 reviews
September 4, 2022
Every time Ben Hope goes for a bit of R & R, trouble finds him as he does the simplest of helpful deeds.
Off to see a Jazz concert before the musician retires should be a simple thing. Visiting the Deep South and enjoying the culter.
Stopping a corner store from being robbed at the late of night was only just the start of his troubles that end up digging into generations old vendettas.
Excellant adventure.
If you every go on holiday with Ben, make sure you stick very close to him and you might make it out alaive.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.