Mambo

Frank Pagan #3

by Campbell Armstrong

In international bestselling author Campbell Armstrong’s pulse-pounding thriller, the hunt for a ruthless bomb maker takes Frank Pagan to Cuba and into the midst of a startling conspiracy Gunther Ruhr, a.k.a. the Claw, is a terrorist responsible for hundreds, possibly thousands, of deaths. A passenger jet, a busload of soccer players, and an entire hotel full of tourists have all been targets of his extravagant, almost artistically designed explosions. He will kill anywhere and for anyone if the price is right.   Now it’s up to Detective Frank Pagan to track down the depraved killer and escort him to prison. Along the way, from Glasgow to London and on to Miami and Havana, Pagan will have to shore up a leak in Scotland Yard; get reacquainted with his old flame, Magdalena; and uncover a plot involving a cruise missile, Fidel Castro, and an international banking syndicate.Mambo is the 3rd book in the Frank Pagan Novels, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.  

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction

542 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 1990

About the author

aka Thomas Altman, Campbell Black, Jeffrey Campbell (with Jeffrey Caine), Thomas Weldon

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Campbell Armstrong got a degree in philosophy before taking a position teaching creating writing. After his excellent series about counterterrorism expert Frank Pagan, Mr. Armstrong has written several compelling novels of crime and life in his native Glasgow.

Reviews

[henrys-axe · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has not been too long since I discovered the novels of Campbell Armstrong. So far, I've taken well to all of those I have read. Mambo proved to be a mixed bag. Although there is a fairly preposterous story-line, Armstrong was a good enough author to keep the reader rapt Despite quite a few technical errors and the sappy/sloppy soap-opera love triangle (could be totally eliminated or been presented in a more realistic manner) I stayed with it. Again, Mr Armstrong's forceful weaving of events keeps the story alive. I believe any less talented writer would have lost the reader at several junctures in the story. His characterizations are flawless, well developed and, on the whole, appropriate. His central villain, the hateful, maniacal, twisted mercenary, Gunther Ruhr, deserves, and gets, the highest number of boos & hisses available. This particular novel has quite a few "bad guys" - readers can take their pick. This third novel in the Frank Pagan series has me wondering if Frank has a special secret formula he uses to not only stay awake, but stay alive. Just like Lider Maximo in this novel, Frank Pagan is a survivor.

[Anmol Kishore · Rating 4 out of 5]

once you start this book keep no prejudice and it will take you by surprise. The most interesting this about this book is not the plot but the characters. The characters may seem surreal but believable, and without an iota of doubt extremely intriguing.
I started this book keeping in mind that I may not be able to go beyond 100 pages, but the protagonist and the antagonist were both interesting enough to keep me hooked onto the passages.
A good read if u like some action,adventure and 'Mambo-Jumbo'

[Gouty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standard hunt for the escaped terrorist thriller. Not bad, but not outstanding.

[Jean Luc Picard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too long and dated.

[Jibril · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read