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The Executioner #33
Executioner-Monday's Mob
1st Corgi paperback vgIn stock shipped from our UK warehouse -
192 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1990
37 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Don Pendleton
1,521 books183 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 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 21, 2021
Mack Bolan is about to switch gears and publishers. Bolan is about to fight terrorists and commies, and this is part of the last hurrah of the original premise.
Pretty decent, but maybe it's for the best Pendleton gave the series to ghost writers.
Pretty decent, but maybe it's for the best Pendleton gave the series to ghost writers.
March 29, 2021
...he had come into a new truth. He knew now that the greatest enemy the American nation could contemplate was that enemy within—that cancerous, scabrous, vile growth on the nation’s innards—that power that knowing federal officials had characterized as “the second invisible government of the nations”—the Mafia, La Cosa Nostra, the Mob, the Outfit, the Organization; by what- ever name, it was the new enemy and Mack Bolan could not turn his back upon it. Instead, he brought war to it...Mack Bolan’s war was not with the law but with those who confounded the law. And he did not make war on the badge, not even a tarnished one. The hand of friendship or the salute of respect was always there for any badge that would accept it, however grudgingly; consequently, Mack Bolan’s last mile had attracted warm friendships and clandestine allies from various levels of the police community...Quite a mile, yes. But now it appeared to have found its natural end. Unable to withstand the repeated onslaughts of Bolan’s raging brand of warfare and falling apart under its own attrition at the top, the once invincible Organization was now scattered into fearful bands of huddled paranoiacs, distrustful of one another yet loath to walk alone the twisted roads of their own hell-grounds...But he was not entirely convinced that the Mafia menace had been sufficiently weakened—that his vow to “shake their house down” had been fulfilled. The offer from Washington was like a hand from heaven, sure. It included total amnesty and forgiveness, a whole new identity, honors and official status, the full resources of the mightiest nation on earth in close support—a reprieve and a restart, a new life, a new challenge, a new hope. Above all else, though—an end to that damnable last mile. The President of the United States had, yeah, made Mack Bolan an offer which could not be refused. But it was also one which he could not possibly accept; not yet.
"Let’s review the ground rules, Harry.”
“What ground rules?”
“The ones keeping you alive and me happy. I don’t like you, Harry. I don’t like anything you stand for. You’re a parasite who never once in his life built anything, or preserved anything, or accomplished anything worthwhile for the world at large. Do you agree with that?”
“I guess that’s about right, Mr. Bolan. I guess so.”
“Uh huh. That’s the ground rule. The weight of guys like you, hanging on and sucking from everything that’s right and decent in the world is just too damn much for the world to bear. To see you standing here sucking air right now is almost too much for me to bear. But it’s nothing personal. I don’t even know your mother’s name—whether she breastfed you or tossed you bologna on the floor—so you see I don’t really know a thing about you … as a person. But I know what you are, Harry, and that disturbs me very much. I step around cockroaches to keep from squashing them. But I don’t step around people like you. Okay?”
"Okay, sure, I understand perfectly. You hate my guts. I can understand that.”
“I don’t hate your guts, Harry. I just can’t live on the same planet with them."
"Let’s review the ground rules, Harry.”
“What ground rules?”
“The ones keeping you alive and me happy. I don’t like you, Harry. I don’t like anything you stand for. You’re a parasite who never once in his life built anything, or preserved anything, or accomplished anything worthwhile for the world at large. Do you agree with that?”
“I guess that’s about right, Mr. Bolan. I guess so.”
“Uh huh. That’s the ground rule. The weight of guys like you, hanging on and sucking from everything that’s right and decent in the world is just too damn much for the world to bear. To see you standing here sucking air right now is almost too much for me to bear. But it’s nothing personal. I don’t even know your mother’s name—whether she breastfed you or tossed you bologna on the floor—so you see I don’t really know a thing about you … as a person. But I know what you are, Harry, and that disturbs me very much. I step around cockroaches to keep from squashing them. But I don’t step around people like you. Okay?”
"Okay, sure, I understand perfectly. You hate my guts. I can understand that.”
“I don’t hate your guts, Harry. I just can’t live on the same planet with them."
May 21, 2022
This was the beginning of a six book story arc before Pendleton retired from the series and the focus shifts from fighting the Mafia to fighting international terrorists. Bolan has accepted an offer from the government to get a new identity and take up anti-terrorist activities, but first he wants six days and air support to blitz across the country and mob up Mafia activities.
He starts in the mid-west, stopping what turns out to be an effort to re-form the Chicago mob. The action takes place out in the woods, though, with the finale set in a remote resort the mobsters are using for a conference. The government has given Bolan an assistant to help with communications and surveilence--naturally, this assistant is a drop-dead gorgeous blonde. When she is captured by the mob, Bolan has to improvise a strike on the resort before he's done proper scouting and preperation in order to both finish off the mob and rescue the girl. It's a very strong and tense finale, combining action with psychological warfare, leading to an unusual, highly effective conclusion.
He starts in the mid-west, stopping what turns out to be an effort to re-form the Chicago mob. The action takes place out in the woods, though, with the finale set in a remote resort the mobsters are using for a conference. The government has given Bolan an assistant to help with communications and surveilence--naturally, this assistant is a drop-dead gorgeous blonde. When she is captured by the mob, Bolan has to improvise a strike on the resort before he's done proper scouting and preperation in order to both finish off the mob and rescue the girl. It's a very strong and tense finale, combining action with psychological warfare, leading to an unusual, highly effective conclusion.
October 26, 2020
I first read this in the early 80s, and it is still a great, fast read. This is the first book in Mack Bolan's final week in his war against the mafia. After the end of this storyline, the series transitions Mack into a one-man anti-terrorist unit and sends him around the world. From that came the Phoenix Force and Able Team spin-offs. A great time for lovers of men's adventure novels.
Everything that a fan loves about Don Pendleton is here. A man so hard that the toughest of tough guys know it is time to run, a beautiful woman, accurate weapon descriptions, and nowhere is the word cordite used.
If you are looking for a quick read for your lunch hour or something to fit between textbooks or work material, this book is for you.
Find it! Buy it! READ IT!
Everything that a fan loves about Don Pendleton is here. A man so hard that the toughest of tough guys know it is time to run, a beautiful woman, accurate weapon descriptions, and nowhere is the word cordite used.
If you are looking for a quick read for your lunch hour or something to fit between textbooks or work material, this book is for you.
Find it! Buy it! READ IT!
November 24, 2022
4.5 stars
So the mafia is pretty much finished and Bolan now basically has a blank check to do whatever he wants with full support of the US government. Since that’s the scope of things, Bolan goes on an all out rampage, cutting off the last few remaining mafia kingpins, kicking ass and taking names, and not caring how much destruction he manages to cause.
Unlike a lot of the plodding and contrived books during the middle part of this ongoing series, Monday’s Mob didn’t mess around or try to reinvent the wheel with long and drawn out character studies. This was just all out action.
It’s been a long time since an Executioner book was this much fun and I sincerely hope the last 5 or 6 books left continue in this upward direction.
So the mafia is pretty much finished and Bolan now basically has a blank check to do whatever he wants with full support of the US government. Since that’s the scope of things, Bolan goes on an all out rampage, cutting off the last few remaining mafia kingpins, kicking ass and taking names, and not caring how much destruction he manages to cause.
Unlike a lot of the plodding and contrived books during the middle part of this ongoing series, Monday’s Mob didn’t mess around or try to reinvent the wheel with long and drawn out character studies. This was just all out action.
It’s been a long time since an Executioner book was this much fun and I sincerely hope the last 5 or 6 books left continue in this upward direction.
January 3, 2022
This starts the final week that Bolan does his own thing by battling the mob. He agrees to start a new force for the government to combat terrorism and in exchange all of his so called sins would be forgiven. However he asked for one week and a heavy cargo plane, to get him and his battle wagon to each location faster, to take out six more groups of the mob to finish it off. This time he is wanting to take out the mobster that was in the lead to taking the Chicago mantle but he ends up discovering a secret hard site and an important summit that was to big to ignore.
Highly recommended, Pendleton is the master of the men's adventure novel and he does a great job with this one.
Highly recommended, Pendleton is the master of the men's adventure novel and he does a great job with this one.
November 16, 2023
I think I have run out of steam on the exploits of the Executioner- the undending moralizing and his usage of violence as the only solution are a bit trite.
For instance- he happens upon a facility of carjackers, and blows up the whole facility. This seems like overkill considering the other sort of mobsters he fights.
As per usual, he encounters little to no difficulty in his violent crusade. Shocker
For instance- he happens upon a facility of carjackers, and blows up the whole facility. This seems like overkill considering the other sort of mobsters he fights.
As per usual, he encounters little to no difficulty in his violent crusade. Shocker
June 18, 2019
Action never goes out of style
If you like action read the Executioner. Mack Bolan declared war on the Mafia, and hurts their evil plans. Fast paced, action packed, and an easy read. What more could you want?
If you like action read the Executioner. Mack Bolan declared war on the Mafia, and hurts their evil plans. Fast paced, action packed, and an easy read. What more could you want?
April 21, 2024
Started reading these books in the 70's.
I love the way it goes from The Executioner to able team and then Phoenix Force. All are great action packed. My wife made me get rid of all of them.
I love the way it goes from The Executioner to able team and then Phoenix Force. All are great action packed. My wife made me get rid of all of them.
December 2, 2018
Another between books easy read
April 28, 2015
These 2-stars are in comparison to the total 38 stories. I was disappointed with this one. Being this is the first of the final six, the week of slaughter, I expected Pendleton to give us something special, and that special fell on her face around page 60.
April Rose began as an awesome character. Right out of the barrel, when we meet her sitting cross-legged on Mack Bolan's car so she could 'get a better view of the action,' I thought, 'Yes! finally a cool female character in this series!' She is the hand-picked Federal Agent and surveillance expert designated by Head-Fed Hal Brognola and assigned to Bolan as help for the next six books. Sigh. Then, after what could only be six hours of real time in the book, She thinks she might be falling for the big guy if only he didn't break the law and heartlessly kill all those mis-directed mob guys. Immediately thereafter, she gets like a little girl, and acts pouty, and stupidly pedantic.
Blah, blah, blah! There are entire chapters wasted on retarded philosophies of love and war and how they are the same Blah, Blah, Blah! and so much exposition and irrelevant references that I found myself flipping pages to get on with it.
The villains were entertaining, but their deaths served unrewarding. In the end, April pops her head out of her ass, but now she is in love. Yay -- five more books to go.
April Rose began as an awesome character. Right out of the barrel, when we meet her sitting cross-legged on Mack Bolan's car so she could 'get a better view of the action,' I thought, 'Yes! finally a cool female character in this series!' She is the hand-picked Federal Agent and surveillance expert designated by Head-Fed Hal Brognola and assigned to Bolan as help for the next six books. Sigh. Then, after what could only be six hours of real time in the book, She thinks she might be falling for the big guy if only he didn't break the law and heartlessly kill all those mis-directed mob guys. Immediately thereafter, she gets like a little girl, and acts pouty, and stupidly pedantic.
Blah, blah, blah! There are entire chapters wasted on retarded philosophies of love and war and how they are the same Blah, Blah, Blah! and so much exposition and irrelevant references that I found myself flipping pages to get on with it.
The villains were entertaining, but their deaths served unrewarding. In the end, April pops her head out of her ass, but now she is in love. Yay -- five more books to go.
July 8, 2013
I've had a rather hit or miss history with the Don Pendelton-penned EXECUTIONER books. TENNESSEE SMASH was a tough, tough read and almost made me give up on the series before I ever got started. PANIC IN PHILLY was more my speed and, despite a glaring gaffe towards the end (that only a DelVal native would probably pick up on), definitely made me want to read more. Now I'm reading the final story arc written by Pendelton, which starts with MONDAY'S MOB. Given an offer by the POTUSA that he can't refuse, Bolan asks for one week in which to make a final assault against the Mob. Hooked up with a curvy tech surveillance specialist named April Rose, Bolan rolls his war wagon into Little Nashville and well, you know the rest. A quick, fun read, MOB benefits from hooking Bolan up with a sidekick who at first questions his methods but finally sees the light when she's caught in the crossfire as The Executioner matches wits with a conclave of bosses.
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 8, 2019
Very good. Must read!
I recently reread this since it had been a long time. Yes, there is a lot of negative comments about the treatment of women etc.......this is a 70s male action hero type of book. That's what you sign up for when you read it. It isn't meant to be a treatise on women's rights.
I like the Bolan series. It is entertaining.
I recently reread this since it had been a long time. Yes, there is a lot of negative comments about the treatment of women etc.......this is a 70s male action hero type of book. That's what you sign up for when you read it. It isn't meant to be a treatise on women's rights.
I like the Bolan series. It is entertaining.
March 6, 2016
These books usually have pretty cool and exciting action sequences but this book was ruined by the April Rose character. The flow of mind numbing drivel spouted between her and Bolan was excrutiating. Ruined the book totally for me.
July 17, 2020
Sarge is on his last mile, doing mop up work before he starts with a government task force. He's paired with a female operative, April Rose, by Brognola to help with logistics and hopefully keep him alive. Good action yarn.
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August 16, 2016read some time in 1981
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews