melissabeth's review
5.0
I usually do not read action thrillers but I am sure glad I read this one! I enjoyed this book for the descrptions of picturesque Bali contrasted with tension of a kidnapping and fast paced action. The authors writing style is easy to read and I look forward to reading his next one in the series.
jeep8read's review
3.0
Hiram battles drug dealers and the jungle as he tries to rescue a kidnapped child.
Interesting insights into the people and the culture of Bali.
Interesting insights into the people and the culture of Bali.
ljwrites85's review
4.0
(rounded up from 3.5)
Hiram Kane is visiting Nyuh Kuning a small and sleepy village in Bali when suddenly the peace and quiet is shattered by gunman who kidnap six year old Ayu, daughter Banjar Kelian (the head of the village) and the niece of his friends Putu and Ketut.
After a death defying motorbike race across the island, they lose sight of Ayu and Putu makes a shocking confession. He fell in with notorious gangster Jago aka The Rooster, a ruthless villain who deal drugs and illegal tiger parts, but stupidly crossed him. Now Ayu’s life hangs in the balance and Hiram must help get her back.
I haven’t read any of the other books in this series, but it works perfectly well as a stand-alone.
This novella is packed with action from the outset, set against the tropical backdrop of Bali, a place I have only sadly seen on TV. It also shows that Bali is not exactly the tropical paradise everyone thinks it is, it has dark side, with the child sex trade, drugs and the illegal slaughter of tigers.
There are some real heart in your mouth moments, with the threat of a volcano about to erupt and poor little Ayu trapped in a cell that is rapidly filling with water! I could see this making a really good action movie.
The author has obviously done a lot of research about Bali and it’s culture but at times I felt it got a little bogged down in the details. Also I felt there wasn’t much information about Kane himself, there is a little in the epilogue but I’m looking forward to learning more about him in the next book, The Samurai Code.
Overall a great bit of fast paced escapism and a nice introduction to the series.
Hiram Kane is visiting Nyuh Kuning a small and sleepy village in Bali when suddenly the peace and quiet is shattered by gunman who kidnap six year old Ayu, daughter Banjar Kelian (the head of the village) and the niece of his friends Putu and Ketut.
After a death defying motorbike race across the island, they lose sight of Ayu and Putu makes a shocking confession. He fell in with notorious gangster Jago aka The Rooster, a ruthless villain who deal drugs and illegal tiger parts, but stupidly crossed him. Now Ayu’s life hangs in the balance and Hiram must help get her back.
I haven’t read any of the other books in this series, but it works perfectly well as a stand-alone.
This novella is packed with action from the outset, set against the tropical backdrop of Bali, a place I have only sadly seen on TV. It also shows that Bali is not exactly the tropical paradise everyone thinks it is, it has dark side, with the child sex trade, drugs and the illegal slaughter of tigers.
There are some real heart in your mouth moments, with the threat of a volcano about to erupt and poor little Ayu trapped in a cell that is rapidly filling with water! I could see this making a really good action movie.
The author has obviously done a lot of research about Bali and it’s culture but at times I felt it got a little bogged down in the details. Also I felt there wasn’t much information about Kane himself, there is a little in the epilogue but I’m looking forward to learning more about him in the next book, The Samurai Code.
Overall a great bit of fast paced escapism and a nice introduction to the series.
angrycroak555's review
4.0
A kidnapping, a motorcycle chase, a gangster and a tiger. This was a fun adventure in Bali. I'm looking forward to the further adventures of Hiram Kane and hopefully we learn more about him in the upcoming books.
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