The Executioner's Game

Rating:
Summary: This spy-thriller won't disappoint!
Review: Gary Hardwick fans won't be disappointed with his latest, The Executioner's Game. Using select rules from his main character's E-1 Operations Missions Manual, Hardwick sets a riveting stage for readers to be fully immersed into a well written spy-thriller that not only entertains, but stimulates thoughts about race and crime of the inner city and how the two are perceived by law enforcement. This novel clearly establishes Hardwick as a daring storyteller with the kind of verve and energy that will keep old fans wanting more and new
fans seeking out his other works. A great read to kick off the New Year (due to be released on or before January 1, 2005)!


Rating:
Summary: A search for the truth...
Review: The U.S. Secretary of Commerce and other government officials have been sent to identify the level of economic aid needed to help in the devastation left by the AIDS virus in Central and Southern Africa. A staff of bodyguards and military are on hand to ensure their safety. Among the entourage is Alex Deavers, and as they are headed back home with a deadly secret sold to the secretary in their possession, their truck explodes. Deavers narrowly escapes death, but not before grabbing the suitcase. This leaves him on the run for his life and on a mission to gather the additional information needed to complete the puzzle and right a wrong. However, it wasn't in the plans for Deavers to escape the explosion and now he's been identified as a rogue agent.

Luther Green is a trained assassin hired out by E-1, a secret department of the U.S. government. Though no one acknowledges its existence, E-1 originated in the CIA. Their primary mission is to rid the world of bad guys - particularly those who threaten the security of the United States. Luther has been called in to take on the hardest case of his life. He must kill Deavers, who just happens to be the man who taught him everything he knows. He's given the mission and sets out to accomplish it, despite his personal feelings for his friend and mentor. Through the cat and mouse chase that occurs once he tracks Deavers, Luther begins to question not only his capability in catching his former trainer, but he also begins to question his own humanity and realizes he has given up the possibility of a normal life to serve as an assassin. Deavers manages to stay ahead of him, but leaves clues along the way which plant seeds of doubt as to the full validity and scope of the mission Luther has been assigned.

Finding out who he really is deep inside and battling with the rule book of his chosen profession are constant obstacles for Luther. When he is lead to his hometown of Detroit, he is faced with the safety of his family who become pawns in the operation. With high-speed chases throughout various major cities, hand-to-hand combat, the good guy back-up when things get sticky, and a host of weapons and gadgets, Gary Hardwick's newest thriller, THE EXECUTIONER'S GAME is without a doubt a page-to-page thrill ride. The scenes are vivid, the characters are intense, and suspense surrounds every movement of the characters. The ending was completely unexpected and speaks to the racial injustices prevalent in society, including the government.

Hardwick has clearly used his expertise as a film director and screenwriter to pen a novel displaying an extra level of intensity that a lot of authors are incapable of pulling off. I enjoyed THE EXECUTIONER'S GAME and look forward to seeing it on the big screen and can already see the intended lead, Jamie Foxx, playing the role of Luther Green.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

Rating:
Summary: Another winner from Hardwick
Review: While Gary Hardwick is better known for his police thrillers, this book is a nice change of pace. It explores the area of espionnage with a twist.

I love Hardwick's down to earth and thoroughly readable style of writing. I am not a huge fan of espionnage books, but Hardwick made me literally devour this book. He writes humble and human characters and his plots are always a whodunnit til the end.

I still prefer to read Hardwick's police stuff, but this book was a nice change of pace.

Great, great.