Only the Details (Mackenzie August, Action Mysteries, Book 5)

1. You have to know when to stop. The third book should have been the last. Everything after, and I have read them all because they are cute, sort of, at least the first two were, is forced.2. I don't care what a person believes, as far as I'm concerned you can be Christian or Jewish or Muslim or Buddhist, or you can worship Mammon if you like, but keep it out of mystery stories. If I want a mystery about religion I will read a theology book.

This series, and this specific novel, is basically a comic book with the emotional maturity and a randy 14 year old male child. The plot is beyond inane and is utterly stupid, all the female characters are sexually objectified, the male characters are cliches stereotypes. Serious issues, such as sexual slavery andabuse are treated so glibly it is misogynistic. If you want to read sensationalized crap by an author who thinks he is Mario Puzo channeling Raymond Chandler, this is right up your alley. I found this to be offensive and repugnant.

I have read all the books in this series and enjoyed them, but this one required too much of a suspension of disbelief. To buy into this story, you must belief that there is a Hunger Games fight to the death in Italy where thousands of people attend. That the participants are kidnapped and that the city sells military weapons. We have to believe that Veronica is so beautiful and sexy that she has had sex with every bad guy in the world.By the end of the book, I was sick of Veronica, who is so beautiful and sexy that every man in the world wants her or has had her as well as August, who is just too good looking and moral.

I’ve recently been introduced to Alan Lee’s Mackenzie August series and have been devouring them either by audible or KU! I’ve grown to love Mack’s wit and vocabulary. Not too embarrassed to say, I’ve had to use the dictionary feature on my kindle for one or two of them. But that’s part of his charm. To disarm and confuse with English! I’m hooked!!!This book in particular was a combination of Mackenzie at his finest with a bit of ‘Gladiator’ thrown in. I was totally wrapped up in the action, suspense and… wit of Mackenzie. Also loved that Veronica (Mack’s very complicated love interest) didn’t sit around and wring her hands, but showed how strong a woman she is. Go Ronnie!!! Underworld watch out… Mack is going to shake the pillars of the temple.These books should be read in order to get the maximum enjoyment out of the overall story arc and growth of the characters. What will happen next? This is my voluntary review.

From the word go, this book proved that it was in a class of its own!Mack is kidnapped, flown to Italy and made to participate in a fight that is supposed to finish him off by the end of the horrendous, inhuman contests!How Mack tries to get out of the imbroglio he is in and how his team of Manny, Ronnie ( I developed deep affection for her) and Marcus travel to Italy to help and support him forms the content of this fabulous book that kept me glued to it and at the edge of my couch ! I even sacrificed my sleep to finish it in one sitting!! After finishing it, I felt like I had emerged from an ugly, cruel, evil world yet one filled with great love, family values and everything good back to my own life and existence.Thanks for an exemplary superb book, Akan. It is an extraordinary book that provides a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience!!