Hell’s Gate
It’s World War II and mad Japanese scientists, Nazi SS officers, indigenous peoples and U.S. Army Intelligence operators are all contending in the remotest part of central Brazil amidst a seemingly prehistoric landscape filled with mysterious and often lethal flora and fauna. Captain J. R. MacCready, an erstwhile zoologist, is parachuted into the jungle to determine what the Axis forces are up to. He unexpectedly meets a childhood friend who was thought dead and an exotic woman with uncanny skills.
With his friends’ help, Mac sets off to thwart whatever horrendous scheme the enemy is planning. He must battle not only the Germans and Japanese but the hostile environment itself, all seeming to do their best to eradicate him.
This fascinating debut novel compares well to the best of Michael Crichton’s science-infused thrillers. One of the authors is a vertebrate zoologist and the book overlays intriguing biology and well researched history on a superbly crafted story. Prepare for a wild ride with riveting action and graphic scenes punctuated by bursts of occasional humor. The descriptions of the foreboding but beautiful landscapes are colorful and enticing and the protagonist is likeable from the start. The authors helpfully provide a postscript to put the biology, history and technology they presented in realistic context. While some of the comical banter may seem a bit over the top, Hell’s Gate delivers everything one expects in a mesmerizing historical thriller.
