Category: Z-View

“Neagley” Season 1 starring Maria Sten / Z-View

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Neagley: Season 1 (2026)

Based on: Characters by Lee Child

Developed by: Nick Santora, Nicholas Wootton

Directors: Sam Hill (Eps.1–2); Gary Fleder (Eps. 3–4); Phil Abraham (Eps. 5–6);  MJ Bassett (Eps. 7–8)

Teleplay: Nick Santora & Nicholas Wootton (Ep. 1-2; 7-8); Adam Higgs (Eps. 3; 6); Kyle Long (Ep. 4); Lacey Herbert (Ep. 5)

Starring: Maria Sten, Greyston Holt, Adeline Rudolph, Jasper Jones, Matthew Del Negro, Damon Herriman, Rebecca Liddiard and Alan Ritchson

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Frances Neagley, an ex-Military Police Investigator, now works as a Chicago Private Eye.  When a childhood friend turns up dead, police rule it a suicide.  Neagley doesn’t believe it and starts to investigate.  Clues point to Echo Farm, a new age cult led by Lawrence Cole.

Neagley is sure Cole has sinister motives for creating Echo Farm.  But what?  And why was her friend murdered?  As Neagley digs deeper she becomes a target.  Neagley will learn too late that someone with money, power and influence is pulling Cole’s strings… and trying to eliminate her.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Maria Sten is perfect as France Neagley.

Dewey Crowe will always be my favorite character played by Damon Herriman, but he’s also great as Lawrence Cole.

I loved this season of Neagley.  However, I thought much of the decisions made by Keno at Echo Park were dumber than they needed to be.  With that said, I must also add that I do like the character.

The Frances Neagley personal subplot was a nice addition that added depth to the character.

It was cool having Alan Ritchson make cameo bookends in season one.

Bring on Season 2!

“The Street Fighter” starring Sonny Chiba / Z-View

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The Street Fighter (1974)

Director:  Shigehiro Ozawa

Screenplay:  Kōji Takada, Motohiro Torii

Stars:  Sonny Chiba, Yutaka Nakajima

Tagline: If you’ve got to fight…fight dirty!

The Plot…

Terry Tsurugi, a martial arts master, is approached by the Yakuza to kidnap Sari, a billionaire’s daughter.   Terry opts to instead protect her.

Now the forces of the Yakuza are gunning for Terry and Sari.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I wanted to see The Street Fighter when it was first released in 1974.  I couldn’t because it was rated X because of the violent fight scenes.  No one under 17 admitted.  I had just turned 16.  When I finally got to see The Street Fighter I was so disappointed.

Sonny Chiba is a legend among many martial arts fans.  To me his facial expressions/grimaces were over the top and even comical.

The Street Fighter (1974) rates 2 of 5 stars.

THE STEPS: A MEMOIR by Sylvester Stallone / Z-View

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THE STEPS: A MEMOIR by Sylvester Stallone

First sentence…

On a dirt road leading to the sea, deep in the Pyrenees Mountains, I saw a sign.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Most everyone thinks they know Sylvester Stallone’s story.  He’s that famous.

The child raised by dysfunctional divorced parents.  The student expelled from twelve schools.  The young man who wanted to be an actor, but was rejected time and time again.  So incredibly determined to get just one shot that he turned to writing… and struck gold with a screenplay.  He created a story that producers wanted so much that they were willing to pay a small fortune for him NOT to star in it.  But Sylvester Stallone stuck to his guns.  He got his shot for less money, but a percentage of the profits.  Rocky was made and the rest is history.

Yeah, most everyone thinks they know Sylvester Stallone’s story.  And they do, if you’re just talking broadstrokes.  The amazing thing is that what we know just scratches the surface.

Until now.

Sly Stallone’s memoir THE STEPS is an unvarnished look at his life.  He takes us from his difficult birth in a charity ward (which left him with a partially paralyzed face due to an accident with forceps) to his international stardom thanks to Rocky.   Most Stallone fans know it wasn’t an easy journey.  It wasn’t.  But even his most ardent fans will be surprised by Stallone’s candor and the things we didn’t know.

THE STEPS is an easy read, even when the situations are tough.  Stallone’s writing style makes you feel as if Sly is sitting with you telling you stories of his life. (And if you get the audible version, he will be!)  Sly’s sense of humor comes through.  So does his determination.  Although THE STEPS isn’t a self-help book, there are lessons that Sly learned that can be adapted to one’s daily life.

I’ve been a Sly Stallone fan, and followed his career since Lords of Flatbush. Yet there’s so much in THE STEPS I didn’t know.  And even the things I did know, Sly discusses in greater depth.  THE MEMOIR is everything Sylvester Stallone / Rocky fans could want.

Hopefully Sly enjoyed the process of writing THE STEPS enough for him to take the story farther.  Who wouldn’t love to get Sly’s thoughts and behind-the-scenes stories on each project in his career?

THE STEPS by Sylvester Stallone gets my highest recommendation.

Rating:

“Icefall” (2025) starring Joel Kinnaman / Z-View

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Icefall (2025)

Director: Stefan Ruzowitzky

Screenplay:  George Mahaffey, Steve Isles

Stars:  Joel Kinnaman, Cara Jade Myers, Danny Huston and Graham Greene.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Harlan, a loner, is on a remote frozen lake preparing to ice fish.  His plans change when he finds a case full of money. Harlan decides to keep the cash and sets out across the ice.

Ani, the local Game Warden, sees Harlan out on the ice and decides to see what he’s up to.

When the plane carrying the stolen loot went down, everyone on board died in the crash.  The transmitter on the case didn’t.   The thieves on the ground have been on a mission to retrieve the case of cash.

As Ani questions Harlan, the crooks show up.  A gunfight ensues.

Ani and Harlan barely escape into the wilderness with the criminals closing in.  Ani and Harlan are utnumbered and outgunned.

As the temperature drops so do their odds of survival.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Graham Greene has a small role and sadly it was his last feature film appearance.

Icefall can accurately be described as Cliffhanger Horizontal or Cliffhanger Lite.

Icefall (2025) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“The Last Outlaw” (1993) starring Mickey Rourke, Dermot Mulroney, Ted Levine, John C. McGinley, Steve Buscemi, Keith David and Paul Ben-Victor / Z-View

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The Last Outlaw (1993)

Director: Geoff Murphy

Screenplay:  Eric Red

Stars:  Mickey Rourke, Dermot Mulroney, Ted Levine, John C. McGinley, Steve Buscemi, Keith David and Paul Ben-Victor.

Tagline: You’re looking at the face of a killer with nothing left to lose

The Plot…

After the Civil War a renegade band of outlaws terrorize frontier towns robbing banks. They are a former Confederate squad that decided to stay together after the war ended. Under the command of Graff and his second-in-command Eustis, the outlaws are deadly.

Things go south during a robbery.  Several members of Graff’s squad are shot as they ride out of town.  Just slightly ahead of the posse, the outlaws stop to assess injuries.  One of the team is badly wounded.  Graf is ready to put him out down, despite the man’s protest that he can ride.  Eustis intervenes.  Things quickly escalate.  Eustis shoots Graf off his horse as the outlaws ride away.

Graf is taken prisoner by the posse.  In order to save his life, Graf offers to help the posse bring down his former teammates.  They accept.

As Eustis attempts to lead the few remaining soldiers to safety, Graff and the posse close in with murderous intentions.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Keith David, Ted Levine, John C. McGinley and Steve Buscemi do a lot of the heavy lifting.  They’re always good.

I’m usually a Mickey Rourke fan, but this role didn’t work for me.

The Last Outlaw could be subtitled Josey Wales Lite.

The Last Outlaw (1993) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Spartacus” (1960) directed by Stanley Kubrick, starring Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, John Gavin, Tony Curtis and Woody Strode / Z-View

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Spartacus (1960)

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Screenplay: Dalton Trumbo; based on SPARTACUS by Howard Fast.

Stars:  Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, John Gavin, Tony Curtis, John Ireland, Herbert Lom, John Dall, Charles McGraw, Harold J. Stone, Hume Cronyn, Richard Farnsworth and Woody Strode.

Tagline: They trained him to kill for their pleasure. . .but they trained him a little too well. . .

The Plot…

Spartacus, a Thracian slave, is so rebellious that he is sentenced to die.  Before the execution is carried out, Lentulus Batiatus buys Spartacus. Batiatus trains former slaves to become gladiators.  These gladiators will die fighting each other to provide entertainment for rich and powerful Romans.

Spartacus’ rebellious ways continue at the school for gladiators.  Pushed to his limit, Spartacus fights back against one of his oppressors.  To his (and everyone’s surprise) the other gladiators-in-training join in Spartacus’ revolt.

Spartacus and his well-trained gladiators move from village to village freeing slaves along the way.  Most freed slaves join the rebellion.

Rome is worried.  The slave uprising must be put down.   So the most powerful army in the world turns its sights on Spartacus.  The revolt must be crushed!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Spartacus was nominated for six 1961 Academy Awards and won four…

  • Nominee for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture – Alex North
  • Nominee for Best Film Editing – Robert Lawrence
  • Winner for Best Costume Design, Color– Valles, Bill Thomas
  • Winner for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color – Alexander Golitzen, Eric Orbom, Russell A. Gausman, Julia Heron
  • Winner for Best Cinematography, Color – Russell Metty
  • Winner for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Peter Ustinov

Anthony Mann was the original director of Spartacus.  Creative differences between Mann and Kirk Douglas led to Stanley Kubrick coming on as director.  The salt mine locations were the only Mann directed scenes to make the final cut.  Ironically, Douglas and Kubrick also had major creative differences.

A few years after the release of Spartacus, Anthony Mann directed Kirk Douglas in The Heroes of Telemark.

Stanley Kubrick disliked the working conditions of this film.  It is the only “work-for-hire” credit on his resume.  On every other Kubrick film, he had complete control.

A scene cut for the original release was restored in 1991.  It is the scene where Marcus Licinius Crassus (Sir Laurence Olivier) attempts to seduce Antoninus (Tony Curtis) using inuendo of snails and oysters.  The original soundtrack was lost.  Curtis re-recorded his lines.  Since Olivier had died, Anthony Hopkins (who was known to imitate Olivier’s voice) was brought in to re-record Olivier’s lines.  Hopkins is thanked in the updated credits

The 1991 restoration contains exactly four additional minutes of footage than the original release.  Two minutes are the famous “snails and oysters” scene with the additional two minutes going to the overture, intermission, and exit music.

Kirk Douglas said that he made Spartacus because he was turned down for the lead in Ben-Hur.

I was surprised to see Hume Cronyn as a gladiator!

Spartacus is a classic.  A film everyone should see.

Spartacus (1960) rates 5 of 5 stars.

A VIOLENT MASTERPIECE by Jordan Harper / Z-View

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A VIOLENT MASTERPIECE by Jordan Harper

First sentence…

He tells them, “This place is a crime.”

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Jake Deal makes his living live-streaming nightly from L.A.’s dark, dangerous, crime-ridden hot spots. Jake takes his subcribers “live” to scenes of murders, crimes in progress, or whatever location that needs a police response. Jake’s car is loaded with a police scanner, cameras, wifi, and more. Jake planned to livestream the locations of the LA Ripper, a serial killer still on the loose.  That changed when Jake was hired to follow and compile dirt on a list of powerful and influential folks.

Doug Gibson is a lawyer for the common man.  Gibson’s clients are the under-served, the poor and the powerless.  So you can imagine Gibson’s surprise when Eric Alger contacts him. Alger needs a defense attorney and wants Gibson.

Eric Alger became rich as the producer of tween television shows.  Alger became even richer with his behind-the-scenes sex trafficking of youngsters.  He also served as a conduit to others with similar tastes.  Now Alger is behind bars.  Alger says if he’s not released, he’s going to name names.  If he’s going down, he’s taking rich and powerful sex deviants (like himself) with him.

Kara Delgado works for an underground concierge that gets the super-rich whatever they want. It could be the location for a private sex party, drugs, men, women, whatever the customer wants and can afford.   When Kara’s best friend goes missing and her apartment is scrubbed clean, Kara decides to investigate.

When Eric Alger is found dead in his jail cell, Jake, Doug and Kara’s paths cross.  Now they’re on the wrong side of powerful people with the money and contacts to make them disappear… and perhaps even the LA Ripper.

+++

Jordan Harper has another winner. A VIOLENT MASTERPIECE is a great follow-up to EVERYBODY KNOWS and gets my highest recommendation.

Rating:

“Kiss Me Deadly” (1955) directed by Robert Aldrich; starring Ralph Meeker, Albert Dekker, Paul Stewart and Juano Hernandez / Z-View

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Kiss Me Deadly (1955)

Director: Robert Aldrich

Screenplay: A.I. Bezzerides, Robert Aldrich (uncredited); based on KISS ME DEADLY by Mickey Spillane.

Stars:  Ralph Meeker, Albert Dekker, Paul Stewart, Juano Hernandez, Marjorie Bennett, Strother Martin and Jack Elam.

Tagline: Blood red kisses! White hot thrills! Mickey Spillane’s latest H-bomb!

The Plot…

Driving home late one evening, Mike Hammer nearly runs over a woman in the middle of the road.  She’s barefoot and wearing just a trenchcoat.  Hammer stops.  The woman is running from someone but doesn’t say who.

Hammer gives her a lift, but soon thugs catch up to them.  The last thing Hammer hears is the woman’s scream.  When he wakes up, he’s in the hospital.  The goons killed the woman, then threw her and Hammer’s unconscious body in the car before pushing it over the cliff.

Hammer believes whatever the woman was involved in was “something big”.  Plus he wants payback.

Hammer’s going to get answers he couldn’t have imagined and find himself the target of a crime syndicate after the result of a top secret government experiment.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although based on Mickey Spillane’s novel of the same name, the film makes changes to Hammer as well as the plot.  In the film, Hammer is a sleazy LA PI who never uses a gun; instead of a fearless NY private eye.   In the film, Hammer finds himself in international intrigue with a suitcase containing stolen atomic material.  In the book, Hammer is up against the Mafia after a suitcase of heroin.

Kiss Me Deadly features Cloris Leachman’s first theatrical film role.

The haunting ending will stay with you long after the film ends.

Kiss Me Deadly (1955) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Day of the Fight” (1951) directed by Stanley Kubrick / Z-View

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Day of the Fight (1951)

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Narration:  Robert Rein

Stars:  Walter Cartier, Vincent Cartier.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Day of the Fight is a sixteen minute short.  It begins with a brief history of boxing and then follows professional middleweight boxer Walter Cartier from morning through his main card fight.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Walter Cartier was not only a professional boxer, but a professional actor as well.  He is best known for his role as Private Claude Dillingham on The Phil Silvers Show.

Stanley Kubrick can be seen as the camera operator.  It cost Kubrick $3,900.00 to make this short and he sold it to RKO for $4,000.00.

House of Numbers (1957) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Red Dawn” (1984) directed by John Milius; starring Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey, Ben Johnson, Harry Dean Stanton, Ron O’Neal, William Smith, Frank McRae, Lane Smith and Powers Boothe / Z-View

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Red Dawn (1984)

Director: John Milius

Screenplay:  Kevin Reynolds, John Milius; story by Kevin Reynolds

Stars:  Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey, Ben Johnson, Harry Dean Stanton, Ron O’Neal, William Smith, Frank McRae, Lane Smith and Powers Boothe.

Tagline: In our time, no foreign army has ever occupied American soil. Until now.

The Plot…

The United States is surprised by a sneak attack.  The combined forces of the Soviet Union, Cuba and Nicaragua did the unthinkable.  Foreign paratroopers land across the midwest.  One groups touches down outside the small town of Calumet, Colorado.  The invaders come in blasting.

A group of teenagers, with a small amount of supplies and weapons escape into the mountains.  From their vantage point, they see their town taken over and learn that the World War III has begun.

As supplies run low, they learn that the war is raging.  The US military responded and turned back the advancement of foreign powers.  There is a current stalement and the nearest safe zone is 40 miles away.

When a couple of soldiers accidentally come across a few of the teens, they respond by killing the foreign fighters.  When the invaders discover their dead comrades, they respond by executing several townsfolk.

The teens decide they are through with just hiding.  They launch guerilla attacks on the invaders. They leave “Wolverines” signs behind after each attack. The Wolverines are surprisingly successful.  Word spreads and provides hope to the oppressed.  The leaders occupying the town decide that the  Wolverines must be caught and executed.

As World War III rages, what chance of survival do a ragtag group of teens have against the combined invading armies of three countries?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Red Dawn was the first film released with a MPAA PG-13 rating.

In the original screenplay there was a love story subplot between Jed (Patrick Swayze) and Toni (Jennifer Grey).  The subplot was cut. Swayze and Grey later appeared as lovers in Dirty Dancing.

A love scene between Lea Thompson and Powers Boothe’s characters was cut after preview audiences found the age difference uncomfortable.

Red Dawn features Charlie Sheen’s feature film debut.

I saw Red Dawn when it was first released.  I was a first year teacher.  The scene of the invading paratroopers landing outside the school was chilling.  I’ve watched the film several times over the years (and recently) — it still provides chills.

Red Dawn (1984) rates 4 of 5 stars.

Hulk Hogan: Real American (2026) / Z-View

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Hulk Hogan: Real American (2026)

Director: Bryan Storkel

Stars:  Hulk Hogan, Linda Hogan, Jimmy Hart, Jessie Ventura, Vince McMahon, Gene Okerland, Nick Hogan, Bruce Prichard, Bret Hart, Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhoads, Kevin Nash, Roddy Piper, Randy Savage, Ric Flair and Paul Levesque.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Hulk Hogan: Real American  documents Terry Bollea’s (Hulk’s real name) life…

  • from before his entry into professional wrestling
  • his early days trying to find his way
  • his rise to become the biggest star in professional wrestling
  • to a Hollywood leading man
  • to a wrestling veteran no longer a fan favorite

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Hulk Hogan became a wrestling star so big, it can truly be said that he took sports entertainment to levels it had never achieved.

I attribute a lot of Hulk Hogan’s popularity to his role as Thunderlips in Rocky III.   This brought Hogan to the attention of millions of people who never watched wrestling.  It’s also interesting to note that Hogan and Mr. T (another co-star in Rocky III) headlined Wrestlemania 1.

Hulk Hogan’s daughter refused to participate in this documentary.  She and her father were estranged.

Hulk Hogan: Real American (2026) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Bluff” (2026) starring Priyanka Chopra & Karl Urban / Z-View

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The Bluff (2026)

Director: Frank E. Flowers

Screenplay:  Joe Ballarini, Frank E. Flowers

Stars:  Priyanka Chopra, Karl Urban, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Safia Oakley-Green and Temuera Morrison

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Captain Connor and his buccaneers have arrived at the small island community of Cayman Brac.  They’ve come for Ercell Bodden. Ercell is a housewife and mother, but in her past life Ercell was known as the pirate Bloody Mary.  She was also Captain Connor’s lover… until she stabbed him, stole his gold and disappeared.

Connor and his crew will kill anyone and everyone to get Ercell and the treasure.  They came for Ercell, but they’re going to get Bloody Mary.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Zoe Saldaña was originally set to star.  Although Saldaña didn’t end up in the picture, she stayed on as an Executive Producer for the film.

Karl Urban is always good.  This role is no exception.

The Bluff (2026) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“The Green Pastures” (1936) / Z-View

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The Green Pastures (1936)

Director: Marc Connelly, William Keighley

Screenplay:  Sheridan Gibney; based on OL’ MAN ADAM AN’ HIS CHILLUN by Roark Bradford and Ol’ Man Adam an’ His Chillun by Marc Connelly.

Stars:  Rex Ingram, Oscar Polk, Eddie Anderson, Ernest Whitman.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

A group of six young black children are listening to an elderly black man during Bible study.  One of the little girls begins to visualize her perception of the stories…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Green Pastures was one of only six feature films in the Hollywood Studio era to feature an all-black cast.  They were Hallelujah! (1929); Hearts in Dixie (1929); The Green Pastures (1936); Cabin in the Sky (1943); Stormy Weather (1943) and Carmen Jones (1954).

The Green Pastures was banned in Australia, Finland and Hungary because in the film God is shown as dark-skinned.

The Green Pastures was based on the novel OL’ MAN ADAM AN’ HIS CHILLUN by Roark Bradford and the Ol’ Man Adam an’ His Chillun Pulitzer Prizing winning Broadway stage play by Marc Connelly.

At times the film comes off as a bit patronizing.

The Green Pastures (1936) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Night and the City” (1950) starring Richard Widmark / Z-View

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Night and the City (1950)

Director:  Jules Dassin

Screenplay:  Jo Eisinger, Austin Dempster, William E. Watts based on NIGHT AND THE CITY by Gerald Kersh.

Stars:  Richard Widmark, Gene Tierney, Googie Withers, Hugh Marlowe, Francis L. Sullivan, Herbert Lom and Mike Mazurki.

Tagline: The inside story of London after dark.

The Plot…

Harry Fabian is a hustler and con man.  Fabian believes he is one big idea away from riches. Only his ideas never pan out.  Fabian’s a hustler. His enthusiasm has brought others along only to see him fail.  Fabian has worn out his chances with the few folks with money to invest.

Then Fabian gets THE idea that will TRULY make him wealthy.

Through a chance encounter Fabian befriended, Gregorius the famous Grecko-Roman wrestler.  Although older now, Gregorius is still a tough man.  Gregorius’ son, Kristo is a professional wrestling promoter.  Kristo’s star attraction makes him a lot of money.  Gregorius cannot stand fake professional wrestling.

Fabian’s plan is to promote a professional wrestling match.  It will put him at odds with Kirsto; which is a dangerous place to be.  But Fabian will maneuver Gregorius to take his side.  A match between Kristo’s star and Gregorius will be a huge money-maker.

Fabian borrows money from a few dangerous people.  Then puts his plan in motion.  If it doesn’t work perfectly… if Kristos doesn’t kill him, the loansharks will.

“The best laid plans of mice and men…”

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Mike Mazurki is one of my old-time chacter actors.  Here he plays a professional wrestler called the Strangler.  Mazurki was once a professional wrestler in real life.

Stanislaus Zbyszko, who plays Gregorius, the Greco-Roman wrestler was a Greco-Roman wrestler in real life … and this was his only film role.

Richard Widmark is perfect as Harry Fabian.  This is my favorite Widmark film.

Night and the City is one of the classic noirs.

Night and the City (1950) rates 5 of 5 stars.

THE NOWHERE MAN: AN ORPHAN X NOVEL by Gregg Hurwitz / Z-View

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THE NOWHERE MAN: AN ORPHAN X NOVEL by Gregg Hurwitz

First sentences…

A naked selfie.

      It starts with that.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Evan Smoak was a child with no family. Raised in a secret government off-the-books program, Evan and other children like him became known as Orphans. Evan was Orphan X.

As children the Orphans were trained to become the ultimate assassins. As adults, they were perfect for black bag assignments. Able to kill with their hands, or any weapon, the Orphans possessed every strategy to covertly and alone complete a mission. The added bonus, if caught or killed, because they had no family, the government had plausible deniability.

Orphan X became legendary among the Orphans and their handlers. Outside of the program, Orphan X was someone spoken about in whispers.

Finally, Evan Smoak had enough of the killing. He escaped and set up a new life. Instead of taking lives, he saved them. Smoak found people with nowhere to turn and rescued them.

Smoak is aware that in just a few days a young woman will be taken from a cargo ship and sold as a sex slave.  Smoak’s plan to rescue her goes sideways when he is kidnapped.

Smoak wakes from his drugged stupor to discover he’s in a remote mountain mansion. He’d been out long enough that he’s not sure he’s even in the United States.  René Peter Cassaroy kidnapped Smoak to gain access to his considerable bank account.  Cassaroy has a squad of trained mercenaries, 24 hour camera and audio surveillance, guard dogs and snipers.   Come Monday morning, Smoak will give him access and then be set free.

Yeah, right.

Smoak knows that it will take all of his skills and training to overcome the odds and escape.  Plus the clock is ticking.  He needs to not only escape but do so in time to save the young woman on the cargo ship.

The clock is ticking.

+++

I love that Smoak was kidnapped not because he was an Orphan, but because of his wealth. 

René Peter Cassaroy doesn’t provide a physical challenge.  It’s his brains (and mercenaries) that make him so dangerous.  Cassaroy would make a great James Bond villain.

It’s interesting to see how Smoak’s mind works and that each set-back makes his escape (or survival) less likely.  And if he doesn’t escape, the girl is doomed.

And if that wasn’t enough, Hurwitz ups the ante.  To say more would be to say too much.

Rating: