Swastika

Slade throws a bit of a change up to all of his readers who love his fast ball. But, it's a pitch that's near and dear to his heart and the evidence of his historical research shines and becomes the story itself. As a reader of all of Slade's work, I have a new favorite in Swastika. For the fans of the Special X unit, they are still as engaging as ever, but take a bit of a back seat to the story Slade pulls together through decades, generations, and history. A story worth reading and re-reading to catch the small nuances you missed the first or second time through. Slade knows how to frighten a reader with the little fears we live with daily, but he also engages and challenges his readers to question the reality of history as we are told it. Part of the charm of this author is his willingness to step outside the box and then reach through and pull you with him. Great Job!

Slade's novels have always combined great protagonists, nasty villains and a touch of history. The latest, Swastika, brings events in WWII to life. This may seem a departure from past novels to fans of Slade's work, but in reality we are seeing a change of focus. The stronger focus on history and the mysteries of the Second World War gives the reader plenty of surprises and revelations to savor. For anyone who may be questioning whether to give this a go or not I can only say that a great book is often one that not only is a joy to read, but one that appears to have been a joy to write. If you have any interest in World War II and long buried secrets this should be at the top of your reading list. If you are a fan of Slade's past work it already is.

With the latest entry into the world of Special X, Swastika, Michael Slade moves away from some of the familiar faces of previous stories and introduces a pair of newcomers to the scene. While fan favorites such as Zinc Chandler and Robert Declerq make brief appearances, they are not the primary characters this time around - and this is okay, because Slade does a wonderful job integrating the new characters into his universe. The strength of Swastika is its story, which is fast-paced page turning executed to perfection. Slade is a master of using history to create a memorable story, and this book is no different: the action moves flawlessly from World War Two era Germany to modern day and then back again, making for an entertaining history lesson woven in between suspense-filled chapters. Fans of Slade will not be disappointed, and those not yet initiated into the realm of Special X will find Swastika to be an excellent place to start.

This is a story that has been waiting to be written for more than half a century. I was more amazed by every page I read, and more shocked by each new revelation. I've been reading Slade's work since I found Headhunter during a business trip 20 yrs ago and I have to say that he has topped all his previous work with Swastika. A masterpiece of a thriller and a work of historic significance.

This is a wild ride of a page-turner that also warrants much thought. Plot and thematic elements include Nazi concentration camps, aeronautics and space, serial murder, Greek myth, and covert government operations to name a few. Slade offers complexity that unfolds one sure-footed (and fast!) step at a time. Intricate plotting is rarely this readable or this entertaining. New Slade character Dane Winter tracks two serial killers in Vancouver. Unknown to Winter, the murderers share a unique link that traces back to secret weapons developed by Nazi Germany. He's also unaware as hitmen from the Pentagon track his progress, with intent to kill if Winter unearths the still-hidden secret. This is the eleventh in Slade's Special X series about murderous psychos tracked by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. If you haven't read Slade, normally I recommend starting at Headhunter, Slade's first novel. But Swastika is an enjoyable book on its own. If you've read Slade but aren't sure what to expect, Swastika is a fine-tuned machine that melds familiar elements with jaw-dropping surprises. For anyone who likes exciting and smart reading, Slade gives you the best of both worlds with Swastika.