Hell's Gate: A Thriller

This is the first of a series of adventure novels starring R. J. MacCready, set during (in this case) or slightly after (in the case of the later two novels presently in the series) World War II. “Mac,” a hero along the lines of Indiana Jones or Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt, is a zoologist, specializing (though maybe not by intention at first) in cryptozoology, identification of animals unknown to science that have previously been thought to be mythical. Military contacts send him into the deep Brazilian rain forest because they’ve learned that a group of Nazis has somehow sailed a Japanese-built submarine up one of the forest’s rivers and gotten it stuck there, and they want him to find out what they’re up to. As one might guess, it turns out that they are not the only, or even necessarily the worst, threat to life and limb in the area.Mac, like most adventure-story heroes, possesses an almost superhuman degree of resourcefulness, courage, and sheer ability to survive. Fortunately he also has a good sense of humor, which makes him enjoyable to spend time with. In the forest he meets an old friend, almost equally redoubtable, and the friend’s new wife, a native woman named Yanni, who is perhaps the most interesting character in the book; I was glad to see from descriptions of the later books in the series that she will continue to appear in them.Even though this proved to be the first book in the series, military officials already seemed to know, or at least guess, about Mac’s unusual aptitudes, which was a bit puzzling; the only reason given for the otherwise-unlikely move of sending a zoologist to hunt for a secret Nazi base in the jungle was that he had been to similar areas before in the pursuit of his studies. Some of the animal abilities that later turned up seemed a little improbable, too, but author notes at the end showed that most of them had some grounding in science. Improbable or not, the plot gallops along, as a good adventure book should, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. I expect I’ll be back for more.

Deep in the Brazilian interior, a beached Japanese submarine is discovered. A team of Army Rangers sent to investigate has already been declared missing. Now, zoologist R.J. MacCready has been dispatched by Major Patrick Hendry to find out what's going on. Little does MacCready know, but he is in for the adventure of a lifetime.Upon arriving, MacCready runs into his old friend Bob Thorne, who was thought to be dead. Bob and his wife Yanni have been living in the bush. As matters play out, MacCready will learn things he didn't think possible, including the existence of giant vampire bats as well as the construction of a German space plane meant to drop bacteria over America's most populous cities. It's up to MacCready , Bob, and Yanni to stop the Axis powers before it's too late. Will they succeed?I found "Hell's Gate" to be a good book. The story is interesting, but I thought the character development was somewhat lacking. I hope the next entry in this series will be a little better than this one.

I decided to read this book partly due to its locale, the Amazon, specifically, the Mato Grosso region of Brazil, a very inhospitable area set during the later part of WW2 (1944). As others have stated (including the author), the protagonist is a zoologist, J.R. MacCready, with an Indiana Jones bent who happens to be a Captain in the US Army involved with intelligence gathering activities. It’s an easily flowing and fast paced read. Each chapter ends leaving you wanting more.The story premise involves a Japanese submarine marooned 1000 miles from the coast in the Amazonian rain forest, collaboration between the Nazis and Japanese (Axis), the development of both biological weapons and rocket delivery systems and all complicated by once thought extinct creatures. Many of the Axis characters are based or modeled upon historical figures.The story telling certainly kept my attention and entertained me. My one concern is that it ended rather abruptly. However, when reading through the acknowledgements, I discovered that a sequel is being developed which likely explains the abruptness of the ending. Regardless, I’ll read any sequel when available.

How truly wonderful when writers have scientific background and can spin a captivating tale as well.Like authors of the Hell's Gate.It's 1944,WWII is wrecking the world and the abandoned Japanese submarine is found in Central Brazil.Who was on that sub,what it carried into a jungle and what strange sights and sounds are coming from the hidden misty valley - that is what the famous zoologist and Army captain MacCready is asked to investigate.And "Mac" MacCready makes a mind-shattering discovery of not only a secret Nazi base right in the middle of the jungle,but of a prehistoric horror lurking in Brazilian forest.The book is rich in detailed and vivid description of weird and wonderful animals, birds and insects.Among them millenia old and deadly creatures,the family of sentient beings,nightmarish Rulers of the jungle - Mother,Twins,Child and others like them - vampire bats.MacCready and his friends fight Nazis along with deadly forest dwellers and the story is so mesmerizing and frightening that it will keep you on the edge until the very end.

This first book in the Captain R. J. MacCready stories has Axis powers in South America doing multiple research projects to further their aims of defeating the allied powers. This book is filled with plenty of action, several well-developed characters and a little cryptozoology thrown in for good measure. This story is a very strong springboard for the further Captain MacCready adventure/thriller stories.

Not a bad book, a little bit slow in certain areas but easy enough to read, but a little bit pricey for the hardback version.Would be interested if the author wrote other ones as the premise was quite interesting. .

Die Personen sind platte Stereotype (Böse Nazis, heldenhafte Amerikaner, fiese Japaner, .....) und die Handlung ist einfach nur an den Haaren herbeigezogen.Selbst im Urlaub, wo man eher nur zu Entspannung liest, war es Zeitverschwendung. Wenn ich ein zweites Buch dabeigehabt hätte, hätte ich das gelesen. Selbst wenn es das Telefonbuch gewesen wäre.

Some great Indiana Jonesesque moments. But too many chocolates in this box--boredom sets in long before the ending. Needs significant editing to get rid of all the pseudo-science. Should have kept it moving and answered the two basics of fiction writing: what's happening and what's happening next!.

Interesting blend of fact and fiction. Any time nazis are involved it's going to be interesting , and world war 2.