I should have known better

I can't stand Mike Bond books and I should not have asked for this one. It's racist and full of nonsense conspiracies about Muslims in France and elsewhere. It's inconsistent in that our hero, Pono, studies French but can't understand it. I read a bit and then quit.

This is a fabulous story that had me hooked from the beginning. I like Mike Bonds writing style, and the amazing character he’s put together in Pono Hawkins. I’ll be going back to read the first two books in this series ‘Saving Paradise’ and ‘Killing Maine’ after enjoying this story so much. The standout for me is that there is always something happening, and he easily kept my attention for the full 343 pages. I found myself reading faster and faster, I loved it.
Pono Hawkins thought the ISIS bombmaker Mustafa al-Boudienne was dead, so it was quite a shock to hear that he was still alive and had made his way from Syria into France. With a Muslim terrorist of Mustafa’s calibre coming into the country it could only mean bad news. France had already seen it’s fair share of blood shed at the hands of a few radical fanatics, and it had no desire to add to the death toll. The CIA and the DGSE knew that Pono was the only person that had seed Mustafa up close and could possibly identify him, so Mack had somehow convince him to leave his relaxed lifestyle of surfing in Tahiti and get on a plane to help track down the terrorist. If you enjoy Action Thrillers, then you will love this book. 5/5 Star Rating.

“Because jail is the absolute deprivation of freedom and Paris its greatest incarnation.”

Goodbye Paris, published by Big City Press, is a fast-paced thriller set in present day Paris. It has a tiny bit of James Bond in it, without the glamour, and much more political opinion than you’d expect in a novel of this genre.

Kuleana is responsibility for the greater good in Hawaiian, Goodbye Paris tells us early in the story. Shortly thereafter, an anti-Muslim, anti-liberal rant by the main character left me scratching my head. Reading on, he attacks George W. Bush’s administration for letting Osama Bin Laden go. There are several random attacks on the media. While the idea of kuleana, that this covert soldier for America is trying to prevent terrorists from harming the greater good, is evident throughout the novel, the political commentary is a bit abrasive at times.

“Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, the saying goes. Or can traumatize you for life.”

Born in Hawaii, surfer Pono Hawkins ended up in Special Forces, working in Afghanistan and Iraq with a special connection to France. After a few years writing articles for a surfing magazine and taking part in competitions, he is pulled back in to a covert op by a friend with whom he escaped certain death at the hands of a notorious terrorist.

Once back in France, he falls for his partner, Anne, who shrugs off danger and even says, “I do what I want” in response to his worries for her safety.

Will Pono and his crew of secret detectives prevent a terrorist attack that could grow into World War III?

“It would be lovely for all of us to coexist. No religion should attempt domination but most do. And religious domination is the end of freedom.”

P.S. This book may make you want to move to France, even with all the negative comments the author makes about politics in the country.

Pono Hawkins is called to come to Paris by his friend Mack. Pono gets there to find Mack has been captured by the terrorist who once held both of them when in Special Forces. Pono must work with the French Intelligence to stop a nuke bomb they believe will be used on the Eiffel Tower, Pono wants to save Mack and now his wife has been taken. That is number one with getting Mustafa but the relationship of the French with the Muslims is complicated. Time is running out.