Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

JUNGLE UP is an adventure that weaves stretches of Pirog’s quirky humor with layers of serious subjects including exploitation of indigenous tribes. It’s well plotted with engaging characters and tons of excitement and suspense. I highly recommend this.

Jungle Up is an Indiana Jones type novel set in the jungles of Bolivia.
All of the reviews have been very positive so I hesitate to give it a modest review, but it just wasn’t to my taste. I found it difficult to believe that someone would just jump on a plane to Bolivia in search of an old flame with little or no information as to where they were, or little or no experience in how to survive in the ‘jungle.’
Jungle Up was supposed to be funny with engaging characters, but I found it neither funny or engaging, so I will give it 3 stars as I am sure there are some readers who might differ.
Thanks to Net Gallery for providing an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Pirog keeps you entertained throughout. The humor off-sets the serious subjects that this novel takes on. This was my first Pirog, but not my last.
4.5 Stars

I found this implausible in so many ways. Thomas Prescott, a retired homicide detective/FBI consultant gets an SOS call from Gina, an estranged lover who has been working as a physician in the Bolivian Amazon. She's been kidnapped and wants him to to find her so off he goes to her rescue. Along the way he get involved with an archeological expedition, there are lots of bad guys, and well, things get ugly. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. I hadn't read the earlier books in the series and suspect that Pirog's fans will like this more than I did.

First book I read by this author and in this series but it won't be the last as I found it gripping and highly entertaining.
An adrenalinic action&adventure story action packed and fast paced.
Good plot and character development.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I received this book from NetGalley for my unbiased review.

I always enjoy Nick Pirog's books. This one did nothing to diminish my regard for the Thomas Prescott series. There is always a good mystery with a great sense of humor from Prescott. All of the books get him in some tricky situations. It is always interesting in seeing him squirm his way out of them. This time he ends up in the Bolivian jungles trying to rescue the love off his life, Gina Brady.

Always a fun romp with Thomas.

First and foremost,my thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of JUNGLE UP in exchange for an honest review.
Regrettably, as an honest review, it is not a positive one. I have enjoyed Nick Pirog’s Thomas Prescott series and have waited- and waited- for new releases. It has been three years since the last installment; I was so excited to have me some Thomas Prescott. But then...

1) The self-effacing, humorous Thomas was lacking. His quirky character traits and self talk were lacking.
2) Plot development was lacking. While the plot seemed intriguing at first (rescue a former lover who was kidnapped in the Brazilian rainforest), it lacked in execution. The two storylines SLOWLY flipped back and forth without suspense. The pacing was so slow, I skimmed.
3) The suspense and tension were not only lacking, they was non existent for 75% of the book. At that point, pacing as well as excitement finally picked up steam. A clever twist was finally made around 85% mark. Then it ended. Too little too late.

I was so disappointed. I would rather revisit Thomas Prescott in his past adventures of previous books. In this one, he is a shell of the guy he used to be.

Get ready for a nail-biting adventure through the Bolivian rainforest in Nick Pirog’s newest novel, ‘Jungle Up,’ to be published on April 27, 2021. Although this is book five of the Thomas Prescott Series, it can certainly stand alone.

Thomas Prescott is a retired homicide detective who worked for the violent crimes division of the FBI. He’s babysitting his nephew when he accesses a voicemail from an old girlfriend who has been abducted in the Bolivian Amazon. She pleads with him to come and find where they are holding her hostage. Thomas, who still has feelings for her, gears up and jumps on the next plane to join an expedition into the rainforest and rescue Gina.

Dr. Gina Brady has a background in infectious disease and has been working for the WHO to contain a second tuberculosis outbreak in the remote Tibiono Village in Bolivia. One day she is abducted for her medical supplies and expertise and is forcefully taken deep into the rainforest. Her sole purpose is keeping a badly injured man alive. Gina leaves clues along the way, knowing that although she didn’t actually talk to Thomas, he’s out there looking for her.

I loved the author’s sense of humour. He had me giggling when he wrote about Thomas’s interactions with his nephew. I instantly connected to the characters; each one was unique and richly developed. As Pirog’s storyline unravels, the true nature (and hidden agenda) of the characters are revealed and readers are introduced to a colourful cast of adventurous trekkers. Pirog’s extensive research shows in his ability to sweep you into the dense rainforest and educate you about the endemic insects and animals, trees, and jungle covered ruins as the characters experience chance encounters with gun toting drug traffickers and ruthless tribesmen. This is a wonderfully written, fast paced, adventure with plenty of twists and turns. I read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. You’ll have to mark this date on your calendar so that you can read for yourself to find out if Thomas locates Gina or if the rainforest claims her as one of its own.

The rainforest really fascinates me and I didn’t think I’d ever find another book that held my attention as well as ‘The Lost City of the Monkey God,’ but Pirog has proven that this story is a winner. I’ll certainly be sourcing out the other novels in this series!

Thank you Nick Pirog, Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

How far would you go to save “the one who got away”? It’s been two years since Dr. Gina Brady dumped detective Thomas Prescott, but when he gets a panicked call from her revealing she’s been kidnapped in the wilds of the Bolivian Amazon, Thomas finds himself on a rescue mission. Dealing with drug traffickers, unhappy locals and the dangers of the jungle, Thomas risks all to save the woman he loves. Filled with derring do and old fashioned Indiana Jones type adventure, this book begs to be made into a movie