Greg Kater

Greg Kater's second book Warramunga in the series does not disappoint. For those seeking a realistic 1940s Action- Adventure novel, this is it. The story reads like a period movie filled with thrills and characters the reader will want to know. Jamie and Jacko are home from the war and working for the Australian Commonwealth Investigative Service. The war's end, however, does not mean peace and quiet for those who have survived. There are still war crimes to prosecute, and as Jamie and Jacko discover there, others are willing to take advantage of the chaos that war has brought. Jamie, Jacko and their new allies discover an international child kidnapping/pedophile ring and seek to put a stop to it. Offsetting this appalling crime, Kater manages to capture the setting of and culture of the Philippines in an exceptional way. Very well written to the point that one would think Kater was a first-hand witness to the events.… (meer)

Skills of the Warramunga by Greg Kater is the third book in the Warramunga series although it is more than fine as a stand-alone novel. The story takes place in Malaysia in 1946 immediately preceding the Malayan Union. Kater captures the turmoil of the region shortly after the Second World War. Some areas saw the expulsion of the British by the Japanese as liberation, but others were disappointed by the ease that the Japanese defeated the British forces. Some did not welcome the return of the British after the war. Britain hoped for a peaceful return to the administration of the region while MI6 worried about communist agitation from the Chinese. However, something more nefarious is brewing.

MI6 Colonel John Cook is kidnapped in the jungles on Malaysia and held captive. Word of his captivity reaches Jamie Munro of the Australian Commonwealth Investigative Service, and he springs into action with Jack O'Brien (Jacko). Both men served under the colonel in the Syrian campaign a few years ago. Jacko, who is half aboriginal, enlists the help of his full aboriginal half-sister, Sarah, to aid in the jungle tracking and in locating the colonel. The rescue of their friend and former commander, however, is just the beginning of the story.

Kater fully develops the good guys' characters in a smooth and even way for readers who have not read the other books in the series. The bad guys remain mysterious with just enough information to produce a villainous shadow. The post-war era, Kuala Lumpur, and the jungle are captured brilliantly. The historical fiction presented will not disappoint the historian and the flow of the novel will not disappoint the adventure reader. Extremely well done.… (meer)

Skills of the Warramunga is the third Warramunga book by Greg Kater. Set in 1946 the action takes place in Kuala Lumpur and the jungles of Malaya. Colonel Johnny Cook, the head of operations for MI6 in the eastern hemisphere has been kidnapped by a gang of Malayan bandits. Taken deep into the jungle Johnny soon learns that his kidnapping was a mistake – the bandits had thought he was somebody else – however they will not let him go. Johnny knows something is up, with strange foreigners visiting the bandit camp, but will anybody be able to find him in the impenetrable jungle? In this case, unknown to Johnny, the answer is yes, as MI6 gets in touch with his former army partner Jamie Munro in Australia. Jamie and his friend Jack ‘Jacko’ O’Brien, and Jacko’s sister – Sarah – soon find themselves in Malaya to save their friend. But as that task is undertaken, new events begin to unfold that draw Jamie, Jacko, and Sarah into an intricate web of death, commando operations, and more jungle treks as a plot to overthrow the British rule in Malaya unfolds.

Skills of the Warramunga is an action-packed military adventure that does a wonderful job of highlighting the abilities of Jamie and his aborigine partners, Jacko and Sarah. While the storyline is simple, with only a few twists and unexpected points to it, Greg Kater’s characters and their interaction, especially between Jamie, Jacko, and Sarah make the book shine. The friendship and trust is evident between Jamie and Jacko. You can tell that the three are comfortable with each other, trusting in their skills and abilities. Sarah is the best tracker of the group, and Jamie and Jacko both recognize that she is better than either of them. There is no chauvinism on display with either Jamie or Jacko as they recognize that her skill in the jungle is indispensable. I only wish that Greg had let us into Sarah’s head more often, to see the events, and her brother and Jamie, directly from her perspective. Many of the other characters are less developed, seeming to be pulled directly from central casting –the ruthless and determined insurgent leader, the overbearing and self-centered ex-pat police officer, and the well-meaning and resourceful security head. They help drive the story along, but are not as fun to read as Jamie, Jacko, and Sarah who are at the core of the story.

Skills of the Warramunga is a page-turning military adventure. While the plot is straight-forward, with few unexpected revelations, the action is fast-paced and spot on. Recommended for readers of historical fiction, military thrillers, or high adventure.

I received the ebook in exchange for a fair and honest review.… (meer)