Recoil

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

RECOIL by Brian Garfield

THE STORY: Merle Mathieson and his family are in the federal witness protection program when a clerk is black-mailed to give him and many others up to THE MOB. Nine years earlier Merle was at the courthouse taking a shit when he observed mobster Frank Pastor bribe a judge. Merle was then forced to testify against the judge, and Frank went away for several years. When Frank gets out he unleashes his organization on all the witnesses. The feds move Merle around but Frank finds him every time till Merle decides to take the fight to Frank. What Merle does then is sign up to become a gelded power ranger. He does all the training Rocky did plus more. But he cant keep his dum wife off the phone; she spills the beans to all. Merle sends her to a safe place and goes to NYC to battle Frank and the mob. I wont reveal the end but its lamer than you can imagine. Merle reminds me of Jimmy Carter.

This coulda been a great action adventure, and Franks not a nice guy, he dynamited Merle's house! Merle is non-violent and intends to appeal to Franks better angels. Merle thinks he can change Franks heart to let bygones be bygones.

TWO STARS. I wuz robbed.

 

[49greg]

I read a few of Garfield's books years and years ago. I liked Kolchak's Gold, and Death Wish, but the later the publication date, the less well done I thought they were.

I wonder how many stories use the Witness Protection program. I just watched a Brit TV show about a Police identity theft unit having to do with someone on their wit protect program.

I did read a good one that was written, I think, by Elmore Leonard. They were innocent witnesses and not in any way part of a criminal op. They got sent to a dump of a new house, with a Marshal that treated them like criminal scum. They, or the wife, finally just up and went home. When the baddy found her she managed to kill him after he let his guard down. She used her hubby's shotgun. Can't remember the name of the book.

I liked the description of their new house and hubby's job, neither as good as what they had, and the attitude of the field agent/marshal that treated them like dirt.

 

[PayDay]

when a clerk is black-mailed to give him and many others up to THE MOB.*

Could you explain this a little better without giving up the plot? Or is that not possible?

Either way sounds like a neat story.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Could you explain this a little better without giving up the plot? Or is that not possible?

Either way sounds like a neat story.

The Mob wants to murder the witnesses who helped convict the mob boss, so they black mail the DOJ clerk who archives the files for all who are covered by the witness protection service...she has their new names and addresses. She outs one guy 3 times before he decides to take care of himself. To that end he trains and develops his body to handle whatever the mob throws at him. But he's a pacifist. It coulda been a great story but for the pacifist nonsense. He reminds me of Billy Jacks girlfriend, Delores.

 

[PayDay]

The Mob wants to murder the witnesses who helped convict the mob boss, so they black mail the DOJ clerk who archives the files for all who are covered by the witness protection service...she has their new names and addresses. She outs one guy 3 times before he decides to take care of himself. To that end he trains and develops his body to handle whatever the mob throws at him. But he's a pacifist. It coulda been a great story but for the pacifist nonsense. He reminds me of Billy Jacks girlfriend, Delores.

Nice. Thank you.