Commando #1: Operation Arrowhead by Jack Badelaire

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Commando #1: Operation Arrowhead (2019) by Jack Badelaire

Author Jack Badelaire describes this series as military adventure pulp fiction, and what a fitting description that is. Set during Hitler’s blitzkrieg across Europe, Commando deals with a crack unit of elite light infantry raiders capable of taking the offensive to the Nazi troops in occupied territories. 

The action in this first installment takes place in France with very little backstory or history beyond a prologue that grounds us geographically and explains the formation of the Commando units. Our main character is Lance Corporal Thomas Lynch and we’re introduced to him and his team in heavy action as they engage the Germans immediately. 

From there the entire book is virtually a non-stop minute-by-minute account of battle with small but tense reprieves. There’s not a lot of character arc, but that is not to say that the cast is not effectively distinguished. And the action is so well done! 

This kind of thing can easily become repetitive and boring, but Badelaire is not only great at describing the action, he excels at fleshing out the geography and locations, enabling his detailed sequences of mayhem to really come alive in the reader’s mind. And there’s a palpable sense of threat and danger that hangs over everything, adding to the suspense. 

Combined with characters unexpectedly meeting their doom, the overall effect is a highly effective roller coaster ride of action and adventure, spiced up with nice historical details. I own 2 volumes of this series, 6 books in total. The best I can say is that I’m looking forward to more time spent with Lynch and his Commandos in the near future.

Highly recommended!

Review by Steve Carroll

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