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Slaughter in the Desert: The Declassified History of World War II
"It's startlingly hyperviolent." Kick-butt ☆☆☆ 1/2 out of 4 ... Jim McLennan girlswithguns.org
"There is tons of action and super-violent killing in this spy/war novel." ☆☆☆☆ ... The Librarian Reviews
Kat Wolfram is on the run from the British hangman's noose for a bit of a misunderstanding with the King's cousin. She ends up in World War 2 Northern Africa with a group of British and Australian commandos battling Rommel's Afrika Corps and having a jolly good time of it.
If you like the "Rat Patrol" and "Inglourious Basterds," then this is the book for you!
"There is tons of action and super-violent killing in this spy/war novel." ☆☆☆☆ ... The Librarian Reviews
Kat Wolfram is on the run from the British hangman's noose for a bit of a misunderstanding with the King's cousin. She ends up in World War 2 Northern Africa with a group of British and Australian commandos battling Rommel's Afrika Corps and having a jolly good time of it.
If you like the "Rat Patrol" and "Inglourious Basterds," then this is the book for you!
- GenresHistorical Fiction
408 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 6, 2017
186 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 28, 2020
Full review: https://girlswithguns.org/slaughter-i...
A shaky start here, with the map in the frontispiece depicting a country called “Lybia”. Oops. And, indeed, after an early burst involving Kat’s imprisonment in, and subsequent escape from, the Tower of London, the first half of the book is mostly generic soldier stuff. She’s just one of a group, and not a particularly important one either, to the point that I was seriously wondering whether or not this would even qualify for the site. These stages weren’t very interesting or exciting, with a lot of random zipping around sand-dunes and running gun-battles against Ze Germans and Eyetalians. However, things improve in both departments further in: Kat became more pro-active and independent, demonstrating a hatred for fascists, that drives on her comrades when some would prefer more cautious options, and a love of Really Big Explosions which is quite endearing. The presence of a specific mission – stopping the Nazi super-weapon from being deployed – also gives proceedings some much-needed focus.
A shaky start here, with the map in the frontispiece depicting a country called “Lybia”. Oops. And, indeed, after an early burst involving Kat’s imprisonment in, and subsequent escape from, the Tower of London, the first half of the book is mostly generic soldier stuff. She’s just one of a group, and not a particularly important one either, to the point that I was seriously wondering whether or not this would even qualify for the site. These stages weren’t very interesting or exciting, with a lot of random zipping around sand-dunes and running gun-battles against Ze Germans and Eyetalians. However, things improve in both departments further in: Kat became more pro-active and independent, demonstrating a hatred for fascists, that drives on her comrades when some would prefer more cautious options, and a love of Really Big Explosions which is quite endearing. The presence of a specific mission – stopping the Nazi super-weapon from being deployed – also gives proceedings some much-needed focus.
October 3, 2019
The Long Range Desert Group was an English commando unit who operated behind enemy lines in North Africa during the Second World War, and served as the basis for the television series The Rat Patrol. This short novel also uses that group as a backdrop, as a disgraced female MI-5 agent finds herself in the middle of the Africa desert campaign.
The first and foremost thing to remember diving into this novel is that it is not to be taken seriously. It's not an out and out comedy, but the plot does strain credibility as Kat and her makeshift band of commandos look to stop a German plot to test a superweapon based on uranium on English forces in North Africa. An apt description of the novel is it is cross between The Rat Patrol and The A-Team.
If you are looking for a book that will take you away and make you laugh while telling an action-packed story, pick up this first book of the adventures of Kat and settle in for a good ride.
The first and foremost thing to remember diving into this novel is that it is not to be taken seriously. It's not an out and out comedy, but the plot does strain credibility as Kat and her makeshift band of commandos look to stop a German plot to test a superweapon based on uranium on English forces in North Africa. An apt description of the novel is it is cross between The Rat Patrol and The A-Team.
If you are looking for a book that will take you away and make you laugh while telling an action-packed story, pick up this first book of the adventures of Kat and settle in for a good ride.
November 30, 2017
Slaughter in the Desert: The Declassified History of World War II (The Adventures of Kat’s Commandos Book 1), by Michael Beals is a tongue in cheek look at the Second World War in North Africa. Think Tank Girl meets General Bernard Law Montgomery meets Marvel’s Agent Carter. Slaughter in the Desert is a fun read that will keep you turning pages. Partially to see what’s going to happen next, but mostly because you’ll fall in love with the book’s heroine; Katelyn Wolfram of MI6. ‘Kat’ is a precocious daredevil with a wicked sense of humour that never fails her, even in the heat of battle.
The novel is well written and the author takes us through the fight for North Africa when the British army was on the defensive, and German Army General Erwin Rommel, the ‘Desert Fox’ seemed unbeatable. Kat intends to change all that however, even with the horrible way she was treated by MI6. So she started a fire in Buckingham Palace – it’s not like it was the end of the world!
As a military historian, I had to grit my teeth a few times, but soon found myself laughing instead. Beals has done an excellent job of bringing Kat to life, and I for one look forward to the next installment (and hopefully movie!).
Reviewed by Daniel L Little November 30, 2017 – www.daniellittle.com
The novel is well written and the author takes us through the fight for North Africa when the British army was on the defensive, and German Army General Erwin Rommel, the ‘Desert Fox’ seemed unbeatable. Kat intends to change all that however, even with the horrible way she was treated by MI6. So she started a fire in Buckingham Palace – it’s not like it was the end of the world!
As a military historian, I had to grit my teeth a few times, but soon found myself laughing instead. Beals has done an excellent job of bringing Kat to life, and I for one look forward to the next installment (and hopefully movie!).
Reviewed by Daniel L Little November 30, 2017 – www.daniellittle.com
March 12, 2020
“If we travel anywhere near the road, the Germans are going to find us long before we get back to 'friendly lines. No offense, sir, but my nana has more tactical sense than you. Here'd you go to Officer's school?”
We open on Kat in the middle of a mission for MI6 in Buckingham Palace to stop the Prince from helping the Fascist and leading to England finding themselves in another Big War. After she gets caught and the MI6 threw her under the bus. She has no choice but to escape England and head to Libya to stop the Nazis from destroying her own and working for her country even is that means she is also a traitor. This period spy novel takes place right before and the beginning of World War Two. It is the beginning story for Kat's Commando Series by Micheal Beals. Normally, I am not into war period spy novels that are written in the historical fiction genre but I can say that I found this story quite enjoyable and the main character, Kat, exactly what you want in a female heroine who is doing the right things regardless if it cost her her life. The afterward was a good bonus to fill in the stepfather comments made through the story and help us know a little bit more about what makes Kat tick. This is a good work of fiction and you will find the realistic locations and photographs help you fully understand the time and period the story occurs. I do recommend this book to someone who can enjoy military history and a good work of historical fiction.
We open on Kat in the middle of a mission for MI6 in Buckingham Palace to stop the Prince from helping the Fascist and leading to England finding themselves in another Big War. After she gets caught and the MI6 threw her under the bus. She has no choice but to escape England and head to Libya to stop the Nazis from destroying her own and working for her country even is that means she is also a traitor. This period spy novel takes place right before and the beginning of World War Two. It is the beginning story for Kat's Commando Series by Micheal Beals. Normally, I am not into war period spy novels that are written in the historical fiction genre but I can say that I found this story quite enjoyable and the main character, Kat, exactly what you want in a female heroine who is doing the right things regardless if it cost her her life. The afterward was a good bonus to fill in the stepfather comments made through the story and help us know a little bit more about what makes Kat tick. This is a good work of fiction and you will find the realistic locations and photographs help you fully understand the time and period the story occurs. I do recommend this book to someone who can enjoy military history and a good work of historical fiction.
January 15, 2020
Slaughter in the Desert: The Declassified History of World War II (The Adventures of Kat’s COMMANDOS Book 1) is a novel about an MI6 operative who is scheduled to hang for nearly killing a member of the royal family in an operation gone bad. There is tons of action and super-violent killing in this spy/war novel.
Mr. Beals does not waste any time in throwing you into the action and it is nonstop from the beginning of the book to the very end. There is maybe too much attention paid to how attractive the main character Kat is and on placing her in situations that require her to charm, shoot, and/or kill her way out. Overall, though, this is a good novel with interesting characters and plenty of action. The plot threads sometimes don’t seem to come together but, eventually, everything does come together for an interesting story.
Before the war, Kat was living in England as a German expatriate after being recruited to MI6. She eventually heads to the deserts of North Africa to defend English territory from the oncoming Nazis. She quickly becomes involved in a plot to stop the Third Reich from developing and using some kind of super-weapon.
Overall, this was a fun book to read. If you are looking for historical fiction, this is not the book for you. However, if you are looking for a fun read that happens to take place in the past, this is a good place to turn.
Mr. Beals does not waste any time in throwing you into the action and it is nonstop from the beginning of the book to the very end. There is maybe too much attention paid to how attractive the main character Kat is and on placing her in situations that require her to charm, shoot, and/or kill her way out. Overall, though, this is a good novel with interesting characters and plenty of action. The plot threads sometimes don’t seem to come together but, eventually, everything does come together for an interesting story.
Before the war, Kat was living in England as a German expatriate after being recruited to MI6. She eventually heads to the deserts of North Africa to defend English territory from the oncoming Nazis. She quickly becomes involved in a plot to stop the Third Reich from developing and using some kind of super-weapon.
Overall, this was a fun book to read. If you are looking for historical fiction, this is not the book for you. However, if you are looking for a fun read that happens to take place in the past, this is a good place to turn.
January 19, 2018
Slaughter in the Desert: The Declassified History of World War II (The Adventures of Kat's COMMANDOS Book 1) written by Michael Beals is an amazing historical fiction book about Nazis and secret agents. The beginning of this novel throws the reader right into the life of Kat, a sexy, feisty and dangerous M16 agent who at this time is to take out a target with the least amount of collateral damage, unfortunately things don’t quite go to plan. The writing in this book was refreshing, the descriptions I found to be along my interest with things such as “solar plexus” used to describe where someone had been hurt by Kat, which really added a funny but really great use of vocabulary to the book. The reader follows Kat through her triumphs and through her hell, and through her trying to win back her respect. I loved Kat’s character and found myself really rooting for her. If you enjoy action, a bit of comedy and a character full of spunk, you will love this book. I truly enjoyed reading Slaughter in the desert and recommend that you take a read yourself, as my descriptions do not do this book justice! Great read, I look forward to reading more in the series and more works by Michael Beals..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2020
Lives up to the name
Author Michael Beals delivers a thrill ride through Egypt and World War II Germany , with lead female BAD AS$ lead character that rival many I have read about in most modern books. Kate Lynn Wolfram was an M16 operative, a beautiful Redhead who escaped the hangman's noose only to make it to Egypt, then we find her in year 1942 in world war II and was under the persona of german translator. Katelyn was a kick butt lady and was able to always make friends with the right people at the right time. I have never read such a thrilling book about such a dark time that was able to keep from dwelling on tha sad things that happend but didn't hide the reader from it either. I have read several other reviews that describe the book as "brutal and gory ", however honestly the author Beals had it written in such away I was "sucked" into the family drama Katelyn had that was a secret most of the book, and just really wanted to see what crazy plan she cooked up for her team next and if it worked! I thoroughly enjoyed this book more than any other I have read in quite a while! I would recommend this tale to any one looking for a thrilling story or a strong female lead!
Author Michael Beals delivers a thrill ride through Egypt and World War II Germany , with lead female BAD AS$ lead character that rival many I have read about in most modern books. Kate Lynn Wolfram was an M16 operative, a beautiful Redhead who escaped the hangman's noose only to make it to Egypt, then we find her in year 1942 in world war II and was under the persona of german translator. Katelyn was a kick butt lady and was able to always make friends with the right people at the right time. I have never read such a thrilling book about such a dark time that was able to keep from dwelling on tha sad things that happend but didn't hide the reader from it either. I have read several other reviews that describe the book as "brutal and gory ", however honestly the author Beals had it written in such away I was "sucked" into the family drama Katelyn had that was a secret most of the book, and just really wanted to see what crazy plan she cooked up for her team next and if it worked! I thoroughly enjoyed this book more than any other I have read in quite a while! I would recommend this tale to any one looking for a thrilling story or a strong female lead!
December 12, 2017
This was a moderately entertaining World War II action novel. On the positive side, I enjoyed the witty dialogue between the characters and the well described action scenes. I think the target audience for this book is history buffs or people who enjoy military action thrillers with a level of comedic effect.
On the down side, the pace felt a bit rushed at times and there was not a lot of character development, however I recognize that you need to read this book for what it is, namely a fast-paced action book. With that in mind one could argue this is actually a positive aspect of this book, but for me it wasn't. It also would have been nice to occasionally have a few maps or a bit more background explanation on the weapons and tactics used in the book. The author assumes, rightly so, that most of his audience is fairly familiar with a lot of what he is referring to. It never hurts though to add a bit of background info that can be referenced in footnotes by the reader.
I received a free advanced copy of this book on Goodreads.
On the down side, the pace felt a bit rushed at times and there was not a lot of character development, however I recognize that you need to read this book for what it is, namely a fast-paced action book. With that in mind one could argue this is actually a positive aspect of this book, but for me it wasn't. It also would have been nice to occasionally have a few maps or a bit more background explanation on the weapons and tactics used in the book. The author assumes, rightly so, that most of his audience is fairly familiar with a lot of what he is referring to. It never hurts though to add a bit of background info that can be referenced in footnotes by the reader.
I received a free advanced copy of this book on Goodreads.
February 28, 2018
Paradoxically review:
It's a great book.
I hated it.
Yeah, i know. So the thing is that this book is actually very well written. Well thought out, i felt like the characters were brought to life and the still was emotional and touching.
The problem is that it's just not my kind of book.
I am not a james bond books fan and this is a better distaff side James Bond complete with Bond girls, dastardly enemies and 2nd/3rd act plot twist.
And this is me admitting there are indeed books I'm just not into.
I still want to be honest and say this is a great book and if this is your type of story go for it, you won't be dissapointed.
It's a great book.
I hated it.
Yeah, i know. So the thing is that this book is actually very well written. Well thought out, i felt like the characters were brought to life and the still was emotional and touching.
The problem is that it's just not my kind of book.
I am not a james bond books fan and this is a better distaff side James Bond complete with Bond girls, dastardly enemies and 2nd/3rd act plot twist.
And this is me admitting there are indeed books I'm just not into.
I still want to be honest and say this is a great book and if this is your type of story go for it, you won't be dissapointed.
December 12, 2017
The female version of a cross between James Bond and GI Joe in a script that could have been written for the 60’s TV series, “The Rat Patrol”, the main character, Kat, is the dust storm harrying Rommel's Afrika Korps during World War II. The book is entertaining although it reads a little like pulp fiction.
This book is the first in what will be a series. Getting promoted at the end of the story to head a British black ops group, I’m looking forward to reading about Kat’s future adventures now that she is unleashed.
This book is the first in what will be a series. Getting promoted at the end of the story to head a British black ops group, I’m looking forward to reading about Kat’s future adventures now that she is unleashed.
December 14, 2017
Kind of like reading a firing machine gun! Fast paced and engaging, there is the expected violence of war and the antagonism of the time in the desert of North Africa before the Americans joined the European forces. The Brits are joined by an unusual group of ANZAC soldiers, and none of them really know how to react to Kat, a former spy and effective assassin, but there is strong camaraderie, respect, and a lot of snappy, snarky dialog. I totally loved it!
I won an ebook copy in a LibraryThing Giveaway.
I won an ebook copy in a LibraryThing Giveaway.
December 9, 2017
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is a fast-paced, comedic, alternate view of the role of a female intelligence agent during the World War II Desert Theatre of Operations. I liked the story, though there were a few anachronistic idioms (which didn't, in my view, detract from the narrative). A great light read, with potential for interesting sequels.
January 7, 2018
Enjoyed this
Interesting premise, and brings to the fore some of the type of actions the LRDG (or the old tv show The Rat Patrol) were noted for. Interesting that he seems to kill characters fairly readily, but I really enjoy the cheesiness of Kat, and I liked the excerpt from book 2 which gives more info on Pernass and Let's relationship.
Interesting premise, and brings to the fore some of the type of actions the LRDG (or the old tv show The Rat Patrol) were noted for. Interesting that he seems to kill characters fairly readily, but I really enjoy the cheesiness of Kat, and I liked the excerpt from book 2 which gives more info on Pernass and Let's relationship.
August 8, 2018
What a wildass ride!!!
If you love non-stop action and major annihilation of some extremely deserving bad guys, hop on board this runaway train heading right into the heart of Rommel's desert stronghold. I LOVE this man's writing style. I could only find two of these books, so I hope he is going all out on the next hundred or so books!!!
If you love non-stop action and major annihilation of some extremely deserving bad guys, hop on board this runaway train heading right into the heart of Rommel's desert stronghold. I LOVE this man's writing style. I could only find two of these books, so I hope he is going all out on the next hundred or so books!!!
December 31, 2018
Decent read
Had some fun parts, hilarity and good natured nonsense. had a lot i had not seen before that I think is unique and engaging. However, definitely needs work on conversation flow, general structure, background and setting detail and character interaction. Want to see how book two did so will read the next one before deciding fully.
Had some fun parts, hilarity and good natured nonsense. had a lot i had not seen before that I think is unique and engaging. However, definitely needs work on conversation flow, general structure, background and setting detail and character interaction. Want to see how book two did so will read the next one before deciding fully.
February 1, 2020
Remarkably Enjoyable Read!
The author immediately captured my attention. The rich description and details made me fully relate to the character. This historical fiction book is superb! The research was spot-on and the witty banter that the MC used made me think of Inglorious Bastards (movie). Truly a pleasurable read.
The author immediately captured my attention. The rich description and details made me fully relate to the character. This historical fiction book is superb! The research was spot-on and the witty banter that the MC used made me think of Inglorious Bastards (movie). Truly a pleasurable read.
November 3, 2017
Funny and gory.
April 22, 2018
A fun and all around good book to read on a lazy Sunday.
May 25, 2018
way too many sexual references right from the start. Did not finish the 1st chapter.
September 14, 2018
Good story but a bit over the top.
May 25, 2019
Great pulpy action and adventure helps to make up for the somewhat thin characterization.
January 22, 2026
Allied commandos operating behind Axis lines in North Africa fall in with a lethal and beautiful woman who helps them kill Nazis with cartoonish efficiency in this novel, which the author graciously sent me to read and review. There's solid research into places, events, and equipment underlying the story. I liked that and the period photographs from World War Two. I also liked Kat's spunk -- she's the civilian whom you don't want to cross.
The novel needs a good copy editor, not least because the author has a bad habit of confusing plural with possessive, which means the story is rife with references to "Nazi's" and "Jerry's" and "New Zealander's" and "Italian's" -- even one instance where an officer snorts derisively at the plans of his tired captors by quipping that he's "working with a truck full of Napoleon's here." The flotilla of unnecessary apostrophes hampers the narrative. Some scenes are also squirm-inducing for me because of the zest with which Nazis meet their inevitably gory doom. This is a wartime adventure where the good guys eventually triumph over serious adversity, but by the third or fourth time that bullets (or expertly-wielded k-bar knives) had diced soldiers into "hamburger" or "pepperoni," I found those descriptions off-putting.
What the story has going for it is enthusiasm and an appealing heroine (Kat is the kind of woman who can disarm a pistol-packing foe with one hand while blowing a kiss to her teammates with the other). The book lacks polish, but if you're old enough to remember watching "Rat Patrol" on TV, you might be more forgiving of authorial lapses than I was.
The novel needs a good copy editor, not least because the author has a bad habit of confusing plural with possessive, which means the story is rife with references to "Nazi's" and "Jerry's" and "New Zealander's" and "Italian's" -- even one instance where an officer snorts derisively at the plans of his tired captors by quipping that he's "working with a truck full of Napoleon's here." The flotilla of unnecessary apostrophes hampers the narrative. Some scenes are also squirm-inducing for me because of the zest with which Nazis meet their inevitably gory doom. This is a wartime adventure where the good guys eventually triumph over serious adversity, but by the third or fourth time that bullets (or expertly-wielded k-bar knives) had diced soldiers into "hamburger" or "pepperoni," I found those descriptions off-putting.
What the story has going for it is enthusiasm and an appealing heroine (Kat is the kind of woman who can disarm a pistol-packing foe with one hand while blowing a kiss to her teammates with the other). The book lacks polish, but if you're old enough to remember watching "Rat Patrol" on TV, you might be more forgiving of authorial lapses than I was.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews