New Hampshire is rich with big game, more than enough to feed Ryan and the other hungry survivors. But claims to a fallen elk get ugly and Ryan is forced to chill another hunter, the self-proclaimed king of the Granite Highlands, over the meat. Soon the hunters become the hunted as the dead man's widow gives chase, armed with predark tanks and heavy artillery. As the kill zone widens across cannibal-ridden lava fields, Ryan and his group search for leverage in the merciless landscape.
This last DL was somewhat better than Nick's several past ones.
With all due respect to Nick, I think his last few books were kinda simplistic in storylines. Pretty much just a sequence of events in survival, chock full of violence than anything too heavy in overall story development.
For instance, Sins of Honor was basically a small feud begun over Ryan shooting an elk on a local baron's land. Ryan and baron exchange words, Ryan kills baron, thus pissing off the baron's wife, who pursues Ryan and company with a bad-ass APC with a laser.
For just sheer action/adventure and pacing, this is a fun and simple read. If you are looking for further character development - there really is none. If you're looking for simple story with tons of action - here it is. A guilty pleasure for many.
There is no doubt that Nick Polatta knew the DL universe inside and out. He has proven to have the main characters down pat. I just wish he would have further explored the characters in some way, except just having them being automatons going from action sequence to action sequence. He did pen and show Mildred's and J. B.'s love and affection for each other, which many other writers seem to forget about.
Polatta always did a good job of describing a post-holocaust landscape. And Sins of Honor yet showcases that again from his deft writing in that regard. This was one of Nick's better written DL books. And if you are expecting a simple storyline mixed with over-the-top action and adventure, then this one should fill your bill.
RIP Nick Polatta, and thanks for your long-time contribution to this series.