4 Stars

ITEB, Task Force Valor and Phoenix are back in Island Inferno, the second installment of Chuck Holton’s military suspense series.

Staff Sergeant Rip Rubio and the team head down to Panama on a tip that the deadly explosive ITEB, which they discovered in their most recent tour of duty in Lebanon, has found its way on to the black market and will end up on the hands of terrorists of all persuasions.

Their search for the deadly substance leads them to the mysterious and desolate island of Coiba, formerly host to political prisoners and violent criminals. Rip literally lands on the lap of biology student, Fernanda Lerida, stranded on the island when the research team she is with falls prey to unscrupulous men and a ghost-like warrior.

Chuck Holton goes solo without Gayle Roper in this exciting sequel to the successful Allah’s Fire and does so with finesse and an eye for detail. Rip Rubio takes over from John Cooper as the main protagonist, confronted not only by criminals bent on destroying peace but by his personal failings as he watches his young sister become enthralled by the gang culture in L.A. he was so much a part of. While the romance holds less significance in this sequel (the only way the reader might note Gayle’s absence!), it does not detract from this high-octane tale that is fun to read, spiritually challenging and leaves you wanting to know more about the courageous Task Force Valor. A brilliant ending left me totally geared up for what Chuck has in store for the team in Book 3!

Island Inferno releases in the US on 15th May from Multnomah.

Check out my review of Allah’s Fire here!