The Kill Box reads like a fascinating guidebook for war strategies of the modern century but with a cruel twist where the US forces are outgunned by the technologically superior Russians. H. Ripley Rawlings quickly sets the foreboding theme for the story in the beginning pages as an American patrolling force in the Russian Occupied West Virginia is quickly obliterated due to superior Air Force and a deadly sniper hell-bent on killing anyone who appears in her crosshairs. With a bigger plan in the works by Russian forces, it’s only a matter of time before Russia claims complete victory over America unless Lieutenant Colonel Tyce Asher can outthink the Russians and stop the complete invasion of his home.
The narrative includes some explosive skirmishes between the two opposing forces, written with the keen expertise of someone who has extensively studied all and implemented at least a few of the army techniques found in the story. The concept of a supercomputer being able to predict the outcome of battlefields is extremely cool and explored in a mythical fashion that’s all the more fun to think about. The Kill Box also introduces a femme fatale sniper who remains somewhat of an enigma throughout the narrative, perhaps to be explored more in the next installment. Her ruthlessness is matched only by her prowess behind a sniper rifle. Speaking of enigmas, there are quite a few in this narrative that come together to create a breathtaking cliffhanger. From mole hunts to supercomputer origins leading back to the Second World War, Rawlings has opened up a whole gate of potential goldmine for follow up stories.
Packed with gritty large-scale combat, entertaining characters, and lots of mysteries set up to be unfolded in the sequel, The Kill Box is a must-read for fans of hardcore military thrillers with chilling descriptions of battlefield carnage and all the emotional and physical baggage that follows.
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