Review by JodiBrozio -- Skills of the Warramunga

[JodiBrozio]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Skills of the Warramunga" by Greg Kater.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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I rate Skills of the Warramunga by Greg Kater 3 out of 4 stars. The book was edited, but a few words were missing here and there which prevented a higher rating. This book is part of a series focusing on the adventures of Jamie, Jacko, and his half-sister Sarah. In addition to these main characters, their wives Carna and Monique are part of the supporting story. There are also several recurring people from previous novels.

In this story, Colonel Johnny Cook is mistakenly kidnapped by Tan Boon Cheng and his gang as part of a planned political takeover. Johnny is rescued by Jamie, Jacko and Sarah from deep in the jungle. When investigating a murder and robbery at a mining operation, it is discovered that a man calling himself Pieter DeGroote has been funding the uprisings by looting around the town. DeGroote, better known as Dirk, and his partner Fritz pretend to be drinking buddies with Detective Inspector Robert Douglas on assignment from Scotland Yard. They kidnap Robert and the governor’s aid, Colonel Samuel Martin, hoping for a ransom to be paid. Again, the prisoners are rescued from the jungle by Jamie, Jacko, and Sarah with the help of local and international military types including Gurkhas.

The kidnappers and bandits planned a government takeover during a ceremony when Sir Edward Gent was going to declare the establishment and inauguration of the Malayan Union. There were several bands playing and activities planned during the celebration, including fireworks. Their plan was to act out during the festivities, but Jamie and Jacko put a stop to it all in a way that the crowd thought was part of the show.

There are several parts that I like about this book. I like how Johnny scares off a tiger in the jungle by saying “Scat!” because that is how he earned the respect of some of his captors. I like how Jacko’s half-sister, Sarah, is learning to speak English better throughout the novels. This book shows her growth as a person. One of the Gurkhas involved in the rescue missions is Sergeant Ganju Gurung. Though Ganju asks to play a more prominent role in the mission, he is denied. I like how he shows integrity by offering his best man, Sajit, and does not complain or make a big deal about it. My ultimate favorite part of the book is the description of the military parade. The Coldstream Guards wore khaki battledress with red flashes on their arms, rifles on their shoulders, white bands around their caps, and were lead by a captain of the guards holding a sword upright in his right hand. I love the imagery!

This book would appeal to anyone who likes going on an adventure precariously through someone else. There is love and romance, as well as humor and horror. There is some vulgar language, but nothing too offensive. Some of the swear words are in German, with definitions given for the less common ones. There is detailed violence, so I do not recommend this to anyone with a weak stomach. This book is for adult readers.

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Skills of the Warramunga
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