Jungle Heist

Book 2 of The Response Files

Fiction - Military
300 Pages
Reviewed on 12/20/2021
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite

Jungle Heist: Book 2 of The Response Files, by Rob Phayre, is the exciting and impressive follow-up to Ransom Drop. Here we have The Associate and his plan to execute a risky raid on one of the biggest gold mines on the planet. The President doesn't know which of his allies are trustworthy enough to rescue it, so it's up to Max and his A-Team (specialists with superior training) to intervene in the African jungle. How can they succeed when corruption and greed will stop at nothing to extort it for ultimate control? The Associate would like nothing more than to overturn the President and install a lapdog to do his bidding, but there may be a motive loftier than that.

Phayre is back again with taut writing, a tense plot that entertains, settings that intrigue and inform, characters you can like, dislike, cheer, or boo. Gold is the centerpiece for this suspenseful story, and you have weapons and valor as integral parts. I like how today's technological advances are used in the plot, and by the characters, to carry out the deed. Although specific and intricate details are used by the author, the technology is explained in an interesting way that most people can understand. The sections on gold mining are enlightening as well as entertaining. I held my breath in a lot of places, wondering how Max and his team were going to handle a situation, and that's how good this book is.

The award-winning Phayre is an exceptional talent when it comes to executing a plot that engages, informs, and satisfies; and I like his sensorial style as well. One of my favorite passages is how the author describes gold itself; its allure, properties, and value. Equally intriguing are the descriptions of the jungle environment. Characters are described in such concrete detail that you could pick them out of a lineup. You feel that you're in the hands of a good author when you read a Phayre novel. Anyone into reading character-driven action that doesn't let up, high crimes that drop your jaw, and drama that grabs your breath will love the visceral high stakes of Jungle Heist: Book 2 of The Response Files by Rob Phayre.

Jennifer Ibiam

The Associate had his eyes on the gold in the Kayoro mine in Ghana and wanted to possess it. With the help of the country’s Minister of Interior and Jimmy, the expatriate mine manager, over five tons of gold were ready to move. Ghana’s Minister of Interior wanted to run for the presidency, and his triumph depended on the success of this prime heist. The Associate hired brutal mercenaries to go for the gold, and they did. However, the President of Ghana got wind of the theft. He had his political ambitions and took action. The President hired lethal professionals to retrieve the stolen goods, but how possible was this task? It was a race against time and survival of the fittest between two heavyweights in Jungle Heist by Rob Phayre.

Jungle Heist by Rob Phayre is a fantastic novel that kept me on the edge of my seat. This book with suspense, action, gore, manipulation, politics, and power-play is ready for the big screen. I felt like I was sitting somewhere and watching the proceedings. Politics is indeed a dirty game and not for the fainthearted. Corruption has eaten into the deepest levels of every government parastatal, and it is sad to see. Rob was very technical in his narration, pumping the story with adrenaline and captivating me. The plot and storyline were spellbinding, while the characters were profound. Azrah was simply a psychopath, and Abdi had nine lives. Mike and Raj were jolly good fellows, and Jimmy’s hair gave me a good laugh. I loved the mention of places I was familiar with, and the novel felt close to home. Well done, Rob.

Steven Robson

Jungle Heist: Book 2 of The Response Files by Rob Phayre engages Max and his top-flight team of experts in an incredibly difficult recovery operation deep in the Damana Forest of Ghana, where the stakes are measured in hundreds of millions of dollars, political survival, and ultimately, life or death for those involved. Little did they know that the forces opposing them were being driven by the very people Max and his team had dealt with previously; a group led by Abdi on a quest that may have a similar outcome in mind, but with a vastly different game plan. Only Jungle Heist contains the complete picture, and who survives this compelling, high intensity adventure, and where the riches end up will only be revealed by an explosive climax that will still leave a hint of doubt for the reader until the very end.

Rob Phayre has done it again with Jungle Heist: Book 2 of The Response Files. This is a wonderful tale laced with thrilling action and genuine characters, mixed with very real and tangible dangers, interspersed with some on-point humor and byplay. Mr. Phayre has a deft touch for building atmospheres that appear almost surreal: David lifting off in his helicopter, Glenn and his Scottish accent, or Raj and Mike playing their games, which may be a layer to cover hidden tensions, are all classic examples of this. There were times when I felt I was actually in these scenes, witnessing the twilight flights and the team interactions first hand. Another gem is the wealth of interesting information brought to life. Facts, places, procedures, and technologies that will offer many points of interest to the reader. All told, Jungle Heist is the complete package, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys high quality action-adventure.

Pikasho Deka

Jungle Heist is the second installment of The Ransom Files by Rob Phayre. Months after the successful hijacking of an international cargo ship, The Associate now sets his sights on the Kayoro Mines in Ghana. He assembles a team of multinational criminals, including Somali pirate Abdi and a Pakistani explosives expert, Azrah, to attempt an audacious raid at the Kayoro Mines to steal 300 million dollars worth of gold bullion. Using advanced drone attacks and weaponry, Abdi and his team soon launch a deadly raid on the mines, leading to the deaths of dozens of security personnel. The President of Ghana has no choice but to seek the aid of Max, a former MI6 operative, and his 'A-team' to stop the robbers. A deadly chase ensues in the African jungle.

Jungle Heist is an action-packed thriller that keeps you hooked from start to finish with a fast-moving plot and realistic action sequences. Set in the jungles of Ghana, the narrative paints quite an image in your head as you find yourself transported to the midst of all the action. Like Rob Phayre's previous installment, Jungle Heist also contains a multiple POV narrative that focuses upon three separate groups, Max and his team, The Associate and his cronies, and Abdi and the robbers. The characters feel well-developed, and their distinct personalities make them easy to distinguish amongst quite a large cast. The action scenes are vividly described, which makes for plenty of nail-biting moments. I had an absolute blast reading Jungle Heist. Recommended to fans of action-packed thrillers.

Vincent Dublado

Jungle Heist is the second book of The Response Files Series by Rob Phayre - a political-cum-military thriller that is a good examination of the corruption that runs the world. In this new offering, The Associate is back with a new scheme. This unnamed antagonist connives with the Ghanaian Minister of Interior in order to move their professional relationship forward. The Associate believes that it’s high time he reaps his investment in the minister by helping him become the president of the country. But this comes with a costly scheme: The Associate intends to steal a large quantity of gold from Ghana while the minister will delay any major decision-making on the response to the theft—and this is just the beginning. As usual, Max and his elite team of specialists will be fighting against time in response to The Associate’s diabolical plan.

Jungle Heist is not just an examination of world politics and diplomatic affairs with a generous serving of action and exotic locales. Rob Phayre delivers a complete turbo-charged thriller where every scene accounts for a wheel that turns the whole storyline. Phayre writes his scenes with crisp, pristine details that trigger your mind to effective visualization. Moreover, he paints his action scenes broadly and his dialogues reveal so much about his characters. I like the enigma that he creates with The Associate as an unnamed villain. It adds an element of mystery to the character that piques your curiosity - how formidable will he continue to be for the rest of the series? This complements Max and his team’s relentlessness in pursuing this villain who has mixed fortunes. If you want to sink your teeth into a good military action thriller, take a bite at Jungle Heist.