House of Jaguar by Mike Bond oozes testosterone. It is a visceral thriller that combines elements of corruption, deceit, mass-murder, death squads, drug running, covert operations, torture, bravery, selflessness, nation building, and even a touch of love.

Murphy, former American military pilot, flies through the darkness in Central America on a mission to trade thousands of dollars for hundreds of pounds of marijuana. Just as he is about to take off with his illegal cargo, his plane is ambushed. Bullets fly. Unable to save his companions, he escapes into the jungle, leaving behind a trail of blood. He is seriously injured. After a horrific journey through the jungle, he is rescued by a small band of indigenous people who offer food and shelter. Soon, a lovely doctor arrives to treat his wounds. Unfortunately, Murphy’s life will never be the same. Lyman, a mysterious American operative, begins to hunt for Murphy with only one goal-to kill him.

The setting is drawn with such detail and clarity that readers will feel as though they are wearing a virtual reality headset. Bond, obviously an expert on all the locations, leaves no meaningful detail unaddressed. With total clarity, readers will hear the animals, see the constellations above, smell the vegetation, and realize the beauty of nature. Bond’s mastery of language results in beautiful, graceful prose.

The complex plot moves with the speed of a runaway train and is sure to leave readers breathless. The action follows Murphy through an epic journey as he heads home to America and then back to Central America again. The plot trajectory is anything but a flat line. Numerous roadblocks thwart Murphy’s plans at every turn. Lyman and his henchmen continue to stalk him. Only Murphy’s intelligence and military skills keep him alive.

Even though the two main characters are in direct opposition, they have more in common than one might realize at first. Murphy is a sort of anti-hero. Like Lyman, he kills people without much thought. He does not hesitate to engage in nameless, faceless sex. He transports and uses illicit drugs. Some readers may wonder which character is the good guy and which is the bad guy.

Readers who enjoy war, and battles, and action will love House of Jaguar. However, most of them will be men. The average woman may be put off by the way Murphy uses certain women while claiming a mystical love for the lady doctor. Derogatory terms that refer to women and sections that depict scenes of horrific torture may put off sensitive readers.

House of Jaguar is more than an adventure story. It is an honest commentary on a cruel reality that afflicts Central America and its citizens. It may serve as a wake-up call those who have been thus far unacquainted with the situation.

Vietnam vet Joe Murphy is shot down in the jungle when flying a marijuana run with his co-pilot who is killed. Murphy is injured but manages to get away while they torch his plane. He is helped into a village where Dona Villalobos, a guerrilla doc helps him. She tries to get him on the river to Mexico with help and trying to not be discovered by those hunting him. They meet again and soon they are on the run together. This story gives you a look into the problems of Guatemala.

While the House of Jaguar had the vivid descriptions and complex plot I have come to associate with Mike Bond's novels and the story was set against the backdrop of an actual historical event (civil war in Guatemala, drug smuggling, and CIA involvement in Guatemalan politics/military) like the other works of his I have read, this book was not as appealing to me. The pace felt uneven and the book did not hold my attention well. It had its moments early on, but did not really become good until about halfway through and this was not sustained. If I had not agreed to review the book, I am not sure I would have finished it. None of the main characters were particularly "likable" or people whose future one really cared about and some came across as whiny and off-putting. The plot seemed disconnected at times, as if Bond knew where he ultimately wanted to end up, but was not sure how to get from "A" to "B".

I am glad this was not the first Mike Bond novel I read, because if it had been, I doubt I would have read any more and would have missed out on some much better books, such as "The Last Savanna" or "Assassins."

The book started out very well but I could not get myself to finish. I did get half way...decide for yourself.

This is basically the story of two men, Murphy and Lyman, who are on opposite sides of the Guatemalan Civil War. Murphy is a pilot and drug smuggler who's plane was shot down by the forces Lyman, a CIA advisor, was directing. It is sometimes beautifully written, sometimes convoluted and sometimes way too graphic for my tastes, but then so is war. It took me days to finish the novel. Parts, the most graphic, I ended up skimming through while some of the descriptions, especially in the Jungle were done so well you almost felt you were there with Murphy. Thanks to Net Galley and Mandevilla Press for an ARC for an honest review.

This was an incredible book. I believe it is based on the author's experiences and subject to graphic violence and torture scenes that were so believable it felt as if I was remote viewing it. Explicit reality that is hard to put away at the end of the day.

Murphy has many layers in his personality, and as this book progresses, the reader gets to see, and care for, all of them. He is thhe man who is trained to kill, the man who hates the political layers of the Guatemalan civil war, the man who loves small children and innocent grandmothers and the man who discovers deep and lasting love for his Dona. This is a terribly violent read that has moments of amazing compassion and honest insight into the human psyche.

Not my favorite Bond book. Reminds me of one of those car chase movies with lots of thrill, spills, and high end CGI, but, at at the end, the weak story line.leaves you feeling a bit underwhelmed and unsatisfied.