I picked TIGER up because the Amazon reviews were evenly split between 5 and one stars. It’s actually somewhere in between.

The problem is that this is an unusual sub-genre, and not one Amazon features. It is a HKAT book, of the Hong Kong Action Movie school. The disclaimer upfront is amusing and immediately indicates the book is not to be taken seriously (for the Hong Kong Action Theatre school of accuracy if it looks cool, it can happen). The story hits every marker of that genre; the evil crime boss, the wise old martial arts master, ninja assassins and triads against Shaolin-trained lawyers, insane stunts and martial arts, and the cold-blooded and over-the-top violence.

If you are looking for a gritty action thriller don’t bother; this has definite cinematic overtones and those are far more in the over-the-top 80’s action movie school. A man chases down a tiger, wrestles it and wins. I will be honest, I actually cared more about the tiger than the human characters. None of the characters are particularly likeable; the hero simply keeps hitting on the female lead purely because of her looks in a way that makes it hard for her to do her job and which she should have reported to HR, but the book does call him on it. The casualty levels are high, and the deaths often gruesome, and the plot moves at breakneck pace throughout. Almost every character has their own drives, plot, and motives, and that results in a rushed ride of betrayal, lies, and murder.

It’s well presented, with a gorgeous cover and decently edited with no major typos or odd grammar.

Anyone who has watched Hong Kong Action Movies, Golden Harvest or the later 80’s cop films, or played the games based on it, will love this book. For people who aren’t used to the utterly over the top style, it would have less appeal.