Title: Skills of the Warramunga
Author: Greg Kater
Publisher: Zeus Publications
ISBN: 978-0648278085
Pages: 314
Genre: Historical-Fiction
Reviewed by: John Murray

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In 1946, bandits abduct Colonel Johnny Cook and take him deep into the jungles of Malaya in Kuala Lampur. Jamie Munro and Jacko O’Brien head the Commonwealth Investigation Service in Darin are tasked with rescuing Colonel Cook. Armed with skills and expertise honed in years of service, the Munro and O’Brien discover the bandits are more than they seem. There’s a conspiracy to destabilize the area and allow a criminal organization to gain control of the peninsula.

Skills of the Warramunga is the third book in the Warramunga trilogy. However, this book functions fantastically as a stand-alone historical action adventure. Readers of the previous books will most likely appreciate the continued story, but Kater expertly adds in context without hampering the enjoyment of the current adventure. Everything that needs to be present to appreciate the current story is added carefully but leaves enough mystery to encourage picking up the previous books.

Characters are vivid and dynamic. Despite the harrowing circumstances, the bonds between the main characters deepen and feel earned. A romance carried from the previous books adds a human touch that helps the reader connect with the rough and tumble soldiers nicely. Secondary and background characters are decently fleshed out. The entire story feels populated with believable characters.

Scene setting and dialogue complement the characters and narrative. Scenes are sketched in with just enough details to let the action unfold with key information doled out as needed. Dialogue is snappy and lively. Characters speak in engaging tones and appropriate accents or foreign languages. The highlight is these foreign language words go untranslated allowing for contextual definition in a realistic manner.

The narrative benefits from strong and consistent pacing. The writing feels highly polished and lends the narrative a professional feel. Pages fly by and the chapters are perfectly sized to encourage the drive to keep reading. All the elements work together to produce a strong end to the trilogy and an engaging standalone.

Skills of the Warramunga is historical fiction done right. Ample historical context, sympathetic heroes, lively dialogue, and an overall feeling of pride and polish. Fans of the series will devour this entry, newcomers will fall under the spell, and historical fiction lovers will find something to love here. Violence, drama, romance, and humor mingle in a strong historical fiction adventure.