What a way to continue the reboot of a classic series! THE NEW DESTROYER: KILLER RATINGS is Warren Murphy and James Mullaney’s fourth entry in the revived franchise, and hopefully they will continue to put them out, as this latest is really the crowning achievement of all DESTROYER novels, playing so well to the old and new fans alike.

There are a few references to early adventures just to make longtime Remo Williams followers smile. The authors don’t hold back in this story of the world of network news. Right away, the reader knows exactly who their thinly veiled targets are. I mean, how many other network newscasts are hosted by a woman who regrets leaving her morning show job? Yes, it’s that obvious, folks, and she’s not the only one to get a severe character assassination.

Pretty much anyone who ever delivered the headlines for that network is crucified, with my personal favorite about a crotchety old man who screams about paper clips and toilet paper on a newsmagazine. The story opens with a hijacked plane where one of the passengers is Kitty Coughlin, the network anchor for BCN. The plane is made to look like it would crash into the Empire State Building, only to land safely at an upstate airport.

Dr. Harold Smith thinks something is up and sends Remo and Chiun to investigate, only to find that Kitty knows no reason why it happened. Then there is the mine collapse from where she was reporting. Are these events tied together? And how come she is always there before the trouble happens? If you think you know why, you’re off-base, because Murphy and Mullaney have concocted a great scheme in this one.

I’d rather not go any further in discussing the who and whys, but it looks like someone actually put Murphy in front of a computer to get some ideas, since eBay, YouTube, blogs, flame wars and Instant Messenger are used to great degrees in the plot. But that’s not even all of it, since there are plenty of other real-life figures who are central to the plot, be it a former news anchor who used to be the light of Chiun’s life, a one-time comedienne/talk show host/conspiracy nut and, of course, the governor of California.

If KILLER RATINGS turns out to be the final Remo adventure we ever get, well, at least it goes out with a bang. Murphy and Mullaney have truly hit a stride that recaptures the glory days of the early adventures, both in action and social commentary. This is also one of the truly laugh-out-loud reads I’ve had in a long time. —Bruce Grossman

Buy it at Amazon.

OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THE DESTROYER SERIES:
• THE BEST OF THE DESTROYER by Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir
• THE DESTROYER #5: DR. QUAKE by Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #6: DEATH THERAPY by Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #9: MURDER’S SHIELD by Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #10: TERROR SQUAD by Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #11: KILL OR CURE by Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #13: ACID ROCK by Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #14: JUDGMENT DAY by Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #15: MURDER WARD by Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #17: LAST WAR DANCE by Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #18: FUNNY MONEY by Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #19: HOLY TERROR by Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #22: BRAIN DRAIN by Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #23: CHILD’S PLAY by Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #24: KING’S CURSE by Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #30: MUGGER BLOOD by Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #32: KILLER CHROMOSOMES by Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #38: BAY CITY BLAST by Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #39: MISSING LINK by Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #46: NEXT OF KIN by Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #48: PROFIT MOTIVE by Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #49: SKIN DEEP by Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #52: FOOL’S GOLD by Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy
• THE DESTROYER #55: MASTER’S CHALLENGE by Will Murray
• THE DESTROYER #78: BLUE SMOKE AND MIRRORS by Will Murray
• THE DESTROYER #89: DARK HORSE by Will Murray
• THE DESTROYER #104: ANGRY WHITE MAILMEN by Will Murray
• THE DESTROYER #145: DRAGON BONES by Tim Somheil
• THE NEW DESTROYER: CHOKE HOLD by Warren Murphy and James Mullaney
• THE NEW DESTROYER: DEAD RECKONING by Warren Murphy and James Mullaney
• THE NEW DESTROYER: GUARDIAN ANGEL by Warren Murphy and James Mullaney

OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF WARREN MURPHY:
• GRANDMASTER by Warren Murphy
• TRACE: GETTING UP WITH FLEAS by Warren Murphy