“The Colonel’s Revenge” by Jeffrey K. Schmoll

The Colonel’s Revenge

Jeffrey K. Schmoll                 
Koehler Books (2026)
ISBN: 979-8897471744
Reviewed by Sarah Pankey Cardenas for Reader Views (07/2026)

Colonel de Silva’s life is changed forever when he and his men are ordered into a no-win battle by their superior, General Americo, during the Angolan Civil War, and the Colonel is charged with treason and arrested for the failure. He manages to escape his captors and begin a new life but is betrayed by a friend and becomes imprisoned. Years later, his grandson, Mateus, and a group of his friends mount a rescue for de Silva and then get to work on a revenge plot against the colonel’s traitorous friend.

The Colonel’s Revenge by Jeffrey K. Schmoll is primarily a plot-driven action story that jumps between the 1980s and the 2010s and spans the US to Africa, making it perfect for those who enjoy time-jumping, globe-trotting stories. Because the book’s main protagonist is a colonel and it takes place partly during wartime, there are numerous references to armies, like the MPLA and UNITA, and to various types of specific weaponry. This makes it especially appealing to those with knowledge or interest in military history and firearms. Lastly, the revenge plot in the third act is a full-on Ocean’s Eleven vibe to pull in the heist crowd.

Each character is interesting and believable, even those we don’t see much of, like Tay’s father or The Bloodhound. Colonel de Silva and his grandson, Mateus, seem to have the most depth as our protagonists, while Johann, our primary antagonist, is left mostly mysterious. He’s all smiles, yet something is unsettling about him almost immediately. The relationship between Colonel de Silva and Johann shows de Silva’s trusting but cautious nature, as well as Johann’s affable yet callous one. It is thought-provoking to me, as well, how the healthy relationship between Mateus and his business partner, Tay, provides a comparison point for de Silva and Johann’s. De Silva and Johann ultimately could not trust one another, while Mateus and Tay are ride-or-die friends.

Each setting is vividly described and feels believable both to the story and to the locations in which it’s set. The author’s writing is descriptive, but not overly so. Not flowery, but more directly observational, like a soldier. My favorite setting in the book is the Bekebeke Gold Mine. It conveys a smothering, inescapable feeling that even Colonel de Silva cannot fight against. He enters the facility thinking he won’t be there long, but the more he fights, the more trapped he becomes.

For me, the sections in the gold mine are the most emotionally laden and memorable, such as the fight with Junior and the lashing scene that follows. The author exemplifies de Silva’s pain in that moment, saying, “A voice in his head whispered that this was judgement – for leaving his family, his country, and murdering a general” (pg. 115).

Jeffrey K. Schmoll’s The Colonel’s Revenge: A Mateus de Silva Adventure has a little bit of everything to draw in a wide net of readers: war, treason, murder, precious jewels, explosions, and a casino heist. The ending was a satisfying conclusion to the narrative, yet left me wanting to know more, especially about the one they call The Bloodhound. It is a great book, and I hope to read more.