Just finished it today. Helfers is turning out to be one of the better writers I've seen lately - his last book was pretty good, and this one is a good bit better.
It starts off like your typical DL novel - the companions arrive in the middle of a fight between a ville and a group of people who want to take over. Somewhere in the wings, we also have a group of whitecoats (they come in later). The companions make it to the ville, get in good with the baron, and find out that they have actual electricity from a power plant - this place is years ahead of most other villes in Deathlands, technologically. The baron, of course, asks them a favor: he wants them to go find out if the rumors of a redoubt under Denver Airport are true, and if so, to bring back any tech they find. The rumors are true, and the place is still inhabited. This is where the plot takes a right turn. I'm not going to spoil anything (you can read the summary on the wiki if you're curious), but he adds a couple twists that made me say "Wow, didn't see that coming."
Just when you think it's over, after the companions kick the bad guys' asses and ride off into the sunset, there's an epilogue. And boy, is it a doozie. Let's just say I'm looking forward to the next Helfers book.
As with most DL novels, the devil is in the details. Helfers has obviously read most, if not all, of the DL books before this - he makes a few subtle references to previous events, and the characterization is spot-on (with one exception: JB's favorite expression is "Dark night!", not "black dust!". He does use the latter, but on extremely rare occasions - I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen it; it's generally reserved for something that creates extreme awe, like a warehouse full of weapons.)
At one point Ryan loses his panga and says he doesn't have any blades. Okay... but where's his flensing knife? He used it earlier in the book... Also, the location of said knife changed from the small of his back (where it should be) to the back of his neck.
The M-4000, being a typical shotgun, is loaded by stuffing shells into the breech from underneath, not via a magazine, and it's cocked by racking the slide, not pulling the cocking lever. It's not an M-16.
The other few glitches weren't DL-related, but could've been avoided with a little research:
Humvees have automatic transmission, not manual. Six people riding in one would hardly inconvience it*, but he did say that the engine wasn't well-maintained, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt there.
*I once saw an entire infantry platoon (25-30 guys) pile out of a cargo humvee one time. It was like watching a clown car. Seriously. The back flap was down, so all I could see was soldiers coming out one at a time, and I kept wondering "How many of them *are* there?"
The Le Mat changes barrels by switching the hammer, not twisting the barrel. It was nice, however, to see Doc shoot someone in the face and not blow his head clean off.