Tag: Quercus Books

SAS Bravo Three Zero: The Explosive Untold Story by Des Powell and Damien Lewis

SAS Bravo Three Zero: The Explosive Untold Story by Des Powell and Damien Lewis

Summary:

There were three patrols that fateful January 1991 morning: Bravo One Zero, Bravo Two Zero and Bravo Three Zero. It was the opening hours of the Gulf War and the SAS were flown deep behind enemy lines to hunt down Saddam’s Scud missiles, the use of which threatened a Third World War.

The men of Bravo One Zero stepped off the chopper, took one look at the flat desert devoid of any cover and decided no way were they deploying into all of that. But Andy NcNab’s famed Bravo Two Zero patrol did deploy, with fatal results – all bar one being captured or killed.

And then there was Bravo Three Zero. These men were different. Thought differently. Acted differently. Treating as gospel the SAS’s saying ‘any fool can be uncomfortable’, they deployed with vehicles, and while there was nowhere to hide they could make a dash for the border if desperate.

Even as warnings came in that McNab’s patrol was on the run, Bravo Three Zero remained undetected – the furthest Coalition forces behind Iraqi lines. Slipping through enemy positions, a string of targets were taken out. But with the desert turning bitter and snow starting to fall, they were forced to fight a running battle against the elements as much as the enemy.

Though overshadowed by the fate of Bravo Two Zero, the achievements of this highly-decorated patrol are the stuff of elite forces legend. Now, for the first time, SAS veteran Des Powell reveals their story in gritty, blow-by-blow detail. Written with acclaimed military author Damien Lewis, this is a tale of edge-of-the seat daring deep inside enemy lands. Brutal, savage, unrelenting – prepare to be blown away, in a tale that proves utterly the SAS motto – who dares wins.

My Review:

I am extremely grateful to Sophie Ransom for the review copy of SAS Bravo Three Zero (Quercus) by Des Powell and Damien Lewis that was released on 28th October. Today 11th November at 11am we mark Armistice Day. We remember those who gave their lives in service of their country and with remembrance Sunday this weekend.

This year marks the 80th Anniversary of the forming of the Special Air Service (SAS) and has its origins from the North African desert campaign in 1941. This year also marks the 30th Anniversary of the first Gulf War were the SAS played a significant role behind enemy lines.

And it is the incredible story of one of the three SAS patrols. The opening few hours were important and the SAS had its role to play. Bravo One Zero, Bravo Two Zero and Bravo Three Zero. Their main role that morning was to seek and destroy the Scud missiles that Sadam Hussain was trying to create a wider and more serious war.

It is the patrol that Des Powell was part of being Bravo Three Zero, these men decided they had a job to do and no matter they were going to do the job they trained to do. Meanwhile Bravo Two Zero was in serious trouble with men wounded or killed. All bar one of that team got out. Bravo One Zero did not deploy as it was too dangerous. This left Bravo Three Zero and this is the story of Des Powell and what took place in the desert.

This patrol and their story is now the stuff of elite forces legend and so it should be. Des Powell and the men of Bravo Three Zero are the bravest of the brave. They went far behind enemy line and taking out targets as they went. As I read Des Powell’s story, I was left humbled by their actions. But none of these men should ever have to go into action with sub-standard equipment.

Written by the acclaimed military author Damien Lewis, superbly researched as you would come to expect. These brave men do the work others could never do, and are the bravest of the brave. It was a privilege to be able to read in advance and SAS Bravo Three Zero is one book I would recommend.

Lest We Forget.

#SASBravoThreeZero

@P22Des

@quercusbooks

368 Pages.

My thanks to Sophie Ransom for the review copy of SAS Bravo Three Zero by Des Powell and Damien Lewis Published by Quercus Books on 28th October 2021 and is now available through Waterstones, Amazon and through your local independent bookshop or through Bookshop.org that supports your local independent bookshop. UK Bookshop.org

The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths

The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths

Summary:

The death of a ninety-year-old woman with a heart condition should absolutely not be suspicious. DS Harbinder Kaur certainly sees nothing to concern her in carer Natalka’s account of Peggy Smith’s death.

But when Natalka reveals that Peggy lied about her heart condition and that she had been sure someone was following her…

And that Peggy Smith had been a ‘murder consultant’ who plotted deaths for authors, and knew more about murder than anyone has any right to…

And when clearing out Peggy’s flat ends in Natalka being held at gunpoint by a masked figure…

Well then DS Harbinder Kaur thinks that maybe there is no such thing as an unsuspicious death after all.

My Review:

We head off to quiet town of Shoreham on the coast of West Sussex for a murder mystery that really is an entertaining read. The Postscript Murders (Quercus) by Elly Griffiths focuses on the sudden death of a ninety-year-old woman in her sheltered accommodation flat. The police do not believe foul play as Peggy Smith had a heart condition.

Carer Natalka Kolisnyk finds arrives at Peggy’s flat and finds her dead sitting in her favourite chair by the window. This is where Peggy would sit with a pair of binoculars and she would enjoy the view and would also note passers-by. DS Harbinder Kaur arrives and believes it is natural causes but it is not long before Natalka has cause for some suspicions about how Peggy died.

Peggy Smith had an interesting background as a ‘murder consultant’ for crime writers and she would plot murders for writers. Her bookshelves are full of thrillers and many would contain written acknowledgments for Peggy’s involvement in writing of the book. But what would this have to do with Peggy’s death?

When Natalka talks to some of Peggy’s friends that include Edwin Fitzgerald who is an ex-BBC Radio Three presenter, Benedict Cole who a former monk but now runs a café that she believes that there was more to Peggy’s death than the police believe. But they need to come up with some evidence.

When Natalka and Benedict are in Peggy Smith’s flat sorting through some of her books they are held up at gun point and now they know something more sinister is going on and now DS Harbinder Kaur starts to take Natalka’s theory that Peggy was in fact murdered.

A wonderfully entertaining mystery novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy a crime novel with a few laughs along the way. I really enjoyed Elly Griffiths writing as she is strong on characters and adds a few red herrings along the way to keep the reader guessing. I have a feeling The Postscript Murders will be under many peoples Christmas trees this year. I am already looking forward to Elly Griffiths next novel due out in February.

352Pages.

The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths was published by Quercus Books and was published on1st October 2020 and is available through Waterstones, Amazon and through your local independent bookshop or through Bookshop.org that supports your local independent bookshop. UK Bookshop.org

Love Orange by Natasha Randall

Love Orange by Natasha Randall

Summary:

While Hank struggles with his lack of professional success, his wife Jenny, feeling stuck and beset by an urge to do good, becomes ensnared in a dangerous correspondence with a prison inmate called John. Letter by letter, John pinches Jenny awake from the “marshmallow numbness” of her life. The children, meanwhile, unwittingly disturb the foundations of their home life with forays into the dark net and strange geological experiments.

Jenny’s bid for freedom takes a sour turn when she becomes the go-between for John and his wife, and develops an unnatural obsession for the orange glue that seals his letters…

My Review:

Take one American family, by all accounts your normal average family on the outside but then turn the story into a story about a dysfunctional family and you have an extraordinary debut novel in Love Orange (riverrun) by Natasha Randall.

This American family live in a ‘smart’ home but while Hank is the all -consuming techno husband/father that insisted that the family must have a ‘smart’ home, his wife Jenny is left to wonder what on earth her life actually really means. With one child an all hours of the day gamer and the other not knowing what his family are coming to.

Add in that Jenny has started to write pen pal letters to a prison inmate and this is where the orange comes in. (you have to read the book to find this out). But there is much more to the Tinkley’s and it is that the secrets and a family that just have lost the art of communicating with each other on a personal level and everything that entails make this a really riveting fly on the wall type of novel that you cringe on one hand but cannot take your eyes off on the other add in the various addictions and this is a family who have lost touch with the reality and with each other.

The real beauty of Love Orange is that Natasha Randall has crafted a novel with so much going on with a computer controlled house at its very heart. Everything is ultra-modern apart from Jenny’s letters.

A genius of a novel and very different from anything I have read before, I love the way Natasha writes and there is some humour in her writing.

368 Pages.

#NetGalley

@NatashaRandall @riverrunbooks

Thank you to riverrun for the Netgalley review copy of Love Orange by Natasha Randall.

Love Orange by Natasha Randallwas published by riverrun on 3rd September 2020 and is available through Waterstones, Amazon and through your local independent bookshop.