Terence Strong

Phil Mason is an ex army sniper who is asked to track down some terrorist suspects by an old MI5 contact. You could drive a horse and cart through some of the plot holes and the twist at the end is predictable as hell. That doesn't stop it from being an enjoyable, easy read and I found the lead character particularly likeable.

This might have been a real run of the mill thriller if it wasn't for the fact that it was written after the end of the cold war but prior to 9/11. This novel has all the required elements; a hero with a murky past, some heartless bad guys, a flame haired love interest and a predictable plot-twist. What makes it interesting is that the author wrote it at a time where it was thought that institutions like MI6 might be running out of targets. The iron curtain had fallen, peace was on the show more horizon in Northern Ireland - seemingly the biggest threat to western society was the South American "narcotraficantes." Reading this book post 9/11 makes it all the more interesting. show less

An original thriller based around the idea that the EU is run by organised crime and mafias. The story tells of ex-SAS soldier Ed Coltrane and how he unintentionally ends up taking on the men behind the politicians in Brussels.
I found this a bit slow to get going and some of the background a bit dry, but the climactic ending in the East Anglian fens was real edge-of-your-seat stuff. There is plenty out there better than this, but it's enjoyable nonetheless.

A bit formulaic, but extra marks for tackling China in an interesting way.