Genre: Biography, War & Espionage
Published by: Bantam Press (April 2010)
Pages: 368 (Hardcover)
Rating: 10/10
* THIS BOOK HAS BEEN READ AND REVIEWED BY MY HUSBAND *
In this edgy, fast-paced and incredibly moving account, Chris Hunter chronicles the remarkable journey of a teenager with few hopes and limited prospects who went on to become one of the most successful counter-terrorism operators in Britain.
Hunter depicts his gruelling officer training at Sandhurst, and afterwards as a young troop commander in Bosnia. He describes how, as a bomb disposal operator in Northern Ireland and Iraq, he witnessed horrendous acts of terrorism and recounts the methods he employed to outsmart the terrorists who repeatedly tried to target him.
This is the portrait of a man prepared to sacrifice everything for his country, but to concede nothing to the terrorists.
My Husband's Thoughts:
This is one of those books that falls into the cliché of a book that you can’t put down, a page turner.
A really good read.
To start each chapter the author gives you a quotation or verse from some very noble people, which have the thread running through the chapter. I found this very uplifting and relevant.
The author lays bare his life and soul without any self deprecation and without any self irony. He lets us into the hurt and desolation that surrounds him, with the problems he faced with his personal life, and yet he tells us of his immense pleasure he finds in his military life, living with his buddies.
I read this book in the surreal situation of being on holiday in a beautiful place with all the pleasures of sun, drink, and good food, and yet I was drawn into the really desperate and dangerous situations that the author was experiencing. It left me wanting to read more and more.
What the ATO’s do is nothing short of unbelievable. This book takes you into the heart of the subject. It also takes you into the heart of the author. The account of the ops the author undertook takes you right into the meat of the situations. You are left both cold and sweating at each and every outcome. That the experiences are real, make this book even more riveting.
The author takes you from his officer training at Sandhurst, to his postings in Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Columbia, the SAS, the Middle East and then his freelance work back in Afghanistan. He has lead an unbelievable life already. That he can then write all of this is wonderful.
I look forward to reading his first book: Eight Lives Down
Special Thanks to Transworld Publishers for sending me this book to review.
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