What do you think?
Rate this book
The Hit List
When Robert Maxwell is assassinated by an unknown agency, conflicting interests in the arms trade threaten all-out war.
Ex-SAS Corporal Pete Slater is trying to make a new life for himself as a teacher, but when he is accidentally caught up in an attempt by terrorists to kidnap one of his pupils, he finds himself sucked back into the world of undercover operations.
A mission to kill an arms dealer in Paris leads to a high-speed chase across Europe and into Eastern Europe. There Slater discovers the connection between Robert Maxwell, the arms industry and the origins in Nazism of the government agency who employs him.
Ex-SAS Corporal Pete Slater is trying to make a new life for himself as a teacher, but when he is accidentally caught up in an attempt by terrorists to kidnap one of his pupils, he finds himself sucked back into the world of undercover operations.
A mission to kill an arms dealer in Paris leads to a high-speed chase across Europe and into Eastern Europe. There Slater discovers the connection between Robert Maxwell, the arms industry and the origins in Nazism of the government agency who employs him.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
65 people are currently reading
569 people want to read
About the author
Chris Ryan
342 books1,019 followersColin Armstrong (b. 1961), usually known by the pen-name Chris Ryan, is a British author, television presenter, security consultant and former Special Air Service sergeant.
After the publication of fellow patrol member Andy McNab's Bravo Two Zero in 1993, Ryan published his own account of his experiences during the Bravo Two Zero mission in 1995, entitled The One That Got Away. Since retiring from the British Army Ryan has published several fiction and non-fiction books, including Strike Back, which was subsequently adapted into a television series for Sky 1, and co-created the ITV action series Ultimate Force. He has also presented or appeared in numerous television documentaries connected to the military or law enforcement.
After the publication of fellow patrol member Andy McNab's Bravo Two Zero in 1993, Ryan published his own account of his experiences during the Bravo Two Zero mission in 1995, entitled The One That Got Away. Since retiring from the British Army Ryan has published several fiction and non-fiction books, including Strike Back, which was subsequently adapted into a television series for Sky 1, and co-created the ITV action series Ultimate Force. He has also presented or appeared in numerous television documentaries connected to the military or law enforcement.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
March 3, 2018
Hit List is a stand-alone thriller by Chris Ryan, and follows the fortunes of Neil Slater, a former SAS soldier struggling in his transition to civilian life. He is dumped as sports master at an exclusive boy’s school outside London after foiling a kidnap attempt on a Saudi student single-handed using extreme force, and joins a London agency providing bodyguards to the rich. Slater soon discovers that money does not equate with morals or manners and in a drunken state he falls back on an offer of a job from Eve (introduced by former SAS Andreas Van Rijn), now working for a shadowy cadre within MI6.
Moving from servant to the wealthy to servant of the Establishment, Slater learns the cadre is a hit squad on behalf of HMG and joins a mission to Paris to assassinate an arms dealer and recover a disc of documents. Naturally there are reversals but the target is taken out and the mission ends in a firefight at close quarters in a Paris warehouse with a mob of Serbs.
Published in 2000 this is one of Ryan’s earlier works, but not his best. Again his knowledge of weaponry and tactics shines out; the scenes in France are excellent (if violent) and the standout for me was Leon, former paratrooper with the French Foreign Legion, who served a few years behind bars and has close links to the Parisian underworld. Slater finally figures out the reason behind the mission is to prevent photos of figures involved in atrocities in the Balkans during WWII coming into the public domain. Not for the faint-hearted.
Moving from servant to the wealthy to servant of the Establishment, Slater learns the cadre is a hit squad on behalf of HMG and joins a mission to Paris to assassinate an arms dealer and recover a disc of documents. Naturally there are reversals but the target is taken out and the mission ends in a firefight at close quarters in a Paris warehouse with a mob of Serbs.
Published in 2000 this is one of Ryan’s earlier works, but not his best. Again his knowledge of weaponry and tactics shines out; the scenes in France are excellent (if violent) and the standout for me was Leon, former paratrooper with the French Foreign Legion, who served a few years behind bars and has close links to the Parisian underworld. Slater finally figures out the reason behind the mission is to prevent photos of figures involved in atrocities in the Balkans during WWII coming into the public domain. Not for the faint-hearted.
December 20, 2008
Another ‘stand alone’ Ryan adventure, this sees the former SAS man in the familiar terrority of murky British intelligence and secret groups trained in the art of killing. His hero, Nick Slater, is yet again a different face on the main old character, basically Ryan himself, a character who has just left the SAS and who struggles to survive with normal, everyday civilian life.
Having read his later books first, I immediately noticed that the plot here isn’t as complex as the later ones – there isn’t as much going on. But in all other aspects Ryan is at the top of his game, especially in the sequences of action and violence, which he delivers with typical hard realism and aplomb. In fact, early on the book contains my favourite scene in any of Ryan’s work; it involves Slater’s P.E. teacher tackling a couple of Israeli kidnappers at his school. The juxtaposition of a typical British location with extreme violence and cunning tactics makes for an enthralling sequence.
Other meaty elements include disposal by wood chipper, a body in a trunk and an excellently-staged shoot-out. The book is extraordinarily violent in places more – more so than two others I’ve read, The Watchman and Greed, but it never leaves a foul taste in your mouth: instead this is exciting and entertaining in equal measure. Ryan throws in timely references to the conspiracy surrounding Robert Maxwell’s death and the trial of some Serbian war criminals, making this an up-to-date, pulse-pounding thriller that never disappoints.
Having read his later books first, I immediately noticed that the plot here isn’t as complex as the later ones – there isn’t as much going on. But in all other aspects Ryan is at the top of his game, especially in the sequences of action and violence, which he delivers with typical hard realism and aplomb. In fact, early on the book contains my favourite scene in any of Ryan’s work; it involves Slater’s P.E. teacher tackling a couple of Israeli kidnappers at his school. The juxtaposition of a typical British location with extreme violence and cunning tactics makes for an enthralling sequence.
Other meaty elements include disposal by wood chipper, a body in a trunk and an excellently-staged shoot-out. The book is extraordinarily violent in places more – more so than two others I’ve read, The Watchman and Greed, but it never leaves a foul taste in your mouth: instead this is exciting and entertaining in equal measure. Ryan throws in timely references to the conspiracy surrounding Robert Maxwell’s death and the trial of some Serbian war criminals, making this an up-to-date, pulse-pounding thriller that never disappoints.
February 12, 2025
SAS soldier Slater has left the Army and is forging a new life as a games master at a public school. When two Arab terrorist attempt to kidnap one of the pupils, Slater intervenes with violent and personally damaging results. Dismissed from his job, he is approached by an old friend and former SAS colleague who tries to recruit him into a shadowy government organisation. After a spell as a bodyguard, Slater is eventually persuaded to join and finds himself sucked back into the world of undercover operations.
At M16's riverside HQ, Slater discovers that an acute political crisis has arisen. The SAS have captured Radovan Karadjic in Bosnia and the Serbian leader is to face trial for war-crimes at the Hague. But the trial is threatened by sensitive information held by RDB - the Serbian secret service.
Slater and his colleagues are tasked to kill the arms salesman brokering the Karadjic deal and to recover the incriminating material. What sets out to be a straightforward hit, however, becomes a nightmare chase through Intelligence shadowlands. The body count rises and before long Slater is facing the most terrifying ordeal of his life. Who can he trust? And who, finally, is the real enemy?
A reader of many Chris Ryan books, this is a double crossing, twist in the tale, shock story, with always great knowledge, adding fact with fiction to this story.
One fault to me is the stories pace, starts fast and finishes fast, but quite slow in the middle and a little heavy going.
So only three stars this time.
At M16's riverside HQ, Slater discovers that an acute political crisis has arisen. The SAS have captured Radovan Karadjic in Bosnia and the Serbian leader is to face trial for war-crimes at the Hague. But the trial is threatened by sensitive information held by RDB - the Serbian secret service.
Slater and his colleagues are tasked to kill the arms salesman brokering the Karadjic deal and to recover the incriminating material. What sets out to be a straightforward hit, however, becomes a nightmare chase through Intelligence shadowlands. The body count rises and before long Slater is facing the most terrifying ordeal of his life. Who can he trust? And who, finally, is the real enemy?
A reader of many Chris Ryan books, this is a double crossing, twist in the tale, shock story, with always great knowledge, adding fact with fiction to this story.
One fault to me is the stories pace, starts fast and finishes fast, but quite slow in the middle and a little heavy going.
So only three stars this time.
October 30, 2024
I used to read this sort of book when I was a teenager. I read this one as I’d read all my holiday books and it was kicking around spare. I have to say I enjoyed it. It is well plotted and zips along at a fair pace. A little predictable in places, especially when it comes to relationships between certain characters, but an enjoyable holiday book.
December 28, 2024
Another super enjoyable thriller by Chris Ryan. Heaps of twists and turns
November 15, 2022
A great story with lots of twists - I am really appreciating Chris Ryan's writing - it isn't all gun hoe and you live the tale as you read it - well worth anyone's sleep
February 14, 2013
I’ve yet to meet a Chris Ryan novel I haven’t enjoyed, and The Hit List is no exception. The twists and turns are unexpected. Once, about three-quarters of the way through, I figured the story must be about to end—so what on earth could be in the next 100 pages? Quite a lot, as the story took off in a seemingly totally different—but perfectly logical—direction.
A possible downside: if you’re looking for a morality tale you won’t find it here. Or, more precisely, you’ll find an accurately-painted picture of a shadowy government organization that has (or assumes it has) a “licence to kill” “enemies of the state”—with no hint of due process. (No, it’s not set in the US but the UK). Turns out this enemy of the state was also a personal enemy. Raising serious moral questions—which Ryan doesn’t answer except by portraying (intentionally or not) the necessary amorality of people who would be willing to continue working for such an amoral agency.
A possible downside: if you’re looking for a morality tale you won’t find it here. Or, more precisely, you’ll find an accurately-painted picture of a shadowy government organization that has (or assumes it has) a “licence to kill” “enemies of the state”—with no hint of due process. (No, it’s not set in the US but the UK). Turns out this enemy of the state was also a personal enemy. Raising serious moral questions—which Ryan doesn’t answer except by portraying (intentionally or not) the necessary amorality of people who would be willing to continue working for such an amoral agency.
September 22, 2010
I really enjoyed this book!
I actually picked it out at the airport (had forgotten the book I was currently reading...ahhh!!) and wanted something that was action/adventure with a spy or military feel. I haven't read anything in this genre for ages, but given my new series is going to have loads more action and covert operations I thought I'd better see what's 'out there' at the moment.
The Hit List was fast-paced with just the right amount of description (sometimes these types of books can get bogged down in details of standard procedures, types of guns and ammunition, etc.). While I like them to include some of this info, it can be hard to find the right balance and I think Chris Ryan accomplished this.
I would recommend The Hit List to anyone who likes action/adventure/thriller with that government or elite military thread!
I actually picked it out at the airport (had forgotten the book I was currently reading...ahhh!!) and wanted something that was action/adventure with a spy or military feel. I haven't read anything in this genre for ages, but given my new series is going to have loads more action and covert operations I thought I'd better see what's 'out there' at the moment.
The Hit List was fast-paced with just the right amount of description (sometimes these types of books can get bogged down in details of standard procedures, types of guns and ammunition, etc.). While I like them to include some of this info, it can be hard to find the right balance and I think Chris Ryan accomplished this.
I would recommend The Hit List to anyone who likes action/adventure/thriller with that government or elite military thread!
May 15, 2021
Once again
Hats off 🎩 to Chris Ryan!
One of the excellent masterpiece among the milatry action novels written till now.
Other readers say that it was quite predictable in many parts of the story but I did’nt feel it even 1%.
But the suspense was not really as good as expected but not bad too. It was much better than the previous read of this author ‘The Watchman’. The plotting, action is very good: unexpected twists and turns make it difficult to put down till the end. Too much violence had been described in few places but still a good read.
My wholehearted appeal to hollywood action film directors :
Brian De Palma, John Woo, J. J. Abrams, Brad Bird, Christopher McQuarrie, Renny Harlin, Chuck Russell and others. Please don't ignore these kind of novels for adaptation. They can turn into huge hits.
Hats off 🎩 to Chris Ryan!
One of the excellent masterpiece among the milatry action novels written till now.
Other readers say that it was quite predictable in many parts of the story but I did’nt feel it even 1%.
But the suspense was not really as good as expected but not bad too. It was much better than the previous read of this author ‘The Watchman’. The plotting, action is very good: unexpected twists and turns make it difficult to put down till the end. Too much violence had been described in few places but still a good read.
My wholehearted appeal to hollywood action film directors :
Brian De Palma, John Woo, J. J. Abrams, Brad Bird, Christopher McQuarrie, Renny Harlin, Chuck Russell and others. Please don't ignore these kind of novels for adaptation. They can turn into huge hits.
January 12, 2016
I have no idea what this was about
February 15, 2019
Another good read
Why cant I just enjoy reading a book without having to write a review on Amazon? So annoying please amend.
Why cant I just enjoy reading a book without having to write a review on Amazon? So annoying please amend.
March 4, 2023
Enjoyable read. Neil Slater now works for the Cadre, a secret/covert government organisation where there are no rules.
They do the job that requires people to be removed if they threaten security of the government.
Slater is tasked, along with a small group of Cadre members to remove a source of non-attributable weaponry and who could cause serious problems for the government. Fanon-Khayat is a double agent and has no problem dealing with those who have the largest amount of money to give.
Slater and his team must eliminate Fanon-Khayat before he can do serious damage, but there are always problems.
They do the job that requires people to be removed if they threaten security of the government.
Slater is tasked, along with a small group of Cadre members to remove a source of non-attributable weaponry and who could cause serious problems for the government. Fanon-Khayat is a double agent and has no problem dealing with those who have the largest amount of money to give.
Slater and his team must eliminate Fanon-Khayat before he can do serious damage, but there are always problems.
February 27, 2020
My first Chris Ryan, but it won't be the last.
Well crafted, fast-paced, interesting characters. Not my usual genre (part of an attempt to expand my horizons), so I don't know how he compares to others in this area. There are two or three scenes of well documented violence, but appropriate to the story and not gratuitous.
Well crafted, fast-paced, interesting characters. Not my usual genre (part of an attempt to expand my horizons), so I don't know how he compares to others in this area. There are two or three scenes of well documented violence, but appropriate to the story and not gratuitous.
May 25, 2017
weer een spannend boek, je wordt meteen meegenomen in het verhaal en het laat je niet los tot het eind. Je moet alleen geen zwakke maag hebben, de verhoormethodes zijn vaak wel erg uitgebreid en beeldend beschreven.
June 21, 2017
Brilliantly written
I have read most of this authors work always brilliant full of suspense and action I originally came from Hereford and know all the places mentioned really well do can enjoy reading all books very good well written highly recommended
I have read most of this authors work always brilliant full of suspense and action I originally came from Hereford and know all the places mentioned really well do can enjoy reading all books very good well written highly recommended
February 14, 2022
This man knows this sh*t for real, the methods, the weapons, tactics and a lot of real facts. The Cadre is what this Mirror article is about https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...
September 19, 2025
2.5 ster.
Dit is blijkbaar niet echt mijn ding. Ik vond het wel spannend genoeg om uit te lezen en vond de plotwending goed gedaan. Het einde vond ik niet zo goed en best onbevredigend. Ik hou ook niet zo van dit taalgebruik en de lugubere details enzo, mijns inziens niet heel nodig.
Dit is blijkbaar niet echt mijn ding. Ik vond het wel spannend genoeg om uit te lezen en vond de plotwending goed gedaan. Het einde vond ik niet zo goed en best onbevredigend. Ik hou ook niet zo van dit taalgebruik en de lugubere details enzo, mijns inziens niet heel nodig.
July 1, 2017
Ik heb nu al enkele boeken van Chris Ryan gelezen en deze heeft het best uitgewerkte verhaal. Het einde is wel wat langdradig.
July 28, 2017
Svižné, akčné, čítavá oddychovka.
July 12, 2018
een spannend boek, vond het jammer dat het einde zo snel was
January 2, 2019
Book was rubbish. Even for a relaxed Dec holiday read this is bad. Too many stories trying to make up a book. Trying way too hard to create a story line and suspense.
May 3, 2020
455 pages
July 19, 2020
Average and predictable spy thriller that makes an entertaining read
January 29, 2022
At first it was taking a while to get into it but in the end it all comes together and makes for an awesome read.
April 21, 2022
brilliant
Once again a brilliant book from Chris Ryan lots of action and a good story plot great characters that came to life
Once again a brilliant book from Chris Ryan lots of action and a good story plot great characters that came to life
January 3, 2023
A good book, as I like the Chris Ryan / Andy McNab / SAS-type books.
September 18, 2023
Typical Ryan SAS styled story
October 1, 2023
Much prefer his later novels but the plot was still really strong
December 8, 2024
yet another excellent read
This book has a standard lead in but then sinks the hook. Great story, good characters and leaves some doubt at the end. I’m ready for the next story.
This book has a standard lead in but then sinks the hook. Great story, good characters and leaves some doubt at the end. I’m ready for the next story.
April 24, 2011
Neil Slater,seorang bekas anggota Special Air Service (SAS) telah kehilangan kerja selaku jurulatih ragbi di sebuah sekolah selepas berlakunya kejadian penculikan,di mana dirinya terlibat. Selepas itu,Slater menceburkan diri di dalam kerjaya pengawal peribadi. Namun begitu,tidak lama kemudian,dia akhirnya menyertai sebuah pasukan rahsia,yang dipanggil sebagai Cadre,di dalam organisasi perisikan MI6 (Military Intelligence 6). Cadre merupakan sebuah pasukan yang diberi tugas untuk memastikan kepentingan negara British dipelihara dengan apa jua cara sekalipun.
Bersama-sama dengan ahli-ahli kumpulannya,iaitu Andreas,Eve,Leon,Terry,dan Chris,mereka ditugaskan untuk membunuh Antoine Fanon-Khayat,seorang peniaga senjata berketurunan Lubnan di Perancis. Selain membunuhnya,mereka juga ditugaskan untuk merampas sebuah cakera padat yang mengandungi rahsia kerajaan British yang dimiliki oleh Fanon-Khayat. Namun,tugas ini bukan sesuatu yang mudah dilakukan. Fanon-Khayat dilindungi oleh sebuah badan perisikan Serbia. Malahan,tanpa Slater sedari,sebenarnya wujud sebuah rahsia yang tidak diketahuinya. Sebuah rahsia,yang jika diketahui umum,akan mampu merosakkan imej British di mata dunia!
Secara peribadinya,ini merupakan novel ketiga hasil tulisan Chris Ryan yang saya baca. Saya berpendapat,ini merupakan salah satu novel terbaik beliau yang pernah saya baca. Berbanding novel Greed,yang juga merupakan novel tulisannya,latar belakang cereka dan plot Hit List tampak lebih teratur dan kemas. Ia juga lebih mendebarkan dan menarik untuk dibaca. Di dalam Greed,jalan ceritanya seolah-olah ditulis dalam keadaan yang agak kelam-kabut dan tidak tersusun.
Sebagai sebuah novel thriller-ketenteraan,novel ini tidak terlepas daripada jargon-jargon atau istilah-istilah ketenteraan dan perisikan. Apa yang menarik,novel ini juga sedikit sebanyak mendedahkan bagaimana sesebuah aktiviti dan operasi perisikan dijalankan. Ia diterangkan dengan agak terperinci oleh penulis di dalam novel ini.
Bersama-sama dengan ahli-ahli kumpulannya,iaitu Andreas,Eve,Leon,Terry,dan Chris,mereka ditugaskan untuk membunuh Antoine Fanon-Khayat,seorang peniaga senjata berketurunan Lubnan di Perancis. Selain membunuhnya,mereka juga ditugaskan untuk merampas sebuah cakera padat yang mengandungi rahsia kerajaan British yang dimiliki oleh Fanon-Khayat. Namun,tugas ini bukan sesuatu yang mudah dilakukan. Fanon-Khayat dilindungi oleh sebuah badan perisikan Serbia. Malahan,tanpa Slater sedari,sebenarnya wujud sebuah rahsia yang tidak diketahuinya. Sebuah rahsia,yang jika diketahui umum,akan mampu merosakkan imej British di mata dunia!
Secara peribadinya,ini merupakan novel ketiga hasil tulisan Chris Ryan yang saya baca. Saya berpendapat,ini merupakan salah satu novel terbaik beliau yang pernah saya baca. Berbanding novel Greed,yang juga merupakan novel tulisannya,latar belakang cereka dan plot Hit List tampak lebih teratur dan kemas. Ia juga lebih mendebarkan dan menarik untuk dibaca. Di dalam Greed,jalan ceritanya seolah-olah ditulis dalam keadaan yang agak kelam-kabut dan tidak tersusun.
Sebagai sebuah novel thriller-ketenteraan,novel ini tidak terlepas daripada jargon-jargon atau istilah-istilah ketenteraan dan perisikan. Apa yang menarik,novel ini juga sedikit sebanyak mendedahkan bagaimana sesebuah aktiviti dan operasi perisikan dijalankan. Ia diterangkan dengan agak terperinci oleh penulis di dalam novel ini.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews