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No Remorse
Lee McCloud (Mac) has a reputation as a loose cannon. So when a secret agency operating outside the law recruits him for his special operations skills his team leader Tally, a tough, attractive computer genius, is ordered to keep him on a tight leash. But a tight leash is the last thing Mac wants. His intent is to use the agency’s massive resources to track down Sophia, a close friend’s daughter, who has been kidnapped in Mexico.
From the beginning, sparks fly between Mac and Tally. Mac sees Tally as an office worker, not qualified for field operations. For her part, Tally views Mac as little more than a cold-blooded killer. The conflict escalates as the two are forced to play at husband and wife in order to get close to their next target.
Ignoring orders to stay out of trouble, Mac enlists the help of Scotty, a British soldier, and Jog, a Lebanese fixer. They follow the kidnappers’ trail to Paris, where events lead them to suspect Sophia is a captive of Sheik Khalid, a billionaire Saudi exile who is suspected of supporting terrorist groups by shipping weapons, drugs and slaves on his luxury vessel, Princess Aliya.
Mac and Tally discover they have feelings for each other, but events lead Mac to question whether Tally is working to another agenda. With time running out, the group dodges assassins, corrupt generals, evil medicos, Mossad agents, corrupt bureaucrats and sharks. But they cannot anticipate what is waiting for them on Khalid’s fortress island of Andaran, or that there’s much more at stake than Sophia…
From the beginning, sparks fly between Mac and Tally. Mac sees Tally as an office worker, not qualified for field operations. For her part, Tally views Mac as little more than a cold-blooded killer. The conflict escalates as the two are forced to play at husband and wife in order to get close to their next target.
Ignoring orders to stay out of trouble, Mac enlists the help of Scotty, a British soldier, and Jog, a Lebanese fixer. They follow the kidnappers’ trail to Paris, where events lead them to suspect Sophia is a captive of Sheik Khalid, a billionaire Saudi exile who is suspected of supporting terrorist groups by shipping weapons, drugs and slaves on his luxury vessel, Princess Aliya.
Mac and Tally discover they have feelings for each other, but events lead Mac to question whether Tally is working to another agenda. With time running out, the group dodges assassins, corrupt generals, evil medicos, Mossad agents, corrupt bureaucrats and sharks. But they cannot anticipate what is waiting for them on Khalid’s fortress island of Andaran, or that there’s much more at stake than Sophia…
- GenresThriller
412 pages, Paperback
First published November 23, 2011
24 people are currently reading
519 people want to read
About the author
Ian Walkley
1 book58 followersI had wanted to write novels since my teenage days, but like many people, I pursued a career, in my case covering social and consumer research and business development.
When I started No Remorse in 2008, in my spare time, I was a director of a national market research agency. Writing about consumer behaviour was something I did regularly, both for client reports, and as a contributor in the national e-magazine Marketing Update. I had also some years earlier co-authored and edited two published books on small business.
Creative writing, I discovered, is an entirely different beast from business writing. I attended writers' courses, read lots of books about writing fiction, and talked to other writers.
I enjoy applying my experience as a consumer researcher to the motivations underlying the behavior of my characters. I like researching the technical detail of occupations, locations, weapons and other elements in my stories. Even if most of it doesn't make it to the book.
I am writing fiction almost full-time, but continue to do marketing consulting, travel writing, and copywriting that blends creativity with my experience in marketing.
I live in Brisbane, Australia with my wife and children.
I hope you enjoy reading No Remorse.
When I started No Remorse in 2008, in my spare time, I was a director of a national market research agency. Writing about consumer behaviour was something I did regularly, both for client reports, and as a contributor in the national e-magazine Marketing Update. I had also some years earlier co-authored and edited two published books on small business.
Creative writing, I discovered, is an entirely different beast from business writing. I attended writers' courses, read lots of books about writing fiction, and talked to other writers.
I enjoy applying my experience as a consumer researcher to the motivations underlying the behavior of my characters. I like researching the technical detail of occupations, locations, weapons and other elements in my stories. Even if most of it doesn't make it to the book.
I am writing fiction almost full-time, but continue to do marketing consulting, travel writing, and copywriting that blends creativity with my experience in marketing.
I live in Brisbane, Australia with my wife and children.
I hope you enjoy reading No Remorse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 25, 2012
Wow! Absolutely full on from the first page to the last!
Lee McCloud (Mac) is a Delta Force operator, soon to become ‘ex’! He led an unauthorised mission with volunteers from his Delta unit to rescue his god-daughter, Sophia and her best friend Danni, who’d been kidnapped in Tijuana, Mexico. But things went horribly wrong, and they were hauled up before the authorities, each facing jail time, with Sophia and Danni still missing, and the chances of finding them getting slimmer by the day.
When an alternative was put to Mac and his friends so they could escape jail time, but no longer be in the Army, they reluctantly agreed, but Mac vowed to keep looking for Sophia, for however long it took to find her. He had been witness to his little sister Cynthia’s abduction when he was only fourteen years old, and he had never forgiven himself for not saving her. So he wasn’t going to let Sophia and her Mum, Elena and Dad, Bob, down.
When Mac was teamed with Tally, a computer whiz who could hack into terrorists’ bank accounts, and relieve them of their ill-gotten gains, along with other members of a secret organisation, he kept his Delta team close as well. Scotty, a British SAS soldier, along with Jog and Freckle continued in their hunt for Sophia and Danni. But the situation became extremely tense when they found themselves on a collision course with exiled Saudi, Sheik Khalid, and his henchman, Ziad. The luxury liner Princess Aliya, owned by Khalid was creating problems as well.
A dreadful plan had come to light, one that could ultimately affect the instability of the world; could the horrors get any worse? Would Mac and Tally be in time....was Sophia still alive? And what was Khalid involved in? The death toll was mounting daily, and Mac realized time was rapidly running out!
This absolute ‘edge of your seat’ thriller had me riveted, with the incredible twists and turns leaving me stunned! The intense action, mixed with intrigue and heart-stopping terror, along with the beautiful countries the action takes place in, leaves me in no doubt about the huge success of this debut novel by Aussie author, Ian Walkley!
Lee McCloud (Mac) is a Delta Force operator, soon to become ‘ex’! He led an unauthorised mission with volunteers from his Delta unit to rescue his god-daughter, Sophia and her best friend Danni, who’d been kidnapped in Tijuana, Mexico. But things went horribly wrong, and they were hauled up before the authorities, each facing jail time, with Sophia and Danni still missing, and the chances of finding them getting slimmer by the day.
When an alternative was put to Mac and his friends so they could escape jail time, but no longer be in the Army, they reluctantly agreed, but Mac vowed to keep looking for Sophia, for however long it took to find her. He had been witness to his little sister Cynthia’s abduction when he was only fourteen years old, and he had never forgiven himself for not saving her. So he wasn’t going to let Sophia and her Mum, Elena and Dad, Bob, down.
When Mac was teamed with Tally, a computer whiz who could hack into terrorists’ bank accounts, and relieve them of their ill-gotten gains, along with other members of a secret organisation, he kept his Delta team close as well. Scotty, a British SAS soldier, along with Jog and Freckle continued in their hunt for Sophia and Danni. But the situation became extremely tense when they found themselves on a collision course with exiled Saudi, Sheik Khalid, and his henchman, Ziad. The luxury liner Princess Aliya, owned by Khalid was creating problems as well.
A dreadful plan had come to light, one that could ultimately affect the instability of the world; could the horrors get any worse? Would Mac and Tally be in time....was Sophia still alive? And what was Khalid involved in? The death toll was mounting daily, and Mac realized time was rapidly running out!
This absolute ‘edge of your seat’ thriller had me riveted, with the incredible twists and turns leaving me stunned! The intense action, mixed with intrigue and heart-stopping terror, along with the beautiful countries the action takes place in, leaves me in no doubt about the huge success of this debut novel by Aussie author, Ian Walkley!
August 18, 2012
No Remorse is an action packed international thriller that begins with the abduction of two young American girls holidaying in Mexico. Ignoring protocol, Lee McCloud, a Delta Force soldier, leads his unit in a bid to rescue the teenagers, one his goddaughter Sophia, but the operation goes horribly wrong and McCloud faces a court martial for his actions. When the CIA offers McCloud a way out he accepts, joining a black ops unit involved in electronically confiscating millions in ill-gotten gains. Determined to find out what happened to Sophia, McCloud runs his own secret agenda under the guise of his assigned mission, stunned to learn that both causes lead to the same man, Saudi Prince Khalid.
There are enough gunfights, explosions and chase scenes in No Remorse to keep any adrenaline junkie happy. The plot is heavy with spies, terrorists, thugs, traitors and a complex web of intrigue that leads McCloud from Mexico, to Europe and to the Middle East. The pace is frenetic and the tension kept high once all the players are in place. Walkley weaves multiple threads with surprising skill and though I felt the story was perhaps too crowded at times, it all resolves quite neatly in the end.
McCloud, like all good action heroes, is tough, resourceful and unwilling to obey the rules. He fights his own demons during the course of the novel which demonstrates some vulnerability as does his budding relationship Tally, his CIA partner.
Walkley's villains are irredeemable, not only intent on triggering war with stolen nuclear armaments, Kahlid and his cohorts traffic in human slavery, the sexual exploitation of children and organ harvesting. Not everyone will be comfortable with some of the explicit aspects of the novel, I found the scenes of child rape and torture particularly confronting and shuddered at the idea of live organ donation.
While I did think there was the occasional issue with sentence structure and areas that could have been edited more ruthlessly, No Remorse is very well written, particularly for a debut novel with such an ambitious storyline.
A gripping novel offering an exciting adventure, No Remorse will appeal to blockbuster action thriller fans who will enjoy hanging on for a wild ride.
There are enough gunfights, explosions and chase scenes in No Remorse to keep any adrenaline junkie happy. The plot is heavy with spies, terrorists, thugs, traitors and a complex web of intrigue that leads McCloud from Mexico, to Europe and to the Middle East. The pace is frenetic and the tension kept high once all the players are in place. Walkley weaves multiple threads with surprising skill and though I felt the story was perhaps too crowded at times, it all resolves quite neatly in the end.
McCloud, like all good action heroes, is tough, resourceful and unwilling to obey the rules. He fights his own demons during the course of the novel which demonstrates some vulnerability as does his budding relationship Tally, his CIA partner.
Walkley's villains are irredeemable, not only intent on triggering war with stolen nuclear armaments, Kahlid and his cohorts traffic in human slavery, the sexual exploitation of children and organ harvesting. Not everyone will be comfortable with some of the explicit aspects of the novel, I found the scenes of child rape and torture particularly confronting and shuddered at the idea of live organ donation.
While I did think there was the occasional issue with sentence structure and areas that could have been edited more ruthlessly, No Remorse is very well written, particularly for a debut novel with such an ambitious storyline.
A gripping novel offering an exciting adventure, No Remorse will appeal to blockbuster action thriller fans who will enjoy hanging on for a wild ride.
March 5, 2012
No Remorse
Author: Ian Walkley
Using young girls as prostitutes and for trafficking is not unusual in Mexico and in many other countries. When Lee McCloud’s best friends daughter is taken along with her best friend he is determined to get her back. But, when the ransom is supposed to be paid, the players in place something alerts Lee that there is much more involved than meets the eye. When the transfer of money is made and the kidnappers have their funds what happens next will create fear in the hearts of any parent and help kids understand the dangerous of not being supervised. As the money is given the kidnappers shove out two innocent girls as payment for the 200 thousand dollars in ransom. So, where are Sophia and Danni and who are these girls. What happens next is more than just horrifying as the fathers demand their children, the lives of the young girls are ended and the three man team finds out that things do not go as planned and their hopes for rescuing the girls diminished. With the plan foiled and the kidnappers neutralized one young man provides a limited amount of information to help them. Just where this leads them you won’t believe as the author brings us to where Sophia and many other girls are being held captive, abused and examined by a sick doctor who hopes to use them provide them to slave traders. Young girls sold to rich men, or cartels for their own pleasure is not uncommon and this story will bring to light just how far this team will go to rescue these innocent girls but will they get there in time? With the help of two others one a computer hacker and the other a British SAS soldier Lee McCloud is doing more than must racing the clock.
A young girl’s life hands in the balance as a diabolical plot is hatched by a foreign Sheik. Harvesting body parts to save another person is just part of his plan regardless of what happens to the person whose organs is being stolen.
Lee McCloud was arrested along with his team members as a result of the botched mission to save Sophia and Danni. Although most would agree his tactics made sense and the outcome really not tragic the end result proved that even when following your own direction and hoping to save two young lives you do not get any thanks even when the enemy is taken down and you had no other choice. But, the army is fickle and although the end result would be incarceration for the team and McCloud, prison time and much more deals made which benefit both sides. Forms, signed, charges disappear and Lee McCloud is no longer in the army but part of a select group handling secret missions. But, when the team is formed you won’t believe the end result.
Dishonesty is not something that the Sheik takes lightly and holding out on him even more. So, when Bill Fanning things that he can hide some assets from the Sheik he is about to learn the hard way.
When the father of one of the girls winds up in the hospital and learns where his daughter might be held and who is behind it things begin to change and heat up as McCloud finds his way to his hospital room and then to the location of where he thinks Sophia and Danni might be held. But he is called away by his new boss and cannot complete what he started again leaving Sophia to be put on display in front of a group of people waiting to buy young girls as slaves or concubines. Others as her friend Danni learned were to be tortured and raped in front of others in order to complete the ritual that they are pure and virgins when sold. The sickness of it all really makes you cringe. Sophia is paraded and then returned to the ship in order to await a fate that would cause her death. Sophia is being kept alive in order to save the Sheik’s father they would take her lungs in order for him to live and those not sold at auction would meet the same fate as they set up a program to save the elderly and their own killing the young without remorse.
Mac is now in France and learns the truth behind his new job and what these men do. Punishing those who support terrorism by taking their
Assets from their bank accounts how resourceful. Agency for Seizure of Terrorist Assets is goes directly into the bank accounts of those that are funding the terrorists. What he learns about the operation just might help him safe Sophia and Danni but what he has to do in the meantime as to help bring down some dangerous people who were funding more than just drugs and slave trade. With the President’s approval and permission they were told to take twice what they could prove they took from the account of the terrorists and put in our accounts.
There are many subplots in this book including two other operatives that take out a well known drug dealer, Mac and his team who are working to take money from accounts and the seriousness of that happened to Danni at the hand of her captors. Slave trade, drug trafficking, prostitution, money stealing and the organ harvesting killing young people to save others. The author literally explains how the team takes the money the art of hacking into accounts and their methods of getting the job done. Author Ian Walkley takes the reader inside the world of slave trading, organ stealing, and drug trafficking and government deceit.
Tally a computer hacker in this organization understands the gravity of the situation while raiding the bank account of the terrorist in questions you can feel the electricity and the energy rise when she enters the account and takes 9 million dollars and transfer to their account. At the end she transferred 87 million. After breaking into the mark’s room, getting the account numbers and token tags they cleaned him out of 150 million dollars. Deleting the evidence easy for her and using a perfume body spray on the keyboard to destroy her prints really interesting to know and learn. The fact that Sophia has managed to survive so long but Danni’s fate has yet to be revealed knowing there are many more children that are in danger and that this man cares less for young human lives.
Lies come out and Mac and Tally learn more about some of the players on the Princess Aliya. Able to hack into the computers of those on the boat and one engineer that finds out what happens when he does not follow orders there are many more lives at stake, many having their own agendas and the Sheik’s father murdered in front of watchful eyes and two girls who still have not been found. Sheriti is the Khalid’s personal trainer or property and just who she really might be has yet to be revealed as we learn more about each of the characters and their private agendas. But, what is Sheriti going to do with her information about Lee? But, somehow Lee managed to save Bill’s wife and son and the rest has yet to be played out as it is hard to tell which side everyone is on and who can and cannot be trusted. More kidnappings, more murders, hidden truths and more betrayals and so many players in this novel that you won’t know who will win and who loses until the very end. Just what is in the canisters that everyone wants and what role does Israel play? Why does Khalid think he holds all the cards? Just what will Mac and Tally do next?
Mac and Tally are so opposite yet they blend in their own way. Tally is the only female on this CIA team. She is smart, distrusts Mac and dislikes everything that he does and stands for. His wild antics and his rebel attitude make him a great character. Khalid loves himself, his life and his millions and has no idea who is taking what from him and the truth about his father’s death. He is careful, in exile but not that careful to avoid what Tally and Mac plan to do to him, his wealth and much more. But, the two innocent teens traveling alone have still not be found. The Saudi Prince named Khalid responsible has other plans for Sophia and is hoping to attain uranium canisters belonging to the late Saddam Hussein. Nuclear havoc, secret agencies and slave traders Mac will stop at nothing to find Sophia even pretending to be married to Tally.
Added to the mix is the Khalid’s Yubani resort that really harbors more than just luxury for the rich. Why has Mossad planted a spy in his bed? What about poor Sophia makes her special and treated better than the rest? But, will they find the two girls in time or will more atrocities happen?
Who is really behind the plot to get the canisters, destroy Mecca and the rest you won’t believe it. Betrayals, cover-ups, lies and one man who thinks he’s immune to the penalties of others. Who lives? Who dies? Who can be trusted and which have kill, maim lie and cheat and just show NO REMORSE!
This is one book you will not be able to put down and one character named Mac you hope will come back for more. Slave trading, human trafficking and corruption are just some of the issues brought to light in this Five Star novel.
Fran Lewis: Reviewer
Author: Ian Walkley
Using young girls as prostitutes and for trafficking is not unusual in Mexico and in many other countries. When Lee McCloud’s best friends daughter is taken along with her best friend he is determined to get her back. But, when the ransom is supposed to be paid, the players in place something alerts Lee that there is much more involved than meets the eye. When the transfer of money is made and the kidnappers have their funds what happens next will create fear in the hearts of any parent and help kids understand the dangerous of not being supervised. As the money is given the kidnappers shove out two innocent girls as payment for the 200 thousand dollars in ransom. So, where are Sophia and Danni and who are these girls. What happens next is more than just horrifying as the fathers demand their children, the lives of the young girls are ended and the three man team finds out that things do not go as planned and their hopes for rescuing the girls diminished. With the plan foiled and the kidnappers neutralized one young man provides a limited amount of information to help them. Just where this leads them you won’t believe as the author brings us to where Sophia and many other girls are being held captive, abused and examined by a sick doctor who hopes to use them provide them to slave traders. Young girls sold to rich men, or cartels for their own pleasure is not uncommon and this story will bring to light just how far this team will go to rescue these innocent girls but will they get there in time? With the help of two others one a computer hacker and the other a British SAS soldier Lee McCloud is doing more than must racing the clock.
A young girl’s life hands in the balance as a diabolical plot is hatched by a foreign Sheik. Harvesting body parts to save another person is just part of his plan regardless of what happens to the person whose organs is being stolen.
Lee McCloud was arrested along with his team members as a result of the botched mission to save Sophia and Danni. Although most would agree his tactics made sense and the outcome really not tragic the end result proved that even when following your own direction and hoping to save two young lives you do not get any thanks even when the enemy is taken down and you had no other choice. But, the army is fickle and although the end result would be incarceration for the team and McCloud, prison time and much more deals made which benefit both sides. Forms, signed, charges disappear and Lee McCloud is no longer in the army but part of a select group handling secret missions. But, when the team is formed you won’t believe the end result.
Dishonesty is not something that the Sheik takes lightly and holding out on him even more. So, when Bill Fanning things that he can hide some assets from the Sheik he is about to learn the hard way.
When the father of one of the girls winds up in the hospital and learns where his daughter might be held and who is behind it things begin to change and heat up as McCloud finds his way to his hospital room and then to the location of where he thinks Sophia and Danni might be held. But he is called away by his new boss and cannot complete what he started again leaving Sophia to be put on display in front of a group of people waiting to buy young girls as slaves or concubines. Others as her friend Danni learned were to be tortured and raped in front of others in order to complete the ritual that they are pure and virgins when sold. The sickness of it all really makes you cringe. Sophia is paraded and then returned to the ship in order to await a fate that would cause her death. Sophia is being kept alive in order to save the Sheik’s father they would take her lungs in order for him to live and those not sold at auction would meet the same fate as they set up a program to save the elderly and their own killing the young without remorse.
Mac is now in France and learns the truth behind his new job and what these men do. Punishing those who support terrorism by taking their
Assets from their bank accounts how resourceful. Agency for Seizure of Terrorist Assets is goes directly into the bank accounts of those that are funding the terrorists. What he learns about the operation just might help him safe Sophia and Danni but what he has to do in the meantime as to help bring down some dangerous people who were funding more than just drugs and slave trade. With the President’s approval and permission they were told to take twice what they could prove they took from the account of the terrorists and put in our accounts.
There are many subplots in this book including two other operatives that take out a well known drug dealer, Mac and his team who are working to take money from accounts and the seriousness of that happened to Danni at the hand of her captors. Slave trade, drug trafficking, prostitution, money stealing and the organ harvesting killing young people to save others. The author literally explains how the team takes the money the art of hacking into accounts and their methods of getting the job done. Author Ian Walkley takes the reader inside the world of slave trading, organ stealing, and drug trafficking and government deceit.
Tally a computer hacker in this organization understands the gravity of the situation while raiding the bank account of the terrorist in questions you can feel the electricity and the energy rise when she enters the account and takes 9 million dollars and transfer to their account. At the end she transferred 87 million. After breaking into the mark’s room, getting the account numbers and token tags they cleaned him out of 150 million dollars. Deleting the evidence easy for her and using a perfume body spray on the keyboard to destroy her prints really interesting to know and learn. The fact that Sophia has managed to survive so long but Danni’s fate has yet to be revealed knowing there are many more children that are in danger and that this man cares less for young human lives.
Lies come out and Mac and Tally learn more about some of the players on the Princess Aliya. Able to hack into the computers of those on the boat and one engineer that finds out what happens when he does not follow orders there are many more lives at stake, many having their own agendas and the Sheik’s father murdered in front of watchful eyes and two girls who still have not been found. Sheriti is the Khalid’s personal trainer or property and just who she really might be has yet to be revealed as we learn more about each of the characters and their private agendas. But, what is Sheriti going to do with her information about Lee? But, somehow Lee managed to save Bill’s wife and son and the rest has yet to be played out as it is hard to tell which side everyone is on and who can and cannot be trusted. More kidnappings, more murders, hidden truths and more betrayals and so many players in this novel that you won’t know who will win and who loses until the very end. Just what is in the canisters that everyone wants and what role does Israel play? Why does Khalid think he holds all the cards? Just what will Mac and Tally do next?
Mac and Tally are so opposite yet they blend in their own way. Tally is the only female on this CIA team. She is smart, distrusts Mac and dislikes everything that he does and stands for. His wild antics and his rebel attitude make him a great character. Khalid loves himself, his life and his millions and has no idea who is taking what from him and the truth about his father’s death. He is careful, in exile but not that careful to avoid what Tally and Mac plan to do to him, his wealth and much more. But, the two innocent teens traveling alone have still not be found. The Saudi Prince named Khalid responsible has other plans for Sophia and is hoping to attain uranium canisters belonging to the late Saddam Hussein. Nuclear havoc, secret agencies and slave traders Mac will stop at nothing to find Sophia even pretending to be married to Tally.
Added to the mix is the Khalid’s Yubani resort that really harbors more than just luxury for the rich. Why has Mossad planted a spy in his bed? What about poor Sophia makes her special and treated better than the rest? But, will they find the two girls in time or will more atrocities happen?
Who is really behind the plot to get the canisters, destroy Mecca and the rest you won’t believe it. Betrayals, cover-ups, lies and one man who thinks he’s immune to the penalties of others. Who lives? Who dies? Who can be trusted and which have kill, maim lie and cheat and just show NO REMORSE!
This is one book you will not be able to put down and one character named Mac you hope will come back for more. Slave trading, human trafficking and corruption are just some of the issues brought to light in this Five Star novel.
Fran Lewis: Reviewer
April 22, 2013
More than a book about terrorism or middle-eastern culture, more than a novel about the slave trade or covert operations, NO REMORSE is a book that is and offers the it's readers more of everything. It has more action, more adventure and more thrills per page than any novel I have recently read.
NO REMORSE is a novel as strong as the hero's and heroines residing within its pages and works on many levels by combining intricate plotting, flawless execution, serious subject matter and lightening pacing This is not the type of book you go to for in depth philosophical discussions. This is where you go for pure escapism, an action packed story and a riveting reading experience.
In this tale of plots and sub-plots author Ian Walkley has managed to create a gritty tale featuring a former Delta Forces commander, Lee "Mac" McCloud, whose personal rescue mission is side-tracked by a government agent named Derek. Faintly reminiscent of Lee Child's protagonist Jack Reacher Walkley's McCloud, like Reacher, is a man you would want on your side. Both characters are cut from the same cloth with each possessing a military background, a relatively quiet personal nature, as well as an innate intelligence and a ram-rod straight moral compass. It's a pretty safe bet that Reacher would have been a willing recruit for this adventure that moves from it's beginning in Mexico to its explosive ending "somewhere in the Middle-East".
I will not go into the details of the story since it would ruin the reading experience for you. Suffice to say, if you are a lover of books with plenty of page turning action, a charismatic hero and female characters who are as strong and dedicated as their male counterparts this is a book for you.
NO REMORSE is a novel as strong as the hero's and heroines residing within its pages and works on many levels by combining intricate plotting, flawless execution, serious subject matter and lightening pacing This is not the type of book you go to for in depth philosophical discussions. This is where you go for pure escapism, an action packed story and a riveting reading experience.
In this tale of plots and sub-plots author Ian Walkley has managed to create a gritty tale featuring a former Delta Forces commander, Lee "Mac" McCloud, whose personal rescue mission is side-tracked by a government agent named Derek. Faintly reminiscent of Lee Child's protagonist Jack Reacher Walkley's McCloud, like Reacher, is a man you would want on your side. Both characters are cut from the same cloth with each possessing a military background, a relatively quiet personal nature, as well as an innate intelligence and a ram-rod straight moral compass. It's a pretty safe bet that Reacher would have been a willing recruit for this adventure that moves from it's beginning in Mexico to its explosive ending "somewhere in the Middle-East".
I will not go into the details of the story since it would ruin the reading experience for you. Suffice to say, if you are a lover of books with plenty of page turning action, a charismatic hero and female characters who are as strong and dedicated as their male counterparts this is a book for you.
April 1, 2012
No Remorse is a self-published debut by Ian Walkley. That in itself will be enough to put some people off, but the greatest compliment I can give this is that it feels in no way either self-published or a debut. The issue with many books like this is that either they miss a good editor or the print quality is poor. Not so here.
Here we have an ex Delta operator joining a black ops team that target the funds of bad guys and through use of cunning and top end technology, syphon off large chunks. As our hero, Mac, joins the team he is also running a personal mission to track down the daughter of a friend who has been taken as part of a human trafficking ring. As it is with these stories, the storylines collide as Mac discovers that the team's current target is also the man behind the trafficking ring and a lot more.....A satisfying (although slightly abrupt) end completes an entertaining read.
The pacing is good and the characterisation works. There is good balance between the action and the plot being driven forward. Some aspects are not for the faint hearted but it is also the kind of book where you know what you are going to get from reading the back cover. There are some elements here that are similar to Robert Crais' recent "Taken" but this takes a wider perspective and throws a lot more into the mix.
This is a good debut and the author is unlucky that a publisher has not picked this up, I have certainly read top ten books in this genre that were nowhere near as good as this. It's well worth picking up.
I was provided with a copy of the book for reviewing purposes.
Here we have an ex Delta operator joining a black ops team that target the funds of bad guys and through use of cunning and top end technology, syphon off large chunks. As our hero, Mac, joins the team he is also running a personal mission to track down the daughter of a friend who has been taken as part of a human trafficking ring. As it is with these stories, the storylines collide as Mac discovers that the team's current target is also the man behind the trafficking ring and a lot more.....A satisfying (although slightly abrupt) end completes an entertaining read.
The pacing is good and the characterisation works. There is good balance between the action and the plot being driven forward. Some aspects are not for the faint hearted but it is also the kind of book where you know what you are going to get from reading the back cover. There are some elements here that are similar to Robert Crais' recent "Taken" but this takes a wider perspective and throws a lot more into the mix.
This is a good debut and the author is unlucky that a publisher has not picked this up, I have certainly read top ten books in this genre that were nowhere near as good as this. It's well worth picking up.
I was provided with a copy of the book for reviewing purposes.
February 9, 2012
No Remorse by Ian Walkley
This is a no holds barred international intrigue thriller. A Delta Force operator, Lee McCloud, finds himself facing not only drug dealing, child slavery but nuclear terrorism as well. He finds himself trying to decide who he can trust and if his own government is out to get him.
Lee McCloud (Mac) is a very uncomplicated protagonist. He has a steroid sense of right and wrong. He is astoundingly loyal and aggressively defends those who guard his back. In addition he is able to ruthlessly dispatch those who threaten his tasks and his friends. Frankly, I like that and it made the book more entertaining.
I’m not sure entertaining is the correct word to use as the book has so many horrific subplots. Mac has to deal with despicable types abducting children for sexual slavery and organ reaping while trying to avoid being stabbed in the back by the people who are supposed to be helping him. It isn’t exactly a relaxing book but it sure is exciting. Red Bull and Jolt should be so lucky to provide the rush you get reading this thriller.
Action, treachery, redemption and revenge abound in measures almost unbearable. I really enjoyed this thriller and the stalwart companions of Mac.
I highly recommend.
This is a no holds barred international intrigue thriller. A Delta Force operator, Lee McCloud, finds himself facing not only drug dealing, child slavery but nuclear terrorism as well. He finds himself trying to decide who he can trust and if his own government is out to get him.
Lee McCloud (Mac) is a very uncomplicated protagonist. He has a steroid sense of right and wrong. He is astoundingly loyal and aggressively defends those who guard his back. In addition he is able to ruthlessly dispatch those who threaten his tasks and his friends. Frankly, I like that and it made the book more entertaining.
I’m not sure entertaining is the correct word to use as the book has so many horrific subplots. Mac has to deal with despicable types abducting children for sexual slavery and organ reaping while trying to avoid being stabbed in the back by the people who are supposed to be helping him. It isn’t exactly a relaxing book but it sure is exciting. Red Bull and Jolt should be so lucky to provide the rush you get reading this thriller.
Action, treachery, redemption and revenge abound in measures almost unbearable. I really enjoyed this thriller and the stalwart companions of Mac.
I highly recommend.
August 11, 2012
No Remorse is a fast paced thriller that grabs you from the start and doesn’t let go until the end. It’s an action packed story with strong characters, and has an amazing plot that at times was quite disturbing. The current day references make this story almost believable.
One thing I liked is that you see the story from several different characters point of view. Mac, the main character, Tally, Mac’s partner, Sophia, the kidnapped girl and Sheik Khalid, the terrorist. You get a glimpse of what they are feeling and experiencing, which heightened the thrill of the story.
There’s a lot going on throughout the book, so many characters and several sub-plots, at times it was overwhelming. It took me awhile to get through this book, but found myself bringing it with me everywhere and reading at every chance I got. It’s definitely a book that’s hard to put down.
This is an awesome, well-written, gripping novel and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves thriller and suspense. It’s not for the faint hearted though, there’s alot of gruesome acts and bloodshed.
One thing I liked is that you see the story from several different characters point of view. Mac, the main character, Tally, Mac’s partner, Sophia, the kidnapped girl and Sheik Khalid, the terrorist. You get a glimpse of what they are feeling and experiencing, which heightened the thrill of the story.
There’s a lot going on throughout the book, so many characters and several sub-plots, at times it was overwhelming. It took me awhile to get through this book, but found myself bringing it with me everywhere and reading at every chance I got. It’s definitely a book that’s hard to put down.
This is an awesome, well-written, gripping novel and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves thriller and suspense. It’s not for the faint hearted though, there’s alot of gruesome acts and bloodshed.
April 2, 2013
I won this book through Goodreads First reads.
Interesting read from start to finish. Considering that this is a debut novel, I wasn't expecting to give it a 5 star rating when I started to read it. However, it was such a great read that I have ended up giving it a 5 star rating.
Looking forward to future books by Ian Walkley.
5 stars
Interesting read from start to finish. Considering that this is a debut novel, I wasn't expecting to give it a 5 star rating when I started to read it. However, it was such a great read that I have ended up giving it a 5 star rating.
Looking forward to future books by Ian Walkley.
5 stars
September 15, 2019
3.5 stars
August 4, 2012
The plan was to let the two fathers make the ransom payoff in the valley a few miles outside of Tijuana. Two hundred thousand should buy their freedom as that is what the kidnappers wanted. At least the dads know that backup is watching them and ready to help. All they have to do is give the bad guys the money and get their daughters, Danni and Sophia.
The kidnappers take the money and then want to change the deal. Instead of giving them Danni and Sophia they offer two other teen girls. Understandably the dads want their own daughters back. Things go bad quickly and Delta Force Operator Lee McCloud and his team watch the kidnappers kill the two girls they had been holding in the van. The dead girls were somebody’s children who were murdered solely because the dads wanted their own daughter back. In the aftermath, while they do have a lead to the kidnapped girls, McCloud and his team are in a world of trouble with the United States Military.
Facing court martial and prison time for himself and others of his team, McCloud agrees to take a discharge from the Army after pleading guilty to some lesser charges. He also agrees to go to work as a contractor attached to some sort of vague shadowy unit pursing various terrorists and their monies. While they have their own stated agenda, Lee “Mac” McCloud has his own and that is saving his goddaughter, Sophia, and her friend, Danni.
NO REMORSE spans the globe in a complicated read that touches on sex slavery, organ harvesting, Islamic terrorism, politics, and various other themes. Numerous characters are involved as are exotic locals, powerful money interests, and nightmarish weapons. The thriller style read shifts in point of view of the various characters through the use of very short scenes, constant action and a minimum of internal narration. Almost no one in this novel can be trusted as their public actions hide a far different and often devious agenda.
The result is a book that is initially slow to get started after the opening ransom scenes as all the players are brought out and explained. Once the pieces are in place the story revs up to high gear by the middle of the book. At some points the pace is so quick that the very short scenes feel rushed as the author moves on too quickly to another point of view. Season thriller readers will also notice that while the characters, often most notably Mac & Tally ( a computer hacker), display classic clichéd elements (both are haunted in their own way by tragedy in the past and are damaged loners ultimately drawn together) the overall read works fairly well as the action moves rapidly forward on many fronts. The final events seem a bit rushed and rather over the top theatrical with a state of the art fortress that must be breached, complex undersea tunnels complete with submersibles, etc. Despite the flaws NO REMORSE as a whole works rather well and is definitely highly entertaining.
As of this date, NO REMORSE remains the sole title published by Marq Books. The paperback copy I received of NO REMORSE contains a twelve page preview of Bait due out later this year from the author.
NO REMORSE
Ian Walkley
http://www.ianwalkley.com
Marq Books
http://www.marqbooks.com/
January 2012
ISBN # 978-0-9808066-0-1
Paperback (also available in e-book)
406 Pages (including preview)
$16.99
Material supplied by publicist PJ Nunn of BreakThrough Promotions for my objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2012
Book Reviews and More... http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/
The kidnappers take the money and then want to change the deal. Instead of giving them Danni and Sophia they offer two other teen girls. Understandably the dads want their own daughters back. Things go bad quickly and Delta Force Operator Lee McCloud and his team watch the kidnappers kill the two girls they had been holding in the van. The dead girls were somebody’s children who were murdered solely because the dads wanted their own daughter back. In the aftermath, while they do have a lead to the kidnapped girls, McCloud and his team are in a world of trouble with the United States Military.
Facing court martial and prison time for himself and others of his team, McCloud agrees to take a discharge from the Army after pleading guilty to some lesser charges. He also agrees to go to work as a contractor attached to some sort of vague shadowy unit pursing various terrorists and their monies. While they have their own stated agenda, Lee “Mac” McCloud has his own and that is saving his goddaughter, Sophia, and her friend, Danni.
NO REMORSE spans the globe in a complicated read that touches on sex slavery, organ harvesting, Islamic terrorism, politics, and various other themes. Numerous characters are involved as are exotic locals, powerful money interests, and nightmarish weapons. The thriller style read shifts in point of view of the various characters through the use of very short scenes, constant action and a minimum of internal narration. Almost no one in this novel can be trusted as their public actions hide a far different and often devious agenda.
The result is a book that is initially slow to get started after the opening ransom scenes as all the players are brought out and explained. Once the pieces are in place the story revs up to high gear by the middle of the book. At some points the pace is so quick that the very short scenes feel rushed as the author moves on too quickly to another point of view. Season thriller readers will also notice that while the characters, often most notably Mac & Tally ( a computer hacker), display classic clichéd elements (both are haunted in their own way by tragedy in the past and are damaged loners ultimately drawn together) the overall read works fairly well as the action moves rapidly forward on many fronts. The final events seem a bit rushed and rather over the top theatrical with a state of the art fortress that must be breached, complex undersea tunnels complete with submersibles, etc. Despite the flaws NO REMORSE as a whole works rather well and is definitely highly entertaining.
As of this date, NO REMORSE remains the sole title published by Marq Books. The paperback copy I received of NO REMORSE contains a twelve page preview of Bait due out later this year from the author.
NO REMORSE
Ian Walkley
http://www.ianwalkley.com
Marq Books
http://www.marqbooks.com/
January 2012
ISBN # 978-0-9808066-0-1
Paperback (also available in e-book)
406 Pages (including preview)
$16.99
Material supplied by publicist PJ Nunn of BreakThrough Promotions for my objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2012
Book Reviews and More... http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/
February 15, 2012
First-time author Ian Walkley gets everything right in NO REMORSE, a gritty, complicated thriller in which a former Delta Forces commander on a mission to rescue a friend's daughter from Mideast slave traders faces a bigger threat than he could possibly imagine. Walkley's story bursts off the page with intense action, exotic locales and authentic details, while realistic characters navigate a web of intrigue and deceit worthy of Clancy or Ludlum at their best. A gripping, heart-stopping thriller. Walkley is definitely an author to watch! -- Karen (K.L.) Dionne (author, FREEZING POINT, BOILING POINT)
Exotic locations, intricate plot, well-developed characters. More thrills than climbing the Matterhorn. DL Wilson (author, SIROCCO, UNHOLY GRAIL)
An edgy thriller that gets straight into the action and doesn't let up. A plausible plot with a strong and engaging protagonist - intelligent thriller writing. JJ Cooper (author THE INTERROGATOR, DEADLY TRUST).
This fast-paced page-turner has it all - a riveting plot, great characters, tons of conflict, intrigue and suspense, exotic locales, and edgy current issues - with even a little romance thrown in.
Jodie Renner – www.JodieRennerEditing.com
Exotic locations, intricate plot, well-developed characters. More thrills than climbing the Matterhorn. DL Wilson (author, SIROCCO, UNHOLY GRAIL)
An edgy thriller that gets straight into the action and doesn't let up. A plausible plot with a strong and engaging protagonist - intelligent thriller writing. JJ Cooper (author THE INTERROGATOR, DEADLY TRUST).
This fast-paced page-turner has it all - a riveting plot, great characters, tons of conflict, intrigue and suspense, exotic locales, and edgy current issues - with even a little romance thrown in.
Jodie Renner – www.JodieRennerEditing.com
January 27, 2013
Lee McCloud (Mac), Military and special ops has gathered some of his friends to try and rescue the daughter of a friend and her friend who had been kidnapped by Mexican bandits. The ransom/rescue goes bad and two girls( not the daughter and friend) are killed by the bandits before they themselves are put out of commission. Mac is hauled up before a court martial, but is given an out if he works for a secret group tracking the money of terrorist supporters. Having little choice he agrees, but plans to continue the search for the missing girls. Here we have a rich Saudi Prince who has been exiled his country who has plans to do away with the ruling government, he is also an arms dealer and is setting up a private resort/clinic to supply fresh organ transplants to the super rich by harvesting from youngsters captured by white slavers. Also in the mix are the Israelis who are after some rumored canisters of uranium that the prince is about to acquire. Plenty of action in this one as the various factions work with or against each other.
May 7, 2012
This book starts out with Special Ops member, Lee McCloud, trying to rescue a friend's daughter and her friend from kidnappers. Things go terribly wrong and he is now facing possible prison time and dishonorable discharge. He is approached by Wisebaum with a way out of this. This is the beginning of a high action race around the world. McCloud trying to find and rescue Sophie and Danni while also doing a job for Wisebaum. Wisebaum keeps McCloud in the dark as to what most of this job is about and has partnered him up with Tally, a beautiful computer wiz. The relationship is complicated between them.
There are high speed chases, shoot-outs, torture, secret fortresses, and much more. Some of the scenes are a little graphic, but overall, a great read that gets your attention from the start and keeps you turning the pages all the way to the end. Complexed characters and a story that keeps you guessing.
There are high speed chases, shoot-outs, torture, secret fortresses, and much more. Some of the scenes are a little graphic, but overall, a great read that gets your attention from the start and keeps you turning the pages all the way to the end. Complexed characters and a story that keeps you guessing.
May 1, 2012
As an obsessive reader of the thriller/military/crime genres, I am very excited to have discovered Ian Walkley. If you, like me, have read everything out there from early Richard Stark to the latest Lee Child, you know we need more! We get more from newcomer Ian Walkley, and his novel No Remorse. I ran across No Remorse and was immediately drawn in. There is violent action from page one. In fact, I had been reading Zero Day by David Balducci and had to put it aside until I had finished No Remorse. The evildoers are truly despicable and our flawed hero Lee McCloud is the no-nonsense tough guy perfect for punishing them. As a bonus, this thriller is a time capsule of this decade, with many references to geopolitical happenings as timely as today's headlines. Whereas other heroes such as John Sanford's Lucas Davenport have softened and lost their punch over the years, Walkley's McCloud should be expected to keep on brutalizing bad guys for years to come. Highly recommended.
January 31, 2013
I won this book from GoodReads as a free FirstReads giveaway.
In the last year I have read quite a few thrillers and was delighted to receive one from a new author. I was not disappointed! I was gripped from the first couple of pages. The characters were very believable and the descriptions so detailed, at times I could almost 'see' the action as if I was watching a film. Every few chapters, a new twist or strand to the plot is revealed which kept me totally engrossed. Some reviewers have likened the main character Mac to Jack Reacher. Yes there are certainly similarities but I would mix in a bit of Liam Neeson's character in the film Taken also. I look forward to reading another novel featuring Mac.
I have given a rating of 4/5 but would have given it 4.5/5 if able.
In the last year I have read quite a few thrillers and was delighted to receive one from a new author. I was not disappointed! I was gripped from the first couple of pages. The characters were very believable and the descriptions so detailed, at times I could almost 'see' the action as if I was watching a film. Every few chapters, a new twist or strand to the plot is revealed which kept me totally engrossed. Some reviewers have likened the main character Mac to Jack Reacher. Yes there are certainly similarities but I would mix in a bit of Liam Neeson's character in the film Taken also. I look forward to reading another novel featuring Mac.
I have given a rating of 4/5 but would have given it 4.5/5 if able.
June 20, 2012
I was lucky enough to get a copy of the book and I loved it. I still can't believe that No Remorse is a debut novel. Ian Walkley has produced a complex thriller that has it all: exotic settings, action, and realistic characters. The plot is believable and moves along at a brisk pace. The pages kept turning and I found it hard to put down. I'll definitely be watching for more from this talented author.
February 22, 2013
**I won this book from GoodReads as a free FirstReads giveaway.**
I loved this book! An Excellent debut novel! I have never read a book like this before with the CIA and Al Qaeda in, but I defiantly plan to read more of Ian Walkley's books.
This book is about a special ops agent Lee McCloud on a mission to rescue his kidnapped god-daughter. The book is full of suspense and action as well as a bit of romance.
I loved this book! An Excellent debut novel! I have never read a book like this before with the CIA and Al Qaeda in, but I defiantly plan to read more of Ian Walkley's books.
This book is about a special ops agent Lee McCloud on a mission to rescue his kidnapped god-daughter. The book is full of suspense and action as well as a bit of romance.
January 6, 2013
I won this book from GoodReads as a free FirstReads giveaway.
Very good thriller. You dive straight into the action and the pages essentially turn themselves as you follow along waiting to find out what happens next. This book definitely has it all; a well thought out plot, action and realistic characters in a fast pace novel. Definitely worth a read!
Very good thriller. You dive straight into the action and the pages essentially turn themselves as you follow along waiting to find out what happens next. This book definitely has it all; a well thought out plot, action and realistic characters in a fast pace novel. Definitely worth a read!
April 25, 2012
A great debut which hooked me from the start! Despite the subject matter (child sex slaves, organ harvesting), this is a read that cleverly brings together numerous characters to a satisfactory end. Looking forward to Ian's next book The Bait!
Want to read
May 18, 2012**I won this book from GoodReads as a free FirstReads giveaway.**
The synopsis sounds really exciting - just like an episode of the series "24". Look forward to reading!
The synopsis sounds really exciting - just like an episode of the series "24". Look forward to reading!
Want to read
April 19, 2012I won this book from the first reads giveaways and I am so excited to read it. Thanks.
June 24, 2012
Very good first novel
December 17, 2012
Action-packed, great read!
May 19, 2012
Very good first novel: knowledgeable, well-written and well-paced.
April 5, 2018
A friend of mine -- a particularly smart, savvy woman -- was complaining about this book at a recent dinner party. She felt it was fatuously sexist, ridiculously plotted, and filled with foolish stereotypes. My thought at the time was, "Could it really be so bad?" I had a look, and I have to agree with her. Walkley is the kind of writer that gives men a bad name -- his heroes are one dimensional and his heroines worse, mere objects for men to do with as they will. There is no nuance here, just shallow male fantasy of the worst kind.
April 14, 2012
Here is the Kirkus Reviews review of No Remorse (note that the rating above is mine):
Walkley pits CIA agents against a maniacal Saudi prince intent on starting World War III in this debut thriller.
Delta Force operative Lee McCloud, aka Mac, finds himself in Mexico, trying to rescue two teenage girls kidnapped by a drug cartel. But things go from bad to worse when the villains don’t play by the rules. Framed for two murders he didn’t commit, Mac has two options: go to prison or go to work for a CIA black-op group run by the devious Wisebaum, who hacks into terrorists’ bank accounts and confiscates millions of dollars. However, there’s more going on than meets the eye; Saudi Prince Khalid is in possession of nuclear canisters, with which he hopes to alter world history. Khalid also dabbles in trafficking young women, and harvesting and selling human organs. When Wisebaum’s black-op team targets Khalid’s father, the action becomes even more intense. With so many interweaving subplots—kidnapped girls, Israeli undercover agents, nuclear weapons and a secret underwater hideout—it could be easy to lose track of what’s going on. But the author’s deft handling of the material ensures that doesn’t occur; subplots are introduced at the appropriate junctures and, by story’s end, all are accounted for and neatly concluded. Mac is portrayed as a rough and ready action-hero, yet his vulnerabilities will evoke empathy in readers. He finds a love interest in Tally, a hacker whose personality is just quirky enough to complement his own. All Walkley’s primary characters are fleshed out and realistic, with the exception of Wisebaum—a malicious, double-dealing, back-stabber of the worst ilk; the reader is left wondering about Wisebaum’s motivations behind such blatant treachery.
Despite this, Walkley’s beefy prose and rousing action sequences deliver a thriller to satisfy any adrenaline addict.
Walkley pits CIA agents against a maniacal Saudi prince intent on starting World War III in this debut thriller.
Delta Force operative Lee McCloud, aka Mac, finds himself in Mexico, trying to rescue two teenage girls kidnapped by a drug cartel. But things go from bad to worse when the villains don’t play by the rules. Framed for two murders he didn’t commit, Mac has two options: go to prison or go to work for a CIA black-op group run by the devious Wisebaum, who hacks into terrorists’ bank accounts and confiscates millions of dollars. However, there’s more going on than meets the eye; Saudi Prince Khalid is in possession of nuclear canisters, with which he hopes to alter world history. Khalid also dabbles in trafficking young women, and harvesting and selling human organs. When Wisebaum’s black-op team targets Khalid’s father, the action becomes even more intense. With so many interweaving subplots—kidnapped girls, Israeli undercover agents, nuclear weapons and a secret underwater hideout—it could be easy to lose track of what’s going on. But the author’s deft handling of the material ensures that doesn’t occur; subplots are introduced at the appropriate junctures and, by story’s end, all are accounted for and neatly concluded. Mac is portrayed as a rough and ready action-hero, yet his vulnerabilities will evoke empathy in readers. He finds a love interest in Tally, a hacker whose personality is just quirky enough to complement his own. All Walkley’s primary characters are fleshed out and realistic, with the exception of Wisebaum—a malicious, double-dealing, back-stabber of the worst ilk; the reader is left wondering about Wisebaum’s motivations behind such blatant treachery.
Despite this, Walkley’s beefy prose and rousing action sequences deliver a thriller to satisfy any adrenaline addict.
October 28, 2013
No Remorse was a surprise..I bought the book to support an independent Brisbane author, because I think we should support creative people, particularly authors, and I'm happy to report that I had no remorse on the purchase, neither did I regret the time spent reading it! In fact I could not put it down - if you are waiting for the next Lee Child, even though Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher has kind of spoilt it a bit, or even waiting for the next historical novel, No remorse fills the gap nicely, with lots of action and a few plot twists..may be a bit too many.
Lee Mcloud sets off to rescue a friends kidnapped daughter and stumbles across international intrigue and cruelty of an unimaginable level, just about believable, as he tracks from Mexico to an island -- somewhere-- where a mad sheikh runs drugs, arms, slaves and human sacrifice to conquer the world for Islam and personal gain, presumably. Some scenes of very graphic violence could be deleted quite safely for the plot.
Of course there are several girls to be rescued, but there is a female cohort who is along to keep Lee in check, and provide some female interest. The story unfolds well, and is well written enough to effect the suspension of disbelief which is so essential to the enjoyment of any story. Though I did get confused with the layout of the land at the end, but that may be just me wanting to know exactly how it was effected..by there are artificial rocks and waterfalls, so I'm pretty sure that the author was watching a few garden makeover shows..and some scenes reminded me of others. Maybe I read too much..or maybe the story is just original enough to be new, and just genre enough to feel vaguely familiar.
It's now down to 0.99 in Kindle, so its well worth it. I bought it at full price though, no remorse.
Lee Mcloud sets off to rescue a friends kidnapped daughter and stumbles across international intrigue and cruelty of an unimaginable level, just about believable, as he tracks from Mexico to an island -- somewhere-- where a mad sheikh runs drugs, arms, slaves and human sacrifice to conquer the world for Islam and personal gain, presumably. Some scenes of very graphic violence could be deleted quite safely for the plot.
Of course there are several girls to be rescued, but there is a female cohort who is along to keep Lee in check, and provide some female interest. The story unfolds well, and is well written enough to effect the suspension of disbelief which is so essential to the enjoyment of any story. Though I did get confused with the layout of the land at the end, but that may be just me wanting to know exactly how it was effected..by there are artificial rocks and waterfalls, so I'm pretty sure that the author was watching a few garden makeover shows..and some scenes reminded me of others. Maybe I read too much..or maybe the story is just original enough to be new, and just genre enough to feel vaguely familiar.
It's now down to 0.99 in Kindle, so its well worth it. I bought it at full price though, no remorse.
August 27, 2013
I enjoyed Ian Walkley's debut novel, No Remorse. The plot of the 900+ page thriller was complex, nuanced, and very engaging. The main characters were well developed, especially "Mac," the lead character. The plot kept me guessing until near the end, and the action kept the story moving at a high tempo. Although there were some minor errors on US military terminology, I only noticed them because I'm a Marine Veteran. In summary, I'd recommend this book to any adult fan of the genre, and I'm looking forward to Mr. Walkley's next book! He's an author with a bright future and at least one new fan.
July 2, 2014
This was a very ambitious novel -- perhaps too ambitious. There is simply too much going on for a book of this length. The main plot was straightforward enough, but there were (IMHO) too many subplots and too many characters (especially since so many had unfamiliar but similar-sounding Arab names) to make this an enjoyable read. In addition, it is unbelievable to me that one man, even a highly-trained and capable special ops veteran, could take out so many bad guys by himself. I felt obligated to make it to the end, but I would have been happy to see it end sooner. I was impressed with the author's knowledge of weaponry, however. Most are sadly lacking in that department.
May 11, 2013
Great read for a self-pub. The characters are likable and engaging, and the plot moves at such a rapid pace, it is a hard book to put down. The ending was super abrupt...I'm hoping that means I will get to read more about Mac and Tally soon!
Very violent and graphic, but ultimately it is what makes this read better than others in the same genre; it just feels more genuine.
Very violent and graphic, but ultimately it is what makes this read better than others in the same genre; it just feels more genuine.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews