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My Friend the Mercenary
In February 2002, British journalist James Brabazon set out to travel with guerrilla forces into Liberia to show the world what was happening in that war-torn country. To protect him, he hired Nick du Toit, a former South African Defence Force soldier who had fought in conflicts across Africa for over three decades. What follows is an incredible behind-the-scenes account of the Liberian rebels — known as the LURD — as they attempt to seize control of the country from government troops led by President Charles Taylor. In this gripping narrative, James Brabazon paints a brilliant portrait of the chaos that tore West Africa apart: nations run by warlords and kleptocrats, rebels fighting to displace them, ordinary people caught in the crossfire — and everywhere adventurers and mercenaries operating in war's dark shadows. It is a brutally honest book about what it takes to be a journalist, survivor, and friend in this morally corrosive crucible.
457 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
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October 14, 2025
The story of an unusual friendship formed and preserved under somewhat fraught circumstances.
The book is more or less divided into two parts, with most of the text taken up with the author’s on-the-spot reporting of the Second Liberian Civil War, 1999-2003. The author was, it seems, the first reporter to cover this conflict on the ground, which he did whilst being embedded with an army calling itself Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, a name producing the awkward sounding acronym of LURD. Cutting a long story short, Brabazon was accompanied into Liberia by Nick du Toit, a South African former special forces operative who had subsequently worked for the private military company/mercenary force “Executive Outcomes”. He acted as Brabazon’s minder during their time in Liberia.
Before I go on I’ll just warn readers that this book contains Brabazon’s eyewitness accounts of extreme atrocities that took place during the Liberian conflict. I don’t think the descriptions are gratuitous. They are there to let us know what this conflict was like.
According to his own account, Brabazon had been a teenager with strong political views, and like many people he had felt strongly about the apartheid regime in South Africa. Since du Toit had been a soldier for that regime, and then a mercenary, he seemed to represent everything Brabazon disliked. However the two formed a bond under conditions of extreme adversity, the sort under which, as the author says, moral judgements are suspended.
The author also highlights some of the moral complexities of being a journalist in a conflict like the Liberian War. The LURD troops committed atrocities, but Brabazon also relied on them. His reports from Liberia led to the country’s then President, Charles Taylor, putting a price on Brabazon’s head. His fate would not have been pleasant, had he been captured by Taylor’s army.
The second part of the book concerns du Toit’s involvement in a failed coup in Equatorial Guinea in 2004. This bizarre event got a lot of publicity in the UK at the time because one of the financial backers of the coup attempt was Mark Thatcher, the son of the former British Prime Minister. It became known in the UK as “the wonga coup,” “wonga” being a slang term for cash. Brabazon attempts to uncover the story behind the coup attempt. Personally, I found this part of the book got rather bogged down in a morass of names and contradictory witness statements. There’s a lot of the “X claimed that Y had been in touch with Z” type of statement. It was a bit of a struggle.
Probably 4 stars for the first part and 3 for the second, but I’ll stick with a four-star rating.
The book is more or less divided into two parts, with most of the text taken up with the author’s on-the-spot reporting of the Second Liberian Civil War, 1999-2003. The author was, it seems, the first reporter to cover this conflict on the ground, which he did whilst being embedded with an army calling itself Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, a name producing the awkward sounding acronym of LURD. Cutting a long story short, Brabazon was accompanied into Liberia by Nick du Toit, a South African former special forces operative who had subsequently worked for the private military company/mercenary force “Executive Outcomes”. He acted as Brabazon’s minder during their time in Liberia.
Before I go on I’ll just warn readers that this book contains Brabazon’s eyewitness accounts of extreme atrocities that took place during the Liberian conflict. I don’t think the descriptions are gratuitous. They are there to let us know what this conflict was like.
According to his own account, Brabazon had been a teenager with strong political views, and like many people he had felt strongly about the apartheid regime in South Africa. Since du Toit had been a soldier for that regime, and then a mercenary, he seemed to represent everything Brabazon disliked. However the two formed a bond under conditions of extreme adversity, the sort under which, as the author says, moral judgements are suspended.
The author also highlights some of the moral complexities of being a journalist in a conflict like the Liberian War. The LURD troops committed atrocities, but Brabazon also relied on them. His reports from Liberia led to the country’s then President, Charles Taylor, putting a price on Brabazon’s head. His fate would not have been pleasant, had he been captured by Taylor’s army.
The second part of the book concerns du Toit’s involvement in a failed coup in Equatorial Guinea in 2004. This bizarre event got a lot of publicity in the UK at the time because one of the financial backers of the coup attempt was Mark Thatcher, the son of the former British Prime Minister. It became known in the UK as “the wonga coup,” “wonga” being a slang term for cash. Brabazon attempts to uncover the story behind the coup attempt. Personally, I found this part of the book got rather bogged down in a morass of names and contradictory witness statements. There’s a lot of the “X claimed that Y had been in touch with Z” type of statement. It was a bit of a struggle.
Probably 4 stars for the first part and 3 for the second, but I’ll stick with a four-star rating.
December 7, 2019
I had been wanting to read this book for a while and kept putting it off, because I knew it wouldn't be an easy read. It wasn't. Brabazon doesn't gloss over the ugliness and violence he witnesses, and though I felt this was important and a sign of good journalism, it made for a frequently disturbing read. That being said, I also felt I learned a lot about the politics of this region as well as its history and for that alone, it was a worthwhile book to read. I also felt Brabazon had a very engaging writing style that made it read almost like fiction (if only it were fiction...) All in all, a memorable book and one that has me looking to learn more.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
July 5, 2012
The first 75% of this book is a great read, detailing the author's adventures in a number of African hotspots, often accompanied by professional soldier Nick du Toit. The book is absolutely riveting right up to the point where Brabazon starts detailing his investigation into the circumstances surrounding du Toit's involvement in a failed coup, at which time it starts to read a bit like the begats in Genesis. Overall, a very engrossing account of some hair-raising adventures on the troubled continent leavened with a serious dissection of the moves and counter-moves involved in a coup attempt.
November 9, 2012
The first two thirds of the book are a journalistic expose on what was, at the time, a virtually unknown civil war happening in Liberia between the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the infamous Charles Taylor, while the last third of the book is dedicated to a Le Carre-esque investigation into the titular Mercenary's real-life failed coup attempt and the parties involved.
What is most shocking and striking about the first segment of the book is that the events described are real, and the circumstances depicted accurate. It is always fascinating to catch a glimpse of a reality utterly divorced from my own, and Brabazon is intelligent and nuanced enough to offer no easy solutions and portray the problem of complete poverty and violence in its full complexity and horror. The rebels are portrayed humanly, yet their actions are monstrous. In analyzing the conditions of this and other similar African conflicts, every moral line starts to fade, and i was left doubting the foundations of ethics in general.
One thing that amused me however was Brabazon's halfhearted attempts at appearing morally affected, grasping feebly for his Anglican background as the bloodshed erodes his sense of right and wrong. He pretends to question his motives and beliefs reporting this civil war, but in reality he is clearly exhilarated, plainly amoral, and more than a little bit of an adrenaline fueled thrill junky. And that is totally ok, in my book at least. I don't expect totally balanced people to wander into jungles with Afrikaans war criminals and film genocides. His is perhaps the nature needed to learn about these atrocities, and if that's the tool for the job, than so be it.
The second part of the book does a 180 and becomes a international conspiracy thriller that left me politically engaged but bored otherwise. It is a very uneven and sudden change of pace, that while interesting in its particulars, and another excellent insight into African politics or lack thereof, was again dull and half-baked as an espionage story.
All in all, i would have probably rated this book lower were it not for the fascinatingly extreme realities it recounts...
What is most shocking and striking about the first segment of the book is that the events described are real, and the circumstances depicted accurate. It is always fascinating to catch a glimpse of a reality utterly divorced from my own, and Brabazon is intelligent and nuanced enough to offer no easy solutions and portray the problem of complete poverty and violence in its full complexity and horror. The rebels are portrayed humanly, yet their actions are monstrous. In analyzing the conditions of this and other similar African conflicts, every moral line starts to fade, and i was left doubting the foundations of ethics in general.
One thing that amused me however was Brabazon's halfhearted attempts at appearing morally affected, grasping feebly for his Anglican background as the bloodshed erodes his sense of right and wrong. He pretends to question his motives and beliefs reporting this civil war, but in reality he is clearly exhilarated, plainly amoral, and more than a little bit of an adrenaline fueled thrill junky. And that is totally ok, in my book at least. I don't expect totally balanced people to wander into jungles with Afrikaans war criminals and film genocides. His is perhaps the nature needed to learn about these atrocities, and if that's the tool for the job, than so be it.
The second part of the book does a 180 and becomes a international conspiracy thriller that left me politically engaged but bored otherwise. It is a very uneven and sudden change of pace, that while interesting in its particulars, and another excellent insight into African politics or lack thereof, was again dull and half-baked as an espionage story.
All in all, i would have probably rated this book lower were it not for the fascinatingly extreme realities it recounts...
May 18, 2011
Intense. That's one word that can sum up this entire book. I've been a big fan of memoirs and other works portraying the struggles in war-torn West Africa for a while, but this is easily one of my favorites I've read. James Brabazon has a very easy writing style. There's a lot of information to take in, and a lot of names and places to remember, but he describes every encounter so accurately, you feel as if you are there. I don't find myself having to go back to figure out who's who and what's going on.
I think my favorite aspect of this book isn't the humor that Mr. Brabazon infuses every so often, even in the most dire of situations, or the vivid - and almost always graphic and stomach-churning - descriptions of the conflicts the witnesses. It's the heart of his memoir - the unlikely friendship he struck up with his South African friend Nick du Toit - that makes this book a worthy read. They come together in the most unlikely of situations, and evade death several times over together, and the bond that forms between them is unreal. Even when Nick later finds himself in trouble, Brabazon has an internal war, having to choose between his duties as a journalist or his loyalty to his friend. It's a very humanizing conflict, even more so than the horrible war that scarred Liberia.
This is a great read, but it's very intense. I had to walk away halfway-through, take a breather, read some chick lit, and then pick it back up again in order to finish it. This isn't casual reading at all. But if you want to appreciate what you truly have, delve deeper into a culture and conflict that is still largely unheard of on U.S. shores, and really understand what it's like to have a friendship that's truly larger than life, read this book. You won't be disappointed.
I think my favorite aspect of this book isn't the humor that Mr. Brabazon infuses every so often, even in the most dire of situations, or the vivid - and almost always graphic and stomach-churning - descriptions of the conflicts the witnesses. It's the heart of his memoir - the unlikely friendship he struck up with his South African friend Nick du Toit - that makes this book a worthy read. They come together in the most unlikely of situations, and evade death several times over together, and the bond that forms between them is unreal. Even when Nick later finds himself in trouble, Brabazon has an internal war, having to choose between his duties as a journalist or his loyalty to his friend. It's a very humanizing conflict, even more so than the horrible war that scarred Liberia.
This is a great read, but it's very intense. I had to walk away halfway-through, take a breather, read some chick lit, and then pick it back up again in order to finish it. This isn't casual reading at all. But if you want to appreciate what you truly have, delve deeper into a culture and conflict that is still largely unheard of on U.S. shores, and really understand what it's like to have a friendship that's truly larger than life, read this book. You won't be disappointed.
March 15, 2012
Best narrative I've read so far on what happened in Equatorial Guinea - Dramatically better than Simon Mann's "straight to the remainder pile" account. One of the most honest accounts of what it's like to film from the frontline and to be in the intimate company of a commercial soldier. Much food for thought.
July 1, 2013
I am 99% finished with James Brabazon's memoir My Friend the Mercenary. It's the true story of Nick du Toit, a South African mercenary famous for a botched coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea. The two men became friends when du Toit was Brabazon's bodyguard while filming a revolution in Liberia. Two thoughts:
1) Brabazon befriended du Toit despite the later's heavy involvement in enforcing South African apartheid. This enforcement consisted of a lot of assassinations and bombings, conducted by du Toit personally. There's a fair body of research that suggests men fight not for patriotism but for their fellow soldiers. Brabazon's memoir supports this conclusion - he's friends with du Toit because of the joint struggle they had in Liberia.
2) The Equatorial Guinea coup was poorly-planned and haphazardly conducted, resulting in its failure. Brabazon is befuddled as to how a professional like du Toit could have dropped the ball so badly. Here I can say I've seen (and been guilty of) this before. Basically, competent people with a history of making things happen decide that, based on their track record / skill set, they can gut their way through a project. Sometimes, this works. Sometimes it fails, and when it does it's usually disastrous. Consider it "Gerrib's law of competency."
1) Brabazon befriended du Toit despite the later's heavy involvement in enforcing South African apartheid. This enforcement consisted of a lot of assassinations and bombings, conducted by du Toit personally. There's a fair body of research that suggests men fight not for patriotism but for their fellow soldiers. Brabazon's memoir supports this conclusion - he's friends with du Toit because of the joint struggle they had in Liberia.
2) The Equatorial Guinea coup was poorly-planned and haphazardly conducted, resulting in its failure. Brabazon is befuddled as to how a professional like du Toit could have dropped the ball so badly. Here I can say I've seen (and been guilty of) this before. Basically, competent people with a history of making things happen decide that, based on their track record / skill set, they can gut their way through a project. Sometimes, this works. Sometimes it fails, and when it does it's usually disastrous. Consider it "Gerrib's law of competency."
December 30, 2017
WOW- this was epic. This is my husband's favorite book and some how he extracted a promise from me to read it. "It's a memoir, you love memoirs!" my husband says over and over. So, I finally keep my promise. Yes, it's much different than the memoirs I usually read, but I was not disappointed. Full of adventures and "Oh shit!" moments it was also a touching account of friendship that at times had me misty eyed. Bravo Mr. Brabazon!
April 5, 2014
Although typically not my genre of choice, I was driven to read this after hearing the author's gripping narrative on an American radio program. While the memoir is painstakingly written and filled with (almost too much) detail, in the end I felt the 30-minute radio account was much more evocative/effective, and the author's (literal and figurative) voice more genuine.
Indeed, it was the level of detail in the written narrative that, in the end, caused me the most amount of doubt in terms of the author's intentions. I couldn't help but question his motives from the onset, despite his protestations that it was only once he was entrenched in the wilds of Africa, "Heart of Darkness"-style, alongside the lawless rebels (dare he suggest "savages"?), that his moral compass waivered.
I tend to believe that he was ticking off the personal glory points from the very beginning, and outlining these chapters as he moved along. While he admits that he wanted to be the first to get such a sensational story and cover uncharted ground as a journalist (clearly Iraq was too well-trodden), I think this was also just as much about his own personal fame and glory...
The most haunting image in the book for me, besides the author's dark description of an angry mob eviscerating its captive soldier, is actually a photo of Brabizon himself, widely and inappropriately smiling for the camera in the midst of chaotic gunfire, surrounded by very poor, tired and clearly very young fighters.
Just as Brabizon describes an almost metallic taste in his mouth as the blood of soldiers is spilled before his eyes (cameras always rolling, mind you), so too was I left with a bad taste as I "witnessed" not only warfare and desperation, but soldiers and civilians alike being used for Brabizon's personal glory.
Indeed, it was the level of detail in the written narrative that, in the end, caused me the most amount of doubt in terms of the author's intentions. I couldn't help but question his motives from the onset, despite his protestations that it was only once he was entrenched in the wilds of Africa, "Heart of Darkness"-style, alongside the lawless rebels (dare he suggest "savages"?), that his moral compass waivered.
I tend to believe that he was ticking off the personal glory points from the very beginning, and outlining these chapters as he moved along. While he admits that he wanted to be the first to get such a sensational story and cover uncharted ground as a journalist (clearly Iraq was too well-trodden), I think this was also just as much about his own personal fame and glory...
The most haunting image in the book for me, besides the author's dark description of an angry mob eviscerating its captive soldier, is actually a photo of Brabizon himself, widely and inappropriately smiling for the camera in the midst of chaotic gunfire, surrounded by very poor, tired and clearly very young fighters.
Just as Brabizon describes an almost metallic taste in his mouth as the blood of soldiers is spilled before his eyes (cameras always rolling, mind you), so too was I left with a bad taste as I "witnessed" not only warfare and desperation, but soldiers and civilians alike being used for Brabizon's personal glory.
November 30, 2023
The first two parts of the book are a fascinating and yet horrifying tale about the war in Liberia. These sections are a very well written and exciting story about what James Brabazon and Nick Du Toit went through in Liberia. James shares the horrifying things he witnessed and the effects it had on him.
The third part is about a very mysterious plan for a coup that Nick was involved in, and this section is actually very interesting in the beginning and end of the book but the middle sections getting into the details of the events and how James came to find out about them are generally not as exciting as the first two parts.
Also, really recommend actually watching the movies James Brabazon made that are also mentioned in the book. They are also pretty good for getting even more insight.
The third part is about a very mysterious plan for a coup that Nick was involved in, and this section is actually very interesting in the beginning and end of the book but the middle sections getting into the details of the events and how James came to find out about them are generally not as exciting as the first two parts.
Also, really recommend actually watching the movies James Brabazon made that are also mentioned in the book. They are also pretty good for getting even more insight.
March 23, 2012
I thought this book was very powerful, but near the end it ended up being more about the arrest of a group that Nick was involved in. The details in Part Three seemed unnecessary, and I have to say I couldn't follow along it very well. The first two parts, and the epilogue were all fantastic. I definitely recommend reading this book if you get the chance.
December 24, 2013
The is truly a fascinating account of dangerous journalistic work in war torn Africa. I finished reading it just as I was being evacuated from South Sudan last week. A poignant moment.
I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone seeking to learn from a first hand account of the issues around recent conflict in West Africa.
I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone seeking to learn from a first hand account of the issues around recent conflict in West Africa.
March 7, 2013
Thoroughly enjoyed this read. Interesting to discover the legacy of some of South Africa's former SADF soldiers, and their influence on armed conflicts in Africa after the demise of Apartheid. The author, James, reflects on complex moral conflicts faced by journalists in war situations.
December 25, 2013
Fantastic. Even if this book fizzles out in the second half, the first was SO white-knucklingly thrilling I would recommend this to anyone. Really enjoyed the behind the scenes perspective of the awfulness of war and war reporting.
March 1, 2018
I discovered this book by hearing about it on on an NPR radio show and author James Brabazon did a great job of getting me hyped to read this. For the most part that hype stayed up through a little over half the book after which it slowly but surely dwindles.
My Friend the Mercenary tells the true story of hopeful British reporter James Brabazon and his adventure covering the Second Liberian Civil War while in the process befriending his private security hire/former South African special forces operative Nick du Toit. The premise is certainly exciting; a regular run of the mill reporter trying to make a name for himself gets in over his head while documenting a war with his trusty yet enigmatic mercenary by his side.
It is fascinating to watch the relationship grow between Brabazon and du Toit, especially with how Brabazon tries to reckon this budding friendship with du Toit's less than stellar past working for Apartheid-Era South African special ops. The parts in Liberia read like a gritty action film whether it was the tense tightrope act dialogues that he has with assorted African militants or the actual combat itself; the latter of which Brabazon holds no punches, describing scenes of violence in full gruesome detail. The juxtaposition of the intense time spent in the field of combat versus the quiet life James encounters when he's back home made me feel exhausted in a way like I had been on the adventure right by his side.
It's during the second half of the book when du Toit reveals and tries to recruit Brabazon into a coup d'état against the government of Equatorial Guinea, in a plot that reeks of what was thought to be a bygone era of blatant colonialism, that the book starts to go off the rails. The idea of a mercenary lead coup in the 21st century, the thing black ops movies or video games, sounds explosive but when it fizzles out and the plotters (including du Toit) are all imprisoned in the notoriously inhumane Black Beach prison you would expect the story to turn into some account of an over the top rescue mission or tale of escape; you would be incorrect.
While du Toit rots away in prison Brabazon spends the entire last third of the book uncovering all layers of the plot and trying to unmask the high roller conspirators who backed the coup. This might sound interesting but unless you have an undying love for the ins and outs of shadowy British and South African elites then this the most dry, boring read of all time. Another one of the reviews here on Goodreads described it aptly as "it starts to read a bit like the begats in Genesis.".
The first two thirds of this book are an absolutely fascinating look into a world of reporting that quite often does not get a clear and frank behind the scenes look. Unfortunately the the dry content combined with the rote style of the last third of the book, while probably necessary to tell a complete story, left me feeling like I had just sat through a long winded governmental debriefing rather than a thrilling tale of war reporting.
My Friend the Mercenary tells the true story of hopeful British reporter James Brabazon and his adventure covering the Second Liberian Civil War while in the process befriending his private security hire/former South African special forces operative Nick du Toit. The premise is certainly exciting; a regular run of the mill reporter trying to make a name for himself gets in over his head while documenting a war with his trusty yet enigmatic mercenary by his side.
It is fascinating to watch the relationship grow between Brabazon and du Toit, especially with how Brabazon tries to reckon this budding friendship with du Toit's less than stellar past working for Apartheid-Era South African special ops. The parts in Liberia read like a gritty action film whether it was the tense tightrope act dialogues that he has with assorted African militants or the actual combat itself; the latter of which Brabazon holds no punches, describing scenes of violence in full gruesome detail. The juxtaposition of the intense time spent in the field of combat versus the quiet life James encounters when he's back home made me feel exhausted in a way like I had been on the adventure right by his side.
It's during the second half of the book when du Toit reveals and tries to recruit Brabazon into a coup d'état against the government of Equatorial Guinea, in a plot that reeks of what was thought to be a bygone era of blatant colonialism, that the book starts to go off the rails. The idea of a mercenary lead coup in the 21st century, the thing black ops movies or video games, sounds explosive but when it fizzles out and the plotters (including du Toit) are all imprisoned in the notoriously inhumane Black Beach prison you would expect the story to turn into some account of an over the top rescue mission or tale of escape; you would be incorrect.
While du Toit rots away in prison Brabazon spends the entire last third of the book uncovering all layers of the plot and trying to unmask the high roller conspirators who backed the coup. This might sound interesting but unless you have an undying love for the ins and outs of shadowy British and South African elites then this the most dry, boring read of all time. Another one of the reviews here on Goodreads described it aptly as "it starts to read a bit like the begats in Genesis.".
The first two thirds of this book are an absolutely fascinating look into a world of reporting that quite often does not get a clear and frank behind the scenes look. Unfortunately the the dry content combined with the rote style of the last third of the book, while probably necessary to tell a complete story, left me feeling like I had just sat through a long winded governmental debriefing rather than a thrilling tale of war reporting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2022
This is the first book of James Brabazon that I have read. His style of narrating a brutal war in Liberia which was hitherto unknown to the rest of the world is so impressive. The real events look like you are watching a war movie. The rebels called LURD are launching a rebellion against president Taylor and most of the rebels are young boys, on his second visit even ten year old boys and they feel they are fighting for well being of the country. The brutality shown towards captives, the suffering of the civilians and how the rest of the world remained oblivious is an eye opener.
The rebellion in which Nick and Simon are captured involved so many people from various countries that you are surprised how rest of the world. How James as a war photographer is mentally affected left me thinking of the futility of these wars. A few of the scenes/ dialogues made me very emotional, like when James meets his grandfather for the last time and says : People consider themselves lucky if they can once meet their super heroes, I have lived with mine.
The character of Nick was the most impressive, how despite what he has endured he does not blame anyone and is ready to move on.
The rebellion in which Nick and Simon are captured involved so many people from various countries that you are surprised how rest of the world. How James as a war photographer is mentally affected left me thinking of the futility of these wars. A few of the scenes/ dialogues made me very emotional, like when James meets his grandfather for the last time and says : People consider themselves lucky if they can once meet their super heroes, I have lived with mine.
The character of Nick was the most impressive, how despite what he has endured he does not blame anyone and is ready to move on.
July 23, 2022
With a title like that, this book had to be added to the 'to read' pile and for the first 2/3 or so, it doesn't disappoint, James Brabazon taking us on a fascinating account of how he came to film in war torn Liberia in 2002 and the dices with death that occur. It's crazy that much of what he recounts actually happened - murder, cannibalism, etc. - but it's all there for you to see in his resulting documentary, 'Liberia: A Journey without Maps', which can be watched on Vimeo.
The last third of the book was less engaging, uncovering exactly what occurred to his friend the mercenary, a man that accompanied him to Liberia, and then sought to get involved in a coup of Equatorial Guinea, which went badly wrong. It has its moments but are a far cry from the book's beginning. Suffice it to say then, that this is an interesting title but one that left me somewhat happy to move on by the time we got to the end.
The last third of the book was less engaging, uncovering exactly what occurred to his friend the mercenary, a man that accompanied him to Liberia, and then sought to get involved in a coup of Equatorial Guinea, which went badly wrong. It has its moments but are a far cry from the book's beginning. Suffice it to say then, that this is an interesting title but one that left me somewhat happy to move on by the time we got to the end.
September 19, 2025
Nota: 3.1/5.0
James Brabazon é um jornalista que decide cobrir guerras. Fazendo um paralelo com as sandices de Robert Capa, podemos dizer que James tenta emular uma nova versão moderna deste famoso fotógrafo.
Envolvido na cobertura da guerra da Libéria, James chega ao mercenário Nick, no qual a relação apenas profissional se torna em amizade e descamba para quase uma prisão. Entretanto, James é salvo, Nick é condenado.
“My friend the Mercenary” destrincha essa relação que evoca a sobrevivência de ambos acompanhando um grupo rebelde na Libéria até o momento que Nick é soterrado por suas ambições.
Extremamente envolvente até a metade, o livro acaba depois se arrastando sobre as questões processuais de Nick contra o governo da Guinéa Equatoriana e suas consequências.
Um livro sobre diversos tipos de ambições e jogos que põe vidas no tabuleiro como se nada fossem…
James Brabazon é um jornalista que decide cobrir guerras. Fazendo um paralelo com as sandices de Robert Capa, podemos dizer que James tenta emular uma nova versão moderna deste famoso fotógrafo.
Envolvido na cobertura da guerra da Libéria, James chega ao mercenário Nick, no qual a relação apenas profissional se torna em amizade e descamba para quase uma prisão. Entretanto, James é salvo, Nick é condenado.
“My friend the Mercenary” destrincha essa relação que evoca a sobrevivência de ambos acompanhando um grupo rebelde na Libéria até o momento que Nick é soterrado por suas ambições.
Extremamente envolvente até a metade, o livro acaba depois se arrastando sobre as questões processuais de Nick contra o governo da Guinéa Equatoriana e suas consequências.
Um livro sobre diversos tipos de ambições e jogos que põe vidas no tabuleiro como se nada fossem…
June 3, 2019
Read it for the thrill, read it to feel mortally superior, read it to understand a civil war or read it to get a glimpse of a murky world... whatever your reasons, I recommend reading it.
I read a few reviews on here where people were directed to the book from some of the documentaries, by and large they were disappointed. I was the reverse, I read the book then watched and found the book to show a more intimate portrayal. Intimate does not mean slow. It is a real life page turner/ thriller, but there is reflection and sole searching. He shows enough emotional intelligence to know that not everyone will agree with his choices, but in putting his perspective out there, he has improved our collective understand of the ethical choices involved in war reporting.
I read a few reviews on here where people were directed to the book from some of the documentaries, by and large they were disappointed. I was the reverse, I read the book then watched and found the book to show a more intimate portrayal. Intimate does not mean slow. It is a real life page turner/ thriller, but there is reflection and sole searching. He shows enough emotional intelligence to know that not everyone will agree with his choices, but in putting his perspective out there, he has improved our collective understand of the ethical choices involved in war reporting.
May 12, 2021
Not a very good book both in style and content. I bought this based on the write up that it explained the Coup in equatorial Guinea. It does not really cover that except as a second hand reportage. The book is very slow and ponderous almost like a diary was used as the basis. It is more a personal diary interspersed with personal opinion and family issues. All becomes very boring and detracts from the main issue. Cannot say I woud recommend this to anyone as it is just to hard to determine what is fact and what is second hand info. (quite aprt from the really poor writing style. Sorry not a good one....
January 18, 2023
Now that was a heavy book. There were chapters where I could not stop turning the pages and chapters that had me slowly losing interest but one thing is for certain, Mr. Brabazon is one hell of a writer. Are you interested in reading about violence and mercenaries? Does the vast continent of Africa hold astonishment for you? If you answered yes to both of those questions this book could be for you.
I went back and forth on the rating that I gave this book. Some chapters felt more like 2 stars and other chapters felt like 4 stars and so in the great spirit of compromise I rate this book 3 stars.
I went back and forth on the rating that I gave this book. Some chapters felt more like 2 stars and other chapters felt like 4 stars and so in the great spirit of compromise I rate this book 3 stars.
October 16, 2020
I picked this book up on a whim one day because the intriguing title caught my attention while at my local bookstore. I'm not sure what I was expecting to find when I opened the pages, but what I did find was not what I was expecting. How could you expect this little known story, of a little known war, in a little known country? James Brabazon takes us right into the action on a gritty and personal level, that makes one feel the futility and humanity of fighting a war from small violent bands against an entire government. At the same time, these small personal events take on a grandeur that hearkens back to epic tales of old, and might make you doubt their validity; until you confirm them with external collaborating sources that is.
"My Friend the Mercenary" must be the most insane bio I've ever read.
"My Friend the Mercenary" must be the most insane bio I've ever read.
March 20, 2025
If you ever wanted to be taken down a journey of danger, this is the book for you! James Brabazon literally risked his life to bring us the tale of civil war (and a coup attempt) in West Africa, and his incredibly rich tale of what he saw is totally worth it! It is heavy at times given the nature of his reporting, but it is so vivid in its shedding of light on the Liberian Civil War that once you start reading, it is very hard to put down.
January 31, 2018
Like most of the reviews parts 1 and 2 are great - first-hand accounts and details of the LURD and its fight against Charles Taylor’s forces. Part 3 is rather dull - a convoluted failed coup plot and an investigation into what went wrong. 4 stars for parts 1 and 2 but overall drops to 3 stars because of the final section.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2021
Ultimately I'm not sure what this was doing on my to-read list,but it was so at some stage in the past I followed a reviewers recommendation. More fool me. Not my kind of thing at all.
However it is worth noting that I did find it a very silly tale of naughty boys playing with grown-ups toys; it was clearly never going to end well and surprise! it didn't.
However it is worth noting that I did find it a very silly tale of naughty boys playing with grown-ups toys; it was clearly never going to end well and surprise! it didn't.
February 17, 2025
I enjoyed listening to this book quite a bit. It's refreshing to see Brabrazon's career evolution and how his experience in Liberia shaped his future success and also his friendship with Nick du Toi. I picked this book from hearing an interview with Brabazon in a podcast, and his raw and nuanced approach to war correspondence caught my attention.
8.5/10. Highly recommend.
8.5/10. Highly recommend.
May 2, 2025
A compelling and unflinching story that flows smoothly as it zooms in and out in scope. As the name suggests, it is about a man's relationship with a man who was hired to protect him, but it expands to cover the horrors of war and how a man's values and morals can be questioned in the face of a life & death situation.
February 2, 2021
Good beginning of the book. However the second part becomes much more self centered and the author takes a winding path of name dropping and boredom. 3 stars for the first half which still carries the book. Second half is a bit of a chore.
April 22, 2025
Weirdly structured memoir, split into two very different parts: a harrowing war narrative and a wonky political whodunnit. But both parts—the teenaged cannibals and the unsavory spooks—make for a cracking read.
February 4, 2018
NPR recommended.
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