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Nick Stone #4
De sluipschutter
Wanneer geheim agent Nick Stone in Londen plotseling een moordaanslag afbreekt als hij beseft wie het doelwit is, stellen zijn opdrachtgevers hem een huiveringwekkend ultimatum. Hij moet naar Panama vliegen en het karwei afmaken, anders wordt Kelly, het elfjarige weeskind dat aan zijn voogdij is toevertrouwd, vermoord.
In de broeierige jungle van Midden-Amerika bereidt Stone zich voor op het uitvoeren van zijn opdracht, waarbij hij wordt geholpen door Aaron en Carrie, twee wetenschappers in dienst van de CIA. Al spoedig merkt hij dat Panama niets is wat het lijkt en het duurt niet lang of hij bevindt zich in het hart van de dodelijke samenzwering van Columbiaanse guerrilla s, de Amerikaanse regering en Chinese big business. En voordat Stone het weet, staan er honderden onschuldige levens op het spel.
In de broeierige jungle van Midden-Amerika bereidt Stone zich voor op het uitvoeren van zijn opdracht, waarbij hij wordt geholpen door Aaron en Carrie, twee wetenschappers in dienst van de CIA. Al spoedig merkt hij dat Panama niets is wat het lijkt en het duurt niet lang of hij bevindt zich in het hart van de dodelijke samenzwering van Columbiaanse guerrilla s, de Amerikaanse regering en Chinese big business. En voordat Stone het weet, staan er honderden onschuldige levens op het spel.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2001
266 people are currently reading
971 people want to read
About the author
Andy McNab
205 books1,158 followersAndy McNab joined the infantry in 1976 as a boy soldier. In 1984 he was badged as a member of 22 SAS Regiment. He served in B Squadron 22 SAS for ten years and worked on both covert and overt special operations worldwide, including anti-terrorist and anti-drug operations in the Middle and Far East, South and Central America and Northern Ireland.
Trained as a specialist in counter terrorism, prime target elimination, demolitions, weapons and tactics, covert surveillance and information gathering in hostile environments, and VIP protection, McNab worked on cooperative operations with police forces, prison services, anti-drug forces and western backed guerrilla movements as well as on conventional special operations. In Northern Ireland he spent two years working as an undercover operator with 14th Intelligence Group, going on to become an instructor.
McNab also worked as an instructor on the SAS selection and training team and instructed foreign special forces in counter terrorism, hostage rescue and survival training.
Andy McNab has written about his experiences in the SAS in two bestselling books, Bravo Two Zero (1993) and Immediate Action (1995). Bravo Two Zero is the highest selling war book of all time and has sold over 1.7 million copies in the UK. To date it has been published in 17 countries and translated into 16 languages. The CD spoken word version of Bravo Two Zero, narrated by McNab, sold over 60,000 copies and earned a silver disc. The BBC's film of Bravo Two Zero, starring Sean Bean, was shown on primetime BBC 1 television in 1999 and released on DVD in 2000.
Immediate Action, McNab's autobiography, spent 18 weeks at the top of the bestseller lists following the lifting on an ex-parte injunction granted to the Ministry of Defence in September 1995. To date, Immediate Action has now sold over 1.4 million copies in the UK.
McNab is the author of seven fast action thrillers, highly acclaimed for their authenticity and all Sunday Times bestsellers. Published in 1997, Remote Control was hailed as the most authentic thriller ever written and has sold over half a million copies in the UK. McNab's subsequent thrillers, Crisis Four, Firewall, Last Light , Liberation Day , Dark Winter , Deep Black and Aggressor have all gone on to sell equally well. The central character in all the books is Nick Stone, a tough ex-SAS operative working as a 'K' on deniable operations for British Intelligence.
McNab's fiction draws extensively on his experiences and knowledge of Special Forces soldiering. He has been officially registered by Neilsen Bookscan as the bestselling British thriller writer of the last year.
Trained as a specialist in counter terrorism, prime target elimination, demolitions, weapons and tactics, covert surveillance and information gathering in hostile environments, and VIP protection, McNab worked on cooperative operations with police forces, prison services, anti-drug forces and western backed guerrilla movements as well as on conventional special operations. In Northern Ireland he spent two years working as an undercover operator with 14th Intelligence Group, going on to become an instructor.
McNab also worked as an instructor on the SAS selection and training team and instructed foreign special forces in counter terrorism, hostage rescue and survival training.
Andy McNab has written about his experiences in the SAS in two bestselling books, Bravo Two Zero (1993) and Immediate Action (1995). Bravo Two Zero is the highest selling war book of all time and has sold over 1.7 million copies in the UK. To date it has been published in 17 countries and translated into 16 languages. The CD spoken word version of Bravo Two Zero, narrated by McNab, sold over 60,000 copies and earned a silver disc. The BBC's film of Bravo Two Zero, starring Sean Bean, was shown on primetime BBC 1 television in 1999 and released on DVD in 2000.
Immediate Action, McNab's autobiography, spent 18 weeks at the top of the bestseller lists following the lifting on an ex-parte injunction granted to the Ministry of Defence in September 1995. To date, Immediate Action has now sold over 1.4 million copies in the UK.
McNab is the author of seven fast action thrillers, highly acclaimed for their authenticity and all Sunday Times bestsellers. Published in 1997, Remote Control was hailed as the most authentic thriller ever written and has sold over half a million copies in the UK. McNab's subsequent thrillers, Crisis Four, Firewall, Last Light , Liberation Day , Dark Winter , Deep Black and Aggressor have all gone on to sell equally well. The central character in all the books is Nick Stone, a tough ex-SAS operative working as a 'K' on deniable operations for British Intelligence.
McNab's fiction draws extensively on his experiences and knowledge of Special Forces soldiering. He has been officially registered by Neilsen Bookscan as the bestselling British thriller writer of the last year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
August 25, 2016
Book # 4, in the Nick Stone Series
The highly descriptive writing style is quite exhausting to read for this reason I took a very long break before picking up “Last Light”. This is why I am so behind with this series.
Of course this book is not for everyone after all life for a Secret Intelligence Operator is far from being easy. In “Last Light”, Nick is given an ultimatum when an assassination attempt goes wrong: Kill the target in Panama by last light Friday or Kelly will be killed. What choice does he have…. Mr. McNab has the ability to vividly detail with great action sequences what his main character experiences. It feels as we are walking every messy step in his shoes. This one is no different as the previous books.
And we’re off. Nonstop warrior Nick is on the move with each of his engagement meticulously detailed. Everything is from scenery to flora to wildlife to every piece of armament. Maybe a little less of this with have benefited the narrative flow. As in the previous installment the details become overwhelming and I lost on many occasion interests with this story. The book meanders a lot making it hard to stay focused and motivated. Although the story is not bad it is not great and is in parts a bit dull and long winded, definitely not the author’s best. Mr. McNab nevertheless is at his best when he depicts his military experiences through his scenarios. About the characterization: Nick is good at his trade and his character is definitely down pat by now: gutsy and vibrant. The secondary players are well-developed: the good ones likable and the villains pretty bad. Is this enough to keep a reader motivated and wanted to stick with Nick?….. not in my books it isn’t.
I needed a bit of pushing to get through with this book and I wonder at this point if I will once again take some time before continuing with the sequel “Liberation Day” but again I had the same feelings with book# 3 “Firewall” who knows…… I may change my mind sometime in the future but for now I am definitely putting this series aside……..
The highly descriptive writing style is quite exhausting to read for this reason I took a very long break before picking up “Last Light”. This is why I am so behind with this series.
Of course this book is not for everyone after all life for a Secret Intelligence Operator is far from being easy. In “Last Light”, Nick is given an ultimatum when an assassination attempt goes wrong: Kill the target in Panama by last light Friday or Kelly will be killed. What choice does he have…. Mr. McNab has the ability to vividly detail with great action sequences what his main character experiences. It feels as we are walking every messy step in his shoes. This one is no different as the previous books.
And we’re off. Nonstop warrior Nick is on the move with each of his engagement meticulously detailed. Everything is from scenery to flora to wildlife to every piece of armament. Maybe a little less of this with have benefited the narrative flow. As in the previous installment the details become overwhelming and I lost on many occasion interests with this story. The book meanders a lot making it hard to stay focused and motivated. Although the story is not bad it is not great and is in parts a bit dull and long winded, definitely not the author’s best. Mr. McNab nevertheless is at his best when he depicts his military experiences through his scenarios. About the characterization: Nick is good at his trade and his character is definitely down pat by now: gutsy and vibrant. The secondary players are well-developed: the good ones likable and the villains pretty bad. Is this enough to keep a reader motivated and wanted to stick with Nick?….. not in my books it isn’t.
I needed a bit of pushing to get through with this book and I wonder at this point if I will once again take some time before continuing with the sequel “Liberation Day” but again I had the same feelings with book# 3 “Firewall” who knows…… I may change my mind sometime in the future but for now I am definitely putting this series aside……..
October 11, 2009
One of the weakest Nick Stone novels from McNab. The book starts off with the usual flash back to a previous mission of Stone's that will come to bear on the rest of the story, and the first few chapters are very promising. However, as the book progresses I found that it lost its pace, and became very plodding, lots of sections of traveling and preparation scenes that didn't really move the story along, making the book drag.
May 16, 2025
Being the fourth book in the Nick Stone series, the novelty has worn off, sure. But this is still an excellent action thriller.
But what I remember most about it are the excellent descriptions of the scenery. Such sections can be boring and make you wish the author would just get on with the story. But here they are well placed and excellently written. I've never been to Panama, but when McNab describes the ride from the airport, you "see" it, and recall your own experiences from visits to other hot, tropical countries. The views, the people, the sounds, the sunlight, heat, humidity, the street life...
While maybe not as good as "Fire Wall", the preceding book in the series, "Last Light" is still a page turner (and I do like the stubborn streak in Nick Stone, that he finds it hard to follow orders that he doesn't understand!).
What can I say, I'm a fan.
But what I remember most about it are the excellent descriptions of the scenery. Such sections can be boring and make you wish the author would just get on with the story. But here they are well placed and excellently written. I've never been to Panama, but when McNab describes the ride from the airport, you "see" it, and recall your own experiences from visits to other hot, tropical countries. The views, the people, the sounds, the sunlight, heat, humidity, the street life...
While maybe not as good as "Fire Wall", the preceding book in the series, "Last Light" is still a page turner (and I do like the stubborn streak in Nick Stone, that he finds it hard to follow orders that he doesn't understand!).
What can I say, I'm a fan.
December 12, 2021
Purtroppo questo è il più debole sinora della serie. Nel complesso non mi è dispiaciuto, ma ho trovato che alcune parti non si addicessero allo spirito dei tre romanzi precedenti: capisco che Nick sia cambiato e che abbia altre priorità, ma questa svolta così sentimentale che pur mi aspettavo non mi ha presa molto. In particolare non mi è piaciuta l'insistenza sul fatto che Nick si trovi sempre difficoltà, sia sempre sovrappensiero e non esegua bene il suo lavoro, anche perché questo incide sulla godibilità generale del romanzo, essendo di spionaggio.
Il racconto risulta triste, un po' stanco, anche in ragione dell'intensificarsi dei problemi con Kelly che mi hanno sinceramente rattristata. C'è inoltre tutta una parte dedicata ai vari disagi sociali che mi ha molto colpita. Ho gradito molto questo lato umano del romanzo, anche se, come già detto, non avrei insistito così tanto sul disagio psicologico di Nick.
Ho trovato interessante anche l'ambientazione a Panama, anche se alla fine risulta essere un ambiente molto americano, come ammettono i personaggi stessi, ed ho apprezzato anche i momenti di azione nella giungla.
Il racconto risulta triste, un po' stanco, anche in ragione dell'intensificarsi dei problemi con Kelly che mi hanno sinceramente rattristata. C'è inoltre tutta una parte dedicata ai vari disagi sociali che mi ha molto colpita. Ho gradito molto questo lato umano del romanzo, anche se, come già detto, non avrei insistito così tanto sul disagio psicologico di Nick.
Ho trovato interessante anche l'ambientazione a Panama, anche se alla fine risulta essere un ambiente molto americano, come ammettono i personaggi stessi, ed ho apprezzato anche i momenti di azione nella giungla.
December 13, 2023
Hoofdrolspeler in dit boek is Nick Stone, het boek start met de voorbereidingen van een aanslag in hartje Londen. Wanneer hij doorheeft wie het doelwit is, breekt hij de aanslag af. Zijn opdrachtgevers zijn hier woest over en dwingen hem om zijn karwei in Panama af te maken. Doet hij dit niet, dan zullen ze zijn pleegdochter wat aan doen.
Het boek kent weinig actie en ik vond het verhaal best saai. Er was een herhalende omschrijving van een verkenning of vlucht in de jungle met regen, modder en bladeren. Ook vond ik de verhaallijn op verschillende momenten vrij verwarrend. Zo gaat Nick zich wassen in de rivier, waarbij hij zijn papieren in een spleet stopt zodat hij ze niet kwijt kan raken. Het volgende moment stapt hij in de auto, maar nergens wordt omschreven dat hij zijn papieren mee neemt. Dat hij ze wel heeft meegenomen blijkt in een andere scène in het boek.
Conclusie: veel herhaling, weinig spanning. Geen aanrader.
Het boek kent weinig actie en ik vond het verhaal best saai. Er was een herhalende omschrijving van een verkenning of vlucht in de jungle met regen, modder en bladeren. Ook vond ik de verhaallijn op verschillende momenten vrij verwarrend. Zo gaat Nick zich wassen in de rivier, waarbij hij zijn papieren in een spleet stopt zodat hij ze niet kwijt kan raken. Het volgende moment stapt hij in de auto, maar nergens wordt omschreven dat hij zijn papieren mee neemt. Dat hij ze wel heeft meegenomen blijkt in een andere scène in het boek.
Conclusie: veel herhaling, weinig spanning. Geen aanrader.
August 22, 2019
There are very few books that I struggle to get through, but this was one of them, I just could not get into it at all. I have read his first 3 books, but it has been a couple of years since I bought this book on Kindle, but found myself skipping sections. I've got his next book, which I hope is a better read.
March 24, 2013
Yup. I picked up The Book Thief, read six pages, put it down, and picked up Andy McNab. What can I say.
December 7, 2016
'The good news' book :)
July 15, 2018
Op de achterkant van het boek staat vermeld: "De beste thrillerauteur die ooit zijn pen op papier zette sinds Alistair MacLean." (Dit is een uitspraak van Stephen Coonts.)
Misschien dat dit predikaat opgaat voor de eerder verschenen boeken van Andy McNab, maar voor De sluipschutter vond ik deze titel absoluut niet van toepassing. Te veel eer!
Een inleiding van ongeveer 120 bladzijden waarin onder meer uit de doeken gedaan wordt hoe een bom in elkaar gezet is, hoe de hoofdpersoon, Nick Stone, in gevangenschap gehouden wordt en waarin op nog meer details ingegaan wordt. Op bladzijde 124 begint het dan eindelijk een beetje spannend te worden. Nick Stone ontmoet een van zijn vijanden in een donker oerwoud. Je denkt dan: zal het vanaf hier dan echt interessant en boeiend worden? Nee, dat bleek een verkeerde gedachte te zijn. Op langdradige manier (het beetje spanning duurde maar liefst acht bladzijden) wordt weer overgegaan op het tempo van de 'inleiding'.
Vanaf het moment dat een aanslag is gepleegd op drugscrimineel de zoon van drugscrimineel (bladzijde 233) begint het tempo, en hiermee de spanning, wat toe te nemen. Boeiender wordt het als de mannen van Charlie aan een achtervolging beginnen en als Nick Stone levens probeert te redden.
Het boek eindigt zoals het begon: tam. Als dit boek een graadmeter is voor het andere werk van Andy McNab dan hoeft het voor mij niet. De Donald Duck kan me dan meer boeien. Voor de moeite die de schrijver genomen heeft om een verhaal in elkaar te zetten toch nog twee sterren.
Misschien dat dit predikaat opgaat voor de eerder verschenen boeken van Andy McNab, maar voor De sluipschutter vond ik deze titel absoluut niet van toepassing. Te veel eer!
Een inleiding van ongeveer 120 bladzijden waarin onder meer uit de doeken gedaan wordt hoe een bom in elkaar gezet is, hoe de hoofdpersoon, Nick Stone, in gevangenschap gehouden wordt en waarin op nog meer details ingegaan wordt. Op bladzijde 124 begint het dan eindelijk een beetje spannend te worden. Nick Stone ontmoet een van zijn vijanden in een donker oerwoud. Je denkt dan: zal het vanaf hier dan echt interessant en boeiend worden? Nee, dat bleek een verkeerde gedachte te zijn. Op langdradige manier (het beetje spanning duurde maar liefst acht bladzijden) wordt weer overgegaan op het tempo van de 'inleiding'.
Vanaf het moment dat een aanslag is gepleegd op drugscrimineel de zoon van drugscrimineel (bladzijde 233) begint het tempo, en hiermee de spanning, wat toe te nemen. Boeiender wordt het als de mannen van Charlie aan een achtervolging beginnen en als Nick Stone levens probeert te redden.
Het boek eindigt zoals het begon: tam. Als dit boek een graadmeter is voor het andere werk van Andy McNab dan hoeft het voor mij niet. De Donald Duck kan me dan meer boeien. Voor de moeite die de schrijver genomen heeft om een verhaal in elkaar te zetten toch nog twee sterren.
October 4, 2022
In most thriller writers you run into authors who've done a lot of research. Andy McNab doesn't need to do the research because he's lived it. McNab--real name Steven Billy Mitchell--is a former British SAS commando. Much of this book happens in the jungles of Panama, shortly after the US turnover of the Panama Canal from US ownership and control to the government of Panama. McNab writes about laying in mud and leaves and undergrowth doing a recon on a house that you FEEL the mud, the insects crawling and biting, the water from the afternoon thunderstorms.
In many authors--Tom Clancy was the worst offender--technical details feel more like showing off their research. With McNab, the tech details are integral parts of the story, actually carrying the story forward.
The story begins with Nick Stone, McNab's protagonist, calling off an assassination at the last minute in London. As a result, he's sent off to Panama to finish the job, or his superiors will kill the girl in his care. This is a very complex plot involving the Chinese, a group of American rogue intelligence operatives and the Panama Canal.
Like Alistair McClean, McNab builds slowly, putting all the pieces and players and place, giving you all the details, and once those are in place, you're shot out of the proverbial cannon. I've ordered the next book to see what happens with some of the issues brought up in Last Light.
In many authors--Tom Clancy was the worst offender--technical details feel more like showing off their research. With McNab, the tech details are integral parts of the story, actually carrying the story forward.
The story begins with Nick Stone, McNab's protagonist, calling off an assassination at the last minute in London. As a result, he's sent off to Panama to finish the job, or his superiors will kill the girl in his care. This is a very complex plot involving the Chinese, a group of American rogue intelligence operatives and the Panama Canal.
Like Alistair McClean, McNab builds slowly, putting all the pieces and players and place, giving you all the details, and once those are in place, you're shot out of the proverbial cannon. I've ordered the next book to see what happens with some of the issues brought up in Last Light.
September 25, 2019
I love it. Mission impossible action packed this time with great deal of environmental problematics as a side track. Read Andy McNab is sometime like reading Tom Clansy book of Mister smith. There is also great deal of information interwoven in it but with much more action.
I loved all the action but I also enjoyed all the jungle surviving technics and last bot not least all his ecological rumblings in the Character of Aron Jewish environmentalist.
Nick Stone is great character. lone wolf, bad news for every secret agency. Burned guy with some of Philip Marlow characteristics and great deal of nightmares in his dreams. I love this kind of books.
I loved all the action but I also enjoyed all the jungle surviving technics and last bot not least all his ecological rumblings in the Character of Aron Jewish environmentalist.
Nick Stone is great character. lone wolf, bad news for every secret agency. Burned guy with some of Philip Marlow characteristics and great deal of nightmares in his dreams. I love this kind of books.
December 24, 2011
You always know what you're going to get with a McNab novel; a nice easy read with a few action scenes thrown in to keep you interested. They're never as well written as the likes of Tom Clancy, or as intelligent as Robert Ludlum, but at least you know where you stand. With Last Light it does take a while to really get going, but when it does I found it possibly the most enjoyable of the first four Nick Stone novels. This may be down to the continuing development of Stone's personal story, or simply down to McNab improving as a writer. Either way I look forward to reading more.
May 5, 2017
I gave this book four stars because this was so personal. There was more of the main character, Nick Stone's inner thoughts. And his thoughts returned to the horror of finding his friends murdered. The sacrifices he made for the child he found and cared for as best he could seemingly never appreciated. Sad.
Very interesting information about Panama and the consequences of naive American policy. When will we ever learn!
Very interesting information about Panama and the consequences of naive American policy. When will we ever learn!
January 19, 2020
Last Light Andy Mcnab
Nick Stone former SAS is given a sanctioned assassination. Everything that could go wrong does. The hit is in London. The three snipers are killed and he is arrested. He has been set up. His only chance at survival is to travel to Columbia and to the hit himself. Further complications occur . The people who hired him have their own murderous agenda. Extremely fast paced action thriller.Enjoyed immensely!
Nick Stone former SAS is given a sanctioned assassination. Everything that could go wrong does. The hit is in London. The three snipers are killed and he is arrested. He has been set up. His only chance at survival is to travel to Columbia and to the hit himself. Further complications occur . The people who hired him have their own murderous agenda. Extremely fast paced action thriller.Enjoyed immensely!
April 24, 2018
Aborting an officially-sanctioned assassination attempt at the Houses of Parliament when he realises who the target is, Secret Intelligence Service 'deniable operator' Nick Stone is given a chilling ultimatum by his bosses: fly to Panama and complete the task, or he and Kelly, the 11-year-old girl in his guardianship, will be killed.
August 15, 2011
When you read the summary the book looks awesome. When I read it it wasn't. I might not be a fan of military details. In fact it took me an eternity to finish the book. Only the last couple of chapters were captivating enough to keep me reading without stopping every couple of pages.
September 14, 2021
Didn't finish this, it was so boring
December 20, 2017
Pages read 505.
Andy McNab gives details of the Panama jungle in great detail. Obviously part of his SAS training.
The story opens with Nick Stone trying to assassinate somebody on the House of Commons terrace. He aborts, we are not sure why.
He is then asked to finish the job in Panama otherwise he won't see his daughter again.
Three quarters of the book is then taken up with preparations for this, often bogged down in detail about the geography and topography of Panama.
Having set this moment up in such detail the actual hit was then a bit rushed and led to a whole new bit of the story about a attempt to blow up a ship in the canal.
Having not read any Nick Stone stories before I wasn't sure if the character is gay or not. Is Josh his romantic partner?
All in all some parts not example inedible that we'll, too bogged down in detail at times and lacking a bit of cohesion.
Three dears.
Andy McNab gives details of the Panama jungle in great detail. Obviously part of his SAS training.
The story opens with Nick Stone trying to assassinate somebody on the House of Commons terrace. He aborts, we are not sure why.
He is then asked to finish the job in Panama otherwise he won't see his daughter again.
Three quarters of the book is then taken up with preparations for this, often bogged down in detail about the geography and topography of Panama.
Having set this moment up in such detail the actual hit was then a bit rushed and led to a whole new bit of the story about a attempt to blow up a ship in the canal.
Having not read any Nick Stone stories before I wasn't sure if the character is gay or not. Is Josh his romantic partner?
All in all some parts not example inedible that we'll, too bogged down in detail at times and lacking a bit of cohesion.
Three dears.
July 15, 2023
Always enjoy McNab's Nick Stone assignments. Have read "Last Light " twice, and it doesn't disappoint.
Non stop covert and explosive action, with a determination to complete assignments but to Nick's assessment of what is moral, often at odds with his intelligence agency's motives and instructions, and despite threats to his family.
Having read many of McNab, the author is just never going to allow Nick Stone to get his 'shit' together. However Nick is exSAS and exceptional at what he does, its all he knows.
Non stop covert and explosive action, with a determination to complete assignments but to Nick's assessment of what is moral, often at odds with his intelligence agency's motives and instructions, and despite threats to his family.
Having read many of McNab, the author is just never going to allow Nick Stone to get his 'shit' together. However Nick is exSAS and exceptional at what he does, its all he knows.
June 5, 2025
The weakest of the 'best and original 4 nick stone novels'. Still a good read. I like the opening action set piece - actually one of the best yet. He again makes you think you are with him in these locations - the hot and humid jungle conditions really coming off the pages. Less action than previous books..even for me the gun zeroing was tedious at times..
Kelly by now is being used as she should as a character, having empathy with her I personally i think she should be in background in a safe and happy (well ish) place. She is a distraction to the main plot.
Kelly by now is being used as she should as a character, having empathy with her I personally i think she should be in background in a safe and happy (well ish) place. She is a distraction to the main plot.
December 30, 2017
My journey in Nick Stone's world continues and I must admit that I do enjoy the ride. Make no mistake, this is a "boys will be boys" type of book, with lots of shootouts and fair amount of "detailed" special ops mambo-jambo. But the plot is decent and the main protagonist is far from 'über-soldier' and grows on you with time. If you're looking for a fun, easy to read techno-thriller, you can't go wrong with this one.
March 11, 2019
Not the strongest of the four Nick Stone novels so far - three stars. Just didn't have the same tension as it's predecessors. The former SAS trooper turned deniable operator is involved in a conspiratorial mess down in Panama that involves an assassination, with the life of his ward, Kelly, on the line. A little too much detail at times where equipment and weaponry is concerned. Could've been 50-70 pages shorter, and that would've made it a better read.
May 16, 2024
Being the third in the series, I should know what to expect, but I still find the pacing a little odd. Lots of intricate detail and not as much story. I feel like the first two-thirds/three-quarters were very slow, then 'BAM!' it all seems to happen at once.
I really enjoyed the first in the series, but now I'm not so sure. It definitely feels more real than other similar books, but maybe sometimes at the expense of the pace and story.
I really enjoyed the first in the series, but now I'm not so sure. It definitely feels more real than other similar books, but maybe sometimes at the expense of the pace and story.
July 31, 2022
First time I've read this author, and wasn't sure what to expect. Some other reviews have criticised it for its detail and - at times - slow pace. Those things made it more interesting for me - friends who've been in special forces had told me about just how boring it can be at times. This is also a character who's down on his luck, and the author manages to avoid the cliche of a drink problem.
February 12, 2023
Brilliant 'micromanagement porn' for the very small audience of such fetishists. Especially anyone working on 'GTA: Panama Canal'. Otherwise exhausting and tortuous.
The line between goodguys and badguys is very hazy. The unrealistic off-the-cuff judgment-call that sets things in motion tries to humanise Nick, but instead seems really flaky.
The line between goodguys and badguys is very hazy. The unrealistic off-the-cuff judgment-call that sets things in motion tries to humanise Nick, but instead seems really flaky.
March 9, 2019
No one wants to be in Nick Stone’s shoes. Poor sod. But as usual he lives on and still leaves a lot of promises to those around him. Love the series and writing style but this book was not the best still worth a read.
September 27, 2019
Its slow in the places it needs to be fast and fast in the places it needs to be slower. Took me some time to go through it thanks to the reason.
Overall its an interesting story with interesting characters and down to earth story writing style.
Overall its an interesting story with interesting characters and down to earth story writing style.
December 16, 2021
Improving with each novel. Or maybe I am just getting into the writing style and the Nick Stone character. I don't like how he gets the snot beat out of him in every story - it's okay if he actually wins a fight or two, what do you say? But other than that frustration, this is a solid action book.
March 20, 2023
I love Andy McNab and Nick Stone. This one - not so much. I never really did understand what the mission was (perhaps my fault to be sure) and some parts of the book travelling from the airport and through the jungle were boring.
Nevertheless less, I will continue to read the series.
Nevertheless less, I will continue to read the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews