Soon Dies the Day

by Stephen England

Where would you turn, if the only way back was straight off a cliff?

Haunted by demons of regret, former CIA officer Harry Nichols has found himself a fugitive, fleeing east across the porous borders of the European Union, seeking to lose himself in the ever-spreading Syrian diaspora.

Run. Hide. The only choices left to him—his last chance at redemption, drowned in a pool of blood in a basement somewhere in the Ardennes. And when the German security services come knocking, even those hopes vanish.

But it isn’t extradition—justice—that faces Harry, but a new, desperate infiltrate a cell on the growing radical fringe of European politics. Bring them down from within.

He’s the wrong man for the job. But the Germans aren’t asking.

And there’s no way he’s going to tell them the truth.

And as an old evil rears its head amidst Russian active measures and the unrest precipitated by mass migration, a spy on the run may prove useful to the right people.

Or even the wrong ones .

712 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2023

About the author

Stephen England is the author of the bestselling Shadow Warriors thrillers, including Amazon's #1 Bestselling Political Thriller, Pandora's Grave, and its long-awaited sequel, Day of Reckoning--a novel hailed as "the perfect spy thriller for our time--chaotic, cynical, with only a few good men keeping the barbarians from the gate."

Drawing upon nearly a decade of research into the nature of Islam, the Middle East, espionage and counterterrorism operations, England's work has drawn praise for breathing new life into the genre with the hard-edged, unsparing realism of his portrayal of the war on terror, the people who wage it, and the moral and psychological costs exacted of those who take the war to the enemy where he lives. "Soldiers without uniforms. Fighting a war without end. Shadow warriors. . ."

The short stories NIGHTSHADE and TALISMAN round out the Shadow Warriors series, and England's work also includes the stand-alone historical adventure novel, Sword of Neamha.

Reviews

[Bodo Pfündl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another complex, engaging and hard-hitting spy epic by Stephen England

A country fractured by social division. Some bitter nationalists who think a cleansing fire is its only hope of salvation. And a former intelligence officer who is unwillingly put in their way. A man whose soul still tries to recover from the atrocity he committed in the hope of preventing an even bigger one. A man who – even if he manages to prevail against his enemies – might be beyond saving from his inner demons…

Well, if you thought things couldn’t get any worse for Harry Nichols, the protagonist of Stephen England’s brilliantly haunting spy thriller series, you are very wrong.

The author proves once again that he is a master of character development and world-building, and can weave them both into a complex, adrenaline-fueled narrative.

The research England does to portray Germany realistically is nothing short of awe-inspiring. But what really sets his work apart is the world he has painstakingly built over the course of 14 books now, combining many different plot lines which capture the reader’s attention, with rich, memorable characters, who populate them.

The word here is an (only slightly) darker mirror image of our own, inhabited by people trying to do the best they can. And when it comes to the murky world of intelligence, the road to hell is often paved with good intentions. But watching Harry Nichols trying to fight overwhelming odds to atone for his past sins and prevent a country from plummeting into the abyss of fascism, represents a beacon of hope in a world desperately short of it.

This latest entry into the Shadow Warrior series is yet again a shining example of what is really possible within the spy thriller genre, concerning the level of depth, emotional involvement and personal stakes. Bravo, Stephen England!

(I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review)

[Steven Netter · Rating 4 out of 5]

READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books



Make sure to check out the full review

[Ross Sidor · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 out of 5 stars. Easily, the best novel I've read this year so far. I cannot praise this book enough. Stephen England's previous books all received five stars from me, but he has really surpassed himself with this one.

Former CIA paramilitary operator Harry Nichols returns, still on the run with a growing number of intelligence agencies in pursuit. He now finds himself in Germany, where the German security service coerces him into going undercover to infiltrate an extremist cell plotting a coup. Intersecting with the main plot are subplots concerning political intrigue in DC and a violent feud between rival Russian spy agencies. We also follow the paths of a pair of container ships crossing the Atlantic and a jihadist in Germany. Eventually, all the players intersect. Not everyone will survive, and those who do will not emerge unscathed. Despite the novel's size, it's a fast read and quickly paced story that will stay with you long after you have reached the last page.

This is definitely a character-driven story, with each character fully brought to life with their own internal strengths, weaknesses, and motivations. However, the action scenes are well worth the tense buildup, and they are more intense and tactically described than any other you've read. For readers who have been following the series, you will see Nichols at his most unflinchingly brutal and savage as he's single-handedly pitted against a crew of rogue special operators.

If you're a fan of Clancy, Ludlum, Forsyth, Silva, etc. and you're not reading Stephen England then you must start immediately. England writes realistic, impeccably researched thrillers exploring the darker, morally ambiguous gray areas of political corruption, terrorism, and espionage. The author clearly puts more attention and care into his characters and stories than I suspect do most of the authors in mainstream publishing on the best-seller lists, and the quality of his work speaks for itself. Books in this genre simply do not get any better than Stephen England's Shadow Warriors novels.

[Steven Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of Stephen England's newest book, Soon Dies the Day. It was a page-turner from start to finish.

Still out in the cold and on the run after the harrowing events of Presence of Mine Enemies, former Agency paramilitary Harry Nichols is laying low in Germany when he gets snatched up by the formidable GSG-9. Rather than turn him over to the Americans, the Germans have another idea in mind for him: run him as an asset and place him undercover with a homegrown far-right terror cell.

What starts off as a simple op spirals out of control, as both state and non-state actors find themselves drawn into the mix and the far-right's penetration of the German government permeates farther than Nichols or any of his handlers could have foreseen. While it begins at a slow-burn full of intrigue and an analysis of Nichol's complex PTSD, it rapidly escalates to violence and bloodshed that should entertain the die-hard fans of the genre.

There's a particular subplot that happens in the Western Hemisphere that should certainly prove relevant to recent events that have taken place in Ukraine and Russia. I won't go further than that for spoiler reasons, but readers should keep an eye out for that.

Fans of the old-school action/spy thriller (think Clancy or Ludlum, but more talented and criminally underappreciated) will absolutely love Soon Dies the Day, and they should pick it up post-haste.

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

TAKING BERLIN

“So far you have been treated as an officer and a gentleman, but don't think that this will go on if you don't behave better than you have done. You have two hours left in which to confess everything. If you don't, I shall hand you over to the Gestapo, who are used to dealing with such gangsters and criminals — you won't enjoy their methods a bit.” – Reinhard Heydrich intimidating UK SIS employee Sigmund Best.

“The world is just a barrel-organ which the Lord God turns Himself. We all have to dance to the tune which is already on the drum.” – Reinhard Heydrich on his deathbed.

History does not repeat, but it usually rhymes. This trend is usually worse than simply a rehash of some old calamity because there can sometimes be a nasty twist which blindsides us all. Case in point, the horrific renaissance of fascism in the Western body politic. After being smashed into the dirt of World War 2, its adherents were mostly ostracized for half a century save for the odd politically expedient ‘partner’ down in South America. Alas in the 2020s, the creed which created a hell on earth between Paris and the outskirts of Moscow has come back, hidden under new masks. Patient zero of this ideological contagion is Europe where select politicians on the right side of the strata have decided to play things to the edge, believing they can channel the discontent of the age, and run rings around their peers. While not advocating for castor oil and goon squads, these politicians are feeding a crocodile which will begin feasting once it’s big and strong.

One of the people who has watched this trend grow to monstrous proportions is Stephen England, author of the Shadow Warriors thriller novels. While initially focusing on the rise and havoc of Islamic Terrorism, England has also kept a watchful eye on the parallel growth of 21st century right wing populism and its slip towards violent action. In 2023, it is only fitting that his sixth full length novel, Soon Dies the Day, explores this security threat and its implications. Bringing back his protagonist, the rogue CIA Officer Harry Nicholas, we enter central Europe on the cusp of a cataclysm. The mass refugee crisis sparked by the decay and destabilization of the Arab Spring has hardened the hearts of those who see it as the foretaste of national destruction. Ideologues who spy opportunities in the misery battle to become the strong man who will solve the problems with a well applied jackboot. And bitter nation states that are fueled by a murderous nostalgia that will only be satisfied with land and dead bodies. Now to the review. What happens when men actively work to make sure history does indeed repeat itself?

Our story begins in Germany. The vaunted GSG9 team are mounting an operation to arrest a dangerous person of interest. Their prey, frazzled, alone and vulnerable is still alert however. A desperate gambit with a fire alarm is used to clear the building and generate a ready-made crowd to exit. It fails however and Harry Nicholas, fired CIA employee, rogue paramilitary officer, criminal who has left a trail of dead terrorists in two countries, is arrested. We then cut to December, five days before Christmas. Contrary to his expectations, his captors, the embattled German BFV domestic security organization did not hand him over to his former Company masters. Instead, they place him in the espionage equivalent of indentured servitude, turning him into an asset to infiltrate a conspiracy of Hamburg based hard right wing Bundeswehr veterans who have seemingly managed to identify and whack every single previous informant the BFV have dispatched.

With his extensive combat experience, still formidable espionage training and impeccable German, Harry manages to slip into the extremist group but soon finds the wolf pack he’s trying to keep up with have grand designs than simply beating the stuffing out of the German immigrant population. Riots and societal bedlam are sparked by fake news. Armaments are gathered at the far edge of Europe to begin a civil war. Infiltrators within the body politic begin to stir to the pot to boiling point. And waiting in the wings is an insidious foreign influence, aiming for the biggest prize of all, the successful execution of a terrorist attack that would blow out the heart of its biggest enemy for generations to come. But for a man who has no bridges to retreat across and fewer lines left to cross, with Harry Nicholas, there is no right way to survive the imminent calamity, only one way which will soon bring him to a day where his own death is just a gunshot away.

In terms of plot, Soon Dies the Day is another magnificent, sweeping panorama and a showcase of England’s masterful ability to blend a variety of influences together. Clancy scale plotlines. Real world detail that surpasses the likes of Flynn and Thor. The gritty psychological torment and heartbreaks of ‘24’. An exploration of the psychological drivers of human nature matching Gerald Seymour. All these and more come together in a story that captures the zeitgeist of the 2020s perfectly. It takes readers on a journey that explores the effects of the great malaise that has affected us all. The despair at making a difference through the legitimate political process. The inability to finance or mount a perfect defence against enemies foreign and domestic. The desire to stop caring and let some kind of tyranny take care of all the hard work that a public needs to do to make a body politic work. The doubts that those who have tried to fight against evil have about whether the sacrifices made and scars receive have been worth it for the ingratitude they have received. All this and more is explored in the rich narrative of Soon Dies The Day, putting it in a class above and beyond the bar in the genre.

Action and setting? Outstanding. After several novels, short stories and novellas over the years, England has become established his own unique and definitive style that blazes its own trail. It one which avoids many of the standard trappings of a Post 9/11 thriller novel. There’s no gratuitous product placement or truly on – the – nose gun porn. No disposable video game red shirts to be lazily shot through. No contrived get out of dodge wish fulfilment. No obscenities. What there is however is accurate battlefield tactics and gunplay. Searing psychological brutality which will pin readers to their chairs with bated breath. Unapologetic carnage and mayhem when the shooting begin and the C4 charges start going off. England’s work has always been more brutal and visceral than most of their equivalents on the New York times bestseller list.

Whether it be a counter terrorist takedown at Germany’s busiest airport, a chaotic bombing attack in Moscow, a tense assassination attempt at Europe’s most infamous rave bar, the author brings to life when the espionage profession, usually the routine gathering and analysis of intelligence, puts those who practice it as a profession in deep peril. This perfect balance of exciting mayhem takes place on beautifully gritty backdrops. The author more than capably immerses the reader in the snows of the Carpathian Mountains, the decadent gold of Russia’s dachas or the steel chill of the Port of Hamburg and feel the rush and terror that is the day-to-day existence of Harry Nicholas.

Research? Top class. One of the trademarks the author attempted to establish from the get go was to strike the right balance with attention to detail. While some pretty cool ordinance is featured in Soon Dies the Day, it is not there to be simply namedropped. All the equipment utilized by the players in Soon Dies the Day, lethal or otherwise has a clear purpose than be mere eye candy. Some writers in mainstream published fiction would be wise to learn a similar lesson. Aside from that, the narrative is deeply enriched with the author’s keen eye and focus for the complexities of espionage in the 2020s.

From an exploration of the historic, hardball interservice rivalries between Russia’s vengeful intelligence organs, the effects of a top-of-the-line anti – tank rocket working or failing, the dangerous implications of nation states gradually relinquishing power to non – state actors in a well-intentioned effort to simplify things, this novel, both captures the age of a new tournament of shadows where even at a time when the masses of the free world despair of preserving their rights and liberties, sometimes, someone with a steady shooting arm and a smooth trigger pull is required to save the day.

Characters? England has always been excellent with bringing his players to life. The characters in the Shadow Warriors series have always been compelling in their uniqueness and inability to conform to the average trends in thriller fiction. Badass government assassins who are not omnipotent and can be taken down when the odds can’t be defied. Brilliant spymasters who aren’t instantly given carte blanche to rampage through their enemies. Terrorists who may not be the sharpest tools in the shed but are still blunt enough to survive and cause mayhem. Soldiers whose honour and decency drive them to desperation and the most horrible acts. But for brevity’s sake I’ll focus on three.

First the Protagonist, Harry Nicholas. Fired from the CIA, he had entered Europe on a quest to bring justice to a jihadist that had managed to make a clean getaway. The aftermath of removing a danger to society from the earth however has taken him to unimaginable lows. Now living day by day, his liberty totally in doubt, Nicholas also finally has to deal with physical and mental decay that results from a life where inner peace is impossible. Whether it be his combat abilities which have been ravaged by the passage of time and are only holding up due to desperation, or the literal ghosts of casualties he rightly and wrongly blames himself for getting killed haunting him, Nicholas is the furthest thing from the stereotype of the post – 9/11 anti-hero, running and gunning in the Hindu Kush with an eye wateringly expensive bespoke AR-15, barely losing a single moment’s sleep. He is however, a pretty realistic depiction of a 21st century fugitive on the run, who actually has the skills, experience and sheer bloody desperation to survive. He may have started to fall apart in this book, but the man is not done yet, bringing to bear more than a decade of experience in covert operations to match wits with paranoid, trigger happy fanatics and uncover what they are truly after.

Secondly, we have a new character, Bradley Farris. Farris is introduced as the bright light of the American Private Security/Private Military Corporation industry. Unlike a certain real-world peer however, he came from Delta Force and was clever enough to get the political goodwill to grow and prosper to become someone who calls the shots in 21st century America. Such a position however is not enough for a man like Farris who in this story is revealed to be masterminding an audacious scheme that would radically reshape the American government for the first time since the Truman administration. Fuelled by hubris, an easy, fake charm and the willingness to take a battle axe to all those who try to stop him, the author makes Farris into a formidable adversary whose intelligence and resources make him one of the most terrifying war profiteers in Post 9/11 thriller fiction.

Thirdly we have the reactionary organization. While not its real name, the conspiracy that Harry infiltrates is the heart of this tale. Boasting a spectrum of individuals ranging from honorable men who have lost faith in the legitimate political process to affect desperate changes, self-righteous ideological fanatics who want to make something better by destroying all the enemies at the gates they perceive to be on the march, and homicidal maniacs driven by bloodlust they are barely able to conceal with the most horrendous ideology, the author is able to use this gang to examine the effects of contemporary political polarization where a third way is a joke and there are only fence sitters to be gunned down or followers to step under the jackboot. A highlight of the reactionary organization, a Herr Carsten will stay in reader's minds, as near the end of the story he initiates and gleefully embraces an act of butchery with the gusto of an SS-Standartenführer. The author makes plain that even Islamic Terrorists do not have the monopoly on barbarism and that given the means, opportunity, and competent direction, men like Carsten, who do exist even in the English-speaking world would seize the chance to pile up the corpses.

Issues? Only one really. There was a single plotline in the story which felt out of place. It did have a purpose in the story and a critical payoff in the final act, but it wasn’t the most compelling of the many, excellent storylines in Soon Dies the Day. But that one little issue is totally overshadowed by the greatness in scope of the novel which brought thrills and gasps of the kind I rarely get in my mainstream published fiction reading.

History doesn’t repeat but rhymes. But there will always been those out there who want history to repeat. To turn back the clock to ages gone by in the mistaken belief that they were better, instead of appreciating the present and trying to deal with the problems in the here and now. They can be Islamic terrorists who dream of world domination or reactionary politicians who want to play a pale imitation of Caesar, the 21st century has seen these kinds of people thoroughly blow apart the last of the optimism of the new millennium. Soon Dies the Day is a timely and relevant cautionary tale about when those people get the means and opportunity to try make history repeat itself, and the bloodshed that follows.

A plot narrative that is operatic in scope and goes for a bigger vision than many NYT bestsellers. An authentic portrayal about the times when bullets start flying in the spying game. A cast of compelling characters whose struggle to deal with the logical conclusions of their actions and must pay the price for them. As Harry Nicholas sails off into the sunset, to live free and die another day, his creator has taken him to a place where only the brave and gifted writers can. Over the edge of the unknown.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

[Kai Shiden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soon Dies the Day is a bit like a movement in a symphony (or a single track on Slayer's Reign in Blood album) in that while by itself it is pretty great, it has to be experienced as part of the larger body of work to really get the most out of it.

The central plot involving ex CIA paramilitary, Harry Nichol's infiltration of a German right wing extremist group is the A plot and on its own is gripping and very well done. It reminded me of Gerald Seymour at his best (especially, Harry's game) and to some extent John Le Carree (The Night Manager). The German politics were convincing and provide a vivid illustration of the right wing extremist landscape in the country. The depiction of Russian active measures and operations in Europe is also well done.

There are multiple B plots which were set up in previous novels that keep intruding and only have a fleeting, if any connection to the main story. I did find myself pretty invested in some of them, despite not having any previous familiarity with the characters. However, the various machinations of the Russian characters were a bit hard to follow without having read the other Shadow Warriors novels novels. Even though it makes the novel less accessible for newcomers, it is impressive how events from previous novels have consequences even for the supporting cast and I can see this as a point in the novel's favor for fans of the series. It is also fairly uncommon in thriller novel series where usually the status quo resets after every story.

The writing is fairly dramatic which suits the later half of the novel well but is a little grating in the early chapters where the stakes are not quite high enough to warrant it. Especially some of the short chapters where nothing happens besides a character having a thought and then the story jumps to the next point of view character. This format does work very well in chapters with a lot of action though.

The ending sequence is great and the tightly written final 200 pages are enough to recommend the novel.

Great novel but I would recommend reading some of the other books from the series first.

[SteVen Hendricks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review – Soon Dies the Day – Stephen England
Whenever I read one of Indie author Stephen England’s tales, I always know that I’m in for a really good read. His latest book, “Soon Dies the Day” is another good action adventure. Although long in length – 712 pages – it exemplifies England’s thorough research, creative writing, and detailed action scenarios. Coarse, grainy, and bold, this extensive narrative is a stout action thriller that is gripping, exciting, and authentic. While the extended story labors along at first, England masterfully accelerates the tale to fierce ‘violence of action’, crafty espionage sequences, and powerful and compelling dialogue. Most of the characters are strong – especially the main character, a rogue CIA agent dealing with anxiety/PTSD. And the Germans, Russians, and bad guys were also well developed. England has established himself as a little different action thriller writer, which makes his novels unique and distinctive. There is no excessive cursing, no extensive product placements, ample gunplay but no unnecessary gun porn, and brutal combat action but no needless carnage. Soon Dies the Day is on scale with a classic Tom Clancy paramilitary spy thriller but with more mayhem, chaos, and action, plus a heavy emphasis on the psychological aspect of a complex espionage thriller. A complex but good read full of thrills and chills unlike any other action thriller today. Stephen England is the real deal as an action thriller author…

[James Stejskal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was almost intimidated by Stephen England's Soon Dies The Day when the crane dropped it on my porch — hefty at 698 pages, but I plunged in and kept coming back for more...

This, in short, is what I will tell you without spilling the beans — bring your appetite for a thriller full of action and well, written, well researched, and well-conceived espionage / terrorism action.

Harry Nichols, former CIA officer, reluctantly returns to fray he escaped when the German security service coerces him into another operation against a group that threatens the very fabric of democracy.
England has written a monumental story of an operation that pits Nichols against the dark forces that exist right outside our doors in Europe and inside the United States.
Intricate in plot and locational detail, complex in character development, nuanced when the author portrays the conflict between supposedly allied intelligence agencies, and timely in its subject matter.
This is a Harry Nichols we haven’t really seen before, fugitive, beset by demons, and desperate to escape the clutches of everyone would prefer to see him dead.
But Harry has other ideas and the means to make sure that doesn’t happen. A roller coaster tale on steroids.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

So worth reading the 700+page novel from Stephen England. See you soon, Harry?

[Manfred · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Harry Nichols is taken by German security forces, he is prepared for his life to end, in prison or worse. Instead is is put undercover with a group of German neo-nazis to infiltrate them and find out their plans. And Nichols goes through hell and can't trust anybody, not even himself. Lots of different plot lines appear until the reader reaches the explosive final. Another fantastic story in the Shadow Warriors universe written in Stephen England's unique style. Wow!

[Sean McCormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. England has weaved an intricate tale where every action has a consequence, which in turn has a following consequence, in turn causing even more ripple effects... culminating in a series of confrontations that take over one hundred pages to unfold. I'm not using the term "intricate" because it's my first day with a new thesaurus, either: when a novel opens with a dramatis personae like this one's, you know you're in for a journey of twists and turns that would make Hideo Kojima's head spin. (Or as another author once wrote, "Plans within plans within plans.")
Harry Nichols' journey has taken him to hell, but not back--not yet. As grueling a journey as it is, it is well worth the read, and there are moments that will linger in your mind long after the last page is turned.