Zaffre Second Strike The pulse-pounding 2025 thriller from the no.1 bestselling SAS hero.

by Chris Ryan

Zaffre Second Strike The pulse-pounding 2025 thriller from the no.1 bestselling SAS hero ABISBOOK Zaffre.

320 pages, Hardcover

Published May 22, 2025

About the author

Colin Armstrong (b. 1961), usually known by the pen-name Chris Ryan, is a British author, television presenter, security consultant and former Special Air Service sergeant.
After the publication of fellow patrol member Andy McNab's Bravo Two Zero in 1993, Ryan published his own account of his experiences during the Bravo Two Zero mission in 1995, entitled The One That Got Away. Since retiring from the British Army Ryan has published several fiction and non-fiction books, including Strike Back, which was subsequently adapted into a television series for Sky 1, and co-created the ITV action series Ultimate Force. He has also presented or appeared in numerous television documentaries connected to the military or law enforcement.

Reviews

[XOX · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Hawkins is now divorced, and his daughter Zoe is not speaking to him.

He left the military and is now working in the private sector.

A young genius, Matt King, was murdered, and no one knows why. David and Millar are tasked to find out about the murder. As his superior is also dead.

David finds out that he was a whistleblower.

The investigation leads to more intelligence on the issue. That leads to information about a team of foreign agents working for Russia.

What starts as an investigation turns into time time-sensitive mission to stop a terrorist attack.

David is a drunk. He has a friend Bald. He is still grieving and has a hard time letting go of his guilt.

While staying on mission, he has made split decisions to make the right ethical decisions. This is relatively mature of him, even if he is a broken man.

Hawkins and Bald are honest about themselves, seeing themselves as old guys who still want to do the right thing.

The last 25% is action-packed, and this is the best part of the book.

An okay read. 4 stars.

[Own Timis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chris Ryan's prose. It's short. To the point. Punchy.

Second Strike. Similar to his previous works. Two ageing ex-SAS. Washed up. Alcoholics. Thrust into the centre of everything. But reluctantly. Will they be heroes? Save the day? Possibly. Who knows. Everyone else is crap. But they're great.

Littered with classic Ryan tropes. Good guys go rogue. But for a noble cause. One's had a family crisis. Could it work out? Forced similies. Italicised internal monologues. But one word. At a. Time. Punctuated with jargon. Mucker. Blade. Geordie. Jock.

But did I enjoy it? For sure. Will I read the next one? Of course.

[Lou Canning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg! In my opinion this has to be the best book Chris has written in a long time!
Not only is it full of action, gritty, could happen and full of my favourites guys (the SAS!) it sees the return of my all time favourite SAS guy! JOHN BALD!
I couldn’t believe it! I was so excited, literally excited!
This is a really good action packed adventure with crazy arsed (and not too shabby!) SAS doing what they do best!
I loved it!!!

[R · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d like to only give this two and a half stars but that’s not possible. The story had so many holes in it and the characters were outrageous. I know it is fiction but the number of real life names, and events referred to in the text should come with some credibility to the story line.

Also, I’m not a big fan of the amount of foul language used especially the types of word used.

I listened to the audiobook copy.

[James Knowles · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had all the hallmarks of a classic. An intriguing start, a chase and lots of action. However I found it all came to nothing and it felt flat at the end. Shame as I’m an avid CR fan. It won’t stop me buying another though!

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant book, one of my favourite authors, been a while since he released a new book. but it was worth the wait, a bit less action than is usual from one of his books. but towards the end the action comes thick and fast!
well worth a read

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

If it wasn't obvious from the title, this is a Strike Back novel, or at least set in that universe. And this will tell you what to expect. I'm not sure it all really made that much sense if you thought about it, but it was a fun and gripping story, with the tension ratcheting up at the end.

[Jen]

DNF- listened to audiobook for 20 minutes- style of writing does not interest me. Audio narration also too fast for me and can’t slow it.

[Carl · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed this actioner

[Nickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know exactly what you are getting with a Chris Ryan book and this is no different. The last 25-30% is action packed and worth the pay off.

Admittedly some of Chris's recent releases haven't grabbed me in the way I know CR books can but this changed that. It reminded me of some of his older books in the way it grabbed my attention and, more importantly, kept it.

I will definitely be picking up the next CR book whenever that is released.