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Death or Glory #4
Code of Combat
More Death or Glory adventure as Tom Caine is captured by Nazis.
Italy, 1943 – SAS Captain Tom Caine is being held captive by Nazi forces. While imprisoned he befriends another member of the SAS – one who has heard a rumour.
The operative knows the location of an ancient codex. A codex he claims will lead them to the location of the original texts of Tacitus’s Germania.
Caine is deployed by the Nazis to find the codex and retrieve the texts on a mission that will most certainly bring about his death, and refusal is not an option.
Caine has little choice but to begin his most deadly campaign yet.
The Death or Glory series is perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Andy McNab – Michael Asher combines seamless historical accuracy with the pace and action of a modern SAS thriller.
Michael Asher served in the Parachute Regiment and SAS. A fluent Arab speaker, he has lived for years among the Bedouin peoples. He has made expeditions in many countries, always preferring to travel on foot or with animal transport. He is also the author of Shoot to Kill: From 2 Para to the SAS.
Italy, 1943 – SAS Captain Tom Caine is being held captive by Nazi forces. While imprisoned he befriends another member of the SAS – one who has heard a rumour.
The operative knows the location of an ancient codex. A codex he claims will lead them to the location of the original texts of Tacitus’s Germania.
Caine is deployed by the Nazis to find the codex and retrieve the texts on a mission that will most certainly bring about his death, and refusal is not an option.
Caine has little choice but to begin his most deadly campaign yet.
The Death or Glory series is perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Andy McNab – Michael Asher combines seamless historical accuracy with the pace and action of a modern SAS thriller.
Michael Asher served in the Parachute Regiment and SAS. A fluent Arab speaker, he has lived for years among the Bedouin peoples. He has made expeditions in many countries, always preferring to travel on foot or with animal transport. He is also the author of Shoot to Kill: From 2 Para to the SAS.
- GenresFiction
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 20, 2014
31 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Michael Asher
55 books63 followersMichael Asher is an author, historian, deep ecologist, and notable desert explorer who has covered more than 30,000 miles on foot and camel. He spent three years living with a traditional nomadic tribe in Sudan.
Michael Asher was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, in 1953, and attended Stamford School. At 18 he enlisted in the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, and saw active service in Northern Ireland during The Troubles there in the 1970s.
He studied English Language & Linguistics at the University of Leeds. at the same time serving in B Squadron, 23rd SAS Regiment. He also studied at Carnegie College, Leeds, where he qualified as a teacher of physical education and English.
In 1978-9, he worked for the RUC Special Patrol Group anti-terrorist patrols, but left after less than a year. He took a job as a volunteer English teacher in the Sudan in 1979.
The author of twenty-one published books, and presenter/director of six TV documentaries, Asher has lived in Africa for much of his life, and speaks Arabic and Swahili. He is married to Arabist and photographer Mariantonietta Peru, with whom he has a son and a daughter, Burton and Jade. He currently lives in Nairobi, Kenya.
Michael Asher was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, in 1953, and attended Stamford School. At 18 he enlisted in the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, and saw active service in Northern Ireland during The Troubles there in the 1970s.
He studied English Language & Linguistics at the University of Leeds. at the same time serving in B Squadron, 23rd SAS Regiment. He also studied at Carnegie College, Leeds, where he qualified as a teacher of physical education and English.
In 1978-9, he worked for the RUC Special Patrol Group anti-terrorist patrols, but left after less than a year. He took a job as a volunteer English teacher in the Sudan in 1979.
The author of twenty-one published books, and presenter/director of six TV documentaries, Asher has lived in Africa for much of his life, and speaks Arabic and Swahili. He is married to Arabist and photographer Mariantonietta Peru, with whom he has a son and a daughter, Burton and Jade. He currently lives in Nairobi, Kenya.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 25, 2016
First, I must apologise. I thought the previous book was awful and promised to never read another in the series again. In fairness I found this very cheap and quite a few reviews suggested it was an improvement. Sadly every flaw in the previous books is here in spades and I should have known better.
So, poor characterisation, badly clichéd bad guys and pretty poor writing. I just think Mr Asher just can’t “do” fiction, his nonfiction is pretty good though.
Anyway, SAS Captain Tom Caine is in Italy and ends up with a side mission to find a mysterious ancient codex (yawn) that the Nazis are desperate for. Cue a bit of dull chasing an ancient relic nonsense and throw in a bit of uncomfortable supernatural nonsense and we have Caine trudging around the Italian countryside dodging Nazis and hooking up with local partisans who could be on anyone’s side. The action seemed a bit more violent this time, the author seems to enjoy graphic descriptions of bullets tearing people apart and, as per the last book, accompanied by repeated and unnecessary sound effects, he loves a bit of “barrrooooommffff”, “BaboommMMM”, “bawwroommpp” “BAA-ROWWMMFFF” and “beeeeyowwwwmmm” – it is like a small child running around in the garden making “war” noises.
This was awful and I promise to never, ever, read any more of this terrible series.
So, poor characterisation, badly clichéd bad guys and pretty poor writing. I just think Mr Asher just can’t “do” fiction, his nonfiction is pretty good though.
Anyway, SAS Captain Tom Caine is in Italy and ends up with a side mission to find a mysterious ancient codex (yawn) that the Nazis are desperate for. Cue a bit of dull chasing an ancient relic nonsense and throw in a bit of uncomfortable supernatural nonsense and we have Caine trudging around the Italian countryside dodging Nazis and hooking up with local partisans who could be on anyone’s side. The action seemed a bit more violent this time, the author seems to enjoy graphic descriptions of bullets tearing people apart and, as per the last book, accompanied by repeated and unnecessary sound effects, he loves a bit of “barrrooooommffff”, “BaboommMMM”, “bawwroommpp” “BAA-ROWWMMFFF” and “beeeeyowwwwmmm” – it is like a small child running around in the garden making “war” noises.
This was awful and I promise to never, ever, read any more of this terrible series.
December 12, 2019
I read this book in my last year of high school. It's totally action-filled and I remember going crazy about this book. I wouldn't mind reading it again in the future. :)
May 18, 2025
More from the invincible Tom Caine.
Great escapism, good characters and a story tat moves at pace.
Great escapism, good characters and a story tat moves at pace.
January 30, 2021
Brilliant book
Another great read with the actions of Tom caine good serious of books to follow great war stories and paddy Mayne mentioned in parts a true war hero
Another great read with the actions of Tom caine good serious of books to follow great war stories and paddy Mayne mentioned in parts a true war hero
July 5, 2015
There is a poetry to the sounds and descriptions of violence and combat. This series is pure escapism. I look forward to the next one.
January 22, 2015
A cracking read. I so hope we see Tom Caine again.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews