The Shooting Gallery

by Gaz Hunter, William Pearson

Entering the SAS after serving with the Royal Green Jackets, Gaz Hunter was following a family tradition. His missions have ranged from extracting hostages in Sierra Leone to counter-terrorist operations in Northern Ireland - and he has always led from the front. A former senior NCO of the SAS, Hunter is the highest-ranking member of the regiment to tell his story yet. It is a story about British foreign policy, and the secret war which has been waged against foreign threats to the British and their allies.

Genres: Military Fiction, Nonfiction, Military History, War

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of getting to know Gaz (not his real name) while he was working as a private security consultant in Malaysia during the very late '90s. An extremely low-key, soft-spoken individual, you would never have guessed that he had been through the adventures described in this book. However, over the course of our too-brief friendship - which included several long nights of late drinking and storytelling (him obviously telling, me listening) - I came to have no doubts as the the authenticity of his experiences.

In light of today's still-ongoing war in Afghanistan, it seems odd to read about this real life Rambo fighting alongside rather than against the Afghan tribesmen described here. But in fact, these were more along the "good guy" model of the late Shah Ahmad Masood than the subsequent fundamentalist fighters of the Taliban.

[Andrew Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be one of the best SAS books that I have read.
From training the Afghan soldiers to the Waco siege this book is thoroughly absorbing.
Gaz has seen some atrocities during his career and has been close to losing his life. Such a shame that his constant being away on operations affected his marriage.
This book is a must read and you will not be disappointed.

[Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best military autobiographies that I've read. Very honest, balanced, brutal and compassionate.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sort of book would normally have been happily missed by me but someone recommended it. It then took another two years to read it because it never ranked higher than my other holiday reads. Tbh I think I was been a tad harsh, it's a good, well written book. I wouldn't say it's a poster book of how great the SAS are but it is thoroughly interesting.
Even now I'm not sure why I've not given it 5/5 stars but something felt missing to gain that little extra but by no means let that put you off!

[Glenn Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Interesting anecdotes frankly told. Some really graphic - stomach churning action that paints war as it is - brutal, vicious and dehumanising. I think the author skipped over the impact his career had on his home life but I guess that's a well he didn't want to mine. A very good read.