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The Siege
5 FLOORS. 6 TERRORISTS. 26 HOSTAGES. AND ONE MAN ON THE INSIDE... The Siege is a thrilling military spy novel. Set in the 1980s, in Margaret Thatcher’s London, it touches on pre 9/11 Arab relations and international terrorism.
237 pages, Paperback
Published March 3, 2016
About the author
Charlie Flowers
28 books81 followersCharlie Flowers is the author of the bestselling "Riz" thriller series.
Charlie was born in Eastern Europe sometime in the late Sixties and arrived with his family in Britain in 1975. After training as a journalist in London he had a varied career as reporter, roadie, truck driver and record label boss. He is a member of the Crime Writers' Association and International Thriller Writers Inc., and is published by Lume Books and Black Dove Books.
Charlie was born in Eastern Europe sometime in the late Sixties and arrived with his family in Britain in 1975. After training as a journalist in London he had a varied career as reporter, roadie, truck driver and record label boss. He is a member of the Crime Writers' Association and International Thriller Writers Inc., and is published by Lume Books and Black Dove Books.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 21, 2016
“The Siege” eBook was published in 2016 and was written by Charlie Flowers. Mr. Flowers has published over half a dozen novels.
I received a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence. Most of this Thriller novel is set in London of 1980. The primary character is former SAS officer Captain David Mahoney who now works for Intelligence Corps.
A unit of the Democratic Revolutionary Front for the Liberation of Khuzestan travels to London with the intent of taking over and destroying the Iranian Embassy. Mahoney has a man, Tariq Ismail, undercover in Iran. He turns out to be in the cell that is traveling to London. Ismail is able to get word to Mahoney, but he is told to stay with his cell.
The terrorists make it to London and execute their plan to take and hold the Iranian Embassy. They have several people hostage and it becomes a tense race whether the terrorists will complete their plan to destroy the Embassy, or will the SAS be able to take it back saving it and Ismail.
This seemed more of a novella than a novel at only 142 pages. There was quite a bit of action. I thought that the basic story plot line was good, but it seemed choppy and under developed. Another 100 pages would have smoothed it out and made it a much more enjoyable read. I give this novel a 3.5 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence. Most of this Thriller novel is set in London of 1980. The primary character is former SAS officer Captain David Mahoney who now works for Intelligence Corps.
A unit of the Democratic Revolutionary Front for the Liberation of Khuzestan travels to London with the intent of taking over and destroying the Iranian Embassy. Mahoney has a man, Tariq Ismail, undercover in Iran. He turns out to be in the cell that is traveling to London. Ismail is able to get word to Mahoney, but he is told to stay with his cell.
The terrorists make it to London and execute their plan to take and hold the Iranian Embassy. They have several people hostage and it becomes a tense race whether the terrorists will complete their plan to destroy the Embassy, or will the SAS be able to take it back saving it and Ismail.
This seemed more of a novella than a novel at only 142 pages. There was quite a bit of action. I thought that the basic story plot line was good, but it seemed choppy and under developed. Another 100 pages would have smoothed it out and made it a much more enjoyable read. I give this novel a 3.5 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
May 23, 2016
"The devil is in the detail"
I admire writers who can keep my interest when all around me I see words and pictures I don't understand. The detailed research required to produce a fictionalised account of the 1980 Iranian Embassy Siege must be staggering. I've read several books by Charlie Flowers; this one is different.Just as good, but different.
At no time was I tempted to skip the minute analysis of every piece of kit, every character, every second of the action. It all rings true. Every word. I couldn't tell a flash-bang from a lollipop but it didn't matter. The short, sharp chapters and the sparse, acutely observed dialogue give the action that extra push to keep the pace at full tilt. Remember those roundabouts in the park? When your Dad gave it a big spin each time you came around. You screamed didn't you? But you stayed on until the end. So did I with 'The Siege' it was too much of a thrill not to..
I admire writers who can keep my interest when all around me I see words and pictures I don't understand. The detailed research required to produce a fictionalised account of the 1980 Iranian Embassy Siege must be staggering. I've read several books by Charlie Flowers; this one is different.Just as good, but different.
At no time was I tempted to skip the minute analysis of every piece of kit, every character, every second of the action. It all rings true. Every word. I couldn't tell a flash-bang from a lollipop but it didn't matter. The short, sharp chapters and the sparse, acutely observed dialogue give the action that extra push to keep the pace at full tilt. Remember those roundabouts in the park? When your Dad gave it a big spin each time you came around. You screamed didn't you? But you stayed on until the end. So did I with 'The Siege' it was too much of a thrill not to..
March 9, 2016
A gripping read. I could tell straight away in the first few pages that Charlie Flowers has a talent for writing Action Thrillers. The Author has done a great job in building this story from the beginning, right through to the main action. I like that Saddam Hussein is the bad guy in this, ordering the destruction of the Iranian embassy in London. Then the SAS being used to go in after the terrorists. The action scenes are great, and this is well put together book. Well worth reading.
Read
October 22, 2016In “The Seige” Charlie Flowers skillfully unwinds a tale of “no-holds-barred” action and with a unique twist of irreverence and humor. Captain David Mahoney is a British intelligence officer working to foil the activies of terrorists lead by, of all people Saddam Hussein. While plans are laid to seize and destroy the Iranian Embassy in London, Mahoney is working to foil the entire plot. Mahoney has placed a man, Tariq, inside the cabal of terrorists.
As the plot unfolds we are introduced to Mahoney and his fellow soldiers. What makes “The Seige” unique and entertaining is that the lack of standard blood and guts banter. The soldiers involved in this tale, especially Mahoney, are irreverent, arch, and totally unconcerned with authority. Mahoney, obviously a veteran of numerous intelligence campaigns, is charmingly vulgar, flip, and unconcerned. The only truly serious issue for Mahoney is the welfare of his undercover man Tariq and the people he is protecting; these are the only issues that cause him to be fully serious.
As the plot unfolds we are introduced to dozens of stoic brits who enjoy the chase as much as they love victory. This is not your standard espionage novel and what might have passed as stiff upper lip military men in another standard espionage novel are replaced by men who combine joy with duty. Not boy scouts, these soldiers, but balls to the wall fighters with a touch of the prankster.
Not to say that Mahoney and his colleagues are not skilled. The reader is witness to a number of skillsets born of years of sieges and terrorist attacks. While the discussion of weapons and technology is often above the heads of many readers, the descriptions are fascinating and realistic. These men even use models of a target building to plan their attacks. All in all there is a sense of passion, competency and shared comradery between disparate departments in the military and the intelligence community.
Anyone who enjoys a good espionage story will love this book. But there is a bit more, a bonus in the creation of characters that add a more human dimension to what could be a dry and formulaic story. Definitely a must read.
As the plot unfolds we are introduced to Mahoney and his fellow soldiers. What makes “The Seige” unique and entertaining is that the lack of standard blood and guts banter. The soldiers involved in this tale, especially Mahoney, are irreverent, arch, and totally unconcerned with authority. Mahoney, obviously a veteran of numerous intelligence campaigns, is charmingly vulgar, flip, and unconcerned. The only truly serious issue for Mahoney is the welfare of his undercover man Tariq and the people he is protecting; these are the only issues that cause him to be fully serious.
As the plot unfolds we are introduced to dozens of stoic brits who enjoy the chase as much as they love victory. This is not your standard espionage novel and what might have passed as stiff upper lip military men in another standard espionage novel are replaced by men who combine joy with duty. Not boy scouts, these soldiers, but balls to the wall fighters with a touch of the prankster.
Not to say that Mahoney and his colleagues are not skilled. The reader is witness to a number of skillsets born of years of sieges and terrorist attacks. While the discussion of weapons and technology is often above the heads of many readers, the descriptions are fascinating and realistic. These men even use models of a target building to plan their attacks. All in all there is a sense of passion, competency and shared comradery between disparate departments in the military and the intelligence community.
Anyone who enjoys a good espionage story will love this book. But there is a bit more, a bonus in the creation of characters that add a more human dimension to what could be a dry and formulaic story. Definitely a must read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews