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Geordie Sharp #4
Tenth Man Down
Sent to train government troops in Kamanga, Geordie is to reclaim a lucrative African diamond mine held by Kamanga rebels and escape the evil spell of a Sin'ganga or witch doctor. As Sharp and his men move in, they discover the rebels are being supported by ex-US Navy SEAL mercenaries. As they try and uncover the hidden agenda, Sharp is taken prisoner. Is he the tenth and last of the predicted victims?
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First published July 21, 1999
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About the author
Chris Ryan
343 books1,024 followersColin 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 26, 2015
A blokes book. SAS soldiers chasing diamonds in Africa. Bang bang guns and shoot shoot kills.
August 25, 2019
The fourth and last book of Chris Ryan's Geordie Sharp series. I left a big gap between the last one and this one, a decade or so, so I wasn't sure whether I'd still enjoy this kind of read. The good news is that I did, albeit with a few caveats. One thing you notice is that the story takes a while to get into. The first half is largely set-up, and with wafer-thin characterisation and blatant racism almost on every page, it's tough to read at times. I found this book far more racist than a lot of the openly-criticised early 20th century fiction I encounter, and get the feeling that it's meant to come across as 'banter' which makes it okay. Still uncomfortable, though.
Once the story gets to grips with shifting loyalties and enemies on all sides, it picks up nicely. Ryan describes the action scenes really well and gets a momentum going in the second half of the book so that you'll be rattling through it. The villains behave in incredibly gruesome ways for a thriller story, while the locations are well realised and the sense of breakneck danger gives it vitality. Not on the same level as a Wilbur Smith book, but this works well as an airport novel, and the ending is very satisfying.
Once the story gets to grips with shifting loyalties and enemies on all sides, it picks up nicely. Ryan describes the action scenes really well and gets a momentum going in the second half of the book so that you'll be rattling through it. The villains behave in incredibly gruesome ways for a thriller story, while the locations are well realised and the sense of breakneck danger gives it vitality. Not on the same level as a Wilbur Smith book, but this works well as an airport novel, and the ending is very satisfying.
June 20, 2022
A very enjoyable action thriller from Chris Ryan, Tenth Man Down is a light, fast-paced and action-filled tale set in a fictitious African country.
Ryan clearly did his homework well. His depiction of the southern African bushveld is accurate, and the intrigue and bloody-mindedness of the local leaders shows that he has a good grasp of what politics in Africa sadly all too often is like.
While once doesn't necessarily expect much emphasis on the characters' growth and development through the vicissitudes of the plot in an action thriller like this, Ryan succeeds in presenting us with credible and non-stereotypical characters -- with the exception of the three villains of the story, who are presented as pretty much beyond redemption.
While no classic and not likely to be a bestseller, this is still a book to enjoy.
Ryan clearly did his homework well. His depiction of the southern African bushveld is accurate, and the intrigue and bloody-mindedness of the local leaders shows that he has a good grasp of what politics in Africa sadly all too often is like.
While once doesn't necessarily expect much emphasis on the characters' growth and development through the vicissitudes of the plot in an action thriller like this, Ryan succeeds in presenting us with credible and non-stereotypical characters -- with the exception of the three villains of the story, who are presented as pretty much beyond redemption.
While no classic and not likely to be a bestseller, this is still a book to enjoy.
May 10, 2024
I found this a bit of a slow burner from the start. At times I found it gripping and gory which kept me interested and you can tell with the amount of information and attention to detail that the author has experience with this particular occupation. However reading some of his reviews I’ve probably not picked his best one to start with so I might give another one ago at a later time.
February 5, 2022
another great Chris Ryan book.
February 26, 2024
A really good holiday read. Die. In 3 days and had a really interesting story with a bit of intrigue thrown in for interest. No bad for a book selected out of a public book box in Paraparaumu on holiday.
June 20, 2015
Geordie Sharpe and his SAS team are sent to Africa to train government forces in the war torn nation of Kamanga. After an accident leaves a young boy dead, the local witch doctor makes a chilling pronouncement. Unless they leave now, ten white men or women will die.
Geordie dismisses the witch doctor’s prophecy; they’ve got a job to do. While they’re only supposed to be there as advisors, when the Alpha Commando unit are sent forward to capture a rebel controlled diamond mine, the SAS team are concerned they’re not ready and go along to keep an eye on things. There they find the rebel forces are bolstered by white mercenaries.
Not long after the government forces takes control at the mine, things take a turn for the crazy. Suddenly a target to the very men they were training, Geordie and his team make a run for it. While trying to stay alive and dodging the rebels, Geordie has to figure out what the hell is going on and why their allies suddenly turned against them.
***
This story is gritty and frightening throughout. The bloodlust fuelled actions of the Kamangan fighters and their supporters, on both sides, are truly savage. It’s hard to imagine people stooping to such deranged violence, but Ryan describes things in such a matter of fact way, you get the impression some of it is drawn from experience.
What this book is not is a clash between SAS soldiers and ex US Navy SEALs as the tagline and blurb promises. Indeed, the only character identified in the book as a former SEAL actually helps Geordie!
The opening scene where Geordie is on a picnic with his son, Tim, provides a view of Geordie that makes him seem human and normal and shows the backstory of his family life. And the similar closing scene allows Ryan to wrap up the open ends of the story as a series of questions which Tim asks about the story he heard. But I can’t help feel that the story would have started more powerfully around the campfire in Africa which starts chapter 2.
The plot of this book is... messy... in a good way. Not only are there stumbling blocks on the path of the pursuit of goals, like in any good story, but often the goals themselves shift unexpectedly. On occasions the characters achieve things which then turn out to be completely pointless or counterproductive, which is much more like real life.
Tenth Man Down is a gritty, intense action-adventure that hints at the bloody truth of war and greed. This was the first Chris Ryan book I’ve read and on the basis of this I will be seeking out more.
Read a longer version of this review on my blog :)
Geordie dismisses the witch doctor’s prophecy; they’ve got a job to do. While they’re only supposed to be there as advisors, when the Alpha Commando unit are sent forward to capture a rebel controlled diamond mine, the SAS team are concerned they’re not ready and go along to keep an eye on things. There they find the rebel forces are bolstered by white mercenaries.
Not long after the government forces takes control at the mine, things take a turn for the crazy. Suddenly a target to the very men they were training, Geordie and his team make a run for it. While trying to stay alive and dodging the rebels, Geordie has to figure out what the hell is going on and why their allies suddenly turned against them.
***
This story is gritty and frightening throughout. The bloodlust fuelled actions of the Kamangan fighters and their supporters, on both sides, are truly savage. It’s hard to imagine people stooping to such deranged violence, but Ryan describes things in such a matter of fact way, you get the impression some of it is drawn from experience.
What this book is not is a clash between SAS soldiers and ex US Navy SEALs as the tagline and blurb promises. Indeed, the only character identified in the book as a former SEAL actually helps Geordie!
The opening scene where Geordie is on a picnic with his son, Tim, provides a view of Geordie that makes him seem human and normal and shows the backstory of his family life. And the similar closing scene allows Ryan to wrap up the open ends of the story as a series of questions which Tim asks about the story he heard. But I can’t help feel that the story would have started more powerfully around the campfire in Africa which starts chapter 2.
The plot of this book is... messy... in a good way. Not only are there stumbling blocks on the path of the pursuit of goals, like in any good story, but often the goals themselves shift unexpectedly. On occasions the characters achieve things which then turn out to be completely pointless or counterproductive, which is much more like real life.
Tenth Man Down is a gritty, intense action-adventure that hints at the bloody truth of war and greed. This was the first Chris Ryan book I’ve read and on the basis of this I will be seeking out more.
Read a longer version of this review on my blog :)
March 28, 2015
448 pages : 18 chapters
Chris Ryans Tenth man down is a real page turner. For the past 5 days this book has rarely left my hand. From visual descriptions of the african bush landscape, an instite into tribal life and medicines, the effects of civial war and western influence in rescourses this book quickly became factual to an extent, made me think of africa in a different way and fall in love with the charcters. Especially Jason - yassir.
We start off with SAS team lead by Geordie sharp training alpha commondos to attack and defend against rebels. The target is a diamond mine. With an accident and child being injured the team is introduced to the towns witch doctor - from that eventful meeting things seems to take a turn for the works. Voodoo or bad luck? As the story becomes deeper we learn of a diamond the size of a golf ball that has everyones real attention. This corruption leads to SAS members deaths and a vendetta for revenge.
A russian nuclear program in the regeion leaves left over warheads that become a major threat to the area. With skill the team manage to stumle there way to never allowing them to be used in the right or wrong hands. A highly exciting part of the book that sets up a very satisfying ending.
Overall im very pleased with every aspect of this book. If anything i wish it didnt end so sudden. Chris Ryan really puts you in the war zone and keeps you ready for the next attack time after time.
Chris Ryans Tenth man down is a real page turner. For the past 5 days this book has rarely left my hand. From visual descriptions of the african bush landscape, an instite into tribal life and medicines, the effects of civial war and western influence in rescourses this book quickly became factual to an extent, made me think of africa in a different way and fall in love with the charcters. Especially Jason - yassir.
We start off with SAS team lead by Geordie sharp training alpha commondos to attack and defend against rebels. The target is a diamond mine. With an accident and child being injured the team is introduced to the towns witch doctor - from that eventful meeting things seems to take a turn for the works. Voodoo or bad luck? As the story becomes deeper we learn of a diamond the size of a golf ball that has everyones real attention. This corruption leads to SAS members deaths and a vendetta for revenge.
A russian nuclear program in the regeion leaves left over warheads that become a major threat to the area. With skill the team manage to stumle there way to never allowing them to be used in the right or wrong hands. A highly exciting part of the book that sets up a very satisfying ending.
Overall im very pleased with every aspect of this book. If anything i wish it didnt end so sudden. Chris Ryan really puts you in the war zone and keeps you ready for the next attack time after time.
October 24, 2013
Entertaining army stuff. Ryan is trying to show how the character's psyche develops throughout the book, but it's rather unconvincing. Also, the characters tend not to sleep very much. In my army we got taught that taking care of yourself is rather important. I don't see why, just because he's in the regiment, the character completely disregards his health.
Maybe I shouldn't read too much into it. It was exciting and entertaining.
Maybe I shouldn't read too much into it. It was exciting and entertaining.
September 28, 2018
It took me a while to get into this book and theory itself took a bit if time to get going. Once it did though it was action packed and kept me engaged. We meet Geordie Sharp and his team on their latest mission, training a team out in Africa on behalf of the government. There are loads of twists and turns in the story but if you liked the earlier books in the series, you'll like this.
August 3, 2012
Great book would recommend to anyone
August 5, 2013
I really think this book was one of the best if not the best book I've read. It was a great finale to the series of books Chris has written
January 17, 2015
Actioned packed and no short of pace. The detail described and the events that take place almost makes you believe it is true! Perhaps it is?
September 23, 2020
Finished this book today. 4/5* first chapter was great, you can picture being at Pen-y-fan etc a lot of descriptions of the hills etc.
Took a while to get into it as the second chapter jumped straight to africa (Geordie was reminiscing with his son Tim in Chapter 1) but once i started reading it, i got right into it, gripping, nail biting, full on contact and descriptions. A good book.
Took a while to get into it as the second chapter jumped straight to africa (Geordie was reminiscing with his son Tim in Chapter 1) but once i started reading it, i got right into it, gripping, nail biting, full on contact and descriptions. A good book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2017
Slow start but develops characters and plot and the second half is full of action. The action half is better for the characters having been developed. Definitely read it for the story, not for a fantastic writing style.
September 18, 2019
One of Seven Chris Ryan books I own- This is arguably my favorite one too! Who doesn't love a ballsy SAS troop kicking 7 kinds of rubbish out of the enemy? Well that's exactly what happens here... but beware for all sorts of mishaps along the way!
March 11, 2017
Excellent book. Nice end to the series. Only wish there was more.
April 27, 2019
Good read
Good book nice and relaxing to read easy to read could follow the story as it went from one story to another one that I have read
Good book nice and relaxing to read easy to read could follow the story as it went from one story to another one that I have read
September 13, 2021
I enjoyed this book!
September 18, 2021
Another good insight into the workings of the SAS
June 26, 2023
These just carry on getting better and better
April 5, 2024
Weak ending, but excellent read.
January 31, 2025
Darkness of Africa
Ryan takes you on his usual journey of intrigue, violence and betrayal.
This time Geordie and his comrades must fight for their very souls.
A good read.
Ryan takes you on his usual journey of intrigue, violence and betrayal.
This time Geordie and his comrades must fight for their very souls.
A good read.
April 18, 2014
I have never really read any kind of army based fiction before this. Of course, I remember reading Death's Head series by David Gunn, but that was high sci-fi, dystopic and completely murderous. Tenth Man Down is about an army mercenary team down in some african hellhole where they have to train a small army group. Lot of shit happens, things go wrong, and people die in the course of the novel. The army jargon got to be a bit too much for me at times, but the pace of the novel was good. There was no dull moment, the action scenes were well written, the tension was actual.
In fact, after reading only epic fantasy or 'grimdark' for the last two-three books, it was a good change to read this one. Good for a one time read, because this is very real. I believe I have been somehow spoiled by reading the high-action, high-concept novels by Matthew Reilly. His Scarecrow books really set the bar too high for any other novelist to achieve.
I'd rather give this one 3.5 stars because there really isn't any fault with the books, it's just that I am not the type of reader for this book. Readers who have had any experience with the army or who know people in the army would surely enjoy this.
In fact, after reading only epic fantasy or 'grimdark' for the last two-three books, it was a good change to read this one. Good for a one time read, because this is very real. I believe I have been somehow spoiled by reading the high-action, high-concept novels by Matthew Reilly. His Scarecrow books really set the bar too high for any other novelist to achieve.
I'd rather give this one 3.5 stars because there really isn't any fault with the books, it's just that I am not the type of reader for this book. Readers who have had any experience with the army or who know people in the army would surely enjoy this.
October 14, 2016
I did not like this novel and I don't think it is a very good one too: the storyline wasn't so great, it didn't have such great vocabulary as the other books I've read and it made me lose interest in it so quickly I put the book down for about a week but then picked it up again. I would not recommend it to anybody. It was really all about one big diamond and I didn't really get to know any of the characters unlike the other books I've read. And that is the reason I have given this book 2 stars.
December 30, 2015
I got to page 75 and couldn't face continuing, so read the last chapter and didn't like the ending either. I have only read one other of his books, not from this series, but won't try any more - I like boy books but not war books, and the overly detailed battle sequences just bored me. The racism shown by the supposed hero was horrible too.
I don't leave many books unfinished but am not prepared to waste time with this - am slowly learning...
I don't leave many books unfinished but am not prepared to waste time with this - am slowly learning...
March 26, 2015
Another fast moving plot with a lot of military descriptions and action.
This time ex-SAS operative, Geordie Sharp is on assignment in Africa. His team has been sent into a warring country to assist in reclaiming a rich diamond mine from rebel forces. The situation is not as they have been lead to believe and plans quickly start to unravel.
This time ex-SAS operative, Geordie Sharp is on assignment in Africa. His team has been sent into a warring country to assist in reclaiming a rich diamond mine from rebel forces. The situation is not as they have been lead to believe and plans quickly start to unravel.
August 15, 2012
Wow, a very nice finale for this book cycle. Good story and pace, actually quite realistic premise and some very likable characters - what's not to like? For those of you who read previous books about Geordie Sharp it's a definite must read and it works quite on its own too.
October 13, 2013
Great book, interesting plot and an insight into how circumstances can affect a man's judgment. Chris Ryan writes gutsy stories with 'real' characters that you become really involved in and care about.
Definitely recommend this book to anyone....
Definitely recommend this book to anyone....
February 8, 2015
I really liked this book. Much better than the previous book. I think the details and the story were much better developed and also it was interesting to see all the different twists and turns in the story. Probably the best one in the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews