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Strike Back #4
Red Strike
The Kremlin does not forget.
Six years ago, high-ranking Russian foreign intelligence officer Nikolai Volkov fled the country, accused of selling state secrets to MI6. Defecting to the UK, Volkov went into hiding.
The Kremlin does not forgive.
Nine weeks ago, Volkov was found slumped on a park bench in Swindon, poisoned with a lethal nerve agent - the victim of a botched assassination attempt.
The Kremlin will always find you.
Now Volkov is missing, kidnapped from a remote safe house by a Russian snatch squad. With nowhere to run, Volkov faces the ultimate choice: work with his sworn enemies, or face the wrath of the motherland...
Meanwhile, ex-Regiment heroes Porter and Bald are drafted in by MI6 for a highly-sensitive mission. Their target: Derek Lansbury, an eccentric British populist and suspected Moscow agent. Six believes that Lansbury is planning something big ahead of a secretive far-right gathering - and they want Bald and Porter to help bring him down.
Going undercover as bodyguards, they must infiltrate Lansbury's inner circle, win his trust and gather vital evidence. But as they get closer to the truth, Bald and Porter find themselves caught up in a terrifying conspiracy: one that threatens to bring down the established order of the West.
And only Porter and Bald, two battle-hardened Blades, stand between survival and global chaos...
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 21, 2019
57 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
Chris Ryan
342 books1,020 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 32 reviews
March 7, 2020
Red Strike opens with a contemporary theme of a former Russian spy who defected to the west, the target of an assassination attempt, lifted from his minders in the Lake District. The scene shifts to Mexico where former Blade (ex-SAS) John Bald, a fifty-something wily Scotsman, known for bending the rules and seeking his fortune, is down on his luck, the owner of a ramshackle motorbike touring business. Enter some FSB heavies to even a score and Bald is whisked back to the UK and the SAS training camp outside Hereford.
Left of the road was the gated entrance to the main camp, a maze of one- and two-storey buildings: lecture rooms, administration offices, accommodation blocks. Inside the camp the guys learned everything from Jap-slapping on the martial arts courses to interrogation techniques. A pair of ring arm barriers guarded the entrance and exit points, flanked by a cluster of security cameras mounted on tall poles. Armed MoD police and guard dogs patrolled the grounds of the camp. It looked like the world’s most heavily guarded industrial estate.
There he meets up with his old “mucker”, fellow veteran John Porter, now a grandfather and a recovering alcoholic. Porter is with L Det – the reserve force of “weekend warriors” called upon by MI6 to provide muscle (and dirty tricks) as required. The pair arrives in Budapest equipped with sophisticated surveillance equipment, ostensibly to provide bodyguard protection for outspoken British Euro MP, Derek Lansbury, suspected of being in the pay of the Kremlin, to get the goods on him for MI6 to prosecute for treason
After eight miles they swept past the national football stadium and then the city opened up in front of them, like something out of a pop-up children’s book. They rolled down grey tree-lined streets flanked by scenes of faded grandeur and Soviet brutalism. Crumbling apartment blocks stood shoulder-to-shoulder with imposing Communist towers and corporate glass-and-steel structures. The whole story of the twentieth century right there.
Lansbury proves to be a slippery client, unwilling to wear a GPS tracker, and eager to evade his own protection squad…
There was no clear advantage to trailing him on foot. They couldn’t exactly follow him into the hotel room. Not unless they were planning to dress up as lampshades. Easier to stay in the car and listen in from a safe distance.
The two well-drawn main characters exhibit a dry as dust wit and scorn for their political masters, and they must overcome their own demons and personal differences to succeed. As well, they are to work with two younger Blades – next generation SAS– one taciturn, the other all mouth and trousers.
As always, author Chris Ryan provides a fast-moving, engaging read, action aplenty with updated weaponry supplemented by intelligence equipment. Being a military-style thriller, the narrative is littered with mild profanities, a deadly fire-fight, winners and losers and a chilling ending. (And I never knew that Budapest was as close to London as it is to Moscow. There you go).
This one can be read as a standalone, and it is obvious that the author feels compassion for his former comrades-in-arms, aging SF men, some unable to fit in society and living on the streets.
Left of the road was the gated entrance to the main camp, a maze of one- and two-storey buildings: lecture rooms, administration offices, accommodation blocks. Inside the camp the guys learned everything from Jap-slapping on the martial arts courses to interrogation techniques. A pair of ring arm barriers guarded the entrance and exit points, flanked by a cluster of security cameras mounted on tall poles. Armed MoD police and guard dogs patrolled the grounds of the camp. It looked like the world’s most heavily guarded industrial estate.
There he meets up with his old “mucker”, fellow veteran John Porter, now a grandfather and a recovering alcoholic. Porter is with L Det – the reserve force of “weekend warriors” called upon by MI6 to provide muscle (and dirty tricks) as required. The pair arrives in Budapest equipped with sophisticated surveillance equipment, ostensibly to provide bodyguard protection for outspoken British Euro MP, Derek Lansbury, suspected of being in the pay of the Kremlin, to get the goods on him for MI6 to prosecute for treason
After eight miles they swept past the national football stadium and then the city opened up in front of them, like something out of a pop-up children’s book. They rolled down grey tree-lined streets flanked by scenes of faded grandeur and Soviet brutalism. Crumbling apartment blocks stood shoulder-to-shoulder with imposing Communist towers and corporate glass-and-steel structures. The whole story of the twentieth century right there.
Lansbury proves to be a slippery client, unwilling to wear a GPS tracker, and eager to evade his own protection squad…
There was no clear advantage to trailing him on foot. They couldn’t exactly follow him into the hotel room. Not unless they were planning to dress up as lampshades. Easier to stay in the car and listen in from a safe distance.
The two well-drawn main characters exhibit a dry as dust wit and scorn for their political masters, and they must overcome their own demons and personal differences to succeed. As well, they are to work with two younger Blades – next generation SAS– one taciturn, the other all mouth and trousers.
As always, author Chris Ryan provides a fast-moving, engaging read, action aplenty with updated weaponry supplemented by intelligence equipment. Being a military-style thriller, the narrative is littered with mild profanities, a deadly fire-fight, winners and losers and a chilling ending. (And I never knew that Budapest was as close to London as it is to Moscow. There you go).
This one can be read as a standalone, and it is obvious that the author feels compassion for his former comrades-in-arms, aging SF men, some unable to fit in society and living on the streets.
April 6, 2020
This book is written by someone who knows what they are talking about, has lived through and survived similar situations, and Chris Ryan certainly has as he is an ex-SAS operative. The story is simple but it has many twists and turns, the action is swift and violent. The thoughts behind individuals actions are mind opening but real. The action is set in today's world with just a few changed names of some world leaders, but their personalities shine through as depictions of who they are. The story begins a Russian living in England and almost dying after being poisoned by an unknown substance by the Russian spies and Russia denying any involvement. Something similar to this happened in Salisbury in the not too distance past. Included in the story is a man who has spend a great deal of his life trying to get England to leave the EU whilst being an MEP, (ring any bells). A US president who is very unconventional and likely to take the US in unexpected directions. Add into the mix two SAS heroes now in their middle years and carrying a lot of baggage from previous SAS operations. To say any more would give too much of the story away, so read it you will not be disappointed. Definitely worth a read.
January 24, 2020
4.5 stars
Another great book by Chris Ryan bringing both Porter and Bald back together again on their latest mission. It loves the main characters on in time and brings you up to date in their character development/lives. If you love this author, you'll love this book.
Another great book by Chris Ryan bringing both Porter and Bald back together again on their latest mission. It loves the main characters on in time and brings you up to date in their character development/lives. If you love this author, you'll love this book.
January 30, 2020
Comes with the authors agenda, that detracts from the story.
January 28, 2021
Terrible
Love his series but this book was horrible ... boring and quite frankly a chore to get through. The end was a relief
Love his series but this book was horrible ... boring and quite frankly a chore to get through. The end was a relief
May 23, 2022
Cracking action scenes, loads of gunplay and fighting, a fistful of intrigue and plot twists. All this well written and [presumably] researched. So a great read on holiday or when travelling. So if you are looking for an undemanding read, then this is a great action story for you.
For me, however, there was something missing with the characters. For a start they were a bit stereotyped. One villain was smug. He smiled smugly, had a smug expression and was just generally smug. We get the message - but despite all these pointers he didn't seem to behave in a particularly smug way. Similarly another character did not behave consistently. At one point he was devious, clever and sneaky - but another time he was so naive as to strain credulity.
maybe i am asking too much. After all, this is a great action book which can be enjoyed as such.
For me, however, there was something missing with the characters. For a start they were a bit stereotyped. One villain was smug. He smiled smugly, had a smug expression and was just generally smug. We get the message - but despite all these pointers he didn't seem to behave in a particularly smug way. Similarly another character did not behave consistently. At one point he was devious, clever and sneaky - but another time he was so naive as to strain credulity.
maybe i am asking too much. After all, this is a great action book which can be enjoyed as such.
May 1, 2019
This was my first Strike Back novel, but having watched Ultimate Force and Strike Back, I really enjoyed both and now the books.
I love how Chris Ryan brought real life events into this novel, which made it feel more real. It is also clear he keeps up to date with 22 Regiment SAS, as the book demonstrated new ways of how they operate, which I found interesting to learn.
I definitely am keen to go back and read the previous Porter and Bald books and also looking forward to the new Danny Black book later this year.
I love how Chris Ryan brought real life events into this novel, which made it feel more real. It is also clear he keeps up to date with 22 Regiment SAS, as the book demonstrated new ways of how they operate, which I found interesting to learn.
I definitely am keen to go back and read the previous Porter and Bald books and also looking forward to the new Danny Black book later this year.
May 14, 2021
Another typical Chris Ryan book. As always plenty of action but with a story that this time for me at least was a little hard to believe. I couldn’t believe that Derek Lansbury could be so stupid or is it just me being too hard? I didn’t find any of the characters particularly likeable either which doesn’t help when reading a book. This came across as nowhere near as good as his earlier novels.
March 16, 2019
Brilliant as Always
Massive fan of Chris Ryan’s books and still yet to disappoint. Love how he uses recent events as inspiration and characters based on similar people. Keen to see where Strike Back goes from here and if Lyden and Rowe are gonna take over from the ageing Porter and Bald. Can’t wait for the next Danny Black instalment later this year.
Massive fan of Chris Ryan’s books and still yet to disappoint. Love how he uses recent events as inspiration and characters based on similar people. Keen to see where Strike Back goes from here and if Lyden and Rowe are gonna take over from the ageing Porter and Bald. Can’t wait for the next Danny Black instalment later this year.
August 26, 2019
Not bad but not his best
Taking Bald and Porter up to date, with many references similar to activities and people in our world, made for engaging reading, but became quite predictable.
Taking Bald and Porter up to date, with many references similar to activities and people in our world, made for engaging reading, but became quite predictable.
June 11, 2022
First time reading this sort of thriller, but thoroughly enjoyed it - great amount of detail to make it seem very realistic but not too much to be boring if you know nothing. I'll be getting hold of the other strikeback series book soon...
May 3, 2019
Cracking good read
Never fails to deliver excellent plot lines and realism
Definitely a master of the action thriller couldn't put it down
Never fails to deliver excellent plot lines and realism
Definitely a master of the action thriller couldn't put it down
June 30, 2019
Cracking contemporary read!
Totally relevant to today’s geo political world. All the main players regularly seen in the news. The older troopers easily identified with as not quite over the hill. Couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait for the authors next outing. Brilliant!
Totally relevant to today’s geo political world. All the main players regularly seen in the news. The older troopers easily identified with as not quite over the hill. Couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait for the authors next outing. Brilliant!
August 31, 2019
An alternative truth
Another great read from Chris Ryan. Setting plot that mixes current day politics with fiction. Fast moving and strong characters.
Another great read from Chris Ryan. Setting plot that mixes current day politics with fiction. Fast moving and strong characters.
September 23, 2019
Not a bad read
Not his best but not his worst. Quite predictable ending and not as good as other books in the series.
Not his best but not his worst. Quite predictable ending and not as good as other books in the series.
September 30, 2019
Exciting read throughout
Last in the series.loved the twists and turns as always,very hard to put down. I hope there are more to come?
Last in the series.loved the twists and turns as always,very hard to put down. I hope there are more to come?
November 9, 2019
Another great book, one of the best in the series
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November 17, 2019Spot the error on page 271?
March 21, 2020
What can I say? Another fabulous all action fast paced book. Love the style of writing and always a nail biting read.
April 28, 2020
Plot is thin and obvious. Some glaring issues that are just poor writing will not read any more
September 4, 2020
Quite a gripping storyline, but heavily laced with the authors political views. You get the feeling the author is very anti-Russian, and that he suspects Russia had a part to play in western elections and referendums. Also the author doesn’t seem to understand the roots of fascism.
September 16, 2020
Bald and Porters next adventure. Taking on the Russians.
December 26, 2020
An OK easy-paced thriller about special forces folk saving the world.
December 28, 2020
A half decent book but misleading cover as it looks like Moscow but the book does not take place there.
May 21, 2021
Gripping read through out.
November 8, 2021
Great adventure
Typical strike back story with all the twists and turns and the readers enjoyment of bald and SAS friends again. Really a page turner
Typical strike back story with all the twists and turns and the readers enjoyment of bald and SAS friends again. Really a page turner
April 11, 2023
Loved Bald and Porter.
September 20, 2023
The fire fight at the end!! Magnificent!
October 16, 2023
Exiting
Action all through had to keep reading didn't want to stop it was so excited lots of action all through
Action all through had to keep reading didn't want to stop it was so excited lots of action all through
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews