President Down

by Terence Strong

Former intelligence officer and one-time instructor at the British Army School of Sniping, Phil Mason is struggling to make ends meet as a private investigaor when he's contacted by his former M15 liaison officer. The overstretched security service needs all the help it can get hunting down members of al-Qaeda terror cells in the UK - and Mason needs the cash. But in the murky intelligence world of smoke and mirrors, nothing is what it seems. As a routine surveillance operation escalates into a full-blown international crisis, Mason must come to terms with the there must be a traitor within Britain's security forces. Entering a desperate race against time to identify and avert a major terrorist threat, Mason must hastily re-hone his old counter-sniper skills as he returns to the business he swore he had left behind forever. The killing game.

Genres: Thriller

416 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2008

About the author

With a background in journalism and military research, Terence Strong wrote the manuscripts of two action adventure thrillers before WHISPER WHO DARES was snapped up by Hodder & Stoughton and became an instant bestseller in 1982.

That first authentic SAS thriller was followed by three more about different activities of the Special Air Service Regiment.

Those well-researched storylines expanded to cover the exciting and unknown realms of counter-terrorism, espionage, hostage negotiation, ship-hijacking, narcotics, assassination and international affairs.

One particularly well-regarded title was THE TICK TOCK MAN which explored the dark arts of the terrorist and bomb disposal.

His seventeenth and latest thriller WORD OF WAR (published by Silver Fox Press) follows the super-secret bad boys of E Squadron SAS - with MI6 agents - entering into the chaos of Libya in the 2011 Arab Spring uprising. The worlds of journalism, the military and espionage clash to make a dangerous cocktail far more exciting and intriguing than a Gaddafi Sunset.

Reviews

[Sean Peters (A Good Thriller) · Rating 2 out of 5]

What Can I say !!

The first book this year with only two stars. My first and last by this author.

The plot sounds great, story sounds gripping, but sadly for me, a slow, boring, heavy going really weak book, we are all different, when I read a book I need to understand whats happening, I lost the plot !!

Sorry just not for me, although reading the plot sounds good, it is not !

One former sniper. One terrifying conspiracy. One shot from disaster.

When former Royal Marine sniper Phil Mason is pulled into a routine surveillance job for MI5, he knows the rules: watch, report, stay invisible.

Then the target — a respected cleric — reveals a hidden agenda. What was supposed to be a quiet surveillance mission explodes into a violent raid, with Mason caught in the crossfire. Bodies drop. Evidence vanishes.

Mason realizes that this isn’t just about a terrorist cell — it’s about a conspiracy that reaches into the heart of government.

The US president is about to land in London — and Mason learns of a planned attack that could change the course of history.

At the same time, he’s forced to face the unthinkable: there must be a traitor within Britain’s security forces.

With time running out fast, Mason must call on his old counter-sniper skills as he returns to the business he swore he had left behind forever. The killing game.

2 stars

[Marvin Eiselstein · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like all those Gerard Butler "...has fallen" movies, White House Down and Military Thrillers involving the WH etc, this one is decent and good for a beach read or when your dentist or Discount Tire rep power trips and lets you wait extra.

[David Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the characters and the story

[ken mataix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging and entertaining

Good story and character back grounds. Well done story line twists. Long book, but enjoyable read. Will follow author for more content.

[John Edwin Hostler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Excellent plot, believable characters, great writing style. Definitely an author I would, on the basis of this read, recommend.

[Bri · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've liked all the authors other work that I've read, but I found most of the plot of this this book implausible & sometimes laughable.
Many of the characters seem like thinly sketched clichés and a lot of the dialogue is wooden & unrealistic, especially where young street gang characters are introduced.
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The main character, an ex royal marine sniper now working as a surveillance contracter for MI5, is tasked to use his small team to watch a small number of muslim terror suspects, and to discover the link ( if any) between them.
Some of his methods, including introducing himself TO MEMBERS OF THE SAME SUSPECT TERROR CELL as his true identity ( white ex miltary) in one case, and as a pakistani al-Queda fighter in another, are inexplicable.
It's not all bad, the sections on surveillance and counter- surveillance are well researched, dramatic and well paced, and the shadowy workings of MI5 with it's power poltics where jealously guarded secrets hamper rather than help operations, both ring true, but they can't make up for the major flaws in the plot.
It's readable, but only just.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

good story will the usual twist at the end

[Druss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad read. Listened to the audiobook. Some good action, life in the intelligence service. Suspension of disbelief required, but that's the case with most fiction after all

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good characters, fast moving plot, nice twist.