What do you think?
Somewhere Out There
Max Seager was the best there was. His skills sharpened in the midst of a brutal African civil war, he was at once a policeman, soldier and detective – a tracker of men. He thought he’d left that life behind him, but then he learns that his particular expertise is required again.
But it soon becomes clear that nothing is quite what it seems and that if he is able to find the girls, it might only open the door to something far more sinister…
SOMEWHERE OUT THERE is perfect for fans of books like A Time To Die, The Leopard Hunts in The Darkness and The Dogs of War, or of movies like The Wild Geese, The Dirty Dozen or The Expendables.
***
SOMEWHERE OUT THERE is the first book Mike Lunnon-Wood wrote but has never previously been published. Mike passed away in 2008 and the manuscript was only discovered by his son Piers some years later along with two other unpublished thrillers which will be published shortly. Mike is the author of six other outstanding thrillers available from Silvertail Books: Let Not The Deep, King’s Shilling, Congo Blue, Long Reach, Dark Rose and Angel Seven.
***
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2019
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 8, 2019
Fierce, action-packed, multinational entertainment. This is the first book I've read by Lunnon-Wood, and I'm looking forward to a lot more.
4 stars.
4 stars.
December 30, 2021
Three teenagers disappear in 1980s Zimbabwe. No one can find a trace, until Max Seager, an ex-cop from southern Africa, now happily returned in Australia is asked to find them. Seager lived through the civil war in Rhodesia, and he knows he can assemble a team capable of finding them, if they are alive. The Zimbabwean bush is no place for amateurs, but Seager’s team are far from that.
As Seager and his team search, he starts to uncover a rather less savoury side to the story. The mother of one of the girls is desperate, but is Seager being set up? Or is something else going on in the background.
As ever, Mr. L-Wood builds the picture superbly. The heat of the bush is palpable, the threat posed by the dissidents and a rag-tag bunch of terrorists – both lethal – just as well detailed. As ever with his books, the characters are drawn in enough detail to form an opinion, good or bad, but there is none of the perfect hero/anti-hero portrayed here. Soldiers, now mercenaries yes, but you want them to get the job done. I cannot recommend Mr. L-W highly enough – I think I only have one of his excellent catalogue left now.
As Seager and his team search, he starts to uncover a rather less savoury side to the story. The mother of one of the girls is desperate, but is Seager being set up? Or is something else going on in the background.
As ever, Mr. L-Wood builds the picture superbly. The heat of the bush is palpable, the threat posed by the dissidents and a rag-tag bunch of terrorists – both lethal – just as well detailed. As ever with his books, the characters are drawn in enough detail to form an opinion, good or bad, but there is none of the perfect hero/anti-hero portrayed here. Soldiers, now mercenaries yes, but you want them to get the job done. I cannot recommend Mr. L-W highly enough – I think I only have one of his excellent catalogue left now.
March 2, 2022
I've liked Mike Lunnon-Wood's books ever since I read Dark Rose, back in the 80's.
This is a book about a retired Rhodesian copper, who is hired to track down and find 2 girls and a boy who have disappeared in the African bush, suspected to have been kidnapped by dissidents. As one of the women is the niece of the Emir of Ras Al Qualeem, who's footing the bill, he recruits a group of ex-Rhodesian and South African special forces, and some native trackers to help find them.
After following some leads, they stumble across a boy who had found the corpse of one of the missing youths, and use that info to locate and rescue the two missing girls. However, once they get back to England with them, they get attacked several times by mysterious gunmen, and Seager digs deeper, eventually working out that Layla is actually the daughter of the Emir, and not the man who has claimed to be her father for all these years. He wants her inheritance, worth $60 million, and he's prepared to kill for it. It ends up with Seager and his men capturing him after yet another assassination attempt, and they all get paid by the Emir, and go home, except for the ones killed.
This is a book about a retired Rhodesian copper, who is hired to track down and find 2 girls and a boy who have disappeared in the African bush, suspected to have been kidnapped by dissidents. As one of the women is the niece of the Emir of Ras Al Qualeem, who's footing the bill, he recruits a group of ex-Rhodesian and South African special forces, and some native trackers to help find them.
After following some leads, they stumble across a boy who had found the corpse of one of the missing youths, and use that info to locate and rescue the two missing girls. However, once they get back to England with them, they get attacked several times by mysterious gunmen, and Seager digs deeper, eventually working out that Layla is actually the daughter of the Emir, and not the man who has claimed to be her father for all these years. He wants her inheritance, worth $60 million, and he's prepared to kill for it. It ends up with Seager and his men capturing him after yet another assassination attempt, and they all get paid by the Emir, and go home, except for the ones killed.
May 19, 2020
I found this book very slow at the beginning and a little too much foretelling about what the book was going to be about, it was like a preamble into the story which, to be honest, you did not need, but after a while, it began to unfold into a very good story and it went along at a very good pace, full of planning beforehand and getting all the people together who had retired or at a lost end, and at one time they all worked together, so the head one got some of his old team back together. The story was well constructed and well written, and although there was some violence it was not unbearable to read, sometimes authors seem to go overboard with description but this was just right, I did not find it a problem. The conclusion came at a very quick end and again I think you could have had another chapter to see the reaction of some and what happened to what was left of the team, and how it was finally settled, I thought it was a bit quick in ending. Good read, and pretty straight forward, but you have to stick with it at the beginning.
January 5, 2020
You can feel the heat and smell Africa in this, a powerful thriller set in Zimbabwe 30 odd years ago. So old school technology and a tale that requires feet on the African dust.
Max Seager has a long history in Africa but has left to bring up his family. When two girls and a young man vanish while over there, he is eventually brought in to find them, dead or alive. So most of the story is him pulling a team together, some Western or ex African military and plenty of locals. Noticeable that the author treats the locals with a great deal of respect and his love of the country comes over too.
So they sneak into the country and set about their task and find that there may be more to the disappearance than it first seems….
Sadly the author died over ten years ago and this came from a discovered manuscript. I’ve read most of his books, most are excellent and he was an author of some talent. This is, perhaps, not one of his best but it is still a very readable and enjoyable thriller.
Max Seager has a long history in Africa but has left to bring up his family. When two girls and a young man vanish while over there, he is eventually brought in to find them, dead or alive. So most of the story is him pulling a team together, some Western or ex African military and plenty of locals. Noticeable that the author treats the locals with a great deal of respect and his love of the country comes over too.
So they sneak into the country and set about their task and find that there may be more to the disappearance than it first seems….
Sadly the author died over ten years ago and this came from a discovered manuscript. I’ve read most of his books, most are excellent and he was an author of some talent. This is, perhaps, not one of his best but it is still a very readable and enjoyable thriller.
January 27, 2021
My first time with this author.
I really enjoyed the book. I was told it was a lot like a Wibur Smith novel and i have read and enjoyed every wilbur smith book out there so i gave it a go.
I was not disappointed, it is very very good. In fact it turned into more like two stories in one.
There is tons of action and adventure with a bit of a twist that you dont see coming until almost right before it happens. I even guessed wrong on my first guess as two who the bad guy was. I love that in a book.
Main characters are great, secondary's have their likeables as well.
Definitely on the hunt for another by this author.
I really enjoyed the book. I was told it was a lot like a Wibur Smith novel and i have read and enjoyed every wilbur smith book out there so i gave it a go.
I was not disappointed, it is very very good. In fact it turned into more like two stories in one.
There is tons of action and adventure with a bit of a twist that you dont see coming until almost right before it happens. I even guessed wrong on my first guess as two who the bad guy was. I love that in a book.
Main characters are great, secondary's have their likeables as well.
Definitely on the hunt for another by this author.
October 18, 2020
Somewhere Out There: Great story
Great characters and action packed plot in the author’s usual style. However, I found the enjoyment of the read marred by the proliferation of typo errors and spelling mistakes. Even some of the characters’ names were spelt differently many times, sometimes several times on the same page- to the extent that after a while the reader is no longer sure what the name is supposed to be. I suspect that proof readers are to blame but it was a shame to have this excellent author’s work spoiled in this way
Great characters and action packed plot in the author’s usual style. However, I found the enjoyment of the read marred by the proliferation of typo errors and spelling mistakes. Even some of the characters’ names were spelt differently many times, sometimes several times on the same page- to the extent that after a while the reader is no longer sure what the name is supposed to be. I suspect that proof readers are to blame but it was a shame to have this excellent author’s work spoiled in this way
February 17, 2021
I thought this was a fine adventure story but one which went on too long. The Bush descriptions made me long for Africa and those immense skies and distances. For me, the technical descriptions of guns and fighting and such problems were far too long and bored me. I was extremely frustrated with the spelling mistakes and typos, but I suspect these were nothing to do with the author who would have not been happy with the outcome, had he been alive to see them.
July 15, 2019
A great classic adventure-thriller
Mike Wood is a Grand-Master of the Adventure-Thriller Genre. As such, he stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Alistair MacLean, Desmond Bagley, Duncan Kyle, Colin Forbes, Helen MacInnis, and Hammond Innis. This book has all the suspense and thrills of the very best from any of these giant of the genre!
Mike Wood is a Grand-Master of the Adventure-Thriller Genre. As such, he stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Alistair MacLean, Desmond Bagley, Duncan Kyle, Colin Forbes, Helen MacInnis, and Hammond Innis. This book has all the suspense and thrills of the very best from any of these giant of the genre!
May 29, 2021
Just the type of book I enjoy
Why have I only discovered Mr Lunnon-Wood's work now? This is the type of continent spanning (I'll admit that I'm biased to southern African settings) adventure novel, with a decent ending, that I love. I don't often find the time to read a book in one day, but for this one I did.
Why have I only discovered Mr Lunnon-Wood's work now? This is the type of continent spanning (I'll admit that I'm biased to southern African settings) adventure novel, with a decent ending, that I love. I don't often find the time to read a book in one day, but for this one I did.
September 3, 2025
I loved this and his first book as well. It had me glued to my Kindle. My husband and I have been to Africa several times, so any time I get a book taking place there I jump on it. Mike writes a “ hell of a tale”! One nail biter after another. So very glad I found this great writer. Hope he writes more Max tales! Thanks Mike for the wild rides!!
July 11, 2019
So pleased this manuscript was found
When I heard that there was a new Mike Lunnon-Wood book to be published 11 years after his death I was excited. The book lived up to my hopes, gritty, fast paced and with his usual twists and turns. Well worth reading.
When I heard that there was a new Mike Lunnon-Wood book to be published 11 years after his death I was excited. The book lived up to my hopes, gritty, fast paced and with his usual twists and turns. Well worth reading.
April 26, 2020
Has he ever written a poor story
A storyteller rarely matched by others and even more rarely surpassed. As you can tell I find his books addictive and hard to put down once started, sometimes a problem as they can be quite lengthy.
A storyteller rarely matched by others and even more rarely surpassed. As you can tell I find his books addictive and hard to put down once started, sometimes a problem as they can be quite lengthy.
May 26, 2020
Good read
I can truly say i haven’t been able to put this book down.
A great read. Kept me hooked until the end. I hope this author has written other stories in the same vein as this one.
I can truly say i haven’t been able to put this book down.
A great read. Kept me hooked until the end. I hope this author has written other stories in the same vein as this one.
August 22, 2020
Excellent read
Truly a great book which highlights the global attraction of riches and power of bad people. Once restricted to specific regions of the world now common place all over.
Truly a great book which highlights the global attraction of riches and power of bad people. Once restricted to specific regions of the world now common place all over.
September 17, 2020
Somewhere out there? Book.should stay somewherethere
Nothing like a wilbur smith book. Disjointed and tiresome with only a few paragraphs good. Will make sure not to read this author again.
Nothing like a wilbur smith book. Disjointed and tiresome with only a few paragraphs good. Will make sure not to read this author again.
August 19, 2021
A great read
Second of his books I have read.
I read a book a day on Kindle and his books are simply the best adventure stories I have read in years and cannot wait to start the next one !!!!!!!!!
Second of his books I have read.
I read a book a day on Kindle and his books are simply the best adventure stories I have read in years and cannot wait to start the next one !!!!!!!!!
January 20, 2024
WOW what a great writer loved this story such lovely writing describing the African bush and their
Great book follow this author has great and has a nice big catalogue, story is believable and well written read this
Great book follow this author has great and has a nice big catalogue, story is believable and well written read this
July 24, 2019
Yet another stunning read
Another brilliant read from an author sadly missed. As usual difficult to put down until the final twist in the ending
Another brilliant read from an author sadly missed. As usual difficult to put down until the final twist in the ending
August 12, 2019
A father reunited
It's the first time I have read anything by this author and it will not be the last for sure. I can recommend his work you will not be disappointed.
It's the first time I have read anything by this author and it will not be the last for sure. I can recommend his work you will not be disappointed.
November 18, 2019
Worthy of a Wilbur Smith comparison.
Great book and refreshing to find an author who can put together a good adventure story. I will be reading his other books as I find them
Great book and refreshing to find an author who can put together a good adventure story. I will be reading his other books as I find them
December 12, 2019
Inspiring plot
Excellent read, on your toes with every page.
A fast plot , would make an excellent movie.
Deserves every one of its 5 stars
Excellent read, on your toes with every page.
A fast plot , would make an excellent movie.
Deserves every one of its 5 stars
February 3, 2020
A great read
A very interesting book keeps you wanting more and can't put it down would definitely recommend this book and the author.
A very interesting book keeps you wanting more and can't put it down would definitely recommend this book and the author.
February 22, 2020
Excellent
March 14, 2020
A bit tongue in cheek, but very entertaining. I liked it alot, became a bit predictable toward the end, but, like I said, I enjoyed it.
April 7, 2020
Somewhere Out There is a captivating story, well written and a great read, would recommend.
Looking forward to reading more by Mike Lunnon-Wood
Looking forward to reading more by Mike Lunnon-Wood
May 17, 2020
A classic page turner
I’ve waited for another MWL book for ages, though dated this doesn’t disappoint.
Great style and an adventure novel like Wilbur Smith or len Deighton
I’ve waited for another MWL book for ages, though dated this doesn’t disappoint.
Great style and an adventure novel like Wilbur Smith or len Deighton
June 8, 2020
Too much violence
The action that took in the beginning was ok but as the plot progressed it became too violent and without purpose. I was relieved when I finally finished it.
The action that took in the beginning was ok but as the plot progressed it became too violent and without purpose. I was relieved when I finally finished it.
June 13, 2020
Excellent...as all his books are. I have read them all and have never been disappointed. Great writer. Superb story teller. All books make you feel you are right there in the action. You will not want to put them down until you are finished
June 20, 2020
An amazing book
Thouroly enjoyed this book. Kept me in suspense from beginning to end. Love reading books that playes off in Africa.
Thouroly enjoyed this book. Kept me in suspense from beginning to end. Love reading books that playes off in Africa.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews