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Arkhangel
The brutally authentic, tense and terrifying thriller from bestselling author and frontline journalist James Brabazon
'Totally James Bond' THE TIMES
Officially, Max McLean doesn't exist.
An off-the-books assassin for the British government, he operates alone.
But when a routine hit goes badly wrong, a cryptic note on a $100 bill prised from his target's dead fingers suggests there's more to the mission than meets the eye.
Is someone from Max's former life trying to send him a message?
From Paris to Jerusalem and on to the frozen wastes of north-west Russia, Max is forced into a desperate race for the truth - with unknown enemies determined to stop him at any cost.
And when the secret coded into the banknote is finally revealed, only one thing is certain: with the fate of the world in his possession, failure is not an option . . .
A razor-sharp action thriller with the raw inventiveness of I Am Pilgrim and the breathless pace of movies like John Wick and James Bond, Arkhangel sees James Brabazon stake his claim alongside Lee Child, David Baldacci and Gregg Hurwitz as a master of the genre.
Praise for James Brabazon
'Don't plan on sleeping' Lee Child
'A full-throttle exercise in tension' Crimetime
'A thriller of an unusually classy calibre' Financial Times
'Outstanding . . . I couldn't put this book down' Andy McNab
'Totally James Bond' THE TIMES
Officially, Max McLean doesn't exist.
An off-the-books assassin for the British government, he operates alone.
But when a routine hit goes badly wrong, a cryptic note on a $100 bill prised from his target's dead fingers suggests there's more to the mission than meets the eye.
Is someone from Max's former life trying to send him a message?
From Paris to Jerusalem and on to the frozen wastes of north-west Russia, Max is forced into a desperate race for the truth - with unknown enemies determined to stop him at any cost.
And when the secret coded into the banknote is finally revealed, only one thing is certain: with the fate of the world in his possession, failure is not an option . . .
A razor-sharp action thriller with the raw inventiveness of I Am Pilgrim and the breathless pace of movies like John Wick and James Bond, Arkhangel sees James Brabazon stake his claim alongside Lee Child, David Baldacci and Gregg Hurwitz as a master of the genre.
Praise for James Brabazon
'Don't plan on sleeping' Lee Child
'A full-throttle exercise in tension' Crimetime
'A thriller of an unusually classy calibre' Financial Times
'Outstanding . . . I couldn't put this book down' Andy McNab
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First published August 20, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
September 7, 2020
Arkhangel – What is the truth?
James Brabazon has written a thriller that will keep you guessing throughout so much you will be wondering is this a spy thriller or a crime thriller? Only you can decide where you wish to place this as a reader. One thing is you will not be disappointed by the book.
What is the truth? Does Max McLean really exist? Or should the question really be, who is Max McLean? Will all this be solved by the end of the book? These questions are just some of the things that will be going through you mind as you delve into Arkhangel.
Whatever his real name Max is often used for off the books ‘wet’ work that the British government can distance itself from. Does he work for Mi6 or the Director of Special Forces? The only thing that he can remember is that he once joined the British army, under a false name and the rest is history.
Sent to ‘liquidate’ a target in Ireland Max does all his preparation work and then takes the required action, only to find that the target is already dead, with a bag full of $100 and someone is now shooting at him. Throughout the book there is someone different shooting at Max.
Whether he is in Ireland, Paris, Israel or Russia, there are chases that leave you breathless, all in pursuit of a $100 bill that is folded neatly in his pocket. He may want answers but there are plenty of people willing to shoot him and get the dollar bill. As Max crashes his away around Europe being the hunted, he really wants to catch up with Rachel in the hope she can shed light on what is happening to him.
Can he get out of this alive? Does he have any friends left that will not be shooting at him? Max certainly does not know, and nor does the reader until the end.
This really is an excellent thriller done at breath taking speed, with the main character not really sure who is or what he is. With plenty of action from the warmth of Israel to the cold tundra in Russia, one thing is certain, Max needs to keep moving to stay alive.
Arkhangel is what a true thriller should be.
James Brabazon has written a thriller that will keep you guessing throughout so much you will be wondering is this a spy thriller or a crime thriller? Only you can decide where you wish to place this as a reader. One thing is you will not be disappointed by the book.
What is the truth? Does Max McLean really exist? Or should the question really be, who is Max McLean? Will all this be solved by the end of the book? These questions are just some of the things that will be going through you mind as you delve into Arkhangel.
Whatever his real name Max is often used for off the books ‘wet’ work that the British government can distance itself from. Does he work for Mi6 or the Director of Special Forces? The only thing that he can remember is that he once joined the British army, under a false name and the rest is history.
Sent to ‘liquidate’ a target in Ireland Max does all his preparation work and then takes the required action, only to find that the target is already dead, with a bag full of $100 and someone is now shooting at him. Throughout the book there is someone different shooting at Max.
Whether he is in Ireland, Paris, Israel or Russia, there are chases that leave you breathless, all in pursuit of a $100 bill that is folded neatly in his pocket. He may want answers but there are plenty of people willing to shoot him and get the dollar bill. As Max crashes his away around Europe being the hunted, he really wants to catch up with Rachel in the hope she can shed light on what is happening to him.
Can he get out of this alive? Does he have any friends left that will not be shooting at him? Max certainly does not know, and nor does the reader until the end.
This really is an excellent thriller done at breath taking speed, with the main character not really sure who is or what he is. With plenty of action from the warmth of Israel to the cold tundra in Russia, one thing is certain, Max needs to keep moving to stay alive.
Arkhangel is what a true thriller should be.
November 20, 2020
Ive realised this author isnt for me after a second book of the same character. Just can't seem to like the protagonist. Also feel like other characters are all one dimensional. Plot is ok but also just sits at one relenting pace.
July 21, 2020
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
max mclean a man that no longer exists, a ghost
his mission is to take out a man at a location that he is hiding at
but it all goes wrong and now max is on the run but his one clue is the hundred dollar bill with the word archangel
to some it means nothing but to max it means everything and with special forces after him he has to go deep undercover
a fast paced thriller that fans of reacher will love..
max mclean a man that no longer exists, a ghost
his mission is to take out a man at a location that he is hiding at
but it all goes wrong and now max is on the run but his one clue is the hundred dollar bill with the word archangel
to some it means nothing but to max it means everything and with special forces after him he has to go deep undercover
a fast paced thriller that fans of reacher will love..
September 23, 2022
My goodness I found this book frustrating.
Let me start by saying that on paper this is the type of book I usually enjoy.
It took a good while to get into it. Once I did, the action kept me focused on finishing reading, but I had too many battles with the writing style to really enjoy it. I can't quite pinpoint what it was. I had to read some sentences/sections several times to understand the meaning, but that sometimes happens if tired. I think my main issue was it often felt as though we, the reader, were being dictated to, lectured, that the writer was showing off his knowledge.
Several snippets of French were included in one part, with no translation. If you have a reasonable education in French, no problem, but if you know no French, you wouldn't have a clue. With Russian, there was always a translation.
In some of the fights/shooting scenes there was perhaps too much focus on technical details... Almost as though trying (but falling short of) imitating Lee Child /Jack Reacher.
The plot was intriguing but I finished the book not really understanding what had happened.
I will likely avoid this author in future.
Let me start by saying that on paper this is the type of book I usually enjoy.
It took a good while to get into it. Once I did, the action kept me focused on finishing reading, but I had too many battles with the writing style to really enjoy it. I can't quite pinpoint what it was. I had to read some sentences/sections several times to understand the meaning, but that sometimes happens if tired. I think my main issue was it often felt as though we, the reader, were being dictated to, lectured, that the writer was showing off his knowledge.
Several snippets of French were included in one part, with no translation. If you have a reasonable education in French, no problem, but if you know no French, you wouldn't have a clue. With Russian, there was always a translation.
In some of the fights/shooting scenes there was perhaps too much focus on technical details... Almost as though trying (but falling short of) imitating Lee Child /Jack Reacher.
The plot was intriguing but I finished the book not really understanding what had happened.
I will likely avoid this author in future.
August 3, 2020
With comparisons to Lee Child and David Baldacci straight away I knew I was going to be in for a good read, Arkhangel doesn’t disappoint.
Our protagonist is Max McLean a man who doesn’t exist and a man who has so many bumps and scrapes throughout this book I am surprised he gets past the first couple of chapters alive! But that is what he is trained to do, he is an assassin, one that operates with his own agenda.
We meet Max during a botched assassination where his target is already dead, he retrieves from the body an $100 bill - it hides a cryptic message that takes him from Ireland to Paris then Jerusalem then finally the snowy wastes of Russia.
Things I liked about this book -
The settings, especially Paris and Jerusalem. In Paris some of the action takes place in the catacombs below the city, a highly spooky place full of bones and explorers - if you’ve not heard about it check it out here. Jerusalem sounds vibrant, full of colour and delicious food and lots of history.
Baaz, he joins Max in Paris, he helps Max circumnavigate the catacombs, he is the angel to Max’s devil.
The motorbike scene - it takes place in Paris, Max is on the run from the cops, the Russian’s, probably MI6, the Israelis, name a team of assassins, you can bet they are on his tail. His tail is perched upon a motorbike which proceeds to career through the streets of Paris, the writing around these chapters really conveys the urgency of it.
Things I didn’t like about this book -
It did take a little while to get going, the first couple of chapters though full of action didn’t fully hit the mark for me, the book really got going about a third of the way in.
His luck, he is shot at, near drowned, more times than anyone could survive - I know poetic license and all that, Max must have bones made of the same stuff as Wolverine.
All in all though it is what it says on the tin, a thrilling journey to get to the bottom of the cryptic message, Max never gives up despite the numerous hurdles he faces. I can see a film of this in the future. Hopefully without Tome Cruise in the leading role.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Our protagonist is Max McLean a man who doesn’t exist and a man who has so many bumps and scrapes throughout this book I am surprised he gets past the first couple of chapters alive! But that is what he is trained to do, he is an assassin, one that operates with his own agenda.
We meet Max during a botched assassination where his target is already dead, he retrieves from the body an $100 bill - it hides a cryptic message that takes him from Ireland to Paris then Jerusalem then finally the snowy wastes of Russia.
Things I liked about this book -
The settings, especially Paris and Jerusalem. In Paris some of the action takes place in the catacombs below the city, a highly spooky place full of bones and explorers - if you’ve not heard about it check it out here. Jerusalem sounds vibrant, full of colour and delicious food and lots of history.
Baaz, he joins Max in Paris, he helps Max circumnavigate the catacombs, he is the angel to Max’s devil.
The motorbike scene - it takes place in Paris, Max is on the run from the cops, the Russian’s, probably MI6, the Israelis, name a team of assassins, you can bet they are on his tail. His tail is perched upon a motorbike which proceeds to career through the streets of Paris, the writing around these chapters really conveys the urgency of it.
Things I didn’t like about this book -
It did take a little while to get going, the first couple of chapters though full of action didn’t fully hit the mark for me, the book really got going about a third of the way in.
His luck, he is shot at, near drowned, more times than anyone could survive - I know poetic license and all that, Max must have bones made of the same stuff as Wolverine.
All in all though it is what it says on the tin, a thrilling journey to get to the bottom of the cryptic message, Max never gives up despite the numerous hurdles he faces. I can see a film of this in the future. Hopefully without Tome Cruise in the leading role.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2021
Arkhangel (All Fall Down) is the second book about Max McLean by James Brabazon. This book is so much better than the first one although there was a bit in Irael and in the end i didn't like. Those bits where a little slow and the ending i found a little strange compared to the rest of the story. But wow what a ride it was. Almost nonstop action and thrills right from the start. Really good. We also got to know more about Max and his background. I am curious about how the next adventure will turn out.
January 21, 2024
Government assassin stumbles into something he shouldn't have, which is somehow tied up with his past, and gets shuttled through a series of adventures.
Lots to like... a gritty feel in places, a series of really inventive scenes, and an amazing ability to paint a picture and suck you in.
My main objection was the lack of restraint. I thought this was supposed to be a gritty spy book, but it turned into an increasingly over-the-top series of action scenes. Even though I enjoyed it all, the OTTness of the action took me out of it a bit. It's as if the author had too many good ideas in him. The big saving grace was that they were almost almost all good ideas.
Also, how many times can I guy get grazed by bullets without getting seriously hurt? Are all the bad guys stormtroopers?
Pretty sure I'll still read his next adventure.
Lots to like... a gritty feel in places, a series of really inventive scenes, and an amazing ability to paint a picture and suck you in.
My main objection was the lack of restraint. I thought this was supposed to be a gritty spy book, but it turned into an increasingly over-the-top series of action scenes. Even though I enjoyed it all, the OTTness of the action took me out of it a bit. It's as if the author had too many good ideas in him. The big saving grace was that they were almost almost all good ideas.
Also, how many times can I guy get grazed by bullets without getting seriously hurt? Are all the bad guys stormtroopers?
Pretty sure I'll still read his next adventure.
March 11, 2024
I've only just realised I've read this book before, yet not written a review. On a second try (about a year apart) I didn't enjoy the story any more than the first time and the rating remains at three stars. There are some decent action parts - the initial attempted takedown of McLeans's target, him escaping from the police and a chase through Paris on a motorbike, but overall the story felt kind of flat. The protagonist has a $100 bill with a Russian name on it which, for some reason which, although eventually explained, doesn't make a lot of sense considering the trouble (and deaths) various governments are going to for it. McLean's has the usual difficult background, including girlfriend he gave up. There's an inevitability of their eventual meeting that produced a bit of a shrug. Usually, crime thrillers are my thing but this one just left me somewhat cold. Still unsure why.
July 19, 2020
I found this book quite a slow read. In places it was excellent but then lost it's 'spark' towards the end, The main character was good but some of the action he was involved in was a bit unbelievable. I like a bit more realism,
March 17, 2020
The constant chapters of non-stop action quickly turn kinda dull, at least for me.
May 22, 2021
It's January 2018, and we're in a ditch outside an ancient cottage in a rain-swept west of Ireland, watching a target until the moment arrives. The moment arrives; move in, fire the shot. But everything is wrong. The target has been dead for at least a week; the shadowy figure our man - Max McLean - tracked in the gloom behind closed curtains wasn't the target, but the killer. Max pulls a piece of paper - a $100 bill - from the dead man's hand before diving out the door to escape the killer, taking a couple of bullets with him.
So, a routine job has become something else entirely - but Max still wants to know who the gunman in the cottage is, and whether the word written on the banknote is a message for him: "Arkhangel", in Cyrillic. Max's grandmother and mother were born in a village of that name... It's business for Max's boss, Frank, who wants to find the source of the money, but it's definitely personal for Max.
There is a pause as Max gets stitched up by a friendly under-the-radar doctor, giving him and the reader time to catch a breath. The pause doesn't last long though, as the police arrive a few hours later: "The cavalry wasn't coming to rescue me, it was coming to ride me down." There are great lines throughout Arkhangel, the blackest of black humour popping up to break the tension. The descriptions are also top-notch, making you see and feel everything Max sees and feels until you are wincing in pain when he gets punched. Brabazon is a documentary maker and he brings that filmic eye to his writing with great effect.
We go from Ireland to England to Paris to Tel Aviv, and then to the snow and biting cold of Moscow. Finally, inevitably, we get to Arkhangel, where the last questions are posed and the last answers given. There is a desperate, dangerous night journey to a rendezvous with friendly faces, a final action-packed setpiece - and a final delight.
For those who read a lot of thrillers, there is a checklist of things to expect, and Arkhangel definitely ticks the boxes - but there is a fresh spin here that grabs you. It's an addictive and unputdownable novel, a high-octane mash-up of the Jason Bourne and John Wick films with a truly creative approach to violence and ultra-black humour. Reading this was the most fun I've had for a long time.
So, a routine job has become something else entirely - but Max still wants to know who the gunman in the cottage is, and whether the word written on the banknote is a message for him: "Arkhangel", in Cyrillic. Max's grandmother and mother were born in a village of that name... It's business for Max's boss, Frank, who wants to find the source of the money, but it's definitely personal for Max.
There is a pause as Max gets stitched up by a friendly under-the-radar doctor, giving him and the reader time to catch a breath. The pause doesn't last long though, as the police arrive a few hours later: "The cavalry wasn't coming to rescue me, it was coming to ride me down." There are great lines throughout Arkhangel, the blackest of black humour popping up to break the tension. The descriptions are also top-notch, making you see and feel everything Max sees and feels until you are wincing in pain when he gets punched. Brabazon is a documentary maker and he brings that filmic eye to his writing with great effect.
We go from Ireland to England to Paris to Tel Aviv, and then to the snow and biting cold of Moscow. Finally, inevitably, we get to Arkhangel, where the last questions are posed and the last answers given. There is a desperate, dangerous night journey to a rendezvous with friendly faces, a final action-packed setpiece - and a final delight.
For those who read a lot of thrillers, there is a checklist of things to expect, and Arkhangel definitely ticks the boxes - but there is a fresh spin here that grabs you. It's an addictive and unputdownable novel, a high-octane mash-up of the Jason Bourne and John Wick films with a truly creative approach to violence and ultra-black humour. Reading this was the most fun I've had for a long time.
August 8, 2020
With comparisons to Lee Child and David Baldacci straight away I knew I was going to be in for a good read, Arkhangel doesn’t disappoint.
Our protagonist is Max McLean a man who doesn’t exist and a man who has so many bumps and scrapes throughout this book I am surprised he gets past the first couple of chapters alive! But that is what he is trained to do, he is an assassin, one that operates with his own agenda.
We meet Max during a botched assassination where his target is already dead, he retrieves from the body an $100 bill - it hides a cryptic message that takes him from Ireland to Paris then Jerusalem then finally the snowy wastes of Russia.
Things I liked about this book -
The settings, especially Paris and Jerusalem. In Paris some of the action takes place in the catacombs below the city, a highly spooky place full of bones and explorers - if you’ve not heard about it check it out here. Jerusalem sounds vibrant, full of colour and delicious food and lots of history.
Baaz, he joins Max in Paris, he helps Max circumnavigate the catacombs, he is the angel to Max’s devil.
The motorbike scene - it takes place in Paris, Max is on the run from the cops, the Russian’s, probably MI6, the Israelis, name a team of assassins, you can bet they are on his tail. His tail is perched upon a motorbike which proceeds to career through the streets of Paris, the writing around these chapters really conveys the urgency of it.
Things I didn’t like about this book -
It did take a little while to get going, the first couple of chapters though full of action didn’t fully hit the mark for me, the book really got going about a third of the way in.
His luck, he is shot at, near drowned, more times than anyone could survive - I know poetic license and all that, Max must have bones made of the same stuff as Wolverine.
All in all though it is what it says on the tin, a thrilling journey to get to the bottom of the cryptic message, Max never gives up despite the numerous hurdles he faces. I can see a film of this in the future. Hopefully without Tome Cruise in the leading role.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Our protagonist is Max McLean a man who doesn’t exist and a man who has so many bumps and scrapes throughout this book I am surprised he gets past the first couple of chapters alive! But that is what he is trained to do, he is an assassin, one that operates with his own agenda.
We meet Max during a botched assassination where his target is already dead, he retrieves from the body an $100 bill - it hides a cryptic message that takes him from Ireland to Paris then Jerusalem then finally the snowy wastes of Russia.
Things I liked about this book -
The settings, especially Paris and Jerusalem. In Paris some of the action takes place in the catacombs below the city, a highly spooky place full of bones and explorers - if you’ve not heard about it check it out here. Jerusalem sounds vibrant, full of colour and delicious food and lots of history.
Baaz, he joins Max in Paris, he helps Max circumnavigate the catacombs, he is the angel to Max’s devil.
The motorbike scene - it takes place in Paris, Max is on the run from the cops, the Russian’s, probably MI6, the Israelis, name a team of assassins, you can bet they are on his tail. His tail is perched upon a motorbike which proceeds to career through the streets of Paris, the writing around these chapters really conveys the urgency of it.
Things I didn’t like about this book -
It did take a little while to get going, the first couple of chapters though full of action didn’t fully hit the mark for me, the book really got going about a third of the way in.
His luck, he is shot at, near drowned, more times than anyone could survive - I know poetic license and all that, Max must have bones made of the same stuff as Wolverine.
All in all though it is what it says on the tin, a thrilling journey to get to the bottom of the cryptic message, Max never gives up despite the numerous hurdles he faces. I can see a film of this in the future. Hopefully without Tome Cruise in the leading role.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2020
Rather confusing at times
Max McLean is an official but officially a non-existent assassin. He doesn’t exist, so anything he does can be denied. He is sent to dispose of an individual in Ireland only to find someone got there before him. He is fortunate to escape with his life but also with a hundred dollar note inscribed with the word “Arkhangel” which is the name of the Russian village where his mother was born. Coincidence? McLean doesn’t believe in coincidences. Thus starts a frantic chase across the world.
The recently released film “Tenet” is advertised as James Bond on acid and this is a description which would equally apply to McLean. The action is non-stop, and our hero is always dodging bullets in the thick of it. Where Max differs from 007 is that he seems to be a one-woman man; which is unfortunate when that one woman is the daughter of the man he was sent to kill, and she believes he carried out the job. As an aside, even though he didn’t murder his victim, the conversation about his intent to do so would be an interesting one to hear.
The main criticism I have of the story is that it’s always frenetic and on one level. There is no change of pace. Additionally, the characters are fairly one-dimensional, and I was frequently confused as to where we were in the world and who were the protagonists at that particular stage. The scrapes that he was able to get out of quite frankly beggared belief. I am quite willing to suspend a certain amount of belief in favour of enjoying a good plot, but my reading was consistently interrupted by the thought that – this wouldn’t happen.
In short, I didn’t enjoy the novel as much as I felt I should have done. I enjoyed the genre and had hoped for more as my expectations were high. However, it took me several weeks to finish, and it was difficult on occasions to raise enough enthusiasm to pick it up again. The writing itself was excellent though but as a novel the rough edges needed to be knocked off and the remainder polished.
mr zorg
Elite Reviewing group received a copy of the book to review.
Max McLean is an official but officially a non-existent assassin. He doesn’t exist, so anything he does can be denied. He is sent to dispose of an individual in Ireland only to find someone got there before him. He is fortunate to escape with his life but also with a hundred dollar note inscribed with the word “Arkhangel” which is the name of the Russian village where his mother was born. Coincidence? McLean doesn’t believe in coincidences. Thus starts a frantic chase across the world.
The recently released film “Tenet” is advertised as James Bond on acid and this is a description which would equally apply to McLean. The action is non-stop, and our hero is always dodging bullets in the thick of it. Where Max differs from 007 is that he seems to be a one-woman man; which is unfortunate when that one woman is the daughter of the man he was sent to kill, and she believes he carried out the job. As an aside, even though he didn’t murder his victim, the conversation about his intent to do so would be an interesting one to hear.
The main criticism I have of the story is that it’s always frenetic and on one level. There is no change of pace. Additionally, the characters are fairly one-dimensional, and I was frequently confused as to where we were in the world and who were the protagonists at that particular stage. The scrapes that he was able to get out of quite frankly beggared belief. I am quite willing to suspend a certain amount of belief in favour of enjoying a good plot, but my reading was consistently interrupted by the thought that – this wouldn’t happen.
In short, I didn’t enjoy the novel as much as I felt I should have done. I enjoyed the genre and had hoped for more as my expectations were high. However, it took me several weeks to finish, and it was difficult on occasions to raise enough enthusiasm to pick it up again. The writing itself was excellent though but as a novel the rough edges needed to be knocked off and the remainder polished.
mr zorg
Elite Reviewing group received a copy of the book to review.
July 23, 2020
Another Max McLean mission, another breath-taking ride through the darker side of life that most of us rarely come into contact with.
While The Break Line was seemingly (and hopefully) fantastical, Arkhangel is far more personal for Max and more real for us - especially with current affairs in the state that they are with Russia and warnings of technological breaches of secure systems hitting the headlines every five minutes.
The scrapes (an understatement if ever there was) this man gets himself into and the luck he has getting out of them are nothing short of miraculous yet you still believe in him and them. It helps that the narrative ensures his injuries stay current and affecting, not disappearing overnight, although your belief in the strength and longevity of a one hundred dollar bill may be tested at times!
I loved this tale even more than the last. It seemed James Brabazon had relaxed into his writing from the outset this time, no bamboozling acronyms. When a phrase is thrown into the mix in another language, it's not always explained which I like - you can choose to either assume its meaning or look it up, it all adds to the maelstrom, although the precise descriptions of fight scenes both take your breath away and necessitate some re-reading on occasion, unless very familiar with combat yourself.
It's all very plausible and all quite mind-blowingly depressing if you actually thought about it hard enough. The way of life we have invented could all be gone in an instant, or more chillingly, held to impossible ransom.
I suppose one could say the current pandemic has done this to a certain extent and whether a freak of nature or made in a lab, it's all down to us and our proclivities. Damn those homo sapiens.
Bring on the next one, I cannot wait to see how long McLean can last!
While The Break Line was seemingly (and hopefully) fantastical, Arkhangel is far more personal for Max and more real for us - especially with current affairs in the state that they are with Russia and warnings of technological breaches of secure systems hitting the headlines every five minutes.
The scrapes (an understatement if ever there was) this man gets himself into and the luck he has getting out of them are nothing short of miraculous yet you still believe in him and them. It helps that the narrative ensures his injuries stay current and affecting, not disappearing overnight, although your belief in the strength and longevity of a one hundred dollar bill may be tested at times!
I loved this tale even more than the last. It seemed James Brabazon had relaxed into his writing from the outset this time, no bamboozling acronyms. When a phrase is thrown into the mix in another language, it's not always explained which I like - you can choose to either assume its meaning or look it up, it all adds to the maelstrom, although the precise descriptions of fight scenes both take your breath away and necessitate some re-reading on occasion, unless very familiar with combat yourself.
It's all very plausible and all quite mind-blowingly depressing if you actually thought about it hard enough. The way of life we have invented could all be gone in an instant, or more chillingly, held to impossible ransom.
I suppose one could say the current pandemic has done this to a certain extent and whether a freak of nature or made in a lab, it's all down to us and our proclivities. Damn those homo sapiens.
Bring on the next one, I cannot wait to see how long McLean can last!
April 27, 2021
A marginal improvement on the first novel but still strangely disappointing. We've calmed down after the frantic opener to a standard action spy thriller: Max our hitman protagonist is sent on a mission, possibly betrayed, there's a $100 dollar bill with a mystery message (even this MacGuffin is dull) and we travel to Ireland, Paris, Israel and Russia.
There's plenty of action with a shoot out and chase through Paris that ends in the catacombs - yayy! Unfortunately this is all punctuated by portentous flashbacks and endless ruminations about what's actually happening. There's something about counterfeiting and super computers but it's all murky and deeply unengaging.
I just didn't care for our hero. There's a comparison to James Bond on the cover but the author could learn a lot from Fleming's lean prose. Instead we get cliché after sweary cliché ("shit sandwich/shit hitting the fan/shitshow/shit creek...I'd been played" etc etc) a muddled unconvincing backstory and a plot in which nothing much seemed at stake other than our indestructible narrator's fate (apart from the computer/counterfeiting stuff that made little sense to this reader).
Lee Child's recommendation on the blurb ("don't count on sleeping"...really?) is almost a guarantee of mediocrity. Fellow author recommendations don't carry much weight in my ever so 'umble opinion - has Stephen King ever read a book he didn't love? Still, I don't suppose 'frustratingly average thriller' would have them flying off the shelves.
There's plenty of action with a shoot out and chase through Paris that ends in the catacombs - yayy! Unfortunately this is all punctuated by portentous flashbacks and endless ruminations about what's actually happening. There's something about counterfeiting and super computers but it's all murky and deeply unengaging.
I just didn't care for our hero. There's a comparison to James Bond on the cover but the author could learn a lot from Fleming's lean prose. Instead we get cliché after sweary cliché ("shit sandwich/shit hitting the fan/shitshow/shit creek...I'd been played" etc etc) a muddled unconvincing backstory and a plot in which nothing much seemed at stake other than our indestructible narrator's fate (apart from the computer/counterfeiting stuff that made little sense to this reader).
Lee Child's recommendation on the blurb ("don't count on sleeping"...really?) is almost a guarantee of mediocrity. Fellow author recommendations don't carry much weight in my ever so 'umble opinion - has Stephen King ever read a book he didn't love? Still, I don't suppose 'frustratingly average thriller' would have them flying off the shelves.
January 3, 2021
This was a book that was in my Audible library and I do not remember when I put it there. I will say this....it is definitely action packed. I enjoyed it. I liked the main character Mack and I REALLY enjoyed the narration.
Why the three stars then? Honestly? I spent most of the book try to figure out why the heck everyone was so freaked out about a one hundred dollar bill. Seriously. I kept thinking that I must be missing something because it did NOT make any sense to me. Granted, someone wrote the Russian equivalent of the word Arkhangel on the bill, it was found in a dead man's hands and that was the hometown of the MC, but really? The Brits, the Yanks, the Russians and the Israelis are all trying to get the bill and kill our guy? I was lost, but kept going just telling myself that it would all make sense eventually.
So, did it? Kind of. How anyone KNEW how THAT particular bill had the pertinent information...still at a loss. But, I enjoyed the book. I did get a little perturbed late in the book when I realized that this is actually the second book in the series and that there is a Mack story before this (dealing with how he meets Ezra, I think), but that's neither here nor there.
Good book, new author...... that's a win :)
Why the three stars then? Honestly? I spent most of the book try to figure out why the heck everyone was so freaked out about a one hundred dollar bill. Seriously. I kept thinking that I must be missing something because it did NOT make any sense to me. Granted, someone wrote the Russian equivalent of the word Arkhangel on the bill, it was found in a dead man's hands and that was the hometown of the MC, but really? The Brits, the Yanks, the Russians and the Israelis are all trying to get the bill and kill our guy? I was lost, but kept going just telling myself that it would all make sense eventually.
So, did it? Kind of. How anyone KNEW how THAT particular bill had the pertinent information...still at a loss. But, I enjoyed the book. I did get a little perturbed late in the book when I realized that this is actually the second book in the series and that there is a Mack story before this (dealing with how he meets Ezra, I think), but that's neither here nor there.
Good book, new author...... that's a win :)
August 25, 2020
Strap in and Hold on Tight!
This is a hell of a ride from James Brabazon. For someone who doesn't exist and who is supposed to hide in the shadows Max McLean is like a small fireworks display. The body count in this one alone would make a reasonable dent in our planet's over-population problems! From pretty early on it's obvious that this author isn't going for anything realistic but it is gritty and brutal and McLean is as ruthless and hard as they come.
It's almost non-stop action and Jason O'Mara does a really decent job of somehow keeping up with this breakneck story. With his mild Irish accents and some very good voices for other characters he is a really good fit to be reading this one.
The story careers around the world with death and mayhem seemingly around every corner as McLean manages to create chaos and no little destruction everywhere he goes.
I really did enjoy this one and it's fair to at least compare it to the likes of Lee Child. If you like non-stop action and frequent brutal violence this should suit very nicely as long as you aren't hoping for too high a dose of realism in the mix.
This is a hell of a ride from James Brabazon. For someone who doesn't exist and who is supposed to hide in the shadows Max McLean is like a small fireworks display. The body count in this one alone would make a reasonable dent in our planet's over-population problems! From pretty early on it's obvious that this author isn't going for anything realistic but it is gritty and brutal and McLean is as ruthless and hard as they come.
It's almost non-stop action and Jason O'Mara does a really decent job of somehow keeping up with this breakneck story. With his mild Irish accents and some very good voices for other characters he is a really good fit to be reading this one.
The story careers around the world with death and mayhem seemingly around every corner as McLean manages to create chaos and no little destruction everywhere he goes.
I really did enjoy this one and it's fair to at least compare it to the likes of Lee Child. If you like non-stop action and frequent brutal violence this should suit very nicely as long as you aren't hoping for too high a dose of realism in the mix.
June 16, 2020
The book will appeal to the lovers of Jason Bourne, Jack Reacher, or even Dan Brown.
The protagonist Max, is a complex, cold-blooded assassin working for the British secret services, who gets'set-up' by cunning ruthless villains. He cannot trust anybody, every person in his life is a potential threat. The plot takes the reader on quite a tortuous route via Ireland, France, Israel, Russia, and the UK. A fast-moving novel, regularly interspersed with unbelievable violence, gory depictions of slayings and weird characters. Some scenes of violence may seem a bit too gratuitous to some readers.
I wasn't too sure at first whether I would like the book. However, it just got better and better, with the plot sucking you into the strange world that the main character, Max, inhabited.
This would be a good book to read on your holiday beach if you are lucky enough to have one close at hand!
The protagonist Max, is a complex, cold-blooded assassin working for the British secret services, who gets'set-up' by cunning ruthless villains. He cannot trust anybody, every person in his life is a potential threat. The plot takes the reader on quite a tortuous route via Ireland, France, Israel, Russia, and the UK. A fast-moving novel, regularly interspersed with unbelievable violence, gory depictions of slayings and weird characters. Some scenes of violence may seem a bit too gratuitous to some readers.
I wasn't too sure at first whether I would like the book. However, it just got better and better, with the plot sucking you into the strange world that the main character, Max, inhabited.
This would be a good book to read on your holiday beach if you are lucky enough to have one close at hand!
July 27, 2020
Max Mclean is an expert at clandestine activities, he’s an assassin with a dedicated approach to his craft. But when a mission goes south, he becomes the target and his resources & options are evaporating fast as multiple governments join the hunt, and he doesn’t know who to trust.
This novel didn’t quite have the same impact on me as it’s clearly had on others readers. I didn’t really connect to Mclean and I found some action sequences to be lacking in thrills or actual tension. However, I wasn’t aware that this was the second novel to feature this character when I requested it, so I probably would’ve enjoyed it more if I had read the previous book and therefore had more invested in the character and his environment.
I received a copy from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
This novel didn’t quite have the same impact on me as it’s clearly had on others readers. I didn’t really connect to Mclean and I found some action sequences to be lacking in thrills or actual tension. However, I wasn’t aware that this was the second novel to feature this character when I requested it, so I probably would’ve enjoyed it more if I had read the previous book and therefore had more invested in the character and his environment.
I received a copy from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
Want to read
August 31, 2020I was given this ARC by Netgalley, James Brabazon and the publisher for this copy of Arkhangel in return for an honest review. This book was a white knuckle ride from start to finish. Max McLean is a soldier who is so undercover that he doesn’t exist. Sent to Northern Ireland to take out a target, he realises he has been set up when the location and compromised and he has to flee for his life, and prove his innocence. There is a great deal of detail indicating a huge amount of research has been carried out by James Brabazon. The pace is relentless and the action is nonstop, this reads almost like an action movie. The body count is high and although I enjoyed the pace I would perhaps like to engage more with the character. Recommended for fans of high thrills, non-stop action and a nerve wracking story line.
October 12, 2020
Max MacLean is a man who doesn’t exist. A secret super soldier who when on a deadly mission, things went wrong. He goes to an old cottage where he finds a one hundred dollar note with the name Arkhangel scrawled on it. Having no idea what it is about, Max travels around the globe, note in pocket from Paris to Jerusalem and finally Russia where it’s where Max discovers a town called Arkhangel based on St Michael the archangel.
He reunites with Rachel, a brilliant genius computer mathematician be used to know very well, who has lost her mind to insanity, but reveals to Max the solution to the mystery of the money note with the name.
Although this book was a good action thriller, I found the plot a little clunky and the chapters far too long in parts. I thought the end few chapters was a little meh too. Overall not bad so a good read.
He reunites with Rachel, a brilliant genius computer mathematician be used to know very well, who has lost her mind to insanity, but reveals to Max the solution to the mystery of the money note with the name.
Although this book was a good action thriller, I found the plot a little clunky and the chapters far too long in parts. I thought the end few chapters was a little meh too. Overall not bad so a good read.
August 21, 2020
Off-the-books assassin for the British Govenment Max McLean is a lone wolf who may have just been thrown to the lions.
Arkhangel is a thrilling fast paced read from start to finish.
Max is on mission that goes horribly wrong and finds himself fleeing from Ireland and being chased to France, Israel and Russia.
Will he make it out alive?
With a secret coded banknote burning a hole in his pocket and multi national agencies willing to pay any price for it Max is up against so many odds.
If you're a fan of James Bond, Mission Impossible 24 you will love this modern action thriller.
It's a serious page turner that I couldn't put down.
Arkhangel is a thrilling fast paced read from start to finish.
Max is on mission that goes horribly wrong and finds himself fleeing from Ireland and being chased to France, Israel and Russia.
Will he make it out alive?
With a secret coded banknote burning a hole in his pocket and multi national agencies willing to pay any price for it Max is up against so many odds.
If you're a fan of James Bond, Mission Impossible 24 you will love this modern action thriller.
It's a serious page turner that I couldn't put down.
March 6, 2021
Action-led with a layered plot that draws the reader onto the final twist. Max is a likeable anti-hero whose activities are always deniable by his employers. This story is a medley of conspiracy, espionage and political thrillers and is a rollercoaster read.
Despite the apparent invincibility of the main protagonist and the relentless determination of his pursuers, this story has an authentic touch that keeps you wondering if this could happen? The characters are relatable and the fast-paced plot well written.
I received a copy of this book from Penguin Books UK - Michael Joseph via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Despite the apparent invincibility of the main protagonist and the relentless determination of his pursuers, this story has an authentic touch that keeps you wondering if this could happen? The characters are relatable and the fast-paced plot well written.
I received a copy of this book from Penguin Books UK - Michael Joseph via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
June 4, 2021
Sequel to The Breakline, a military thriller with non-stop action sequences that get gruesome in places, not for the faint-hearted.
Max McLean is a British special forces assassin and a crack-shot for the last two decades. A routine hit goes badly wrong, when Max finds someone got there before him. In target's dead hand, he finds a hundred dollar note inscribed with the word “Arkhangel” which is the name of the Russian village where his mother was born. Coincidence? McLean doesn’t believe in coincidences. Thus starts a frantic chase across the world. The fantastic scene settings give it a cinematic feel. Can't wait to read Max's next exciting adventure.
Max McLean is a British special forces assassin and a crack-shot for the last two decades. A routine hit goes badly wrong, when Max finds someone got there before him. In target's dead hand, he finds a hundred dollar note inscribed with the word “Arkhangel” which is the name of the Russian village where his mother was born. Coincidence? McLean doesn’t believe in coincidences. Thus starts a frantic chase across the world. The fantastic scene settings give it a cinematic feel. Can't wait to read Max's next exciting adventure.
June 29, 2020
Normally I would love this type of story but this seemed to drag a bit. The authors style is okay and easy to read however this one was missing some real oomph. It had all the ingredients of a great story of an assassin traveling the world trying to understand what and why he was given a certain job. As a billy no mates he also finds a friend but never makes it work. Maybe because the weather is great outside at the moment and I was distracted is why for me it just did not hit the mark.
August 9, 2020
James Brabazon's novel is an action-packed, fast-paced thriller. Expect as much violence in one mission as James Bond probably saw in his entire career.
The author takes his assassin hero, Max, from Ireland, to the English Channel, Paris, Israel, and of course, Russia. All the settings are drawn in detail and were surely once well-trod by the author himself. It adds immense authenticity.
I am impressed and will certainly be reading any and all additions to the series.
The author takes his assassin hero, Max, from Ireland, to the English Channel, Paris, Israel, and of course, Russia. All the settings are drawn in detail and were surely once well-trod by the author himself. It adds immense authenticity.
I am impressed and will certainly be reading any and all additions to the series.
June 16, 2021
A novel that is both far fetched and relies on exceptional coincidences for the story to progress. The characters are not particularly believeable and the situations far from believeable. Based on the anticipated story in the blurb for the book it became very disappointing and lost its way. I doubt anybody could actually say what the outcome actually was after chasing all over Europe in search of a mystical solution to a conundrum
June 16, 2020
James Brabazon does it again in this hard boiled and razor edged military thriller. Main character is really well written. Excellent plot that will have you hanging off the edge of your seat. Brilliant and gruesome set pieces which fit the story perfectly. Fans of Clancy and Matt Reilly ( Scarecrow) will love this. An author that all mil-action fans should be following.
April 8, 2021
An escapist, if somewhat violent, romp from Ireland via Paris and Jerusalem to the Russian countryside.
Max McLean is a bit of a cliche, but James Brabazon's writing takes this book beyond mediocre to good.
Revolving around a computer algorithm for a computer that may or not exist, this tale of spies, assassins and computer geeks kept me engaged.
Max McLean is a bit of a cliche, but James Brabazon's writing takes this book beyond mediocre to good.
Revolving around a computer algorithm for a computer that may or not exist, this tale of spies, assassins and computer geeks kept me engaged.
July 8, 2022
My first real adventure into the crime thriller genre
I enjoyed the globe trotting nature of it, really liked the characters of Bazz and Moshe
Not sure if I liked the big reveal however, maybe I just didn't like the way it was revealed idk ill sit with it for a while but either way solid 3 star book
I enjoyed the globe trotting nature of it, really liked the characters of Bazz and Moshe
Not sure if I liked the big reveal however, maybe I just didn't like the way it was revealed idk ill sit with it for a while but either way solid 3 star book
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