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Dom Riley Thriller #1
Operation Certain Death
What happens to the human psyche when every day you go to work might be your last?
The debut novel from Kim Hughes, the most highly decorated bomb disposal operator serving in the British Army.
Perfect for fans of Andy McNab, Frank Gardner, James Swallow and Henry Porter.
Praise for Kim's memoir Painting the Sand:
'Breathtaking. Kim Hughes is the man who stands between us and oblivion' Andy McNab (author of Bravo Two Zero)
'An uplifting and enlightening account of the personal courage and dedication required to do a very lonely job in the most extreme of conditions' John Nichol (The Mail On Sunday)
The debut novel from Kim Hughes, the most highly decorated bomb disposal operator serving in the British Army.
Perfect for fans of Andy McNab, Frank Gardner, James Swallow and Henry Porter.
Praise for Kim's memoir Painting the Sand:
'Breathtaking. Kim Hughes is the man who stands between us and oblivion' Andy McNab (author of Bravo Two Zero)
'An uplifting and enlightening account of the personal courage and dedication required to do a very lonely job in the most extreme of conditions' John Nichol (The Mail On Sunday)
- GenresThriller
Audiobook
First published August 5, 2020
12 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Kim Hughes
4 books10 followersStaff Sergeant Kim Hughes GC, is a warrant officer in the British Army, an acclaimed public speaker, and a trustee of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 11, 2023
Author and real life Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes, is the most highly decorated bomb disposal operator serving in the British Army. He was awarded the George Cross in 2009 following a gruelling 6 month tour of duty in Afghanistan, during which he diffused 119 improvised explosive devices, and survived numerous Taliban ambushes. Needless to say ‘Operation Certain Death’ has more than a ring of authenticity about it. When a bomb explodes in a shopping centre in Nottingham, leaving behind a trail of destruction and shattered lives, Staff Sergeant Dom Riley isn’t actually on duty, but that doesn’t stop him racing to the scene. What he doesn’t know is, that this is just the start of a bombing campaign, one that involves both him, and his family - and so begins a game of cat and mouse, that becomes a race against time to prevent many more deaths!
Dom Riley is a stubborn individual, not one for obeying orders if he thinks he has a better plan, but he’s definitely someone you’ll be rooting for. Not unexpectedly, there are some real edge of the seat moments, and the knowledge that the author has actually experienced these terrifying events many times, fills me with admiration. I can’t imagine ever having the nerves of steel needed to carry out these procedures! A tense and well written action thriller, with credible characters and accurate technicalities, make this a one a winner!
* Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster UK for an ARC for which I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
Dom Riley is a stubborn individual, not one for obeying orders if he thinks he has a better plan, but he’s definitely someone you’ll be rooting for. Not unexpectedly, there are some real edge of the seat moments, and the knowledge that the author has actually experienced these terrifying events many times, fills me with admiration. I can’t imagine ever having the nerves of steel needed to carry out these procedures! A tense and well written action thriller, with credible characters and accurate technicalities, make this a one a winner!
* Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster UK for an ARC for which I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
March 31, 2023
My thoughts were a 3 1/2 stars so I erred towards a 4, good read and interesting topic, if you like Hurt Locker will give you a small taster of this story based around a stressed out Army bomb disposal expert Staff Sergeant Dom Riley back in limey but gets embroiled into a UK bomb threat directed at him and those in his family. Dissecting the story was a bit shallow, tension could of been higher and towards the later 1/4 of the book began to stutter and wallow, but worth a read just to understand the life of a British bomb disposal expert as its based on the authors insights.
July 19, 2021
Operation Certain Death is the first instalment in the Dom Riley Thriller series by Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes GC, the most highly decorated Bomb Disposal expert in the UK and a knowledgeable individual on the topic of warfare and its effects on the psyche. It's an action-packed, rapid-fire paced thrill ride from start to finish and fits neatly into the action-adventure genre. For those looking for a rollicking good read with never a dull moment, an authentic feel to it and an interesting protagonist and hero, you cannot go wrong with a little bit of Dom and his antics. A recommended read.
April 5, 2021
4.5 stars
When a bomb explodes in his home town of Nottingham, Army bomb-disposal expert Staff Sergeant Dominic Riley has been stood down from active duty. Begging his boss to take him along to the scene, he soon realises that he would have been killed when a second device explodes. What he doesn’t know though was that the first bomb was exploded to get him to the scene and the second to kill him.
When Riley then discovers a bomb under his car whilst collecting his daughter; all bets are off. Now it’s personal. As Riley conducts his own investigation, MI5 believes that he knows far more than he is letting on and may just be the person setting off the bombs. Can the two work together to capture the culprit before a major attack occurs on London or will MI5’s misinterpretation of Riley’s situation and that of his grandparents; lead to a disaster that no one wants or expects? To find out, you’ll have to read this explosive novel by Kim Hughes GC, former UK Army bomb-disposal operator.
Move over Chris Ryan and Andy McNab, there’s a new kid in the block and he’s explosive! For the same reason I love these two authors of military thrillers and fiction; Operation Certain Death had me hooked from page one because of the authenticity that comes from someone who has lived the protagonist’s life as a solider. It resonates off the page in a manner that can only be achieved by someone who has actually been there, done that.
Whilst knowing how to dismantle a bomb is one thing, constructing a plot and having strong characters that bring a book alive is another. Thankfully for us, Hughes excels here too. There is enough ‘army speak’ to give the plot and the characters a true sense of authenticity, yet it’s not overwhelming for the average reader who know nothing about these things. Combined with excellent writing that keeps you on the edge of your seat; Operation Certain Death is a military thriller that builds in all the right places, with just enough well timed plot twists to keep you guessing.
I’m so glad I came across this book. Best of all, was the cliffhanger ending; which has me very excited knowing that there will be a next book (and fingers crossed a series of books about Riley). A must for fans of Chris Ryan, Andy McNab and Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp series; it’s a great book that I could not put down and which I highly recommend.
To play along with my book bingo and to see what else I’m reading, go to #ktbookbingo and @kt_elder on Instagram.
When a bomb explodes in his home town of Nottingham, Army bomb-disposal expert Staff Sergeant Dominic Riley has been stood down from active duty. Begging his boss to take him along to the scene, he soon realises that he would have been killed when a second device explodes. What he doesn’t know though was that the first bomb was exploded to get him to the scene and the second to kill him.
When Riley then discovers a bomb under his car whilst collecting his daughter; all bets are off. Now it’s personal. As Riley conducts his own investigation, MI5 believes that he knows far more than he is letting on and may just be the person setting off the bombs. Can the two work together to capture the culprit before a major attack occurs on London or will MI5’s misinterpretation of Riley’s situation and that of his grandparents; lead to a disaster that no one wants or expects? To find out, you’ll have to read this explosive novel by Kim Hughes GC, former UK Army bomb-disposal operator.
Move over Chris Ryan and Andy McNab, there’s a new kid in the block and he’s explosive! For the same reason I love these two authors of military thrillers and fiction; Operation Certain Death had me hooked from page one because of the authenticity that comes from someone who has lived the protagonist’s life as a solider. It resonates off the page in a manner that can only be achieved by someone who has actually been there, done that.
Whilst knowing how to dismantle a bomb is one thing, constructing a plot and having strong characters that bring a book alive is another. Thankfully for us, Hughes excels here too. There is enough ‘army speak’ to give the plot and the characters a true sense of authenticity, yet it’s not overwhelming for the average reader who know nothing about these things. Combined with excellent writing that keeps you on the edge of your seat; Operation Certain Death is a military thriller that builds in all the right places, with just enough well timed plot twists to keep you guessing.
I’m so glad I came across this book. Best of all, was the cliffhanger ending; which has me very excited knowing that there will be a next book (and fingers crossed a series of books about Riley). A must for fans of Chris Ryan, Andy McNab and Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp series; it’s a great book that I could not put down and which I highly recommend.
To play along with my book bingo and to see what else I’m reading, go to #ktbookbingo and @kt_elder on Instagram.
December 5, 2020
Staff Sergeant Dominic Riley is an ATO – Ammunition Technical Officer – he’s the guy in the heavy suit that has to disarm the bomb when one is found. It’s a dangerous job, to say the least. But now he’s back home, far away from the war in Afghanistan…or so he thinks. Sergeant Dominic Riley is a compulsory therapy session when a bomb is detonated in Nottingham city centre. Even though he isn’t on duty, he rushes to the scene.
MI5 operative Kate Muraski is poking her nose where she shouldn’t. Eager for a promotion, she’s determined to prove herself. When digging up old history she comes across something that could be relevant to the bombing… and Riley’s at the centre of it.
As new details come to light and more bombs are uncovered, it’s clear that this is personal. Riley and Muraski must piece together long-buried secrets to find the perpetrators before the next bomb goes off…
I should probably say that I usually read detective thrillers over spy/army ones, but this was really good. First of all, the descriptions were visceral – it’s clear that the author has first-hand knowledge. Indeed, Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes GC is the most highly decorated bomb disposal officer in the British Army and was awarded the George Cross in 2009. The way that Hughes described the victims of the Nottingham bombing really made the scene come to life in a way I hadn’t expected. It was vivid without being gratuitously graphic. Hughes’ experience can also be seen in Riley the description of Riley’s mindset – when faced with a device purpose-built for mass murder, a single-minded focus riding a wave of adrenaline can be the different between life and death.
At the heart of every great thriller is the uncovering of secrets, investigation of clues and peaks and troughs in tension. Hughes does this really well and as the book goes on, the stakes get higher as the characters rush to prevent a catastrophe. With an ATO at the heart of the story, there was a lot of specialist knowledge which needed to be communicated to the reader. But in Riley’s voice it didn’t sound boring and managed to not detract from the narrative or disrupt the flow of events.
I really liked the therapy session featured at the beginning in the book – in the law enforcement/military narratives that we see in film, tv and books, characters often have PTSD symptoms but reject therapy as a waste of time and refuse to really engage. Eventually, Riley opens up and talks about his experience, and I’d like to think it took a weight off his shoulders. If PTSD stigma is to be challenged, people need to know that it’s not ‘weakness’ to discuss your issues or experiences in therapy.
One thing you often find in law enforcement narratives is the discussion of the binary good vs bad narrative, and I liked how the waters were rather murky here. Reading it, I didn’t feel like the author was pushing a moral perspective either way, all of the characters had their own motivations for their actions. Also, Hughes highlights how military conflict is often political, with the meddling of foreign powers often causing more problems than it solves.
In all, I really enjoyed the book and I look forward to the next instalments in the series!
A special thank you to the team at Simon and Schuster UK for giving me this digital ARC for review through NetGalley
MI5 operative Kate Muraski is poking her nose where she shouldn’t. Eager for a promotion, she’s determined to prove herself. When digging up old history she comes across something that could be relevant to the bombing… and Riley’s at the centre of it.
As new details come to light and more bombs are uncovered, it’s clear that this is personal. Riley and Muraski must piece together long-buried secrets to find the perpetrators before the next bomb goes off…
I should probably say that I usually read detective thrillers over spy/army ones, but this was really good. First of all, the descriptions were visceral – it’s clear that the author has first-hand knowledge. Indeed, Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes GC is the most highly decorated bomb disposal officer in the British Army and was awarded the George Cross in 2009. The way that Hughes described the victims of the Nottingham bombing really made the scene come to life in a way I hadn’t expected. It was vivid without being gratuitously graphic. Hughes’ experience can also be seen in Riley the description of Riley’s mindset – when faced with a device purpose-built for mass murder, a single-minded focus riding a wave of adrenaline can be the different between life and death.
At the heart of every great thriller is the uncovering of secrets, investigation of clues and peaks and troughs in tension. Hughes does this really well and as the book goes on, the stakes get higher as the characters rush to prevent a catastrophe. With an ATO at the heart of the story, there was a lot of specialist knowledge which needed to be communicated to the reader. But in Riley’s voice it didn’t sound boring and managed to not detract from the narrative or disrupt the flow of events.
I really liked the therapy session featured at the beginning in the book – in the law enforcement/military narratives that we see in film, tv and books, characters often have PTSD symptoms but reject therapy as a waste of time and refuse to really engage. Eventually, Riley opens up and talks about his experience, and I’d like to think it took a weight off his shoulders. If PTSD stigma is to be challenged, people need to know that it’s not ‘weakness’ to discuss your issues or experiences in therapy.
One thing you often find in law enforcement narratives is the discussion of the binary good vs bad narrative, and I liked how the waters were rather murky here. Reading it, I didn’t feel like the author was pushing a moral perspective either way, all of the characters had their own motivations for their actions. Also, Hughes highlights how military conflict is often political, with the meddling of foreign powers often causing more problems than it solves.
In all, I really enjoyed the book and I look forward to the next instalments in the series!
A special thank you to the team at Simon and Schuster UK for giving me this digital ARC for review through NetGalley
November 19, 2020
Following an incident that has Army bomb disposal expert Staff Sergeant Dom Riley stuck behind a desk shuffling papers awaiting the outcome of psychological evaluation he is only allowed to attend a local incident in a non-operational capacity. When a secondary device takes out the officers tasked with the job things change and he once again finds himself putting on his protective suit. Amongst the debris from the bomb he recognises a unique type of wiring, a type he's only seen once before in another place at another time. Its not long before it becomes apparent somebody has not just him but his family in their sights too.
A well written thriller that has Riley pitting his skills against those of a master bombmaker, the storyline moving seamlessly between the past and present as the two of them play out their game of cat and mouse. Its well paced and an interesting read that isn't too heavy on the jargon or the technical detail.
The authors knowledge in the area is unquestionable, a recipient of the George Cross for bravery he has walked the walk of a bomb disposal expert many times. If you haven't already read it you might also want to look at his autobiography 'Painting the Sand', a fascinating read that is also highly recommended.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the advance copy for review purposes. I was under no obligation and all opinions expressed are my own.
A well written thriller that has Riley pitting his skills against those of a master bombmaker, the storyline moving seamlessly between the past and present as the two of them play out their game of cat and mouse. Its well paced and an interesting read that isn't too heavy on the jargon or the technical detail.
The authors knowledge in the area is unquestionable, a recipient of the George Cross for bravery he has walked the walk of a bomb disposal expert many times. If you haven't already read it you might also want to look at his autobiography 'Painting the Sand', a fascinating read that is also highly recommended.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the advance copy for review purposes. I was under no obligation and all opinions expressed are my own.
August 29, 2021
Kim Hughes uses his actual experience as a staff sergeant ATO in Afghanistan as the technical underpinning for this thriller, the first in the Domenic Reilly series. The novel is fast-paced and an easy read; it's an exciting bit of escapist entertainment and most will find it hard to put down. If the dialogue had been slightly more flowing, some of the events slightly less ad hoc, and if if weren't for the apparent underlying, almost, obsession with "right-wing" violent groups and not those on the opposite side of the spectrum, Operation Certain Death would have earned four stars.
Still, it is worth a read and I am sure most readers of this genre will enjoy it.
Still, it is worth a read and I am sure most readers of this genre will enjoy it.
January 27, 2021
Good introduction to what I hope will be an interesting series of books featuring Dominic Riley. An interesting story that moves along at a good pace with some really great details about the world of an ATO that gives the story some unique moments. The author obviously knows his stuff and this is reflected in the book. My only criticism is its a bit far fetched at times and I think a novel written about the same subject but at a slower pace and possibly a bit more realistic (a bit more like Gerald Seymour) would have been brilliant.
Spot on
Spot on
November 28, 2021
a new take on the War against Terrorism
I enjoy “Painting the Sand” an autobiography by Kim Hughes. When I saw that he had written a fictional work about a bomb disposal scenario, I thought that this should be interesting.
This novel is more interesting, it has a believable story line, the pace is fast and I felt that I wanted the characters to get out this alive.
You’ll have to read it to find out. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. I will read more by Mr Hughes.
Four stars
I enjoy “Painting the Sand” an autobiography by Kim Hughes. When I saw that he had written a fictional work about a bomb disposal scenario, I thought that this should be interesting.
This novel is more interesting, it has a believable story line, the pace is fast and I felt that I wanted the characters to get out this alive.
You’ll have to read it to find out. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. I will read more by Mr Hughes.
Four stars
January 15, 2023
I have to say I didn't find this book that exciting but at the same time it was interesting as it was about a bomb disposal operative: this made it a bit different from the normal thriller. The book was well written and the characters were well drawn. I will read the second book with interest.
August 20, 2023
GREAT
If this is first of many I better start saving this was well written and put together…
So much I want to say but do not want to spoil it for you just take it as said ITS GREAT AND EASY TO READ
If this is first of many I better start saving this was well written and put together…
So much I want to say but do not want to spoil it for you just take it as said ITS GREAT AND EASY TO READ
November 29, 2020
A great holiday read - a bit heavy on technical jargon as but nervewracking to read as you could hope for. Looking forward to #2 in the series.
May 25, 2021
Super book. Many twists turns and flips. Holding my breath on many occasions along with him. Felt as if I was there right on his shoulder. Great story telling.
January 18, 2021
The author is a highly decorated ex British bomb disposal operator (Painting the Sand is his biography) who now gives us his first thriller.
Using his experience and knowledge, his protagonist is Staff Sergeant Dom Riley, also a bomb disposal expert. When Riley and his family are targeted by an unknown bomber, Riley goes rogue to draw him out.
It works quite well, the author doesn’t make “everything” about the technical aspects of bomb disposal but obviously works it logically into the story. Some nice side characters of an older generation as well as an ambitious intelligent agent.
Generally works pretty well, although does end on a bit of a cliff-hanger so don’t expect everything to be resolved.
Using his experience and knowledge, his protagonist is Staff Sergeant Dom Riley, also a bomb disposal expert. When Riley and his family are targeted by an unknown bomber, Riley goes rogue to draw him out.
It works quite well, the author doesn’t make “everything” about the technical aspects of bomb disposal but obviously works it logically into the story. Some nice side characters of an older generation as well as an ambitious intelligent agent.
Generally works pretty well, although does end on a bit of a cliff-hanger so don’t expect everything to be resolved.
February 7, 2021
Promising (great technical info; plot nicely devious; dialogue a bit wooden).
March 22, 2021
Wasn't terrible but i found it really hard to get into.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews