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Scott Pearce #1
Black 13
Black 13 is the brilliant first novel in the Scott Pearce series from Adam Hamdy. In this addictive and fast-paced thriller, ex-MI6 officer Pearce is about to show us that in a world where there is no loyalty to the nation state, it’s time to burn the espionage rule book.
An exiled agent. A growing threat. A clandestine war.
The world is changing beyond recognition.
Radical extremists are rising and seek to enforce their ideology globally.
Governments, the military and intelligence agencies are being outmanoeuvred at every step. Borders are breaking down. Those in power are puppets.
The old rules are obsolete. To fight this war a new doctrine is needed.
In a world where nothing is at it seems, where trust is gone, one man will make the difference.
Meet Ex-MI6 agent and man in exile, Scott Pearce.
It’s time to burn the espionage rule book.
Watch Pearce light the fire.
482 pages, ebook
First published January 23, 2020
547 people are currently reading
961 people want to read
About the author
Adam Hamdy
35 books340 followersI'm a Sunday Times and international bestselling author and screenwriter.
I write topical, thought-provoking novels that aim to entertain, and I love lived research, so the events in my books are often inspired by real events.
Before I became a professional writer I was a strategy consultant and advised global businesses in a variety of sectors. I co-founded Capital Crime and am now on the advisory board. I'm also on the board of ITW. I enjoy rock climbing, skiing, sailing and competitive shooting.
I live in Mauritius with my wife and our three children.
I write topical, thought-provoking novels that aim to entertain, and I love lived research, so the events in my books are often inspired by real events.
Before I became a professional writer I was a strategy consultant and advised global businesses in a variety of sectors. I co-founded Capital Crime and am now on the advisory board. I'm also on the board of ITW. I enjoy rock climbing, skiing, sailing and competitive shooting.
I live in Mauritius with my wife and our three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
January 18, 2020
*4.5 STARS *
Scott Pearce is reminiscent of your all action, comic book super hero, and oh boy, it makes for a truly gripping, action packed start to this new series!
Ex MI6 agent Pearce, took the blame for an operation that went wrong in Islamabad, an operation that led to his dismissal. We meet him working on his own undercover, trying to discover what went wrong and why. His cover is blown when lawyer Melody Gold travels half way round the world at the request of a client, inviting Pearce to help infiltrate the private bank Bayard Madison. The previous investigator Nathan Foster, (a former colleague of Pearce’s) was murdered for his efforts.
Gold seems to know way too much about Pearce, but more worryingly she’s led the bad guys right to his door. It ends up with the pair being pursued by some very vicious individuals, and quite honestly, the action is non stop from there on in!
Wow! What an intense start to a new series. It was well written, the characters are great, and it was totally addictive! Should you choose to read Black 13, hold on to your hats, because you’re in for a very bumpy ride!
* Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
Scott Pearce is reminiscent of your all action, comic book super hero, and oh boy, it makes for a truly gripping, action packed start to this new series!
Ex MI6 agent Pearce, took the blame for an operation that went wrong in Islamabad, an operation that led to his dismissal. We meet him working on his own undercover, trying to discover what went wrong and why. His cover is blown when lawyer Melody Gold travels half way round the world at the request of a client, inviting Pearce to help infiltrate the private bank Bayard Madison. The previous investigator Nathan Foster, (a former colleague of Pearce’s) was murdered for his efforts.
Gold seems to know way too much about Pearce, but more worryingly she’s led the bad guys right to his door. It ends up with the pair being pursued by some very vicious individuals, and quite honestly, the action is non stop from there on in!
Wow! What an intense start to a new series. It was well written, the characters are great, and it was totally addictive! Should you choose to read Black 13, hold on to your hats, because you’re in for a very bumpy ride!
* Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
December 22, 2019
Adam Hamdy writes a riveting fast paced thriller that really grew on me the more I read, featuring ex-military, ex-spook, mixed race Scott Pearce, a terrific all action central protagonist. Hamdy focuses on how our contemporary world has changed, the power of social media and how it can be manipulated by unseen forces seeking to sow the seeds of national division, strife and conflict with the goal of ensuring specific political outcomes. This underpins this thriller which begins with the murder of PI Nathan Foster, hired by lawyers from the law firm of Denton Fraser, instructed by a shadowy client to look into the private bank, Bayard Madison, run by an aristocrat Viscount. The lawyer Melody Gold travels half way across the world to convince Scott to continue the investigation, which Scott agrees to because Foster is an old military mate of his, but first the pair have to survive an all out assault by forces that have followed Melody.
The dangers does not subside as they make a covert arrival back home to Britain. Scott brings in another military friend, the black Wayne Nelson, to act as a bodyguard to Melody, whilst he tries to discover what happened to Nathan and what he knew that necessitated his death. Leads are few, but there is a cover up as the official verdict is that Nathan committed suicide. Feeling that his team needs bolstering, he brings in The Syrian, the disabled and traumatised Leila Nahum, a whizz when it comes to the online world. As Scott and his team run their operation according to conventional practices learnt in the past from the intelligence community, they find themselves having to rip up the old rule book, and having to fight fire with fire, taking the fight to their foes. In a narrative that takes in co-ordinated geopolitical machinations, the involvement of undercover French agents, a Ukrainian mobster, sex rings and the far right, Scott tries to get to the truth of why Nathan had to die and simultaneously foil a terror plot of unimaginable proportions.
Hamdy writes an intelligent thriller that portrays many of our contemporary world issues and fears, and gives us plotting and nightmare storylines that, sadly, really do not feel all that far fetched. It took me a little while to become engaged with the novel, but once I did, I was completely hooked, right up to the very last page. My favourite character was Leila, a woman with a heartbreaking backstory, traumas that continue to plague her, but which contribute to the strong woman she has become as she ruthlessly exploits those who underestimate her. This was a wonderful thriller that I really enjoyed, and it looks as if it is the first in a series, I cannot wait to read the follow up and reaquaint myself with Scott and his team. Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for an ARC.
The dangers does not subside as they make a covert arrival back home to Britain. Scott brings in another military friend, the black Wayne Nelson, to act as a bodyguard to Melody, whilst he tries to discover what happened to Nathan and what he knew that necessitated his death. Leads are few, but there is a cover up as the official verdict is that Nathan committed suicide. Feeling that his team needs bolstering, he brings in The Syrian, the disabled and traumatised Leila Nahum, a whizz when it comes to the online world. As Scott and his team run their operation according to conventional practices learnt in the past from the intelligence community, they find themselves having to rip up the old rule book, and having to fight fire with fire, taking the fight to their foes. In a narrative that takes in co-ordinated geopolitical machinations, the involvement of undercover French agents, a Ukrainian mobster, sex rings and the far right, Scott tries to get to the truth of why Nathan had to die and simultaneously foil a terror plot of unimaginable proportions.
Hamdy writes an intelligent thriller that portrays many of our contemporary world issues and fears, and gives us plotting and nightmare storylines that, sadly, really do not feel all that far fetched. It took me a little while to become engaged with the novel, but once I did, I was completely hooked, right up to the very last page. My favourite character was Leila, a woman with a heartbreaking backstory, traumas that continue to plague her, but which contribute to the strong woman she has become as she ruthlessly exploits those who underestimate her. This was a wonderful thriller that I really enjoyed, and it looks as if it is the first in a series, I cannot wait to read the follow up and reaquaint myself with Scott and his team. Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for an ARC.
November 20, 2024
A really good political thriller with an all too believable plot. Really liked the central characters and looking forward to picking the series up in book 2.
Kindle Unlimited
Kindle Unlimited
February 9, 2020
Update 09 Feb: can anyone tell me why Amazon would’ve refused to publish this review? I’m a bit gobsmacked - no swearing, nothing promotional, nothing defamatory... I don’t see any point resubmitting it until I know what I’ve done wrong!! 😫
This will be my 200th review for NetGalley, so I'm glad it can be an unreservedly positive one! The first in a series about disgraced former MI6 agent Scott Pearce, this was a fast-paced exciting action/spy thriller introducing a hero who resembles a British Mitch Rapp (that's a very good thing!)
Scott Pearce is on an obsessive one-man mission to track down the terrorists whose attack he thwarted in Islamabad, but political wrangling in the aftermath ended his career so he's carrying on alone. In Thailand posing as a climbing guide, he is tracked down by a Melody Gold, young lawyer who offers him a job finding the people who killed his friend. Realising she has been followed by sinister figures intent on killing them both, and that his cover is now blown, Pearce escorts her back to Britain and enlists the help of his friends to protect Melody and expose a dark conspiracy with roots in the far right extremist movement.
The author has a background as a screenwriter, and it shows in his storytelling - I could vividly picture every scene and think this would make an excellent TV series. Scott is an appealing hero - super tough but caring, not too damaged - unlike his friend Leila, a fantastic character, who has risen above the horrors of her past to become a powerful ally on Scott's mission. There were some other interesting side characters who will hopefully be developed further in future books, and hopefully we'll learn more about Scott's past missions.
The plot was exciting if unoriginal, and the baddies rather stereotypically evil, but the set-up was scarily convincing and while Scott's escapades seemed far-fetched, the nefarious plot was depressingly believable. In his afterword, the author describes his rationale for telling his story this way, and the extensive research he did. I like political thrillers and this felt very Now.
The action shifts between various UK locations, which made a nice change as most of the books I've read in this genre have been American. It's told in traditional close third person past narration, which was a relief. It's well written and the dialogue was just right. There is quite a lot of violence but it's not gratuitous, and no animals are harmed. I liked the way the story wrapped up satisfactorily but led us on to the next one, which I look forward to reading in due course. 4.5 stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review, and apologies that it's a little late. Black 13 is available now, but looks like it's still available to request (until 29.02.20) so grab it now if you're a fan of 24, Mr Rapp, or Mick Herron's Slow Horses series.
This will be my 200th review for NetGalley, so I'm glad it can be an unreservedly positive one! The first in a series about disgraced former MI6 agent Scott Pearce, this was a fast-paced exciting action/spy thriller introducing a hero who resembles a British Mitch Rapp (that's a very good thing!)
Scott Pearce is on an obsessive one-man mission to track down the terrorists whose attack he thwarted in Islamabad, but political wrangling in the aftermath ended his career so he's carrying on alone. In Thailand posing as a climbing guide, he is tracked down by a Melody Gold, young lawyer who offers him a job finding the people who killed his friend. Realising she has been followed by sinister figures intent on killing them both, and that his cover is now blown, Pearce escorts her back to Britain and enlists the help of his friends to protect Melody and expose a dark conspiracy with roots in the far right extremist movement.
The author has a background as a screenwriter, and it shows in his storytelling - I could vividly picture every scene and think this would make an excellent TV series. Scott is an appealing hero - super tough but caring, not too damaged - unlike his friend Leila, a fantastic character, who has risen above the horrors of her past to become a powerful ally on Scott's mission. There were some other interesting side characters who will hopefully be developed further in future books, and hopefully we'll learn more about Scott's past missions.
The plot was exciting if unoriginal, and the baddies rather stereotypically evil, but the set-up was scarily convincing and while Scott's escapades seemed far-fetched, the nefarious plot was depressingly believable. In his afterword, the author describes his rationale for telling his story this way, and the extensive research he did. I like political thrillers and this felt very Now.
The action shifts between various UK locations, which made a nice change as most of the books I've read in this genre have been American. It's told in traditional close third person past narration, which was a relief. It's well written and the dialogue was just right. There is quite a lot of violence but it's not gratuitous, and no animals are harmed. I liked the way the story wrapped up satisfactorily but led us on to the next one, which I look forward to reading in due course. 4.5 stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review, and apologies that it's a little late. Black 13 is available now, but looks like it's still available to request (until 29.02.20) so grab it now if you're a fan of 24, Mr Rapp, or Mick Herron's Slow Horses series.
March 30, 2021
Wow, great book, great debut character in Scott Pearce.
Massive 482 pages of a book.
lack 13 is the brilliant first novel in the Scott Pearce series from Sunday Times bestselling author Adam Hamdy. In this addictive and fast-paced thriller, ex-MI6 officer Pearce is about to show us that in a world where there is no loyalty to the nation state, it’s time to burn the espionage rule book.
An exiled agent. A growing threat. A clandestine war.
The world is changing beyond recognition.
Radical extremists are rising and seek to enforce their ideology globally.
Governments, the military and intelligence agencies are being outmanoeuvred at every step. Borders are breaking down. Those in power are puppets.
The old rules are obsolete. To fight this war a new doctrine is needed.
In a world where nothing is at it seems, where trust is gone, one man will make the difference.
Meet Ex-MI6 agent and man in exile, Scott Pearce.
It’s time to burn the espionage rule book.
Watch Pearce light the fire!
Fast paced, strong and powerful story, realistic , rollercoaster ride with great characters, human characters not super heroes. Scott Pearce has a tough ride but he is a is a formidable player who never gives up.
Scott Pearce is a agent exiled fighting an unknown group called Black 13, tough opponents, but he has good allies and a good team.
What a start, first in a new series that has started with an enormous about of praise from many top authors. Recommended highly, but a lot of reading.
Four stars
Massive 482 pages of a book.
lack 13 is the brilliant first novel in the Scott Pearce series from Sunday Times bestselling author Adam Hamdy. In this addictive and fast-paced thriller, ex-MI6 officer Pearce is about to show us that in a world where there is no loyalty to the nation state, it’s time to burn the espionage rule book.
An exiled agent. A growing threat. A clandestine war.
The world is changing beyond recognition.
Radical extremists are rising and seek to enforce their ideology globally.
Governments, the military and intelligence agencies are being outmanoeuvred at every step. Borders are breaking down. Those in power are puppets.
The old rules are obsolete. To fight this war a new doctrine is needed.
In a world where nothing is at it seems, where trust is gone, one man will make the difference.
Meet Ex-MI6 agent and man in exile, Scott Pearce.
It’s time to burn the espionage rule book.
Watch Pearce light the fire!
Fast paced, strong and powerful story, realistic , rollercoaster ride with great characters, human characters not super heroes. Scott Pearce has a tough ride but he is a is a formidable player who never gives up.
Scott Pearce is a agent exiled fighting an unknown group called Black 13, tough opponents, but he has good allies and a good team.
What a start, first in a new series that has started with an enormous about of praise from many top authors. Recommended highly, but a lot of reading.
Four stars
February 11, 2020
This is an exciting, fast paced and modern thriller. P I Nathan Foster is hired by a law firm to investigate a private bank, on behalf of a wealthy client. When he is killed, lawyer Melody Gold is sent to find ex-M16 agent, Scott Pearce. Pearce once knew Foster and, with Gold revealing the cover he has worked so hard to maintain, he returns to the UK with her, to help investigate.
From the first page, the reader is thrown right into the action. However, Pearce is a man who is well aware of what it takes to stay alive. He involves some old friends, including the mountainous Wayne Nelson and Syrian tech specialist, Leila Nahum, to help him. Meanwhile, Melody finds herself totally out of her depth and in danger, with no idea of what Foster discovered, or for whom…
If you like exciting thrillers, with more depth, then you will enjoy this. It starts running and keeps going until the last page. With some wonderfully, stereotypical baddies, alongside the modern storyline, this combines action and characters to care about. All of them have their demons, but I found Leila the most intriguing and look forward to reading more about Scott Pearce and his team in future reads. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
From the first page, the reader is thrown right into the action. However, Pearce is a man who is well aware of what it takes to stay alive. He involves some old friends, including the mountainous Wayne Nelson and Syrian tech specialist, Leila Nahum, to help him. Meanwhile, Melody finds herself totally out of her depth and in danger, with no idea of what Foster discovered, or for whom…
If you like exciting thrillers, with more depth, then you will enjoy this. It starts running and keeps going until the last page. With some wonderfully, stereotypical baddies, alongside the modern storyline, this combines action and characters to care about. All of them have their demons, but I found Leila the most intriguing and look forward to reading more about Scott Pearce and his team in future reads. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
January 26, 2020
Absolutely excellent. Scott Pearce and Leila Nahum are a formidable team and one that I'm looking forward to following in many more books to come. Leila, in particular, is extraordinary. Adam Hamdy certainly knows how to tell a good story and this thriller is tense, action-packed, disturbing and at times shocking. Fabulous! Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
February 28, 2021
When you hear the world espionage, Jason Bourne and the CIA springs to your mind. I was thinking Scott Pierce is the UK version of the same story. Heavy actions and thrills were expected and I was not disappointed. However, I found the intensity of the characters lacking in many aspects. I am not comparing this to the Bourne series, but when any books related to espionage gets published my mind automatically set its sight on Jason Bourne. This book is not Bourne, so don't go expecting one.
Scott Pearce is a disowned MI 6 agent. He has a set of principles and the author brings out every trick in his bag to establish that he is a good guy. It resulted in a comic book version of a do-gooder who is unnaturally skilled and good-hearted. There are too many cheesy dialogues and posturing that just don't cut the corners with me. The plot was too simple for a story that was about an event hell-bent on changing the course of the nation. There is no impending sense of doom. No menace. Rather a lukewarm sense of something that might go wrong. We have a syndicate of rich tycoons trying to reimagine the world. As expected they are bad people who have no consciousness or goodness in them. They are pure evil and there is only one man to stop them. Like I said pure comic book plot.
This is a great script for a movie. There are flashy cars, guns, and fights. However, it fails to connect as a book. However, what I like about this book is its pace and the character Leila. Strangely she is more strong than the lead character. Her background story was well narrated and we are presented with a PTSD person, who is strong and sensitive. I like a person with conflicting traits. They make the story more interesting. The epilogue is interesting. It is tried and tested method but still has its charm. I am interested in what a group of people that skilled can achieve in the world.
It is an easy read and I plan to stick on with the series. I am a sucker for stories where good trumps evil.
Scott Pearce is a disowned MI 6 agent. He has a set of principles and the author brings out every trick in his bag to establish that he is a good guy. It resulted in a comic book version of a do-gooder who is unnaturally skilled and good-hearted. There are too many cheesy dialogues and posturing that just don't cut the corners with me. The plot was too simple for a story that was about an event hell-bent on changing the course of the nation. There is no impending sense of doom. No menace. Rather a lukewarm sense of something that might go wrong. We have a syndicate of rich tycoons trying to reimagine the world. As expected they are bad people who have no consciousness or goodness in them. They are pure evil and there is only one man to stop them. Like I said pure comic book plot.
This is a great script for a movie. There are flashy cars, guns, and fights. However, it fails to connect as a book. However, what I like about this book is its pace and the character Leila. Strangely she is more strong than the lead character. Her background story was well narrated and we are presented with a PTSD person, who is strong and sensitive. I like a person with conflicting traits. They make the story more interesting. The epilogue is interesting. It is tried and tested method but still has its charm. I am interested in what a group of people that skilled can achieve in the world.
It is an easy read and I plan to stick on with the series. I am a sucker for stories where good trumps evil.
February 5, 2020
So many five star reviews for Black 13, but for me I felt like I was on the outside looking in. I could not get totally immersed in the plot built around a world of extremism, radicalisation and extreme violence. The survival of the protagonist Scott Pierce was at times hard to swallow, given what occurred. A lengthy read with plenty of action, at times confusing. Other reviewers clearly enjoyed Black 13 more than me...
April 8, 2020
Fast paced and heavy action. I went in expecting more after so many good reviews. Its fun but cheesy. A few roll the eye moments both with action scenes and dialogue. Weirdly i preferred Leila as the main character and wasnt overly fond of Peace. I guess this will be a series at some point and does has super potential. Thr back Story of some of the characters espcially dealing with PTSD is superbly written.
April 12, 2021
Explosive action packed thriller
I haven't read a good thriller for ages usually I read classics or contemporary fiction. Scott Pearce is a great creation and hero of the book and I'm sure many to come. If you like fast paced thrillers you'll love this .
I haven't read a good thriller for ages usually I read classics or contemporary fiction. Scott Pearce is a great creation and hero of the book and I'm sure many to come. If you like fast paced thrillers you'll love this .
May 5, 2021
9th book of 2021 (178 Books read overall)
Quote from the Book I Liked - 'Every challenge has dark moments; Patience and Perseverance overcome them.' (Page no. 101)
Rating - 4 Stars
Plot Summary - Black 13 is the brilliant first novel in the Scott Pearce series from Adam Hamdy. In this addictive and fast-paced thriller, ex-MI6 officer Pearce is about to show us that in a world where there is no loyalty to the nation-state, it's time to burn the espionage rule book.
An exiled agent. A growing threat. A clandestine war.
The world is changing beyond recognition.
Radical extremists are rising and seek to enforce their ideology globally.
Governments, the military and intelligence agencies are being outmanoeuvred at every step. Borders are breaking down. Those in power are puppets.
The old rules are obsolete. To fight this war a new doctrine is needed.
In a world where nothing is at it seems, where trust is gone, one man will make the difference.
Meet Ex-MI6 agent and man in exile, Scott Pearce.
It's time to burn the espionage rule book.
Watch Pearce light the fire.
My Review - The book is full of action, even from the page one. Nathan Foster an ex-military guy, living his worst days of life has been appointed by a Law firm to investigate a Private bank by some anonymous Wealthy client. But he founds something while investigating in the dark of the night at the bank. He meets someone and instantly is scared for his life. Unfortunately, what he found led him to his death.
Later the news of his demise reaches our poignant Scott Pearce, ex MI-6 and a friend of Nathan Foster via Melody Gold, secretory of the CEO of Law Firm who hired Nathan. They return to the UK to investigate the death of Nathan along with the hard kept secret which led to his demise.
If you are into hard action-packed, ex-military thriller novel, this one is surely for you. From page one to the last, you'll love the twist and turns along with WTF moments.
Conclusion - Completely action packed novel.
Full Review on Blog.
Link to Blog - The Tales of Fugitive Biker
Quote from the Book I Liked - 'Every challenge has dark moments; Patience and Perseverance overcome them.' (Page no. 101)
Rating - 4 Stars
Plot Summary - Black 13 is the brilliant first novel in the Scott Pearce series from Adam Hamdy. In this addictive and fast-paced thriller, ex-MI6 officer Pearce is about to show us that in a world where there is no loyalty to the nation-state, it's time to burn the espionage rule book.
An exiled agent. A growing threat. A clandestine war.
The world is changing beyond recognition.
Radical extremists are rising and seek to enforce their ideology globally.
Governments, the military and intelligence agencies are being outmanoeuvred at every step. Borders are breaking down. Those in power are puppets.
The old rules are obsolete. To fight this war a new doctrine is needed.
In a world where nothing is at it seems, where trust is gone, one man will make the difference.
Meet Ex-MI6 agent and man in exile, Scott Pearce.
It's time to burn the espionage rule book.
Watch Pearce light the fire.
My Review - The book is full of action, even from the page one. Nathan Foster an ex-military guy, living his worst days of life has been appointed by a Law firm to investigate a Private bank by some anonymous Wealthy client. But he founds something while investigating in the dark of the night at the bank. He meets someone and instantly is scared for his life. Unfortunately, what he found led him to his death.
Later the news of his demise reaches our poignant Scott Pearce, ex MI-6 and a friend of Nathan Foster via Melody Gold, secretory of the CEO of Law Firm who hired Nathan. They return to the UK to investigate the death of Nathan along with the hard kept secret which led to his demise.
If you are into hard action-packed, ex-military thriller novel, this one is surely for you. From page one to the last, you'll love the twist and turns along with WTF moments.
Conclusion - Completely action packed novel.
Full Review on Blog.
Link to Blog - The Tales of Fugitive Biker
February 10, 2020
Rubbish. Scott Pearce is pitched as a maverick ex Mi6 operatives who, “breaks all the rules.” How does he do this, by faking the death of the heroine in a prisoner exchange. How many times have you seen that? The eponymous evil team he’s up against couldn’t run a bath. Their dastardly scheme is to blow up a school full of kiddies. Though that isn’t revealed until right before that action takes place. That’s it. That’s their whole devilish plan..... The henchmen are all a bit shit except for Hector, the evil mastermind’s right hand man, who Pearce dispatches with a palm strike to the nose, “sending shards of bone up into his brain, killing him instantly.” That’s so shit, it’s laughable. Pearce of course is invincible and I could go on, I’m sure he will...
Bottom line, I read this, so YOU dont have to. Go watch an old Steven Seagal, or JCVD movie, it’ll be more entertaining. There is nothing in Black13 that hasn’t been done a thousand times before... Or far better, somewhere else by much better writers.
Bottom line, I read this, so YOU dont have to. Go watch an old Steven Seagal, or JCVD movie, it’ll be more entertaining. There is nothing in Black13 that hasn’t been done a thousand times before... Or far better, somewhere else by much better writers.
December 25, 2019
Pre-review:
I haven't even finished this - and HOLY CRAP ... what a roller-coaster ride this is already! One of the best action thrillers I have read in a long while and I'm only half way through!
Well, now I have finished it, and what can I say but what a read! My thoughts above, when only halfway through, are still applicable. The characters, the story, the descriptiveness, the action sequences (and there are plenty of those) - I felt every heartbeat, sat there breathless, winced at every punch.
We already know this is going to be a series so no spoiler alert there - but for a while you wonder .... is this man made of kevlar ... by the end of it, I can hear the words ... "we can rebuild him" ...
Now for a spoiler alert: this is no fairy tale; there is violence and a lot of it; so if you are easily offended, turn away now. If you want one of the best thrillers around, read on!
I haven't even finished this - and HOLY CRAP ... what a roller-coaster ride this is already! One of the best action thrillers I have read in a long while and I'm only half way through!
Well, now I have finished it, and what can I say but what a read! My thoughts above, when only halfway through, are still applicable. The characters, the story, the descriptiveness, the action sequences (and there are plenty of those) - I felt every heartbeat, sat there breathless, winced at every punch.
We already know this is going to be a series so no spoiler alert there - but for a while you wonder .... is this man made of kevlar ... by the end of it, I can hear the words ... "we can rebuild him" ...
Now for a spoiler alert: this is no fairy tale; there is violence and a lot of it; so if you are easily offended, turn away now. If you want one of the best thrillers around, read on!
March 7, 2020
The perfect tale of espionage for our troubled times
Adam Hamdy has created something truly unique with BLACK 13 - A story about asymmetric warfare, fanatism and the evolution of evil and espionage alike.
Scott Pearce makes for a compelling protagonist, differing from the stereotypical PTSD heroes, who have to claw their way back to humanity. He rather is a driven man with a mission, who finds himself unable to quit. I also enjoyed how the author shrouded parts of his past in mystery and didn’t reveal his whole backstory at once.
Leila Nahum on the other hand is such a special character that I won’t spoil her here.
The other characters and their motivations are fleshed out in great detail as well, including the villains.
The action is mesmerizing and the pacing just perfect, with the author throwing in a new twist every time you think you are one step ahead of the game.
The ending bodes well for the next entry into the series and I couldn’t be more excited!
Adam Hamdy has created something truly unique with BLACK 13 - A story about asymmetric warfare, fanatism and the evolution of evil and espionage alike.
Scott Pearce makes for a compelling protagonist, differing from the stereotypical PTSD heroes, who have to claw their way back to humanity. He rather is a driven man with a mission, who finds himself unable to quit. I also enjoyed how the author shrouded parts of his past in mystery and didn’t reveal his whole backstory at once.
Leila Nahum on the other hand is such a special character that I won’t spoil her here.
The other characters and their motivations are fleshed out in great detail as well, including the villains.
The action is mesmerizing and the pacing just perfect, with the author throwing in a new twist every time you think you are one step ahead of the game.
The ending bodes well for the next entry into the series and I couldn’t be more excited!
February 7, 2020
This was more of banking thriller.
February 18, 2021
For all the hype I expected more...
It's a shame because I was really hoping the novel live up to its sensational reviews and headline. The opening let me down massively with it's cliched bad guys that seem to have been taken from the same stereotypical goon factory. I kept reading in the hopes of finding out what was so secret. The threads are nicely tied up at the end. In fact, what struck me was an occasional line was well written with beautiful imagery/language. But it was then let down again by the eye rolling and cringe moments (distinct damsel in distress scenes). And yet there is some rather well thought moralistic undertones. Even Leila's character was enjoyable - a strong and smart woman that is capable of saving the protagonist. However, I suppose a novel(or media representation) that doesn't paint Russian oligarchs as bad people is too much to ask for...
It's a shame because I was really hoping the novel live up to its sensational reviews and headline. The opening let me down massively with it's cliched bad guys that seem to have been taken from the same stereotypical goon factory. I kept reading in the hopes of finding out what was so secret. The threads are nicely tied up at the end. In fact, what struck me was an occasional line was well written with beautiful imagery/language. But it was then let down again by the eye rolling and cringe moments (distinct damsel in distress scenes). And yet there is some rather well thought moralistic undertones. Even Leila's character was enjoyable - a strong and smart woman that is capable of saving the protagonist. However, I suppose a novel(or media representation) that doesn't paint Russian oligarchs as bad people is too much to ask for...
February 19, 2025
Don’t read if you're trying to get some work done!
Fast-paced action from the beginning. Completely unputdownable spy thriller/political drama/race against time but with the golden threads of loyalty, friendship and trust running throughout. I’d like to think this is what the Famous Five got up to when they grew up. Highly recommended.
Fast-paced action from the beginning. Completely unputdownable spy thriller/political drama/race against time but with the golden threads of loyalty, friendship and trust running throughout. I’d like to think this is what the Famous Five got up to when they grew up. Highly recommended.
October 12, 2022
The new world order is being created and intelligence agencies are left chasing their tails. Ex-MI6 agent, Scott Pearce, is prepared to rip up the rule book, especially when it becomes personal and the problem is the corruption within the highest levels.
A non-stop thriller, really enjoyed it.
A non-stop thriller, really enjoyed it.
April 25, 2020
This is a very very good book. Its underlying premises are very relevant to our daily lives. I am very much looking forward to what comes next. I can't recommend it highly enough.. The authors notes at the end are quite chilling. Highly recommended.
January 16, 2020
Black 13, by Adam Hamdy, is the first in a proposed new series from the author of the high octane Pendulum trilogy. It introduces the reader to Scott Pearce, a former operative with MI6 who was driven out of the service when he refused to stand down after an horrific engagement in Islamabad. He believes the perpetrators are still at large and seeks some form of retribution. Scott is a formidable individual whose skills, strengths and lack of personal ties allow him to make clear decisions that may put him in mortal danger but for what he believes is the greater good. He is loyal to the former colleagues who have remained loyal to him.
The story opens with the murder of one of these colleagues, Nathan Foster. Like Scott, Nathan is no longer working for a government agency but is struggling to get by as a civilian. When a young lawyer, Melody Gold, recruits him on behalf of a shadowy client to investigate goings on at a bank, Nathan is drawn to the chance of some danger and glory. He has grown bored with his mundane work as a private investigator for suspicious wives or employers. However, what he discovers at the bank terrifies him and ultimately leads to his demise.
The action then moves to a beautiful beach location in Thailand where Scott is working under an assumed identity as a climbing guide and tutor while seeking gunrunners he believes are connected to what happened in Islamabad. He is appalled when Melody turns up to recruit him in place of Nathan as only three people in the world should have known Scott’s location. With his cover compromised and powerful enemies on his tail he returns to England. On confirming the details of what happened to Nathan he plots revenge.
Scott asks another of his trusted former colleagues, Wayne Nelson, to act as bodyguard for Melody who is now also in danger. He contacts Leila Nahum, a disabled Syrian refugee and accomplished IT expert with an horrific personal history, whose life Scott saved during an MI6 operation. This small team works to find out who Nathan’s client was and who was behind his killing. What they uncover goes to the heart of the British establishment and beyond, into global networks of politics and wealth.
This is a slick, tense and fast paced thriller. Beneath the vividly described action – the fights, car chases and imaginative means of escape – the author effortlessly slips in thought-provoking social commentary. Arguments put forward can be made to sound reasonable to the disaffected who see their concerns being ignored by those in authority. The narrative explores how ordinary people can be radicalised and how some will go on to commit indefensible atrocities. It is a warning, a clarion call, for what could be happening in Britain today.
The varied and well drawn characters add to the enjoyment of what is an intense and compelling story. It offers escapism but is inventive enough to carry the reader through the many battles and complex conspiracies. Explication never detracts from the adrenaline fuelled escapades. Recommended for those who enjoy well written and electrifying action thrillers.
The story opens with the murder of one of these colleagues, Nathan Foster. Like Scott, Nathan is no longer working for a government agency but is struggling to get by as a civilian. When a young lawyer, Melody Gold, recruits him on behalf of a shadowy client to investigate goings on at a bank, Nathan is drawn to the chance of some danger and glory. He has grown bored with his mundane work as a private investigator for suspicious wives or employers. However, what he discovers at the bank terrifies him and ultimately leads to his demise.
The action then moves to a beautiful beach location in Thailand where Scott is working under an assumed identity as a climbing guide and tutor while seeking gunrunners he believes are connected to what happened in Islamabad. He is appalled when Melody turns up to recruit him in place of Nathan as only three people in the world should have known Scott’s location. With his cover compromised and powerful enemies on his tail he returns to England. On confirming the details of what happened to Nathan he plots revenge.
Scott asks another of his trusted former colleagues, Wayne Nelson, to act as bodyguard for Melody who is now also in danger. He contacts Leila Nahum, a disabled Syrian refugee and accomplished IT expert with an horrific personal history, whose life Scott saved during an MI6 operation. This small team works to find out who Nathan’s client was and who was behind his killing. What they uncover goes to the heart of the British establishment and beyond, into global networks of politics and wealth.
This is a slick, tense and fast paced thriller. Beneath the vividly described action – the fights, car chases and imaginative means of escape – the author effortlessly slips in thought-provoking social commentary. Arguments put forward can be made to sound reasonable to the disaffected who see their concerns being ignored by those in authority. The narrative explores how ordinary people can be radicalised and how some will go on to commit indefensible atrocities. It is a warning, a clarion call, for what could be happening in Britain today.
The varied and well drawn characters add to the enjoyment of what is an intense and compelling story. It offers escapism but is inventive enough to carry the reader through the many battles and complex conspiracies. Explication never detracts from the adrenaline fuelled escapades. Recommended for those who enjoy well written and electrifying action thrillers.
December 18, 2019
I am going to ignore the fact that Scott Pearce spends the majority of this book channelling Captain Scarlet insofar as he is pretty much indestructible whatever situation he finds himself in. Not a spoiler, this is the start of a series so we pretty much know from the off that he probably won't die!
We first meet him when he is in action investigating on his own when he is interrupted in this by someone who wants, no needs, his help. This marks the first "fleeing for his life" action sequence which pretty much sets the tone for the rest of what follows.
An investigator has been murdered, ruled suicide despite evidence that proves otherwise. Evidence that the powers that be have chosen to ignore. But why? And who is pulling the chains? What did the investigator discover that needs to be kept quiet... at all costs?
This is a scary book as it highlights the ease that certain factions find to manipulate things for their own ends. I can't, and won't, expand on this as to do so might contain spoilers and the blurb gives little away. Suffice to say that there was so much that appeared to be wholly credible contained within the pages of this book, especially with what the author says at the end with regard to a social experiment he himself carried out, well... dark times indeed... Sorry for being cryptic but you will get what I mean when you read it for yourself.
Characterisation was excellent. Each one was well crafted - main and bit part players alike - and all played their parts with aplomb. I especially loved Leila and her courage through all the adversity that life has already thrown her way before we even meet her and see what happened next!
Everything else a good action thriller should have, this book has in spades. How Pearce is still alive beggars belief but he is a master of the skin-of-his-teeth, seat-of-his-pants escape. Good thing too as he does put himself in harm's way more than the average super hero. The action is complemented by some really nifty techno support, mostly from Leila and I especially enjoyed this side of things.
The whole thing does read at tad like it has the small (or even big) screen in mind. I for one would love to see this happen. But for now, I will be sitting back and hotly anticipating the next in series, especially given the (not a cliffhanger, don't worry) epilogue... the game has only just begun...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
We first meet him when he is in action investigating on his own when he is interrupted in this by someone who wants, no needs, his help. This marks the first "fleeing for his life" action sequence which pretty much sets the tone for the rest of what follows.
An investigator has been murdered, ruled suicide despite evidence that proves otherwise. Evidence that the powers that be have chosen to ignore. But why? And who is pulling the chains? What did the investigator discover that needs to be kept quiet... at all costs?
This is a scary book as it highlights the ease that certain factions find to manipulate things for their own ends. I can't, and won't, expand on this as to do so might contain spoilers and the blurb gives little away. Suffice to say that there was so much that appeared to be wholly credible contained within the pages of this book, especially with what the author says at the end with regard to a social experiment he himself carried out, well... dark times indeed... Sorry for being cryptic but you will get what I mean when you read it for yourself.
Characterisation was excellent. Each one was well crafted - main and bit part players alike - and all played their parts with aplomb. I especially loved Leila and her courage through all the adversity that life has already thrown her way before we even meet her and see what happened next!
Everything else a good action thriller should have, this book has in spades. How Pearce is still alive beggars belief but he is a master of the skin-of-his-teeth, seat-of-his-pants escape. Good thing too as he does put himself in harm's way more than the average super hero. The action is complemented by some really nifty techno support, mostly from Leila and I especially enjoyed this side of things.
The whole thing does read at tad like it has the small (or even big) screen in mind. I for one would love to see this happen. But for now, I will be sitting back and hotly anticipating the next in series, especially given the (not a cliffhanger, don't worry) epilogue... the game has only just begun...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
January 29, 2020
Thank you to @macmillanaus for sending me a copy for review. I absolutely loved this book! I really enjoy a good crime thriller and this was definitely one. It reminded my of the Jason Bourne movies and I loved it. I was hooked from the start and I was up late finishing it off, once you get to part 2 there is no putting it down. It was fast paced from the start and lots of action happening, but not too much that you get overwhelmed. The world of spies was explained well and I didn't feel as if I was missing information or not knowing what was going on.
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I loved the characters and had many emotions when different things happened to them. As the story progresses we learn more about what makes them who they are and why they are doing what they are doing. The suspense and intrigue of the story was brilliant and I found myself wanting to immediately know more and what was going to happen next.
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Overall a brilliant read that I will definitely be recommending and can't wait to read more about Scott Pearce 😊
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I loved the characters and had many emotions when different things happened to them. As the story progresses we learn more about what makes them who they are and why they are doing what they are doing. The suspense and intrigue of the story was brilliant and I found myself wanting to immediately know more and what was going to happen next.
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Overall a brilliant read that I will definitely be recommending and can't wait to read more about Scott Pearce 😊
January 22, 2020
What a cracking read this is! The prologue sets the scene and pace and the intensity never goes away throughout the book. The death of Nathan Foster by two thugs that I cannot imagine were ever human was quite sickening but then you realise that he had been a man that had been trained as an MI6 agent and who had served in some of the worst fighting campaigns, then you shudder.
When Scott Perce’s 2-year uncover alias as a climbing guide is broken by Melody Gold, a lawyer, things do go south rather quickly. After making a spectacular escape with Melody he has little choice other than listening to what she has to say. He knew he already wanted to take out the people that had killed his former MI6 agent buddy.
This is just one action-packed chapter after another, each quite very distinctive, each high octane reading. Brilliant vivid descriptions of places and situations bring it all to life like a cinema epic movie. The plot has a real modern feel and the characters solid. A stop you in your tracks could this happen sort of read and yes scarily one day it could.
This is going to be a solid series to keep up with if this book is anything to go by. Just superb!
I wish to thank the publisher and NetGalley for an e-copy of this book which I reviewed honestly.
When Scott Perce’s 2-year uncover alias as a climbing guide is broken by Melody Gold, a lawyer, things do go south rather quickly. After making a spectacular escape with Melody he has little choice other than listening to what she has to say. He knew he already wanted to take out the people that had killed his former MI6 agent buddy.
This is just one action-packed chapter after another, each quite very distinctive, each high octane reading. Brilliant vivid descriptions of places and situations bring it all to life like a cinema epic movie. The plot has a real modern feel and the characters solid. A stop you in your tracks could this happen sort of read and yes scarily one day it could.
This is going to be a solid series to keep up with if this book is anything to go by. Just superb!
I wish to thank the publisher and NetGalley for an e-copy of this book which I reviewed honestly.
January 17, 2020
Having read Adam Hamdys Pendulum Trilogy which I rated highly, i wondered how he could better those books.
I needn’t have worried!
Black 13 is an intelligent and highly addictive read, delving into current affairs and politics, with our new hero Scott Pearce. Masterful writing means you are always on the edge of your seat and actually feel like you’re on the ride with the characters in the underbelly of Society and the world of spies and espionage! Each character has a good background story, and they are all easy to like....the research into this book took over 2 years, and I can see why!
I’m certainly not going to give anything away but I urge you to buy Black 13 and read it, you won’t be disappointed.... from the first chapter it grabs you by the balls and doesn’t let you go until the last page, and only then to make you wish you could read the sequel immediately!
I’ve always been a reader of crime novels, but I have now found a new genre Thrillers, and a new hero in Scott Pearce and cannot wait for the next breathtaking round from Mr Hamdys pen.
A thriller that’s begging to be made into a movie, if you read one book this year, make it Black 13!
I needn’t have worried!
Black 13 is an intelligent and highly addictive read, delving into current affairs and politics, with our new hero Scott Pearce. Masterful writing means you are always on the edge of your seat and actually feel like you’re on the ride with the characters in the underbelly of Society and the world of spies and espionage! Each character has a good background story, and they are all easy to like....the research into this book took over 2 years, and I can see why!
I’m certainly not going to give anything away but I urge you to buy Black 13 and read it, you won’t be disappointed.... from the first chapter it grabs you by the balls and doesn’t let you go until the last page, and only then to make you wish you could read the sequel immediately!
I’ve always been a reader of crime novels, but I have now found a new genre Thrillers, and a new hero in Scott Pearce and cannot wait for the next breathtaking round from Mr Hamdys pen.
A thriller that’s begging to be made into a movie, if you read one book this year, make it Black 13!
March 28, 2021
Decent idea, but terrible execution.
This book is pretty awful. The author says he spent two years researching it, he clearly didn’t spend any of that time speaking to U.K. law enforcement or military sources!
At its core it has a decent if rather on trend idea based on emerging extremism. Sadly that’s as far as it goes.
The action scenes are woeful, and there are so many obvious errors and plot holes it makes for a very laboured read. The character development is not existent, with the exception of one overblown female protagonist, and there are far too many tropes and cliches for my taste.
If you want to read a first rate thriller check out Neil Lancaster, Jack Carr or James Deegan’s books. They are all far superior to this poor offering.
This book is pretty awful. The author says he spent two years researching it, he clearly didn’t spend any of that time speaking to U.K. law enforcement or military sources!
At its core it has a decent if rather on trend idea based on emerging extremism. Sadly that’s as far as it goes.
The action scenes are woeful, and there are so many obvious errors and plot holes it makes for a very laboured read. The character development is not existent, with the exception of one overblown female protagonist, and there are far too many tropes and cliches for my taste.
If you want to read a first rate thriller check out Neil Lancaster, Jack Carr or James Deegan’s books. They are all far superior to this poor offering.
July 8, 2020
This is indeed a very fast paced nail biting thriller. Based on the political emotions and moods of present day Britain, Adam Hamdy tried to weave an espionage action thriller in the book Black 13, introducing his protagonist Scott Pearce and his team in the first book of the series. I liked Scott as the protagonist of the book, but I loved his team more (Leila, Kyle, Wayne) and enjoyed the other characters like the Viscount, Black 13 operatives, Melody Gold, MI6 DIG & french undercover agent.
The plot:
Scott is still chasing the ghosts of his past in Railey as an undercover individual consultant, an investigation which started when he was with MI6 and he busted a terror plot in Islamabad. But his cover gets blown by Melody Gold, a lawyer, who can tasked to recruit Scott to investigate a bank by a client who chose to remain hidden on the identity. As Scott was in his undercover mission and not to be found, Melody advised by her Boss, recruited Nathan Foster, who was part of Scott team but had since returned from MI6 and ran a PI firm, which barely managed to get proper and exciting clients or cases. Unfortunately he gets killed and that brings Scott in the thick of action. Scott and Melody returns secretly back to UK from Railey, only to be chased by killers, the same people who killed Foster. Scott quickly mobilises his old team, Leila (The Syrian, hacker par excellence and comrade in arms, ex-MI6) and Wayne (again brother in arms, ex-MI6). Their investigation leads to the revelation of 2 sub plots interconnected to each other - 1. the British right wing politics (Progress Britain) who wanted to bring order in Britain by making "UK great again" kind of a mantra and 2. a forced sex and prostitution ring, financed by an English Viscount and an Ukranian Mafia. Black 13 was their military arm which got deployed when force was necessary which was a frequently used part of their strategy. Scott gets captured a couple of times, saves yet again an entire school full of children which was planned to be blown away by Black 13 operatives, making it look like the works of ISIS. Scott saves the day, loses a few of his close buddies (Foster, Wayne), comes back from the brink of death a couple of times and wins in the end. Happy story, full of adrenaline overdose with never a dull moment. Result - a 5 star for me as the first book in the Scott Pearce series. And I really loved the way he built Leila's character up, very touchy and sensitive.
Few things which were like hit and misses for me, to look out for in the next installment -
1. Introduction scene was very much like a Mission Impossible sequence where Scott is rock climbing as part of his cover while trying to bust a drug cartel who stores their sash of drugs in crevices or caves on some of the rocky island of the coast of Railey. Where is Railey, btw? Why such a theatrical Hollywood introduction?
2. This being the first book, a bit of past has been mentioned for Scott's background which was not explained anywhere, either at the start, or during the book or at the end. I felt that the shaping and grooming of Scott's character was not completely or enough done given he is the protagonist, neither his abilities explained with examples to help build him in the reader's mind. From the sketchy description and a few repeated mentions, we understand that Scott used to be in the MI6 before and he was hailed as the "Hero of Islamabad" due to some great work he did in preventing some catastrophe there (no mention what it was, just an enigma and expectation created through the book, leading to speculation from the readers....was this the intent?). In the end, it gave a trailer to what was coming next in the Scott Pearce series where the billionaire who started the whole incident (investigation of Bayard Madison bank) asks him to go ahead and investigate the debacles of Islamabad and he would foot the bill. He infact assigns Scott a pretty French operative as his partner for the gig. Well, I would have wanted Scott to be a more independant of his own choices and decisions and not get so easily manipulated by strong rich personality, who maybe is doing the right thing now, but can change shades and become the devil later!
3. When I rate Scott with my other iconic heroes like Mitch Rapp (Vince Flynn), Gabriel Alon (Daniel Silva), Amos Decker/Agent John Puller/Will Robie (David Baldacci), Scot Harvath (Brad Thor), Dan Shepard (Stephen Leather) and Will Cochrane (Matthew Dunn), I find his exploits and abilities put him towards the top, but the author's portrayal of him in the book brings him down towards an average operative level. I personally feel Scott Pearce can be elevated at a much higher level to appeal to his readers more, like the character of Leila. I am not saying it's bad, I loved Scott's resilience, action style, love for his comrades, love for his country and undying tenacity to win inspite of all odds, just want a little more eulogy to flow on Scott and make his character to stand out.
4. Is this book an action flick or espionage thriller? Seems like the former, with all out action and very little mystery, spy work, undeveloped and light touch undercover work and even lesser conspiracy theories. The plot if great, nothing wrong, but it doesn't cover enough espionage context to make it into a MI6/CIA kind of a book.
Saying that, I loved the book, had been a ripper and I couldn't stop once I started the book till I finished it. I am now eagerly waiting for the next book in the series and I am hooked. But we need a more wholesome experience when we devote time to read a book and carry on the thoughts after finishing, not just a quick effort to make it a best seller enroute to sell the copyright to a Hoolywood production.
The plot:
Scott is still chasing the ghosts of his past in Railey as an undercover individual consultant, an investigation which started when he was with MI6 and he busted a terror plot in Islamabad. But his cover gets blown by Melody Gold, a lawyer, who can tasked to recruit Scott to investigate a bank by a client who chose to remain hidden on the identity. As Scott was in his undercover mission and not to be found, Melody advised by her Boss, recruited Nathan Foster, who was part of Scott team but had since returned from MI6 and ran a PI firm, which barely managed to get proper and exciting clients or cases. Unfortunately he gets killed and that brings Scott in the thick of action. Scott and Melody returns secretly back to UK from Railey, only to be chased by killers, the same people who killed Foster. Scott quickly mobilises his old team, Leila (The Syrian, hacker par excellence and comrade in arms, ex-MI6) and Wayne (again brother in arms, ex-MI6). Their investigation leads to the revelation of 2 sub plots interconnected to each other - 1. the British right wing politics (Progress Britain) who wanted to bring order in Britain by making "UK great again" kind of a mantra and 2. a forced sex and prostitution ring, financed by an English Viscount and an Ukranian Mafia. Black 13 was their military arm which got deployed when force was necessary which was a frequently used part of their strategy. Scott gets captured a couple of times, saves yet again an entire school full of children which was planned to be blown away by Black 13 operatives, making it look like the works of ISIS. Scott saves the day, loses a few of his close buddies (Foster, Wayne), comes back from the brink of death a couple of times and wins in the end. Happy story, full of adrenaline overdose with never a dull moment. Result - a 5 star for me as the first book in the Scott Pearce series. And I really loved the way he built Leila's character up, very touchy and sensitive.
Few things which were like hit and misses for me, to look out for in the next installment -
1. Introduction scene was very much like a Mission Impossible sequence where Scott is rock climbing as part of his cover while trying to bust a drug cartel who stores their sash of drugs in crevices or caves on some of the rocky island of the coast of Railey. Where is Railey, btw? Why such a theatrical Hollywood introduction?
2. This being the first book, a bit of past has been mentioned for Scott's background which was not explained anywhere, either at the start, or during the book or at the end. I felt that the shaping and grooming of Scott's character was not completely or enough done given he is the protagonist, neither his abilities explained with examples to help build him in the reader's mind. From the sketchy description and a few repeated mentions, we understand that Scott used to be in the MI6 before and he was hailed as the "Hero of Islamabad" due to some great work he did in preventing some catastrophe there (no mention what it was, just an enigma and expectation created through the book, leading to speculation from the readers....was this the intent?). In the end, it gave a trailer to what was coming next in the Scott Pearce series where the billionaire who started the whole incident (investigation of Bayard Madison bank) asks him to go ahead and investigate the debacles of Islamabad and he would foot the bill. He infact assigns Scott a pretty French operative as his partner for the gig. Well, I would have wanted Scott to be a more independant of his own choices and decisions and not get so easily manipulated by strong rich personality, who maybe is doing the right thing now, but can change shades and become the devil later!
3. When I rate Scott with my other iconic heroes like Mitch Rapp (Vince Flynn), Gabriel Alon (Daniel Silva), Amos Decker/Agent John Puller/Will Robie (David Baldacci), Scot Harvath (Brad Thor), Dan Shepard (Stephen Leather) and Will Cochrane (Matthew Dunn), I find his exploits and abilities put him towards the top, but the author's portrayal of him in the book brings him down towards an average operative level. I personally feel Scott Pearce can be elevated at a much higher level to appeal to his readers more, like the character of Leila. I am not saying it's bad, I loved Scott's resilience, action style, love for his comrades, love for his country and undying tenacity to win inspite of all odds, just want a little more eulogy to flow on Scott and make his character to stand out.
4. Is this book an action flick or espionage thriller? Seems like the former, with all out action and very little mystery, spy work, undeveloped and light touch undercover work and even lesser conspiracy theories. The plot if great, nothing wrong, but it doesn't cover enough espionage context to make it into a MI6/CIA kind of a book.
Saying that, I loved the book, had been a ripper and I couldn't stop once I started the book till I finished it. I am now eagerly waiting for the next book in the series and I am hooked. But we need a more wholesome experience when we devote time to read a book and carry on the thoughts after finishing, not just a quick effort to make it a best seller enroute to sell the copyright to a Hoolywood production.
March 25, 2022
Tales of spies and their intrusions are a well established frontier. Between James Bond, Jason Bourne and Jack Reacher have all achieved high popularity. Adam Hamdy brings an up-to-date rendition with Black 13, a superb thriller that takes steps away from typical scenarios.
Ex-MI6 agent Scott Pierce is a capable operative; after many years away from the UK on solo investigations, he’s contacted by a woman named Melody Gold. Someone is killing his former comrades in the military and plotting a heinous scheme involving right wing terrorism. Teaming up with his close friends Leila and Wayne, the group begins their operation, tracking down the perpetrators and uncovering the powerful conspirators. You’ll quickly notice the novel’s ties to real-world events; online extremism, nationalism, the exploitation of the rich, Black 13 taps into many modern issues. This grabs the reader from the offset.
From start to finish, Hamdy hooks you into every character and their plight, conveying their raw emotions and inner imperfections. We learn about Leila’s traumatic past as a victim of terrorism in Syria and Wayne’s unwavering loyalty to his brothers-in-arms. While every member of the team is dedicated to making their enemies pay, deep down they’re still human and Black 13 takes the time to emphasise their relatable side. This doubles the intensity of the ensuing action as you’ll be deeply concerned for everyone involved. By the time you reach the final act, the tension has reached a razor edge and you won’t be able to stop reading.
Black 13’s final expert stroke is how it sidesteps multiple clichés and common traits in spy stories. The technology is kept to a grounded level, injuries stay with the characters long after they were dealt and there are no femme fatales or forced lines in sight. This goes a long way towards making Hamdy’s novel stand out from the crowd. Burning the espionage rule book is the mantra and this is constantly on display, especially in part 2 when Scott narrowly avoids death and has to switch up his team’s approach.
Recommended?
YES: Black 13 is a ferocious and gritty thriller that never loosens its grip. From the moment Scott Pierce begins his operation, you’ll be left stunned by its unrelenting tension. Hamdy’s focus on contemporary issues realism puts it among the very best of the modern spy genre, but the book is also backed up by visceral emotions and a story that does away with many established clichés.
Ex-MI6 agent Scott Pierce is a capable operative; after many years away from the UK on solo investigations, he’s contacted by a woman named Melody Gold. Someone is killing his former comrades in the military and plotting a heinous scheme involving right wing terrorism. Teaming up with his close friends Leila and Wayne, the group begins their operation, tracking down the perpetrators and uncovering the powerful conspirators. You’ll quickly notice the novel’s ties to real-world events; online extremism, nationalism, the exploitation of the rich, Black 13 taps into many modern issues. This grabs the reader from the offset.
From start to finish, Hamdy hooks you into every character and their plight, conveying their raw emotions and inner imperfections. We learn about Leila’s traumatic past as a victim of terrorism in Syria and Wayne’s unwavering loyalty to his brothers-in-arms. While every member of the team is dedicated to making their enemies pay, deep down they’re still human and Black 13 takes the time to emphasise their relatable side. This doubles the intensity of the ensuing action as you’ll be deeply concerned for everyone involved. By the time you reach the final act, the tension has reached a razor edge and you won’t be able to stop reading.
Black 13’s final expert stroke is how it sidesteps multiple clichés and common traits in spy stories. The technology is kept to a grounded level, injuries stay with the characters long after they were dealt and there are no femme fatales or forced lines in sight. This goes a long way towards making Hamdy’s novel stand out from the crowd. Burning the espionage rule book is the mantra and this is constantly on display, especially in part 2 when Scott narrowly avoids death and has to switch up his team’s approach.
Recommended?
YES: Black 13 is a ferocious and gritty thriller that never loosens its grip. From the moment Scott Pierce begins his operation, you’ll be left stunned by its unrelenting tension. Hamdy’s focus on contemporary issues realism puts it among the very best of the modern spy genre, but the book is also backed up by visceral emotions and a story that does away with many established clichés.
July 22, 2020
Scot Pearce, ex-MI6 officer is in Thailand pursuing his own agenda under an assumed name when a red-haired woman introduces herself to him in a bar using his real name. This is on page 24. From the moment that Melody Gold blows his cover she and Scot are on the run, pursued by dangerous people. But who are they and why do they want to kill them?
The news that Melody gives Pearce of the death of the PI that her law firm Denton Fraser had employed and the method of his death convinces Scot that he must return to Britain to find out who killed his friend. All Melody can tell him is that her boss taking instructions from a client learned something that scared him, and he sent her half way around the world to locate Scott, but she doesn’t know what he discovered, just that it’s connected to a big bank.
Back in the UK the danger only intensifies as Scot realises, they have already picked up a tail. Although it becomes clear that Melody has no more knowledge than she has already revealed, she is clearly at risk. And so, Scot enlists the aid of his friend from way back Wayne Nelson to act as a bodyguard while he investigates what the hell is going on. Constantly on the move dodging thugs and bullets, Scot endeavours to uncover just what is going on. Whatever it is it is big, and the orchestrators have a lot of manpower. Every way they turn there are people trying to kill them. Having ditched anything that could contain a tracker Scot turns to anther old friend, but they are low in numbers and these people are clearly well-equipped and there are a lot of them, and they want Scot and Melody dead. And these killers leave their calling card ‘Black 13’. Just who are Black 13?
This is an amazing read, a fast paced and exciting thriller, you will not enable to put down. And all the way through you are thinking just what is it – what is so big? And who is the client?
Compulsive and intriguing book will draw you in, fascinate and terrify you in equal measures. Not to be missed. Most highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett
The news that Melody gives Pearce of the death of the PI that her law firm Denton Fraser had employed and the method of his death convinces Scot that he must return to Britain to find out who killed his friend. All Melody can tell him is that her boss taking instructions from a client learned something that scared him, and he sent her half way around the world to locate Scott, but she doesn’t know what he discovered, just that it’s connected to a big bank.
Back in the UK the danger only intensifies as Scot realises, they have already picked up a tail. Although it becomes clear that Melody has no more knowledge than she has already revealed, she is clearly at risk. And so, Scot enlists the aid of his friend from way back Wayne Nelson to act as a bodyguard while he investigates what the hell is going on. Constantly on the move dodging thugs and bullets, Scot endeavours to uncover just what is going on. Whatever it is it is big, and the orchestrators have a lot of manpower. Every way they turn there are people trying to kill them. Having ditched anything that could contain a tracker Scot turns to anther old friend, but they are low in numbers and these people are clearly well-equipped and there are a lot of them, and they want Scot and Melody dead. And these killers leave their calling card ‘Black 13’. Just who are Black 13?
This is an amazing read, a fast paced and exciting thriller, you will not enable to put down. And all the way through you are thinking just what is it – what is so big? And who is the client?
Compulsive and intriguing book will draw you in, fascinate and terrify you in equal measures. Not to be missed. Most highly recommended.
------
Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett
July 26, 2020
'Black 13' is the first rip-roaring, humour-flecked, white-knuckle ride novel in 'The Scott Pearce' espionage series. We're first introduced to 'former soldier turned private detective' Nathan Foster, who has a tally of the 87 people he’s killed tattooed on his forearm, who has fallen into ‘grey, shrinking’ civilian life, and who is lulled into a thrilling investigation by a lawyer working for an anonymous client. She manages to extricate details from him about his former colleague, Scott Pearce, who is posing as a harmless 'lone foreigner' living in Railay, Thailand. Pearce is subsequently ripped from his balmy tropical island and is catapulted back to ‘crowded, polluted’ London and the UK.
We learn that Pearce was originally recruited by the Increment (‘the specialist unit that provided operational support to MI6’), but later came to serve within 'Six' itself, leaving ‘Six’, however, with his reputation besmirched. Now, in the ‘strange’ political landscape of post-Brexit Britain, Pearce and his team are up against a ‘coordinated international operation’, an insidious, far-right ‘organised and well-funded’ enemy. The various people who embody evil in 'Black 13' are all incalculably repellent, and this is not exactly a ‘standard operation’: ‘we have to burn the rulebook’, Pearce says, ‘and I’m going to light the fire’.
Pearce himself is ’exceptional’ and ‘formidable’, with a comforting ‘simplicity’ and ‘clarity about him’. Part English, part Sudanese, and part Egyptian, Pearce is the product of an ‘alcohol-infused cross-cultural encounter’. Whilst loathed when younger for making him different and the victim of racism, his mixed heritage is now embraced - his racial ambiguity advantages his subterfuge in adulthood. Overall, Hamdy champions unconventional ‘rough and rugged’ protagonists whose ‘inner strength’ sees them ‘through fire and pain’, ultimately ‘dragging themselves up from nothing’ with ‘dignity’. It will be interesting to see how these characters evolve in further instalments.
We learn that Pearce was originally recruited by the Increment (‘the specialist unit that provided operational support to MI6’), but later came to serve within 'Six' itself, leaving ‘Six’, however, with his reputation besmirched. Now, in the ‘strange’ political landscape of post-Brexit Britain, Pearce and his team are up against a ‘coordinated international operation’, an insidious, far-right ‘organised and well-funded’ enemy. The various people who embody evil in 'Black 13' are all incalculably repellent, and this is not exactly a ‘standard operation’: ‘we have to burn the rulebook’, Pearce says, ‘and I’m going to light the fire’.
Pearce himself is ’exceptional’ and ‘formidable’, with a comforting ‘simplicity’ and ‘clarity about him’. Part English, part Sudanese, and part Egyptian, Pearce is the product of an ‘alcohol-infused cross-cultural encounter’. Whilst loathed when younger for making him different and the victim of racism, his mixed heritage is now embraced - his racial ambiguity advantages his subterfuge in adulthood. Overall, Hamdy champions unconventional ‘rough and rugged’ protagonists whose ‘inner strength’ sees them ‘through fire and pain’, ultimately ‘dragging themselves up from nothing’ with ‘dignity’. It will be interesting to see how these characters evolve in further instalments.
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