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Holm & da Silva #1
The Sanction
A British spy thriller pairs a secret service agent and a female mercenary together to hunt down an elusive terrorist. A bullet in the right place can change the world . . .
Rebecca da Silva, former crack sniper in the British Special Forces stationed in Afghanistan, is languishing in a dead-end job.
Stephen Holm, an intelligence analyst, gambles his position upon the capture of the ruthless Taher, a terrorist so elusive that MI5 are not convinced he exists.
But then a deadly terror attack in Tunisia changes everything, setting them on two interconnected paths, one born of revenge, the other of obsession. How do you stop a terrorist you can’t find? Their discoveries, and fight for survival, will go to the very heart of power . . . To the White House.
An addictive espionage thriller by the bestselling author of the DI Charlotte Savage series, perfect for fans of James Deegan, Mark Greaney and James Swallow.
Praise for the Holm and da Silva
“One of the best spy thrillers I’ve read in a long time . . . literally unputdownable.” —Nick Oldham, author of the Henry Christie thrillers
“A brilliantly executed, addictive read, and one that hits the bullseye straight smack bang in the middle as to what to expect from a great modern-day spy thriller. I was hooked from the first page.” —A. A. Chaudhuri, author of The Scribe
“A cracking thriller that had me turning the pages at full tilt.” —Jason Dean, author of the James Bishop thrillers
Rebecca da Silva, former crack sniper in the British Special Forces stationed in Afghanistan, is languishing in a dead-end job.
Stephen Holm, an intelligence analyst, gambles his position upon the capture of the ruthless Taher, a terrorist so elusive that MI5 are not convinced he exists.
But then a deadly terror attack in Tunisia changes everything, setting them on two interconnected paths, one born of revenge, the other of obsession. How do you stop a terrorist you can’t find? Their discoveries, and fight for survival, will go to the very heart of power . . . To the White House.
An addictive espionage thriller by the bestselling author of the DI Charlotte Savage series, perfect for fans of James Deegan, Mark Greaney and James Swallow.
Praise for the Holm and da Silva
“One of the best spy thrillers I’ve read in a long time . . . literally unputdownable.” —Nick Oldham, author of the Henry Christie thrillers
“A brilliantly executed, addictive read, and one that hits the bullseye straight smack bang in the middle as to what to expect from a great modern-day spy thriller. I was hooked from the first page.” —A. A. Chaudhuri, author of The Scribe
“A cracking thriller that had me turning the pages at full tilt.” —Jason Dean, author of the James Bishop thrillers
388 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 23, 2020
40 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Mark Sennen
17 books115 followersMark Sennen was born in Surrey, but spent his formative years in rural Shropshire where he learnt to drive tractors and worm sheep. He has been a reluctant farmer, an average drummer, a failed Ph.D. student and a pretty good programmer. He lives, with his wife and two children beside a muddy creek in deepest South Devon where there hasn't been a murder in years. He is the author of the best selling DI Charlotte Savage series: Touch, Bad Blood, Cut Dead, Tell Tale, Two Evils, The Boneyard, and Puppet; the Holm and da Silva series: The Sanction, and Rogue Target; plus the standalone thrillers: Three and The Sum Of All Sins.
The DI Charlotte Savage series is published by HarperCollins.
The Holm and da Silva series is published by Canelo.
The DI Charlotte Savage series is published by HarperCollins.
The Holm and da Silva series is published by Canelo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 7, 2021
I am really torn on how to review this book. I didn't love it but at the same time I kept listening and I didn't hate it. I found myself getting bored and my mind wondering off to well anywhere else.
This is the first book on a new series so I am prepared to be a little forgiving with this one Sennen spends a great deal of time introducing us the the two main characters Rebecca and Stephen and it gets a little tedious at time especially so when you want to get on with the story and find out what is going on - I tend to think this may be a reader problem (me) rather than an author problem.
The there two main story lines this novel. In one we follow Rebecca and in the other we follow to Stephen - and you guessed it the two lines come together in the end and our "hero's" meet and save the day.
I would have liked to see more of Rebecca and Stephen work together but I am guessing that is what book 2 onwards will be about.
This is an OK read and I will have to think before picking up book two.
This is the first book on a new series so I am prepared to be a little forgiving with this one Sennen spends a great deal of time introducing us the the two main characters Rebecca and Stephen and it gets a little tedious at time especially so when you want to get on with the story and find out what is going on - I tend to think this may be a reader problem (me) rather than an author problem.
The there two main story lines this novel. In one we follow Rebecca and in the other we follow to Stephen - and you guessed it the two lines come together in the end and our "hero's" meet and save the day.
I would have liked to see more of Rebecca and Stephen work together but I am guessing that is what book 2 onwards will be about.
This is an OK read and I will have to think before picking up book two.
May 28, 2020
Who doesn’t like Mark Sennen’s writing?
Well those who haven’t read him I guess.
I have read all his DI Charlotte Savage crime novels and so The Sanction was not such a leap of faith.
Still faithful to the South West with Rebecca on a houseboat in Plymouth this is a grown up and tense modern thriller around spies and dodgy government agencies. It was great making such a military link with this large navel base as the book explores the good and ill done in the name of the Crown and among those at arms.
I also liked the reasoned thinking of the terrorists, depicted as free-thinking people, rather than just a group of uncontrollable extremists. Indeed, sides and motives are blurred in this intelligent, espionage and quiet government but possibly shady arms deals.
The premise is, that a disgraced British spy is forced to go off-radar to hunt down his nemesis, an international terrorist begins an investigation that separately crosses the path of an ex-infantry sniper who is after similar ends but for different reasons. Although they never work together and are oblivious of each other’s motivation. The book alternates between both their journeys to achieve their ends.
The plot crosses Europe; centres on people trafficking and smuggling across the Mediterranean and through the large ports of Rotterdam and Felixstowe. Finally coming to a dramatic conclusion in North Africa.
I was hooked from the start. I loved the characters of Holm’s posse; kind on bungling spies like “Spies like us” Rebecca and her mixed up childhood and horrific time in Afghanistan also is a well drawn character who is manipulated almost as terrorists are controlled and motivated.
The interesting thing is the author exposes this for the readers to note and consider. There is a moment when a cold blooded killing would impact upon our empathy for the character but time and subsequent events seemingly justify the actions.
The Hunter become the hunted and this switches back and forwards at various times as sides and motives are brought into and out of focus. However, the final question this novel raises is what price is a life. Can collateral damage be set aside for the greater good?
So pleased to recommend a book that reads as a great thriller but also has a depth beyond just pulp fiction or a summer read.
Well those who haven’t read him I guess.
I have read all his DI Charlotte Savage crime novels and so The Sanction was not such a leap of faith.
Still faithful to the South West with Rebecca on a houseboat in Plymouth this is a grown up and tense modern thriller around spies and dodgy government agencies. It was great making such a military link with this large navel base as the book explores the good and ill done in the name of the Crown and among those at arms.
I also liked the reasoned thinking of the terrorists, depicted as free-thinking people, rather than just a group of uncontrollable extremists. Indeed, sides and motives are blurred in this intelligent, espionage and quiet government but possibly shady arms deals.
The premise is, that a disgraced British spy is forced to go off-radar to hunt down his nemesis, an international terrorist begins an investigation that separately crosses the path of an ex-infantry sniper who is after similar ends but for different reasons. Although they never work together and are oblivious of each other’s motivation. The book alternates between both their journeys to achieve their ends.
The plot crosses Europe; centres on people trafficking and smuggling across the Mediterranean and through the large ports of Rotterdam and Felixstowe. Finally coming to a dramatic conclusion in North Africa.
I was hooked from the start. I loved the characters of Holm’s posse; kind on bungling spies like “Spies like us” Rebecca and her mixed up childhood and horrific time in Afghanistan also is a well drawn character who is manipulated almost as terrorists are controlled and motivated.
The interesting thing is the author exposes this for the readers to note and consider. There is a moment when a cold blooded killing would impact upon our empathy for the character but time and subsequent events seemingly justify the actions.
The Hunter become the hunted and this switches back and forwards at various times as sides and motives are brought into and out of focus. However, the final question this novel raises is what price is a life. Can collateral damage be set aside for the greater good?
So pleased to recommend a book that reads as a great thriller but also has a depth beyond just pulp fiction or a summer read.
June 15, 2020
The sanction by Mark Sennen.
A bullet in the right place can change the world…
Rebecca da Silva, former crack sniper in the British Special Forces stationed in Afghanistan, is languishing in a dead-end job.
Stephen Holm, an intelligence analyst, gambles his position upon the capture of the ruthless Taher, a terrorist so elusive that MI5 are not convinced he exists.
I really enjoyed this book. Great story. Some Good characters. I liked Rebecca. She was my favourite character. 4*.
A bullet in the right place can change the world…
Rebecca da Silva, former crack sniper in the British Special Forces stationed in Afghanistan, is languishing in a dead-end job.
Stephen Holm, an intelligence analyst, gambles his position upon the capture of the ruthless Taher, a terrorist so elusive that MI5 are not convinced he exists.
I really enjoyed this book. Great story. Some Good characters. I liked Rebecca. She was my favourite character. 4*.
September 26, 2021
3 stars.
It’s very rare that I think a book is solidly 3 star throughout – most of my 3 star ratings are books that I loved some parts of and really disliked others so sort of averaged out into the middle. I picked this one up from a bookstore browse having not heard of either book and author before I acquired it, and only later did I realise it formed part of a series – though luckily this one was the first book.
As the first book of a series (which currently has 2 books, though I’m sure there’ll be more), I thought it did okay, but didn’t blow me away. What it does brilliantly is provide a background and a thorough characterisation of both our leads (this being part of the “Holm & da Silva series”), which was so descriptive that it almost feels like I’ve known them a long time / read many books featuring these characters. I liked the flavour of both of the characters, and the people around them. They’re both clearly broken in very different ways and are struggling to cope, though on this angle I was really disappointed .
Plot-wise, I thought the book fell a bit flat: I unfortunately found the blurb far more exciting than any part of the book was – the espionage/intelligence angle simply didn’t translate into pace/thrill that I was looking for, and there was just so much unused potential. Early on in the book, I did appreciate how much time and detail was going into giving a detailed one-over both of our main characters, but at some point I willed the plot to get a move on, and I don’t feel like it ever did. This sort of relates to . Also, .
There were many things that could have happened to make this book more solid plot-wise, and I was quite sad to reach the end and find that none of them had happened, nor did anything of equal intrigue that I hadn’t thought of. I liked the characters enough that if I chanced upon the next book in the series I would pick it up and give it a go, but this is far from being a series that I’m running out to get a hold of.
It’s very rare that I think a book is solidly 3 star throughout – most of my 3 star ratings are books that I loved some parts of and really disliked others so sort of averaged out into the middle. I picked this one up from a bookstore browse having not heard of either book and author before I acquired it, and only later did I realise it formed part of a series – though luckily this one was the first book.
As the first book of a series (which currently has 2 books, though I’m sure there’ll be more), I thought it did okay, but didn’t blow me away. What it does brilliantly is provide a background and a thorough characterisation of both our leads (this being part of the “Holm & da Silva series”), which was so descriptive that it almost feels like I’ve known them a long time / read many books featuring these characters. I liked the flavour of both of the characters, and the people around them. They’re both clearly broken in very different ways and are struggling to cope, though on this angle I was really disappointed .
Plot-wise, I thought the book fell a bit flat: I unfortunately found the blurb far more exciting than any part of the book was – the espionage/intelligence angle simply didn’t translate into pace/thrill that I was looking for, and there was just so much unused potential. Early on in the book, I did appreciate how much time and detail was going into giving a detailed one-over both of our main characters, but at some point I willed the plot to get a move on, and I don’t feel like it ever did. This sort of relates to . Also, .
There were many things that could have happened to make this book more solid plot-wise, and I was quite sad to reach the end and find that none of them had happened, nor did anything of equal intrigue that I hadn’t thought of. I liked the characters enough that if I chanced upon the next book in the series I would pick it up and give it a go, but this is far from being a series that I’m running out to get a hold of.
July 10, 2021
Disgraced British Special Forces sniper, Rebecca Da Silva is reluctantly recruited to avenge her journalist/mother’s death by killing the US politician who ordered the hit. Stephen Holm is a washed-up and sidelined intelligence analyst, who has never given up on finding and exposing the shadowy Muslim fundamentalist behind many of the targeted deaths around the world. Unbeknownst to each other, their work has a common enemy. Nice premise and I appreciated the reversed gender roles. I normally love these sorts of stories, but struggled here. The two protagonists don’t meet for ages and my interest flagged during the middle of the book. The audio narrator did the story no favours with his oddly formal, dream-like tone; he didn’t inject sufficient emotion or change pace enough to maintain my interest. I’d try another book in this series with a different narrator.
May 15, 2021
Great stay to a new seriez
Brilliant new series, world's away from the Charlotte Savage books. The two intertwining stories of Holm and Zola had me hooked. Give this as try you won't be disappointed
Brilliant new series, world's away from the Charlotte Savage books. The two intertwining stories of Holm and Zola had me hooked. Give this as try you won't be disappointed
September 17, 2021
I have a new author on my reading list.
Thoroughly enjoyed the story. Knowing it was a Holm and Da Silva thriller I was intrigued as to how they would link up. Different is how I'd describe that and perhaps the weakest part of the story.
#2 is on my want to read list.
Thoroughly enjoyed the story. Knowing it was a Holm and Da Silva thriller I was intrigued as to how they would link up. Different is how I'd describe that and perhaps the weakest part of the story.
#2 is on my want to read list.
January 11, 2023
An excellent spy story based round global affairs but mainly the middle East. The first novel in what is hopefully a long series. Whilst I've said spy novel it is more if a thriller involving spy agencies and terrorists. It is well written and plausible in the main
February 18, 2025
Maybe 3.5. But good British suspend reality spy, crime pacy thriller. At least in second half.
Interestingly tagged as a Holm and Silva novel, when they only meet on the last page and do not talk to each other at all. Maybe in second book of series which I will read mainly for Holm's 5s sidekick!
Interestingly tagged as a Holm and Silva novel, when they only meet on the last page and do not talk to each other at all. Maybe in second book of series which I will read mainly for Holm's 5s sidekick!
July 14, 2021
A great thriller!
August 28, 2021
Slow to get into for the first third, then picks up pace.
October 29, 2021
Layout
At times I had the impression the proof reader had fallen asleep, paragraphs need a marker when changing characters dialogue
At times I had the impression the proof reader had fallen asleep, paragraphs need a marker when changing characters dialogue
May 18, 2022
Amazing! Didn't realise parts were set in my hometown (plymouth) until i started reading which was very cool & described so well. The plot is very engaging and never felt slow, with great characters too, a really great read! Can't wait to finish the second book :)
May 22, 2024
3.5⭐️
August 18, 2024
Typical espionage type thriller
March 31, 2025
Not bad
January 22, 2022
This was a brilliant espionage thriller that had many twists and turns to enthrall the reader. I kept waiting, with baited breath, as they say, for the two main protagonists to actually meet face to face.... Stephen Holm and Rebecca Da Silva, both on a mission, both dedicated, talented and driven but strangers to each other and both with their own personal and professional demons to exorcise. I am looking forward to reading the sequel. Highly recommended.
April 23, 2020
My thanks to Canelo Action for an invitation to receive an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Sanction’ by Mark Sennen in exchange for an honest review.
This is to be the first in a series of thrillers featuring Rebecca da Silva and Stephen Holm. It basically serves as an introduction to the two main characters and the forces that drive them.
Rebecca had been a crack sniper in the British Special Forces. Her career came to an abrupt end in Afghanistan and she is now working in a dead-end job. Stephen Holm is an intelligence analyst obsessed with an elusive terrorist, Taher. Yet his bosses at MI5 are not convinced that Taher actually exists.
A deadly terror attack in Tunisia changes everything for both da Silva and Holm. They embark upon interconnected paths, one born of revenge, the other of obsession.
The structure of this novel had the characters involved in their separate storylines and only coming together in the closing pages. This was a bit unusual though both are focused on the same set of international baddies.
‘The Sanction’ proved to be a highly entertaining well plotted political/spy thriller with plenty of action and surprises. I certainly will be interested in reading further works in this series.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
This is to be the first in a series of thrillers featuring Rebecca da Silva and Stephen Holm. It basically serves as an introduction to the two main characters and the forces that drive them.
Rebecca had been a crack sniper in the British Special Forces. Her career came to an abrupt end in Afghanistan and she is now working in a dead-end job. Stephen Holm is an intelligence analyst obsessed with an elusive terrorist, Taher. Yet his bosses at MI5 are not convinced that Taher actually exists.
A deadly terror attack in Tunisia changes everything for both da Silva and Holm. They embark upon interconnected paths, one born of revenge, the other of obsession.
The structure of this novel had the characters involved in their separate storylines and only coming together in the closing pages. This was a bit unusual though both are focused on the same set of international baddies.
‘The Sanction’ proved to be a highly entertaining well plotted political/spy thriller with plenty of action and surprises. I certainly will be interested in reading further works in this series.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
November 14, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.
I firstly thought this book had a quiet, slow start and it took a while to pick up its pace. Having read the author’s DI Charlotte Savage series I was eager to read this book. Once the pace had picked up ..... wow ..... it kept moving and had me on the of my seat a few times. I really liked the main characters, their histories and enjoyed reading of the working rapport between Holm and Javed, da Silva and Itchy. The book had two threads, each told individually from Holm and da Silva’s perspective. I wondered how this would come together and the last 30% of the book was a thrilling read where everything started to fall into place. I thought this book was well thought out and well written by the author with a great plot. Lots of twists in it, to add to the suspense and the subject matter is very current. And the epilogue ..... I hope this sets up the introduction of book 2 which I will definitely want to read, and to see how these characters develop. I would recommend this if you like conspiracies, spy thrillers.
I firstly thought this book had a quiet, slow start and it took a while to pick up its pace. Having read the author’s DI Charlotte Savage series I was eager to read this book. Once the pace had picked up ..... wow ..... it kept moving and had me on the of my seat a few times. I really liked the main characters, their histories and enjoyed reading of the working rapport between Holm and Javed, da Silva and Itchy. The book had two threads, each told individually from Holm and da Silva’s perspective. I wondered how this would come together and the last 30% of the book was a thrilling read where everything started to fall into place. I thought this book was well thought out and well written by the author with a great plot. Lots of twists in it, to add to the suspense and the subject matter is very current. And the epilogue ..... I hope this sets up the introduction of book 2 which I will definitely want to read, and to see how these characters develop. I would recommend this if you like conspiracies, spy thrillers.
October 25, 2022
I have read the DI Charlotte Savage series so far and enjoyed them all. With ‘The Sanction’ Mark Sennen deviated from crime fiction into espionage. I found this not quite as thrilling as his crime novels but nevertheless a solid and enjoyable read.
Rebecca da Silva is a discredited army sniper who after being court-martialed is now working as a postman and living on a boat. Her mother, a journalist, is murdered and Rebecca is co-erced, by people in high places, into seeking revenge.
Stephen Holm is an ageing analyst for MI5 and has an obsession in finding a certain terrorist who is known as Taher.
The two stories are written separately but by the end become entangled and it looks like our two protagonists are destined to meet again.
Mark Sennen is easy to read he doesn’t overelaborate and I found this book really enjoyable. 4/5
Rebecca da Silva is a discredited army sniper who after being court-martialed is now working as a postman and living on a boat. Her mother, a journalist, is murdered and Rebecca is co-erced, by people in high places, into seeking revenge.
Stephen Holm is an ageing analyst for MI5 and has an obsession in finding a certain terrorist who is known as Taher.
The two stories are written separately but by the end become entangled and it looks like our two protagonists are destined to meet again.
Mark Sennen is easy to read he doesn’t overelaborate and I found this book really enjoyable. 4/5
March 30, 2020
The action sequences in this book were great and the plot/conspiracy was well done. I liked that the end was approached from multiple perspectives and the two main duos are interesting. I liked the relationship between each duo and, since it seems this may be the beginning of a new series, I look forward to more interaction between the duos. The only thing that didn’t work for me was the “love story” and romantic conflict for Rebecca. It feels like it’s only there to because the author feels he has to have a love story and it’s clunky and doesn’t fit with the rest of the storyline.
I received an advance copy from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an advance copy from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2020
Rebecca is a sniper who made a big mistake, was imprisoned, discharged dishonorably, and now is living a lesser life than she wants. Her mother, a journalist, was killed in an attack on a cafe in Tunis. Stephen is an MI-5 analyst who has also made big mistakes and now finds himself sidelined. He wants Taher though, wants him badly. These two threads come together and if the story feels a tad predictable, read it for the characters. Yes yes yes, Rebecca's story is totally unlikely but go with it. Thanks to Netgalley for the ArC. It's a quick read and a nice debut for a new series.
May 3, 2021
Sennen is a British writer which gives the reader an eyeful of the English vernacular. Which is a wonderful experience. He is a very good writer. Better yet...the book was 89 cents on Kobo. Written in 2020. The tale is about a MI5 investigator and an Ex female military sniper. They are not known to each other but their journey converges at some point (not a spoiler). Islamic extremists and very nasty politicians. No different than todays news. A great read. In fact it was so good I decided to purchase the 2021 follow up...again for 89 cents. Well worth the read.
March 6, 2021
I found this book to be a fairly slow read until the last few chapters when the action ramped up. However, I did like how the story alternated between Rebecca's and Stephen's points of view. I thought the relationship they each had with their partners was great but for me, I did not feel the connection between Rebecca and her love interest, Colin. It just felt fake and did nothing to enhance the plot. Overall, The Sanction was an okay novel but not a memorable one.
April 23, 2020
An enjoyable mix of spy fiction and thriller, I found it engrossing and entertaining.
The plot is not yet believable but it was well crafted and it kept me hooked, the cast of characters is well thought.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't be the last.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
The plot is not yet believable but it was well crafted and it kept me hooked, the cast of characters is well thought.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't be the last.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
April 24, 2020
Sorry I’m a bit late with this one, I seemed to got the dates mixed up!!! This is a completely different book to Mark’s other books
The story has the two characters running side by side and merging at the end. It is a tense political thriller, quite different to ones I normally read. However, it was enjoyable.
My thanks to Mark, the publishers and netgalley for the ARC.
The story has the two characters running side by side and merging at the end. It is a tense political thriller, quite different to ones I normally read. However, it was enjoyable.
My thanks to Mark, the publishers and netgalley for the ARC.
May 19, 2020
It started out slow for me which I understood since needed character builds and story background. Once the story began for me, I just really could not get into it. I usually like a book like these but for some reason, this one did not appeal to me. Though I thought I would get more involved because of the two main characters. Maybe it is just me but that is my take.
October 5, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Three and a half stars.
I couldn't decide between 3 and 4 stars for this one. I decided it was closer to 3 than 4. I liked the characters a lot, and the story was a little slow but I liked how it picked up.
Three and a half stars.
I couldn't decide between 3 and 4 stars for this one. I decided it was closer to 3 than 4. I liked the characters a lot, and the story was a little slow but I liked how it picked up.
April 5, 2020
What a read - I couldn't put this one down. Interesting story although a few times I thought to myself what if this was a double cross, thats how involved you get. A great story!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews