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Charlie Fox Thriller #0
Trial Under Fire
‘Before she was a bodyguard, she was a soldier...’
Charlie Fox is one of the toughest cookies you could ever hope to meet. Word of advice, though—don’t try to get her to talk about her time in the military. Let’s just say it didn’t end well.
Before her fall from grace, Charlie was considered a rising star. She made it through one of the toughest challenges any soldier would have to face—Selection for Special Forces. The nightmare that came next is a story I’ve explored in scenes and flashbacks throughout the series.
But what happened before that? Back when Charlie was a young soldier in the regular army, on patrol in Afghanistan, being kept away from the front line fighting as stipulated by the regulations concerning female personnel. What did she do back then to prove her worth as a specialised soldier, under life-and-death conditions? How did she earn her chance?
That is a story I’ve never told.
Until now.
Charlie Fox is one of the toughest cookies you could ever hope to meet. Word of advice, though—don’t try to get her to talk about her time in the military. Let’s just say it didn’t end well.
Before her fall from grace, Charlie was considered a rising star. She made it through one of the toughest challenges any soldier would have to face—Selection for Special Forces. The nightmare that came next is a story I’ve explored in scenes and flashbacks throughout the series.
But what happened before that? Back when Charlie was a young soldier in the regular army, on patrol in Afghanistan, being kept away from the front line fighting as stipulated by the regulations concerning female personnel. What did she do back then to prove her worth as a specialised soldier, under life-and-death conditions? How did she earn her chance?
That is a story I’ve never told.
Until now.
- GenresThrillerMilitary Fiction
132 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 2, 2021
24 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Zoë Sharp
70 books490 followersZoë Sharp spent most of her formative years living aboard a catamaran on the northwest coast of England. She opted out of mainstream education at the age of twelve and wrote her first novel at fifteen. She became a freelance photojournalist in 1988 and started writing her Charlie Fox crime thriller series after receiving death-threats in the course of her work.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 7, 2021
4.5 ☆
My favorite female protagonist in the entire crime fiction genre is Charlie Fox. In Trial Under Fire, readers finally get the opportunity to see a young Charlie, during a crucial event in her military career which eventually set her on the path to becoming a professional "bullet catcher" ie. bodyguard. Charlie was a signaler (in charge of communications) when her army squad was out on patrol duty in Afghanistan. The vividly detailed setting felt gritty and authentic - from the ragtag clothing of Afghani villagers to the particular smell of a burning helicopter.
Active scenes of military engagement are far from my favorite milieu, even though I’ve read stories about characters with military backgrounds. But this is a key chapter in Charlie Fox’s life and so, it’s not to be missed. Thankfully, too, the action is violent but not described in a gory fashion. Indeed, Trial Under Fire had me with shoulders tensed and at the edge of my chair during the entire story. And now that I’ve finished it, wow. Just like Charlie prepping for her sniper shot:
If you’re new to Charlie Fox, she’s quite young, around 20 or 21 is my guess at this juncture. Despite a materially comfortable childhood, Charlie felt like a cuckoo who had been born in the wrong nest and she joined the military hoping to overturn that sensation.
She is a risk taker, a bit of a smartarse, and a lumpy jumper with a conscience who is also one top notch sniper in the making. But alas, it’s against the rules of the British army to allow females to be in active combat. That tension is a constant in Charlie’s life. Charlie’s innate preferences and skills lead her to traditional male-dominated settings, which society grudgingly accepts as long as boundaries are firmly in place. Well, life isn’t always that tidy. When Charlie encounters a Special Forces mission that’s gone off script, it gives Charlie an opportunity to reset those parameters by volunteering her sniper ability.
The only wobble in this prequel is the disclosure of the identity of the Special Forces Sergeant.
1) Killer Instinct 🌟🌟🌟½
2) Riot Act 🌟🌟🌟🌟
3) Hard Knocks 🌟🌟🌟🌟½
4) First Drop 🌟🌟🌟🌟
5) Road Kill 🌟🌟🌟🌟½
6) Second Shot 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
7) Third Strike 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
8) Fourth Day 🌟🌟🌟🌟
9) Fifth Victim 🌟🌟🌟🌟
10) Die Easy 🌟🌟🌟🌟½
11) Absence of Light 🌟🌟🌟🌟
12) Fox Hunter 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
My review is based on an ARC I received from the talented Zoe Sharp and it reflects, as usual, my honest opinion.
My favorite female protagonist in the entire crime fiction genre is Charlie Fox. In Trial Under Fire, readers finally get the opportunity to see a young Charlie, during a crucial event in her military career which eventually set her on the path to becoming a professional "bullet catcher" ie. bodyguard. Charlie was a signaler (in charge of communications) when her army squad was out on patrol duty in Afghanistan. The vividly detailed setting felt gritty and authentic - from the ragtag clothing of Afghani villagers to the particular smell of a burning helicopter.
Anybody who’s ever been in a fire fight will know just how chaotic it is.
Active scenes of military engagement are far from my favorite milieu, even though I’ve read stories about characters with military backgrounds. But this is a key chapter in Charlie Fox’s life and so, it’s not to be missed. Thankfully, too, the action is violent but not described in a gory fashion. Indeed, Trial Under Fire had me with shoulders tensed and at the edge of my chair during the entire story. And now that I’ve finished it, wow. Just like Charlie prepping for her sniper shot:
I took a couple of long, deep breaths, willed my heart to slow its pounding to a steadier rhythm.
If you’re new to Charlie Fox, she’s quite young, around 20 or 21 is my guess at this juncture. Despite a materially comfortable childhood, Charlie felt like a cuckoo who had been born in the wrong nest and she joined the military hoping to overturn that sensation.
She is a risk taker, a bit of a smartarse, and a lumpy jumper with a conscience who is also one top notch sniper in the making. But alas, it’s against the rules of the British army to allow females to be in active combat. That tension is a constant in Charlie’s life. Charlie’s innate preferences and skills lead her to traditional male-dominated settings, which society grudgingly accepts as long as boundaries are firmly in place. Well, life isn’t always that tidy. When Charlie encounters a Special Forces mission that’s gone off script, it gives Charlie an opportunity to reset those parameters by volunteering her sniper ability.
The only wobble in this prequel is the disclosure of the identity of the Special Forces Sergeant.
1) Killer Instinct 🌟🌟🌟½
2) Riot Act 🌟🌟🌟🌟
3) Hard Knocks 🌟🌟🌟🌟½
4) First Drop 🌟🌟🌟🌟
5) Road Kill 🌟🌟🌟🌟½
6) Second Shot 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
7) Third Strike 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
8) Fourth Day 🌟🌟🌟🌟
9) Fifth Victim 🌟🌟🌟🌟
10) Die Easy 🌟🌟🌟🌟½
11) Absence of Light 🌟🌟🌟🌟
12) Fox Hunter 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
My review is based on an ARC I received from the talented Zoe Sharp and it reflects, as usual, my honest opinion.
August 2, 2021
Yippee I knew it! Fans of this outstanding series will understand why I did an internal happy dance at the end of this prequel novella about my favourite heroine Charlie Fox, which goes right back to the start of her career.
If you have not read any of the other books, this would be an excellent place to start. I don’t even like war/battle books normally, but this had all the human interest I needed. And horses. This is the only one (to date, anyway) set in wartime.
Charlie Fox joined the army, much to the exasperation of her poor parents, (I may be the only member of Team Charlie’s Dad - the austere but super intelligent orthopaedic surgeon, who may not approve of her, but always looks out for her despite how mean to him she is) because she discovered a talent for shooting, and didn’t know what else to do. Finding herself posted to Afghanistan, when a British helicopter is shot down, she is drawn into a secret mission, with a small special forces team, (against all the rules, as women were prohibited from serving in the front line at the time.) Venturing deep into enemy territory to rescue their colleagues, as the sniper, she is forced to make choices which might risk or save them all...
Having been reading these books for years, it was really interesting to meet Charlie before the events that hardened her into the no-nonsense bodyguard she is now. She is softer, unsure of herself, less cynical, but still tough as nails.
This really brought home the dilemmas that soldiers in the field face, knowing that they can be castigated later if things go wrong, for acting, or not acting.
I loved the way Charlie earns the respect of her new team, in spite of their inherent chauvinism. She sees solutions no one else can, and is always driven to do the right thing, a trait which endures through all the later books.
I’m hoping Zoë Sharp will take a leaf out of Lee Child’s book and write some short stories about Charlie as a teenager or even a younger child!
I received this free ARC through the author’s newsletter back in 2018, but publication was delayed, so it has only become available now.
If you have not read any of the other books, this would be an excellent place to start. I don’t even like war/battle books normally, but this had all the human interest I needed. And horses. This is the only one (to date, anyway) set in wartime.
Charlie Fox joined the army, much to the exasperation of her poor parents, (I may be the only member of Team Charlie’s Dad - the austere but super intelligent orthopaedic surgeon, who may not approve of her, but always looks out for her despite how mean to him she is) because she discovered a talent for shooting, and didn’t know what else to do. Finding herself posted to Afghanistan, when a British helicopter is shot down, she is drawn into a secret mission, with a small special forces team, (against all the rules, as women were prohibited from serving in the front line at the time.) Venturing deep into enemy territory to rescue their colleagues, as the sniper, she is forced to make choices which might risk or save them all...
Having been reading these books for years, it was really interesting to meet Charlie before the events that hardened her into the no-nonsense bodyguard she is now. She is softer, unsure of herself, less cynical, but still tough as nails.
This really brought home the dilemmas that soldiers in the field face, knowing that they can be castigated later if things go wrong, for acting, or not acting.
I loved the way Charlie earns the respect of her new team, in spite of their inherent chauvinism. She sees solutions no one else can, and is always driven to do the right thing, a trait which endures through all the later books.
I’m hoping Zoë Sharp will take a leaf out of Lee Child’s book and write some short stories about Charlie as a teenager or even a younger child!
I received this free ARC through the author’s newsletter back in 2018, but publication was delayed, so it has only become available now.
October 2, 2025
A Charlie Fox prequel. Charlie is serving in Afghanistan, and as a woman, is not supposed to be on the front line; however, her unit witnesses a helicopter being shot down and they quickly move to rescue any survivors. As it turns out, on board is a Special Forces unit on a secret mission to free some hostages and try to capture a high value enemy target. With some personnel dying in the crash, the Special Forces team requests volunteers, including the rescue unit's best marksman, which, of course, is actually a markswoman (Charlie.) Charlie goes along, and has to make a number of critical, split-second decisions to kill/save lives. My favorite part is that the Special Forces team will not even provide their names to Charlie and the other volunteers from her unit so they dub them the Spice Girls: Scary, Sporty, Ginger and Posh.
February 2, 2019
Interesting look into Charlie’s early days in the military, and the op in Afghanistan where she first met ‘Scary’ Sean. A little more of her rigid parents than I cared for; but at least it was before the incident. I get enough of a look back at that in the regular series books.
December 16, 2018
First off, thank you Zoe Sharp for the ARC of this novella.
This prequel novella was a long time coming, learning about Charlie's early days in the military and the friction between her and parents about her choices in life. Well written and action packed, I enjoyed this novella - it actually felt longer than a novella!
Charlie is a trained sniper and signaler hunkered down in the vast wastelands of Afghanistan. Her squad witnesses a couple of helos flying low and one of them (and possible both) get shot down. Her squad makes their way closer to the scene and find some survivors - a Special Forces squad. The Special Forces squad are a rough and tumble crew and very tight lipped. It's decided that since Charlie has the special skills of a sniper and that she speaks limited Parshi she will tag along with this squad - and she will have to pass their scrutiny, being a female in a man's world!
From the blurb: Trial Under Fire - prequel to Charlie Fox
Charlie Fox is one of the toughest cookies you could ever hope to meet. A word of advice—don’t try to get her to talk about her time in the military. Let’s just say it didn’t end well.
But before her fall from grace, Charlie was considered a rising star. She made it through one of the hardest challenges any soldier would have to face—Selection for Special Forces. The nightmare that came next is a story I’ve explored in scenes and flashbacks throughout the series.
But what happened before that? Back when Charlie was a young soldier in the regular army, on patrol in Afghanistan, being kept away from the front line fighting as stipulated by the regulations concerning female personnel. What did she do back then to prove her worth as a specialised soldier, under life-and-death conditions?
That is a story I’ve never told.
Until now.
The action opens with Charlie in the role of signaller on what begins as a routine night patrol in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. It rapidly develops into a firefight, in which Charlie impresses with her marksmanship. What happens next will send her on a wild ride and change the course of her life forever.
4.5 stars and 2 thumbs up!
This prequel novella was a long time coming, learning about Charlie's early days in the military and the friction between her and parents about her choices in life. Well written and action packed, I enjoyed this novella - it actually felt longer than a novella!
Charlie is a trained sniper and signaler hunkered down in the vast wastelands of Afghanistan. Her squad witnesses a couple of helos flying low and one of them (and possible both) get shot down. Her squad makes their way closer to the scene and find some survivors - a Special Forces squad. The Special Forces squad are a rough and tumble crew and very tight lipped. It's decided that since Charlie has the special skills of a sniper and that she speaks limited Parshi she will tag along with this squad - and she will have to pass their scrutiny, being a female in a man's world!
From the blurb: Trial Under Fire - prequel to Charlie Fox
Charlie Fox is one of the toughest cookies you could ever hope to meet. A word of advice—don’t try to get her to talk about her time in the military. Let’s just say it didn’t end well.
But before her fall from grace, Charlie was considered a rising star. She made it through one of the hardest challenges any soldier would have to face—Selection for Special Forces. The nightmare that came next is a story I’ve explored in scenes and flashbacks throughout the series.
But what happened before that? Back when Charlie was a young soldier in the regular army, on patrol in Afghanistan, being kept away from the front line fighting as stipulated by the regulations concerning female personnel. What did she do back then to prove her worth as a specialised soldier, under life-and-death conditions?
That is a story I’ve never told.
Until now.
The action opens with Charlie in the role of signaller on what begins as a routine night patrol in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. It rapidly develops into a firefight, in which Charlie impresses with her marksmanship. What happens next will send her on a wild ride and change the course of her life forever.
4.5 stars and 2 thumbs up!
July 2, 2021
I am grateful to author Zoë Sharp for my digital Advance Reader Copy of “Trial Under Fire”, that I received shortly before Christmas 2018, and have just learned that the book will finally be released to the public on August 2.
Although it is just a short novella of only about 110 pages it has all it takes for a Charlie Fox thriller: suspense, action, wit, and the main character underestimated as usual. The story depicts a war scene in Afghanistan with Charlie – of course the only female soldier in the patrol and officially not supposed to be in the front line – suddenly in the centre of a secret Special Forces rescue mission and under heavy enemy fire. Charlie, just out of basic training on her first foreign assignment as a private, finds herself not only on horseback (The almost usual Zoë Sharp treat for the horse lovers.), but in some crucial situations in which the survival of her comrades and the success of their mission is in her hands, her ability to improvise and her marksmanship.
Back home in Britain she has to face a Court Martial investigation, but you can guess the outcome… And then you might not be too surprised to learn who was the commander of the Special Forces team.
“Trial Under Fire” is a real prequel of the other 13 Charlie Fox novels and answers your question of how it all started…
Although it is just a short novella of only about 110 pages it has all it takes for a Charlie Fox thriller: suspense, action, wit, and the main character underestimated as usual. The story depicts a war scene in Afghanistan with Charlie – of course the only female soldier in the patrol and officially not supposed to be in the front line – suddenly in the centre of a secret Special Forces rescue mission and under heavy enemy fire. Charlie, just out of basic training on her first foreign assignment as a private, finds herself not only on horseback (The almost usual Zoë Sharp treat for the horse lovers.), but in some crucial situations in which the survival of her comrades and the success of their mission is in her hands, her ability to improvise and her marksmanship.
Back home in Britain she has to face a Court Martial investigation, but you can guess the outcome… And then you might not be too surprised to learn who was the commander of the Special Forces team.
“Trial Under Fire” is a real prequel of the other 13 Charlie Fox novels and answers your question of how it all started…
October 15, 2021
Hard, open, direct - You really cant wait for the next chapter!
An excellent read. Brilliant understanding of life at the sharp end of Afghanistan. Characterisation is so real ans deep. Very hard to think this isnt a biography. I liked the way the characters sparked off each other and the play between RAF and Army, particularly the way those higher ranks with a chip on the shoulder were cleverly dismissed. The interplay of relationships, keeps the reader guessing whether there ever will be a romantic entanglement.
Another terrific delivery by one of the truly prolific writers of modern thriller action stories tinged with beautiful settings and real relationships.
An excellent read. Brilliant understanding of life at the sharp end of Afghanistan. Characterisation is so real ans deep. Very hard to think this isnt a biography. I liked the way the characters sparked off each other and the play between RAF and Army, particularly the way those higher ranks with a chip on the shoulder were cleverly dismissed. The interplay of relationships, keeps the reader guessing whether there ever will be a romantic entanglement.
Another terrific delivery by one of the truly prolific writers of modern thriller action stories tinged with beautiful settings and real relationships.
January 5, 2019
Not often I give 5 stars to novellas. Generally, they are too short to neither develop a full story nor much in the way of character development. Like all Charlie Fox stories, this prequel exceeds expectations. Loved seeing the young Charlie in action as a soldier as well as seeing the early development of her instincts to always do the right thing. Here’s hoping that Fox Hunter (#12) was not the final Charlie episode! Thanks to Zoe for providing the story through her newsletter.
April 11, 2019
I am a great fan of Zoe Sharp and Charlie Fox, while not such a fan of war books. This is the second prequel I've read lately which shows how war experience shaped a protagonist, and while I was fascinated to see Charlie in action and learn how she acquired some of her skills, the war scenes in Afghanistan did not appeal to me. They were clearly well-written-- just not my thing.
Though there is an awesome twist at the very end that I loved.
Though there is an awesome twist at the very end that I loved.
January 1, 2019
Usually I don’t enjoy reading e-books but this was sent as a download thank you from Zoe Sharp.
I liked this book because it gave the background story of why Charlie was special-ops when females technically could not be on the front lines. I also provides information on how Charlie met Sean Myers.
I liked this book because it gave the background story of why Charlie was special-ops when females technically could not be on the front lines. I also provides information on how Charlie met Sean Myers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2019
I was sent an electronic copy of this book as a subscriber of Zoe Sharp's newsletter/blog.
Thank you.
I absolutely loved this "prequel" to the Charlie Fox series. It was great to read a bit about her story before she went to the special forces course that changed her life so dramatically.
Thank you Zoe Sharp, please keep writing. I am suffering Charlie Fox withdrawal already.
Thank you.
I absolutely loved this "prequel" to the Charlie Fox series. It was great to read a bit about her story before she went to the special forces course that changed her life so dramatically.
Thank you Zoe Sharp, please keep writing. I am suffering Charlie Fox withdrawal already.
October 11, 2021
I'm not a lover of prequels because more often than not you know the ending since you've probably already read the sequels.
This one was ok but it was a short book and finished very abruptly, as though the author was running late for the publishers deadline. Although nice twist at the end.
This is a shame because I usually enjoy Zoe Sharp books.
This one was ok but it was a short book and finished very abruptly, as though the author was running late for the publishers deadline. Although nice twist at the end.
This is a shame because I usually enjoy Zoe Sharp books.
February 7, 2019
I loved this book. There is a little bit for everyone. If you a fan of the series it will answer questions, if your new to the series it will spark a flame of interest making you want to read all the other books in the series.
January 3, 2020
Ooooo......finally! The prequel of how Charlie got started in the Army and became her own badass self. P.S. She meets Sean in this novella, too! Always a good thing—he reminds me of Ranger in the early Evanovich books.
August 4, 2021
TRIAL UNDER FIRE
Charlie Fox, from the beginning. The only problem with Ms Sharps novels is I want them to last so much longer. I love everything about Charlie Fox, it' so good to have her back.
Charlie Fox, from the beginning. The only problem with Ms Sharps novels is I want them to last so much longer. I love everything about Charlie Fox, it' so good to have her back.
October 10, 2021
Insight to Charlie's start
I have enjoyed the Charlie Fox series for years and this insight into her military experience was intriguing. It demonstrates the beginning of how Charlie functions under stressful situations.
I have enjoyed the Charlie Fox series for years and this insight into her military experience was intriguing. It demonstrates the beginning of how Charlie functions under stressful situations.
July 6, 2022
A bit of a look into Charlie’s past as a soldier. I love the characters in this series and I liked reading about how Charlie and Sean first met. I think I would have liked just a bit more action in this one but it was still a good read.
August 9, 2024
Charlie Fox is one of my favourites and this was a great prequel, although a little bitter sweet when you know what happens to her. Zoe Sharpe’s writing is so visual and immediate with riveting action, that you’ve finished the story before you know it. This is only Novella length, but manages to pack a lot into it. The bonus is that you can read this without having read the others in the series - however, I dare you not to!!
December 22, 2018
I enjoyed this little taste of Zoe's time in war zones, both in Afghanistan and in her parents home. Makes me want to pick back up on the series I abandoned ages ago.
January 3, 2019
Loved it.
August 4, 2021
Give us more, soon!
Loved the style and back story, only problem? Too short, we need more Charlie Fox!! Don't keep us waiting so long!
Loved the style and back story, only problem? Too short, we need more Charlie Fox!! Don't keep us waiting so long!
August 4, 2021
I liked it. It was interesting to get a bit of backstory on Charlie. Reading this prequel has prompted me to reread the series, which I enjoyed very much.
September 3, 2021
Zoe has yet again produced a fantastic read. So immersive I forgot to eat. I’ve read all Zoe’s books and she just gets better and better, if that’s possible. Bledy brilliant. 👍
October 23, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this prequel to the Charlie Fox series. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!
July 1, 2022
multi-dimensional
Real people in unfamiliar settings raise ethical questions . How do you respond? Zoe Sharp guides us through the maze.
Real people in unfamiliar settings raise ethical questions . How do you respond? Zoe Sharp guides us through the maze.
May 5, 2025
A story of a female soldier caught up in an SAS operation in Afghanistan
August 3, 2021
Reading this prequel makes me want to skip my TBR pile and reread Charlie Fox series to date. #happyreader I loved this early look at Charlie’s military career prior to KILLER INSTINCT. I appreciate seeing her in this learning curve of skills, confidence and dealing with “minefield” of being a woman soldier (both at home and in the military).
Highly recommend this and other series by Zoë Sharp!!
Highly recommend this and other series by Zoë Sharp!!
August 2, 2021
Brilliant
I have yet to read a book by Zoe Sharp which isn't brilliant. If you like the other books in the series featuring Charlie Fox then you will welcome this prequel novella.
I have yet to read a book by Zoe Sharp which isn't brilliant. If you like the other books in the series featuring Charlie Fox then you will welcome this prequel novella.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews