What do you think?
Rate this book
Alex King #13
The Congo Contract
"Alex King is unstoppable, a force to be reckoned with..." Stephen Leather - Sunday Telegraph bestselling author*From the New to Alex King? Don't worry, this prequel novel is a great place to Twenty years ago. A delegation of OPEC executives and intelligence operatives working deep undercover are taken hostage in Angola and moved across the border into the Congo. The region is recovering from thirty years of civil and tribal war and international oil contracts are up for grabs, but only if the area can be deemed stable. The standoff must be ended quickly but the newly appointed Angolan government will not grant Britain permission to deploy the SAS and has charged the woefully under-skilled defence force with rescuing the hostages.Alex King has much to prove. His first mission to halt a coup by a splinter cell of the IRA and London criminals was deemed a failure and his mentor Peter Stewart is having second thoughts about training him for the field. The brief is Avoid an international incident and bring home the hostages. The reality is altogether more deadly. A small force of mercenaries led by Stewart and King must cross into the Congo and take on the Southside Boys - a gang of tribal rebels and boy soldiers, high on drugs and violence, who have made kidnapping, rape and murder their way of life.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 3, 2021
149 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
A.P. Bateman
44 books77 followersA P Bateman is the author of seventeen novels, with twelve of his titles reaching No.1 in Amazon's paid top 100 categories in all Amazon regions and four titles reaching No.1 in Kindle sales in the USA, UK, Canada and Australia.
He has a background in close protection and investigations which has given him a unique insight into the scenarios and locations his characters find themselves in.
His hobbies are swimming, driving, archery, shooting and food; his passions are travel and writing.
He has recently released his seventeenth novel - "Hunter Killer" - the twelfth book in the highly acclaimed Alex King series.
You can keep up with A P Bateman and discover more at his Facebook page: @authorapbateman or his website: www.apbateman.com
Reading Order:
The Rob Stone Series:
1) The Ares Virus
2) The Town
3) The Island
The Alex King Series:
1) The Contract Man
2) Lies and Retribution
3) Shadows of Good Friday (A series prequel)
4) The Five
5) Reaper
6) Stormbound
7) Breakout
8) From the Shadows
9) Rogue
10) The Asset
11) Last Man Standing
12) Hunter Killer
Standalone Novels:
Hell's Mouth
Unforgotten
Short Stories:
The Perfect Murder?
Atonement (an Alex King thriller)
He has a background in close protection and investigations which has given him a unique insight into the scenarios and locations his characters find themselves in.
His hobbies are swimming, driving, archery, shooting and food; his passions are travel and writing.
He has recently released his seventeenth novel - "Hunter Killer" - the twelfth book in the highly acclaimed Alex King series.
You can keep up with A P Bateman and discover more at his Facebook page: @authorapbateman or his website: www.apbateman.com
Reading Order:
The Rob Stone Series:
1) The Ares Virus
2) The Town
3) The Island
The Alex King Series:
1) The Contract Man
2) Lies and Retribution
3) Shadows of Good Friday (A series prequel)
4) The Five
5) Reaper
6) Stormbound
7) Breakout
8) From the Shadows
9) Rogue
10) The Asset
11) Last Man Standing
12) Hunter Killer
Standalone Novels:
Hell's Mouth
Unforgotten
Short Stories:
The Perfect Murder?
Atonement (an Alex King thriller)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 7, 2021
The Early Lessons For Alex King, By A Mentor From Hell
What an introduction into his new life Alex King receives on this fast-moving prequel, as we are able to be right there as his mentor reveals the way to fight and stay alive. He has made a few mistakes in his first lessons, so Peter Stewart has second thoughts about continuing to train him. This mission in Angola across to the Congo is it, rescue some hostages and avoid an international incident, period. And the learning begins...
A story that holds you right through every misstep, as learning causes results that are deadly to people on your side, and if you do Not learn, you are next! A thrilling adventure through an unknown jungle, not knowing just who is really on your side, and who is NOT. Just attempting to do your job, and stay as human as possible, while facing others who are already lost.
Another fantastic book in a series I thoroughly enjoy.
What an introduction into his new life Alex King receives on this fast-moving prequel, as we are able to be right there as his mentor reveals the way to fight and stay alive. He has made a few mistakes in his first lessons, so Peter Stewart has second thoughts about continuing to train him. This mission in Angola across to the Congo is it, rescue some hostages and avoid an international incident, period. And the learning begins...
A story that holds you right through every misstep, as learning causes results that are deadly to people on your side, and if you do Not learn, you are next! A thrilling adventure through an unknown jungle, not knowing just who is really on your side, and who is NOT. Just attempting to do your job, and stay as human as possible, while facing others who are already lost.
Another fantastic book in a series I thoroughly enjoy.
October 6, 2021
Just couldn’t put this book down, the whole story was a great ride from the start to the end. Brilliant.
October 12, 2021
What a great read as King gets to learn how to survive jungle warfare learned some hard lessons great action book and King and Stewart make a great team .
October 18, 2021
Nice action story
Lots of action, believable situations and great characters. Plenty of subplots and good character development. Highly recommend. On to the next one.
Lots of action, believable situations and great characters. Plenty of subplots and good character development. Highly recommend. On to the next one.
February 2, 2022
What an excellent introduction to A.P. Bateman’s Alex king series – yep there are 12 that came before this one, but I haven’t read or listened to them yet! And yet is the operative word in this case.
The Congo Contract is not only action-packed, but also filled with a cast of flawed characters who are easy to identify with not to mention easy to like. The story line is filled with action, twists, and turns as well as plenty of intrigue and betrayal. Enough so that my head was spinning. Furthermore, the storyline felt like it was pulled from the headline of a newspaper from the not-so-distant past. This review is based on a very well narrated audiobook I received from the author.
The Congo Contract is not only action-packed, but also filled with a cast of flawed characters who are easy to identify with not to mention easy to like. The story line is filled with action, twists, and turns as well as plenty of intrigue and betrayal. Enough so that my head was spinning. Furthermore, the storyline felt like it was pulled from the headline of a newspaper from the not-so-distant past. This review is based on a very well narrated audiobook I received from the author.
March 5, 2022
A disappointing book
If this was the last book in this series I was disappointed because it went back to the beginning of King's life's journey.
It did not leave me with ,as you would say, A final closer.
I did enjoy books 1 thru 11, #12's ending left a lot to be desired
also. So I hope there is not to come.
If this was the last book in this series I was disappointed because it went back to the beginning of King's life's journey.
It did not leave me with ,as you would say, A final closer.
I did enjoy books 1 thru 11, #12's ending left a lot to be desired
also. So I hope there is not to come.
November 5, 2021
Alex King books 1 to 13
Have just read all 13 Alex King books 1 after the other in the space of a couple of month's. Don't often find a series that are all quality read's and hard to put down, would recommend this author if you enjoy a good fast paced action adventure
Have just read all 13 Alex King books 1 after the other in the space of a couple of month's. Don't often find a series that are all quality read's and hard to put down, would recommend this author if you enjoy a good fast paced action adventure
November 10, 2021
A great read, from the master storyteller
Fills some gaps in Alex's story. Unable to put my Kindle down, and that's why I'm writing this review at three in the morning. Perhaps I can now get some sleep!
Fills some gaps in Alex's story. Unable to put my Kindle down, and that's why I'm writing this review at three in the morning. Perhaps I can now get some sleep!
April 11, 2022
This one is supposedly the prequel to Alex’s other books. I’ll go back and read the former first installment now. Hopefully there will be other characters with some redeeming qualities. This one has all deeply flawed characters. The storyline was excellent however.
April 29, 2022
Shockingly exciting.
Great story and excellently written as usual. Loved the characters and their interactions. Very believable. A thoroughly good read during a long weekend visit to the UK. Highly recommended.
Great story and excellently written as usual. Loved the characters and their interactions. Very believable. A thoroughly good read during a long weekend visit to the UK. Highly recommended.
July 19, 2023
It had been a few months, at least since I had read Alex King #12 so it took me an inordinate amount of time to decipher what the heck was happening-- it really wasn't clear we were jumping 20 years into the past. Not real sure why he did or why this edition was so out of whack with the timeline.
November 25, 2023
another good read
A really good read.Just my type of book,action adventure violence spying intrigue ,a little bit of sex.A P Bateman is a good story teller and keeps you eager for the next page. I have read a lot of his books and will be informed of new releases.
A really good read.Just my type of book,action adventure violence spying intrigue ,a little bit of sex.A P Bateman is a good story teller and keeps you eager for the next page. I have read a lot of his books and will be informed of new releases.
November 4, 2021
King book
Just love reading about Alex King cannot wait for the next chapter A P Batemen keeps the pages turning Thank you
Just love reading about Alex King cannot wait for the next chapter A P Batemen keeps the pages turning Thank you
January 6, 2022
Great read
It took me a while to get into it but it all panned out well, I look forward to reading more in the series
It took me a while to get into it but it all panned out well, I look forward to reading more in the series
April 20, 2024
The cool contract
I've got very used to Bateman's knowledgeable style now but this was a cracking story nevertheless. Action, misadventure and fun.
I've got very used to Bateman's knowledgeable style now but this was a cracking story nevertheless. Action, misadventure and fun.
January 10, 2022
5 Stars from me. The young hero has a story behind him of which I wasnt aware as this book is about the 15th in the series so he was all new to me. Loved the story - set in Africa and the Congo it gets pretty gory at times but that doesn't bother me, all the more real for it frankly as it's life down there. It's all action, no time to dwell on other stuff and the stories run well. Thoroughly enjoyed the book and will now hunt for the next in the series, if there is one. The young hero is my type of man and I can't get enough of him and his antics. I thank A P Bateman for such a great read, it up chum please.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews