What do you think?
Rate this book
Dom Riley Thriller #2
Operation Black Key
Perfect for fans of Ollie Ollerton, Andy McNab and Stephen Leather - the new compulsive thriller from Sunday Times bestseller and bomb-disposal expert, Kim Hughes GC.
THE ENEMY IS CLOSE TO HOME . . .
Left reeling from the disappearance of his daughter and ex-wife, Staff Sergeant Dom Riley is a haunted man. After months of investigating, he has exhausted nearly all leads in his hunt for answers.
As Riley decides to make one final, desperate push for the truth, it emerges that multiple bombs have been located on board a civilian cruise ship and he is thrown into action in the middle of the ocean.
With little information on the person behind the threat other than the alias BaseHeart, Riley must keep his head together if he has any chance of neutralizing the threat. And it’s not long until the first bomb detonates.
But it’s not the journey, nor the bombs themselves, that pose the real danger. In fact, in travelling halfway across the Atlantic Ocean, Riley will ultimately learn that the enemy is much closer to home . . .
THE ENEMY IS CLOSE TO HOME . . .
Left reeling from the disappearance of his daughter and ex-wife, Staff Sergeant Dom Riley is a haunted man. After months of investigating, he has exhausted nearly all leads in his hunt for answers.
As Riley decides to make one final, desperate push for the truth, it emerges that multiple bombs have been located on board a civilian cruise ship and he is thrown into action in the middle of the ocean.
With little information on the person behind the threat other than the alias BaseHeart, Riley must keep his head together if he has any chance of neutralizing the threat. And it’s not long until the first bomb detonates.
But it’s not the journey, nor the bombs themselves, that pose the real danger. In fact, in travelling halfway across the Atlantic Ocean, Riley will ultimately learn that the enemy is much closer to home . . .
- GenresFiction
405 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2021
2 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Kim Hughes
4 books10 followersStaff Sergeant Kim Hughes GC, is a warrant officer in the British Army, an acclaimed public speaker, and a trustee of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 28, 2021
Operation Black Key is the second instalment in the Dominic Riley Thriller series and once again our fearless and intrepid hero is in a race against time to save multiple lives and prevent a mass casualty incident. Staff Sergeant Dom Riley is naturally still struggling to comes to terms with the fact that he has no idea where his former wife and daughter are or even whether they are dead or alive, yet he still must get on with his job; a job that is vitally important to upholding and saving human life. As Riley decides to make one final push for the truth, it emerges that multiple bombs are on board a civilian cruise ship and he is sent in to neutralise the threat.
The mission is perilous before it’s even begun, requiring a low-altitude parachute jump, a manoeuvre he has only completed in training – but it’s not the journey, nor the bombs themselves, that pose the real threat. In fact, in travelling halfway across the Atlantic, Riley will ultimately learn that the danger is much closer to home. This is action-thriller writing at its best – gripping, fast-paced and authentic from Sunday Times bestselling author and bomb disposal expert, Kim Hughes GC. There's never a dull moment, the action and palpable tension continue to increase as the story progresses and the many twists and turns hold you captive on the edge of your seat throughout.
The mission is perilous before it’s even begun, requiring a low-altitude parachute jump, a manoeuvre he has only completed in training – but it’s not the journey, nor the bombs themselves, that pose the real threat. In fact, in travelling halfway across the Atlantic, Riley will ultimately learn that the danger is much closer to home. This is action-thriller writing at its best – gripping, fast-paced and authentic from Sunday Times bestselling author and bomb disposal expert, Kim Hughes GC. There's never a dull moment, the action and palpable tension continue to increase as the story progresses and the many twists and turns hold you captive on the edge of your seat throughout.
October 23, 2021
4.5 ⭐️
It’s been months since the wife and daughter of Staff Sergeant Dom Riley disappeared. He’s doing everything in his power to find them; but the trail is running cold and he only has one last lead to follow. However, fate has other plans for the Army’s best bomb disposal expert; with multiple bombs located on a civilian cruise ship that is smack bang in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Livid that he may miss finding his wife and daughter, Riley is sent to the cruise ship to defuse the bombs. But life is never easy for him; and the arrival of the US Navy SEALS, the demands of an entitled celebrity couple and a cruise full of frightened and angry people are the absolute least of his problems. For these bombs aren’t the only thing that are about to explode, as Riley soon realises that everything he held true is about to be exposed in a catastrophic manner of epic proportions. The only question now is, will he live to find out why?
Whoo hoo! Highly decorated UK Army Bomb Disposal Operator Kim Hughes GC is back with his second novel and it’s explosive! Hughes’ real life experience brings so much to this novel (and the first book in the Dom Riley series Operation Certain Death) and the authenticity leaps of the page as you read it, giving you a high octane, action packed thriller that I could not put down.
Aside from our protagonist Riley, there are several characters that carry over from the first book; which works well given that this second one picks up the plot from the first. Best of all, the ending leaves me very hopeful that a third book in this series will not be far away.
Again; I loved that Hughes writes so well that I could easily visualise the plot and the characters as they went about this business. I have no military experience and have never been on a cruise ship; but the writing made me feel like I was there front and centre. It wasn’t just the visualisation though, the writing had red herrings and plot twists in all the right places and the last chapter blew my mind.
Operation Black Key is an excellent recommend read in the military thriller genre. If you like Chris Ryan or Patrick Robinson, then Kim Hughes is the writer for you.
To play along with my book bingo and to see what else I’m reading, go to #ktbookbingo and @kt_elder on Instagram.
It’s been months since the wife and daughter of Staff Sergeant Dom Riley disappeared. He’s doing everything in his power to find them; but the trail is running cold and he only has one last lead to follow. However, fate has other plans for the Army’s best bomb disposal expert; with multiple bombs located on a civilian cruise ship that is smack bang in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Livid that he may miss finding his wife and daughter, Riley is sent to the cruise ship to defuse the bombs. But life is never easy for him; and the arrival of the US Navy SEALS, the demands of an entitled celebrity couple and a cruise full of frightened and angry people are the absolute least of his problems. For these bombs aren’t the only thing that are about to explode, as Riley soon realises that everything he held true is about to be exposed in a catastrophic manner of epic proportions. The only question now is, will he live to find out why?
Whoo hoo! Highly decorated UK Army Bomb Disposal Operator Kim Hughes GC is back with his second novel and it’s explosive! Hughes’ real life experience brings so much to this novel (and the first book in the Dom Riley series Operation Certain Death) and the authenticity leaps of the page as you read it, giving you a high octane, action packed thriller that I could not put down.
Aside from our protagonist Riley, there are several characters that carry over from the first book; which works well given that this second one picks up the plot from the first. Best of all, the ending leaves me very hopeful that a third book in this series will not be far away.
Again; I loved that Hughes writes so well that I could easily visualise the plot and the characters as they went about this business. I have no military experience and have never been on a cruise ship; but the writing made me feel like I was there front and centre. It wasn’t just the visualisation though, the writing had red herrings and plot twists in all the right places and the last chapter blew my mind.
Operation Black Key is an excellent recommend read in the military thriller genre. If you like Chris Ryan or Patrick Robinson, then Kim Hughes is the writer for you.
To play along with my book bingo and to see what else I’m reading, go to #ktbookbingo and @kt_elder on Instagram.
July 15, 2022
This was such a brilliant read. It was action packed and a very thrilling roller coaster ride. I really struggled to put this book down. It was a brilliant fast paced novel that had me on the edge of my seat. I really loved the story line and I thought it was very well wrote. It definitely kept me entertained the whole way through it was almost like watching a film in my brain. I definitely recommend this book to all those high action fast paced thriller seekers out there.
I will definitely be looking out for more books in this series and by this author.
I really loved the fact that this book was based around the SBS (special boat service) as this is the lesser wrote about armed service which is fantastic.
So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for creating this wonderful page turning novel for ne to read and review.
I will definitely be looking out for more books in this series and by this author.
I really loved the fact that this book was based around the SBS (special boat service) as this is the lesser wrote about armed service which is fantastic.
So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for creating this wonderful page turning novel for ne to read and review.
July 4, 2023
This isn't normally the type of book I read but, after working in a prison and coming away with recommendations from the prisoners, I lost myself in this book.
I love the teases along the way and I didn't guess who the bad guy was until the very end. ( I usually have it by page 50.) It's certainly a page-turner. Some of the stunts left me on the edge of my seat. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys crime novels or thrillers.
I love the teases along the way and I didn't guess who the bad guy was until the very end. ( I usually have it by page 50.) It's certainly a page-turner. Some of the stunts left me on the edge of my seat. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys crime novels or thrillers.
February 28, 2023
I'm surprised that this was recommended in The Times. It was readable enough, but overly macho, and there was a 'cliffhanger' ending, presumably to tempt readers of the author's next novel. OK, I get it that writers like to do a series, but each book should stand alone, if only for those, like me, who won't be going back.
October 1, 2022
This took me two days to read. I love Hughes' attention to detail and this story runs along at a brisk pace. Surely a third book must be coming.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews