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Alex Abbott #1
Scar Tissue (1)
Ex-special forces soldier Alex Abbott escaped the Middle East under a cloud and now lives hand-to-mouth in Singapore. Scraping a living as a gun for hire and estranged from his family, Abbott is haunted by ghosts of the past, drinking to dull the pain. Life's tough, but there is one upside - at least he's not in Baghdad.
That's about to change.
When a job goes badly wrong, Abbott's in hot water. Next he learns that his military son, Nathan, is missing in Iraq. Knowing something is wrong, needing to find his son and desperate for redemption, Abbott has no choice but to go back.
Returning to Baghdad, Abbott renews old acquaintances and begins his search for Nathan. The body count rises as old wounds open and he struggles to confront his demons, self-medicating the only way he knows how. But when one of his old crew turns up dead in mysterious circumstances and the link with Nathan is clear, Abbott begins to suspect a trap.
But who is the hunter? And who is the hunted?
That's about to change.
When a job goes badly wrong, Abbott's in hot water. Next he learns that his military son, Nathan, is missing in Iraq. Knowing something is wrong, needing to find his son and desperate for redemption, Abbott has no choice but to go back.
Returning to Baghdad, Abbott renews old acquaintances and begins his search for Nathan. The body count rises as old wounds open and he struggles to confront his demons, self-medicating the only way he knows how. But when one of his old crew turns up dead in mysterious circumstances and the link with Nathan is clear, Abbott begins to suspect a trap.
But who is the hunter? And who is the hunted?
336 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2021
319 people are currently reading
336 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
July 20, 2021
Well with this being the first novel by this author, it is best to know about more about the author.
Ollie is a military veteran.
He is known for appearing on all five series of SAS: Who Dares Wins and formed part of the intimidating team of Directing Staff alongside chief DS Ant Middleton, Jason “Foxy” Fox and Mark “Billy” Billingham.
Ollie joined the Royal Marines at 18 and toured Northern Ireland and Iraq before he joined the Special Boat Service — SBS, the naval equivalent of the SAS.
During his six years in the SBS he undertook a number of high profile missions in a variety of locations both on land and sea. Ollie’s missions included hostage rescue, counter narcotics, counter terrorism, homeland security, counter insurgency operations and humanitarian efforts. Ollie also qualified as a pilot of the Submersible Dive Vessel (SDV), a mini sub used to insert Special Forces Combat Soldiers behind enemy lines.
As of August 2020 Ollie is Down Under filming SAS: Who Dares Wins Australia.
In fact, he was one of the first former members of the UK Special Forces members to talk about my experiences and turn them into a positive force for good.
Ex-Special Forces soldier Alex Abbott escaped the Middle East under a cloud and now lives hand-to-mouth in Singapore. Scraping a living as a gun for hire and estranged from his family, Abbott is haunted by ghosts of the past, drinking to dull the pain. Life's tough, but there is one upside - at least he's not in Baghdad.
That's about to change.
When a job goes badly wrong, Abbott's in hot water. Next he learns that his military son, Nathan, is missing in Iraq. Knowing something is wrong, needing to find his son and desperate for redemption, Abbott has no choice but to go back.
Returning to Baghdad, Abbott renews old acquaintances and begins his search for Nathan. The body count rises as old wounds open and he struggles to confront his demons, self-medicating the only way he knows how. But when one of his old crew turns up dead in mysterious circumstances and the link with Nathan is clear, Abbott begins to suspect a trap.
But who is the hunter? And who is the hunted?
A great debut action thriller, with a great lead character, not some super human, but a heavy drinking ex special forces. The book is filled with great twists, fast pace, good action.
Looking forward to book two out in the autumn.
Four stars
Ollie is a military veteran.
He is known for appearing on all five series of SAS: Who Dares Wins and formed part of the intimidating team of Directing Staff alongside chief DS Ant Middleton, Jason “Foxy” Fox and Mark “Billy” Billingham.
Ollie joined the Royal Marines at 18 and toured Northern Ireland and Iraq before he joined the Special Boat Service — SBS, the naval equivalent of the SAS.
During his six years in the SBS he undertook a number of high profile missions in a variety of locations both on land and sea. Ollie’s missions included hostage rescue, counter narcotics, counter terrorism, homeland security, counter insurgency operations and humanitarian efforts. Ollie also qualified as a pilot of the Submersible Dive Vessel (SDV), a mini sub used to insert Special Forces Combat Soldiers behind enemy lines.
As of August 2020 Ollie is Down Under filming SAS: Who Dares Wins Australia.
In fact, he was one of the first former members of the UK Special Forces members to talk about my experiences and turn them into a positive force for good.
Ex-Special Forces soldier Alex Abbott escaped the Middle East under a cloud and now lives hand-to-mouth in Singapore. Scraping a living as a gun for hire and estranged from his family, Abbott is haunted by ghosts of the past, drinking to dull the pain. Life's tough, but there is one upside - at least he's not in Baghdad.
That's about to change.
When a job goes badly wrong, Abbott's in hot water. Next he learns that his military son, Nathan, is missing in Iraq. Knowing something is wrong, needing to find his son and desperate for redemption, Abbott has no choice but to go back.
Returning to Baghdad, Abbott renews old acquaintances and begins his search for Nathan. The body count rises as old wounds open and he struggles to confront his demons, self-medicating the only way he knows how. But when one of his old crew turns up dead in mysterious circumstances and the link with Nathan is clear, Abbott begins to suspect a trap.
But who is the hunter? And who is the hunted?
A great debut action thriller, with a great lead character, not some super human, but a heavy drinking ex special forces. The book is filled with great twists, fast pace, good action.
Looking forward to book two out in the autumn.
Four stars
May 21, 2023
Scar Tissue by Ollie Ollerton is the first book about Alex Abbott, the first fiction book by this ex special forces soldier and the first book I have read by this author. It is a solid thriller even though I have some trouble with the main character Abbott it's nothing like the trouble he faces. The plot took some twists that I didn't see coming and as a first thriller it's a good book. i will actually read his second one back to back with this and see if it is as good. I can recommend this for thriller fans out there.
February 28, 2021
Review in a sentence:
An action packed, gripping and thrilling first novel from Ollie Ollerton.
An action packed, gripping and thrilling first novel from Ollie Ollerton.
May 2, 2024
Can’t understand the amount of 4 and 5 stars this absolute dross received. Reading the instructions on building a bookcase would be more riveting.
November 9, 2020
This is Ollie Ollerton’s first venture into fiction and he does it with perfection. From the opening pages, I was left with a racing heart and pounding pulse that never seemed to subside till I came to the end. The adrenaline-filled pages are fuelled with situations that feel like this author has experienced, seen and survived in different scenarios in real life being an ex-Special Forces Soldier himself. So with tweaking, twerking and twisting them into fictional settings this book makes for compulsive reading.
I never felt that the characters had been created from ink, they felt like people with pasts that the author moulded into these characters. One character was particularly broken, he had seen too much, done too much and for a long time drunk too much. Alex Abbott is an unforgettable character who worked as a mercenary but when the current job he was on goes belly up it has repercussions for his son who is serving in the military himself.
The beginning of this book is pretty busy and moves smoothly between events and characters. I really liked how each event is set out before the story drops back to Abbott’s past and his relationship with both the love of his life and the mother of his son. In present-day, the action is at times brutal which had me in conflict of wanting to know what came next and yet dreading it at the same time.
This author really knows how to build up to a climactic ending, it had been a gripping story from the start but whoa Ollerton had a couple of gears that I never knew existed. There are some fabulous characters in this story that I hope will continue in future books, Abbott and Cuckoo were just a couple of them. I am still giggling at the pair of them. Brilliant!
I wish to thank the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
I never felt that the characters had been created from ink, they felt like people with pasts that the author moulded into these characters. One character was particularly broken, he had seen too much, done too much and for a long time drunk too much. Alex Abbott is an unforgettable character who worked as a mercenary but when the current job he was on goes belly up it has repercussions for his son who is serving in the military himself.
The beginning of this book is pretty busy and moves smoothly between events and characters. I really liked how each event is set out before the story drops back to Abbott’s past and his relationship with both the love of his life and the mother of his son. In present-day, the action is at times brutal which had me in conflict of wanting to know what came next and yet dreading it at the same time.
This author really knows how to build up to a climactic ending, it had been a gripping story from the start but whoa Ollerton had a couple of gears that I never knew existed. There are some fabulous characters in this story that I hope will continue in future books, Abbott and Cuckoo were just a couple of them. I am still giggling at the pair of them. Brilliant!
I wish to thank the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
March 25, 2021
You'd not expect this to be the best thriller ever written because the author is not a professional writer. However, I think he's done a pretty good job. The plot was more intricate than I was expecting, although I felt there were problems with the timelines. What was good was that the action, the settings, weapons systems, etc., were all 100% authentic, because the author has actually been there, seen it, done it, bought the T-shirt. Other reviewers have criticised the stereotype of the former soldier with alcohol problems related to PTSD. I've met a number of veterans of conflicts with exactly this kind of problem (and worse), so that's a little unfair. And the way the author describes the internal dialogue is 100% accurate (and, having read his bio, I know that's authentic too).
January 13, 2021
Superb. Enjoyed every page.
Reads like a movie....
Can't wait for the next book.
Reads like a movie....
Can't wait for the next book.
May 19, 2021
More than your average number of twists and turns. Main character is difficult to empathise with, as are many others with various shades of grey. Enjoyable easy read.
October 22, 2021
Rather slow this one, didn't have that spark in the story that makes you want more. It was much the typical story and has a ending you'll be guessing by half way through.
November 14, 2021
A “filler” book, a change of pace.
“Anywhere in the world, 4 men in a car following you was bad news. in Iraq, it was fucking bad news.”
“Anywhere in the world, 4 men in a car following you was bad news. in Iraq, it was fucking bad news.”
August 6, 2022
Stunning audiobook and thought it was realistic
August 6, 2022
I really enjoyed this. Nothing new in that ex-SAS type thriller style but it's great entertainment
March 12, 2023
A good read but it didn’t get going until half way through. A but of jumping back and forth in time, at the beginning it wasn’t clear if it was present day or in the past. He also used nicknames but then used full names and I wasn’t too sure which character was being referred to.
May 5, 2025
Good solid book. Easy to follow and full of twists, turns and betrayals
Read
March 25, 2025Alex Abbott is a damaged man, leading a damaged life. He is an alcoholic, former soldier surviving on his wits, picking up work as a gun for hire. He subsists in Singapore, but it is better than Baghdad. He has memories of what his life could have been, as a father and husband. A different life he could have lived, and would want to live, if only he could be given the chance.
However, one last job brings him into life threatening danger, and a trap that leads to betrayal, a cover up, and the kidnapping of his estranged soldier son, Nathan.
The book moves along at a terrific pace, with colourful characters, short sentences, short chapters that move from place to place, intrigue to intrigue and danger to danger.
It hits the ground running, with plenty of exposition, and a detailed life as a soldier, with Ollie Ollerton personal experience coming into play. The lifestyle of an alcoholic is also well explored, and adds to the pathos of Abbott’s life style, and what he has become.
His life has been one of tragedy, from the death of his brother when he was young, a splintered, fractious relationship with his parents, and an unglamourous life in Burton on Trent, where he met his former wife, and Nathan’s mother, Tessa.
As double-cross becomes triple cross, and betrayal become betrayal, Abbott realises that he cannot even trust his closest comrades from his Army days, Burton, and former soldier Stone, who have gone where the money is, even if it exacts a heavy price from both of them.
Scar Tissue is a book that picks up the reader, and takes them, breathlessly from compromised opening, to ending.
Scar Tissue was written during lockdown, and follows two other factual books from Ollerton, about his experience in the Special forces. Although the book is complete in itself, it leaves itself open for the next book in the series, which came out in Autumn 2021.
However, one last job brings him into life threatening danger, and a trap that leads to betrayal, a cover up, and the kidnapping of his estranged soldier son, Nathan.
The book moves along at a terrific pace, with colourful characters, short sentences, short chapters that move from place to place, intrigue to intrigue and danger to danger.
It hits the ground running, with plenty of exposition, and a detailed life as a soldier, with Ollie Ollerton personal experience coming into play. The lifestyle of an alcoholic is also well explored, and adds to the pathos of Abbott’s life style, and what he has become.
His life has been one of tragedy, from the death of his brother when he was young, a splintered, fractious relationship with his parents, and an unglamourous life in Burton on Trent, where he met his former wife, and Nathan’s mother, Tessa.
As double-cross becomes triple cross, and betrayal become betrayal, Abbott realises that he cannot even trust his closest comrades from his Army days, Burton, and former soldier Stone, who have gone where the money is, even if it exacts a heavy price from both of them.
Scar Tissue is a book that picks up the reader, and takes them, breathlessly from compromised opening, to ending.
Scar Tissue was written during lockdown, and follows two other factual books from Ollerton, about his experience in the Special forces. Although the book is complete in itself, it leaves itself open for the next book in the series, which came out in Autumn 2021.
April 4, 2022
Andy McNab may have a lot to answer for, as since he published his first book “Bravo Two Zero”, back in the early 1990s, there have been a lot of similar books published. It’s not just in novel and biography form that this has happened, as television has also taken an interest in the training Special Forces undertake and have put celebrities and members of the public through similar things. Ollie Ollerton started on television’s “SAS: Who Dares Wins” series and had written his own story off the back of this, but having run out of biography, he has moved on to fiction, albeit still based on his area of expertise.
“Scar Tissue” is the story of Alex Abbott, a former Special Forces solider during the first Gulf War, who transitioned into private military contracting, but was asked to do something that didn’t sit well with him. Attempting to escape his past, both in the form of memories and former colleagues, he has moved to Singapore and makes a living undertaking the odd job that requires his skills. In between jobs, he drinks enough to blur his skills, his clarity and his bank balance.
One day, everything falls apart, as his sense of honour overcomes his common sense and he messes up a job he has been tasked with. At the same time, his ex-wife’s new husband suddenly tracks him down with news that his son, who had followed Abbott into the military had gone missing from his base in Turkey and had last been seen in Baghdad, Abbott’s old stamping ground. Abbott doesn’t care about much in life, but his son is one of those things, so he reluctantly returns to Iraq to track down his son, quickly discovering how much both the land and the people have changed.
Not having read Ollerton’s other books, it isn’t clear how much of this novel is based on his life, but a brief synopsis of “Break Point”, which is his story, suggests that much of it is. Iraq is turf Ollerton is familiar with and the drinking and family breakdown have also happened to him. The synopsis of that book sound very familiar to a scene on Abbott’s return to Iraq and the alliteration in both author’s and character’s names suggest he’s writing from a place of experience here.
Whilst I doubt life was always as hectic as depicted here, although I have little doubt parts of it were, Ollerton knows how to keep things exciting. As if living on the wrong end of a machine gun isn’t frightening enough, the intrigue in not knowing who might have their finger on the trigger and how far you can trust them adds to the story. When no-one seems to like you much, but each one of them has access to firearms, life is going to be lived on the edge and being shot quickly may be the best outcome you can expect and that level of energy never leaves the novel.
Ollerton’s downfall is not his experience, or even his telling of those experiences, but in building a story. The scenes themselves are very good and well depicted, but he doesn’t have the writing experience which tells him how to link them. This means he has to throw in events which are even more unlikely than the truth to advance the story in places and there was one moment late on where incredulity was stretched to breaking, even in a novel so far outside my own experiences that it seemed largely implausible much of the time anyway.
That said, I suspect Ollerton has many experiences like the ones in “Scar Tissue”, which may mean we get more from him. If he can combine the breathless nature of his working life with a touch of imagination and a little help with editing and advice on how to tell a better story, this could prove to be a starting point for a decent collection of novels, rather than just another middle of the road Special Forces thriller novel.
“Scar Tissue” is the story of Alex Abbott, a former Special Forces solider during the first Gulf War, who transitioned into private military contracting, but was asked to do something that didn’t sit well with him. Attempting to escape his past, both in the form of memories and former colleagues, he has moved to Singapore and makes a living undertaking the odd job that requires his skills. In between jobs, he drinks enough to blur his skills, his clarity and his bank balance.
One day, everything falls apart, as his sense of honour overcomes his common sense and he messes up a job he has been tasked with. At the same time, his ex-wife’s new husband suddenly tracks him down with news that his son, who had followed Abbott into the military had gone missing from his base in Turkey and had last been seen in Baghdad, Abbott’s old stamping ground. Abbott doesn’t care about much in life, but his son is one of those things, so he reluctantly returns to Iraq to track down his son, quickly discovering how much both the land and the people have changed.
Not having read Ollerton’s other books, it isn’t clear how much of this novel is based on his life, but a brief synopsis of “Break Point”, which is his story, suggests that much of it is. Iraq is turf Ollerton is familiar with and the drinking and family breakdown have also happened to him. The synopsis of that book sound very familiar to a scene on Abbott’s return to Iraq and the alliteration in both author’s and character’s names suggest he’s writing from a place of experience here.
Whilst I doubt life was always as hectic as depicted here, although I have little doubt parts of it were, Ollerton knows how to keep things exciting. As if living on the wrong end of a machine gun isn’t frightening enough, the intrigue in not knowing who might have their finger on the trigger and how far you can trust them adds to the story. When no-one seems to like you much, but each one of them has access to firearms, life is going to be lived on the edge and being shot quickly may be the best outcome you can expect and that level of energy never leaves the novel.
Ollerton’s downfall is not his experience, or even his telling of those experiences, but in building a story. The scenes themselves are very good and well depicted, but he doesn’t have the writing experience which tells him how to link them. This means he has to throw in events which are even more unlikely than the truth to advance the story in places and there was one moment late on where incredulity was stretched to breaking, even in a novel so far outside my own experiences that it seemed largely implausible much of the time anyway.
That said, I suspect Ollerton has many experiences like the ones in “Scar Tissue”, which may mean we get more from him. If he can combine the breathless nature of his working life with a touch of imagination and a little help with editing and advice on how to tell a better story, this could prove to be a starting point for a decent collection of novels, rather than just another middle of the road Special Forces thriller novel.
November 14, 2020
May I just take the opportunity to say that I am in awe of the special forces in this country. I have seen and read about some of what they have done or got up to and they have my total respect. When I was a fair bit younger, I had aspirations to join the special forces but then I read ‘Bravo, Two, Zero’ and it scared the doo doo out of me and I swiftly changed my career plans. Anyway enough of my burblings and back to the point. I haven’t really watched or read anything in which Ollie Ollerton appears but the synopsis of ‘Scar Tissue’ really appealed to me and I knew I had to read it as soon as I could. Oh boy, what a flipping fantastic read it is too. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Scar Tissue’ but more about that in a bit.
It didn’t take me long at all to get into this story. In fact by the time I finished reading the synopsis I just knew that I would find it nigh on impossible to put the book down for any length of time. This book seemed to develop a hold over me and it was a hold that I didn’t want to break. To say that reading ‘Scar Tissue’ became addictive is a massive understatement. I would pick the book up only intending to read a chapter or two and I would become so wrapped up in the story that I read way more than I had intended. I think in a way I had taken to the character of Alex Abbott and I had to keep reading to see if he managed to survive the book in one piece. Abbott has his flaws but at heart he seems like a decent sort of chap. I galloped through the latter half of the book as my desperation to find out what happened grew and grew. I soon got to the end of the story and I had to bid a temporary farewell to Alex Abbott.
‘Scar Tissue’ is extremely well written. The author certainly knows how to start a story in an attention grabbing way and then draw you into the story. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fast pace throughout. Some of the details were rather gruesome in nature but I didn’t let that put me off. In fact it probably encouraged me to keep reading. The fact that a former member of the SAS wrote ‘Scar Tissue’ only made the story seem that bit more authentic. Reading ‘Scar Tissue’ was much like being on a very fast, unpredictable and at times scary rollercoaster ride with lots of twists and turns along the way. I found ‘Scar Tissue’ to be a gripping read, which held my attention throughout and had me on the edge of my seat throughout.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Scar Tissue’ and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Ollie Ollerton’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
It didn’t take me long at all to get into this story. In fact by the time I finished reading the synopsis I just knew that I would find it nigh on impossible to put the book down for any length of time. This book seemed to develop a hold over me and it was a hold that I didn’t want to break. To say that reading ‘Scar Tissue’ became addictive is a massive understatement. I would pick the book up only intending to read a chapter or two and I would become so wrapped up in the story that I read way more than I had intended. I think in a way I had taken to the character of Alex Abbott and I had to keep reading to see if he managed to survive the book in one piece. Abbott has his flaws but at heart he seems like a decent sort of chap. I galloped through the latter half of the book as my desperation to find out what happened grew and grew. I soon got to the end of the story and I had to bid a temporary farewell to Alex Abbott.
‘Scar Tissue’ is extremely well written. The author certainly knows how to start a story in an attention grabbing way and then draw you into the story. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fast pace throughout. Some of the details were rather gruesome in nature but I didn’t let that put me off. In fact it probably encouraged me to keep reading. The fact that a former member of the SAS wrote ‘Scar Tissue’ only made the story seem that bit more authentic. Reading ‘Scar Tissue’ was much like being on a very fast, unpredictable and at times scary rollercoaster ride with lots of twists and turns along the way. I found ‘Scar Tissue’ to be a gripping read, which held my attention throughout and had me on the edge of my seat throughout.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Scar Tissue’ and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Ollie Ollerton’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
December 16, 2020
Synopsis:
Alex Abbott is an ex-special forces soldier, living in Singapore as a gun for hire. Alone and battling with an alcohol addiction which he is in denial about. After a job goes wrong, he soon learns that his son, Nathan who is also in the military is missing. He finds himself having to return to Baghdad in an attempt to find his son and return him home safely. In the process his past comes back to haunt him and old secrets uncovered which may potentially sabotage his mission and threaten his safety.
This was my first military based thriller and I can’t tell you, it was super action packed! It is also the author’s first novel, which was absolutely brilliant. From the build up all the way to an exciting and unexpected ending, I was kept at the edge of my seat.
The main character battles substance abuse, depression, PTSD which is not uncommon among military veterans. We get a good idea of how it affects their mental well-being and how it can influence their relationships with the people around them.
There is emphasis on father-son relationships as well as dysfunctional family relationships and how this ends up shaping the characters. I enjoyed the character growth of the protagonist and as this is only the first book in the series, I have a feeling that there is still a lot more to learn about Abbott and his past.
Matthew ‘Ollie’ Ollerton is actually an ex-special forces solider who was able to draw on his own experiences while writing this thriller, which I enjoyed as I honestly am not that familiar when it comes to the military. He, himself has faced his own personal battles with substance dependence and mental illness.
This story was fast-paced and very exciting, with lots of twists that I did not see coming. The short chapters make for a quick and absolutely thrilling read. True to the genre. As the story progresses, you find yourself not knowing who you can trust which keeps you guessing. Never for a second did I find myself bored or losing interest.
Even if you have never previously read any military based thrillers like myself, I can guarantee you that this book will keep you hooked. This is the first in the Alex Abbot series and now I cannot wait for the next book which will be released in 2021!
Disclaimer: I was sent this free copy for review by Jonathan Ball Publishers. This does not influence my review or rating in any way. All views and opinions expressed are my own.
Alex Abbott is an ex-special forces soldier, living in Singapore as a gun for hire. Alone and battling with an alcohol addiction which he is in denial about. After a job goes wrong, he soon learns that his son, Nathan who is also in the military is missing. He finds himself having to return to Baghdad in an attempt to find his son and return him home safely. In the process his past comes back to haunt him and old secrets uncovered which may potentially sabotage his mission and threaten his safety.
This was my first military based thriller and I can’t tell you, it was super action packed! It is also the author’s first novel, which was absolutely brilliant. From the build up all the way to an exciting and unexpected ending, I was kept at the edge of my seat.
The main character battles substance abuse, depression, PTSD which is not uncommon among military veterans. We get a good idea of how it affects their mental well-being and how it can influence their relationships with the people around them.
There is emphasis on father-son relationships as well as dysfunctional family relationships and how this ends up shaping the characters. I enjoyed the character growth of the protagonist and as this is only the first book in the series, I have a feeling that there is still a lot more to learn about Abbott and his past.
Matthew ‘Ollie’ Ollerton is actually an ex-special forces solider who was able to draw on his own experiences while writing this thriller, which I enjoyed as I honestly am not that familiar when it comes to the military. He, himself has faced his own personal battles with substance dependence and mental illness.
This story was fast-paced and very exciting, with lots of twists that I did not see coming. The short chapters make for a quick and absolutely thrilling read. True to the genre. As the story progresses, you find yourself not knowing who you can trust which keeps you guessing. Never for a second did I find myself bored or losing interest.
Even if you have never previously read any military based thrillers like myself, I can guarantee you that this book will keep you hooked. This is the first in the Alex Abbot series and now I cannot wait for the next book which will be released in 2021!
Disclaimer: I was sent this free copy for review by Jonathan Ball Publishers. This does not influence my review or rating in any way. All views and opinions expressed are my own.
November 16, 2020
Firstly, a huge thank you to Tracy and the Compulsive Readers team for having me on this blog tour.
Scar Tissue* sits in a genre firmly out of my comfort zone, it's only recently I've started to dip my toe into the crime/thriller world. Prior to this, I'd been fantasy, sci-fi and literary fiction. I can say I've truly enjoyed my experiences in this new genre so far.
It's clear from the offset that Ollerton knows what he's talking about. The ease with which he blends the factual side of the military with fiction is brilliant. It never felt as though the information was dumped in without cause when a piece of tack or some kind of jargon was included it was there to serve a purpose, to further the reader's understanding of the world they're in. I learnt an awful lot from this approach too. Then when you move into the fictional side of his writing it feels real. The concept of 'The Circuit' was one of my favourite parts of the book and how interconnected everyone within this sector is. In particular, though it's a very minor detail the capitalisation alone gave it real authority.
Whilst I really felt for Abbott he was at times a very difficult character to like, though I do suppose that's part of the idea. He describes himself as unable to really form at attachment without having had a drink. Even then it's only the illusion of one. I enjoyed his interactions with Cuckoo/Alan in particular. Their dynamic, outside of the current situation, was one you can imagine. The ex and new stepdad being at odds, but their slowly growing respect for one another was lovely. Operative and researcher, however, is a little more outside the realms of possibility, entertaining though it was.
Where the true strength of their book lies is with its plot. I didn't for a second guess that the events that caused Abbott to leave Baghdad would also be, in the end, part of his return. The twists and turns I thought were fantastic. The number of people after Abbott as well gave me a real James Bond-esque feel. Minus the suits and martinis of course. More cargo pants and red wine.
I can't wait to see what the rest of the series has in store.
I regularly review at www.a-novel-idea.co.uk
Scar Tissue* sits in a genre firmly out of my comfort zone, it's only recently I've started to dip my toe into the crime/thriller world. Prior to this, I'd been fantasy, sci-fi and literary fiction. I can say I've truly enjoyed my experiences in this new genre so far.
It's clear from the offset that Ollerton knows what he's talking about. The ease with which he blends the factual side of the military with fiction is brilliant. It never felt as though the information was dumped in without cause when a piece of tack or some kind of jargon was included it was there to serve a purpose, to further the reader's understanding of the world they're in. I learnt an awful lot from this approach too. Then when you move into the fictional side of his writing it feels real. The concept of 'The Circuit' was one of my favourite parts of the book and how interconnected everyone within this sector is. In particular, though it's a very minor detail the capitalisation alone gave it real authority.
Whilst I really felt for Abbott he was at times a very difficult character to like, though I do suppose that's part of the idea. He describes himself as unable to really form at attachment without having had a drink. Even then it's only the illusion of one. I enjoyed his interactions with Cuckoo/Alan in particular. Their dynamic, outside of the current situation, was one you can imagine. The ex and new stepdad being at odds, but their slowly growing respect for one another was lovely. Operative and researcher, however, is a little more outside the realms of possibility, entertaining though it was.
Where the true strength of their book lies is with its plot. I didn't for a second guess that the events that caused Abbott to leave Baghdad would also be, in the end, part of his return. The twists and turns I thought were fantastic. The number of people after Abbott as well gave me a real James Bond-esque feel. Minus the suits and martinis of course. More cargo pants and red wine.
I can't wait to see what the rest of the series has in store.
I regularly review at www.a-novel-idea.co.uk
February 17, 2022
This was an incredibly emotional read. I really felt for Abbot by the end. He deserved much better then what he got. Though it did show the sad reality I feel many people can experience in life. Unfortunately for Abbot it was a litany of betrayal, sadness and PTSD. I feel it’s incredibly important to raise awareness on these grim realities no matter how hard a read they are and I feel Ollie Ollerton excelled in that brilliantly.
I do feel however that a large part of this book didn’t keep me invested, finding parts perhaps too slow to my liking. Though of course that is down to personal taste.
The plot twists were very interesting though I’m surprised at some of them considering how long some of said characters helped the protagonist. To me it seemed a little confusing why they chose to help for so long if they were ultimately enemies. Though again this could be due to personal taste.
I really liked how Ollie Ollerton showed that not all stories have a happy ending and can end sadly. I feel the reader is taken away with a feeling of the horrible truth we perhaps like to hide. That the world isn’t all sunshine and roses. It’s something I’m glad he has shined a light on. Raising awareness to it. To that end I find Ollie’s work here commendable.
3/5 for me ! Recommended !
I do feel however that a large part of this book didn’t keep me invested, finding parts perhaps too slow to my liking. Though of course that is down to personal taste.
The plot twists were very interesting though I’m surprised at some of them considering how long some of said characters helped the protagonist. To me it seemed a little confusing why they chose to help for so long if they were ultimately enemies. Though again this could be due to personal taste.
I really liked how Ollie Ollerton showed that not all stories have a happy ending and can end sadly. I feel the reader is taken away with a feeling of the horrible truth we perhaps like to hide. That the world isn’t all sunshine and roses. It’s something I’m glad he has shined a light on. Raising awareness to it. To that end I find Ollie’s work here commendable.
3/5 for me ! Recommended !
October 14, 2020
A rattlingly good read with plenty of action and a story-line which keeps the reader guessing. Alex Abbott is an ex-special forces soldier who attempts to keep his demons at bay through his relationship with the bottle, though this only creates his vulnerabilities. We are gradually fed snippets of his history and come to realise, as he returns to Baghdad, that he is at his best when in 'soldier mode' - though he sometimes wonders whether their way of life in the special forces had 'made monsters of them all'. This is a well formulated story, with the human interest being developed and the feel that everything is not as it seems when he comes into contact with some old acquaintances. There is plenty of tension generated in the plot, with the story-line twisting and turning - and him finding himself in some very difficult situations. The authors past gives the story a real credibility and I believe that this book is well worth a read, having given it a 5 star rating - I look forward to reading more of his books. Many thanks to Bonnier Books UK who provided an advance copy of this book through Netgalley.
November 21, 2020
Scar Tissue is the authors debut novel and clearly brings his special forces experience to life with this cracking story. I have friends who are in the special forces and this story is truly an eye opener.
The story kicks off with plenty of action and doesn’t let you go until the very last page. When we are introduced to Alex Abbott. Alex is a damaged character who you cannot help but like. We totally get to know what goes on inside Alex’s head he is a brilliant character. When we follow him on a pulse racing journey to find his son.
This is what a thriller is all about. It is full of twists and turns and OMG moments. A very exciting on the edge of your seat read….I couldn’t put it down. With some added romance. I love that this book gives the reader a mixture of everything.
All the foundations have been laid down for what is set to be the start of a brilliant new series. Now I cannot wait for the next book.
Thank you to Tracy Fenton for a copy and for inviting me to take part on this epic tour.
The story kicks off with plenty of action and doesn’t let you go until the very last page. When we are introduced to Alex Abbott. Alex is a damaged character who you cannot help but like. We totally get to know what goes on inside Alex’s head he is a brilliant character. When we follow him on a pulse racing journey to find his son.
This is what a thriller is all about. It is full of twists and turns and OMG moments. A very exciting on the edge of your seat read….I couldn’t put it down. With some added romance. I love that this book gives the reader a mixture of everything.
All the foundations have been laid down for what is set to be the start of a brilliant new series. Now I cannot wait for the next book.
Thank you to Tracy Fenton for a copy and for inviting me to take part on this epic tour.
October 11, 2020
This is the first outing for Ollie Ollerton into fiction rather than biography, self-help and motivational books.
If you love Chris Ryan Strike Back books then you will enjoy this one. The main character, Abbott, is a cross between James Bond, John Porter and John McClane from The Die Hard moves.
Scar Tissue has all the components that you expect from an action read, an emotionally damaged hero haunted by his past, a missing son, fire-fights, old comrades, new alliances, betrayals and an increasing body count.
The author being ex-special forces leaves you wondering at the end how much is drawn from his own personal experiences through war and the dealing with personal demons.
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for a free copy in return for an unbiased review.
If you love Chris Ryan Strike Back books then you will enjoy this one. The main character, Abbott, is a cross between James Bond, John Porter and John McClane from The Die Hard moves.
Scar Tissue has all the components that you expect from an action read, an emotionally damaged hero haunted by his past, a missing son, fire-fights, old comrades, new alliances, betrayals and an increasing body count.
The author being ex-special forces leaves you wondering at the end how much is drawn from his own personal experiences through war and the dealing with personal demons.
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for a free copy in return for an unbiased review.
October 26, 2020
I wanted to give this five stars but it was not quite as good a read as I Pilgrim. Perhaps it could be 4.5.
I really enjoyed this, It reminded me of Bravo Two Zero and of Adrian McKinty's books and those by James Swallow. I you like those authors then you will enjoy this. The last page reassures us that there will be more stories about Abbott to follow.
This is a fast moving tale of Special Forces operatives and moves on with great pace. I assume from the author's background that the scenarios and behaviours depicted are accurate.
I was worried at the early reference to monsoon rains in Singapore. I grew up there and am not happy with that description. Even better then that the power of this writing won me over.
I really enjoyed this, It reminded me of Bravo Two Zero and of Adrian McKinty's books and those by James Swallow. I you like those authors then you will enjoy this. The last page reassures us that there will be more stories about Abbott to follow.
This is a fast moving tale of Special Forces operatives and moves on with great pace. I assume from the author's background that the scenarios and behaviours depicted are accurate.
I was worried at the early reference to monsoon rains in Singapore. I grew up there and am not happy with that description. Even better then that the power of this writing won me over.
November 12, 2020
Ex-special forces soldier Alex Abbot may have been considered a hero once but these days he's far from that, after leaving his military career behind him he went from one bad situation to another and ended up in Singapore haunted by the demons of his past, reminiscing about what might have been and taking the occasional job as a gun for hire to fund his drink habit.
Divorced with a grown up son who against his advice joined the military he doesn't think things can get much worse. They can and they do. His son Nathan has gone missing and was last seen in Baghdad, a place Abbott thought was firmly in his past. Its time for Abbott to put down the bottle, pull up his big boy pants, get on a plane and try to become the man he used to be.
The character of Abbott may be stereotypical of many ex-special forces soldiers who feature in this type of fiction but that was where the similarities ended, the back-story revealed a well drawn character who wasn't that different to the rest of us, a mere mortal with the same feelings, flaws and insecurities we all have. This novel moved at a good pace throughout, there was a good mix of action, intrigue and drama and the locations were well described making them easy to visualise. The plot was well thought out with enough twists to keep me guessing and some interesting characters. In this his first fiction novel, the author has obviously drawn on his previous experiences to bring the locations to life and make this an interesting read, the tagline suggests this is the first in a series and I'll certainly be looking forward to the next one. Recommended.
My thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy for review purposes. I was under no obligation and all opinions expressed are my own
Divorced with a grown up son who against his advice joined the military he doesn't think things can get much worse. They can and they do. His son Nathan has gone missing and was last seen in Baghdad, a place Abbott thought was firmly in his past. Its time for Abbott to put down the bottle, pull up his big boy pants, get on a plane and try to become the man he used to be.
The character of Abbott may be stereotypical of many ex-special forces soldiers who feature in this type of fiction but that was where the similarities ended, the back-story revealed a well drawn character who wasn't that different to the rest of us, a mere mortal with the same feelings, flaws and insecurities we all have. This novel moved at a good pace throughout, there was a good mix of action, intrigue and drama and the locations were well described making them easy to visualise. The plot was well thought out with enough twists to keep me guessing and some interesting characters. In this his first fiction novel, the author has obviously drawn on his previous experiences to bring the locations to life and make this an interesting read, the tagline suggests this is the first in a series and I'll certainly be looking forward to the next one. Recommended.
My thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy for review purposes. I was under no obligation and all opinions expressed are my own
November 9, 2020
A brilliant and very authentic read! I enjoyed every page of this book.
Its a story about a flawed guy who is struggling with his demons and the only way he can find comfort is in a bottle. But this old trusted friend has also cost him so much. When he finds out his son has gone missing he is determent to find him and to start acting like a father but is this 1 fight too many and will he be able to find redemption?
I love how flawed the main character is. It's not a pretty read and the outcome is also not what you would expect. One where the hero drives away in the sunset after he saved the world.
I can't wait for the follow up after the killer ending!
Thank you to NetGalley,Bonnier books UK and Blink Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Its a story about a flawed guy who is struggling with his demons and the only way he can find comfort is in a bottle. But this old trusted friend has also cost him so much. When he finds out his son has gone missing he is determent to find him and to start acting like a father but is this 1 fight too many and will he be able to find redemption?
I love how flawed the main character is. It's not a pretty read and the outcome is also not what you would expect. One where the hero drives away in the sunset after he saved the world.
I can't wait for the follow up after the killer ending!
Thank you to NetGalley,Bonnier books UK and Blink Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 7, 2020
I honestly didn’t know what to expect when i chose this book on Audible’s but was very pleasantly surprised. I do enjoy the SF fiction genre and in particular When written by members of the SF themselves. Having listened to Ollies other Books, a lot of the story sounded familiar to his real life experiences which added to the authenticity of the characters, locations and action he describes do well. A gripping and fast paced novel with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I was glad the ending leaves room for another book/ books in the series as Abbott is a complex character and it will be good to see where his journey continues. A really enjoyable read/ listen.
March 27, 2021
A military wife of 40+ years, I’d avidly watched SAS: Who Dares Wins, and was keen to read this dramatic novel about ex-SBS, Alex Abbott, whose estranged son has gone missing, on leave, in Iraq. Will Abbott turn out to be the hunter or the hunted? Will he pay for his own shortcomings? I appreciated the author, one of the stars of the programme, had ‘been there and done that’ authentically describing both Singapore and Baghdad. There were so many links, between the many characters and scenarios, to untangle that kept me reading long into the night.
October 20, 2021
Wow! Just wow! For a debut novel, this just exploded from the pages and carried me through to the end far to quickly.
Ollie's special forces pedigree is evident in the way he describes the kinetic nature of combat, which add legitimacy to his story.
I liked Alex, a warrior with hidden scars, and then a missing son, but still able to do what he needs to do.
I think I'll be reading more from Ollie in the future. I gave Scar Tissue five stars
Alex. From the bad job, to his missing son, the PTSD and alcohol abuse, this book feels incredibly re
Ollie's special forces pedigree is evident in the way he describes the kinetic nature of combat, which add legitimacy to his story.
I liked Alex, a warrior with hidden scars, and then a missing son, but still able to do what he needs to do.
I think I'll be reading more from Ollie in the future. I gave Scar Tissue five stars
Alex. From the bad job, to his missing son, the PTSD and alcohol abuse, this book feels incredibly re
October 18, 2020
What a brilliant first foray into fiction by Ollie Ollerton. A no point in this novel did you feel the author was holding back, it was full on action, fast and furious living, and dying. Plenty of twists and twisted characters, human strength and frailties in equal measure. I really enjoyed this book and hope there are more so we can see how Alex Abbott develops, I’m sure there must be more Special Forces adventures in him! Thanks for Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.
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