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Matt Browning #2
The Increment
Three years ago Matt Browning was thrown out of the unit for questioning an order – and he was on his way out of the SAS. Now, just when he thinks he has put military life behind him, he finds himself dragged back into action.MI6 are demanding he helps a giant drugs company destroy copies of its medicines being produced by Eastern European gangsters. But the mission is not what it seems.An old friend from the Army has turned into a homicidal maniac – and so are soldiers from around the country. Suddenly Matt finds himself thrust into the centre of a deadly mystery.As the answers start to unravel, Matt finds himself the only man in possession of a terrifying secret. Alone and on the run he is up against The Increment – the most ruthless, lethal killing machine on earth.From the Paperback edition.
Paperback
First published June 1, 2011
45 people are currently reading
572 people want to read
About the author
Chris Ryan
344 books1,015 followersColin Armstrong (b. 1961), usually known by the pen-name Chris Ryan, is a British author, television presenter, security consultant and former Special Air Service sergeant.
After the publication of fellow patrol member Andy McNab's Bravo Two Zero in 1993, Ryan published his own account of his experiences during the Bravo Two Zero mission in 1995, entitled The One That Got Away. Since retiring from the British Army Ryan has published several fiction and non-fiction books, including Strike Back, which was subsequently adapted into a television series for Sky 1, and co-created the ITV action series Ultimate Force. He has also presented or appeared in numerous television documentaries connected to the military or law enforcement.
After the publication of fellow patrol member Andy McNab's Bravo Two Zero in 1993, Ryan published his own account of his experiences during the Bravo Two Zero mission in 1995, entitled The One That Got Away. Since retiring from the British Army Ryan has published several fiction and non-fiction books, including Strike Back, which was subsequently adapted into a television series for Sky 1, and co-created the ITV action series Ultimate Force. He has also presented or appeared in numerous television documentaries connected to the military or law enforcement.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
December 20, 2008
Cliché builds on cliché in this hugely disappointing outing from Ryan, a sequel to the excellent Greed in which it appears the author wasn’t even interested in writing this one at all, instead just doing it for the money.
The Increment is a largely predictable storyline, with some suspense and action to make it just about worthwhile, but anyone who’s read any of Ryan’s previous books – especially Greed – will find themselves in familiar territory. Even the twists, double-twists and surprise ending are all matter-of-fact and routine by now, making this a chore to read on occasion. And God, is it sloppy!
Packed with spelling errors and typos, it seems the proof-reader at Century isn’t up to the job. To make matters Ryan, Ryan is lazier here than ever before, repeating the same cliched sayings over and over again, injecting italicised comments into the text from his own experience which we’ve heard a hundred times before. There’s a femme fatale with plenty of lethal secrets in her handbag, just like in the past three stories I read, and tough bad guys who don’t mind spilling blood.
I’m all for brainless action-fests as much as the next guy, and whilst The Increment does contain thrilling material – especially the attack on the factory and in the return of ex-IRA hero Ivan Rowe, towards the end it becomes really predictable, ending in an unrealistic climax on board a train in which the violence and gore becomes cartoonish. Over the top it might be, but this stopped being close to real life some time back. Try harder next time, Ryan.
The Increment is a largely predictable storyline, with some suspense and action to make it just about worthwhile, but anyone who’s read any of Ryan’s previous books – especially Greed – will find themselves in familiar territory. Even the twists, double-twists and surprise ending are all matter-of-fact and routine by now, making this a chore to read on occasion. And God, is it sloppy!
Packed with spelling errors and typos, it seems the proof-reader at Century isn’t up to the job. To make matters Ryan, Ryan is lazier here than ever before, repeating the same cliched sayings over and over again, injecting italicised comments into the text from his own experience which we’ve heard a hundred times before. There’s a femme fatale with plenty of lethal secrets in her handbag, just like in the past three stories I read, and tough bad guys who don’t mind spilling blood.
I’m all for brainless action-fests as much as the next guy, and whilst The Increment does contain thrilling material – especially the attack on the factory and in the return of ex-IRA hero Ivan Rowe, towards the end it becomes really predictable, ending in an unrealistic climax on board a train in which the violence and gore becomes cartoonish. Over the top it might be, but this stopped being close to real life some time back. Try harder next time, Ryan.
January 12, 2022
An ok read.
April 27, 2015
I wish I had the energy for a full review.
Book started well.
Degenerated into something fake.
Book started well.
Degenerated into something fake.
May 20, 2024
Never before have I stopped reading a book with only 7 pages to go.
It's badly written rubbish with an improbable plot and ridiculous action.
Annoyingly, Mr. Ryan assumes that everybody knows that a "Rupert" is the other ranks' slang for an officer.
The proofreading is poor.
"There were tailbacks of four or five hours on the M32 down to the Kent coast."
Hardly surprising when you consider that the M32 is near Bristol, on the other side of the country from Kent.
P119 "The compound covered some 400 square yards in total . . ."
So a compound 20 yards x 20 yards.
Not very big for a factory compound.
Perhaps 400 yards square, rather than 400 square yards?
The final fight to the death is ludicrous with the two combatants exchanging more insults than blows.
Sadly, despite being British, one of our characters suffers American goose bumps rather than British goosepimples.
It's badly written rubbish with an improbable plot and ridiculous action.
Annoyingly, Mr. Ryan assumes that everybody knows that a "Rupert" is the other ranks' slang for an officer.
The proofreading is poor.
"There were tailbacks of four or five hours on the M32 down to the Kent coast."
Hardly surprising when you consider that the M32 is near Bristol, on the other side of the country from Kent.
P119 "The compound covered some 400 square yards in total . . ."
So a compound 20 yards x 20 yards.
Not very big for a factory compound.
Perhaps 400 yards square, rather than 400 square yards?
The final fight to the death is ludicrous with the two combatants exchanging more insults than blows.
Sadly, despite being British, one of our characters suffers American goose bumps rather than British goosepimples.
July 28, 2021
Fast, furious, action too inconsistent re the facts and details, but suspend belief and just enjoy. SAS that are ex the Firm always get a bad deal and just have to accept having their life ruined and losing all loved ones. Ending was weak in construction.
December 7, 2021
Matt Browning is enlisted (against his will), to destroy a factory manufacturing drugs. He finds information that all is not what is expected and ends up fighting The Increment.
He needs to be at his best to defeat this group.
He needs to be at his best to defeat this group.
May 9, 2024
A page-turner for when you need to switch off but don't want to lock in. Ryan fans will know this already; it's almost his brand! E.g., the Ruperts versus the Squaddie; meeting in Six, an embassy; or Hereford; and a sensationalist race for personal or geopolitical survival. If I didn't go into the book knowing this, I'd rate a 3 but let's be fair.
July 16, 2017
Not as good as the excellent first Matt Browning book. 'Greed'. But worth a read netherless.
August 23, 2017
Een recht voor de raap actieverhaal. Had ik nodig om mijn gedachten te verzetten na twee emo-vampieren verhalen van Anne Rice. Nu voel ik me terug klaar voor het serieuzere werk.
March 29, 2020
I've read and enjoyed other Chris Ryan books, but this one was a dud. The plot surprise was super obvious, and it just lurched from one set piece to another. And it had the worst final line I've read in quite some time. Which was actually quite fitting.
April 2, 2020
The story was okay...
December 13, 2020
fast reading
January 18, 2021
Average read.
Not the best I've read but holds the interest. A good few twists and turns keeps the attention but I will have forgotten it in case days.
Not the best I've read but holds the interest. A good few twists and turns keeps the attention but I will have forgotten it in case days.
February 25, 2021
brilliant!
March 10, 2021
Great read.
End to end suspense, plenty of twists and turns, edged of the seat stuff, looking forward to the next read 👍🤓
End to end suspense, plenty of twists and turns, edged of the seat stuff, looking forward to the next read 👍🤓
July 31, 2021
Another great
Difficult to fault what Chris Ryan writes and just as difficult to guess where the next turn will take you.
Difficult to fault what Chris Ryan writes and just as difficult to guess where the next turn will take you.
August 30, 2021
Good story and has a fast pace.
March 15, 2022
Cracker read
Cracker read another great book from Chris Ryan this is the second book with Matt Browning as the main character looking forward to the next one.
Cracker read another great book from Chris Ryan this is the second book with Matt Browning as the main character looking forward to the next one.
July 25, 2022
Started slowly for me. It's a good book, made me read more and more because I just couldn't wait to see what was gonna happen. The women in this book.. hmm...
July 4, 2023
The increment
Another excellent book by Chris Ryan with an exciting story line that I couldn't put down looking forward to more to come
Another excellent book by Chris Ryan with an exciting story line that I couldn't put down looking forward to more to come
July 5, 2023
Great storyline
April 5, 2024
Good read
October 20, 2024
You can rely on the Chris Ryan format. It builds to an excellent crescendo!
April 4, 2025
I enjoyed the start of the book but the ending was awful. People popping up from everywhere like a pantomime. It spoiled what could have been a good story.
May 17, 2012
This is my second Chris Ryan novel and definitely not my last, good 3.5 star book. Chris and Andy McNab are both authors, both ex-SAS, both drawing upon their experience doing this thriller stuff for real. If I had to pick between the two authors, I'd have to say that I didn't really want to piss either off. Chris is the better writer, but one thing I've noted is that both of their novels have an element of luck involved in the protagonist's success.
I'm guessing the reason for this is down to experience of combat. I'd love to hear from combat vets and their thoughts on this. I suppose being shot at would feel random as to who doesn't get hit.
This adventure sees Matt Browning finding that no-one ever really quits doing work for the intelligence services. The reason for this not getting a 4 star is that the story is a little cliche and somewhat predictable. Still plenty of plot twists to enjoy.
I'm guessing the reason for this is down to experience of combat. I'd love to hear from combat vets and their thoughts on this. I suppose being shot at would feel random as to who doesn't get hit.
This adventure sees Matt Browning finding that no-one ever really quits doing work for the intelligence services. The reason for this not getting a 4 star is that the story is a little cliche and somewhat predictable. Still plenty of plot twists to enjoy.
August 6, 2012
This book isn't as good as the first book in the Matt Browning series. I think this because as the book progressed it got more confusing and hard to understand. What happend in this book was the money that Matt had stolen from the Al-quaeda boat was frozen by MI6. Guy Abbot paid Matt a visit and asked him to do one last job and his bank accounts will be unfrozen. The job was to take ot this factory which was making fake and replasing them with the real ones sold by Mr Lacriere. But the twist is when he get there he finds out that the mission was a fake and they where really trying to find an antidote for a drug called XP-22. This drug made people braver on the battlefield, but the side affect it made them crazy in the process. Will they find the antidote?
January 15, 2017
Started off well then gradually went down hill , almost as if the writer needed a few quid and was rushing to get it done , when I say writer I find it difficult to muster that Chris Ryan actually wrote this well possibly started it but half way through it just became rubbish , not what I'm used to reading at all !
September 8, 2011
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I don't think it was as good as the first one in the series, Greed but it was readable just the same. This is the 3rd book that I have read by this author and I have enjoyed them all.
June 14, 2012
big fan of chris ryan and so far this book is brilliant, so much action packed in. chris has major talent in writing and with his personal experiences in the SAS being used to add a personal touch to the books make his pieces incredible to read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews