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Tiger! Tiger! Tiger! The Lindt Cafe Siege
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Published December 15, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 17, 2023
Gripping, engaging and provided a very rare insight into the TOU. I finished the book in four days. Some of the last chapters were a hard read. The TOU, GDS and Police Force in general deserve our respect for what they sacrifice. Absolutely incredible. This book is an emotional read towards the end.
February 19, 2025
Sole reason for not giving 5 stars is because this book does not touch on the siege as much as I expected it to.
In saying this, the journey of what someone has to go through to join the TOU and the exposure of the job captivated me as it is not something I have heard or read a lot about.
In saying this, the journey of what someone has to go through to join the TOU and the exposure of the job captivated me as it is not something I have heard or read a lot about.
April 5, 2023
This book was captivating from start to finish. I truly could not put it down, opting to read it any chance I got, and finishing it within 48 hours — which is quite an achievement given I have 2 kids under 3 at home and should tell you every thing you need to know without going further into my review.
Ben’s wit and Aussie larrikin charm shines through as he tells of the adversity he faced (and continues to face) daily.
Not only does he go through the Lindt Café siege (as the title obviously suggests) but he also deep dives into his upbringing, previous jobs of notoriety and those jobs that were never/falsely reported on that truly should’ve been reported/corrected.
Thanks for letting me see the world through your eyes just for a few days, Ben, and thank you for your service. Keep fighting the good fight and get your book out there - I’ll be telling everyone I know about a book they need to buy.
Ben’s wit and Aussie larrikin charm shines through as he tells of the adversity he faced (and continues to face) daily.
Not only does he go through the Lindt Café siege (as the title obviously suggests) but he also deep dives into his upbringing, previous jobs of notoriety and those jobs that were never/falsely reported on that truly should’ve been reported/corrected.
Thanks for letting me see the world through your eyes just for a few days, Ben, and thank you for your service. Keep fighting the good fight and get your book out there - I’ll be telling everyone I know about a book they need to buy.
February 1, 2023
Excellent insight into the life of a special operations police officer, something we haven’t really heard of before. Fantastic book, super fast paced and full of action. I couldn’t put it down!
April 1, 2023
2.5
I very much dislike false advertising of a book.
This book is NOT about the siege at the Lindt Cafe. The events of the siege are only a small part of the book and do not appear until over half way through, when it provides a one person perspective of the siege over several pages before moving on.
This IS a book written by a chap who was a copper for several years before becoming a member of the Tactical Operations Unit. It provides an insider view of the selection process and training that the members undertake, and gives the reader an eye on some very dramatic and often unpleasant episodes in the author's career.
Unfortunately, the physical and mental stress takes a terrible toll on many people who work in such frontline policing roles. 'Officer A' is very honest about the impact of his job on his life, and how he struggled with his mental health and his journey back to 'normality'.
For doing a difficult job in the face of armchair critics and keyboard warriors, and his ability to come back from where his job took him, I give him much respect.
However, I could not give this book a full three stars.
Apart from the false advertising, I also don't like overdone F.I.G.J.A.M.
While I appreciate that a certain amount of gung ho confidence and pride in one's abilities goes hand in glove with this profession, the F**k I'm Good Just Ask Me was a little overbaked and it detracted from the narrative.
The book wasn't bad. It just wasn't what I was looking to read, and the writing style was not my cup of tea.
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I would highly recommend 'Siege' by Deborah Snow as an excellent book on the events leading up to, throughout, and after the Lindt Cafe siege.
I very much dislike false advertising of a book.
This book is NOT about the siege at the Lindt Cafe. The events of the siege are only a small part of the book and do not appear until over half way through, when it provides a one person perspective of the siege over several pages before moving on.
This IS a book written by a chap who was a copper for several years before becoming a member of the Tactical Operations Unit. It provides an insider view of the selection process and training that the members undertake, and gives the reader an eye on some very dramatic and often unpleasant episodes in the author's career.
Unfortunately, the physical and mental stress takes a terrible toll on many people who work in such frontline policing roles. 'Officer A' is very honest about the impact of his job on his life, and how he struggled with his mental health and his journey back to 'normality'.
For doing a difficult job in the face of armchair critics and keyboard warriors, and his ability to come back from where his job took him, I give him much respect.
However, I could not give this book a full three stars.
Apart from the false advertising, I also don't like overdone F.I.G.J.A.M.
While I appreciate that a certain amount of gung ho confidence and pride in one's abilities goes hand in glove with this profession, the F**k I'm Good Just Ask Me was a little overbaked and it detracted from the narrative.
The book wasn't bad. It just wasn't what I was looking to read, and the writing style was not my cup of tea.
---------------------------
I would highly recommend 'Siege' by Deborah Snow as an excellent book on the events leading up to, throughout, and after the Lindt Cafe siege.
May 23, 2024
Tiger! Tiger! Tiger! The Lindt Café Siege
By ‘Officer A’
Genre: True Crime
If you ever read a true crime book make it this one.
Written by Ben, an otherwise unnamed ex TOU (Tactical Operations Unit) officer involved in the takedown of Man Monis during the horrific Lindt Café Siege in Martin Place, Sydney 15th-16th December, 2014.
Although this story is the recollection of Ben’s memories of the Lindt siege it’s also an insight into his earlier life in the NSW Police Force as a General Duties officer and the consequent units he trained for and served in.
Ben writes as if he is sitting next to you recalling every story and incredibly, every detail.
Never before have I read a true crime story like this one.
The untold story of the NSW TOU and their courageous actions not only on the night of the Lindt siege but prior and subsequent rescue missions.
This story is for those that wonder about these missions but will never experience them, for those that think ‘they would’ve done things differently’ and especially for those with no respect for police but are the first to call them when needed.
Tiger!Tiger!Tiger! is an ‘edge of your seat’ insiders perspective on Australia’s first terrorist hostage rescue mission.
Written by the officer who shot and killed the terrorist.
An extraordinary front-line account with a message of resilience and hope.
Two days in Australia’s history that no one will ever forget.
- [x] I will leave this review with the powerful and meaningful words of the NSW State Coroner, Michael Barnes, from the Coronial Inquest Findings into the 2014 Lindt Café Siege:
-‘Against what standard does one judge a man demanded to stare down death to save strangers. Who will dare say that they could have done better.’-
Rated: 5/5
By ‘Officer A’
Genre: True Crime
If you ever read a true crime book make it this one.
Written by Ben, an otherwise unnamed ex TOU (Tactical Operations Unit) officer involved in the takedown of Man Monis during the horrific Lindt Café Siege in Martin Place, Sydney 15th-16th December, 2014.
Although this story is the recollection of Ben’s memories of the Lindt siege it’s also an insight into his earlier life in the NSW Police Force as a General Duties officer and the consequent units he trained for and served in.
Ben writes as if he is sitting next to you recalling every story and incredibly, every detail.
Never before have I read a true crime story like this one.
The untold story of the NSW TOU and their courageous actions not only on the night of the Lindt siege but prior and subsequent rescue missions.
This story is for those that wonder about these missions but will never experience them, for those that think ‘they would’ve done things differently’ and especially for those with no respect for police but are the first to call them when needed.
Tiger!Tiger!Tiger! is an ‘edge of your seat’ insiders perspective on Australia’s first terrorist hostage rescue mission.
Written by the officer who shot and killed the terrorist.
An extraordinary front-line account with a message of resilience and hope.
Two days in Australia’s history that no one will ever forget.
- [x] I will leave this review with the powerful and meaningful words of the NSW State Coroner, Michael Barnes, from the Coronial Inquest Findings into the 2014 Lindt Café Siege:
-‘Against what standard does one judge a man demanded to stare down death to save strangers. Who will dare say that they could have done better.’-
Rated: 5/5
May 1, 2023
Tiger! Tiger! Tiger! starts with an intriguing front-page subtitle: ‘The incredible inside story of two days that traumatised a nation. And one man’s journey of resilience and hope.’ While the book yields two full adrenaline-soaked chapters on the never before told 'front line' account of the Lindt Café siege, there is much more here. In fact, a ‘higher purpose’ that may escape readers who are not familiar with the price all first responders and their families pay to serve and protect. The siege simply cannot be understood in an emotional vacuum. To this end, the author, ‘Officer A,’ carefully builds some very clever sub-narratives that help make perfect sense of what happened (and didn’t happen) in Martin Place in December 2014: not merely as a fact-by-fact chronology but rather a very human story that shows that even a highly trained state asset like ‘Officer A’ has a tipping point – as everyone does. Officer A’s return journey out of the PTSD abyss is no less than a story for our times written for a battler readership emotionally scarred by years of drought, fire, flood, a pandemic and now a housing and cost of living crisis: and who, like ‘Officer A’ are bravely confronting their own threats too.
January 8, 2025
The man was a self-proclaimed Islamic cleric, Man Haron Monis, a 50-year-old Iranian-born refugee, currently on bail as an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife by stabbing, together with 43 outstanding charges, including 22 counts of aggravated sexual assault and 14 counts of aggravated indecent assault.
And when he walked through the front doors of the Lindt Cafe in Sydney’s Martin Place on the 15th December 2014, he would change the lives of many.
Tiger! Tiger! Tiger! The Lindt Cafe Siege was written by Officer A, now known as Ben Besant. The front cover promises the reader ‘The incredible inside story of two days that traumatised a nation. And one man’s journey of resilience and hope.’
Now I don’t like to bash anyone’s written work. I am no wordsmith, but this book left me with mixed views and it was a struggle to get through, although I did finish it.
I purchased this book, as it is marketed and sold as a book on the Lindt Cafe Siege. However sadly it is not. This book is 95% about the career of Office A, Ben Besant. How he became a cop, the training to become a member of the NSW Police Tactical Operations Unit, a handful of some of the jobs he has worked, his lead up to his PTSD diagnoses and the aftermath.
It does highlight the Lindt Cafe Siege for two chapters around two thirds of the way in and those two chapters moved me to the point I had tears welling in my eyes. But it stopped there.
I don’t want to label it as another book written by an ex police officer about his career, but regretfully it is.
And when he walked through the front doors of the Lindt Cafe in Sydney’s Martin Place on the 15th December 2014, he would change the lives of many.
Tiger! Tiger! Tiger! The Lindt Cafe Siege was written by Officer A, now known as Ben Besant. The front cover promises the reader ‘The incredible inside story of two days that traumatised a nation. And one man’s journey of resilience and hope.’
Now I don’t like to bash anyone’s written work. I am no wordsmith, but this book left me with mixed views and it was a struggle to get through, although I did finish it.
I purchased this book, as it is marketed and sold as a book on the Lindt Cafe Siege. However sadly it is not. This book is 95% about the career of Office A, Ben Besant. How he became a cop, the training to become a member of the NSW Police Tactical Operations Unit, a handful of some of the jobs he has worked, his lead up to his PTSD diagnoses and the aftermath.
It does highlight the Lindt Cafe Siege for two chapters around two thirds of the way in and those two chapters moved me to the point I had tears welling in my eyes. But it stopped there.
I don’t want to label it as another book written by an ex police officer about his career, but regretfully it is.
December 1, 2024
Tiger Tiger Tiger is a raw, powerful, and deeply moving memoir that blends moments of pulse-pounding excitement with heartbreak and reflection. Ben’s journey through his time with the NSW Police is both gripping and sobering, offering readers an unfiltered glimpse into the trials and triumphs of those who serve and protect.
Ben’s resilience shines through every page, making this book not just a personal story but a testament to the human spirit’s ability to endure and overcome. It’s also a poignant reminder of the immense price paid by those who dedicate their lives to safeguarding others.
For anyone looking to understand the unseen sacrifices of those in law enforcement or to simply read a story of strength and perseverance, Tiger Tiger Tiger is a must-read. This is a book that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page.
Ben’s resilience shines through every page, making this book not just a personal story but a testament to the human spirit’s ability to endure and overcome. It’s also a poignant reminder of the immense price paid by those who dedicate their lives to safeguarding others.
For anyone looking to understand the unseen sacrifices of those in law enforcement or to simply read a story of strength and perseverance, Tiger Tiger Tiger is a must-read. This is a book that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page.
April 23, 2023
I was expecting the book to focus solely on the Lindt siege and everything that occurred. The book does touch on the siege but the focus of the book is the story of the author and how he managed his PTSD from the horrors seen during his working career.
Even though the book didn’t provide the story expected, I did find the story interesting and informative about the actions of Police and the TOU team.
Even though the book didn’t provide the story expected, I did find the story interesting and informative about the actions of Police and the TOU team.
May 10, 2023
As entertaining and engaging a book as I’ve ever read but more importantly an honest gritty insight into the dark side of society police have to deal with, and the lack of support they receive from their hierarchy, the legal system and media.
If you work in an emergency service role you will likely relate to Ben’s humour and experiences, and may find some practical value in his honest account of his ongoing recovery from PTSD.
I will gift copies of this book to mates I regard it so highly
If you work in an emergency service role you will likely relate to Ben’s humour and experiences, and may find some practical value in his honest account of his ongoing recovery from PTSD.
I will gift copies of this book to mates I regard it so highly
August 29, 2023
The call sign to engage what would be the most infamous media coverage and biggest fuckup from NSW Police Management has finally been regaled with honesty and integrity by a bloke who wanted to make a difference.
I absolutely love how he described what was necessary to become the best on the ground for the fight against crime.
I wish I could meet the author and put my arm around him .
What a life story . I wish him all the best.
I absolutely love how he described what was necessary to become the best on the ground for the fight against crime.
I wish I could meet the author and put my arm around him .
What a life story . I wish him all the best.
July 3, 2023
Thank you to Officer A for writing this book and for being willing to go through the intense training to get into the TOU so you can protect people like me.
It was an extraordinary book of an extraordinary world we really know nothing about.
I wish Officer A all the best with his PTSD and all other front line workers who suffer from PTSD.
It was an extraordinary book of an extraordinary world we really know nothing about.
I wish Officer A all the best with his PTSD and all other front line workers who suffer from PTSD.
August 17, 2025
Tiger! Tiger! Tiger! is gripping, emotional, and surprisingly moving. It’s more than just a behind-the-scenes look at a major Australian event—it’s a story about resilience, purpose, and what happens when the uniform comes off and real life kicks in. Definitely recommended for fans of true crime, memoirs, or anyone interested in the human side of frontline work.
January 7, 2026
Besant divulges a formidable, candidly written account of a Tactical Operations Unit officer faced with the highest of adversities. Countless anecdotes from previous deployments, although enthralling and inspiring, take away from the falsely advertised book covers which promise a more in-depth understanding of the Lindt Café Siege.
January 26, 2024
An absolute eye-opening account of life within the police force and the TOU, this book just about broke my heart, well written and simply staggering what these police officers go through. The final chapters on the Lindt Cafe Siege in particular had me in tears. You are an amazing human Officer A ❤️
October 25, 2025
Everyone needs to read this book!
What an honour it was to read through Ben's journey leading up to, during and after the Lindt Cafe Siege. His reflections on his experience were so heartfelt and raw, as was the vulnerability of sharing the experiences.
Thank you, Ben, for your incredible service and for sharing your story!
What an honour it was to read through Ben's journey leading up to, during and after the Lindt Cafe Siege. His reflections on his experience were so heartfelt and raw, as was the vulnerability of sharing the experiences.
Thank you, Ben, for your incredible service and for sharing your story!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews