Title: Brute Force
Author: Andy McNab
First published November 8, 2008
359 pages, ebook
Rating: 4.02
Overview
In Andy McNab’s Brute Force, a long-forgotten crime resurfaces when a mysterious assailant begins targeting those involved in a dangerous arms smuggling operation. As the body count rises, ex-SAS operative Nick Stone finds himself in the crosshairs of a killer who will stop at nothing to achieve their goal.
With limited options and no clear enemy, Stone must use all of his training and cunning to outmaneuver the deadly force that is closing in on him. Will he be able to survive long enough to uncover the truth behind the brutal attacks?
Brute Force is a heart-pumping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
About the Author
Andy McNab began his military career in 1976 as a boy soldier in the infantry. After eight years, he became a member of 22 SAS Regiment and served in B Squadron for a decade.
During this time, he was involved in various covert and overt special operations around the world, including anti-terrorist and anti-drug missions in the Middle and Far East, South and Central America, and Northern Ireland.
McNab was trained in a variety of specialties, including counterterrorism, target elimination, weapons and tactics, covert surveillance, information gathering in hostile environments, and VIP protection. He worked on cooperative operations with police forces, prison services, anti-drug forces, and guerrilla movements, both Western-backed and conventional.
In Northern Ireland, McNab worked for two years as an undercover operator with 14th Intelligence Group, after which he became an instructor. He also worked as an instructor on the SAS selection and training team, and he taught foreign special forces about counterterrorism, hostage rescue, and survival training.
McNab has written two bestselling books about his experiences in the SAS: Bravo Two Zero (1993) and Immediate Action (1995). Bravo Two Zero is the highest-selling war book of all time, having sold over 1.7 million copies in the UK alone.
It has been translated into 16 languages and published in 17 countries. McNab’s spoken word version of Bravo Two Zero sold over 60,000 copies and earned a silver disc.
The BBC’s film adaptation of the book, starring Sean Bean, was shown on primetime BBC 1 television in 1999 and released on DVD in 2000.
Immediate Action, McNab’s autobiography, spent 18 weeks at the top of the bestseller lists in the UK after the Ministry of Defence’s ex-parte injunction was lifted in September 1995. It has sold over 1.4 million copies in the UK to date.
McNab has also written seven fast-paced action thrillers, all of which have been Sunday Times bestsellers and highly acclaimed for their authenticity. Remote Control (1997) was praised as the most authentic thriller ever written and has sold over half a million copies in the UK.
McNab’s subsequent thrillers, Crisis Four, Firewall, Last Light, Liberation Day, Dark Winter, Deep Black, and Aggressor, have all been equally successful. The central character in all of these books is Nick Stone, a former SAS operative working as a “K” on deniable operations for British Intelligence.
McNab’s fiction is heavily influenced by his experiences and knowledge of Special Forces soldiering. He has been officially recognized by Neilsen Bookscan as the bestselling British thriller writer of the last year.
Editoral Review
As a master of the thriller genre, Andy McNab is best known for his gripping stories of the real-life SAS missions. In his novel, Brute Force, McNab continues to deliver the adrenaline-pumping page-turner we’ve come to expect from him.
This book is a part of McNab’s Nick Stone series and was first published on November 8, 2008. Brute Force is a book that promises to keep you on the edge of your seat from the get-go.
McNab leads us through an intricate plot that brings together a series of terrorist attacks on British soil. We follow the journey of Nick Stone, the ex-SAS operative, as he races against time to dismantle the operation before it’s too late.
But things are never quite that simple for Stone. Stuck in Moscow, abandoned by his agency with a hit on his head, he’s got to think more strategically than ever before if he wants to stay alive and complete his mission.
Told in first person, McNab’s writing style is both personal and deliberate, making the reader feel as though they are right alongside Nick Stone. The action-packed plot keeps us on the edge of our seats throughout the book.
The character development of Nick Stone has been a gradual process over the course of the series, and it’s fascinating to see his progression in Brute Force. Even though the book can be read as a standalone, McNab’s readers will find a satisfying depth of nuance and characterization to the story as they become more familiar with Stone’s journey and past.
What Brute Force lacks in philosophical insight, it more than makes up for in the pacing of the plot. McNab’s ability to keep the tension of the story high without resorting to cheap tricks is masterful.
Another particular strength of this novel is the level of detail that McNab goes into when describing the world of intelligence operatives, making it feel both authentic and interesting. However, some of the details of the plot can at times feel too convenient, such as how Stone always seems to have access to the right knowledge, skills and technology just as he needs it.
Additionally, some of the characters feel flat, which is a flaw common to many action-mystery novels. However, this can be overlooked as it’s not the characterization that’s the main attraction of the novel but rather the plot.
Overall, Brute Force is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller that fans of the genre would surely enjoy. McNab has created a protagonist with a nuanced personality, admirable skills, and a human side that readers can root for.
It’s a great novel for those who enjoy spy and political dramas, and anyone looking for an exciting adventure story. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
