Title: Recoil
Author: Andy McNab
First published October 1, 2007
271 pages, Kindle Edition
Rating: 3.98
Overview
After a mission that cost him dearly, ex-special forces soldier and deniable operator, Jack Collins, is ready for a break. But his plans are thwarted when a woman he can’t forget disappears without a trace.
His search takes him to the most dangerous corners of South America, where he uncovers a sinister plot that threatens global security. As he races against time to unravel the conspiracy, Jack finds himself surrounded by enemies, both old and new.
With every step he takes, he realizes that the only way to survive is to embrace his past and become the unstoppable force he once was.
About the Author
Andy McNab began his military career as a boy soldier in 1976, joining the infantry. Eight years later, he became a member of 22 SAS Regiment and served in B Squadron for a decade.
During this time, he worked on various covert and overt special operations across the globe, including anti-drug and anti-terrorist operations in the Middle and Far East, South and Central America, and Northern Ireland.
Having been trained as a specialist in counter-terrorism, prime target elimination, demolitions, weapons and tactics, covert surveillance, information gathering in hostile environments, and VIP protection, McNab worked on cooperative operations with police forces, prison services, anti-drug forces, and western-backed guerrilla movements, as well as on conventional special operations. In Northern Ireland, he spent two years as an undercover operator with 14th Intelligence Group before becoming an instructor.
McNab also instructed foreign special forces in counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, and survival training, as well as working as an instructor on the SAS selection and training team.
He has written two bestselling books about his experiences in the SAS: Bravo Two Zero (1993) and Immediate Action (1995). Bravo Two Zero has sold over 1.7 million copies in the UK alone and is the highest-selling war book of all time.
It has been published in 17 countries and translated into 16 languages. The CD spoken word version, narrated by McNab, sold over 60,000 copies and earned a silver disc.
Bravo Two Zero was also made into a film starring Sean Bean, shown on primetime BBC 1 television in 1999 and released on DVD in 2000.
McNab’s autobiography, Immediate Action, spent 18 weeks at the top of the bestseller lists following the lifting of an ex-parte injunction granted to the Ministry of Defence in September 1995. It has sold over 1.4 million copies in the UK.
In addition to his memoirs, McNab is the author of seven fast-paced thrillers, all Sunday Times bestsellers, highly acclaimed for their authenticity. His first novel, Remote Control, published in 1997, was hailed as the most authentic thriller ever written and has sold over half a million copies in the UK.
All of McNab’s subsequent thrillers, Crisis Four, Firewall, Last Light, Liberation Day, Dark Winter, Deep Black, and Aggressor, have been equally successful. They all feature Nick Stone, a tough ex-SAS operative working as a ‘K’ on deniable operations for British Intelligence.
McNab’s fiction draws heavily on his experiences and knowledge of Special Forces soldiering. He has been officially registered by Nielsen Bookscan as the bestselling British thriller writer of the last year.
Editoral Review
Recoil by Andy McNab is a thrilling work of fiction that explores the gritty world of counterterrorism. McNab is a former SAS soldier and best-selling author, known for his expertise in military operations and intense narratives.
Recoil is the eighth book in his Nick Stone series, a collection of novels that follow the adventures of a former SAS operative who is now a freelance agent working for the British Intelligence Service. Set in the late 1990s, Recoil revolves around Stone’s mission to track down a group of terrorist who have stolen a cache of nuclear weapons, planning to detonate them in major European cities.
Alongside his allies, Stone must navigate a web of violence, betrayal, and political intrigue in order to stop the terrorists and prevent a catastrophic attack. McNab’s writing style is sharp, fast-paced, and authentic, drawing on his firsthand experience to immerse the reader in the world of covert operations.
The narrative is filled with gritty details, precise military jargon, and vivid action sequences that keep the reader on the edge of their seat. The plot is complex and unpredictable, with plenty of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged and guessing until the very end.
Despite its thrilling plot and technical accuracy, Recoil does have some weaknesses. The character development, for example, can be a bit thin at times, with many of the secondary characters feeling underdeveloped or one-dimensional.
Additionally, the pacing can be uneven, with some scenes feeling rushed and others feeling drawn out. That being said, Recoil is an excellent addition to the Nick Stone series, one that showcases McNab’s mastery of the thriller genre.
It is a gripping, thought-provoking read that offers an informed and nuanced perspective on the complicated world of counterterrorism.
Overall, Recoil is highly recommended for fans of action, suspense, military fiction or spy thrillers.
McNab’s expert prose and engaging narrative style are sure to draw in readers and leave them wanting more. Washington post gives the book four out of five stars.
