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Klaxon alert! Discover full-on heart-pounding action, plus smart, sharp writing in this absolute reading feast of a book. Travelling from Africa to the UK and ending in Russia, former Foreign Legion Commando Dan Raglan is on a hunt that guarantees death. This is the first in what promises to be a smash-hit spy thriller series and I already can’t wait for the next book. The prologue throws you straight into October 2019 with a man running through a frozen Russian forest while bullets whip towards him. Chapter one turns to 2013 and from here we get to know Dan Raglan. As an introduction, it’s spot on, within pages I was on board and by his side. Author David Gilman is a former firefighter, paratrooper, and photographer and now writes full time. His words build a vivid picture, this world feels authentic and I read with full confidence. I was so involved in the unfolding story that my thoughts didn’t skim backwards or forwards, I purely existed in each moment as it hit. And boy, each moment lands with ferocious intensity. Shockwaves of action expanded and the storyline tripped me with unexpected developments. Even though I had read the prologue, the ending still came with a whammy. LoveReading Book of the Month - tick, LoveReading Star Book - tick, one of my personal Picks of the Month - tick! The Englishman comes with a tremendous thumbs up from me, more please!
Penal Colony No. 74, AKA White Eagle, lies some 600 kilometres north of Yekaterinburg in Russia's Sverdlovskaya Oblast. Imprisoning the country's most brutal criminals, it is a winter-ravaged hellhole of death and retribution.
And that's exactly why the Englishman is there.
Six years ago, Raglan was a soldier in the French Foreign Legion engaged in a hard-fought war on the desert border of Mali and Algeria. Amid black ops teams and competing intelligence agencies, his strike squad was compromised and Raglan himself severely injured.
His war was over, but the deadly aftermath of that day has echoed around the world ever since: the assassination of four Moscow CID officers; kidnap and murder on the suburban streets of West London; the fatal compromise of a long-running MI6 operation.
Raglan can't avoid the shockwaves. This is personal. It is up to him to finish it – and it ends in Russia's most notorious penal colony.
But how do you break into a high security prison in the middle of nowhere?
More importantly, how do you get out?
Closing date: 31/01/2021
In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion some of our Reader Review Panel were also lucky enough to read and review this title. You can click here to read the full reviews.
A unique story that is a hugely descriptive and atmospheric thriller. Fast paced with characters you come to care about and identify with. One of the best books I have read this year. Full review
A gripping read, well researched and with great characters. Who could ask for more?! Full review
Thoroughly enjoyed this gripping novel from start to finish. Full review
PRAISE FOR DAVID GILMAN:
'A gripping ride' Wilbur Smith.
'Gilman does heart-pounding action superlatively' The Times.
'Page-turning and gritty' Daily Mail. 'The Englishman is electrifying proof that high-tension international thrillers are back - and with an absolute vengeance' William Shaw, author of Deadland. 'The pulse-pounding pace just never lets up' Peter May, bestsellling author of Lockdown.
ISBN: 9781838931414
Publication date: 04/02/2021
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781838931391
Publication date: 09/07/2020
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Format: Hardback
| ISBN: | 9781838931391 |
| Publication date: | 9th July 2020 |
| Author: | David Gilman |
| Publisher: | Head of Zeus |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 480 pages |
| Genres: | Action Adventure / Spy, Books of the Month, Reader Reviewed Books, Star Books, Thriller / Suspense, |
| Collections: | 70+ Action-Packed Books, Our Favourite Books of 2020, |
| Categories: | Adventure, Thriller / suspense, |
David Gilman had a varied career including firefighter, soldier and marketing manager, before turning to writing full time. He is an award-winning author and screenwriter.
More About David Gilman
