Books - what are you reading just now?

[Deleted member 1147]

Nearly finished Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett. It was recommended to me as someone who loves Spy novels, but it's nowhere near the class of le Carre or Forsyth. No depth of character or details of tradecraft etc.

Any recommendations of any other good espionage writers/novels?

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Got Mike Bannisters Concorde autobography for xmas, only halfway through but so far its an excellent read. Also got the latest Andy McNab nick stone story which is up next once I've finished Concorde

Never really like Andy McNab, but Chris Ryan's The Hit List was a decent read.

 

[larmen]

Nearly finished Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett. It was recommended to me as someone who loves Spy novels, but it's nowhere near the class of le Carre or Forsyth. No depth of character or details of tradecraft etc.

Any recommendations of any other good espionage writers/novels?

Have you read the Mitch Rapp series yet? Originally by Vince Flynn and got continued by Kyle Mills after Flynn passed away.
And I have just seen on FB that Mills is handing over and some guy called Don Bentley is taking o er after number 22.

Gray Man is also quite good. Starts off a bit like the Andy McNabb books but develops from there.

That should be plenty of books to continue your reading for the beginning.

 

[fundy]

Currently working my way through the Peter Nash series by Nick Petrie, hes a modern "Reacher" type. First few have been decent if as is often the case for the genre a tad far fetched

 

[Val]

Just finished Operation Black Key by Kim Hughes, decent ex military style read. His own story is something else, former bomb disposal operator in Amghanistan.

 

[SaintHacker]

Finished the McNab, was OK, definitley the right time to retire Nick Stone, he's dragged him out well past his sell by date really. Moving back to the Dune series now, God Emporer of Dune next.

 

[rulefan]

Working my way through the Slough House series. Brilliant.

 

[larmen]

Found my old spreadsheet, obviously not up to date at this point ;-) IT just got too much to remember what is coming out, what I already have.

Reacher, Maxwell and king, Bosch are obviously not Agent stuff.
Weirdly missing Dewier Andreas, John Milton, Jack Mars, Ben Hope and a couple of others. I must have a never version somewhere (also lost) in the cloud.

 

[pendodave]

Working my way through the Slough House series. Brilliant.

Likewise.
Was my first thought for the espionage recommendation.
Have you watched the apple tv series? If this weather keeps up, I might need to kill some time...

 

[rulefan]

Likewise.
Was my first thought for the espionage recommendation.
Have you watched the apple tv series? If this weather keeps up, I might need to kill some time...

Haven't got Apple but might subscribe just for this and discard Prime.

 

[Paperboy]

Finished the McNab, was OK, definitley the right time to retire Nick Stone, he's dragged him out well past his sell by date really. Moving back to the Dune series now, God Emporer of Dune next.

Good luck with that one mate, I found it a bit of a slog tbh. Gave up on the next book.

 

[RichA]

After swearing I'd given up on them, and against my better judgement, I bought the latest Reacher instalment, No Plan B, written by Lee Child's less talented brother.
I finished it this morning. Possibly the worst book I've paid to read. That's definitely the last one I'm wasting money and time on.

 

[Slab]

4/5th through ‘red storm rising’ by Tom Clancy

Bloody hell it’s good and the terminology used, tactics and mechanics of modern warfare are scarily accurately represented.

I’ve been having flashbacks to my old life due to it in a good way.

Cracking book.

Hope you enjoyed it to the end. It's my all time favourite book. I've bought it several times in paperback, kindle and audiobook and read it at least once a year

 

[Lord Tyrion]

After swearing I'd given up on them, and against my better judgement, I bought the latest Reacher instalment, No Plan B, written by Lee Child's less talented brother.
I finished it this morning. Possibly the worst book I've paid to read. That's definitely the last one I'm wasting money and time on.

I said this after the previous one and held firm. I'm pleased to hear I was right to. Such a shame.

 

[tugglesf239]

Hope you enjoyed it to the end. It's my all time favourite book. I've bought it several times in paperback, kindle and audiobook and read it at least once a year

Well this is a well timed response.

I read the book start to finish whilst on by the pool on holiday in Lanzarote last year.

I saw your reply first thing this morning, as I sit by the swimming pool in the same Lanzarote villa I was in last year

Regarding the book. I thought it was absolutely phenomenal. My only real experience of Clancy is through either the screenplays or computer games etc.

Hunt for the red October being one of my most rewatched films ever.

Red storm rising however was different level stuff. The sheer scale of the global conflict and the Logistical nightmare of weaving a human story around all the chaos was genius.

I have to say being an ex Electronic Warfare director on RN frigates. His detailed descriptions of anti submarine warfare where worryingly close to being accurate.

He must have had sign off from the powers that be to publish certain parts of that book.

The anti ship missile defence warfare geek in me, was beaming ear to ear reading about the TU22 Backfire / AS4 kitchen raids on the Atlantic fleets.

Mainly because I spent a large portion of my life either practicing to defend against the Ruskies, or sat in real life shadowing the Russian navy.

I also loved the Politburo aspect of it all. The sneaky buggers.

Loved the book and loved the attention to detail. The bloke knows how to write a story bursting with worryingly accurate terminology and tactics etc.

I would say. Red storm rising is absolutely begging for a multi series long play TV series.

It would be spectacular if someone brought that to HBO or Netflix etc.

 

[tugglesf239]

If you've not read them, Rainbow Six and Without Remorse are awesome books. I think his best.

Late reply sorry

It’s on my list now mate. Thank you.

Having a bash at a different genre currently. Grand Sci-fi.

Just finished ‘consider Phlebas’ by Iain M banks. Which was brilliant

Just started ‘player of games’

Must admit that only being 1 1/3 books into the whole ‘culture series’ I am excited to see what they bring.

 

[Whereditgo]

Just started the Roy Grace series by Peter James - good so far.

 

[tugglesf239]

Bob Mortimer, The Satsuma Complex. It's similar to Richard Osman books and you can almost hear Bob Mortimer speaking the lines. It is very him. It isn't going to win prizes but it is a very easy way to pass the time.

If you have not done already.

Read his bio. Well when I say read, I mean download the audio book with Bob narrating the thing.

Jesus Christ I have not laughed as much in years. It’s such a sweet and poignant book but also (retracted swear word) hysterical.

I’d give it 11/10.

 

[Slab]

Well this is a well timed response.

I read the book start to finish whilst on by the pool on holiday in Lanzarote last year.

I saw your reply first thing this morning, as I sit by the swimming pool in the same Lanzarote villa I was in last year

Regarding the book. I thought it was absolutely phenomenal. My only real experience of Clancy is through either the screenplays or computer games etc.

Hunt for the red October being one of my most rewatched films ever.

Red storm rising however was different level stuff. The sheer scale of the global conflict and the Logistical nightmare of weaving a human story around all the chaos was genius.

I have to say being an ex Electronic Warfare director on RN frigates. His detailed descriptions of anti submarine warfare where worryingly close to being accurate.

He must have had sign off from the powers that be to publish certain parts of that book.

The anti ship missile defence warfare geek in me, was beaming ear to ear reading about the TU22 Backfire / AS4 kitchen raids on the Atlantic fleets.

Mainly because I spent a large portion of my life either practicing to defend against the Ruskies, or sat in real life shadowing the Russian navy.

I also loved the Politburo aspect of it all. The sneaky buggers.

Loved the book and loved the attention to detail. The bloke knows how to write a story bursting with worryingly accurate terminology and tactics etc.

I would say. Red storm rising is absolutely begging for a multi series long play TV series.

It would be spectacular if someone brought that to HBO or Netflix etc.

Yeah I never tire at his use of the perspective of just a few dozen individuals within a 'world war' and the roles each plays from the different services on both 'sides' for such a big plot
I also love that the audiobook is about 36hours long so it passes the time on lots of commutes

I'll second the recommendation for Rainbow Six (its a close 2nd fav) and about the same length of book, and again I've read it at least a dozen times
(I've only one tiny minor plot gripe, pretty inconsequential really, it just bugs me... but I won't mention it yet. let me know when you read it)

 

[Lord Tyrion]

If you have not done already.

Read his bio. Well when I say read, I mean download the audio book with Bob narrating the thing.

Jesus Christ I have not laughed as much in years. It’s such a sweet and poignant book but also (retracted swear word) hysterical.

I’d give it 11/10.

I have already read his book, never thought of the audio. I'd agree with your summary, a lovely book, very Bob.