Alan McDermott

Old author (not in years!) new series - excellent!

Trojan

Amazon.com link

My review -

Trojan is the start of a new series by Alan McDermott whose Tom Gray series I’ve enjoyed very much. Some of the characters in this new book have appeared before but it’s not necessary to have read previous books. The feel of this story is bang up to date and, with recent events, feels horribly plausible. Five young women, each accompanied by a child, have undergone an operation to secrete a highly dangerous substance within their bodies so it can be smuggled into Britain. MI5, chiefly Andrew Harvey and his team, have the task of finding the phials in order to prevent a terror incident of considerable magnitude.

The pace of this story is fast and exciting, the storyline shifting and twisting as the terror plot is revealed. Harvey acts upon one clue and another problem falls in his path. His personal life takes on a new turn too, and his boss is being hounded by a Home Secretary determined to oust her from her post. Right to the end, the story maintains the excitement and horror of a potential massive terror attack. A very convincing and rather scary plot and an excellent read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

Alan McDermott

Gray Redemption ends the Gray trilogy of fast action stories.  It's superb!

Gray Redemption

Amazon.com  Gray Redemption (Tom Gray #3)

My review -

This is the exciting denoument of the Gray Trilogy which features ex-SAS man Tom Gray and his personal crusade to tackle injustice, which we followed in Gray Justice and Gray Resurrection. He and his surviving friends are attempting to return to England where people in the heart of the government, want the world to believe he is dead. There is a sub-plot intriguingly twisted around this, which involves terrorism and a virus which can affect humanity genetically in an unexpected way. You have to read on!

Alan McDermott writes a great thriller and at times this book became almost nail-bitingly exciting. The books definitely have to be read in order because we get to know the characters in the earlier books and the start of this one builds up the plot and thickens the intrigue, rather than being character driven. As the first book began with the unpunished death of his young son, it was lovely to find Tom reminiscing about him at the end – and what a very satisfying ending it was… with just a little bit of a hanging thread. Absolutely brilliant!

Alan McDermott

Alan's books are unusual thrillers featuring the ex-SAS Tom Gray.

Gray Justice (Tom Gray #1)

Amazon.com   Gray Justice (Tom Gray #1)

My review -

This is a fast moving adventure/thriller story in which the ex-SAS man Tom Gray, after having his family devastated by the actions of a persistent petty criminal, takes justice into his own hands. The plot is cleverly set up and Gray ensures prime time media coverage for his crusade to review the justice system. There is a sub plot in which a terrorist group tries to take advantage of the media attention for their own purposes. Both these plots are cleverly woven together. Things are not all they seem, though.

This is very well written with clear, concise prose and no wasted waffle. Alan McDermott is a writer to keep and eye on. I am certainly going to read his follow up book, Gray Resurrection.

Gray Resurrection (Tom Gray #2)

Amazon.com   Gray Resurrection (Tom Gray #2)

My review -

This is the second book featuring ex SAS man Tom Gray. If you haven't yet read the first (Gray Justice) I won't add any spoilers - but you've missed a treat. This book was easily up to the high standard of the first. We meet some of the characters from the first book, both good and bad, and if you love a good consiracy theory you'll be in your element here. Alan McDermott's writing style really suits this action-packed adventure type of story. He is clear and concise and never waffly. We are soon deep into the story and become quickly aware of what the hero is up against. It seems impossible but with his friends' help and his own clear and quick thinking our man acquits himself well.

There is enough technical detail here to satisfy anyone who knows about guns and fighting but not so much that the layman is floundering. It's a book you have to keep reading and we reach a very satisfying conclusion which leaves us scope for more. I greatly look forward to it.