The Hit List

Amazon.co.uk Review Despite a derivative plot, The Hit List has a solid backbone derived from author (and ex-SAS) Ryan's explicit knowledge of death-laden situations. Armed with the vivid technical detail of raw experience, danger is omnipresent, evaded only by finely tuned intuition and training, rather than by well-worn clich?. This is marvellously evident in Neil Slater, the Ex-SAS serviceman whose chances at a peaceful life are shattered when he is approached by elite assassination squad "The Cadre", who need his anti-social skills in dispatching "enemies of the State". Slater is under no illusion about what he is and, as such, is a perfect vessel for Ryan's hardened brand of realism, thrust into situations where each act of violence is measured to provoke an exact response. Ryan's tale translates well to audio format, losing little of the tension and thrills that are so abundant in the novel. Christian Rodska's gravelly tones and enthusiastic reading certainly evoke the tension a tale like this demands. However, you might question Rodska's penchant for providing all the characters with their relevant accents. Mostly, it works, but it's unfortunate that his interpretation of an Eastern European woman sounds like a splicing of Monty Python and Zsa Zsa Gabor. However, that's forgivable, hardly detracting from this gripping, intense glimpse into an all-too-possible underworld of intrigue and extreme violence. --_Danny Graydon_ Amazon.co.uk Review Though The Hit List addresses the old chestnut of the military professional who cannot escape his true calling, it's got a solid backbone derived in no small part from ex-SAS author Ryan's explicit knowledge of death-laden situations. Armed with the vivid technical detail that raw experience provides, danger leaps off the page, evaded only by finely tuned intuition and training, rather than by some well-worn clich?. This is marvellously evident in Neil Slater, the ex-SAS serviceman whose chances at a peaceful life are shattered when he is approached by elite assassination squad "The Cadre", who have use for his anti-social skills in dispatching "enemies of the State". Slater is under no illusion of what he is, comfortable in the "Darklands", despite the psychological difficulties it causes him. More than a emotionally-barren, pain-thriving superman--Slater bleeds, he suffers, but all the time he is the battle-honed professional. As such, he is a perfect vessel for Ryan's hardened brand of realism, thrust into situations where each act of violence is measured to provoke an exact response: Slater shot Pasquale through the top of the arch of his right foot. The pain, he knew, would be extreme...and the shock would be sufficient to break any resistance immediately. Such realism is accentuated by Ryan's use of real-life figures, with the late Robert Maxwell's plot-pivotal appearance being chillingly appealing as well as being an excellent hook, given his conspiracy strewn legacy. Another hugely enjoyable offering from Ryan, whose fluid translation of his adventurous past to gritty bullet-paced fiction offers a feast for the reader who craves a glimpse into an underworld of intrigue and extreme violence. --_Danny Graydon_ Ex-SAS Corporal Pete Slater is trying to make a new life for himself as a teacher, but when he is accidentally caught up in an attempt by terrorists to kidnap one of his pupils, he finds himself sucked back into the world of undercover operations.