Well after reading the fluffy girly book (to be reviewed as soon as its added to the site) I returned to the more masculine adrenaline reliant world of the military books.

As is well known Andy McNab was another former SAS soldier whos exploits whilst he was part of 'Them' hit headlines. Since leaving his writing and willingness to be a talking head - though with concealed identity - have ensured him a reasonably successful media career.

McNab has written 8 fiction books (excluding this) and two non fiction books. Nick Stone the main character in this appears in other books, though I cant remember if it is all or just some of them.

Recoil, follows on a previous story though you really dont need to have read any previous books as the background is kept very much that way with passing references to give the reader an idea of why the character does these things or how his mind works (though as Stone is a squaddie I'm unsure as to why that would be necessary most squaddies are pretty simple creatures in my experience).

The book begins in the thick of the action, a mission in Zaire to save a convoy which includes diplomats and a 'mysterious' cargo. After this story begins in earnest some years later, while he is wandering the streets of Lugano while planning how to deal with the row he had with his girlfriend Silke (or Silky as he calls her).

Silke is not a typical spoiled little rich girl as he may have first thought as he soon discovers she has run away to the Congo to make use of her medical degree - something else he was unaware of until this point.

But the situation in the Congo surrounding the medical site she has run to is unstable and rapidly getting worse. Nick wants her back and calling in favours from friends and former collegues heads back to the country which cost him friends and caused him so many nightmares.

The novel takes on the issues of child soldiers and if I'm honest shows why they are used - men are unwilling to knowingly shoot a child, and why it is such a barbaric practise, balancing the all action man of Stone with his old comrade Sam who despite not turning his back fully on his military past has embraced religion and is in the country trying to help stop the practise of children soldiers, through running orphanages and showing kindness to the captured child from the enemy camp despite his attempt to bite his way to freedom.

Overall in parts this book is verging on moving, though mostly it is an adrenaline fueled trip through Central Africa.

McNabs first hand knowledge of military tactics, weapons and explosives is shown in the book since he includes detailed yet easy to understand explainations for things like the choice of explosive when building claymores, moreover he does this without disturbing the flow of the story a technique difficult to manage.

I would say that if you like things like the Lee Child books, or Chris Ryans work then you will probably enjoy McNabs offerings too, as with Ryans book I would say it is possibly more likely to appeal to the male types of the world but I would never say it is exclusively a book for the blokes but unless you like your fiction action packed and male dominated then it may not be for you.

Copies can be obtained from the usual sources, though my copy is actually my Dad's so I don't know what he paid, it is 530 pages long which for me at least meant a good evenings read though for others will be a week or so of reading.