For anyone who doesn't know about Andy McNab, this writer was in the front line soaking up real life experience. This was of course before he made the decision to write about his experiences. A little background is necessary if you want to really enjoy his books. As a young man McNab served in Northern Ireland. After this experience he made the decision to attempt SAS selection. As a member of the SAS he found himself at the head of the ill fated Bravo To Zero campaign which resulted in his capture. This experience was written about and McNab moved from an SAS career to the gentler career of writing.

So, with that background in mind, you will get that exact feeling from reading McNab's books that he has been there - this isn't the writing of some wanabee spook, who gets his storylines from the guy in the pub who has a yarn to spin. McNab has seen the action.

The real touch to this book is that it starts with the human vulnerability of the main character, Nick Stone - physically and emotionally vulnerable.

This vulnerability leads him on a search, a journey, but it is a journey full of twists which brings him full circle back to a life that may have been put to the back of his mind.

His journey is to the Congo where he finds himself in a position as a protector and saviour who has to wind his way through to freedom.

It is full of explosive action and will have the bedside lamp switched on for most of the night.

What we are getting here is the fictional character, but his motives, behaviour and reason for being totally backed up by the experience of his creator

I found it quite refreshing to read a book by an author who has been in the thick of it, and this does come through, glaringly.