Dont let this get away (The One That Got Away - Chris Ryan)

Member Name: robvr6

Product:	The One That Got Away - Chris Ryan
Date:	17/07/09 (51 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: detailed, gripping, easy to read, incredible story

Disadvantages: none

The One That Got Away by Chris Ryan was the first account of the Bravo Two Zero mission that i read, and it intrigued me deeply. I'm sure many of you know the background, but for those who do not -

During the first 'Gulf' War, the S.A.S was dispatched to Iraq to seek out and observe Scud missile movements, relay this information back to their superiors, and destroy them if possible without blowing their cover as a last resort. They were also tasked with disrupting communications of the Iraqi Military by destroying fibre optic cables laid throughout Iraq.

The Squad of 22 SAS call sigh Bravo Two Zero, was an eight man patrol given the task listed previously, to be carried out near a main supply route that the army believed was being used to move the Scud mobile launchers. The Patrol was ill prepared for the mission on the back of some very poor intelligence reports, and set out to complete their mission over burdoned with equiptment and supplies. within 48hours the patrol was compromised, and had to make a run for it. Of the eight men that left, only one of them actually escaped the country, four were captured, and three died. this is the story of the man that made the escape (the one that got away)

To be honest i couldnt really see what Chris Ryan could write about at first, but once i got stuck into the book, i realised how incredible it was that any of the men survived, let alone escaped across hostile ground with little rations and no water.

I have read many Chris Ryan Fiction novels, and enjoyed his writing style, which at times is very simple, but very readable, and this is no exception. He has a great wealth of experience, and really explains things very well for the reader, and i believe that even a complete army novice would find it easy to understand what is going on.

There has always been a lot of controversy surrounding the mission and its outcome and this is one side of a multi faceted story, but it is a great place to start and even a great place to finish if you are interested in the goings on of the SAS during the Gulf war.

Chris Ryan obviously put a great deal of effort into putting this book together and he lays himself bare for the reader to make up their own mind about the events, which is very good to see, and makes a change from some of the other accounts that are a little gung ho.

In contrast i would reccomend that readers also read Bravo Two Zero by Andy McNabb as that gives a lot of detail about the other side of the story from one of the men that was captured.

the newer prints of this book contain some new material, including picture, and most interestingly, a new opening chapter that explains what happened after the fall out of the men from the patrol, when the movie adaptation of Ryans book was made, and tries to clear up some of the points raised about the men that lost their lives during the operation, which some people felt werent shown in the right context in this book.

I thouroughly enjoyed reading this, and would highly reccommend it to anyone looking for a good military read, and even to those that arent, as the story within is one that will definately move you.

Summary: one of the best military stories told in modern times