Killing for the Company

Known for his no-nonsense protagonists being thrust into situations more volatile than an impromptu game of footie on a minefield, Chris Ryan seems to be going through the motions in Killing for the Company. His narrative is divided between SAS members, Chet Freeman and Luke Mercer. A terrible accident soon has the former retired out of the armed forces with a prosthetic limb, while his mate later receives the honour of ensuring a former British prime minister's safety on a trip to Jerusalem. This plot device ensures the full force of the Palestine-Israel conflict is woven into Ryan's pages, complete with teenage suicide bombers, rogue Mossad operatives, bullets, blood and barely a sliver of solid characterisation. Regardless, this is not an especially painful novel to get through. Fans of the special-agent genre and Ryan's previous works should enjoy the adrenaline-fuelled plot, as well as the detailed action scenes. On the other hand, to get the same kicks, it would be just as easy to tune in to an old episode of Ultimate Force.