Remote Control by Andy McNab

Product Details

• Hardcover: 389 pages
• Publisher: BANTAM PRESS (1997)
• ISBN-10: 0593042360
• ISBN-13: 978-0593042366
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Nick Stone left the Special Air Service in 1988, soon after the shooting of three IRA terrorists in Gibraltar. Now working for British Intelligence on deniable operations, he discovers the seemingly senseless murders of a fellow SAS soldier and his family in Washington, DC. Only a seven-year-old daughter, Kelly, has survived - and the two of them are immediately on the run from unidentified pursuers. Stone doesn't even know which of them is the target. 

On his own, Stone stands a chance of escape. But he needs to protect the girl and together they plunge into a dark world of violence and corruption in which friend cannot be told from foe. As events draw to their blazing and unexpected climax, Stone discovers the shocking truth about governments, terrorism and commerce - and the greed that binds the three together... 

Remote Control is a new kind of thriller, gritty, vivid and menacing with a pace that never lets up. Other thriller writers talk the talk. Only McNab has walked the walk.

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I've seen Andy McNab's books around for ages, but could never find the first in the series. (I have a thing about reading books in order.) Until now.

Remote Control is a great fast paced read. The lead Nick Stone, used to be a soldier in the SAS, but now works as a 'K', a deniable operations man. 

Its great to read a story about a soldier written by someone who has actually been one. The situations sound first hand and believable. I liked Nick straight away. He comes across as a no nonsense dude.

 After a mission in Gibraltar in 1988, Nick quits the SAS and starts work as a K. The story skips ahead to 1997, and he's sent to Washington D.C. He's following two men, and when he goes to proceed he is given orders to return immediately to the UK. 

It's quite early in the morning and the next flight out isn't until later that afternoon. He call's an ex-SAS pal, who says he got something to talk about with him. Although, when he arrives his mate, and his mate's wife and youngest daughter are murdered. Nick finds the older hiding and they take off, with Nick trying to find out why his friend and family were murdered. 

Remote Control is full of action, with Nick getting into tight spots and having to fight his way out. I loved everything about this book. Nick is really great trying to keep himself and Kelly alive. Most of the time he doesn't know if he's doing anything right, with the whole situation and the way he's looking after Kelly. She's traumatized and he's cut off from everyone he knows. He's cunning, a quick thinker, loyal and willing to do what ever it takes to find out the truth, even if it's not what he wants it to be. Being cut off, he has to make with what he can, and let me tell you he's very resourceful. He turns ordinary things  into stuff you wouldn't believe possible. But not in a MacGyver way. He fights dirty when he has to, including robbing quite a few people. He's always on the go, trying to stay one step a head of the bad guys and almost always succeeds. I never felt lost or overwhelmed with information. In these types of books though, the acronyms take a little while to get used to. I found it funny when Kelly would do or say something, and he would get a strange feeling, the one when you know that you're really starting to feel for a child. That they're not just one of the masses, but someone who is small and vulnerable and they need you to help them survive. 

I'm really into action-y, thriller types and this book is definitely one of them. I need to hunt down the rest of the Nick Stone books, because I'm hooked. This book is a bit like Matt Hilton's Dead Men's Dust, but with a deeper and darker edge. If you want action and thrills, Andy McNab is definitely your guy.

I give it 4 and a half out of 5 roses.

(even though roses don't match the type of novel)