Zero Hour by Andy McNab

In all the action books I’ve had the pleasure to read this year, there is no doubt that Andy McNab brings a certain honest to goodness realism with his recurring character Nick Stone. In what is his 13^th outing in “Zero Hour”, Stone and McNab morph to deliver a non-stop action packed novel that sees our hero travel from London to Moldova and various other cities around the globe in a quest to save a young Moldovan girl.

My first encounter with Nick Stone, I came away thoroughly exhausted and suitably impressed. A wonderful way to spend a few winter evenings reading, “Zero Hour” captivates in a way few other action figure series can.

Available to buy from Amazon in CD Audio & Hardcover

McNab’s experience as a member of the SAS in both covert and overt special operations worldwide is put to good use in “Zero Hour”, Stone sharing more than a passing resemblance to the McNab. Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) and the Military Medal (MM) during his career, McNab was the British Army’s most highly decorated serving soldier when he left the SAS in 1993.

When Lilian, the beautiful student and daughter of a Moldovan businessman, goes missing, Nick Stone is called in to find and rescue the girl from the hands of an unknown entity. On the back of a visit to a specialist in Harley Street who delivers devastating news, Stone has nothing to lose and agrees to travel to Moldova to find and return the girl to her family.

When we first meet Stone, he is “on holiday” in Syria posing as a tourist in early September 2007 when Israeli F-15’s bomb the suspected nuclear installation in North–Eastern Syria. Ten jets took off from an air base just south of Haifa, three debilitating Syria’s radar station allowing the seven remaining F-15’s a clear run through to the Nuclear station in al-Kabir.

So how is the attack in al-Kabir connected to Lilian’s abduction and how badly does British Intelligence want her back safe and sound. We do of course discover the hidden secrets as the book reaches its climax but not before Nick Stone treats us to his own inimitable brand of justice, dispatching one baddie after another in an explosive display of ingenuity and guile.

The narrative is crisp and fluid, written in the first person perspective – that of Nick Stone. The book begins at a phenomenal pace and doesn’t let up until its conclusion. Stone spends a lot of his time popping pills, eating food, drinking black tea and shopping for supplies in numerous hardware stores.

An enigmatic character, Stone has a certain fallibility that is rather endearing! He’s not your perfect action hero – making mistakes along the way he receives his fair share of beatings and finds himself in dangerous life threatening situations – using all his experience in the SAS to find a way through.

We discover the tricks of the trade, new surveillance methods and the way to build high explosives from aspirin (I kid you not)!  “Zero Hour” is a truly imaginative action thriller that will have you guessing all the while mesmerized by our hero’s exploits. There really is no stopping the legend that is Nick Stone – and why would we want to?

Brilliant and realistic – McNab delivers on all fronts with “Zero Hour”. If you want a down to earth action hero full of realism and a desire to right the wrongs of the innocent and helpless then look no further – this is the book for you.

Published by Transword Publishers the book is available from Amazon Now! & The Book Depository