After reading Recoil last week and enjoying it so much I figured I would go about trying to read all the books in order - an idea reinforced by happening across Remote Control in a charity shop a few days ago and picking it up for the bargain price for 99p!
.
So, here we find ourselves at the start of the Nick Stone series. It's been ten years since I read this book and it was really great to read it again. It's even more gritty and action-packed than I remember it being which is why I read it so quick coz I couldn't put the thing down!
.
This story is about government greed, corruption and betrayal all interlaced with the relationship between Nick and Kelly as he tries to uncover what is going on whilst on the run with a seven-year old in tow. Stone is working for The Firm on deniable operations and is sent to the States to follow two known PIRA (Provisional Irish Republican Army) players. Just after landing however, the operation is pulled unexpectedly and he's ordered back to the UK immediately. Killing time between his flight out he visits his old mate Kev and finds the family slaughtered in their own home. Only Kelly, their daughter, has survived. The Firm refuse to help Stone out of the situation due to him being in the States on a deniable op and will only do so should Stone manage to find his way back to England with sufficient evidence behind the killings - thanks very much!
.
With Stone now being the key suspect in the murder, thus ensues an action packed tale of chases, fights, dingy hotel rooms, and the search to uncover the truth where he can only rely on others for help. The thing I really like about this book and others of McNab's that I've read is that he's not afraid to tackle the subject of the plan going wrong. His books are not like Hollywood movies where the plan always works and the good guy comes out smelling of roses. He knows people make mistakes and screw up and with a seven-year old as an accomplice there is ample opportunity to explore this. The story is dead easy to read and the pace rarely slows, and with a wicked twist at the end it really makes a great read. McNab's descriptions of people and methaphors on occasion had me laughing out loud as we get a taste of Stone's sarcasm and wit regarding his situations.
.
The way McNab deals with the relationship between Stone and Kelly is also brilliant and always honest. He identifies the difficulties of not only being on the run with a child, but how difficult it can be for someone who's not used to dealing with kids to try and coerce them into doing what he needs whilst trying to help her come to terms with the death of her family (something which he initially tries to side-step). From taking her from the the horrors of her home with the intention of off-loading her onto someone else, to eventually wanting to protect her himself and get revenge for her fathers death you can see how Stone's attitude to his responsibility changes as the story develops. I think it's the way McNab deals with these dynamics that make his books appeal to both sexes: action stuff for the men; emotional stuff for the women - and vice versa of course : )
.
The only down-sides to the book that I can see are the fact that NcNab seems to repeat some descriptions found in the first chapter later in the book pretty much word for word (copy-editor was obviously asleep), and with a cool "Macgyver"-esque scenario at the end of the book it ends a bit too abruptly for my liking. However, it's still a cracking read with loads of intrigue and action which personally leave me gagging for the next installment. Off to search the thrift shops I go!
.
So, here we find ourselves at the start of the Nick Stone series. It's been ten years since I read this book and it was really great to read it again. It's even more gritty and action-packed than I remember it being which is why I read it so quick coz I couldn't put the thing down!
.
This story is about government greed, corruption and betrayal all interlaced with the relationship between Nick and Kelly as he tries to uncover what is going on whilst on the run with a seven-year old in tow. Stone is working for The Firm on deniable operations and is sent to the States to follow two known PIRA (Provisional Irish Republican Army) players. Just after landing however, the operation is pulled unexpectedly and he's ordered back to the UK immediately. Killing time between his flight out he visits his old mate Kev and finds the family slaughtered in their own home. Only Kelly, their daughter, has survived. The Firm refuse to help Stone out of the situation due to him being in the States on a deniable op and will only do so should Stone manage to find his way back to England with sufficient evidence behind the killings - thanks very much!
.
With Stone now being the key suspect in the murder, thus ensues an action packed tale of chases, fights, dingy hotel rooms, and the search to uncover the truth where he can only rely on others for help. The thing I really like about this book and others of McNab's that I've read is that he's not afraid to tackle the subject of the plan going wrong. His books are not like Hollywood movies where the plan always works and the good guy comes out smelling of roses. He knows people make mistakes and screw up and with a seven-year old as an accomplice there is ample opportunity to explore this. The story is dead easy to read and the pace rarely slows, and with a wicked twist at the end it really makes a great read. McNab's descriptions of people and methaphors on occasion had me laughing out loud as we get a taste of Stone's sarcasm and wit regarding his situations.
.
The way McNab deals with the relationship between Stone and Kelly is also brilliant and always honest. He identifies the difficulties of not only being on the run with a child, but how difficult it can be for someone who's not used to dealing with kids to try and coerce them into doing what he needs whilst trying to help her come to terms with the death of her family (something which he initially tries to side-step). From taking her from the the horrors of her home with the intention of off-loading her onto someone else, to eventually wanting to protect her himself and get revenge for her fathers death you can see how Stone's attitude to his responsibility changes as the story develops. I think it's the way McNab deals with these dynamics that make his books appeal to both sexes: action stuff for the men; emotional stuff for the women - and vice versa of course : )
.
The only down-sides to the book that I can see are the fact that NcNab seems to repeat some descriptions found in the first chapter later in the book pretty much word for word (copy-editor was obviously asleep), and with a cool "Macgyver"-esque scenario at the end of the book it ends a bit too abruptly for my liking. However, it's still a cracking read with loads of intrigue and action which personally leave me gagging for the next installment. Off to search the thrift shops I go!
