Trojan

This was a great read, even though you know how it has to end... except for the ending beyond the ending! Interesting to read a thriller about terrorism from the British point of view, and a reminder that unfortunately it can and has happened anywhere and everywhere. Always interesting reading that the British don't arm the majority of their officers. The story was well thought out, although sometimes did get lost with a few too many characters. The major characters were nicely developed and the plot still had some twists and turns that made it so you wanted to read just one more page before stopping, and then one more and one more. Again, even though you had to know what happens to the main story, I still wanted to keep reading and that says a lot about the author's ability to tell his story. A good read for anyone ready to lose some sleep.

I have been a fan of Alan McDermott for a while, and I'll say that if I see his name I'll buy it--they are always excellent stories, smart people, real characters--literally and figuratively, and every book sticks with me for a bit while I process all that went on in the background while I was careening through the book! I never start another book right after finishing his; they need some soaking in time... There are only a couple authors whose characters I really, really look forward to seeing again, visit like old friends, who seem to have lives outside these books, and then we see them again in another book when they are ready. Alan McDermott is one. You can read my reviews for my other favorite ;)He has his characters down pat, and I think they stood out for me more in TROJAN: you reel back from the look of daggers, feel the crush of hurt, warm glows between friends... The characters are 46% + the stories--just about pulled from the world news--are 54% and always excellent + another 10% can't-put-down factor = Winner! I don't need to recap the story for you, but I can give you my honest opinion about what I read, and Mr McDermott is one of my favorites. While it has a lot of the same characters from previous books, it could be read stand-alone. The research is obvious and thorough, and, James Bond--while I love him--pales in comparison to what is being done now, today.Do a search for Alan McDermott on Amazon, purchase all his books: this one TROJAN, all the Tom Gray series, and binge read. I plan on reading them all again, because I know I will see something I missed the first time through.

Enjoy the author, but was unsure how I'd like the book without the main character of the other books. I was pleasantly suprised, just as good as all the previous books.

Mild Spoiler Alert: MI-5 has successfully infiltrated a new Islamic terrorist group, and he has provided bear information that suggests a major attack on the U.K. MI-5's Alex Harvey is tasked with leading a team to stop the attack. They learn that five women have been smuggled into the country who are likely carrying a chemical weapon. A number of women are located and one of them seems to have the key to the plot. Mi-5 attempts to use her son as leverage. She provides limited information --but is the info provided merely a red herring or true? MI-5 attempts to track down those likely involved; but are frustrated at every turn until the ultimate showdown. Suspense throughout with a few twists and turns. I had to read it in one sitting -- I had to find it if the attack was successful; or if not, how the attack was foiled. Just as with Mr. McDermott's "Tom Gray" series, I highly recommend "Trojan" (an appropriate title by the way).

Well done. Really enjoyed this book. Thanks Alan. The fact it rolls on from his earlier books is great. Can then relate to the characters though this book can be a stand alone one also.

Riveting!! From page one I was hooked! The first time I read Alan McDermott, it was his Tom Gray series. All books in that series were amazing. Andrew Harvey was a key player in that series and now Trojan starts Alan's series. A plot against the UK with the most horrible biological weapon possible. Alan and his team, including his girlfriend Sarah are tasked with trying to unravel the plot, the players, the target, but can they do it in time? The twist and turns in this one are plenty. Right up until the last page, I was on the edge of my seat not knowing what would happen! Can't wait for the next installment!! Write fast Alan!!

If you do, one of two things will happen: 1) you'll get no sleep till you finish it, or2) you won't be able to keep up with everything that is happening and you'll have to go back and read everything again when you're awake and you'll have lost two days of s!keep instead of just one!Another great job Mr. McDermott. I have no idea how you come up with these story lines but please keep them coming.Great book. Read it (preferably while wide awake)

Well written, good idea, interesting plot. Principal haracters are well-known if the reader has followed the author’s “Grey” series, but this is an excellent stand-alone book that doesn’t rely on the previous books to develop the story. Characters are developed well thru the course of the book, and that includes the villains as well. Enjoyed the book a lot and look forward to future books from this author.

In Trojan we join Andrew Harvey and his girlfriend Sarah Thompson both MI5 agents as they and their team race against time to stop a dirty bomb from going off.If you are familiar with the Tom Gray series by the same author then some of the characters will be like old friends to you, but reading them is not a prerequisite as this is the beginning (hopefully) of a new series and can be read alone.Managing to give us bad guys that have actual character and genuine motivation is what Alan McDermott does really well......no one dimensional baddies here.As Andrew and the team follow every lead and twist and turn they realise they are up against a tactician that may well just be their match!Alan gives you a real feel for the obstacles that a secret service must encounter. ... (First and foremost being secret can be a handicap) that their problems and restrictions feel true to life is a testament to the authors research. ... not that this is a boring procedural or information dump, far from it, it starts with a bang takes in two continents, several countries and gathers pace as it goes....With an ending that was genuinely tense. Hopefully Andrew, Sarah and the team will live to fight another day. A great read from an author at the top of his game.

Basically you'll probably like this book if you were, like me, an avid watcher of 'Spooks', the TV series. Reminiscent of the series where the top agent's (can't remember which one it was) wife was seconded from MI6. The only difference is that in Trojan they're not married and she's pregnant. As I've seen in some other reviews, there are parts of the book that seem a little contrived in order to allow a certain thread to mature. For example one of the baddies is taken for questioning by some questionable folk using questionable methods, because MI5 only play be the book, and all this is with the Home Secretary's blessing. Why would the Home Secretary allow one branch of the security services to ... er ... question suspects assertively but not the other. On the subject of the Home Secretary, he apparently has an issue with the head of MI5, but it's not clear why.That's why I've dropped a star but I did find that I'd be reading for a lot longer than I thought I had and didn't want to stop when I realised how long it had been.

If ever there was a totally believable story...if ever there was a book so thoroughly researched...if ever there was a book dealing with the detailed investigations undertaken by our law enforcement agencies, MI5 in particular,...if ever there were such well drawn and realistic characters...if ever there was a plot and sub-plot that was so "real", frighteningly that could actually occur...and if ever there was a genuine "page-turner" that you can`t put down...THEN THIS BOOK IS IT!!I have had the immense pleasure of reading, in chronological sequence, all of Alan`s six books featuring Tom Grey and I can`t wait for the next one, BUT this departure, featuring two characters previously met in the Grey series, Andrew Harvey and Sarah Thompson, both of MI5, gives Tom Grey a "rest" (he is living in Italy) and puts these two `up front` in one of the most thrilling (and I mean that word) books I have ever read. `Trojan` is a totally realistic, un-exaggerated piece of writing which takes the reader right into the action and into the mind-sets of both the criminal protagonists and those whose job it is to stop them.Alan McDermott is an author who maintains excellent top-of-the-table consistency and in my view he is up there with the best of them - and deservedly so! One reviewer has stated that he is Alan`s self-appointed number one fan but I hope he will not mind if I join the number one slot with him.

What a story. It is exactly how I love my action books. A race against time. You hold your breath until the last moment. Of course, you think that the bad guys won't get away with it but in this case, you can never be sure.I think the research was good and all the plots were very realistic. It took me a while to realise how the X3 was transported but I am happy that I guessed (for once) before it was revealed.I loved the side story with Harvey and Sarah. It balanced the fast pace of the book.It is violent at times but never gory.I am surprised Alan McDermott needed to make a disclaimer for the fear of being labelled racist. The fact is, the story is derived from actual events and it could happen.What I have appreciated is that all along the book, he inserted subtle reminders that there is a difference between muslims and fanatic islamists. I think it was very sensibly done.I have loved the Tom Gray's series. It was nice to see familiar names but it would have love to see Tom Gray himself.Well, bottom line, a book that all action readers will love....

I'm a big fan of this author's 'Gray' series and was looking forward to this new novel which features a new main character, Andrew Harvey, who appears in the Gray novels and wasn't disappointed. It's an exciting read all the way through and I found myself reading into the early hours because I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I'd thoroughly recommend it to any thriller fan and you don't need to read the 'Gray' novels before this but I would still recommend that you read them at some point as they are brilliant.