‘Burning Angels’ by Bear Grylls

Published by Orion Fiction,
2 June 2016,
ISBN: 978-1-4091-5684-7 (HB)

A rescue mission gives ex-soldier Will Jaegar another mission: to save the world from a global pandemic germ weapon – and perhaps to find the wife and son who were kidnapped three years ago ...

This is a rattlingly fast rollercoaster ride. From the opening of three Nazi officials finding a frozen‘devil-woman’ who has died an excruciating death, we move forward seventy years to the start of Jaegar’s rescue mission for a former colleague, who was captured during the first book in the series, Ghost Flight. A number of Amazon reviewers complained that Ghost Flight didn’t have a ‘proper ending’, but Burning Angels completes the story – however, it can be read as a stand-alone. The plot centres around Jaegar and his team’s race to stop a former Nazi trying to re-start the 1000-year Reich by wiping out most of the world’s population. However the great strength of this book lies in the authenticity of the action sequences. Parachuting from a plane so low it’s under radar, or so high you can’t deploy your parachute for another minute, dealing with a herd of annoyed elephants or a swamp’s worth of leeches, entering a supposedly deserted volcano or thug-guarded compound – whatever situation Jaegar has to deal with, you have no doubt that at some time in his career, Bear Grylls has also done it. The African atmosphere was particularly well described, the action sequences are breathless, and the book is given extra heart by Jaegar’s hunt for his family, the lightly-touched romance between him and his enigmatic colleague Nabov, and the angry description of elephant poachers. For the gadget-minded, there’s a lot of kit used – fellow action writers might like to use this book as a reference to check they’re getting it right!

An all-action adventure which breathes reality – Mission Impossible meets Indiana Jones. Recommended.

-------

Reviewer: Marsali Taylor

Bear Grylls has become known around the world as one of the most recognised faces of survival and outdoor adventure. His journey to this acclaim started in the UK, where his late father taught him to climb and sail. Trained from a young age in martial arts, Bear went on to spend three years as a soldier in the British Special Forces, serving with 21 SAS. It was here that he perfected many of the skills that his fans all over the world enjoy, watching him pit himself against Mother Nature.  His TV show, Man Vs Wild/Born Survivor, became one of the most watched programmes on the planet with an estimated audience of 1.2 billion. He also hosts the hit adventure show RUNNING WILD on NBC in America, as well As THE ISLAND WITH BEAR GRYLLS for Channel 4 and Mission Survive With Bear Grylls for ITV in the UK. He is currently the youngest ever Chief Scout to the UK Scout Association and is an honorary Colonel to the Royal Marines Commandos. He has authored a number of fiction and non-fiction books. Find out more at www.beargrylls.com or follow him on Twitter @BearGrylls

Marsali Taylor grew up near Edinburgh, and came to Shetland as a newly-qualified teacher. She is currently a part-time teacher on Shetland's scenic west side, living with her husband and two Shetland ponies. Marsali is a qualified STGA tourist-guide who is fascinated by history, and has published plays in Shetland's distinctive dialect, as well as a history of women's suffrage in Shetland. She's also a keen sailor who enjoys exploring in her own 8m yacht, and an active member of her local drama group.  Marsali also does a regular monthly column for the Mystery People e-zine.

www.marsalitaylor.co.uk