Red Notice

by Andy McNab (Random House)

Sometimes all you need is a couch, some time, and a great skop, skiet ’n donner to get your mind off things.

Former SAS hardman McNab is way on top of my list to provide the action, and it doesn’t come much more authentic than this.

He’s introduced a new top-notch super soldier in Tom Birmingham, a man born to wealthy parents who are extremely disappointed with their son’s choice of career. The least he could have done is become an officer, not slum it with the regiment.

Tom has shrugged this criticism off forever, but he can’t accept that his long-term lover has suddenly made real her threats about playing second fiddle to his job and has dumped him.

Delphine has caught the Eurostar and is going home to France; Tom leaps on at the last instant (natch) to talk her out of it.

As the train barrels along the Chunnel, Tom sees one of Europe’s most hunted war criminals – who soon takes control of the train and all its passengers.

Now it’s up to Tom to save the day.

Fast-moving derring-do, action, explosions, smart thinking: it’s all here and kept the couch occupied right to the end. Another winner. – Lindsay Slogrove