This is a book which is extremely topical due to the world we are living in right now. It deals with terrorism on a worldwide scale. The author gives us an idea of the lengths terrorists go to for what they believe is their destiny. We actually get to see things not just from the point of view of those hunting these people, but also from the terrorists themselves. It is a scary thought that while I was reading this book, there may be (probably are) people out there plotting in a similar way.

This is a book which drew me in and didn’t let go till the very end. It promises something more to come and I for one can’t wait.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.

Thirteen highly trained terrorists. No 13,
the lowest in the list, rebels against the training he is given at the Farm. When his Sister and Mother are murdered his rage turns him against all he has learned. If you enjoy I am Pilgrim or the Daniel Silva books then this is for you.

Interesting, given the positive reviews and the fact that I really did love I am Pilgrim, that i just couldn't engage. I typically love a well crafted, topical espionage thriller, but I never really got to know the characters, or care aboyt the outcome. it was a suspense story without suspense, a chase story without any chase. I was... bored.

I make no secret that I am a big fan of this author. I first came across him with his Enemy trilogy and then the connected Ryker series. He also has a stand alone psychological thriller which was a bit different to the rest of his books but very good nevertheless. So, I was extremely excited when I heard of this, the start of another promising series.
The central theme of the book is terrorism; specifically the taking and brainwashing of 15 young boys for a specific task. Trained in the ways of jihad, we follow Aydin, number 13, as he realises that he is not sure he is up to the tasks that he has been set. In the present he has gone rogue after seeing a very disturbing news broadcast. This present day action is interspersed with flashbacks to his training showing his lack of conviction to the cause. We also have Rachel, an MI5 agent, who believes in the creation of this group of specially trained terrorists but she is alone in this belief. The story follows her as she tries to persuade her bosses that there is an attack coming. How she tries to get the help and assistance she wants and needs in order to thwart it.
This is a story told initially from two polar opposite directions, ones that will slowly come together. But as always, it's not the destination that is important. It's the journeys that the characters take that is the main crux of this first instalment and, believe me, you're going to want to buckle up as you are in for an action packed ride.
Well, I had extremely high expectations going in to this book. Indeed, I had been putting it off for a while as I was a little scared that it wouldn't quite match them. Stupid really as not only did it match them, it blew them away completely. In this book, the author has taken a theme that is very real and indeed prevalent in this day and age and woven an extremely credible, and therefore also a little frightening, story around it. I was very soon completely absorbed into the action, both around Aydin and Rachel, and read pretty much the entire book in only a couple of days with my heart in my mouth for the majority! There are layers upon layers, secrets lies and duplicitous behaviour for all involved. There are relationships that are tested, some surviving, others broken.
Not being up to date with the majority of the things that are described in the book, especially some of the technology and techniques employed by both sides of the "war", I can not tell you whether they are authentic or not. What I can say though, speaking as a lay person is that all that I read about in this book came across as completely credible within the explanations given. This gave the book a whole other layer of realism for me and, as I already mentioned, this made it a bit more scary to read.
All the rest of the things I love about this author were also present here in this book. His characterisation is spot on once again, as is his pacing. he also has the balance right between action, narrative and description so the overall book was well balanced. Obviously as the start of a series, this book does have to contain quite a bit of set up stuff which did on occasion slow things down a bit but it is a necessary evil as it is obvious that the story will continue in ongoing books.
All in all, another winner from one of my favourite authors, I really can't wait for book 2.

This started out as a really good book and I thought the concept was great. However, the story ended up being quite muddled and had a prolonged Hollywood ending resplendent of a film that had spent the entire budget on big bangs for the sake of it. Kind of like a budget James Bond, with none of the class or acting.

A fast paced thriller which is shockingly real. Sleeper 13 has it all, action packed thriller about Aydin a boy who was kidnapped by his father at a young age to join ‘The Farm’ where the teacher takes the boys identity and makes them just numbers ready to fight for a cause they don’t understand at such a young age.
MI5 agent Rachel has been looking for evidence that the 13 exists and find herself in as much danger as Aydin.
Brilliantly powerful story, can’t wait for the next one.

I absolutely loved this book, although I found it hard to breathe at times. It is an all too plausible story, and you can’t bear to put it down until the end.

15 young Muslim boys from different families are taken to ‘The Farm’ where they are trained from the earliest age to become jihadi terrorists. There names are taken, and they are given numbers. Number 14 and 15 disappear and no one knows why.

The book is the story of number 13. He was brought up in the UK and kidnapped by his father and taken to The Farm. When his sister is killed for asking too many questions and trying to find him, and when he finds out what they are expected to do, he rebels and decides to stop the plans. The world is against him apart from one MI5 agent. She is the only one who believes in him and can help him save the world.

A very detailed and worrying account of modern terrorism and the reach of evil around the world. Personally, I found it a little dry but Rob Sinclair is an excellent writer and it's always worthwhile reading everything he writes. Many aspects of this book were credible, and that made it an uncomfortable read.

Sleeper 13 is about a child who was handed over to the Jihadist by his father as a young child. He was taken to a training camp in the middle east and trained as an elite soldier, one of thirteen children, no names just numbers. However, he is not like other terrorists, he wants to be free, he wants to leave this life behind and is sickened and ashamed by what he has done. This novel is the journey 13 takes to escape this elite team and seek vengenous on those who made him this ruthless killer. As he runs from both his 'brothers' and M15 we are drawn along with him.
Rob Sinclair has written a novel that shows terrorism from another perspective, we all see terrorists and assume they are fighting a cause they believe in and will die for. Sleeper 13 turns that premise on its head. It is a fast paced, extremely enthralling novel and you cannot help but feel true sadness and empathy for all Aydin has been made to do. This novel gets right to the heart of every emotion and misconception you may have of young children trained to be lethal killers. I was utterly enthralled right from the start and the flashback and dual voices used in the book only serve to enhance this intense story. I was appalled, terrified, excited and overwrought in equal measure. Sleeper 13 is a book like no other I have ever read and although this is my first by this writer, it won't be my last.

This story is for lovers of OrphanX, it is set in the Middle East during troubled times. It surprises at every turn and had me desperate to get to the end to see how it played out. If you enjoy a fast paced thriller this book is one to read.

A powerful frightening story current in the world we live in today . A story of Aydin one Of The Thirteen brainwashed into terrorism , the person it makes him become andhis attempts to break free and seek revenge. On the other side is MI5 agent Rachel who has been gathering intel and is attempting to whwart The Thirteens plans for Europe . As their lives collide we see both sides of the hunted and the hunter . 4.5 stars with my thanks to tbc, the author and publisher for my copy

Loved this book.
Aydin was taken from his mother and his twin sister when he was 9 years old by his father and handed over to a training camp, The Farm, to become an elite jihadi. He is not as easily led as the others of the 13 and questions some of the teachings.
Aydin is in France when he heard that his sister nilay has been killed and this sets him off on a course to avenge her killing. He knows that his brothers from the farm gave a hand in it.
Rachel Cox is a mi6 agent who had been working with nilay to get information on the 13. She doesn’t believe that nilay’s death was an accident and suddenly she’s being hunted.
Can’t wait for the fugitive, would definitely recommend

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars

This was my first book by the author and after this I will definitely read more.

A really powerful story of the divided loyalties, religious beliefs, and indoctrination. You really feel for Aydin but also for the others, who are trained to kill but being so young.

It’s a tense, twisty book and scarily you realise how there could be real ‘Farms’ out there.

Rachel is a great character too, an assertive female secret service officer, with a clever crossover in that she and Aydin have a similar purpose.

The writing style is easy to read and I can see this being made into a tv series/movie.

I don’t know where to start with this. I was totally blown away with this book. Mr Sinclair you have a new fan.
Its the eve of the deadliest coordinated attacks the world has ever seen. Aydin Torkal who is known as Talatashar number thirteen in Arabic by his people had gone for a walk reflecting on how he had gotten into the situation he was in, He was kidnapped by his father at the age of nine taken to Kandahar where he was handed over to Aziz al-Addad who was the Teacher and would take him to the Farm to be trained as one of the most elite insurgents of his generation. He was forced to do things no one should ever have to do especially when he didn’t believe in the cause. His brothers were preparing to kill whereas Aydin was looking for a way out.
When he got back from his walk Khalid, his administrator and link to the ones who gave the orders said “come see this” he slumped down beside Khalid his attention turned to BBC World news, helicopter footage was showing the destruction caused by a suicide bomb attack at a market in Aleppo. Over twenty people were known to have died. The report claimed one of the known victims was a British Citizen a woman in her twenties working in Aleppo for an international humanitarian charity. When Aydin seen the photo of her he recognised her immediately even though he hadn’t seen her since he was nine it was his twin sister Nilay.
Khalid was excited “Good Work eh?” “Allah looks upon all martyrs with the same regard.” Aydin wished he’d shut up “you care so much about some little Western whore?” “There’ll be no place in paradise for that bitch or any of the others.” As he glanced at the table he saw a knife sitting which had been used earlier Aydin lunged for it but Khalid got there first a struggle broke out now Aydin has his OUT all he has to do is hunt down those who turned him into a monster. And make them pay.
What an amazing book I don’t know what I expected but I got an amazing experience and there’s a follow up to look forward to. There’s so much I can write in this review but this gives you an outline I can honestly say this is in my top three books read so far this year and probably in my all time top five. Brilliant 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 and more.

I was really excited to start in on this book - the introductory description gave every indication that this would be an exciting adventure through the intricacies of modern day Jihadi terrorism, with a somewhat unique slant on the making of such a terrorist.

And for about 4/5’s of the book this was exactly what was delivered – a helter-skelter excursion across mainland Europe and the Middle East, from several differing viewpoints and emphasis – very reminiscent of Stephen Leathers’ “Spider Shepherd” novels.

But then, the actions of MI6 agent Rachel take a thoroughly bizarre turn, and you notice that the percentage of book remaining is not going to provide a satisfying dénouement to the novel. The final resolution of things is undeniably rushed, with ‘almost’ everything tied up very glibly, almost as though the book had to be completed in a finite time.

My main gripe with this book however, is that it succumbs to the prevalent new trend of ‘teasing’ the continuation of the action into the next publication. And this sequel is currently available (as set by the publisher) on Amazon at four times the cost of this book!

This is a really good read. I could visualise everything. The plot was fast with plenty of action. I could see this as a film. There is a lot of insight into how the 13 boys are trained and how they are brought down. This is the first Rob Sinclair book I have read and I will now be looking for more.

This was a very interesting plot and well written but not enough of a grab for my attention to be kept.

We've all seen the headlines, and experienced the horror of the atrocities committed in terrorist acts around the world. Sleeper 13 allows us to see behind those headlines, and takes us into the training camps of those responsible for these acts, so not unnaturally this is a disturbing, yet ultimately powerful, and fast paced thriller.

Aydin was trained to be an elite jihadi warrior - it wasn't a life choice for him, he was just a child when he was handed over by his father to a training camp in Afghanistan. There are 13 members of this particular jihadi group, all of them taken as young boys, who are allowed absolutely no contact with their families. They are no longer known by their names, only numbers - Aydin is number 13. He has been subjected to, and witnessed, the most shocking acts of violence, and yet he doesn't even believe in the cause, not like his 'brothers' do, so when the chance to escape presents itself, he takes it, with the sole intention of avenging those who turned him into a ruthless killer. However, with his 'brothers' and MI5 on his tail, he will need to bring all of his acquired 'skills' into play, simply to stay alive.

MI5 agent Rachel Cox has been gathering intel on the group, amid fears that they're about to carry out simultaneous attacks in numerous countries, all designed to cause as much carnage and fear as possible, but as the clock ticks down, can she discover the whereabouts of each member of the group before they cause what will be the most sustained and deadly terrorist attack ever witnessed across the whole of Europe!

Wow! This was without doubt one of the most powerful and gripping books that I've read in a while. Told by way of dual narratives, and with the aid of flashbacks, it takes us right into the heart of both MI5 and the jihadi training camps. It goes without saying that there are some distressing scenes, but they were absolutely necessary to the story as a whole, and of course it's a subject that touches all of us, if not directly, then in the heart breaking reports in the media.

The writing was excellent, the detail was exceptional, and to say it was an intense read is an understatement, it pulses with energy! Simply outstanding.

* My thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing for my ARC. I have given an honest review in exchange*

Sleeper 13 Rob Sinclair

This is the first Rob Sinclair book I've read but it certainly isn't going to be the last.

For years my favourite author was Robert Ludlum, with books like the Matarese Circle and The Icarus Agenda. Then I found Tom Clancy and his Jack Ryan books. Both of these writers produced brilliant Iron Curtain spy and counter espionage books.

The world has moved on, and the threats from terrorism have taken over from the threats from the Soviet Block.

Rob Sinclair has taken over the Ludlum/Clancy crown at the very top of the suspense novel genre, and writes about the modern day every bit as good as Ludlum and Clancy wrote about the Soviet threat.

Sleeper 13, Aydin, is a young man who as a boy was taken from his London home by his father, and passed over to a Jihad terrorist school, The Farm, where he became one of 13 boys who were taught how to be dangerous terrorists. Then, in the finest fashion of the old soviet spy schools, they were sent back to their own countries all over Europe to wreak havoc.

Living a normal life the 13 sleepers wait for instruction from their leader. Number 1, Wahid a vicious thug who rose to the top because of his brutality at The Farm.

Rachel cox is a British Secret Service agent who has heard rumours of the existence of The Farm and its 13 graduates and is trying to substantiate their existence.

Working in Syria she has several informants one of them is Aydin's sister, Nilay, who looking for her brother.

When Nilay is killed in a suicide bombing it's not just Rachel who's affected. Aydin sees her death reported on the news.

This is enough for the already conflicted Aydin to break away from his role in the upcoming terrorist attacks and seek out those responsible for his sister's death. When it becomes apparent that his fellow graduates had ordered her death because she was getting close to exposing them he is left with only one mission. Kill them, but most of all, Kill the man he holds responsible Wahid.

Meanwhile Cox is still having trouble convincing her bosses of the existence of the 13 and the threat they impose.

Working towards the same target, but for different reasons, Cox and Aydin race across Europe attempting to reach members of the 13. Cox is trying to thwart one of the worst imaginable terrorist attacks, Aydin is trying to revenge his sister's death by killing his "brother" Wahid.

Pages: 432
Publisher: Orion
Publishing Date UK: 1st march 2018.

This book shocked me. You see the terrible carnage by the IS on TV so often and you wonder what drives them to commit such atrocities. This book gives a detailed insight into the Islamic State with their motives, beliefs and methods of indoctrination. It shows how vicious and cunning they are and how intelligently they plot & plan. They are experts in the shocking things they do to prepare for an attack. What most appalled me is how they took the 13 young children to brainwash them to make them into terrorists. Those who didn't comply were at risk of being killed. Life is cheap. It terrifies me at how ingenious they are at what they do. A brilliant, gripping ending. Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group.