Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

I haven't read anything by this author before, but I was disappointed! The action and suspense were done so good, it kept me entertained throughout.

I throughly enjoyed this book. Enough suspense and action. It’s not normally the type of boom that I go for, but I am so glad I took a chance on this one. Thank you NetGalley

🄱🄾🄾🄺 🅁🄴🅅🄸🄴🅆
𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗢 𝗞𝗜𝗟𝗟
Billy Billingham
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

My thanks go to NetGalley for sending me an advance copy of CALL TO KILL in return for my honest review.
I really enjoyed reading this book and found the principal characters likeable and believable. The action scenes felt authentic, and the author's own experiences of serving in the SAS, rising to the rank of Squadron Sergeant Major, only served to injected even more integrity to the subject.

The characters are well developed, and given Billy's experience, I would say very realistic.  I found myself liking Mace and his team, and even Agent Redford, although I shared his reluctance to work with her in the beginning. The "Baddies” were definitely loathsome from the outset.

I found the descriptions of locations to be so vivid that it was very easy to form a mental picture of the scene. This only serves to make reading a more enjoyable experience. The story was easy to follow, exciting, and I felt compelled to read the book in one sitting.

Overall, I think CALL TO KILL would be considered a very good novel for a seasoned writer, but as it is Billy's debut novel, it's simply amazing, hence the five stars. I can't wait to see where he takes Mace next time.

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Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.
Both my husband and I have read this and both feel that this was a great book and we can't wait for the next instalment.
The story was gritty, the characters were likeable. We both liked the way you had good details and for once this was different to the usual books with these types of stories. Some parts made me cringe, because you need a strong stomach but you do at least know Billy has war experience.
Very well written and doesn't shy away from reality.
Bring on the next one

What an exhilarating read filled with fast-paced action, a daring escape from a car boot (I have to admit this scene also made me giggle with the visual images in my head!) And a race against time to stop a catastrophe!
I love books written or co-written by people who have been in the thick of things because it is so much more authentic and this book is no exception. I also liked all the technical details. It made for fascinating reading.
I can't wait for the next book in the series because there will be nothing  holding
Matt back now and I  think this will become another favourite series for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

A great first debut novel by Ex SAS Billy Billingham. The storyline was fantastic and you can actually believe all this had happened. So you truly get engrossed in the tale as it evolves. The start is a little slow to get into and lacking in some atmosphere but it still gets the 5 stars for the storyline and the ending. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next instalment.
Already posted this on goodreads over the last week I have also be giving this book out as recommendation.

In war-torn Yemen a Christian priest from Norwich is being held hostage by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard. Laid up just a short distance away is a team of British SAS soldiers led by Staff Sergeant Matt Mason, their rescue mission planned they’re waiting for the order to go.

Unfortunately even elite soldiers don’t get it right every time and after not one but two failed rescue attempts that end with one of the team killed in action and another being captured, Captain Peter Hopkins is summoned back to Hereford to face the music. He’s expecting the worst, but his career taking a nosedive is the least of his worries when he finds out what’s expected of him. For a soldier his mates will always come first, others might not have the same priorities.

I really liked this one and pretty much read it from start to finish in one go. Its not all blood, guts and glory instead its a clever and engaging thriller set against a backdrop of politics, civil war, insurgency and commercial contracts worth billions. At the heart of any good novel is a good storyline and believable characters and this one has both. Matt Mason and the rest of his team aren’t superhero’s they’re well drawn characters who are realistic and believable, each of them with their own personalities and skills that make them part of the team. A cut above many of the other offerings in the genre, its fiction but there’s enough realism about this novel to convince me that a lot of it is based on knowledge of the area, its politics and similar events that may or may not have happened. My only disappointment is that this is the first in a new series and I can’t move straight onto the second one.

I liked this book. I thought it was gritty and the characters likeable. The descriptive writing along with the finer details of war made this book believable and different... you may have needed a strong stomach to read some of parts of this book but I think the authors obvious war experience shone through. I thought that it was tastefully written but didn’t shy away from the realities.