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Matt Browning #1
Greed
Five Men. One Robbery. A deadly game of greed, revenge and betrayal is about to begin.
Fresh out of the SAS, Matt Browning is down on his luck. He owes $500,000. If he doesn't get the money soon, he dies. From nowhere, he is offered a lifeline. A hit on al-Queda, sanctioned and helped by MI5. Matt gathers a small team of former SAS men to steal $10 million in gold and diamonds from the world's most deadly terrorist organisation. MI5 will give them all the equipment and information they need. No charges will ever be pressed.
Matt thinks it's the perfect crime. Safe, quick, and patriotic. But after the money is stolen, the killing starts. Someone is taking down the members of the team one by one. A silent, expert assassin is stalking the team, gruesomely murdering both them and their families. And Matt knows that he's next.
Greed is an explosive story of what happens when terrorism, money, love and jealously combust - an explosively violent tale from the established master of the military thriller.
Fresh out of the SAS, Matt Browning is down on his luck. He owes $500,000. If he doesn't get the money soon, he dies. From nowhere, he is offered a lifeline. A hit on al-Queda, sanctioned and helped by MI5. Matt gathers a small team of former SAS men to steal $10 million in gold and diamonds from the world's most deadly terrorist organisation. MI5 will give them all the equipment and information they need. No charges will ever be pressed.
Matt thinks it's the perfect crime. Safe, quick, and patriotic. But after the money is stolen, the killing starts. Someone is taking down the members of the team one by one. A silent, expert assassin is stalking the team, gruesomely murdering both them and their families. And Matt knows that he's next.
Greed is an explosive story of what happens when terrorism, money, love and jealously combust - an explosively violent tale from the established master of the military thriller.
393 pages, Paperback
First published January 26, 2003
63 people are currently reading
686 people want to read
About the author
Chris Ryan
346 books1,025 followersColin Armstrong (b. 1961), usually known by the pen-name Chris Ryan, is a British author, television presenter, security consultant and former Special Air Service sergeant.
After the publication of fellow patrol member Andy McNab's Bravo Two Zero in 1993, Ryan published his own account of his experiences during the Bravo Two Zero mission in 1995, entitled The One That Got Away. Since retiring from the British Army Ryan has published several fiction and non-fiction books, including Strike Back, which was subsequently adapted into a television series for Sky 1, and co-created the ITV action series Ultimate Force. He has also presented or appeared in numerous television documentaries connected to the military or law enforcement.
After the publication of fellow patrol member Andy McNab's Bravo Two Zero in 1993, Ryan published his own account of his experiences during the Bravo Two Zero mission in 1995, entitled The One That Got Away. Since retiring from the British Army Ryan has published several fiction and non-fiction books, including Strike Back, which was subsequently adapted into a television series for Sky 1, and co-created the ITV action series Ultimate Force. He has also presented or appeared in numerous television documentaries connected to the military or law enforcement.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
March 10, 2021
Edit after a few months: I literally cannot finish this. It's incredibly bad. I have tried really hard to finish, but it's making my soul shrivel up like a raisin forgotten in the depths of a middle-school schoolboy's backpack. The story constantly gets interrupted by unnecessary sex scenes, the characters are flat and unrealistic... No idea how this is a bestseller. I found this book at the side of the road, soaked, and I felt sad for it so I took it home. Wish I'd left it there.
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Haven't gotten to the end of this (about halfway through), but I'm pushing through just because I'm intrigued by how bad this book is.
Within the first 15 pages, two women are murdered brutally and graphically, Islamophobia is apparent (making Al-Quaeda sound like every single middle-eastern person is connected to it), there is an unnecessary sex scene... (Unless it was to show he is in love? Coulda just written about that but men don't feel emotions, or something.)
The main guy deals with his emotions by running along the beach lol instead of crying or being relatable in any way, just because he can't have a two-dimensional hot babe as his wife, because apparently his life is dangerous (others in his group of muscly dudebros seem to be fine having kids and wives).
Everyone is muscular, there are multiple bits where the flexing of muscles is emphasised and even as a gay man I find it really weird. All the women are big-boobed hot beach babes who seem to get horny at the mention of murder. None of them have a personality (though it seems personality is rare among the guys too).
Giving it one star, because there are really only a few bits where it's possible to read more than two pages without having to take a few hours' break.
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Haven't gotten to the end of this (about halfway through), but I'm pushing through just because I'm intrigued by how bad this book is.
Within the first 15 pages, two women are murdered brutally and graphically, Islamophobia is apparent (making Al-Quaeda sound like every single middle-eastern person is connected to it), there is an unnecessary sex scene... (Unless it was to show he is in love? Coulda just written about that but men don't feel emotions, or something.)
The main guy deals with his emotions by running along the beach lol instead of crying or being relatable in any way, just because he can't have a two-dimensional hot babe as his wife, because apparently his life is dangerous (others in his group of muscly dudebros seem to be fine having kids and wives).
Everyone is muscular, there are multiple bits where the flexing of muscles is emphasised and even as a gay man I find it really weird. All the women are big-boobed hot beach babes who seem to get horny at the mention of murder. None of them have a personality (though it seems personality is rare among the guys too).
Giving it one star, because there are really only a few bits where it's possible to read more than two pages without having to take a few hours' break.
August 2, 2023
Handwerklich gut gemachter Heist-Thriller ohne Schnörkel mit viel funktionalem Sex. Mehr Infos über den Klappentext wäre zu viel gespoilert.
June 2, 2017
Sloppy work so far, only 10 pages in and 1 character has 2 names...? is it Gill or is it Jill,
I didn't realise its a choose Ur own story.
Just finished the worst book I've read in a long time. I'll never get that time back again. Seriously don't waste Ur time on it. It is awful, unintelligent and absolutely predictable. Only redeemable feature was ( I gave it 2 stars instead of 1) because my daughter loves the agent 21 books. There is soo much I could say about this book's faults but it's that terrible that I can't b bothered to waste any more of my time on it. AWFUL!!!!
I didn't realise its a choose Ur own story.
Just finished the worst book I've read in a long time. I'll never get that time back again. Seriously don't waste Ur time on it. It is awful, unintelligent and absolutely predictable. Only redeemable feature was ( I gave it 2 stars instead of 1) because my daughter loves the agent 21 books. There is soo much I could say about this book's faults but it's that terrible that I can't b bothered to waste any more of my time on it. AWFUL!!!!
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August 6, 2023The end is hilarious .
No compassion with any character .
The quotes from Islam are from Google without any real insight .
No compassion with any character .
The quotes from Islam are from Google without any real insight .
August 10, 2024
Awful. Terrible writing. Cliched. Bad, predictable story. And terrible, terrible writing.
June 10, 2021
An exciting read from one of the great masters of modern action thrillers. Loaded with action, suspicion and betrayal, this is everything I've come to expect from a Chris Ryan Thriller
December 20, 2008
Part of what makes the reading of this novel so enthralling is its setting in ultra-modern times; the threat comes from al-Qaeda, who are still the world’s number one terrorist presence, and as such the story seems eerily real. But I get ahead of myself.
This is yet another, slightly generic story by Chris Ryan, the ex-SAS man whose strength is to make the pulse-pounding action in his stories seem extraordinarily real. In fact you can almost believe that the hero in the story, Matt Browning, is Ryan himself, as he obviously models his leads on his past experiences and career. Reading all of the little tricks, traps, and methods used by the ex-SAS men is part of what makes this such a great read.
The only problems with this story for me are the gratuitous sex scenes, which are thrown into the plot every ten minutes and really knacker the pacing sometimes, and also a penultimate chapter, dealing with an assassin named Sallum, is seemingly excised from the book, due to length constraints perhaps, thus missing out on one of the most potentially exciting showdowns of all.
Otherwise, this is top-notch entertainment, written with a breathless pacing and tons of intrigue and action. There are double-crosses all round, death and danger at every corner, and Ryan isn’t afraid to be coldly explicit when describing murder – yes, little kids are killed, and killed violently, which is very upsetting when you read it.
As many critics have said, Ryan doesn’t write great literature, but he writes what people want to read which is why his books are always in the bestseller lists for an age. Greed contains everything needed for a great thriller: just the right amount of characters, all with their own believable personalities; tons of gritty action throughout; familiar British and Mediterranean locations, an eye for detail, sharp dialogue and conflict on every page.
An excellent page-turner and from the moment they make the hit on the ship, you won’t be able to stop reading as the plot goes into overdrive until the very last page.
This is yet another, slightly generic story by Chris Ryan, the ex-SAS man whose strength is to make the pulse-pounding action in his stories seem extraordinarily real. In fact you can almost believe that the hero in the story, Matt Browning, is Ryan himself, as he obviously models his leads on his past experiences and career. Reading all of the little tricks, traps, and methods used by the ex-SAS men is part of what makes this such a great read.
The only problems with this story for me are the gratuitous sex scenes, which are thrown into the plot every ten minutes and really knacker the pacing sometimes, and also a penultimate chapter, dealing with an assassin named Sallum, is seemingly excised from the book, due to length constraints perhaps, thus missing out on one of the most potentially exciting showdowns of all.
Otherwise, this is top-notch entertainment, written with a breathless pacing and tons of intrigue and action. There are double-crosses all round, death and danger at every corner, and Ryan isn’t afraid to be coldly explicit when describing murder – yes, little kids are killed, and killed violently, which is very upsetting when you read it.
As many critics have said, Ryan doesn’t write great literature, but he writes what people want to read which is why his books are always in the bestseller lists for an age. Greed contains everything needed for a great thriller: just the right amount of characters, all with their own believable personalities; tons of gritty action throughout; familiar British and Mediterranean locations, an eye for detail, sharp dialogue and conflict on every page.
An excellent page-turner and from the moment they make the hit on the ship, you won’t be able to stop reading as the plot goes into overdrive until the very last page.
March 29, 2016
Chris Ryan
This book is about that MI6 want to track down Alqaeda and steal their money. For this reason, they recruit three former SAS soldiers with two gang members to perform the mission. Alison, a woman who works for MI6 , recruits all the five people who go on the mission. "The safest way to prevent a terror attck is to steal their money" is what MI6 believe and that is why they send them on that mission. Matt Browning , who is a former SAS soldier, organizes the whole mission. After completeing the mission, the guys are chased down and killed. When Matt Browning finds out, it is too late. He becomes aware that MI6 helps the Alqaeda assassin to find their locations even though they stay on the low.
What I don't like about this book is that the author portrays Muslims like the mainstream media do. Through the perpective of an assassin, Sallum, he manipulates the story in favour of the novel.
Matt browning, who is the hero in the novel, I think is based on Chris's life himself. he is tough and brave. He uses reason to calculate everything a mission requires meticulously.
This book is about that MI6 want to track down Alqaeda and steal their money. For this reason, they recruit three former SAS soldiers with two gang members to perform the mission. Alison, a woman who works for MI6 , recruits all the five people who go on the mission. "The safest way to prevent a terror attck is to steal their money" is what MI6 believe and that is why they send them on that mission. Matt Browning , who is a former SAS soldier, organizes the whole mission. After completeing the mission, the guys are chased down and killed. When Matt Browning finds out, it is too late. He becomes aware that MI6 helps the Alqaeda assassin to find their locations even though they stay on the low.
What I don't like about this book is that the author portrays Muslims like the mainstream media do. Through the perpective of an assassin, Sallum, he manipulates the story in favour of the novel.
Matt browning, who is the hero in the novel, I think is based on Chris's life himself. he is tough and brave. He uses reason to calculate everything a mission requires meticulously.
February 16, 2013
I read the German translation. The German title literally translates to Lust for Power, which makes no sense in the context of the book. I should have seen it as a bad omen. Very, very lame book. Or perhaps not only the title was badly translated, but the whole book. It might be ok in English. In German it was definitely not worth my time. Don't bother.
June 29, 2009
TO be honest I only read this book because my boyfriend only reads Chris Ryan and Andy Mcnabb books...I found that this book had a very unlikable protagonist (maybe less so for men...) and I very predictable story line which at times, seemed a bit unrealistic. I can't say I enjoyed the book though I think that it would be enjoyable for men.
March 23, 2011
An ok book in my opinion. Some of the characters were completely unbelievable and I felt the author did the book a disservice by flashing big neon signs over the top his twists.
Nothing was really a big surprise, I could predict what was going to happen 50 pages in advance.
Other than that is was readable, not a great by any stretch, but certainly not a stinker
Nothing was really a big surprise, I could predict what was going to happen 50 pages in advance.
Other than that is was readable, not a great by any stretch, but certainly not a stinker
March 28, 2014
First "Mercenary Style" book I have every read. Was amazing, loved the fast paced story, the ending was very good. Right from the first page to the last i enjoyed it. I would really like to get back into Chris Ryan books, but I have been busy with other series like the Legend of Drizzt and Wheel of Time. But this book was a very nice change of read.
August 19, 2017
Routine actieverhaal: voormalige special forces, schieten, vechten, geld, terroristen, de sexy spionne, verraad, ... Niks bijzonders, maar na twee emo-vampierenverhalen van Anne Rice had ik dringend behoefte aan iets anders en dit voldeed aan de verwachtingen.
February 8, 2013
Disappointing, cheesy sex scenes (lots of them), surprisingly lacking in action. Overall quite dull.
January 13, 2009
The best Chris Ryan book by a wide margin.
February 27, 2024
The writing was rather uninspiring, At times, well really for most of the book, it read like it was written by a teenage boy, the author couldn't seem to make it 2 chapters without writing in a chapter just to have the main character to have sex, though sometimes he would spare us and it would only be a paragraph. Though no matter when it happens it comes off as gross, and the way it's written, rather misogynist.
The treatment of female character by both the author and the main character is horrendous. The author treats them for the most part as a sex object, that is until the main female character becomes a conniving, backstabbing villain who used sex to controll multiple men. The main character breaks off an engagement with the love of his life, Gill (to protect her) and yet 2 days later is sleeping with the main female character Alison. There was a sliver of hope that at least Gill would get some respect when Alison tells her how Matt, her ex fiancé and main character, has been sleeping with her for weeks but Matt and his friend lie about this and Gill never knows the truth.
The writing quality overall is shabby, there are inconsistencies and contradictions chapter to chapter, page to page, sometimes even line to line. The odd spelling mistake pops up and some sentences are so poorly constructed I had to re-read them 4 or 5 times.
The characters continue to make stupid decisions. I lost track of how many times they all agreed to "stick together" just for them to have split up on the next page. At one the main character Matt and his friend Reid leave a man, whom they don't trust and suspect of murdering women and children, alone with Reid's family.
The book seems to revel a little bit, and worryingly so, in describing how a member of Al-Qaeda executed mother's and their children, twice referring to the youngest children with dummy's in their mouths just to hammer home the child's death.
There were times where it felt that the author made choices just so he could vent his prejudices, "rag head" gets used unironically, and more so than it needs to be. There's also constant jabs taken at the Irish.
All in all, I would consider this a below mediocre book, littered with troublesome language, poor writing, inconsistent characters and some of the most unlikeable characters I've ever had the miss fortune to spend time with.
The treatment of female character by both the author and the main character is horrendous. The author treats them for the most part as a sex object, that is until the main female character becomes a conniving, backstabbing villain who used sex to controll multiple men. The main character breaks off an engagement with the love of his life, Gill (to protect her) and yet 2 days later is sleeping with the main female character Alison. There was a sliver of hope that at least Gill would get some respect when Alison tells her how Matt, her ex fiancé and main character, has been sleeping with her for weeks but Matt and his friend lie about this and Gill never knows the truth.
The writing quality overall is shabby, there are inconsistencies and contradictions chapter to chapter, page to page, sometimes even line to line. The odd spelling mistake pops up and some sentences are so poorly constructed I had to re-read them 4 or 5 times.
The characters continue to make stupid decisions. I lost track of how many times they all agreed to "stick together" just for them to have split up on the next page. At one the main character Matt and his friend Reid leave a man, whom they don't trust and suspect of murdering women and children, alone with Reid's family.
The book seems to revel a little bit, and worryingly so, in describing how a member of Al-Qaeda executed mother's and their children, twice referring to the youngest children with dummy's in their mouths just to hammer home the child's death.
There were times where it felt that the author made choices just so he could vent his prejudices, "rag head" gets used unironically, and more so than it needs to be. There's also constant jabs taken at the Irish.
All in all, I would consider this a below mediocre book, littered with troublesome language, poor writing, inconsistent characters and some of the most unlikeable characters I've ever had the miss fortune to spend time with.
June 12, 2017
I've been picking up Ryan's thrillers for a while now, for two reasons. The man's writing style will never win any literary prizes, but it has certain flow and a lot of self-depricating humor. More importantly though, as long as he doesn't completely space out, his 'action scenes' are pretty damn realistic. Or put in other words - the man has done it and he knows what he's talking about.
In 'Greed', the author also builds up a pretty damn plausable plot - a down on luck ex SAS operative is approached to do an of the books job for intelligence services. Things go off the script pretty much immediately and... well, you find out what happenes. At times, the author 'spaces out', but most of the time it's a pretty tight thriller you may enjoy for pure entertainment of 'guilty pleasure' variety.
In 'Greed', the author also builds up a pretty damn plausable plot - a down on luck ex SAS operative is approached to do an of the books job for intelligence services. Things go off the script pretty much immediately and... well, you find out what happenes. At times, the author 'spaces out', but most of the time it's a pretty tight thriller you may enjoy for pure entertainment of 'guilty pleasure' variety.
October 8, 2023
I have no idea what to say about this book. I read it to the end and kind of enjoyed it, but my memory of Ryan's previous books is that they were a lot better quality. It was frustrating watching the protagonist flail around with no idea who was betraying them when it was pretty obvious to just about any reader with half a brain. The sex scenes were so bad they were hilarious - and what the hell were they even doing there in the first place? Was it written into the author's contract that he needs to stick one in every few chapters (no pun intended)? My overall impression was of a book written by an early version of AI, formulaic and shallow but with just enough going on to keep you reading. I bought a second hand copy from a library sale for 3 bucks then tossed it in the recycling when I finished. I think that was a pretty reasonably price.
July 15, 2023
Decent
A decent action thriller with a hero of questionable character. Owes money big time so decides to call off his pending marriage, as he does not want her caught up in any nastiness that may ensure. He loves her so much that he hops into bed almost straight away with the first woman who approaches him then continues to have regular sex with her! As Friends fans will know it's probably OK, as presumably they're on a break!
Not the brightest star on the planet either, as it's obvious who has betrayed the group after their mission but he and the others fail to see it. Enjoyable otherwise.
A decent action thriller with a hero of questionable character. Owes money big time so decides to call off his pending marriage, as he does not want her caught up in any nastiness that may ensure. He loves her so much that he hops into bed almost straight away with the first woman who approaches him then continues to have regular sex with her! As Friends fans will know it's probably OK, as presumably they're on a break!
Not the brightest star on the planet either, as it's obvious who has betrayed the group after their mission but he and the others fail to see it. Enjoyable otherwise.
June 12, 2017
Greed, a great one by Chris Ryan... This is the my first one from Chris and I am sure I am going to read few more of his works....a group of ex soldiers went on a mission to make some quick money, things get worse because the planner had some other plans....the description of the raid was amazing.... A great book to read...
January 5, 2020
One of the better/more interesting novels by Chris Ryan, a bit of a mix between military thriller and mystery. I would have liked to have seen more stories featuring the main character (Matt Browning) and his associates. Almost worth reading again, but there are too many other books in the world to be read!
August 2, 2024
Great all rounder
While many sas type novels have loads of unrealistic combat stories, this was about locality trust and occasionally relationships and deceit which made it a very easy and stimulating read. Wanting to move onto the next chapter to get the run down on a new segment of story line.
While many sas type novels have loads of unrealistic combat stories, this was about locality trust and occasionally relationships and deceit which made it a very easy and stimulating read. Wanting to move onto the next chapter to get the run down on a new segment of story line.
July 2, 2025
This is a blockbuster of a book. Full of twists and turns and plenty of violence (if you like that kind of thing), but Ryan certainly knows how to tell a good story.
This will keep you reading well into the night, or into the early morning if you want to know what happens.
It's a page-turner of a book. If you like stories on crimes, terrorism, and revenge, this is your kind of book.
This will keep you reading well into the night, or into the early morning if you want to know what happens.
It's a page-turner of a book. If you like stories on crimes, terrorism, and revenge, this is your kind of book.
May 20, 2017
Author confused screenplay for a novel, alot of anti islam propoganda, the book is too predictable, the prologue is pointless and ruins the rest of the book, the plot is taken from some Hollywood movie or it seems, the characters surreal,
January 22, 2018
A gripping thriller. I suppose the fact that Al-qaeda are the villains dates it but interesting insight into terrorism and MI6. One annoying point however was careless spelling mistakes- obviously not checked well enough at the printers.
July 16, 2019
An interesting thriller. Nice to read. The romantic, well, sexual scenes can be left out as far as I am concerned, but the rest was more than satisfactory.
For the people who love books with (former) soldiers and a touch of espionage, this is a recommended one.
For the people who love books with (former) soldiers and a touch of espionage, this is a recommended one.
August 13, 2023
Greed
Excellent book with twists and turns from start to finish I couldn't put it down Chris Ryan always writes excellent stories and this is just another example of his work keep it up Chris
Excellent book with twists and turns from start to finish I couldn't put it down Chris Ryan always writes excellent stories and this is just another example of his work keep it up Chris
June 30, 2018
I enjoyed this book but found it hard to get into at times. Keep up the great work!
December 25, 2018
Story was ok. Made for some relaxed holiday reading, story was fairly predictable and there was no need to think too much.
January 27, 2019
Random House needs to employ more proofreaders not that it mattered all that much with this boring and predictable book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews