Bullet Magnet: Britain's Most Highly Decorated Frontline Soldier

by Mick Flynn

A raw, honest and evocative account of life as the most highly decorated serving soldier in the British Army.From the breakneck pace of an opening where he is in action in Helmand province, under fire from the Taliban, Mick Flynn pulls no punches. It's obvious that he is a trained killer. But how did it reach this point? The journey starts with his childhood, a working class lad, learning to fight and finding himself repeatedly on the wrong side of the law. Even after joining the Army he is found at fault and jailed, an experience that finally shocks him into behaving himself. From there, it is off to Northern Ireland and straight into hotspots where Mick's courage and determination are all that keep him alive. There's love his estranged wife, Denise, is being brought back into the picture, just as Mick tries to start a new life with his girlfriend Rachel. Can he manage to separate his ferocious soldiering persona from the real Mick? As things remain complicated, Mike flings himself into further tours of duty, in Bosnia, Iraq, the Falklands. Action-packed, shoots-from-the-hip narration from an engaging hero, this is gritty realism at its most shocking.

Genres: Military Fiction, Biography, Nonfiction

385 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 8, 2010

Reviews

[Sean Peters (A Good Thriller) · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the breakneck pace of an opening where he is in action in Helmand province, under fire from the Taliban, Mick Flynn pulls no punches. It's obvious that he is a trained killer.

But how did it reach this point? The journey starts with his childhood, a working class lad, learning to fight and finding himself repeatedly on the wrong side of the law. Even after joining the Army he is found at fault and jailed, an experience that finally shocks him into behaving himself. From there, it is off to Northern Ireland and straight into hotspots where Mick's courage and determination are all that keep him alive.

There's love too: his estranged wife, Denise, is being brought back into the picture, just as Mick tries to start a new life with his girlfriend Rachel. Can he manage to separate his ferocious soldiering persona from the real Mick? As things remain complicated, Mike flings himself into further tours of duty, in Bosnia, Iraq, the Falklands.

Action-packed, shoots-from-the-hip narration from an engaging hero, this is gritty realism at its most shocking, a real true war story, with a real down to earth ordinary person doing his training and fighting for his life at the same time.

Yes, let's not argue Mick Flynn was one of the lads, not frightened to back away from a fight, doing what he felt was right, trying to make a living for his wife and children. A personality that you want out there to fight for our country.

This story is all about life under fire, fighting for your life, the reality of death and heartbreak, tragedies.

[James Kidd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Magnificent. A true tale well told. This could have been twice as long and I would still have been frankly lapping it up. It is not the 'war is made attractive' angle here - it is one man's true journey that carries us with him and is compelling for that. Some great lines too. Very, very good.

[Michael Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

One mans view of army life, he brings it to life.

If you have ever wondered what life in the front line is like, this must be as close as you get. I found myself ducking the bullets.

[Julian Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very down to earth account of a life that is anything but.

His excellent (yet calm) descriptive writing really brings to life the horror of some genuinely terrifying experiences and scenarios, and he blends that with a great sense of humor.

The camaraderie of army life, mixed with a brief entrepreneurial spell, makes his extraordinarily rich life well lived, and this is book a real treasure of a read.

Great stuff.

[Everett Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Tribute

This book is a tribute to the British army and just not to the very brave, proffesional soldier that is Mick Flynn.
It is not a critique of the politicians who made such a pointless mess, though reading between the lines there is enough said to hopefully make them squirm.

[Tasfia Yeashna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Defence or war stories are not my type as I thought, but this book changed the viewpoint. That's all I can now come up to write about it. It was a great journey.

[Kas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an honest warts and all book by an amazingly brave man, there are no words to say about the horrors he's seen but yet he tells them honestly and bravely.

[Steve Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most enjoyable. The author may be Britain's most decorated soldier but his telling of the story shows that he doesn't consider himself a hero, just a dedicated soldier getting on with his job.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

An honest straightforward account of an extraordinary man and his role in the British army’s major engagements over the last 40 years

[Rashide · Rating 5 out of 5]

If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” – Rudyard Kipling

[Lizzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coo. Liked all the real dialogue and all the silly things soldiers get up to. Scary stuff too, a real guy with real shadows. I like him.

[Ilan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It isn’t often in this world of soldier autobiographies that you come across a book that has it all: Honesty. Humour. Tragedy. Compassion. Helluva book. God bless you, Michael Flynn x

[Joshua Mckay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

A good read from start to finish. A great book all round and a great service done from Mick Flynn.

[Reuben Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good.

[Colleen O'grady · Rating 4 out of 5]

A marvelous and well-written book by Flynn, giving his life stories as an Irishman in the British Army with no punches pulled. From Northern Ireland, to the Falklands, on to Iraq and Bosnia, with a bried time in between to be home with his wife and children, Flynn tells how it really was for the fighting man

[William Eckman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd say about half this book covered the military action mentioned in the blurb: Northern Ireland, Falklands, Iraq, Afghanistan. The other half covered chasing women, bar fights, going AWOL, and running a civilian business.

I thought both parts of the story were interesting and moved along at a nice pace.

[Callum]

From northern Ireland to Afghanistan Mick Flynn tells in his own words the amazing tale of Britain's most highly decorated frontline soldier. A true tale of his life in an out of the army that certainly makes you think, highly recommended.

[Curmudgeon66 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Update 10/20/10. I gave up about 2/3s of the way through, I just lost interest in his bar fights and awols.

[Elijah Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gritty, real, interesting, full of rude language... A basic account of one man's experience in the British armed services that began during the latter half of the 20th century.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A totally remarkable story from start to finish with wit, humour and sadness through out, a must read.

[Bryan Moreton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing true life story from an amazing soldier. A very brutal and honest book.