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Appetite for Risk
A fast-paced action thriller inspired by real events in the aftermath of the Iraq War.
With Saddam Hussein deposed and an entire country in need of rebuilding, former Royal Marine John Pierce hears the siren call of adventure and opportunity. His fledgling UK business is struggling to support his young family and he has connections in the Iraqi capital – fate seems to point one way.
In early 2004, Pierce rolls the dice when he jumps into a taxi in Jordan and heads for the turmoil of postwar Baghdad to grab a share of the reconstruction gold rush. But when Iraq spirals into the hell of a full-blown insurgency, he must rely on his wits and his local friends if he’s to evade the rampant bloodshed.
As the action rolls across the blood-stained Iraqi landscape and embraces London’s seedy underbelly, Pierce tangles with the authorities at home and finds himself thrust into the heart of British and American covert operations against Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Having set out with little more than ambitious goals and an appetite for risk, can a determined ex-bootneck survive the mounting chaos unscathed and succeed in hitting the jackpot?
With Saddam Hussein deposed and an entire country in need of rebuilding, former Royal Marine John Pierce hears the siren call of adventure and opportunity. His fledgling UK business is struggling to support his young family and he has connections in the Iraqi capital – fate seems to point one way.
In early 2004, Pierce rolls the dice when he jumps into a taxi in Jordan and heads for the turmoil of postwar Baghdad to grab a share of the reconstruction gold rush. But when Iraq spirals into the hell of a full-blown insurgency, he must rely on his wits and his local friends if he’s to evade the rampant bloodshed.
As the action rolls across the blood-stained Iraqi landscape and embraces London’s seedy underbelly, Pierce tangles with the authorities at home and finds himself thrust into the heart of British and American covert operations against Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Having set out with little more than ambitious goals and an appetite for risk, can a determined ex-bootneck survive the mounting chaos unscathed and succeed in hitting the jackpot?
346 pages, Paperback
Published July 28, 2019
16 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 27, 2019
I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Jack Leavers has produced a fast action thriller with scary realism interweaved into a tale of mistrust, fear and bravery. Although the events are inspired by his time in Iraq it is all quite believable and has a reportage feel to it. His description of rolling the dice is extremely accurate especially in war torn Iraq. Pierce faces multiple issues along the way from dubious Arabian princes, always looking behind your back and being wary of the ever-present issue of insurgents. Can Jack carve out his desire to capitalise on the opportunity that the situation in Iraq has provided him.
Jack is a character that is torn over the responsibility of needing to provide for his family, his business responsibilities and his siren call to get back out in the middle east to hopefully win big for those he cares about. He comes across as a man with immovable morals, his bravery seems to know no bounds – to the point he comes across as stupid due to some of his decisions. He really does appear to be a man that has been shaped by the outcome and tragedy of war. Some of his mannerisms point to a possible diagnosis of PTSD, which is understandable due to his previous history while serving his country.
During the Iraq insurgency it takes Jack to look within himself and pull all his skills as a solider to survive the potential onslaught. The novel spans two different landscapes – London’s underbelly and Iraq’s war infested streets. This gave it great cultural significance of the time.
The world building was amazing. Jack inexorably immersed the reader into the world of pierce. The descriptions were perfect and dipped in realism, so we could imagine being there with him. The terror this book also brought was frightening. It was so frightening because although you knew this was a work of fiction, you know that this is happening day in and day out in the middle east.
Jack has a real talent for bringing the spoils of war and the political powers at play to the front and centre and expect this book to be well received from readers that enjoy hard hitting, fast paced thrillers.
Jack Leavers has produced a fast action thriller with scary realism interweaved into a tale of mistrust, fear and bravery. Although the events are inspired by his time in Iraq it is all quite believable and has a reportage feel to it. His description of rolling the dice is extremely accurate especially in war torn Iraq. Pierce faces multiple issues along the way from dubious Arabian princes, always looking behind your back and being wary of the ever-present issue of insurgents. Can Jack carve out his desire to capitalise on the opportunity that the situation in Iraq has provided him.
Jack is a character that is torn over the responsibility of needing to provide for his family, his business responsibilities and his siren call to get back out in the middle east to hopefully win big for those he cares about. He comes across as a man with immovable morals, his bravery seems to know no bounds – to the point he comes across as stupid due to some of his decisions. He really does appear to be a man that has been shaped by the outcome and tragedy of war. Some of his mannerisms point to a possible diagnosis of PTSD, which is understandable due to his previous history while serving his country.
During the Iraq insurgency it takes Jack to look within himself and pull all his skills as a solider to survive the potential onslaught. The novel spans two different landscapes – London’s underbelly and Iraq’s war infested streets. This gave it great cultural significance of the time.
The world building was amazing. Jack inexorably immersed the reader into the world of pierce. The descriptions were perfect and dipped in realism, so we could imagine being there with him. The terror this book also brought was frightening. It was so frightening because although you knew this was a work of fiction, you know that this is happening day in and day out in the middle east.
Jack has a real talent for bringing the spoils of war and the political powers at play to the front and centre and expect this book to be well received from readers that enjoy hard hitting, fast paced thrillers.
June 1, 2020
What an incredible story written in the first person and based on actual events post Iraq War. Often times I completely forgot this was a work of fiction.
Jack Leavers puts the reader FRONT & CENTRE to all the action through the eyes of the main character, former Royal Marine John Pierce. I was engulfed in the story and fabulously spellbound by the events and how they easily and masterfully were unravelled.
When I read Jack Leavers biography, all the details that were shared flawlessly through this story just made sense as to how it was all incredibly believable. Such an awesome storyteller Jack!
Jack Leavers is a former Royal Marine with over thirty-years’ experience working in the military, private security, corporate investigations, maritime counter-piracy, and risk management. His varied career has included numerous deployments to conflict zones around the world such as Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, trouble spots in Africa, and the Somali pirate-infested waters of the Indian Ocean. He continues to work in challenging environments and has now begun to pen novels inspired by some of the more enterprising projects that got the green light and other audacious plans that didn’t. When knuckling down to write, he is normally based in London, UK.
Thank you Jack Leavers, The Book Guild and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. Always so grateful for the opportunity to read complimentary books!
Jack Leavers puts the reader FRONT & CENTRE to all the action through the eyes of the main character, former Royal Marine John Pierce. I was engulfed in the story and fabulously spellbound by the events and how they easily and masterfully were unravelled.
When I read Jack Leavers biography, all the details that were shared flawlessly through this story just made sense as to how it was all incredibly believable. Such an awesome storyteller Jack!
Jack Leavers is a former Royal Marine with over thirty-years’ experience working in the military, private security, corporate investigations, maritime counter-piracy, and risk management. His varied career has included numerous deployments to conflict zones around the world such as Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, trouble spots in Africa, and the Somali pirate-infested waters of the Indian Ocean. He continues to work in challenging environments and has now begun to pen novels inspired by some of the more enterprising projects that got the green light and other audacious plans that didn’t. When knuckling down to write, he is normally based in London, UK.
Thank you Jack Leavers, The Book Guild and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. Always so grateful for the opportunity to read complimentary books!
September 10, 2019
3.5 rounded up here.
Leavers talent for describing environments is top notch, It was as if I could see Baghdad for myself as well as feel the intense atmosphere of being in such a unstable environment.
John Pierce, oh boy, how lucky can one man be! I just couldn’t connect with him, this probably has more to do with me as a reader, I haven’t read a lot of books which focus on the armed forces which could be the reason why I found so many of his decisions infuriating.
Appetite for Risk reads a lot like an autobiography of his life within that time period than a work of fiction.
I found the first 170/200 pages to be pretty slow build up, however, once you get past that it is so action packed, it was like a high action blockbuster movie that only I could view!
Add the dangerous atmosphere of the country mixed with a seriously explosive situation and you have one hell of a thrilling mission!
Read the rest of my review here: https://feedthecrime.wordpress.com/20...
Leavers talent for describing environments is top notch, It was as if I could see Baghdad for myself as well as feel the intense atmosphere of being in such a unstable environment.
John Pierce, oh boy, how lucky can one man be! I just couldn’t connect with him, this probably has more to do with me as a reader, I haven’t read a lot of books which focus on the armed forces which could be the reason why I found so many of his decisions infuriating.
Appetite for Risk reads a lot like an autobiography of his life within that time period than a work of fiction.
I found the first 170/200 pages to be pretty slow build up, however, once you get past that it is so action packed, it was like a high action blockbuster movie that only I could view!
Add the dangerous atmosphere of the country mixed with a seriously explosive situation and you have one hell of a thrilling mission!
Read the rest of my review here: https://feedthecrime.wordpress.com/20...
July 28, 2019
A great story that seeps of authenticity, immersing the reader in a multitude of scenes of high risk action, set against the goals of the main character trying to achieve his life goals. He is torn, but driven, and the writing comes through with a sense of values and standards of a man scarred from war. You’re right behind the eyes of John Pierce and in the cockpit as he struggles in the insanity of Iraq and the mayhem of London crime. It’s fast paced and a great story arc, which ramps up nicely as each chapter unfolds a well-constructed plot. Thoroughly enjoyed the style of writing and a belting sense of suspense of what might happen next. Great debut from Jack, much more to come I’m sure - a must read.
September 20, 2019
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
It's 2004, Saddam Hussein is out of power and the focus is shifting to rebuilding Iraq (few have any idea of the insurgency just around the corner), which sounds great to John Pierce. He's a former Royal Marine trying to support his wife and two kids. He's done the typical security/investigations work, but that isn't really satisfying to him. He does have a few good contacts in or related to Iraq and decides to try to build a business there.
It's not a safe place to be at the moment, but it seems to all that stability is just around the corner, and even after an eventful first trip that might dissuade some from following that path, we're told:
The book follows Pierce's endeavor to find that success from January 2004-December 2005. We travel with him to various locations in Iraq (and surrounding nations) and back home in England. As with most fledgling businesses, there's a lot of ups and downs, signs of success and trouble alike—when you consider the risks involved in trying to start something in Iraq in 2004-05, the typical struggles of a new venture pale in comparison. Quite inadvertently, Pierce gets the attention of both British and American intelligence and they secure his aid with little regard to the effect that'll have on his livelihood.
It's hard to think of this as a novel—it really doesn't read like one. It reads like a memoir. It may be fiction, but it reeks of authenticity and bears few of the marks of a thriller (or any other kind of novel). This is both a fantastic achievement and a frustration for a reader who expects certain kinds of things from a thriller.
The level of detail is intense—I wouldn't have thought I'd ever learn anything about how one goes about finding contacts or establishing working relationships in the middle of a war, relying largely on translators and practical strangers to help navigate through the city/populace. On the one hand, it was intriguing and I quite enjoyed being exposed to this kind of thing. On the other hand, there were large stretches where it seemed like nothing was happening—like the dominoes were being set up and instead of knocking them down, the line kept getting longer and more twisty.
I never got bored, but I spent a lot of time wondering "where is this going?" While not every detail or anecdote ended up paying off, enough did to justify reading it and again, the level of detail made it really seem like you were reading the recollection of someone who'd been there. And while the initial 50-60% of the book could be called slow (after the initial chapters, anyway, which dropped the reader into a tense situation before backtracking a few months to establish things), once things picked up, they really picked up.
I don't know that I ever really made any emotional connection to Pierce—I was pretty unmoved by his marital or financial woes or triumphs. I still wanted to keep reading about what he was going through, but any trouble or danger he encountered didn't grab me (other than as an obstacle to whatever he was trying to accomplish). I don't know if this is something Leavers was trying to accomplish, or if it's the sign of a new author—I tend to think it's due to the non-fiction-y feel of the work, and I rarely get that connected to actual people I'm reading about.
I think I'm safe when I say that you haven't read a thriller like this before—it's a slow burn, but it's consistently interesting and you certainly feel the imminent threat constantly around Pierce. Once the action kicks into a higher gear, it's a pretty fast read, but you've got to work a little before then. It's a satisfying read, and one that will reward the time you put in. I recommend it for someone open to an atypical read where the suspense comes from sources you're not used to encountering (and a few that everyone is used to).
My thanks to damppebbles blog tours for the invitation to participate in this book tour and the materials (including a copy of the novel) they provided.
---
It's 2004, Saddam Hussein is out of power and the focus is shifting to rebuilding Iraq (few have any idea of the insurgency just around the corner), which sounds great to John Pierce. He's a former Royal Marine trying to support his wife and two kids. He's done the typical security/investigations work, but that isn't really satisfying to him. He does have a few good contacts in or related to Iraq and decides to try to build a business there.
I intended to provide consultancy services to international companies, using local support and knowledge to help them win a share of the reconstruction contracts. Iraq needed everything after the West had sanctioned and bombed it to a ruin over the previous decade.
It's not a safe place to be at the moment, but it seems to all that stability is just around the corner, and even after an eventful first trip that might dissuade some from following that path, we're told:
Despite the risks, there was never any real doubt I would go back. The siren call of adventure was drawing me inextricably to Baghdad. Now I’d started down this road, I remained determined to see where it would lead, hoping desperately that success would be quick to arrive.
The book follows Pierce's endeavor to find that success from January 2004-December 2005. We travel with him to various locations in Iraq (and surrounding nations) and back home in England. As with most fledgling businesses, there's a lot of ups and downs, signs of success and trouble alike—when you consider the risks involved in trying to start something in Iraq in 2004-05, the typical struggles of a new venture pale in comparison. Quite inadvertently, Pierce gets the attention of both British and American intelligence and they secure his aid with little regard to the effect that'll have on his livelihood.
It's hard to think of this as a novel—it really doesn't read like one. It reads like a memoir. It may be fiction, but it reeks of authenticity and bears few of the marks of a thriller (or any other kind of novel). This is both a fantastic achievement and a frustration for a reader who expects certain kinds of things from a thriller.
The level of detail is intense—I wouldn't have thought I'd ever learn anything about how one goes about finding contacts or establishing working relationships in the middle of a war, relying largely on translators and practical strangers to help navigate through the city/populace. On the one hand, it was intriguing and I quite enjoyed being exposed to this kind of thing. On the other hand, there were large stretches where it seemed like nothing was happening—like the dominoes were being set up and instead of knocking them down, the line kept getting longer and more twisty.
I never got bored, but I spent a lot of time wondering "where is this going?" While not every detail or anecdote ended up paying off, enough did to justify reading it and again, the level of detail made it really seem like you were reading the recollection of someone who'd been there. And while the initial 50-60% of the book could be called slow (after the initial chapters, anyway, which dropped the reader into a tense situation before backtracking a few months to establish things), once things picked up, they really picked up.
I don't know that I ever really made any emotional connection to Pierce—I was pretty unmoved by his marital or financial woes or triumphs. I still wanted to keep reading about what he was going through, but any trouble or danger he encountered didn't grab me (other than as an obstacle to whatever he was trying to accomplish). I don't know if this is something Leavers was trying to accomplish, or if it's the sign of a new author—I tend to think it's due to the non-fiction-y feel of the work, and I rarely get that connected to actual people I'm reading about.
I think I'm safe when I say that you haven't read a thriller like this before—it's a slow burn, but it's consistently interesting and you certainly feel the imminent threat constantly around Pierce. Once the action kicks into a higher gear, it's a pretty fast read, but you've got to work a little before then. It's a satisfying read, and one that will reward the time you put in. I recommend it for someone open to an atypical read where the suspense comes from sources you're not used to encountering (and a few that everyone is used to).
My thanks to damppebbles blog tours for the invitation to participate in this book tour and the materials (including a copy of the novel) they provided.
September 22, 2019
Although Appetite For Risk is a work of fiction, Jack Leavers borrows heavily from his own experiences and the first person narrative means that John Pierce's accounts of his exploits could easily be believed to be a memoir, such is the authenticity of the writing.
The book is effectively a story written in three parts; the first part finds John in Basra, Iraq in November 2004 and almost immediately there is a real sense of how unpredictable and therefore potentially dangerous the country is. After leaving the relative safety of the British military base, he suddenly finds himself in a situation which left me with my heart in my mouth. A little later on and he finds himself in another terrifying confrontation. As somebody who is about a far from a thrill-seeker as it's possible to be, I found it fascinating to follow John's thought-processes as he has to weigh up his practical need for improved finances coupled with his being drawn to a high-risk lifestyle with his guilt over his absences from his wife and family and the undoubted toll his experiences have exerted on his mind and body.
This is further explored in the middle and longest section of the novel which is set in the preceding ten months and explains how he came to be delivering a handwritten letter to Sheikh Mustafa, the Deputy President of the Basra Trade Chamber. Like many former servicemen, he had worked on the close protection circuit in London where he struck up a friendship with Mohammed, a British-Iraqi driver. After the Iraq War ended, the pair discuss setting up a business in Baghdad, hoping to invest in any reconstruction opportunities. John needs to assess the possibilities first-hand and so travels over there to take a look and to meet with potential investors or business partners. John's paranoia in certain situations is understandable given the increasingly volatile state of affairs - the real-life kidnapping and brutal murder of US national, Nicholas Berg is mentioned and is a stark reminder of the very real danger. This isn't one of those stories where the hero manages to implausibly survive against all the odds and bounces back from what should be life-changing injuries. It's a measured, entirely believable novel which uses the tension of what could happen really effectively and consequently Appetite For Risk is far more gripping and nailbiting than a more straightforward all-out action thriller.
Much of the middle section is also set in the UK and allows readers to understand a little more about John's family dynamics and how his work affects his wife and daughters. There were moments here which seemed to be taking him away from the focus of the main plot but part three draws everything together brilliantly as John's risky dealings and often dubious decisions result in him having to go back to Iraq as he becomes involved in a highly dangerous covert operation. This is real heart-in-mouth stuff and is made all the more authentic by the vivid descriptions of Iraq which bring the country to life. The use of military terms, both official and colloquial also adds a sense of realism to the proceedings, as does the bootneck humour scattered throughout the book.
I was impressed by Appetite For Risk - it is a well-plotted, believable action thriller with an engaging protagonist in John Pierce and an excellent cast of supporting characters. The depiction of the Middle East is superb and Jack Leavers successfully reflects the complicated political, social and religious complexities there whilst also recognising that many of the citizens are generous, intelligent and witty people despite everything they are forced to deal with. The balance between the harder hitting scenes and lighter moments is just right throughout, and the conclusion raised a smile and ensured I'm looking forward to discovering what lies in store for John Pierce next.
The book is effectively a story written in three parts; the first part finds John in Basra, Iraq in November 2004 and almost immediately there is a real sense of how unpredictable and therefore potentially dangerous the country is. After leaving the relative safety of the British military base, he suddenly finds himself in a situation which left me with my heart in my mouth. A little later on and he finds himself in another terrifying confrontation. As somebody who is about a far from a thrill-seeker as it's possible to be, I found it fascinating to follow John's thought-processes as he has to weigh up his practical need for improved finances coupled with his being drawn to a high-risk lifestyle with his guilt over his absences from his wife and family and the undoubted toll his experiences have exerted on his mind and body.
This is further explored in the middle and longest section of the novel which is set in the preceding ten months and explains how he came to be delivering a handwritten letter to Sheikh Mustafa, the Deputy President of the Basra Trade Chamber. Like many former servicemen, he had worked on the close protection circuit in London where he struck up a friendship with Mohammed, a British-Iraqi driver. After the Iraq War ended, the pair discuss setting up a business in Baghdad, hoping to invest in any reconstruction opportunities. John needs to assess the possibilities first-hand and so travels over there to take a look and to meet with potential investors or business partners. John's paranoia in certain situations is understandable given the increasingly volatile state of affairs - the real-life kidnapping and brutal murder of US national, Nicholas Berg is mentioned and is a stark reminder of the very real danger. This isn't one of those stories where the hero manages to implausibly survive against all the odds and bounces back from what should be life-changing injuries. It's a measured, entirely believable novel which uses the tension of what could happen really effectively and consequently Appetite For Risk is far more gripping and nailbiting than a more straightforward all-out action thriller.
Much of the middle section is also set in the UK and allows readers to understand a little more about John's family dynamics and how his work affects his wife and daughters. There were moments here which seemed to be taking him away from the focus of the main plot but part three draws everything together brilliantly as John's risky dealings and often dubious decisions result in him having to go back to Iraq as he becomes involved in a highly dangerous covert operation. This is real heart-in-mouth stuff and is made all the more authentic by the vivid descriptions of Iraq which bring the country to life. The use of military terms, both official and colloquial also adds a sense of realism to the proceedings, as does the bootneck humour scattered throughout the book.
I was impressed by Appetite For Risk - it is a well-plotted, believable action thriller with an engaging protagonist in John Pierce and an excellent cast of supporting characters. The depiction of the Middle East is superb and Jack Leavers successfully reflects the complicated political, social and religious complexities there whilst also recognising that many of the citizens are generous, intelligent and witty people despite everything they are forced to deal with. The balance between the harder hitting scenes and lighter moments is just right throughout, and the conclusion raised a smile and ensured I'm looking forward to discovering what lies in store for John Pierce next.
October 18, 2019
A fast-paced action thriller inspired by real events in the aftermath of the Iraq War.
With Saddam Hussein deposed and an entire country in need of rebuilding, former Royal Marine John Pierce hears the siren call of adventure and opportunity. His fledgling UK business is struggling to support his young family and he has connections in the Iraqi capital – fate seems to point one way.
In early 2004, Pierce rolls the dice when he jumps into a taxi in Jordan and heads for the turmoil of postwar Baghdad to grab a share of the reconstruction gold rush. But when Iraq spirals into the hell of a full-blown insurgency, he must rely on his wits and his local friends if he’s to evade the rampant bloodshed.
As the action rolls across the blood-stained Iraqi landscape and embraces London’s seedy underbelly, Pierce tangles with the authorities at home and finds himself thrust into the heart of British and American covert operations against Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Having set out with little more than ambitious goals and an appetite for risk, can a determined ex-bootneck survive the mounting chaos unscathed and succeed in hitting the jackpot?
My thoughts of this book jack leavers Appetite For Risk Brilliant action thirller what can I say full of action and adventure an ending I did not expect and I loved former Royal Marine John Pierce character 5 out of 5 loved it can not wait to read more from this talented author an explosive entertainer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
With Saddam Hussein deposed and an entire country in need of rebuilding, former Royal Marine John Pierce hears the siren call of adventure and opportunity. His fledgling UK business is struggling to support his young family and he has connections in the Iraqi capital – fate seems to point one way.
In early 2004, Pierce rolls the dice when he jumps into a taxi in Jordan and heads for the turmoil of postwar Baghdad to grab a share of the reconstruction gold rush. But when Iraq spirals into the hell of a full-blown insurgency, he must rely on his wits and his local friends if he’s to evade the rampant bloodshed.
As the action rolls across the blood-stained Iraqi landscape and embraces London’s seedy underbelly, Pierce tangles with the authorities at home and finds himself thrust into the heart of British and American covert operations against Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Having set out with little more than ambitious goals and an appetite for risk, can a determined ex-bootneck survive the mounting chaos unscathed and succeed in hitting the jackpot?
My thoughts of this book jack leavers Appetite For Risk Brilliant action thirller what can I say full of action and adventure an ending I did not expect and I loved former Royal Marine John Pierce character 5 out of 5 loved it can not wait to read more from this talented author an explosive entertainer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 16, 2020
The story is told from the first person and most of the time I completely forgot that this was a work of fiction, and not somebody’s actual story! It is inspired by true events though, and I spent so much time wondering which bits had genuinely happened! It honestly feels like John is a real person and we’re reading his memoir, which makes it really interesting.
Having had an ex in the Military who served in Iraq whilst we were together, it was really interesting for me and I loved the fact that I knew some of the lingo!! The action bits of the story really have you on the edge of your seat; I regularly found myself fully immersed in the story and not wanting to put it down.
I really connected with John and his wife Claire. His need for a bit of adventure is never going to change, and his wife’s reluctant acceptance of this is one which I’m sure many military girlfriends and wive’s would fully understand.
There were times when the story did slow down a bit, for example when we’re learning about what John is up to back in the UK; which is probably what made this feel more like a memoir. But it just added to the character building of John and helped me to get to know him a bit more and understand his personality.
Overall I really enjoyed this. I loved getting to know John, immersing myself in the story and wondering which bits may be true! I’m looking forward to reading book 2 to see what other adventures John gets up to!
Having had an ex in the Military who served in Iraq whilst we were together, it was really interesting for me and I loved the fact that I knew some of the lingo!! The action bits of the story really have you on the edge of your seat; I regularly found myself fully immersed in the story and not wanting to put it down.
I really connected with John and his wife Claire. His need for a bit of adventure is never going to change, and his wife’s reluctant acceptance of this is one which I’m sure many military girlfriends and wive’s would fully understand.
There were times when the story did slow down a bit, for example when we’re learning about what John is up to back in the UK; which is probably what made this feel more like a memoir. But it just added to the character building of John and helped me to get to know him a bit more and understand his personality.
Overall I really enjoyed this. I loved getting to know John, immersing myself in the story and wondering which bits may be true! I’m looking forward to reading book 2 to see what other adventures John gets up to!
September 25, 2019
An ex marine himself, Jack Leavers has written a story that is based on his very own experiences of Iraq at the time, when the coalition seized power and ousted Saddam.
John pierce, ex marine, in financial trouble decides to try his luck, and try to cash in on postwar Baghdad.
I almost instantly found myself being taken into Iraq, this book is such an immersive experience. The setting of the scenes, feel so authentic, and as Jack himself has said to me over Twitter conversations, the reasons he was able to do this so well is because he was there!
It doesn’t feel like fiction, written in the first person, it reads exactly as if Jack Leavers is telling us his own story. There is quite a lot of military talk aswell.
The first, maybe half of the book is a slow burner as the story is set and as John makes his contacts in Iraq.
But the tension and action are really ratched up in the 2nd half of this barn storming military thriller.
Overall this for me is an excellent story of Iraq, and the aftermath of the coalition, it’s certainly nothing like I've read before.
Highly recommended
4 🔥🔥🔥🔥
John pierce, ex marine, in financial trouble decides to try his luck, and try to cash in on postwar Baghdad.
I almost instantly found myself being taken into Iraq, this book is such an immersive experience. The setting of the scenes, feel so authentic, and as Jack himself has said to me over Twitter conversations, the reasons he was able to do this so well is because he was there!
It doesn’t feel like fiction, written in the first person, it reads exactly as if Jack Leavers is telling us his own story. There is quite a lot of military talk aswell.
The first, maybe half of the book is a slow burner as the story is set and as John makes his contacts in Iraq.
But the tension and action are really ratched up in the 2nd half of this barn storming military thriller.
Overall this for me is an excellent story of Iraq, and the aftermath of the coalition, it’s certainly nothing like I've read before.
Highly recommended
4 🔥🔥🔥🔥
July 28, 2019
This is a fast-paced action thriller which is inspired by real events in and after the Iraq War.
Saddam Hussein has been deposed and the country needs rebuilding, former Royal Marine John Pierce, lover of danger and adventure sees an opportunity here, with a struggling business, maybe this is his chance…..
So he heads to Baghdad to reap the spoils of the rebuilding of this country, but then all hell breaks out, with the insurgents battling to take over. Will John be able to survive the bloodshed or get caught up in the various operations by U.K. and US governments against the growing Al-Qaeda….?
This is written in the first person and I felt it reads a little like a biography, which lent this action packed thriller a sense of realism and tension. Set in London and Iraq it gives background to both cultures, good and bad….an immersive and gripping read.
Thank you to Damppebbles Blog Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
Saddam Hussein has been deposed and the country needs rebuilding, former Royal Marine John Pierce, lover of danger and adventure sees an opportunity here, with a struggling business, maybe this is his chance…..
So he heads to Baghdad to reap the spoils of the rebuilding of this country, but then all hell breaks out, with the insurgents battling to take over. Will John be able to survive the bloodshed or get caught up in the various operations by U.K. and US governments against the growing Al-Qaeda….?
This is written in the first person and I felt it reads a little like a biography, which lent this action packed thriller a sense of realism and tension. Set in London and Iraq it gives background to both cultures, good and bad….an immersive and gripping read.
Thank you to Damppebbles Blog Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
June 12, 2020
A different style than I normally read. Prefer the fiction based overkill type of action.
November 17, 2020
As a reader there is no substitute for the sense that an author has a truly authoritative grasp of their subject matter. Enter Jack Leavers with his debut thriller 'Appetite for Risk'. The story is set in Iraq in the early noughties. Saddam Hussein is out and Al Qaeda are moving in. Society is not exactly stable(!), but where there's instability there's opportunity. Particularly for those like the lead character John Pierce - a former RM Commando - who are willing to take that risk and try to grab a piece of the action. From the moment he first arrives, John is thrust into a fight for survival, economically, physically and mentally, and you are left guessing on the outcome until the very end.
The author, Jack Leavers, is himself an ex-Marine with long and no doubt hard-won experience of operating in various military capacities across multiple fields of conflict around the world. That this includes Iraq is obvious from the sense of authenticity and level of detail that Leavers brings to his writing, from landscapes to local traditions. That alone makes this book (his latest campaign) one that's well worth a read. If you're also a fan of a fast-paced narrative, explosive action sequences and a hearty dose of 'life or death' then you're in for a real treat. Recommend!
The author, Jack Leavers, is himself an ex-Marine with long and no doubt hard-won experience of operating in various military capacities across multiple fields of conflict around the world. That this includes Iraq is obvious from the sense of authenticity and level of detail that Leavers brings to his writing, from landscapes to local traditions. That alone makes this book (his latest campaign) one that's well worth a read. If you're also a fan of a fast-paced narrative, explosive action sequences and a hearty dose of 'life or death' then you're in for a real treat. Recommend!
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