What do you think?
Rate this book
Danny Black #8
Zero 22
An SAS unit codenamed Zero 22, operating covertly in the war-torn badlands of northern Syria, is ambushed and massacred by a small army of mercenaries dressed like Hell's Angels
Danny Black survives the massacre and back in London learns that his unit was betrayed by a mole feeding high-level military intelligence to the Russians. Like any SAS man worthy of the name, his first thought is to avenge the men who lost their lives on the Zero 22 op.
He has no hesitation in accepting the mission to assassinate the man responsible for the death of his mates. Danny finds himself operating with an MI6 officer and together they embark on a high-risk, deniable mission that will require all Danny's Regiment.
As the mission unfolds, however, Danny learns that darker forces are at play. He realises that what started out as a simple act of revenge is just single play in a conspiracy that will take him across continents and pit him against the insidious machinations of the most powerful men in the world.
Danny Black survives the massacre and back in London learns that his unit was betrayed by a mole feeding high-level military intelligence to the Russians. Like any SAS man worthy of the name, his first thought is to avenge the men who lost their lives on the Zero 22 op.
He has no hesitation in accepting the mission to assassinate the man responsible for the death of his mates. Danny finds himself operating with an MI6 officer and together they embark on a high-risk, deniable mission that will require all Danny's Regiment.
As the mission unfolds, however, Danny learns that darker forces are at play. He realises that what started out as a simple act of revenge is just single play in a conspiracy that will take him across continents and pit him against the insidious machinations of the most powerful men in the world.
467 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2020
76 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
Chris Ryan
342 books1,024 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 24, 2021
Good read as usual, but the parallels with Trump and the every day racism the Arabic character faced was heavy handed and detracted from the story.
Not sure I like where the story is heading either as it seems less SAS and more personal mission, but I'm prepared to be wrong!
Not sure I like where the story is heading either as it seems less SAS and more personal mission, but I'm prepared to be wrong!
December 1, 2020
Chris Ryan worked very hard to write a politically correct thriller imbued with TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome).
Being black, brown, Muslim is good, altruistic and patriotic, but being man and white is bad, dangerous, racist and treacherous.
Danny Black is a skilled warrior but a lousy analyst and other characters make sure that this is said loud and clear in front of him. For Chris Ryan his hero is more muscle and reaction than brain. Of course, nobody expects a 007, but Brits were the masters of covert ops., not the masters of self-flagellation.
Being black, brown, Muslim is good, altruistic and patriotic, but being man and white is bad, dangerous, racist and treacherous.
Danny Black is a skilled warrior but a lousy analyst and other characters make sure that this is said loud and clear in front of him. For Chris Ryan his hero is more muscle and reaction than brain. Of course, nobody expects a 007, but Brits were the masters of covert ops., not the masters of self-flagellation.
September 7, 2021
Danny Black is being played and sent into mission again with a crazy former MI6 operative Bethany White.
There is a lot of wrong in this one.
Someone is setting up a US general for treason. Danny was sent to kill this US general with Bethany White based on bad intel.
Second, a boy was killed by the British solider under order. That's beyond bad.
The only thing Danny has done in this one is to run around and survive to fight another day. Now that crazy bitch is going for revenge, he is first on her list.
There is a lot of wrong in this one.
Someone is setting up a US general for treason. Danny was sent to kill this US general with Bethany White based on bad intel.
Second, a boy was killed by the British solider under order. That's beyond bad.
The only thing Danny has done in this one is to run around and survive to fight another day. Now that crazy bitch is going for revenge, he is first on her list.
September 10, 2021
Outstanding
A story of deceit. All encompassing deceit. Gut wrenching manipulation. Superbly told. Action from chapter to chapter. A must read.
A story of deceit. All encompassing deceit. Gut wrenching manipulation. Superbly told. Action from chapter to chapter. A must read.
February 7, 2021
Poor ending
All of that and then the book finishes without and ending. Poor marketing skills. I would have liked an actual ending!!
All of that and then the book finishes without and ending. Poor marketing skills. I would have liked an actual ending!!
May 25, 2021
Five star action
Another action packed story from Chris Ryan. Relevant and bang up to date, an enjoyable read.
Looking forward to the next one
Another action packed story from Chris Ryan. Relevant and bang up to date, an enjoyable read.
Looking forward to the next one
October 5, 2021
Great Read left on a cliffhanger
Storyline is intriguing and seems very real. You can imagine this thing going on. Danny Black is a great character.
Storyline is intriguing and seems very real. You can imagine this thing going on. Danny Black is a great character.
May 23, 2021
This was one of the weaker books in the Danny Black series for me. I read this kind of basic SAS operator novel for three reasons - well-organised action set pieces, an interesting variety of locations and a decent overarching plot. Nothing too complicated or metapolitical, just action with some twists and turns. This book does alright on the first, misses opportunities on the second and mostly fails on the third.
The action: the actual action scenes in the book are serviceable. There is one particularly well-structured sequence where Black ambushes an opposing SF team and one interesting infiltration of a top-floor penthouse in London. Otherwise though the action is very much your standard fare, with few really memorable encounters. Chris Ryan can be counted on to describe the action with an insider's eye but it slightly felt as if he was running out of ideas for this one.
The locations: this feels like a big missed opportunity for me. The action takes place mainly in London, Amman and Washington DC, with one additional locale I can't reveal without any spoilers. But the places are mainly interchangeable: while there is some par-for-the-course description of Amman (where I have actually lived) as sandblasted, dirty and polluted - all of which are true - most of the action takes place in a car, or in a five-star hotel in the city, so they could have been anywhere at this point. Same thing with London - there's some action in the aforementioned penthouse, a scene at MI6 headquarters in Vauxhall, and one in a warehouse in West London. Nothing to really separate it from anywhere else (Mi6 building excluded).
The plot is where the book is weakest. As other reviewers have pointed out, the story mostly continues on from previous books with the same main characters, Danny Black and Bethany White. While they are both decent characters with well-fleshed-out motivations, their struggle is more personal which moves the book away slightly from "spec ops action thriller" and more towards "personal thriller with political flavouring." Not necessarily a bad thing, but I suspect not the reason most people read these books. It also seems like the next book in the series will also mostly continue the same Bethany-Danny storyline. The main villain in the book, an almost cartoon-like Wagner Group mercenary, is also a very weak character: he likes to kill Western special forces operators, but we're never told why, or anything else about this guy at all to flesh out his character. When he is eventually dispatched it's also in almost comical Bond villain-type fashion, after smugly revealing key intelligence that drives the rest of the plot forward.
One final word on the political meta-plot of the book. While I am no fan of either Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin, the inclusion of a collusion-flavoured narrative here feels really ham-fisted and doesn't actually bring anything substantial to the table. You can see the twist in finding out who is actually behind the conspiracy (hint-it's not who you originally think is going to be the target!) unfolding in the plot from a mile away, and the sub-plot around former Guantanamo detainee Hamoud is exceedingly plodding. There is of course space for these types of plotlines, which encourage the reader to question their assumptions of who the bad guys and the good guys are, in an SAS thriller book, but it has to be done with some subtlety, lest the author leave themselves open to (not unreasonable) accusations of having "gone PC." The previous book's plotline around the rogue MI6 agent was better-constructed and more engaging in this regard.
Overall, if you're read the previous 7 books and want to keep following Danny Black's adventures you're going to have to read this one. It's not an awful book by any stretch - I still read it in a couple of days, enjoyed some of the firefights and will be back for more when Danny Black 9 is out. But it would be good to have a bit more inventive plotlines in future instalments.
The action: the actual action scenes in the book are serviceable. There is one particularly well-structured sequence where Black ambushes an opposing SF team and one interesting infiltration of a top-floor penthouse in London. Otherwise though the action is very much your standard fare, with few really memorable encounters. Chris Ryan can be counted on to describe the action with an insider's eye but it slightly felt as if he was running out of ideas for this one.
The locations: this feels like a big missed opportunity for me. The action takes place mainly in London, Amman and Washington DC, with one additional locale I can't reveal without any spoilers. But the places are mainly interchangeable: while there is some par-for-the-course description of Amman (where I have actually lived) as sandblasted, dirty and polluted - all of which are true - most of the action takes place in a car, or in a five-star hotel in the city, so they could have been anywhere at this point. Same thing with London - there's some action in the aforementioned penthouse, a scene at MI6 headquarters in Vauxhall, and one in a warehouse in West London. Nothing to really separate it from anywhere else (Mi6 building excluded).
The plot is where the book is weakest. As other reviewers have pointed out, the story mostly continues on from previous books with the same main characters, Danny Black and Bethany White. While they are both decent characters with well-fleshed-out motivations, their struggle is more personal which moves the book away slightly from "spec ops action thriller" and more towards "personal thriller with political flavouring." Not necessarily a bad thing, but I suspect not the reason most people read these books. It also seems like the next book in the series will also mostly continue the same Bethany-Danny storyline. The main villain in the book, an almost cartoon-like Wagner Group mercenary, is also a very weak character: he likes to kill Western special forces operators, but we're never told why, or anything else about this guy at all to flesh out his character. When he is eventually dispatched it's also in almost comical Bond villain-type fashion, after smugly revealing key intelligence that drives the rest of the plot forward.
One final word on the political meta-plot of the book. While I am no fan of either Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin, the inclusion of a collusion-flavoured narrative here feels really ham-fisted and doesn't actually bring anything substantial to the table. You can see the twist in finding out who is actually behind the conspiracy (hint-it's not who you originally think is going to be the target!) unfolding in the plot from a mile away, and the sub-plot around former Guantanamo detainee Hamoud is exceedingly plodding. There is of course space for these types of plotlines, which encourage the reader to question their assumptions of who the bad guys and the good guys are, in an SAS thriller book, but it has to be done with some subtlety, lest the author leave themselves open to (not unreasonable) accusations of having "gone PC." The previous book's plotline around the rogue MI6 agent was better-constructed and more engaging in this regard.
Overall, if you're read the previous 7 books and want to keep following Danny Black's adventures you're going to have to read this one. It's not an awful book by any stretch - I still read it in a couple of days, enjoyed some of the firefights and will be back for more when Danny Black 9 is out. But it would be good to have a bit more inventive plotlines in future instalments.
December 31, 2021
This will be the last book of 2021 I'll finish, I got it for my Birthday last year and hadn't gotten around to finishing it mainly because I don't have a lot of time on hand for Paperbacks these days.
It starts of with the main character Danny Black on an OP called codenamed Zero 22, it goes horribly wrong and our protagonist is the only survivor, forced to team-up with a psychotic Ex-MI6 officer to get revenge and a plot full of twists and intrigue this was actually a very exciting book, however it's number 8 in a series and I didn't realise this until about a quarter of the way through when it was mentioned that Danny and Bethany had a previous history together.
Will I continue reading the series or go back and read the rest? Probably not at this stage. Did I enjoy this story enough for what it was on it's own? Hell yeah, but the characters weren't intriguing enough for me to continue is all and the world itself is well, it's just a regular old version of Earth haha. I learned a lot from this book though. I feel like if I hadn't missed the prior seven books before reading this my connection to the characters would be more complete so it's probably not the books fault.
Oh, and as other reviews have stated it's very heavy handed on it's anti-trump message. Just like, not even a little bit obscure or ambiguous just flat out hits you with it like a cinder block. I personally don't like Trump so it was neither here or there for me but it bares mentioning just because of how heavy handed it was.
It starts of with the main character Danny Black on an OP called codenamed Zero 22, it goes horribly wrong and our protagonist is the only survivor, forced to team-up with a psychotic Ex-MI6 officer to get revenge and a plot full of twists and intrigue this was actually a very exciting book, however it's number 8 in a series and I didn't realise this until about a quarter of the way through when it was mentioned that Danny and Bethany had a previous history together.
Will I continue reading the series or go back and read the rest? Probably not at this stage. Did I enjoy this story enough for what it was on it's own? Hell yeah, but the characters weren't intriguing enough for me to continue is all and the world itself is well, it's just a regular old version of Earth haha. I learned a lot from this book though. I feel like if I hadn't missed the prior seven books before reading this my connection to the characters would be more complete so it's probably not the books fault.
Oh, and as other reviews have stated it's very heavy handed on it's anti-trump message. Just like, not even a little bit obscure or ambiguous just flat out hits you with it like a cinder block. I personally don't like Trump so it was neither here or there for me but it bares mentioning just because of how heavy handed it was.
August 2, 2021
Great comeback from book 7 “Black Ops” which I hated
It’s a year or so since I’ve read a Chris Ryan Book, the gradual reduction in quality of the ‘Danny Black’ series, culminating in (Book 7), which for me was just yet another money grab by a successful writer. No craft to that book at all, (imho obviously).
This however, is well worth paying for, reading and savouring. It’s clever, intriguing and very hard to put down. Of the genre it really is good and is up there with some of Ryan’s best works.
Maybe he was out of ideas, rushing, being hassled by the publishers for book 7, shall never know?
Personally I’d suggest skipping book 7, (or reading this as a ‘stand alone’ for now it’s that good), you don’t really lose anything going into this one. And the great thing about this book it sets it up really nicely (storytelling wise) for book 9.
Really hope Ryan takes as much care with that as with this.
Throughly recommended.
It’s a year or so since I’ve read a Chris Ryan Book, the gradual reduction in quality of the ‘Danny Black’ series, culminating in (Book 7), which for me was just yet another money grab by a successful writer. No craft to that book at all, (imho obviously).
This however, is well worth paying for, reading and savouring. It’s clever, intriguing and very hard to put down. Of the genre it really is good and is up there with some of Ryan’s best works.
Maybe he was out of ideas, rushing, being hassled by the publishers for book 7, shall never know?
Personally I’d suggest skipping book 7, (or reading this as a ‘stand alone’ for now it’s that good), you don’t really lose anything going into this one. And the great thing about this book it sets it up really nicely (storytelling wise) for book 9.
Really hope Ryan takes as much care with that as with this.
Throughly recommended.
February 11, 2021
I've enjoyed every book in the series.... until this one. The author has gone full lefty, with a plot involving a Republican President framing muslims and Democrat politicians for a terrorist attack and suggesting all his supporters are white racists, even referencing MAGA hats. I won't be reading any more of his books.
August 14, 2024
The unbelievable and quite daft overarching story was basically political propaganda on behalf of the US Democrat party, and it wouldn't surprise me if it had been sponsored. It is impressive though, that the political persecution and corruption we've seen from the Biden regime was predicted back in 2020.
However, putting this aside, the thrilling parts of the novel definitely worked well.
However, putting this aside, the thrilling parts of the novel definitely worked well.
July 4, 2025
Danny Black A Real Soldier
I really enjoy reading Chris Ryan especially stories relating to Danny Black and I am slowly getting to read them. I have read them all with the exception of No 2 Hunter Killer. I usually get them on amazon but haven’t came across it yet but I will still keep looking .
I really enjoy reading Chris Ryan especially stories relating to Danny Black and I am slowly getting to read them. I have read them all with the exception of No 2 Hunter Killer. I usually get them on amazon but haven’t came across it yet but I will still keep looking .
January 5, 2021
Typical Chris Ryan book, kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time i was reading it, there has to be another one as it ended where he was betrayed by a spook and she threatened Danny's kid..... time will tell.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2021
Kept me wanting to read it all in one, couldn't put it down
Enthralled from beginning to end - enjoy content, writing style, certainly had me rushing back to my kindle, so believable.
Enthralled from beginning to end - enjoy content, writing style, certainly had me rushing back to my kindle, so believable.
September 11, 2021
What a great series
Another cracker. Fully entertaining, realistic and relentless.
I'm really glad to have jumped on board with this series when he was 8 book in and written as I've been binge reading.
Can't wait for the next instalment.
Another cracker. Fully entertaining, realistic and relentless.
I'm really glad to have jumped on board with this series when he was 8 book in and written as I've been binge reading.
Can't wait for the next instalment.
June 2, 2023
I found it a very immersive read, fast paced from the outset with a very easy to follow storyline, and a wholly believable plot. My only criticism would be that in some places it was a little predictable.
November 7, 2025
A page turner!
Fast moving with enough twists and turns that keeps you wanting to read more. As always, Ryan, in the conclusion, has you wanting to know “What happened next?”. Really impressed by this author.
Fast moving with enough twists and turns that keeps you wanting to read more. As always, Ryan, in the conclusion, has you wanting to know “What happened next?”. Really impressed by this author.
December 7, 2020
Excellent story Danny Black doing what he does best
Read it you won't be disappointed
Read it you won't be disappointed
March 12, 2021
One of the best so far. Really enjoyed it.
April 16, 2021
Fabulous read!
June 21, 2021
never liked the ending
July 2, 2021
It's not just Black and White
Great story this one a real cliff hanger with a twist at the end. Danny in more trouble and the evil Mrs White
Great story this one a real cliff hanger with a twist at the end. Danny in more trouble and the evil Mrs White
July 8, 2021
Good story
TypicalChris Ryan story, good book ,worth reading, funny ending but there must be a sequel coming next. Cannot wait to read
TypicalChris Ryan story, good book ,worth reading, funny ending but there must be a sequel coming next. Cannot wait to read
July 10, 2021
I normally enjoy the Danny Black series. But not a fan of this one.
August 4, 2021
Loved it!
Great read, kept me gripped right through. Looking forward to the next book to find out what happens next. Would recommend.
Great read, kept me gripped right through. Looking forward to the next book to find out what happens next. Would recommend.
August 5, 2021
Good thriller.
August 20, 2021
The plot was very suspicious but moved along at a good pace and kept things exciting. Feels like he’s trying to write darker style of books and doesn’t feel 100% natural.
September 17, 2021
First ever book from this author that I didn't like. The political context is absolutely rubish IMO.
November 3, 2021
Absolute blinding read
Danny black and Bethany white at the top of their game tremendous read more intrigue and twist than ever before simply brilliant
Danny black and Bethany white at the top of their game tremendous read more intrigue and twist than ever before simply brilliant
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews