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Matt Logan #2
Defend or Die
When no one knows you exist, you don’t have to play by the rules . . .
Meet former MI5 officer Matt Logan, now part of a totally deniable government organization known as ‘Blindeye’, with full licence to do whatever it takes to neutralize threats to the UK’s national security.
When intelligence comes through that the Kremlin plans to launch a terror attack in London, Logan and the team set in motion a surveillance operation on a billionaire Russian oligarch who may be connected with the incoming threat.
As they dig into the man’s life, they soon discover a network of incredibly dangerous individuals whose plans could tear the nation apart. Battling personal demons of his own, Logan must defend his country from a terrifying enemy, or die trying . . .
Meet former MI5 officer Matt Logan, now part of a totally deniable government organization known as ‘Blindeye’, with full licence to do whatever it takes to neutralize threats to the UK’s national security.
When intelligence comes through that the Kremlin plans to launch a terror attack in London, Logan and the team set in motion a surveillance operation on a billionaire Russian oligarch who may be connected with the incoming threat.
As they dig into the man’s life, they soon discover a network of incredibly dangerous individuals whose plans could tear the nation apart. Battling personal demons of his own, Logan must defend his country from a terrifying enemy, or die trying . . .
313 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2020
49 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
About the author
Tom Marcus
14 books166 followersTom Marcus, former MI5, grew up on the streets in the North of England. He joined the Army at sixteen and went on to became the youngest member of the Armed Forces to pass the 6-month selection process for Special Operations in Northern Ireland.
He was hand picked from the Army into MI5 as a Surveillance Officer. He left the Security Service recently after a decade on the frontline protecting his country due to being diagnosed with PTSD.
An extraordinary battle and recovery took place which led Tom to write his first book, Soldier Spy which has been vetted and cleared for publication by MI5, it's the first true ground level account ever to be told. The first time in the Security Services' history a Surveillance Officer has told the real story of the fight on our streets and his debut book went straight to Number 1 on the Sunday Times best sellers list and Number 1 on Amazon.
Tom's new fiction series featuring Matt Logan starts in May 2018 with his first book; Capture or Kill.
Tom, now consults on projects within TV and film including the TV dramatisation of his book Soldier Spy.
Due to the ongoing specific threat to Tom Marcus, MI5 insist he keep his identity hidden and he continues to work with the Security Service and other agencies to ensure he stays safe.
He was hand picked from the Army into MI5 as a Surveillance Officer. He left the Security Service recently after a decade on the frontline protecting his country due to being diagnosed with PTSD.
An extraordinary battle and recovery took place which led Tom to write his first book, Soldier Spy which has been vetted and cleared for publication by MI5, it's the first true ground level account ever to be told. The first time in the Security Services' history a Surveillance Officer has told the real story of the fight on our streets and his debut book went straight to Number 1 on the Sunday Times best sellers list and Number 1 on Amazon.
Tom's new fiction series featuring Matt Logan starts in May 2018 with his first book; Capture or Kill.
Tom, now consults on projects within TV and film including the TV dramatisation of his book Soldier Spy.
Due to the ongoing specific threat to Tom Marcus, MI5 insist he keep his identity hidden and he continues to work with the Security Service and other agencies to ensure he stays safe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
November 26, 2020
Defend or Die is the second instalment in the former MI5 agent Matt Logan series, which follows ex surveillance operative Matt as a fully fledged member of the clandestine group known as Blindeye, a government organisation that deals with threats to the United Kingdom's National Security and whose members maintain a level of plausible deniability in all the off the book assignments they undertake. This time Matt and the clan are called in to assemble, investigate and dig for intelligence when a dangerous terrorist threat emerges. Based out of their new secret base of Clearwater Security in central London, the team liaise with MI6 operatives who strongly believe that the Russians are employing former-patriots, who emigrated to Britain, to incite an attack. Victor Shlovsky, a Russian oligarch and billionaire living in the London suburbs of affluent Hampstead Heath, is placed under intensive surveillance, an order seemingly of so little importance that the Prime Minister himself had previously directly demanded they leave Shlovsky alone having blocked the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS/MI6) from carrying it out. The day-to-day management of the team changes frequently and this time it's the turn of Mrs Allenby, the Director General's former personal assistant, but it's quite the shock to hear the news that two Blindeye members have recently passed away since the last time they were summoned.
Craig McKinley suffered a fatal heart attack while on holiday in the Grampians and it turns out that Claire Maxwell was due to attend that day's meeting, but on her way along a remote stretch of road near the North York Moors she senses something isn't quite right and before she knows it she's in an accident. It isn't long before other colleagues begin to feel as though they are also being targeted, including Logan who believes he was driven at in the street outside a pub, but fortunately he escaped unscathed yet shaken. Who exactly is hunting them down and what is their endgame? This is a riveting, action packed and explosive read right from the start, and I found myself breathless with anticipation over what would happen next. Logan has a dangerous and ever-changing job and him and his team must evolve and adapt based on the threat they are facing at the time. It's a high-octane game of cat and mouse, which had my heart thumping, and Mr Marcus, having worked the exact same job as Logan, fills the plot with a rich authenticity and reality-driven storyline not often encountered in spy thrillers. The fact that Logan is human and flawed rather than invincible makes it all the more engrossing to me, and I must admit I read until the dawn chorus as I was well and truly immersed in this nail-biting page-turner. I look forward to the third outing scheduled for May 2021. Highly recommended.
Craig McKinley suffered a fatal heart attack while on holiday in the Grampians and it turns out that Claire Maxwell was due to attend that day's meeting, but on her way along a remote stretch of road near the North York Moors she senses something isn't quite right and before she knows it she's in an accident. It isn't long before other colleagues begin to feel as though they are also being targeted, including Logan who believes he was driven at in the street outside a pub, but fortunately he escaped unscathed yet shaken. Who exactly is hunting them down and what is their endgame? This is a riveting, action packed and explosive read right from the start, and I found myself breathless with anticipation over what would happen next. Logan has a dangerous and ever-changing job and him and his team must evolve and adapt based on the threat they are facing at the time. It's a high-octane game of cat and mouse, which had my heart thumping, and Mr Marcus, having worked the exact same job as Logan, fills the plot with a rich authenticity and reality-driven storyline not often encountered in spy thrillers. The fact that Logan is human and flawed rather than invincible makes it all the more engrossing to me, and I must admit I read until the dawn chorus as I was well and truly immersed in this nail-biting page-turner. I look forward to the third outing scheduled for May 2021. Highly recommended.
December 8, 2020
An odd mix this thriller, a blend of stuff I really liked with much I really didn’t!
Second in a series featuring operative Matt Logan, a member of a small off the books team called “Blindeye” who operate in the grey areas to defend the country. Unusually, none of them are tier one operatives lugging around heavy duty weaponry – this was a bit different but also threw up some weaknesses.
The good things are the tradecraft (not surprising given the authors background) and the interesting premise of Blindeye.
The bad things are many. A significant storyline left unfinished (presumably for the next book) and a character interaction also left hanging. On top of this there is a chunk of PTSD where we have our hero Logan talking to the “presence” of his dead wife. And having a weird interaction with a corpse in an abandoned house. Oh and the author is obsessed with foxes popping up everywhere.
So the storyline doesn’t really work here with far too many aspects not explained or not resolved.
Second in a series featuring operative Matt Logan, a member of a small off the books team called “Blindeye” who operate in the grey areas to defend the country. Unusually, none of them are tier one operatives lugging around heavy duty weaponry – this was a bit different but also threw up some weaknesses.
The good things are the tradecraft (not surprising given the authors background) and the interesting premise of Blindeye.
The bad things are many. A significant storyline left unfinished (presumably for the next book) and a character interaction also left hanging. On top of this there is a chunk of PTSD where we have our hero Logan talking to the “presence” of his dead wife. And having a weird interaction with a corpse in an abandoned house. Oh and the author is obsessed with foxes popping up everywhere.
So the storyline doesn’t really work here with far too many aspects not explained or not resolved.
November 24, 2020
4.5 stars
Defend or Die is a full on gripping story. Think about all the billionaires that live in Hampstead, London, and their glamourous life, nothing can touch them, right? Well, in reality we all know that it’s not that easy because they are always a target for anyone with a bit of courage to challenge their security or bank accounts.
Matt Logan is a peculiar character that got my attention from the first time he’s introduced in the story and I need to read the first book in the series to get to know a bit more about him because he’s definitely an interesting person. The whole team is surprisingly not exactly what I was expecting but, thinking better of it, they actually work much better together and the more they have to unveil the secrets with every new twist and turn of the situations, the more it had me engrossed and anticipating what shoe will drop next.
There are a few predictable moments and it’s normal as the story covers a lot of topics that already have been told in other suspenseful books, but there are also quite a few moments when I was caught unprepared and I loved those more than anything.
A must read novel for the crime/thrillers lovers.
Defend or Die is a full on gripping story. Think about all the billionaires that live in Hampstead, London, and their glamourous life, nothing can touch them, right? Well, in reality we all know that it’s not that easy because they are always a target for anyone with a bit of courage to challenge their security or bank accounts.
Matt Logan is a peculiar character that got my attention from the first time he’s introduced in the story and I need to read the first book in the series to get to know a bit more about him because he’s definitely an interesting person. The whole team is surprisingly not exactly what I was expecting but, thinking better of it, they actually work much better together and the more they have to unveil the secrets with every new twist and turn of the situations, the more it had me engrossed and anticipating what shoe will drop next.
There are a few predictable moments and it’s normal as the story covers a lot of topics that already have been told in other suspenseful books, but there are also quite a few moments when I was caught unprepared and I loved those more than anything.
A must read novel for the crime/thrillers lovers.
January 7, 2024
Matt Logan lost his wife and child in the last book.
He is still grieving and suffering.
Now he is being recruited into a spy organization. He is doing surveillance job. He looked like a homeless person and he is really good at doing that. So he observed.
He found an abandoned house to stay and observe the target.
He found a body. A young woman body he nickname Daisy.
The work continue....
The story goes on with his chance of meeting someone who is also depressed.
Then there is a main part, passed the 40% mark. He found a terrorist.
He volunteered to be brainwashed. This part is scary.
The rest is really good.
I found this story okay. The execution might need more work but the story itself is okay.
It stays within the reality. That things are not bright and shiny. Bad people are horrible. And Logan going to distribute his sense of justice.
4 stars read.
He is still grieving and suffering.
Now he is being recruited into a spy organization. He is doing surveillance job. He looked like a homeless person and he is really good at doing that. So he observed.
He found an abandoned house to stay and observe the target.
He found a body. A young woman body he nickname Daisy.
The work continue....
The story goes on with his chance of meeting someone who is also depressed.
Then there is a main part, passed the 40% mark. He found a terrorist.
He volunteered to be brainwashed. This part is scary.
The rest is really good.
I found this story okay. The execution might need more work but the story itself is okay.
It stays within the reality. That things are not bright and shiny. Bad people are horrible. And Logan going to distribute his sense of justice.
4 stars read.
November 16, 2020
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
an impressive read that flowed really well.. though at times i got lost in the storyline but that ok as soon as i recognised where and who it was it started to make sense
these are a group like spooks but there are only 4 of them with a handler.. and the handler could be someones granny....
but they seem to work well though they use to be more of them, two others are dead, whether they have been murdered or they were accidents remain to be seen...though what links them is unclear
the group are investigation a church a russian who the prime minster has told them to ignore...so a clashing of interests abound
an interesting read and i like the dynamics of the group will be keeping an eye out for more of this authors works
an impressive read that flowed really well.. though at times i got lost in the storyline but that ok as soon as i recognised where and who it was it started to make sense
these are a group like spooks but there are only 4 of them with a handler.. and the handler could be someones granny....
but they seem to work well though they use to be more of them, two others are dead, whether they have been murdered or they were accidents remain to be seen...though what links them is unclear
the group are investigation a church a russian who the prime minster has told them to ignore...so a clashing of interests abound
an interesting read and i like the dynamics of the group will be keeping an eye out for more of this authors works
December 8, 2020
Another brilliant book by Tom Marcus
February 17, 2021
Very odd - told in the first person, never a favourite POV of mine - I didn’t settle into the story and could not relate to the MC.
There is a place for paranormal (talking to dead people) and this is not it.
Not my cup of tea at all
There is a place for paranormal (talking to dead people) and this is not it.
Not my cup of tea at all
February 28, 2021
Having really enjoyed the other three books by this author, I had high hopes for this one too, but was left disappointed. It’s fiction of course, but I like my fiction relatable, in that I like to imagine that it could actually happen. Whilst that was the case in the first Matt Logan book, I didn’t feel the same about this one. It seemed far fetched to me, the complex mix of characters was in fact too complex, and we could have easily left the Russian connections out and still had the story play out the way it did.
I don’t know. I don’t want to be incredibly harsh, but I just wasn’t feeling this one.
And the foxes. All of the foxes. What’s with the foxes??
Jason Langley, however, who narrated the Audible version did a sterling job and the narration alone is worth five stars, while the story itself only three.
I don’t know. I don’t want to be incredibly harsh, but I just wasn’t feeling this one.
And the foxes. All of the foxes. What’s with the foxes??
Jason Langley, however, who narrated the Audible version did a sterling job and the narration alone is worth five stars, while the story itself only three.
January 9, 2023
If you're looking for a surveillance-style, action-packed book; this is for you. I loved this book. We see Matt Logan former MI5 agent work as part of the Blindeye team to face an international threat. We also see Matt struggle through an internal journey and that is what makes this book great. We don't just get a rocketing thriller but a prominent character development which often, many action novels lack.
Tom Marcus purse his knowledge of surveillance into this novel which also adds to the uniqueness, from his perspective we see just how important the build-up to the 'big fight' is and the effort it takes to get just a tiny piece of information.
I'm so glad I found this author and I will definitely be reading more books by Tom Marcus.
Tom Marcus purse his knowledge of surveillance into this novel which also adds to the uniqueness, from his perspective we see just how important the build-up to the 'big fight' is and the effort it takes to get just a tiny piece of information.
I'm so glad I found this author and I will definitely be reading more books by Tom Marcus.
December 1, 2020
Summary: Former government agent now works for a secret organisation carrying out missions the government would have to deny.
I have never read any books by Tom Marcus before, but after reading this, I think it will be added to my list of authors. For anyone who has read Andy McNab or similar, you get a realistic approach to the story, because there is some of the authors experience (training or in real life) present.
The language is easy to read, unlike some traditional authors who use flowery prose for every description, the author follows the KISS principle, by Keeping It Simple, Stupid. And it is this that makes the book so easy to read.
Great book, recommend for thriller fans.
I have never read any books by Tom Marcus before, but after reading this, I think it will be added to my list of authors. For anyone who has read Andy McNab or similar, you get a realistic approach to the story, because there is some of the authors experience (training or in real life) present.
The language is easy to read, unlike some traditional authors who use flowery prose for every description, the author follows the KISS principle, by Keeping It Simple, Stupid. And it is this that makes the book so easy to read.
Great book, recommend for thriller fans.
January 1, 2021
I bought this after enjoying the previous two offerings from TM. I was hoping for another rip roaring story with action galore.... I got part of that.
I got the impressive story, I got a face pace... at the end. I got another insight to the lead character. What I didn't get was satisfaction or a real fulfillment. There were a few scenes which IMHO dragged on. I'm still not 100% sure on the reasons behind the wife/son and the fox additions, I'm thinking ptsd or concussion. 420+ pages devoured in one sitting can only mean it was compelling and held me, but I just felt I needed more when I had finished. I'm assuming that the unfinished business will lead to another book, but I'm not sure.
I got the impressive story, I got a face pace... at the end. I got another insight to the lead character. What I didn't get was satisfaction or a real fulfillment. There were a few scenes which IMHO dragged on. I'm still not 100% sure on the reasons behind the wife/son and the fox additions, I'm thinking ptsd or concussion. 420+ pages devoured in one sitting can only mean it was compelling and held me, but I just felt I needed more when I had finished. I'm assuming that the unfinished business will lead to another book, but I'm not sure.
February 2, 2023
Bit of a strange read. I thought that it was a decent read overall and had enough to keep me engaged, but some of the plot choices were strange.
In book 1, there's the mysterious mastermind doctor - he never makes an appearance in this book.
One of the characters in this book seems to be a honey trap for the main character, but that plotline is just sort of left to one side, whilst the main plotline takes over.
Having said that, I think I will buy book 3 when it comes out in March 2023, purely to see if Tom Marcus wraps up the plot points and gives us a big reveal.
In book 1, there's the mysterious mastermind doctor - he never makes an appearance in this book.
One of the characters in this book seems to be a honey trap for the main character, but that plotline is just sort of left to one side, whilst the main plotline takes over.
Having said that, I think I will buy book 3 when it comes out in March 2023, purely to see if Tom Marcus wraps up the plot points and gives us a big reveal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2021
The details in the book was very good, you could tell his experience in the field has helped that. There were parts that I didn't get to engage in as it was written in a way that took you out of the story. Specifically chapter 57 I felt wasn't particularly well placed as the story was building up to it's Climax. I quite liked the way he wrote about the mind manipulation, interesting way that the main character Logan managed to escape it. Decent read but not amazing.
September 23, 2020
This was the first Matt Logan book that I have read but I will now certainly catch up with the previous one.
Thos was an exciting fast paced thriller and Matt Logan was an intriguing hero with a fascinating back story.
The writer - given his background - certainly knows his subject and this is a rip-roaring, action packed thriller that left me breathless.
Thos was an exciting fast paced thriller and Matt Logan was an intriguing hero with a fascinating back story.
The writer - given his background - certainly knows his subject and this is a rip-roaring, action packed thriller that left me breathless.
October 26, 2021
This has got a bit weird to be enjoyable for me now. I don’t get how Logan guessed daisy’s name, all the fox related help and almost fantasy world imagination now. This is the end of the series for me now I’m afraid. I’d like to see more real life literature from this author though like his other books
May 8, 2021
I enjoyed this book but it has been left open on a couple of points which is great for a follow up with another book, however the first one in the series was the same with no irreverent follow up.
Hoping Tom can follow these plots.
Hoping Tom can follow these plots.
June 29, 2021
Have just read this book my first by this Author and can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish .. Story line good characters good , will be buying the first book in the series. Highly recommended an enjoyable , but it and enjoy
February 17, 2022
Exciting thriller - it kept me enthralled and is the proverbial page turner!
The author writes such that we feel the excitement and tension faced by the hero. The action is well weaved into a believable plot.
Recommended to all readers who enjoy spy thrillers.
The author writes such that we feel the excitement and tension faced by the hero. The action is well weaved into a believable plot.
Recommended to all readers who enjoy spy thrillers.
May 28, 2023
A lot slower than book 1
Book 1, Capture or Kill, was a fast paced riveting read. Unfortunately I didn’t get the same enjoyment with Defend or Die. The pace was much slower and it felt like there were a lot of pages that were included just to bolster the word count.
Book 1, Capture or Kill, was a fast paced riveting read. Unfortunately I didn’t get the same enjoyment with Defend or Die. The pace was much slower and it felt like there were a lot of pages that were included just to bolster the word count.
June 27, 2023
Firstly its not as good as the first one in the series, its a lot slower than book one and drags in places. Unfortunately I didn’t get the same enjoyment with Defend or Die, hoping book three is an improvement.
January 12, 2021
You can tell he worked in the business
It is nice to get a good story that is full of action but not unrealistic gun battles. A great Author.
It is nice to get a good story that is full of action but not unrealistic gun battles. A great Author.
May 23, 2021
Very good author knows how to keep you drawn in. Not much action in it though but enough interest to keep you in it
May 25, 2021
It’s ok , like the main bad guy from the first one isn’t in it and that’s odd as it seems to be a series and there wasn’t a link. Unlike the main character mr Marcus has missed a trick there ..
June 2, 2021
2nd book in the series and I enjoyed it just as much as the 1st
December 4, 2021
Not as good as the other 3... Seems done in a rush, rather to have one more title than to have a good story. Lover the 3 other books
January 19, 2023
Excellent. These books are fantastic and the narration is first class.
May 12, 2023
Another excellent read
I've read 2 of the series in 3 days (while working FT and raising a 4 year old!). Flicking between Audible and Kindle has never felt so good!
I've read 2 of the series in 3 days (while working FT and raising a 4 year old!). Flicking between Audible and Kindle has never felt so good!
August 30, 2023
The writing was so good. I got jump scared and actually felt my heart racing. Even though it is fiction, I felt like I was reading about a real mission
January 29, 2024
Listened on audible enjoying the characters and storyline
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews