Cold Justice: The Sunday Times bestselling thriller (Mallory)

Product Information

Ant Middleton makes his fictional debut with a scintillating adventure, introducing the newest action figure on the scene, Mallory. It’s here: the landmark debut thriller from superstar Ant Middleton, million-selling, number one Sunday Times author of First Man In and The Fear Bubble and star of SAS: Who Dares Wins.

Perhaps it's redemption, perhaps he's looking for revenge on the world, but suddenly Mallory has a purpose, and nothing and no one is going to stand in his way. Ant's name has become synonymous with his role as Chief Instructor on the adrenaline-fueled TV sensation SAS: Who Dares Wins. Taking his expertise global, he ventured to help establish SAS Australia, spreading his passion for resilience and mental fortitude far and wide. Ant's insatiable appetite for adventure has seen him at the forefront of numerous hit shows, from the captivating re-enactment of Captain William Bligh's infamous 'Mutiny on the Bounty' in 'Mutiny,' to the heart-pounding survivalist program 'Escape,' where skilled engineers are placed in precarious situations, relying on their expertise to escape and find safety. In 2019, Ant conquered one of humanity's greatest challenges, scaling the majestic Mount Everest in the gripping series 'Extreme Everest,' even amidst an unforeseen and life-threatening storm, allowing him to explore the allure and dangers of this iconic feat. I liked it! I like and admire Ant and the stuff he has done and, as a Veteran I enjoyed all the military references. As someone who used to live in the Midlands I enjoyed the local, recognisable landmarks. Joining the armed forces at the tender age of 16, Ant swiftly rose through the ranks, showcasing exceptional skills and determination. He excelled as a point man/lead scout, primary fires operator, and sniper, ultimately achieving the coveted position in the Special Forces Selection—an extraordinary accomplishment known as the 'Holy Trinity' of the UK's Elite Forces.As Mallory heads to South Africa, I got an blow by blow insight into his past traumas as the story jumped between timelines all held together by one man in a coma. Mallory’s loyalty to this man knows no bounds, putting his life on the line to find Donno’s brother up against some seriously dangerous people with unlimited reach and resources. Will Mallory find Scott? Will Donno wake up? I needed answers to both questions !!! This is not a genre I would normally read, however it was offered on pigeonhole, and the author is from my city, so I couldn't resist it. I didn't have a clue who Ant Middleton was, sorry, so I read this purely because I like to challenge myself to different types of reads.

This book was available on Pigeonhole, and so I thought I’d give it a go, despite not being a fan of the author. I was expecting it to be pretty shallow, not particularly well written, and to give up after a few chapters. As he navigates his way through the tough streets of Joborg, the slippery swaps of Louisiana and home, he uncovers something that could change the future. It's probably unfair to compare Lee Child, he's had years and many books to get Reacher that way. I truly hope Middleton can discover that element for his character. It's about time that we have a UK version of Reacher, Mallory can be, I want him to be, hopefully we get that as the character grows in the next book. I truly wish Middleton all the good fortune he deserves, to make it happen. This is a very formulaic thriller - lone wolf gets thrown out of army, becomes a one man crusader for justice and hurts a lot of comic-book baddies - which offers nothing new to the well-worn genre other than more of the same, but has some exciting moments.

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Sceptical initially of Middleton’s foray in to the fictional world, given his prior publications are normally of the self help and mental fitness (very good books, just an FYI), I am pleased to have been proven wrong. A frightening tale of struggling in extreme situations where only your wits and your military training can keep you safe. It's here: the landmark debut thriller from superstar Ant Middleton, million-selling, number one Sunday Times author of First Man In and Mental Fitness and star of SAS: Who Dares Wins. I wasn't disappointed. The hero of the story, Mallory, ex special forces, is employed to travel to South Africa, to discover the whereabouts of the brother of his comatose army friend who has disappeared. His army training comes in very useful when he gets embroiled in the murky underworld of some wealthy and very dangerous criminals. Undeterred by the trials he faced, Ant continued his relentless pursuit of conquering the world's toughest and most dangerous mountains. In 2022, he triumphantly summited the formidable K2, solidifying his reputation as a fearless explorer. Just like Mount Everest, the climb presented formidable challenges that pushed Ant's limits.

Descriptive moments, no doubt inspired in part by Middleton’s own life, are life like, on point and transports your mind well.

Toys

Was also pleased to see that Ant did not fall into the male author trap of over-sexualising the female characters (e.g. Graves, Ivy).

Ant Middleton's debut novel was entertaining and a highly enjoyable book. I loved the characters, storyline, and fast-paced action scenes.What follows is sequence of exciting twists and turns with Mallory travelling to SA to look for Scott and ending up being chased by a group of ex military men on a mission.