Cold Justice: The Sunday Times bestselling thriller (Mallory)

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I started this book without any expectations but was pleasantly surprised by the beginning: I liked Mallory a lot more than I expected to like a thriller hero. Mallory is the kind of man that is so sure of his capabilities and masculinity that doesn't need to put others down and that is sadly unusual in a lot of thrillers. "Cold Justice" features not only a diverse cast of characters but several female characters that are interesting and dangerous on their own without being sexualized. Mallory is a typical superhero in physical terms and the novel is, as expected, a fast-paced read with several twists and turns, gunfights, fistfights, explosions, secret organizations, counterintelligence, subterfuge, and car chases. There is very little, if any character development; the focus is on action. The chapters are short; no time is wasted on long explanations and dialogue is relevant and to the point. The unravelling of the mystery was quite interesting, and a few hits came straight from left field. The last chapter, especially, caught me unaware; lovely twist, setting the table for a sequel. (And it is indeed on the way; titled ‘Red mist’.)

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. Cold Justice is Ant Middleton’s debut fiction novel which features a former special forces operator by the name of Mallory who is flooded by his own self guilt. He has anger issues and isn’t a guy to mess with.

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.

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. It is a game of cat and mouse, a chase to make the links between a code Donno and Scott's sadly now dead father hid and the unscrupulous people who want to use that code for their own gain. Who can Mallory trust? Will he find Scott? What will happen to Donno? And was their father's climbing accident really an accident?I really rather enjoyed this book. Combining mystery, tension and an all action hero in Mallory, it's the kind of story that is right up my street. I read through it in a couple of evenings and from start to finish it kept me thoroughly entertained. If you like action thrillers, then this is definitely one you should be adding to your reading list. Ant Middleton is an interesting person; he was the frontman for Channel 4’s hit show: ‘SAS: Who dares wins’ and is the author of several bestselling nonfiction books based on his own experiences during his career in the armed forces where he achieved what is known as the ‘Holy Trinity’ of the UK’s Elite Forces, having served in the Special Boat Service, the Royal Marines and 9 Parachute Squadron Royal. This novel caught my eye for two reasons; it is his first attempt at fiction and part of the novel is set in South Africa. This was a good, fast paced action thriller with well written, rounded characters and a good smattering of humour. This was not my usual read, but I really enjoyed it. The pace was fast and the writing excellent. The descriptions of Johannesburg really brought the city to life. The characters were well written and the main character, Mallory, was strong, kind and interesting, with shoulders big enough to carry off the story.