Saul David

 Sky Warriors

by

Saul David

From bestselling historian Saul David, a riveting new history of the British airborne experience across the Second World War.

The legendary ‘Red Devils’ were among the finest combat troops of the Second World War. Created at Churchill’s instigation in June 1940, they began as a single parachute battalion of 500 men and grew into three 10,000-strong airborne divisions: the 1st, 6th and 44th Indian, each composed of parachutists and glider-borne troops. Wearing their distinctive maroon berets, steel helmets and Dennison smocks, they served with distinction in every major theatre of the conflict – including North Africa, Sicily, mainland Europe and the Far East – and played a starring role in some most iconic airborne operations in history: the Bruneval Raid of February 1942; the capture of the Primasole, Pegasus and Arnhem Bridges in July 1943, June 1944 and September 1944 respectively; and Operation Varsity, the biggest parachute drop in history, near Wesel in Germany in March 1945.

An engaging and informative read that traces the development of Britain's airborne forces from their formation through to the end of the Second World War. Saul David covers the key campaigns in which they fought, from Tunisia and Operation Husky to the D-Day landings, Arnhem, and the final assault across the Rhine. He also examines the often-overlooked Battle of Sangshak, where the Indian 50th Parachute Brigade's determined stand against the Japanese bought valuable time for the British to strengthen the defences at Kohima.

I've read several of Saul David's books and have yet to be disappointed. His deep knowledge of the subject shines through on every page, and the numerous personal anecdotes and lesser-known stories add color and depth to the narrative. An excellent account of the airborne war. 4/5.

Colin Burgess

 Destination Buchenwald

by

Colin Burgess

It was the summer of 1944 as liberating Allied forces surged towards Paris following the D-Day landings. For a large group of downed airmen being held in that city’s infamous Fresnes Prison, they were about to face evacuation into the blackest, bloody heart of Germany and experience the most acute evil of the war. Amid great secrecy, those 168 airmen – including several from Australia and New Zealand – were transported on a filthy, overcrowded nightmare train journey which ended at the notorious Buchenwald concentration camp, accompanied by orders for their execution. At Buchenwald they witnessed extreme depravity that would haunt them to the end of their days. Yet, on returning home, they were confronted by decades of denials from their own governments that they had ever been held in one of Hitler’s most vile concentration camps.

A riveting yet deeply harrowing account of the Allied airmen sent to one of Germany's most infamous death camps. However, this story extends far beyond their experiences alone. Alongside them suffered Poles, Russians, Gypsies, and countless others, all trapped within a system built on brutality and dehumanisation.

What unfolds is a stark and confronting record of torture, starvation, and cruelty almost beyond comprehension. The conditions endured by the prisoners were inhumane in the extreme, and all the more shocking because every event described is true.

This is a well-written and meticulously researched account, but it is not an easy read. The sheer scale of the suffering and barbarity depicted in these pages can be difficult to absorb. Yet I found myself compelled to keep turning the pages, driven by a need to understand how human beings could inflict such unimaginable cruelty upon their fellow man.

Powerful, disturbing, and unforgettable, this book serves as a sobering reminder of the depths of human brutality and the resilience of those who endured it.

A strong 5/5.   

Jon Sharpe

 Cry Revenge

Trailsman #95

by

Jon Sharpe

Skye Fargo receives an advance for the hired killing of the murderous Sioux war chief Mountain Lion, but discovers to his horror that the man who put up the money may have participated in Mountain Lion's bloody massacre...

Fargo is hired by Wayne Drummond to kill a Sioux war chief on a murderous rampage. The orders are simple: find him and put him down. But the job is anything but straightforward. Clues begin to surface that Mountain Lion’s violence may have a deeper motive, and when Fargo finally uncovers the truth, everything changes. Suddenly he’s facing two enemies, and caught in the middle is a young woman he must save.

A strong entry in the series, even if it takes its time getting to the action. It has the expected adult moments, and one scene shows Fargo’s humanity more clearly than most. Written possibly by John Messmann. 4/5.

William W Johnstone

 An Arizona Christmas

by

William W Johnstone

&

J.A. Johnstone

It’s a heartwarming holiday of burning revenge and blazing bullets when the Jensen family gathers in Tucson for Christmas in this Western adventure.

Like most families, the Jensens gather to celebrate the holidays. This year, since half the clan is scattered across the American West, they’ve decided to split the difference and meet up in Tucson. Matt and Luke will be there, and maybe Ace and Chance, too. That leaves Sally, Preacher, and Smoke Jensen, who’ve reserved three seats on a westbound stage to make sure they don’t miss the festivities. What could possibly go wrong?

The first to strike is a sandstorm as blinding and deadly as any northern blizzard. Then comes an Apache ambush, forcing the passengers and drivers to seek shelter in a cave. Even if Smoke and Preacher manage to shoot their way out, they have another big surprise waiting—a ruthless gang of outlaws after the cargo of cash on the stage, happy to slaughter anyone who tries to stop them. If the Jensens hope to save Christmas this year, they’ll need to save their own lives first . . .

After planning a Christmas get‑together in Tucson, the Jensens and Preacher set out for the holiday rendezvous. But what should have been a quiet stage ride for Smoke, Sally, and Preacher turns into anything but peaceful.

Sharing the coach with them is a strongbox stuffed with cash bound for the Tucson bank — and two problems riding hard behind it. One is a man named Tuttle. The other is a band of bloodthirsty Apaches determined to stop that stage dead in its tracks.

I enjoyed this story a great deal. It’s the kind of action‑packed adventure readers expect, well written and full of momentum. Oddly enough, it’s my first Christmas tale by WWJ, but I’ve got more waiting — and I won’t hesitate to dive into another. 5/5

 

Stuart Tootal

 Tank Action

by

David Render

&

Stuart Tootal

A gripping account of the Second World War, from the perspective of a young tank commander.

In 1944, David Render was a nineteen-year-old second lieutenant fresh from Sandhurst when he was sent to France. Joining the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry five days after the D-Day landings, the combat-hardened men he was sent to command did not expect him to last long. However, in the following weeks of ferocious fighting in which more than 90 per cent of his fellow tank commanders became casualties, his ability to emerge unscathed from countless combat engagements earned him the nickname of the 'Inevitable Mr Render'.

In Tank Action Render tells his remarkable story, spanning every major episode of the last year of the Second World War from the invasion of Normandy to the fall of Germany. Ultimately it is a story of survival, comradeship and the ability to stand up and be counted as a leader in combat.

Render’s account is an engaging first‑hand narrative, taking you from his arrival in Normandy and his joining the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry just after D‑Day, through the brutal fighting in the bocage, and onward to Market Garden and the final months of the war.

It’s a well‑written memoir that pulls the reader straight into the action. Render faces not only the enemy and the high loss of comrades, but his own private battles as well.

There’s no slow build‑up—you’re on Gold Beach from the start, and from there the story drives through Normandy’s hedgerows and into operations against the German's Panzer divisions.

Some non‑fiction bogs down in detail; this one never does. A compelling, accessible wartime account. 4/5.

William W. Johnstone

 Reckoning of the Mountain Man

by

William W. Johnstone

&

J.A. Johnstone

As a happily married man, Smoke Jensen is glad his courtin’ days are over. Especially when two blonde beauties open a dress shop in town—and a big can of worms along with it. It doesn’t take long for the comely Caldwell sisters to catch the eyes of Sugarloaf ranch hands Pearlie and Cal. But the boys’ve got competition. Their romantic rivals are a pair of roughneck cowboys who are also trying to win the girls’ hearts. And willing fight to dirty. Smoke might find it all amusing—if it weren’t for the rash of crimes that broke out as soon as those pretty heartbreakers showed up. . . .

Cattle rustling. Train robberies. Stagecoach hold-ups. It looks like the work of seasoned outlaws, not a pair of dressmakers. Sure, the Caldwell sisters might be trying to swindle money out of Smoke’s ranch hands, but mastermind an outlaw gang? Doesn’t seem likely. But it’s true. Their stepfather is the notorious jailed outlaw “Whisper” McReady. His stepdaughters are running the gang while he serves time. And when the gang leader busts out of jail, all hell breaks loose. “Whisper” McReady may not be able to holler since he was shot in the throat. But he’s screaming mad over the girls’ mishandling of his gang. And now he’s taking control—not just over his gang, but the whole town of Big Rock.

Romance seems to be blooming in Big Rock, and Pearlie and Cal are sure they’ve found the right girls. Violet and Daisy, the charming new owners of the town’s dress shop, look like a perfect match. But these lovely lasses have plans that run a whole lot darker. As daughters of outlaw Whisper McReady, they intend to revive his old gang and put them to work while McReady serves out his sentence.

When word reaches Whisper about what his girls are stirring up, he breaks out of prison and rides hard for Big Rock with a full passel of outlaws behind him. Their aim is simple: take everything they can get their hands on. Standing between them and the town is Smoke Jensen, and getting past him is easier said than done.

This entry gives Cal and Pearlie far more page time, which is a welcome change. The action stays close to Big Rock and the Sugarloaf Ranch, delivering the familiar Johnstone rhythm readers enjoy. Daisy and Violet make lively, intriguing characters, and the added depth for Cal and Pearlie is a real bonus. It’s fast, fun, and keeps the pages turning. Fans should look forward to its October release. 5/5.

Thanks to Net Galley and Kensington Publishing for the advance copy. 

Gordon D. Shirreffs

 Judas Gun

by

Gordon D. Shirreffs

In Judas Gun, the prison at Yuma couldn't hold him... The blistering desert couldn't kill him... And the county's toughest guns couldn't stop him. Ken Sturgis was on the hunt for his brother Roy’s killers – and not even prison could stop him.

It was pure bad luck. Wrong time, wrong place. The stranger at their fire warned them to clear out before morning, but they stayed. When it was over, Ken Sturgis and his brother were in irons for train robbery, and their friend lay dead.

Sturgis swore they had nothing to do with it, but no one listened. The brothers were shipped off to Yuma prison.

Six months later, Sturgis’ brother is dead, and Sturgis breaks out to hunt the men who put him there. First he has to survive the blistering desert. Then he has to dodge the lawmen eager to drag him back. And finally, he must face the killers who’ll shoot him on sight. But Sturgis is a hard man to kill, and he’s riding for vengeance.

Not the most action‑packed Shirreffs novel, but still a tough, gritty read that keeps the pages turning. Sturgis’ relentless pursuit, and his brutal desert crossing, show just how determined he is. Well written as always, and worth the read. 4/5.