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Nick Stone #12
Exit Wound
Three tons of Saddam Hussein's gold in an unguarded warehouse in Dubai...For two of Nick Stone's closest ex-SAS comrades, it was to have been the perfect, victimless crime.
But when they're double-crossed and the robbery goes devastatingly wrong, only Stone can identify his friends' killer and track him down...
As one harrowing piece of the complex and sinister jigsaw slots into another, Stone's quest for vengeance becomes a journey to the heart of a chilling conspiracy, to which he and the beautiful Russian investigative journalist with whom he has become ensnared unwittingly hold the key.
Ticking like a time-bomb, brimming with terror and threat, Andy McNab's latest Nick Stone adventure is a high-voltage story of corruption, cover-up and blistering suspense - the master thriller writer at his electrifying, unputdownable best.
But when they're double-crossed and the robbery goes devastatingly wrong, only Stone can identify his friends' killer and track him down...
As one harrowing piece of the complex and sinister jigsaw slots into another, Stone's quest for vengeance becomes a journey to the heart of a chilling conspiracy, to which he and the beautiful Russian investigative journalist with whom he has become ensnared unwittingly hold the key.
Ticking like a time-bomb, brimming with terror and threat, Andy McNab's latest Nick Stone adventure is a high-voltage story of corruption, cover-up and blistering suspense - the master thriller writer at his electrifying, unputdownable best.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Andy McNab
167 books1,108 followersAndy McNab joined the infantry in 1976 as a boy soldier. In 1984 he was badged as a member of 22 SAS Regiment. He served in B Squadron 22 SAS for ten years and worked on both covert and overt special operations worldwide, including anti-terrorist and anti-drug operations in the Middle and Far East, South and Central America and Northern Ireland.
Trained as a specialist in counter terrorism, prime target elimination, demolitions, weapons and tactics, covert surveillance and information gathering in hostile environments, and VIP protection, McNab worked on cooperative operations with police forces, prison services, anti-drug forces and western backed guerrilla movements as well as on conventional special operations. In Northern Ireland he spent two years working as an undercover operator with 14th Intelligence Group, going on to become an instructor.
McNab also worked as an instructor on the SAS selection and training team and instructed foreign special forces in counter terrorism, hostage rescue and survival training.
Andy McNab has written about his experiences in the SAS in two bestselling books, Bravo Two Zero (1993) and Immediate Action (1995). Bravo Two Zero is the highest selling war book of all time and has sold over 1.7 million copies in the UK. To date it has been published in 17 countries and translated into 16 languages. The CD spoken word version of Bravo Two Zero, narrated by McNab, sold over 60,000 copies and earned a silver disc. The BBC's film of Bravo Two Zero, starring Sean Bean, was shown on primetime BBC 1 television in 1999 and released on DVD in 2000.
Immediate Action, McNab's autobiography, spent 18 weeks at the top of the bestseller lists following the lifting on an ex-parte injunction granted to the Ministry of Defence in September 1995. To date, Immediate Action has now sold over 1.4 million copies in the UK.
McNab is the author of seven fast action thrillers, highly acclaimed for their authenticity and all Sunday Times bestsellers. Published in 1997, Remote Control was hailed as the most authentic thriller ever written and has sold over half a million copies in the UK. McNab's subsequent thrillers, Crisis Four, Firewall, Last Light , Liberation Day , Dark Winter , Deep Black and Aggressor have all gone on to sell equally well. The central character in all the books is Nick Stone, a tough ex-SAS operative working as a 'K' on deniable operations for British Intelligence.
McNab's fiction draws extensively on his experiences and knowledge of Special Forces soldiering. He has been officially registered by Neilsen Bookscan as the bestselling British thriller writer of the last year.
Trained as a specialist in counter terrorism, prime target elimination, demolitions, weapons and tactics, covert surveillance and information gathering in hostile environments, and VIP protection, McNab worked on cooperative operations with police forces, prison services, anti-drug forces and western backed guerrilla movements as well as on conventional special operations. In Northern Ireland he spent two years working as an undercover operator with 14th Intelligence Group, going on to become an instructor.
McNab also worked as an instructor on the SAS selection and training team and instructed foreign special forces in counter terrorism, hostage rescue and survival training.
Andy McNab has written about his experiences in the SAS in two bestselling books, Bravo Two Zero (1993) and Immediate Action (1995). Bravo Two Zero is the highest selling war book of all time and has sold over 1.7 million copies in the UK. To date it has been published in 17 countries and translated into 16 languages. The CD spoken word version of Bravo Two Zero, narrated by McNab, sold over 60,000 copies and earned a silver disc. The BBC's film of Bravo Two Zero, starring Sean Bean, was shown on primetime BBC 1 television in 1999 and released on DVD in 2000.
Immediate Action, McNab's autobiography, spent 18 weeks at the top of the bestseller lists following the lifting on an ex-parte injunction granted to the Ministry of Defence in September 1995. To date, Immediate Action has now sold over 1.4 million copies in the UK.
McNab is the author of seven fast action thrillers, highly acclaimed for their authenticity and all Sunday Times bestsellers. Published in 1997, Remote Control was hailed as the most authentic thriller ever written and has sold over half a million copies in the UK. McNab's subsequent thrillers, Crisis Four, Firewall, Last Light , Liberation Day , Dark Winter , Deep Black and Aggressor have all gone on to sell equally well. The central character in all the books is Nick Stone, a tough ex-SAS operative working as a 'K' on deniable operations for British Intelligence.
McNab's fiction draws extensively on his experiences and knowledge of Special Forces soldiering. He has been officially registered by Neilsen Bookscan as the bestselling British thriller writer of the last year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
June 2, 2019
Yet again another good book by Andy Mcnab. Full of action,double crossing and revenge. Excellent read.
January 28, 2015
Exit Wound, in my perspective, is again taking us all to that nasty and dark place. Not many writers can take you to that same place that Nick Stone dwells. The book starts off on the other side of the Berlin wall, and there is a short moment of Nick using a flashlight. This may not sound interesting to average person, but after he's finished "using" it, he turns it on and proceeds to search for something, which is what the creator intended it to do. Later on in the novel, Nick meets up with two friends from the 80's to discuss his plan to borrow an object that was ordered by a man named Saddam Hussein. It was being held in an old warehouse somewhere in Dubai, and so it begins, Nick Stone takes us on another journey full of surprises and twists to a somewhat exotic location. This is when Andy's writing style really shines, and he takes us back to his glory days where that special feeling of suspense, only felt when reading the man himself's books. Anyway, back to the story. The job all goes wrong, and it appears clear who Andy is really working for, whether he likes it, or not. The next event in the story takes us to Iran, where the humorous side of Nick shows again (as well as some brutal action). Anyone who opposes him shall at some point end up working with, or for him.
It's fair to say that Andy's books have progressively gotten less action packed, and that feeling of first reading a Nick Stone book has been lost a long time ago, but this book makes an amazing effort to bring it back. It's definitely one of his better books, and you really regain that feeling of being along side Nick. I'm looking forward to any further installments after his latest ones, and I hope they will all be as great as this one!
It's fair to say that Andy's books have progressively gotten less action packed, and that feeling of first reading a Nick Stone book has been lost a long time ago, but this book makes an amazing effort to bring it back. It's definitely one of his better books, and you really regain that feeling of being along side Nick. I'm looking forward to any further installments after his latest ones, and I hope they will all be as great as this one!
September 19, 2013
Number 12 in the Nick Stone series and Andy McNab is still at his best; he never fails to deliver. Another terrific story, full of twists and turns. A small group of old army mates, who decide include Nick Stone, attempt to steal some solid gold gates Sadam had had made before his demise. Stored in six crates, they no longer 'belong' to anyone, and as no one else seems to know about them, no one will miss them. When things go wrong (as of course they always do), a deniable ops mission develops. When Stone is told to 'stand down' it's the last thing he is about to do, as too much has happened, and revenge becomes his mission. This story has everything - including the usual gut-wrenching drama and the stomach-turning detailed descriptions of fights and deaths. McNab is not for the squeamish. Another edge of seat, nail-biting, pulse-racing read. This is not bedtime reading - you'll never sleep until you finish the book. Simply great stuff.
September 2, 2011
The final Nick Stone episode (for now) and one of the best, reminded me of the film 3 kings at the start. The book was fast paced and tense, good ending and glad that once the finale happened there was a few pages to finish off the story which I have found frustrating with the Nick Stone series in the past. Overall a very enjoyable read and hopefully not the last we will hear of Nick Stone.
October 2, 2012
This is my favourite Andy McNab book so far, I still have several more to read! Its amazingly written, action packed, right from the first page and kept me on edge until the very last sentence. I took the time to google army jargon and lyrics of songs as I went along, and I felt even more like I was really there.
April 21, 2014
I have enjoyed all of the Andy McNab books thus far in the Nick Stone series. Though "Exit Wound" is by far the best book. About a third of the way into it it takes a great turn and a good book became a great book.
January 15, 2013
Terrific plot and unputdownable read.
Read
May 8, 2020DNF
This is, unfortunately, the second book by Andy McNab that I haven't been able to finish. I don't remember what the issue was last time, but this time, there's one big issue: I'm getting the overwhelming feeling I should've read the previous 11(!) books in the series about Nick Stone.
There are several reasons for this feeling, the first one being that I can't really get to know the character. This is true for both the main character and the others. I'm being thrown into a story and at no point am I given an introduction on who they are. I read a flashback about their time in the army, have no clue what they're doing, then am thrown into 2009 and what they're planning to do now. Still, I don't really know who they are, so I also don't know what brought them to this point that they're capable of stealing stuff like Gucci doors.
A reason that specifically applies to part 1 (and maybe more, I didn't read the whole book, but any part that is written in the time the characters are in the army), is that I don't have any knowledge about the army and its culture, and I'm not given it. So many terms are used in part 1 that I don't understand that it was really hard to follow the story. Maybe, if I had read the previous 11 books in the series, this wouldn't have been a problem, but alas.
I wouldn't turn down a book just because it's a part of a series though. What really bothers me is that this book was sold as a standalone: I was given the idea that I could read this book without having read the previous ones. This happens often in thriller series: they have the same main character, but a different plot every time. Think of Sherlock Holmes, for example. With those books, I have no issue catching up on who the character is, because the writer takes the new reader into account. This wasn't the case for Exit Wound.
All of this made it very hard to get into this book, and even after reading twenty or so chapters to get to the inciting incident, I still wasn't really in it. This is unfortunate for the book and the writer, but makes it easy for me to put it down without having finished it.
This is, unfortunately, the second book by Andy McNab that I haven't been able to finish. I don't remember what the issue was last time, but this time, there's one big issue: I'm getting the overwhelming feeling I should've read the previous 11(!) books in the series about Nick Stone.
There are several reasons for this feeling, the first one being that I can't really get to know the character. This is true for both the main character and the others. I'm being thrown into a story and at no point am I given an introduction on who they are. I read a flashback about their time in the army, have no clue what they're doing, then am thrown into 2009 and what they're planning to do now. Still, I don't really know who they are, so I also don't know what brought them to this point that they're capable of stealing stuff like Gucci doors.
A reason that specifically applies to part 1 (and maybe more, I didn't read the whole book, but any part that is written in the time the characters are in the army), is that I don't have any knowledge about the army and its culture, and I'm not given it. So many terms are used in part 1 that I don't understand that it was really hard to follow the story. Maybe, if I had read the previous 11 books in the series, this wouldn't have been a problem, but alas.
I wouldn't turn down a book just because it's a part of a series though. What really bothers me is that this book was sold as a standalone: I was given the idea that I could read this book without having read the previous ones. This happens often in thriller series: they have the same main character, but a different plot every time. Think of Sherlock Holmes, for example. With those books, I have no issue catching up on who the character is, because the writer takes the new reader into account. This wasn't the case for Exit Wound.
All of this made it very hard to get into this book, and even after reading twenty or so chapters to get to the inciting incident, I still wasn't really in it. This is unfortunate for the book and the writer, but makes it easy for me to put it down without having finished it.
August 11, 2019
I was a bit disappointed in the preceding book in the series (Brute Force) so I was really pleased to see McNab back in form with this installment!
The whole gold heist seems slightly implausible - even Nick Stone has his doubts, but he goes along to keep an eye on his friends - and, as it turns out, he is also on assignment from a new boss at a government counter-terrorism unit. The heist fails (mostly), Nick's friends are killed, and Nick himself is pulled out and returned to the UK, where he receives new orders: to follow a Russian arms dealer who supplies sophisticated weapons to terrorists. He goes to Tehran under cover as a journalist for a weapons/defence magazine. Assisted by a Russian female journalist (incredibly beautiful, apparently - groan!) he manages to go to Russia and stop the arms dealers and provide intel for his new employer. And, as frosting on the cake, he manages to recover the gold he and his friends had stashed away for themselves, and ends up with a posh car and an apartment in the Docklands... Good to see Nick end up with some money and a good life for a change!
My favourite part is the description of the defence expo in Tehran, and his poor domestic guide/handler. Unlike the previous book, here McNab manages to provide a better excuse for the exposition - it is Nick's homework as he takes on the journalist's persona. The action and pace is terrific, a real nail-biter. And again, here McNab provides verisimilitude in all the weaponry and action sequences. A really good military thriller!
The whole gold heist seems slightly implausible - even Nick Stone has his doubts, but he goes along to keep an eye on his friends - and, as it turns out, he is also on assignment from a new boss at a government counter-terrorism unit. The heist fails (mostly), Nick's friends are killed, and Nick himself is pulled out and returned to the UK, where he receives new orders: to follow a Russian arms dealer who supplies sophisticated weapons to terrorists. He goes to Tehran under cover as a journalist for a weapons/defence magazine. Assisted by a Russian female journalist (incredibly beautiful, apparently - groan!) he manages to go to Russia and stop the arms dealers and provide intel for his new employer. And, as frosting on the cake, he manages to recover the gold he and his friends had stashed away for themselves, and ends up with a posh car and an apartment in the Docklands... Good to see Nick end up with some money and a good life for a change!
My favourite part is the description of the defence expo in Tehran, and his poor domestic guide/handler. Unlike the previous book, here McNab manages to provide a better excuse for the exposition - it is Nick's homework as he takes on the journalist's persona. The action and pace is terrific, a real nail-biter. And again, here McNab provides verisimilitude in all the weaponry and action sequences. A really good military thriller!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2017
Exit Wound by Andy McNab is a thriller novel, 12th novel in the series of Nick Stone. Three ex-SAS comrades go on a mission of stealing three tons of Saddam Hussein's gold in Dubai. These guys have gone on a similar mission before, during the Soviet Union reign in 1989.
This time, the mission fails in a catastrophic way and two of the friends of Nick Stone, who also tells the entire story, get assassinated without Nick being able to find them ever after! So in retaliation for this, the British intelligence service helps Nick to go and avenge for his friends. He makes this a mission and a thing to live for no matter what it takes until he accomplishes it.
Nick travels to Iran as journalist, and then to Russia, tracking down every single person who is involved in killing his closest friends.
The most spellbinding aspect of this book is it riveting account of secret agents working undercover, working in a risky but a sassy way. It is enthralling for those who like action film and a must read for Dan Brown's fans, because the heros are quite the same.
This time, the mission fails in a catastrophic way and two of the friends of Nick Stone, who also tells the entire story, get assassinated without Nick being able to find them ever after! So in retaliation for this, the British intelligence service helps Nick to go and avenge for his friends. He makes this a mission and a thing to live for no matter what it takes until he accomplishes it.
Nick travels to Iran as journalist, and then to Russia, tracking down every single person who is involved in killing his closest friends.
The most spellbinding aspect of this book is it riveting account of secret agents working undercover, working in a risky but a sassy way. It is enthralling for those who like action film and a must read for Dan Brown's fans, because the heros are quite the same.
March 31, 2021
Nick on a revenge trip
Nick is tracking some gold that led to arm dead and terrorists.
Nick was asked to join a team to get ill gained wealth. They got double crossed and then his mates got killed.
Now he got to find out who betrayed and got him on the hunt for those who betrayed him and his mates.
While he is on the chase, met with good people who will help him to find out who are involved with the deal with Taliban.
A lot of chasing around and guns and car chase.
Good read for those who prefer B action movie over romantic movie. Not great but Enjoyable.
Nick is tracking some gold that led to arm dead and terrorists.
Nick was asked to join a team to get ill gained wealth. They got double crossed and then his mates got killed.
Now he got to find out who betrayed and got him on the hunt for those who betrayed him and his mates.
While he is on the chase, met with good people who will help him to find out who are involved with the deal with Taliban.
A lot of chasing around and guns and car chase.
Good read for those who prefer B action movie over romantic movie. Not great but Enjoyable.
April 7, 2023
A slow start for me, I thought a few times if i should put it in my DNF file . But I managed to push through, Once it gets to like the 50th page it becomes exciting. I kinda see the plot twist coming , but i feel like that plot twist has a plot twist. I just blurted out a "I told you so" . Its a good book to read as my first Andy Mcnab book.
Ending all is satisfactory, Im glad Ali got out of Iraq and pursued an education .
Ending all is satisfactory, Im glad Ali got out of Iraq and pursued an education .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2022
Nick gets involved with the possibility of removing gold from Saddams downfall.
It all goes wrong and Nick is faced with the deaths of his team.
Trying to find out what went wrong involves Nick in a special mission.
What will he uncover.
Although this is a good story I didnt quite comprehend the ending so it left me a little cold.
It all goes wrong and Nick is faced with the deaths of his team.
Trying to find out what went wrong involves Nick in a special mission.
What will he uncover.
Although this is a good story I didnt quite comprehend the ending so it left me a little cold.
June 19, 2022
Same high standard Andy McNab always delivers. Plenty of action, covert operations, revenge for mates by Nick Stone but mixed with lower paced detail that takes you to the place and situation, and the background preparations needed for the explosive action by a thinking planning ex SAS operative to be successful.
April 8, 2018
Not going to say much as I'm rubbish at reviewing. But this one was quite a good read. I can't say to much without revealing what happens, but after just finishing it, I'm already looking forward to starting the next one. 5 out of 5
June 22, 2018
Engaging, informative, well described.
December 26, 2018
Cracking read, pace and energy from chapter 1. Loved it.
Cracking read, pace and energy from chapter 1. Loved it. Plot has a few curve balls to keep you guessing.
Cracking read, pace and energy from chapter 1. Loved it. Plot has a few curve balls to keep you guessing.
July 5, 2020
Man, it is spelt C-I-N-Z-I-A...
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
March 4, 2021
Not for me
Not really keen on this book he turned from a deniable operator to a cold blooded murderer, it will be interesting to see how he moved on from here
Not really keen on this book he turned from a deniable operator to a cold blooded murderer, it will be interesting to see how he moved on from here
January 2, 2022
Enjoyable read for anyone who likes their action thrillers
October 16, 2022
A very simple thriller - only one main twist for me and that was near the beginning but even so - it was a good read and one you just have to finish without putting down.
April 25, 2023
Great thriller by an ex-British SAS soldier who obviously knows what he's writing about.
Very believable characters, and a fast-paced jaunt through Dubai and Russia.
Highly recommended!
Very believable characters, and a fast-paced jaunt through Dubai and Russia.
Highly recommended!
June 10, 2023
Really liked the characters in this one.
March 27, 2024
An easy going read! Wasn’t my cup of tea as I found Nick Stone a bit abrasive and icky but I’m a hard core romance and fantasy reader so this was definitely an out there choice for me.
April 3, 2024
- OK. Not up to his usual standards. Tracks the killers of two comrades after a gold heist.
May 5, 2024
Another excellent story
February 22, 2017
Il mio sedicesimo libro di McNab. Questo significa che l'autore mi sconfinfera, è coerente e mantiene la qualità alta. Questo libro dell'ennesima avventura di Nick Stone parte un po' lento per poi accelerare sempre più, mantiene la crudezza e l'ironia che caratterizza McNab (inglese, ex agente SAS) e porta a spasso il lettore come sempre tra azioni di spionaggio, scene di strategia militare e puro desiderio di vendetta. Un essenziale, duro, potente desiderio di vendetta, nient'altro. Nick Stone non cazzeggia, lui fa sul serio, quando è il caso.
February 15, 2017
This book was pretty meh. There was some action, but not a lot. Overall, it didn't really hold my attention. It was still good enough to finish. Maybe the problem was that I hadn't read any other Nick Stone books. But I won't be reading any more.
October 29, 2018
Another good middle of the road entry into the Nick Stone series. With a lot of the backstory concluded in the tenth book the series now feels like its flailing around for direction. However we do have a new MI5 boss this time, Julian, who'll hopefully be giving the series the grounding it desperately needs in future novels.
For the most part this time out the book felt like a more classic spy novel than a Nick Stone adventure. Here we find Stone doing his James Bond (er, Manley, Jim Manley) impression - undercover as a reporter at a arms exhibition in Iran. I have to admit at one time I thought I was reading the plot of a Hitman video game as Nick silently took down the bad guys and stuffed them into the boot of a car before taking their clothes as a disguise...
Much like the last book, not a bad story, good read if you new to the series and want to know what all the fuss is about, otherwise it's just a middling adventure lacking overall direction.
For the most part this time out the book felt like a more classic spy novel than a Nick Stone adventure. Here we find Stone doing his James Bond (er, Manley, Jim Manley) impression - undercover as a reporter at a arms exhibition in Iran. I have to admit at one time I thought I was reading the plot of a Hitman video game as Nick silently took down the bad guys and stuffed them into the boot of a car before taking their clothes as a disguise...
Much like the last book, not a bad story, good read if you new to the series and want to know what all the fuss is about, otherwise it's just a middling adventure lacking overall direction.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews