The Skirmish
Reviewed By Ian Banks September 25, 2014
Author Daniel Springham
Distributor:
ISBN: 978-0-9923159-2-4
Publisher: Bounce Books
Release Date:
Website: http://www.bouncebooks.com
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To put it bluntly this is a book that gamers will love as it is action packed, fast moving, contains a lot of detail on guns, and small arms, ammo, fast chases, destruction and death.
Don’t let this put you off because once you get past all of that the plot is really very good.
A group of friends, all US Army based meet up annually at a camp hidden deep in the woods for their annual paintball competition. The opening page takes you straight into the adrenalin rush that is a major part of this book as the main character Jason, is running through the woods, obviously trying to outsmart his opponent, but ends up getting shot!
But then you discover it is only paintball but played with the reality of a real life army training session.
When the four friends, who have all been involved in the skirmish, meet up to discuss the success or otherwise of their day they are confronted with what sounds like a series of real explosions coming from the location of Paintball Lodge.
As they draw closer to the base they are confronted with the destruction of the Paintball Lodge and the death of twenty other people who were also at the lodge for a day of paintballing. On closer inspection they have all been executed. The only survivor is Colonel Martin Shorrens, Gulf War veteran and owner of the Lodge. Jason’s brother-in-law Brian attempts to go for help but dies as his car explodes.
This sets the scene for a fast moving, deadly mission to try and stop more than ten billion dollars’ worth of munitions reaching the Middle East in order to arm the militia with the finest of modern weaponry.
Jason, his sister Suzie, and Marine Jed Williams all end up finding themselves held hostage, beaten and abused, misunderstood and even arrested by their own side as they combine forces and talents to try and prevent unbelievable horror developing in the political unrest that is the Middle East.
Who is behind the plot and who is going to financially benefit by the arms deal adds an interesting aspect to the plot and also gives the ending a very surprising twist.
As said, a great adrenalin rush of a book that has a good plot, a rollicking, almost James Bond like scenario and plenty of fast moving action which should appeal to those who enjoy military action.