Martin Charles, OKHOTRIKI -The Hunters and the Hunted

Although "OKHOTRIKI" is mooted as being predominately a "man`s book", I found it difficult to put down once I had got into the story. Because of the credentials of the author, there is little doubt of the book`s authenticity. Which makes it all the more believable, as Martin Charles does little to disguise his "work of faction" for what it is, an insight into the world of espionage to which he himself is quite obviously no stranger.

Sometimes very gory and explicit, Martin Charles does indeed "take no prisoners".That the book`s hero, John Vialls, is a thinly veiled pseudonym makes the book an even more intriguing read.

The sequel will no doubt continue in the same vein, and I will certainly make sure of my copy.

K.Gilmour

The author is an old friend of mine who, once upon a time, worked in Afghanistan setting up training camps (to get the Russians out - successfully!). I have seen a photo of him playing tribal 'polo' (more like rugby on horseback) with a dead calf as the ball and part of it (the photo) appears on the cover. Martin lived with the locals and tells the tale that on one occasion how he was asked to act as Muezzin and call the faithful to prayer.

Okhotriki is a tale (several tales interwoven in fact) involving lots of battle, murder and sudden death as well as some romance. Besides Afghanistan, it ranges over parts of Africa and the Middle East as well as London, East Anglia (I re-visited one of the action sites last week) and Dorset. Much of it is based on fact and I, myself, can vouch for one or two of them (e.g. the identity of the mole referred to on p130 of the paperback version), but names and places have been changed to avoid trouble with the Official Secrets Act.

With Christmas coming up, Okhotriki would make a great present for men folk and (older) children, but not for those of a delicate constitution as some of the episodes are a bit gory. (Am I being sexist here? OK, ladies read it too!). Here's my disclaimer: the character that bears my name isn't me at all at all and I never made love with that lady in a hotel in Addis Abba! So there!

I'll cut to the chase - I'm the authors son, I'm not going to review the book as per say, as I stand by it as a work of true insight.

Some of you below have said you feel the author had been through it, and that some of the characters might be known to him.

All I can say to that is...you don't know the half of it...new book in progress and there are plenty more ripping yarns, based on the strange career of my father. I had to grow up in the middle of it all!!

Any of you get an AK47 for Christmas when you were 13? and from the deceased head of the afghan northern alliance. How about riding race horse along the banks of the Nile when you were 12?

An excellent insight to the world of intelligence & subterfuge.

Well written, both decriptive and accurate regarding the subjective nature of the book.

I finished the book in two sessions and enjoyed it immensely.

A good old fashioned thriller, full of twists and turns, well written, a ripping yarn.

Not for the faint-hearted! This no-holds-barred novel follows the exploits of a large number of different armed groups over three continents, and through more experiences than most of us would like to imagine. Where the novel covers information in the public domain, it is scrupulous in the accuracy of its details. It is frightening to assume that other information must also be sound. Interesting nuances in the novel blur the line between the goodies and the baddies; giving the reader something to think about seriously.

A good, well written, action thriller, a modern ripping yarn.

Martin Charles, OKHOTRIKI -The Hunters and the Hunted is hard going, wordy, long winded.

Have just finished reading The Hunters and the Hunted, it really is a rip roaring yarn with plenty of twists and turns and written in a similar style to that of Alistair McLean the characters are very believable and one suspects they are based in part on a few real life acquaintances of the author.

As with all the best books meticulous attention to detail has served to enhance the reading enjoyment, all the places mentioned no doubt exist and the situations in which the characters find themselves in are for anyone who has served in the teeth units of the armed forces or been involved in counter espionage easy to identify with.

What makes this book extra special though is the extensive knowledge and situational awareness of the time in which the events took place, meticulous research has gone into every chapter right down to the 'stickies' worn by members of the SAS mountain troop, and I could almost smell the carrion curry served up at the RV.

I don't want to spoil the story by giving anything away but most of us will appreciate a fascinating look behind the scenes to a time when many of us were just pawns in a huge strategic game of chess being played out between shadowy government departments, the legitimate armed forces and just plain old criminals based in the West, the Soviet bloc, and the middle East.

Okhotriki The Hunters and the Hunted is a rip roaring adventure right off the blocks. Martin Charles weaves a tale of intrigue with intimate and vivid details grounded in a covert operation with international ramifications. From the first freed hostage one must hang on tight for the ride. Follow a trio of unusual but elite British military men, Russian trained mercinaries, CIA operatives and a little IRA peppered in for good measure as Charles' vivid experiences unfold on the page. The finish leaves the reader with a gritty aftertaste and the distinctly uneasy feeling that the world about which Charles writes is actually at play around us. Brilliant. Revealing. It has left me wanting more!