I tried to like this book but couldn't get in to it. Netgalley feedback ratios demand each book is rated even if not finished, so I will give it 2 stars as it's not the author's fault.

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC of this book for review purposes.
This the second book in the Street Soldier series, and features tough guy Sean Harker again. The book was fast-paced, well written and thrilling from beginning to end!
Well done!

The loud violence of war goes silent in this novel that looks at current more deadly weapons.

Wolston and his section of Fusiliers leave war-torn Nigeria in a civilian aircraft to go back home for leave. An incident during the flight leaves Wolston with a decision to make sure his entire team are grouped closely together, to deal with what he believes is an unknown situation. The flight has been diverted to a small airport south of Heathrow because of a security alert at Heathrow. Upon landing the section are informed that their leave is cancelled.

The diversion to another airport landed them in a situation which unfolded in slow motion for Wolston, Sean and the team. They were ambushed by men in black with weapons. Wolston and Sean’s army training and instincts kicked in, they just couldn’t lie down and let the enemy take control. The whole team realised they had to move fast. For a moment Wolston was frozen in fear, however in seconds he took back control and whispered orders to his section. Their attempt to subdue the men in black failed. Although the section halted any civilian deaths the three masked men got away in the mayhem.

This was only a diversion though to enable the real war to take place which is a more deadly and silent war. Wolston and his team continue the search for the men in black.

Read the book to find out who these men/women were and what their goal was because this is the threat humanity is facing in the world today.

Surprising build-up of the plot, I found that excellent.

BonnieK

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

Not my usual choice of book, and had not read any of the other titles in the series, however i enjoyed this as a stand alone book. The writing style was dynamic with lots of action and intrigue - just what I would expect from this author. The book is relatively short which would make it ideal for YA and Teen readers

Being that this was a prequel to the first book I would have much-preferred reading that one first, it struggled to keep my attention at times.

Couldn't get into this - not my kind of novel, all action and no substance

I was surprised to find that I really liked this book, more than I expected too. It was well written and interesting. The plot was current and hits home as to just how much work goes on behind the scenes to thwart terrorism and I love how 2 different departments worked together. Its scary and real about radicalisation and I was plesed to see there were no type casts in this story.
There were a few things that made this a 4 star rating- in some areas I felt the story was perhaps a little rushed (near the beginning) and some parts could have been more polished. As I was reading this I felt I had missed something (I didn't know there was a prequel to this) I didn't know the whole background story which threw me off.
But the storyline was greatc and kept me hooked :)

Sean is back again and thrown in at the deep end again. I really enjoyable read with lots of action. Can't wait to see what happens next to Sean.

Sean Harker and his platoon are flying back from Lagos on a civilian aircraft post a gruelling mission. Whilst they attempt to blend in, they are rather pent up and there is a scene on the aircraft. This is not how soldiers should be conducting themselves. However what they did not expect was to form part of a hostage situation in the airport. Although far from a completely controlled situation, the soldiers quickly act to bring the terrorists down. This is achieved with some success, but not without any casualties. What transpires is a high terrorist alert, so leave is cancelled and Sean and his squaddies form part of an undercover op.
As the account is from Sean’s perspective, there is a great insight into his thoughts and rationale both from a military and personal perspective. The soldiers are credible and their youthful, arrogant flaws bountiful, keeping it very much realistic. The pace of the book as you would expect is incredibly fast. There is action from the off and it continues through to the end. It has a very modern and realistic theme, essentially fighting against an invisible enemy. I chuckled at McNab managing to write in Pokeman hunting into the script, exemplifying how he manages to pepper light yet relevant humour throughout the story. Whilst designated as a YA read, it definitely has good crossover appeal and delivers a packed and twisted plot. There’s also the added benefit of more explanation of military services terminology and operations rationale than in the designated adult books, so it gives a chance for readers to fully understand things. It is this element of the book that makes it easy reading and be more young adult applicable. Probably also a really good book to promote to a reluctant reader. So a good all-rounder really.

Silent Weapon
By Andy McNab
Published by Doubleday, August 2017

This is the second in the "Street Soldier" Young Adult series about Sean Harker, former gang lad and petty criminal, who gets recruited into the Army in the first book.

Sean has made good, turned his life around and created a whole new life for himself in the Army, after an admittedly pretty rocky start. Fresh from a tour of duty abroad, he is expecting to arrive safely back in Britain and then prepare for some holiday leave in sunny Tenerife, but things do not go according to plan. Their civilian plane is diverted and then the airport is attacked by terrorists.

Caught right in the middle of it all, Sean and his companions fight back....but this is not the end of the problem, in fact it is just the very beginning of a desperate search against time to track down the terrorists and disable their deadly biological weapon hidden on Sean's own home turf by people he knows from his past.

This made utterly compelling and eye-opening reading; I found I was rapidly sharing Harker's concern, anger, disbelief and fear that radicalisation and terrorism could take place on his estate in London, among the people he knows and has grown up with. Everything he has believed about terrorism until now is turned on its head and he has very limited time to use his local knowledge of places and people to find those responsible and discover exactly what the weapon is before it is too late and a pandemic is unleashed.

An excellent story, which I ended up reading in one sitting and couldn't put it down. How on earth he is going to top this particular book, I have no idea, but I am equally sure that he will manage it.

In Street Soldier, Sean was a delinquent from a poor background. He was part of a street gang, until he was given a break which changed his life. Although, this can be read as a standalone, the first installment gives a good grasp of how Sean comes to be where he is now.

Six months of training and fighting against the insurgents in Nigeria is coming to its end. Sean and his unit have only hours to go, before returning to England. They are looking forward to a well earned break in Spain.

Despite, the severity of the threats, this story starts on a fairly lighthearted note. Sean and his best friend Bright take great delight into taking the mickey out of the new recruits. Not in a nasty way. It's all in good fun and I found myself grinning on a few occasions.

Their return trip to England doesn't go as planned and they face a hostile situation at the airport. There are different theories about this attack, but nothing is as it seems. The attackers are connected to Sean's home town and he comes under scrutiny before he is "volunteered" to assist with the investigations. The small team involved includes MI5. Time is of essence! Lives depend on it.

Sean is more mature and his problem solving skills are impressive. The team is looking for weapons stashed by the terrorists, but what they find turns out to be more lethal. It's so deadly that other special units have to be brought in. Will they have enough time to save the day?

It's fast paced, full of action and mysteries. I like the author's sense of humour, which lightens the severity of the story. There are some strong messages about the perception of radicalision. It's a fascinating concept that could easily turn into reality. This thriller would appeal to readers of all ages.

I was kindly issued with an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

Silent weapon by andy mcnab.
HOW DO YOU FIGHT AN INVISIBLE ENEMY?
A high-speed chase through the backstreets of Lagos and an unexpected bomb explosion in the jungle – it’s all in a day’s work for soldier Sean Harker.
Looking forward to a well-earned break back home, Sean and his platoon fly back to the UK, only to find themselves fighting their way out of an airport hostage situation, and the country on high terrorist alert.
Barely escaping with his life, Sean must now embark on a dangerous mission: to locate a deadly weapon, capable of destruction on a massive scale

. . . a weapon no one will see coming.
A really enjoyable read with great characters. Lots of action too. Could see this as a movie. Sean was my favourite character. Can't wait for next part. 5*.
Netgalley and penguin random house UK children's.

thanks to the publishers an netgally for the chance to review this book

This was a very enjoyable read with a good story line. Not my normal choice but I did like this.

I found this a fast, enjoyable thriller which was all about confronting terrorism on the streets of London and how extremism isn't limited to a certain religion or race. This was fast-paced enough to keep me interested right up until the end, I never knew exactly what was going to happen next, and I found Sean a likeable enough protagonist. I hadn't read the first book in the series but I never felt like I was missing too much. This book stands alone pretty well.

The only thing I would say is that the characters were a little flat, probably sacrificed for the plot. It didn't detract too much, I see it more in thrillers than any other genre, but it did make it hard to care about the other characters except for Sean.

Good book, would recommend!

A fast paced thriller.
Plenty of action and totally believable.
A good quick read.

I really enjoyed reading this book about Sean's journey, coming home after a tour abroad with the army for a break and expecting sun ,sea and sex! Then everything changes and his training kicks in! As he tries to deal with what happens! Highly recommended!

I really enjoyed this though it is aimed at older teens (which like the first book lost it a star for the amount of bad language) reading as an adult the storyline was fast paced and engaging with twists and turns along the way it was nice to see a terrorist storyline that wasn't full of Arabic names and Muslim baddies.

30 years ago I lived in Nigeria so I really found the beginning chapters if thus book based around a training mission in Nigeria fascinating and I could smell again from the description the swampy dangerous land.
The main part of the novel is based in a housing estate in the London area. Again the description of the gangs and no hope for the young dwellers was excellent.
The tale shows that it us not just migrant populations that get marginalised in these estates as also Caucasian British are caught up in the downward spiral of hate.
I recommend this book to any person who wants to feel the 'no future' that mist youth feel in these estates..
The hero us a product of this place and although he is crude and rough he has found a brotherhood in the army and also discipline which is giving him a future. He also us trying to look after his family and yes he us torn when back at the estate looking for a weapon of mass destruction that turns out to be a horrible surprise which I will not spoil for the reader.

What a great book I really enjoyed all of it non stop action from start to finish I cannot recommend it highly enough I always enjoy Andy McNab books and this was another great one to read only took a couple of hours from start to finish

On his way to a well-earned holiday, Sean Harker and his army buddies encounter a terrorist attack at a busy UK airport. Shaking and shocked, Sean must now find a silent weapon before it strikes millions dead. This is the second in McNab's Street Soldier Series. Sean doesn't lessen the pace, but losing a team member and getting hurt tales its toll. Part set in Lagos draws the reader into a foreign conflict, although plot, as usual, is easy to follow. Sean is a strong anti-hero who should appeal to a wide YA audience.I look forward to his next outing.