Breathtaking pace of this book leaves you quite giddy ! it is fast paces, smart, not funny but well put together. Some of the details are beyond gruesome and pretty hard-core and yet you feel that somehow they may well have actually happened.

Max is a brilliantly executed character - just enough of the human side of his character prevents him being a total psychopath (he is a professional killer after all) and therefore unlikeable. His professional detachment and his own moral code (will not kill the "wrong" girl for example), make him a, if not endearing, then certainly more accessible character.

The setting in war-torn Sierra Leone is brutal and I am certain well researched. It serves effectively to contrast the tension that exists between getting the job done on the ground and the Office in London issuing instructions and then sitting back waiting for it to happen.

There are strong elements of Andy McNabs thrillers to this book due to Max's profession and if you like those books you will like this one. Max, however, is not SAS he is something to which they don't give a name and perhaps that is a good thing, whilst necessary I don't really rejoice in the thought that many of his sort exist in the real world !

A high pace action thriller that is as difficult to read as it is to put down.

The last James Brabazon book I read was My Friend the Mercenary and I found it interesting but terrifying. The reality of war is never pleasant and often graphic. And Brabazon does not shy away from depicting graphic and disgustingly gruesome scenes.

The Break Line is an action packed thriller with a bit of everything including the creation of a “superhuman” weapon.

At times this was enthralling and left me unable to put it down but at others, it was slow and drawn out. The main protagonist is an assassin, not someone you would necessarily like but you can’t help but root for him to triumph in this messed up mission.

The writing style was ok but sometimes felt broken and used too much military jargon for my taste. The plot was well planned out, with strategically placed plot twists to keep me on my toes but felt a bit fantastical and unreal on occasion.

If you’re a fan of this genre and of writers such as Andy McNab I’m sure you’ll love this book, however it’s not for the faint-hearted.

For me it was a 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ read.

The Break Line releases on 26th July 2018.

Thank you to the NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy. All opinions are my own and provided willingly.

This is a action packed thriller which just does not stop.
It left me turning the pages till late at night.
My sort of thriller although a bit gory in places.

Not my normal genre of reading but I really enjoyed the story. At first I thought it was your normal spy type thriller but how wrong was I!! I loved the twist in the story and Max was a likeable character despite his career. This is one I can definitely recommend.

What a breathtaking ride. A fast paced page turner that is as exciting as it's blood thirsty.Bodies everywhere.

Whew !!! now I have read it I need to take a deep breath and rest a bit .

Great summer read .

A fast-paced military spy-style page-turner which would appeal to those who enjoy Chris Ryan and the like but with one major caveat. You need to be able to suspend your belief and travel into a world that is more sci-fi than spy.

There are moments when the pace of the book drops and then others where it picks up again and the detailed descriptions allow you to picture the action in graphic detail. For me, however, there was a little too much thrown at the story. Had it been pared back, just a little, it would have been a better read and allowed the reader to relax a little rather than having to give maximum concentration, particularly around the choice of language.

Despite this, whilst not a captain of its genre, this book should be given shelf-space by those who enjoy a slightly more gory, sci-fi based example of the military thriller genre. 3.5 stars.

With thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Fast paced military thriller delving into the black ops side of things. So much detail it would appeal to a person very interested in the minutiae of a military operation. I was unable to identify with Max or engage with his emotions

The Break Line by James Brabazon is a military spy thriller, set in west Africa. The main character is Max who is the best in his line of work, an assassin for the British government. After failing to complete a mission, he has now been given a chance to redeem himself, and if successful win a promotion which would drastically change his life. All he has to do is kill one man, but to find him, get to him and take that one shot there are a few obstacles in his way.

A very readable novel, with likeable characters, as with most spy books, introductions at the beginning are multiple, which make it hard to follow, but persist as this is useful later on. The story gets going pretty quickly, when Max lands in Africa and starts to learn about the task at hand. A very believable story persists with good plot driven narrative, some sections are even scary they are so real. There are some very gruesome sections which I didn't really enjoy, (I wouldn't recommend eating lunch with this read!) but did add to the atmosphere of the story. Dramatic, suspenseful action scenes filled this novel with a spectacle of a conclusion. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

A gripping, intense story that I found difficult to put down. It kept me hooked right to the end. Could this ever come true? A terrifying thought.

Fantastic fast paced thriller set in the world of the secret service. Max McLean is MI6's best weapon but he is about to be tested to his limits on a covert operation to West Africa, where he will face his demons. There is the potential for Max to become the next Jack Reacher! A gripping page turner - highly recommended.

'The Break Line' is a fast pacing military thriller full with action thriller sci-fy. Can't tell a lot about the story without spoilers, but it's gripping and full of almost visual action.

Some descriptions are very detailed and gruesome, I can understand why some people do not like this book that much over this, but overall very well written and entertaining. Step away if you like romance novels but do read if you like fast paced action thrillers!

A.great spy thriller with the right hand not knowing what the left hand was doing. Very complex story and I needed to stay focused to follow it. An interesting concept but terrifying in its application. Surprising conclusion. and a fascinating read.

A little far-fetched

Max Mclean operates undercover and officially doesn’t appear on any payroll. He works for the British Secret Services to carry out any job which is too sensitive to be handled by MI5 or MI6. He carries out his orders to the letter and without question….except he failed on his last mission as he made a decision which put him at odds with his bosses. He is given a chance to recover his reputation by taking a fresh job in Sierra Leone but will he live to regret his earlier failure?

Max’s character is typical of his type - rough, tough and ready to take on anything and anybody. However, he’s likeable with it and is someone who can be relied on …… unless you’re the one in his sights. The personalities of the other characters were much less well-developed, and it was, therefore, more difficult to determine whether they were friend or foe.

The plot somewhat dragged during the first half of the book, and except for a couple of episodes of exciting action, it was rather flat and, frankly, boring. The second half was very different and was non-stop adrenaline-pumping adventure. However, I found the storyline highly far-fetched which led to it being a difficult read for me. It’s not possible to be more specific without giving out spoilers, but in places, it gave the impression of being more science-fiction than thriller-fiction.

Some readers will no doubt love the book and beg for more but, although well written with excellent dialogue, it was not one for me.

mr zorg

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

I struggled with this book and it may well be because it was outside of my genre and not due to the writing. I struggled at the start with so many military bodies and did not relate to Max as the main character at all. The premise by which I chose this book did not seem to meet the book itself. It was more a spy thriller with sci fi thrown in. I found it gruesome and unbelievable but at the same time if I believed it then it could be frightening. There was good descriptions of Sierra Leone and especially the jungle. I would place this very much a male read or someone who likes more spy and military style books. Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this as it confirms to me that I am not a spy reader

Max has been a sniper and a very efficient killing machine for over twenty years, when a mission goes wrong, leaving him for the first time to question the validity of his targets. Later sent on a solo mission to Sierra Leone, where unimaginable horrors are unfolding, he can no longer blindly follow orders and begins to question everything he has been told.
In training he has been warned that there would come a point where the pressure of the job becomes too much, leading something to snap in two, and the question was on which side of that break line he would be on. Now he has reached that breaking point where he must choose sides.
This is a tense, fast paced thriller. Inevitably there were lots of military descriptions, but it had a gripping story and I liked the ending.
I would like to thank the author and publishers for an advance copy of the book, in exchange for an honest opinion.

A fast packed enjoyable read. Not the sort of book I would usually read, expected more spying and less blood and guts. Started really well, definite page turner. Deteriorated as plot developed and in the end could not suspend disbelief. I thought a bit far fetched, even a little silly. That said it was a good light read, perfect for holiday reading

A gripping read from the first page to the last. I found it difficult to put down and were it not for Wimbledon and the World Cup I would probably have read it in a single sitting. James Brabazon has created an interesting character in Max Mclean and I look forward to any follow up novel which will hopefully be at the same level. This is a book which would appeal to anyone who enjoys the "Orphan X" novels of Gregg Hurwitz - exciting, pacey and action-packed from beginning to end.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

oh dear this was a difficult one to read...blood and guts in graphic detail...but on the whole a compelling read and why wouldnt you want to read about someone that doesnt exist but who gets the job done....

dont want to give to much away..but if you like blood guts and military then this is the book for you...

An easy read, ideal for a lazy day on the beach or on a long haul flight. Gripping and well constructed plot but sadly with an implausible climax and conclusion.
The story line of the British agent sent into Sierra Leone to assassinate an enemy of the State commences in a predictable fashion. An ex-SAS super-hero, government deniability of the mission, incredibly graphic violence, the protagonist always winning against seemingly insurmountable odds, unexpected life or death twists etc.
The plot then degenerates into a somewhat unbelievable science fiction fantasy.. However, this didn't detract from the overall reading experience, hence my review score of 4 stars.

Max Mclean is a government assassin. In this Gerald Seymour on steroids novel he is not only the best shot ever but also an insuperable opponent in any kind of combat. The deaths come thick and fast and although it is a readable page turner the plot is not credible and you have to say its a bit silly.