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Gerald Seymour
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A Damned Serious Business Kindle Edition

by Gerald Seymour (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 1,620 ratings
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'The novel is an absorbing briefing on cyberwarfare as well as a masterclass in characterisation' SUNDAY TIMES Thriller of the Month

From the author of Harry's Game - A Sunday Times '100 best crime novels and thrillers since 1945' pick

There is a new cold war raging and its frontline warriors are Russian hackers - gang-members working freelance for the FSB, successor to the KGB. Massive thefts of personal information, electoral interference, catastrophic disruption of commercial and social services, banks, airlines, even whole countries disabled - this is happening now.

Nicknamed 'Boot' because of his obsession with the Duke of Wellington and the battle of Waterloo, Edwin Coker is a case officer at the Vauxhall headquarters of MI6. When a young hacker falls into his hands and reveals details of a secret meeting, Boot conceives a daring plan to strike back - not with a computer virus of his own, but with a bomb that will seriously damage the Russian operation, spreading fear and distrust.

Now Boot and his little team need a 'deniable' handler to deliver the explosives across the border from Estonia into Russia and bring the hacker back out. They turn to Merc, an ex-soldier fighting in Iraq, a gun-for-hire who knows how to get out of a tight spot. They hope.

From the moment Merc sets out to cross the River Narva things do not go to plan and when the hacker's sister becomes involved, his mission turns from tough to near impossible. The scene is set for a classic story of pursuit and evasion and an epic battle for survival.

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  1. Print length
    527 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Hodder & Stoughton
  4. Publication date
    4 Jan. 2018
  5. File size
    2.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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From the Publisher

Get Seymour's newest book THE FOOT SOLDIERS now

Product description

Review

A first-rate thriller with all the strengths of his recent work: audacity, believability, impeccable pacing, [and] a rich, diverse ensemble of supporting characters. ― The Sunday Times on NO MORTAL THING

Gerald Seymour is rightly considered one of the best thriller writers in the world...This latest adventure is plucked straight from the headlines ― Irish Independent

He now writes better endings than anyone else, and the extended finale is particularly brilliantly orchestrated. ― The Sunday Times, Thriller of the Month on JERICHO'S WAR

Ask aficionados who is Britain's finest thriller writer, and many would answer the veteran Gerald Seymour... A Damned Serious Business sees him once again firing on all cylinders...The hazardous mission is palm-sweatily convincing ― Guardian

Praise for Gerald Seymour

Seymour expertly marshals his plot as Jago inches ever closer to the heart of darkness. A thoroughly engrossing thriller. ― Event Magazine, Mail on Sunday on NO MORTAL THING

Discerning thriller readers can safely say that the best practitioner currently working in the UK is the veteran Seymour. He is, quite simply, the most intelligent and accomplished in the current field. ― Barry Forshaw on THE DEALER AND THE DEAD

Seymour is, quite simply, one of the finest thriller writers in England. ― Daily Mail on THE CORPORAL'S WIFE

Britain's finest thriller novelist is still the veteran Gerald Seymour, whose touch remains sure ― i Paper

Seymour is not one to cut corners. He does his research, thinks hard about his story and gives us richly imagined novels that bristle with authenticity. ― Washington Post on THE COLLABORATOR

About the Author

Gerald Seymour exploded onto the literary scene in 1975 with the massive bestseller HARRY'S GAME. The first major thriller to tackle the modern troubles in Northern Ireland, it was described by Frederick Forsyth as 'like nothing else I have ever read' and it changed the landscape of the British thriller forever.

Gerald Seymour was a reporter at ITN for fifteen years. He covered events in Vietnam, Borneo, Aden, the Munich Olympics, Israel and Northern Ireland. He has been a full-time writer since 1978.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B06Y1WCB32
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hodder & Stoughton (4 Jan. 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.6 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 527 pages
  • Customer reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 1,620 ratings

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Gerald Seymour

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Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
1,620 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the storyline credible and engaging, with a clever plot and well-developed characters. They find the content topical and thought-provoking. However, some readers found the book boring, repetitive, and long-winded. Opinions differ on readability and pace - some found it easy to follow, while others found it difficult to follow.

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StorylineCharacter developmentTopical contentGripReadabilityPaceBoredomLength
48 customers mention ‘Storyline’43 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging storyline with believable characters. They find the plot clever and gripping, with enough tension to keep them turning the pages. The book is described as an enjoyable thriller by Gerald Seymour.

"...Loved this. Topical, plenty of action, lots of background and context from the secret world...." Read more

"...educational and relevant to one of the characters.. Usual coming together of several stories. What I would call a "good read" but not his best book." Read more

"There is much to enjoy in this novel - rich characterisations, innovative plotting, and Seymour’s unique ability to sustain the contrapuntal weave..." Read more

"...They inevitably build to a fantastic climax that never disappoints." Read more

17 customers mention ‘Character development’14 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the well-developed characters and likable heroes. They appreciate the rich characterisations and innovative plotting.

"...to historic battles was wearing but was educational and relevant to one of the characters.. Usual coming together of several stories...." Read more

"There is much to enjoy in this novel - rich characterisations, innovative plotting, and Seymour’s unique ability to sustain the contrapuntal weave..." Read more

"...As always there are a couple of fallible but likeable heroes and much fascinating backstory...." Read more

"...story, a 'deniable' asset, a crime novel and as always, with well drawn out characters...." Read more

16 customers mention ‘Topical content’16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's content interesting and thought-provoking. They appreciate the credible storyline with believable characters. The topics are current and well-researched, providing background and context from the secret world. Readers enjoy the topical stories and appreciate the author's deep knowledge of the subject matter and settings.

"I'm steeped in le Carre but new to Gerald Seymour. Loved this. Topical, plenty of action, lots of background and context from the secret world...." Read more

"...The references to historic battles was wearing but was educational and relevant to one of the characters.. Usual coming together of several stories...." Read more

"...How does he do it? How does he retain the energy and hunger to stay contemporary and at the top of his game for so long a period?..." Read more

"...cast of very different characters coupled with a deep knowledge of the subject matter and settings, always well researched...." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Grip’3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's grip. They find it intense and gripping until the end.

"...It is very intense and grips you to the every end. It weaves the characters together wonderfully and really leaves you with a lot to think about...." Read more

"A bit drawn out at times. But still a good read. Keeps you hanging on until the end. You'll enjoy it" Read more

"Gripping and enlightening!..." Read more

66 customers mention ‘Readability’45 positive21 negative

Customers have mixed reviews about the book's readability. Some find it a good read with too much detail, making it difficult to read. Others mention that the book is well-researched and written, but some feel it has too many details that make it hard work.

"I'm steeped in le Carre but new to Gerald Seymour. Loved this. Topical, plenty of action, lots of background and context from the secret world...." Read more

"...Longer than I'd normally read but well worth it." Read more

"...What I would call a "good read" but not his best book." Read more

"...It is a massive achievement and as always he has hit the mark with a tale of a daring plan to hinder Russia’s cyber espionage plans...." Read more

7 customers mention ‘Pace’3 positive4 negative

Customers have different views on the book's pacing. Some find it slow at first, but it improves and ends up enjoyable.

"...But to me, this would not be a good place to start; this one seemed to drag along and be too long and not engage me and just make me want it to end." Read more

"Another excellent story from this author. Continues at a good pace and ending not too predictable." Read more

"...minds, and the Battle of Waterloo, is too distracting and slows down the pace of what is basically a good story to a crawl...." Read more

"...and credible storyline with believable characters, which is delivered at a pace to keep the reader on the edge" Read more

7 customers mention ‘Boredom’0 positive7 negative

Customers find the book boring and repetitive. They feel it's not worth the effort and that the perorations become annoying. The Battle of Waterloo is also distracting and slows down the pace.

"...almost stream-of-consciousness perorations, which quickly become repetitive and annoying - again this points to it having been dictated by a..." Read more

"...place to start; this one seemed to drag along and be too long and not engage me and just make me want it to end." Read more

"...workings of the characters minds, and the Battle of Waterloo, is too distracting and slows down the pace of what is basically a good story to a crawl..." Read more

"...Most odd, and rather annoying. A proof reader may have been a good idea...." Read more

7 customers mention ‘Length’0 positive7 negative

Customers find the book too long and laborious. They say the plot is good, but it's constantly interrupted by long-winded, almost stream-of-consciousness writing.

"...Longer than I'd normally read but well worth it." Read more

"...The otherwise quite good plot-line is constantly interrupted by long-winded, almost stream-of-consciousness perorations, which quickly become..." Read more

"...not be a good place to start; this one seemed to drag along and be too long and not engage me and just make me want it to end." Read more

"This book is 50% too long and spends a HUGE amount of time re-living the battle of Waterloo in onerous detail that has absolutely nothing to do with..." Read more

Couldn't get in to it
2 out of 5 stars
Couldn't get in to it
I actually found this one confusing and unnecessarily complicated. I usually enjoy Seymour's style of different threads and storylines coming together at the end in a blaze of glory, but not this one. Each 'snippet' was bogged down with a lot of detail and it was hard to get the hang of the different characters - just too much description of Merc in his boggy war zone! In fact, I gave up on this book a quarter of the way in which is unusual for me.
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Jim66
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superb and nuanced thriller.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 July 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I'm steeped in le Carre but new to Gerald Seymour. Loved this. Topical, plenty of action, lots of background and context from the secret world. Others found Boot's obsession with Wellington a distraction. I found it fascinating. Have read about Waterloo and visited the battlefield, very atmospheric if you've got any feel for the history. Two men fighting very different battles separated in time and space but both against would be dictators of Europe.
    Helpful
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  • Gary Steadman
    4.0 out of 5 stars 3 stories in one
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 August 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Ok, I love this author. . Interesting story revealing the nature of cyber crime and how it almost replaces tanks and planes.. almost scary.. Story told in vivid detail, detailed characterisation. The references to historic battles was wearing but was educational and relevant to one of the characters.. Usual coming together of several stories. What I would call a "good read" but not his best book.
    Helpful
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  • boatmusdir
    3.0 out of 5 stars Long and laborious
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 September 2024
    Verified Purchase
    There is much to enjoy in this novel - rich characterisations, innovative plotting, and Seymour’s unique ability to sustain the contrapuntal weave of the narrative.
    Ultimately though, the Wellington/Waterloo thread opaques rather than illuminates and loosens rather than tightens the story.
    Seymour’s skill - his simultaneous sympathy and cynicism, is holed below the waterline by a metaphor which feels just a bit forced and lame. A shame.
    Helpful
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  • g bray
    5.0 out of 5 stars ANOTHER BRILLIANT READ
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 December 2024
    Verified Purchase
    My only problem reading Seymour’s books is making myself slow down as I get nearer the end. They inevitably build to a fantastic climax that never disappoints.
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great thriller, great characters
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 July 2022
    Verified Purchase
    If you like lots of action and a thrilling chase this book has all that. But if you like to get into characters heads, into their minds and their thoughts you'll really like this book. Longer than I'd normally read but well worth it.
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  • Greville Waterman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfection.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 January 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Another year - another wonderful thriller from The Master.

    How does he do it? How does he retain the energy and hunger to stay contemporary and at the top of his game for so long a period?

    It is a massive achievement and as always he has hit the mark with a tale of a daring plan to hinder Russia’s cyber espionage plans.

    As always there are a couple of fallible but likeable heroes and much fascinating backstory.

    This is also a book made for Duke of Wellington buffs too.

    What more can you ask for?

    Perfection!
    One person found this helpful
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  • James W
    2.0 out of 5 stars Slow and very similar to his other books
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 November 2024
    Verified Purchase
    If you’re the type of reader who likes a familiarity of style, then you may like this. Too similar to his other work to grab my interest.
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  • Dynesy
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 March 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Plausible story. It took me a while to get used to the staccato sentence structure but worth persevering.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • David
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great writer who keeps improving.
    Reviewed in Canada on 22 December 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Really interesting characters linked together by need and duty in an amazing story that is up to date with modern times. Outlines the potential crisis that could be created by skilled hackers working together, with Russian government backing, against western countries. Keeps up the suspense from start to finish. A terrific book.
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  • Jeff
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in the United States on 4 May 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Typically well written English espionage novel. Each time I picked it up I was filled with foreboding. Good plot and characterisation.
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  • Malcolm Palmer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Damned Serious Business
    Reviewed in Spain on 21 March 2019
    Verified Purchase
    A damned good read. Typical Seymour - his men always 'go forward' - but makes for good entertainment.
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  • alpha07
    1.0 out of 5 stars Absolute disappointment
    Reviewed in Germany on 27 January 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I've read all his books up to now, and all were good or very good. But this one - just one long bore. If he keeps this up, it'll be time for him to retire.
    And, what's irking me: Why does the digital version (e-book) cost more than the paperback??? This seems to be the trend nowadays by some publishers to make some extra money. At our expense. You can't tell me that the digital version costs more to manufacture/publish than the paperback.
    Cheers!
    Report
  • laranzu
    3.0 out of 5 stars Espionage story, not a technothriller
    Reviewed in Australia on 18 January 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is a classic espionage story of human spies and human nature, not a technothriller or cyberwar story. Don't buy it if you are searching for computers and buzzwords: hacking has taken place in the background of the story, but it's there to set events in motion. not be the focus.
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