It has been awhile sense I have read this book but it still stands out in my mind. This pre-Clancy thriller uses technology to try and control the moslem world in a spectacular ending where all characters and forces come together in a very unexpected way.

Quinnell made a spectacular person and his personal war. Sometimes, the society need that man. But, where are the other titles of Quinnell.

As usual, A. J. Quinnell has put out another masterpiece about Creasy, the quiet, deadly, self-employed mercenary. Great reading, don't miss the other books (unfortunately NOT listed at Amazon.com)... Michael Weintraub

This novel was a great reading find. A.J. Quinnell writes with flare, denoting interesting characters and settings that rivet you to the last page.
Creasy and friends go back to the jungles of cambodia and vietnam to rescue an old friend being held as an MIA.
They are up against a woman with a vengeance trail that leads right straight to Creasy.
The bad guy girl is enthralling and mean as a snake. This has even a surprise that I didn't even suspect - and I like that!
Highly recommended.

I discovered A.J.Quinnell almost by accident when I picked up a copy of Man on Fire at a library sale. Captured by the authors imagination, fast paced yet detailed storylines and characters that literally lept off the page I have gone on to read with anticipation every new book.

Message from Hell continues the story of ex-mercenary Creasy, tying into the earlier novels Man on Fire, The Perfect Kill, The Blue Ring and Black Horn. But don't fret if you haven't read any of the preceeding novels as this book stands up just fine on it's own!

Creasy is drawn back to modern day Vietnam and Cambodia many years after he had fought with the American forces as a mercenary. A set of battered dog tags, delivered to long grieving parents, by a man Creasy believed to be dead, send him in search of a young soldier who was declared MIA during the Vietmnam War. Though he suspects (and indeed it becomes increasingly clear) that a trap is being set for him by old enemies his honour compels him to follow the trail. Accompanied by many of the characters that have featured in the earlier books we are once again treated to a rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns than Shirley Temples curls! Don't miss out - go on treat yourself to a cracking good read!

A. J. Quinnell has written the best book on revenge and personal redemption I have read. It has enough action and attention to technical detail to satisfy anyone reading it as a techno-thriller or procedural. He also develops the characters and their relationships well, creating a believable world and people the reader will come to care about. The plot is fairly standard "they did something horribly unjust and I'm going to get them all," yet it has enough unique twists that it avoids cliche. It is a thoroughly engrossing and entertaining work.

P.S. If you have seen the movie "Man on Fire," which is supposedly based on this book, forget the movie (as if you could remember it - it was just plain awful). The movie title and the names of a few of the characters were the only thing that was shared between the movie and the book. The movie was badly directed, badly filmed, horribly edited, confusing and had none of the suspense, tension, character development or wit found in the book. Read the book.

Mr Quinnel does it again. As both a former French Foreign Legionnaire and body guard - as is the main character in the book - I can say the Mr Quinnell is right on target with this book. So many novels nowadays disapoint professionals - revolvers with silencers etc etc. - but this one is on the money. I can only wonder if the author wasn't in the Legion at some point and/or a body guard. Do yourself a favor, if you can get hold of a copy, do it and read it...you won't regret it.

This is his first book - and the first featuring Creasy, thequiet, deadly ex-mercenary. Broken down, alcoholic, Creasy is offereda position as a bodyguard for a wealthy Italian industrialist's adolescent daughter.

When the daughter is kidnapped, all hell breaks loose in this novel of redemption and ultimate revenge.

There are no better books in this genre. It is an absolute travesty that any of Quinnell's books are out of print. All of them are fantastic. I spent six months buying out-of-print books to get the entire Creasy collection (plus the non-Creasy titles, which are also very, very well done).

Good book .. becomes to drag on half way through the book. Overall i think its a decent book that you should pick up if u have the oppertunity. .but not a book that u shouild rush out to buy

After reading the 3 Creasy books of Quinnell - which I liked very much (all 3 of them), I was quite disappointed to read the Mahadi. The story seems from the beginning too much imaginary and it is full of details that make you want to skip as many pages as possible. It seems that Quinnell does not really know the Arabs and Muslims mentality.

Before reading The Sum of All Fears, read this book first! Why? In a word, background. A.J. Quinnell's The Mahdi is about a religious leader who's used by both British and American intelligence agencies to create instability in Iraq. That's the plot. It's as complicated, Byzantine, and labrynthine as the situation in the Middle East itself. READ THIS BOOK FIRST! THEN READ THE SUM OF ALL FEARS! I guarantee you won't be disappointed. If you are, sue me. Just kidding.