Jack Leavers

Ex-bootneck, part-reformed buccaneer, spinner of dits, and all round bon oeuf. Author of #AppetiteforRisk & #DontPlayDeadWithVultures

[Jack Leavers @jackleavers]

Realistic #thrillers with bootneck humour… what’s not to like?

#IARTG
#actionthriller
#thrillerbooks

Don’t Play Dead with Vultures: If you’ve got to go… go hard https://t.co/lPVHTcnoGv

Appetite for Risk https://t.co/XEWiBtMffV

[Dave Buzan @DaveBuzan]

"Jaws" was released on this day in 1975. Revolutionary horror blockbuster (adapted from the bestselling novel) from director Steven Spielberg and screenwriters Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb.

Highlights: Innovative cinematography by Bill Butler; extraordinary editing by Verna Fields; legendary John Williams score.

"Jaws" changed the movie industry forever. The original summer blockbuster, it grossed nearly fifty times its production budget. One of the most influential films ever made.

My all-time favorite movie.

[Jack Leavers @jackleavers]

Owain Mulligan's 'The Accidental Soldier' is a hoofing #audiobook. Really funny as well as a poignant view from the ground in Iraq 2006.

Highly recommended

[Jack Leavers @jackleavers]

@marcswells Layla was still chasing critters in the woods 24 hours beforehand. One of the fast-acting ‘silent killers’ took her out.

She always did pull the rarer conditions out of bag, like drop-tail and tick paralysis.

She was absolutely a part of the family for nearly 10 years.

[Jack Leavers @jackleavers]

Sad to report that I lost my admin assistant, chief stick collector, and close four-legged friend Layla in the early hours of Sunday morning to a rapid illness.

We should have had so many more walks together.

I'll miss her.

#dogs

[Jack Leavers @jackleavers]

@marcswells Thanks Royal.

My girls grew up with her, so really tough for all the family.

[Jack Leavers @jackleavers]

@inhollington Thanks Rob

[Tim Shipman @ShippersUnbound]

Very sad to learn of the death of Len Deighton, who was one of the two greatest spy thriller writers of all time and in some regards was Le Carre’s superior.

Anyone who has not read Deighton should try Funeral in Berlin, Bomber or SSGB. Most of all they should seek out Berlin Game, the start of an epic 10 book Cold War series focused on Bernard Samson.

Deighton’s writing was sharp, satirical, gripping and often amusing. His office infighting in the intelligence services was delicious and his characters are beautifully drawn.

The Samson cycle starts with a meticulously plotted run of five books (Berlin Game, Mexico Set, London Match, Spy Hook and Spy Line) which all stand alone but tell one big story from the jaded but dedicated perspective Bernard a brilliant field operative. Len’s genius idea was to use the sixth, Spy Sinker, to retell the whole cycle from the perspective of everyone else, exposing what Bernard didn’t know and misunderstood.

There is then an origin story about Bernard’s dad during the war, Winter, and then a concluding trilogy of Faith, Hope and Charity, which is not as high quality but deals with the fallout from the events of books 1-5.

It’s an epic achievement and the greatest long series in spy fiction, accepting that the Smiley series is the greatest short series.

Do yourself a favour, give it a try

[Jack Leavers @jackleavers]

The Desert War trilogy by Alan Moorehead is a great read. It provides a real flavour to the thinking at all levels and the hopes, frustrations, successes and failures throughout the 1940-1943 desert war.

Highly recommended
#BookTwitter
#BooksWorthReading

[dds_book_reviews 📚🇺🇦 @DebsBookReviews]

A ☀️#FollowFriday, which of these will keep you company?

@daisywoodwriter
@laurabesley
@jennyquintana95
@SJIHolliday
@OneCrazyRita
@TheGayStreetCh1
@Peteadams8
@TonyParsonsUK
@jackleavers
@blacklionking73

#BookTwitter #ReadingCommunity #books

[Jack Leavers @jackleavers]

@anon_opin Hey Royals, get a load of this chopper

[Jack Leavers @jackleavers]

@SomeWelder

[Jack Leavers @jackleavers]

@BootneckStuff ‘Can’t wait to herringbone up that massive feature up ahead’

[Jack Leavers @jackleavers]

21 yrs ago, in what some might call a 'ballsy move' (my wife didn't), I jumped into a taxi in Amman bound for Baghdad.

What happened next inspired the #thriller #AppetiteforRisk Only this time it's ex-bootneck John Pierce whose plans unravel.

https://t.co/eKVVJGFAhG

[Jack Leavers @jackleavers]

#DontPlayDeadWithVultures

Ex-bootneck John Pierce and a band of allies face a desperate race against time in the jungles of West Africa

For readers who like their action #thrillers authentic

https://t.co/d23n0AUhH6

No Wild Geese but plenty of Vultures! #thrillerbooks #IARTG

[Jack Leavers @jackleavers]

@SiBiggs Reaching out has got to be a good first step. All the best with everything, Royal.

[Jack Leavers @jackleavers]

Above Dukan Lake

[Jack Leavers @jackleavers]

Nice day for a road trip to Erbil

[Jack Leavers @jackleavers]

@bushontheradio First time reading anything in-depth about it. Looks at the wider political picture & efforts as well as the battlefield in SA.

I’m finding it really interesting and quite different to my limited previous knowledge about the guerilla warfare & internment/concentration camps.

[Jack Leavers @jackleavers]

@bushontheradio Not sure about dinner party, but my chaotic run ashore will have Oliver Reed, Evel Knievel & Julia Aggripina, the mother of Emperor Nero.

I reckon Aggripina would be the one to watch - to make sure no drinks are spiked with poison.