HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO PROTECT  YOUR COUNTRY?

25 Reviews for  MANTRA-6 ‘BRIMSTONE’

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Rated 5 out of 5

Maka Amazon – December 22, 2021

Mantra-6 BRIMSTONE, Author Russel Hutchings. Has wrote a great book on realistic events that do happen. Such books aren’t wrote on imagination alone, the characters, missions, locations and organisations in this secretive craft can only come from experience. This dangerous action packed book is a must read, for any person wanting an action pumped adventure into the unknown. Maka.

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Rated 5 out of 5

David Dallas – Amazon – December 22, 2021

True to Life – Great reading

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Rated 5 out of 5

Carl Budding Amazon – December 22, 2021

Easy Reading Plenty of Action
Credible author – instantly warmed to the main character – easy reading, nice detail and realistic – looking forward to Nitrate – Nice job Russel

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Rated 5 out of 5.

Keith M. Amazon – December 22, 2021

5 out of 5 Stars – Fast-paced action that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat!

Format: Kindle Edition| Verified Purchase via amazon.com.au

Russel Hutchings takes us on a roller coaster ride across several countries alongside John Devereaux, a non-compromising, tough, professional Australian SAS Warrant Officer. Seconded by ASIS, Devereaux is sent into Cambodia on a dangerous mission which ASIS has assured will be plausibly denied if he fails. So success is the only option and Devereaux is against the odds.

This is a fast-paced novel that had me engaged from beginning to end. I felt like I was right there alongside John Devereaux, parachuting in with him, sitting in the passenger seat as we hurtled at breakneck speeds, or ducking for cover as bullets ricocheted off the road nearby.

What made this all the more interesting is that Russel Hutchings is himself a former Australian SAS Warrant Officer, so the scenarios painted in this novel come from a long experience in one of the finest special forces units in the world. The fact this is a debut novel is exciting. I can’t wait to read more books from this series, not to mention any other novels that the author sends my way.

Highly recommended!

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Rated 5 out of 5. 

Jon Gorton – Amazon – December 22, 2021

Exciting and authentic. I bought a copy for a mate, I know he’ll enjoy it.
This is a ripper of a book, I couldn’t put it down. Fast paced while maintaining intrigue. The author has used his deep knowledge and real life experience to bring us into the world of special operations personnel and how they work closely with our intelligence services to get the job done. Rarely do we get such a clear picture of dangers they face and the resourcefulness required to achieve their objective. Really looking forward to the next book in this series. MANTRA-6: BRIMSTONE

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Rated 5 out of 5.

Tom – Amazon – December 22, 2021

Amazing book! Lots of great details in the action written by a man that has been there and done that! Keep up the great work Russel and I am already looking forward to your next book!

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Rated 5 out of 5.

Aman Multani – December 23, 2021

In my honest opinion this is, by far, one of the best books written on any Military / Specials ops. Being a veteran myself I can relate to almost everything mentioned in the book. Its a great story about highly motivated and selfless men and women who go beyond and above in the line of duty. Its truly engaging and a “Must read” for Military history / Special ops buffs.

Awesome book by a great writer!

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Rated 5 out of 5. 

Anthony McNulty – December 23, 2021

From the world of international SF this is the real deal, the operators expertise in this dark field craft makes it a must read. it’s a thrilling adrenaline pumped experience once read never forgotten. MAK. ( Ex Para)

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Rated 5 out of 5.

Brian McMurtrie – December 23, 2021

Excellent book, this is one off two books of the Mantra 6 series an action pact adventure written by a former Regiment Operator.. highly Recommend this book if you are a fan of McNab, Ryan, or Duggan.. you will like this Book.

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Rated 5 out of 5.

Correna – December 23, 2021

This book will have you on the edge of your seat right from the start. It’s a jam packed with Action, Adventure and Espionage – I couldn’t put it down. Looking forward to reading to sequel!

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Rated 5 out of 5.

Mark – December 23, 2021

Great read I highly recommend it would make a great movie

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Rated 5 out of 5.

David Horne – December 23, 2021

Up there with Ryan and McNabb……..great book.
Non stop from front to back.
If you enjoy action then this is a must read .
Just waiting for the next adventure from Russ.

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Rated 5 out of 5.

John Harmsen – December 23, 2021

Love this book- brings you right into the story and keeps you engaged. If you love military based novels, this is a great read.

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Rated 5 out of 5.

Marcel – December 23, 2021

A really enjoyable and easy read. Loads of action from start to end keeping the reader wanting more.
The writer manages to keep the readers attention and imagination captured.

Although fiction, the book highlights the issues and problems faced in the real world by governments and security agencies all over the world to counter and address organised crime. Focusing on these issues faced everyday, makes the story believable and the reader want to cheer Devereaux and Mortimer Acquisitions on in their fight.
The writer also manages to make the characters realistic by highlighting strengths and weaknesses as people would typically experience in the real world. But it never gets overly emotional and there can be no doubt that action is the crux of the book.

And a nice change from the ‘normal’ American or British heroes that one would find in similar action books.

A most enjoyable book with the closing chapter leaving the reader with a desire for more. Well worth reading.
Well done Mr Hutchings, a great book! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Rated 4 out of 5.

Peter Bowring – December 23, 2021

My read of Mantra 6 Brimstone was an exciting journey with this ex soldier carrying out overseas missions….
the story- I as a former military soldier observed provided exacting and exciting theme leading to an exciting finishing climax….
the author certainly knows his stuff which sets a strong platform for the novel as it unravels its suspenseful journey from the start to the finish…
Cannot wait for the next novel…..

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Rated 5 out of 5.

Paul Roberts – December 23, 2021

Who Dares Read, Wins!

Very much enjoyed ready this book. Only took a couple of days which is unusual for me as I don’t tend to read books that fast. I am very much looking forward to reading the next book in the series and continuing the adventure. It’s shaping up to be a great story about the operational life of an SAS solder, fictional or not!

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Rated 5 out of 5.

Hannah Hall – December 23, 2021

At first I was not sure what to make of this novel as it is not the normal genre that I read. However, as I turned the pages I found that I became more and more captivated.

The character development was not like normal novels where after 2 or 3 chapters you know what the character is like. In Brimstone, the author takes you on a journey of discovery, allow just enough information about each character to surface, yet leaving other characteristics until later. So it was a pleasant surprise and a fact I enjoyed very much indeed.

The story was high octane as the author claimed. Full of action and intrigue.

For some reason the book was written in such a way that I couldn’t help wanting to turn the page just to see what was going to happen next.

In my opinion the author has a unique way of writing and you can see that this is not written by just another author who just tells stories from his or her imagination rather than actual experience. This novel is written by someone with actual experience in the world of the SAS… it was really quite captivating and make your mind wonder as to how these spies and SAS do their jobs. It was nice to see a book written based on personal authority and experience in that type of world.

I was reading that this is a series and if that is true, I can’t wait to read the next book.
I am sure for those who like Espionage – Thriller novels, like that written by Robert Ludlum, John le Carre, Andy McNab, you are going to be most pleased with this book. I highly recommend it.

 

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Rated 5 out of 5

Maxine – December 23, 2021

A great read. Great paced. The main character is likeable and believable. Plenty of detail without going over the top. I didn’t want to put the book down and i can’t wait for his next book.

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Rated 5 out of 5

Rickl – December 23, 2021

I was pleased to read RUSSEL HUTCHINGS was spot on detailing the assassination sequence when a sniper neutralises his target. Very few writers have ‘real-world’ experience to convey to the reader how a sniper moves into a hide, sets himself up, prepares rifle and equipment, and details just how much discipline a sniper requires to successfully complete his task. Very accurately depicted.

BRIMSTONE is a fast paced book from start to finish written in a way the reader is able to submerge themselves into the story as though they were one of the characters.

I really enjoyed reading BRIMSTONE and highly recommend it to readers who are interested in more authenticity than fiction in the military and espionage tradecraft, particularly as it pertains to Special Operations.

An awesome book!

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Rated 5 out of 5.

Ken Murray – December 23, 2021

Russel Hutchings does an amazing job of weaving you through multiple characters during a suspense-filled thriller, “Mantra-6 Brimstone”. I felt like I really knew his main character, Devereaux, or at least knew someone just like him after only reading the first chapter or two. Hutching’s work opens with a high-altitude parachute jump (at night) into the jungle that he tells with such amazing detail and descriptors–I was hooked from the start! He really aids the reader by explaining away all of the Special Operations acronyms which sometimes have the tendency to bog a book down–simply not the case with Mantra-6 Brimstone. I highly recommend this work for all readers who enjoy a good page-turning thriller that you won’t be able to put down, just like me.

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Rated 5 out of 5. 

Glynn Williams – December 23, 2021

I have read many similar books in the past, but this one really grabbed me, and I couldn’t put it down.
The characters in the story were well chosen where you felt like you had a love hate relationship with them and combine this with the author’s background, knowledge, and research it’s a great action thriller.
The line on the cover “A work of Fiction or is it” makes you wonder “What were our soldiers up to during 80’s and 90’s before SASR were all over the newspapers from East Timor to Afghanistan.
I don’t want to spoil the book and give anything away so I will finish with:
When will we see the next installment of Mantra-6 Nitrate Mr Hutchings?

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Rated 5 out of 5.

Steve James – December 23, 2021

I find Russel’s novel easy to read and his character Devereaux real to life. Russel’s unique experience and insight gives Devereaux such depth of character and further depth of real world operations. Russel
Hutchings is like Australian version of, Tom Clancy. My military experience is not as extensive as Russel Hutchings, but his writing puts me back into the bush and feeling al the atmospherics and emotion of the character.

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Rated 5 out of 5.

Rudolf Bohmer – December 23, 2021

Best new fiction writer! Fast flowing action and difficult to put down. Would recommend to anyone for a perfect Christmas gift.

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Rated 5 out of 5.

Sue Monckton – December 23, 2021

A cracking good read from this first time author …knows his stuff & you will be swept along in the action for one hell of a ride ! Strongly recommend this !

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Rated 5 out of 5.

Glam – Book Review – January 12, 2022

Hutchings’ prose is sharp and concise, as it needs to be for the many action sequences the book contains, propelling the action with the right amount of dialogue and description. The story is, for once in this genre, exactly the length it needs to be. The action sequences flow naturally from one to the next without becoming bogged down in the necessary descriptions of spy craft and weaponry. There are few extraneous characters, and Hutchings does not dwell on Deveraux’s personal past, letting the reader see just enough to realise that he is human. Other more established authors could well take note of this.

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The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

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Brimstone is the first book in a new series of military thrillers by Russel Hutchings. Hutchings, a former member of the Australian SAS, is now writing fiction about the dark world of John Devereaux, an SAS soldier on loan to the Australian Security and Intelligence Service (ASIS). Devereaux’s life is a violent one: we first meet him on an infiltration mission as he attempts to assassinate a high-ranking member of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia in 1991. The mission, a partial success, has long-lasting implications and Devereaux finds himself drawn in to a larger conspiracy involving gemstone-smuggling, heroin production and the Russian mafia. Brimstone is the first volume in the Mantra 6 series, soon to be followed by Nitrate and Chilli, and is currently in development to be filmed on the Gold Coast.

There can be no doubt of Hutchings’ knowledge of his subject, and this authenticity jumps out from every page. His descriptions of clandestine tactics and weaponry feel well informed and real. The military procedure is as correct as it can be, and the references to operational procedure ring true. Pleasingly his descriptions of exotic Thailand and Cambodia feel quite tactile; they include full of sights, sounds and scents, and as Devereaux walks the mean streets the reader could be forgiven for feeling as though they were there with him.

Hutchings’ prose is sharp and concise, as it needs to be for the many action sequences the book contains, propelling the action with the right amount of dialogue and description. The story is, for once in this genre, exactly the length it needs to be. The action sequences flow naturally from one to the next without becoming bogged down in the necessary descriptions of spy craft and weaponry. There are few extraneous characters, and Hutchings does not dwell on Devereaux’s personal past, letting the reader see just enough to realise that he is human. Other more established authors could well take note of this.

But the proof of the pudding is, as they say, in the eating. In Brimstone, Russel Hutchings has given us a fine meal indeed.

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Reviewed by DC White

Glam Adelaide.

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