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John McKay on In For The Kill

John McKay on In For The Kill

John McKay discusses In For The Kill, airborne forces, and the real history behind his fiction.

John, congratulations on the new book, In For The Kill. Sergeant Harris returns after Target Arnhem. What has happened between the two books? Thank you, Ollie. In For The Kill the third book in the Manner of Men series, begins just over a week after the conclusion of...

The Big Little War, by James Dunford Wood

The Big Little War, by James Dunford Wood

James Dunford Wood delves into the reasons for the ultimate British success and why, at the time, the achievements of these men was kept relatively quiet.

When I was asked to review this book, I jumped at the chance. Although being ex-RAF, I had no knowledge of the events that took place in Iraq in May 1941, and was keen to learn. Little, if anything, has been written about what became one of the most important...

The V2 – Weapon of Vengeance

The V2 – Weapon of Vengeance

The V2 rocket caused major destruction, killing civilians and striking fear into the population.

The V2 - Weapon of Vengeance Shortly before 7pm on Friday 8th September 1944, a huge explosion ripped through Staveley Road in Chiswick, London, killing a 63 year-old woman, a 3 year-old girl and a 28 year-old soldier from the Royal Engineers, who was home on leave. A...

John McKay on In For The Kill

Target Arnhem: John McKay Interviewed by Alan Bardos

Alan Bardos interviews John McKay about the WWII tale Target Arnhem and the blending of historical events with fiction.

John, congratulations on the publication of your new novel Target Arnhem. It’s a great World War II story, combining battlefield action with a nail biting espionage plot. Could you tell us a bit about the different storylines? Thank you Alan. This is the second book...

Birds of Prey, by Philip W. Blood

Birds of Prey, by Philip W. Blood

A little known history that finally puts to bed the assumption that it was only Nazis who carried out killings during the Holocaust.

Birds of Prey, by Philip W. Blood The Bialowieźa forest, in Poland and Belarus, is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The forest is full of interesting plant life and a wide range of wildlife including wolves, wild boar, deer and European bison. No wonder then, that...

Normandy: The Sailors’ Story by Nick Hewitt

Normandy: The Sailors’ Story by Nick Hewitt

A tour de force and, importantly, thoroughly enjoyable.

When one thinks of D-Day, June 6th 1944, the first images that spring to mind are of brave soldiers disembarking landing craft and rushing onto the beaches to face the machine-guns of the defending Germans. Films, such as Saving Private Ryan and The Longest Day have...

The Convoy, by Angus Konstam

The Convoy, by Angus Konstam

One convoy during the Battle of the Atlantic provides for an entertaining read.

Many history books can be somewhat daunting to take on. Too many players, too broad a scope, too many maps or diagrams; these can all add to the reader losing focus, having to constantly flick back and forth between pages to get a full grasp of what the author is...

Angus Konstam on The Convoy

Angus Konstam on The Convoy

Historian of the Arctic Convoys John McKay met up with Angus Konstam to discuss his new book, The Convoy.
John McKay

Angus Konstam, many congrats on the book. What inspired you to write The Convoy? Thanks! It was really enjoyable to write. A few years ago I read a short article about it written by Mal Wright, an Australian naval historian. It really piqued my interest, as I’d been...

Operation Codicil

Operation Codicil

A new novel follows the Paras during the Second World War, starting with D-Day and ending with the crossing of the Rhine.

Operation Codicil, is the first instalment of The Manner of Men series – which is to be a three-part series based on the Parachute Regiment in the Second World War. The series will follow a group of elite pathfinders from D-Day until war’s end, where they see action...