Chris Ryan Popular Books
Chris Ryan Biography & Facts
Colin Armstrong, (born 1961), usually known by the pen-name Chris Ryan, is a British author, television presenter, security consultant and former Special Air Service sergeant. After the publication of fellow patrol member Andy McNab's Bravo Two Zero in 1993, Ryan published his own account of his experiences during the Bravo Two Zero mission in 1995, entitled The One That Got Away. Since retiring from the British Army Ryan has published several fiction and non-fiction books, including Strike Back, which was subsequently adapted into a television series for Sky 1, and co-created the ITV action series Ultimate Force. He has also presented or appeared in numerous television documentaries connected to the military or law enforcement. Early life, education and military service Ryan was born in Rowlands Gill in County Durham. After attending Hookergate School, he enrolled in the British Army at the age of 16. Ryan's cousin was a member of the reservist 23 SAS Regiment and invited Ryan to come up and "see what it's like to be in the army".: 85 Ryan did this nearly every weekend, almost passing selection several times, but was too young to do 'test week'. When he was old enough, he passed selection into 23 SAS. Shortly after that he began selection for the regular 22 SAS Regiment and joined 'B' Squadron as a medic. Needing a parent regiment, Ryan and a former sailor who had joined 22 SAS from the Royal Navy, spent eight weeks with the Parachute Regiment before returning to 'B' Squadron.: 100–102 During the 1980s he was part of an SAS team sent to Thailand by the UK government to train members of the Khmer Rouge in tactics used to attack civilians in Cambodia. Bravo Two Zero During the Gulf War, Ryan was a team member of the ill-fated eight-man SAS patrol, with the call sign Bravo Two Zero. The patrol was sent into Iraq to "gather intelligence,... find a good LUP (lying up position) and set up an OP (observation post)" on the main supply route (MSR) between Baghdad and North-Western Iraq, and eventually take out the Scud TELs.: 16 However they were compromised and forced to head towards Syria on foot. Ryan walked 300 kilometres (190 mi), from an observation point on the Iraqi MSR between Baghdad and North-Western Iraq, to the Syrian Border.: 233 This march made SAS history as the "longest escape and evasion by an SAS trooper or any other soldier", covering 100 miles (160 km) more than SAS trooper Jack Sillito had in the Sahara Desert in 1942. During his escape, Ryan suffered injuries from drinking water contaminated with nuclear waste. Besides suffering severe muscle atrophy, he lost 36 lb (16 kg) and did not return to operational duties. Instead, he selected and trained potential recruits, before being honourably discharged from the SAS in 1994. On 29 June 1991 Ryan was awarded the Military Medal "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Gulf in 1991" although the award was not gazetted until 15 December 1998 together with the equally delayed announcement of Andy McNab's Distinguished Conduct Medal. Post-military career After leaving the SAS, Ryan wrote The One That Got Away, which covers the account from his patrol report of the Bravo Two Zero mission. Both his and McNab's accounts have been heavily criticised by former territorial SAS member and explorer Michael Asher, who attempted to retrace the patrol's footsteps for TV and claimed to have debunked both accounts with the help of his friend, the then-SAS regimental sergeant major Peter Ratcliffe. Ryan has written more than 70 books, both fiction and non-fiction. Many of his works are well known, such as fictional works like Strike Back (2007), which was adapted into the TV show, and Firefight (September 2008). He also writes fictional books for teenage readers, including the Alpha Force Series and "Code Red", and has written a romantic novel, The Fisherman's Daughter, under the pseudonym Molly Jackson. In addition to his writing Ryan has contributed to several television series and video games. In 2002 Ryan co-created and appeared in ITV's action series, Ultimate Force, playing the role of Blue Troop leader Staff Sergeant Johnny Bell in the first series. He acted as a military adviser for the video game I.G.I.-2: Covert Strike. Ryan was the star of BBC One's Hunting Chris Ryan in 2003 which later aired on the Military Channel as Special Forces Manhunt. In 2004 Ryan produced several programmes titled Terror Alert: Could You Survive, demonstrating how to survive disasters including flooding, nuclear terrorist attack, mass blackouts, and plane hijackings. In 2005, Ryan presented a Sky One show called How Not to Die, detailing how to survive various life-threatening situations. In 2007 Ryan trained and managed a six-man team to represent Team GB at Sure for Men's Extreme Pamplona Chase in Spain during the Running of the Bulls and also appeared in an episode of the Derren Brown series, Mind Control with Derren Brown, where he booby-trapped a course for Brown to follow whilst blindfolded. Ryan presented the television series Elite World Cops, also broadcast as Armed and Dangerous, which aired on Bravo in 2008. In the show, Ryan spends time with law enforcement agencies around the world. Personal life Ryan has one daughter. His experiences in Iraq caused him to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. Also, following his consumption of radioactive water during his Bravo Two Zero escape he was warned not to have any children in the future. Books Ryan has written the following books: Filmography Ultimate Force (2002) - SSgt Johnny Bell Hunting Chris Ryan (2003) - Himself Elite World Cops (2008) - Himself Chris Ryan's Strike Back (2010) - Commanding Officer References External links Official Facebook page Official Website Chris Ryan at IMDb Chris Ryan's Elite Police DVD release List of books Chris Ryan audio interview, November 2008 with Scottish Book Trust Chris Ryan's Strike Back on Sky 1 Chris Ryan's Strike Back Video Trailer. Discover the Chris Ryan popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Chris Ryan books.
Best Seller Chris Ryan Books of 2024
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Hard Landing
Stephen LeatherThe blistering first book in the bestselling Dan 'Spider' Shepherd series. Dan 'Spider' Shepherd is used to putting his life on the line. Working for an elite undercover squad he h...
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Dark Forces
Stephen LeatherWhen you're caught between two evils, only the most decisive will survive . . .A violent South London gang will be destroyed if Dan 'Spider' Shepherd can gather enough evidence ag...
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Zero Six Bravo
Damien LewisThe Sunday Times No.1 bestseller. They were branded as cowards and accused of being the British Special Forces Squadron that ran away from the Iraqis. But nothing could be furthe...
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Cold Kill
Stephen LeatherThe third book in the bestselling Dan 'Spider' Shepherd series. Even deadlier than terrorists . . . are the men trying to stop them.Peoplesmuggling, counterfeit currency and attemp...
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Moving Target
Ross KempFormer Special Reconnaissance Regiment Sergeant Nick Kane always stands by his friends. So when an old comrade is leaned on by gangsters, Nick's only too happy to help. But Nick qu...
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Bad Soldier
Chris Ryan'first rate set operational pieces' Sunday TimesA migrant boat battles through the rough Mediterranean. Its passengers are desperate, starving and scared.They are also being ruthl...
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Improv for Actors
Dan DigglesIn this stepbystep guide, an actor and improvisational teacher brings his tested methods to the page to show how actors can take risks and gain spontaneity in all genres of scripte...
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Death Force
Matt LynnA riveting military action adventure novel Band of Brothers mets Andy McNab in a story of hard nosed mercenaries. In Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, the British are fighti...
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The Odyssey of Echo Company
Doug StantonSELECTED BY MILITARY TIMES AS A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR SELECTED BY THE SOCIETY OF MIDLAND AUTHORS’ AS THE BEST NONFICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR The New York Times bestselling author of ...
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Fast Track
Stephen Leather'Stephen Leather writes really exciting action thrillers. It's like being there yourself' CHRIS RYAN, AUTHOR OF Zero 22'The fastpaced action scenes are expertly choreographed; the ...
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Rough Justice
Stephen LeatherThe seventh book in the bestselling Dan 'Spider' Shepherd series. Villains across London are being beaten, crippled and killed by vigilante cops. Crime rates are falling, but the p...
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Hunter Killer
Chris RyanThe second book in the hugely popular Danny Black series by the creator of the hit TV show Strikeback.Their operations are deniable. Their skill is deadly. SAS hero Danny Black is ...
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Sacrifice
Will JordanLet bestselling author Will Jordan take you on a breakneck speed ride with CIA agent Ryan Drake in this compelling and unmissable thriller. Fans of Lee Child, Vince Flynn and David...
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Warlord
Chris Ryan'The action comes bulletfast and Ryan's experience of covert operations flash through the highspeed story like tracer rounds.' The SunThe fifth book in the Danny Black series. On t...
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Last Man Standing
Stephen LeatherFriendships forged in the heat of combat can be stronger than anything.So when SAS trooper Matt Standing is told that the former Navy SEAL who saved his life is in trouble, he does...
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Fire Force
Matt LynnThe new highstakes, actionpacked military thriller from the author of DEATH FORCE. Batota, Africa. A nation under the rule of a brutal, aging dictator. A group of businessmen belie...
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Her Last Breath
Alison BelshamA gripping new detective series set in Brighton for readers who enjoy Peter James' Roy Grace series.When a young woman is attacked and left fighting to survive in hospital, the pol...
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False Friends
Stephen LeatherThe ninth allaction thriller in the bestselling Dan 'Spider' Shepherd series. The most wanted man in the world is dead. Now those loyal to him seek revenge. When Navy Seals track ...
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Fair Game
Stephen LeatherThe eighth book in the bestselling Dan 'Spider' Shepherd series. Kidnapping is one of the cruellest crimes lives are put at risk for cold, hard cash. But when Somali pirates seiz...
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Horse Soldiers
Doug StantonNow a major motion picture from Jerry Bruckheimer starring Chris Hemsworth and Michael Shannon! “A thrilling action ride of a book” (The New York Times Book Review)the New York Tim...
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Silent Kill
Chris RyanThe fourth book in Chris Ryan's Extreme series.The Chris Ryan Extreme books take you even further into the heart of the mission with more extreme action, more extreme language and ...
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A Hard Kick in the Nuts
Stephen Steve-O Glover & David PeisnerStephen "SteveO" Gloversocial media icon, comedytouring stalwart, and star of Jackassdelivers a hilarious and practical guide to recovery, relationships, career, and how to keep th...
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Tall Order
Stephen LeatherHe is one of the world's most ruthless terrorists, codenamed Saladin. He plans and executes devastating attacks and then, ghostlike, he disappears.Ten years ago he blew a plane out...
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Light Touch
Stephen LeatherWorking undercover is all about trust getting the target to trust you and then betraying them in order to bring them to justice.But what do you do when you believe an undercover c...
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Slow Burn
Stephen Leather'Leather's latest fullthrottle thriller could hardly be more topical . . . it hurtles off the page, grabbing the reader by the throat' Daily Mail'This cracking Spider Shepherd thri...
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True Colours
Stephen LeatherThe Russian oligarchs are the world's new elite. They treat the world as their plaything, travelling without borders and living lives of unimaginable luxury without fear or restrai...
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Short Range
Stephen LeatherAn explosive thriller in the Spider Shepherd seriesDan 'Spider' Shepherd's career path soldier, cop, MI5 officer has always put a strain on his family. So he is far from happy ...
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Dead Men
Stephen LeatherThe fifth book in the bestselling Dan 'Spider' Shepherd series.Former SAS trooper turned undercover cop Dan Spider Shepherd knows there are no easy solutions in the war against ter...
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Gurkha
Kailash LimbuIn this Sunday Times Top Ten bestselling memoir that 'reads like a thriller', (Joanna Lumley) ColourSargent Kailash Limbu shares a riveting account of his life as a Gurkha soldierm...
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Right Kind of Wrong
Amy C. EdmondsonWinner of the Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year 2023 A Behavioral Scientist Notable Book of 2023A revolutionary guide that will transform your relationship wi...
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The Runner
Stephen Leather'Thoughtprovoking, highoctane chase thriller with style' Financial Times'Leather once again delivers highoctane thrillaminute action that reads like a pitch for a Netflix series'...
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Hellfire
Chris RyanThe third book in the hugely popular Danny Black series by the creator of the hit TV show Strikeback.On the Syria/Iraq border a British hostage is beheaded by IS terrorists. The ex...
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The Smartest Book in the World
Greg ProopsFrom the bold, beloved comic and podcast star Greg Proops comes a “terrifically random appreciation of cultural touchstones” (Publishers Weekly) that is electrifying, thoughtprovok...
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Dirty War
Stephen LeatherTHE NEW MUSTREAD SPIDER SHEPHERD THRILLERThe target the Prime Minister. The assassins hardbitten jihadists with nothing to lose.The only man who can stop them? Dan "Spider" Shep...