Billed as ‘the ultimate fighting machine’, the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter is a US-designed close-support aircraft in service in the UK with the Army Air Corps (AAC). Apache at War is a senior British pilot’s vivid and uncompromising account of flying this and other combat helicopters in action.
Tautly, often graphically written, here is a memoir of the author’s service flying close-support helicopters with the AAC, from patrolling ‘Bandit Country’ in Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland, in the late 1990s, to taking out Taliban fighters in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in the mid to late 2000s, with active service in the Balkans and Iraq along the way.
Besides combat flying, Steve Jones was also a qualified instructor on the Apache, and helped to teach the then ‘Lieutenant H. Wales’ – Prince Harry – to fly and fight the aircraft. He tells of mentoring the hard-living prince, of equipping him with skills that would later bring out the best in him in Afghanistan, offering insights into Harry the soldier and pilot far removed from the media figure of today. The first-person narrative is immediate, often dramatic, and peppered with military insights that give it great authenticity. Laced with laconic humour, it is a testament to the vital work of combat helicopters, as well as an intimate salute to a truly remarkable aircraft.

‘Sensational. I loved it. An absolute thrill ride’ John Niven

‘Spectacular. Terminally Kill reads like Richard Osman with more blood. A tale of morality, mortality and what happens when a life takes you beyond breaking point’ Tony Parsons

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Ray might be about to die. But he’s sure as hell not going quietly . . .

Former policeman Ray ‘Sugar’ Leonard is no stranger to bad breaks. But even Walter White never had to open up and share his feelings with a bunch of misfits like Ray’s chemotherapy group: a giant God-bothering Welsh bouncer, a sharp-suited wannabe Wolf of Wall Street, and a misanthropic, potty-mouthed little old lady.

Compared to that lot, getting mugged on his way home from the clinic was almost a relief.

But Ray is not your average victim. And when his training kicks in and his would-be attacker winds up dead, he wonders, who else might be equally deserving of such summary justice? After all, he’s got cancer, what’s he got to lose?

Then Ray lets slip his new philosophy to the group and it soon becomes clear that he’s not the only one with murder in mind . . .

READERS ARE LOVING TERMINALLY KILL

‘A mixture of life lessons and friendships with some murders, tears and laughter thrown in for good measure. If you’re going to read any book, make it this one!’ ***** Reader Review

‘Ray was such a brilliant, brilliant character. I loved him from the start. I don’t know how to describe Terminally Kill other than it’s fantastic’ ***** Reader Review

‘Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! I absolutely love this book’ ***** Reader Review

PRAISE FOR STEVE JONES:

‘Joyously unpredictable, clever and witty’ RUTH JONES

‘Funny, fast-paced and moving’ SATURDAY LIVE

‘Very funny ? echoes of Nick Hornby’ YOU’RE BOOKED

The unflinching memoir of the elite combat pilot who flew it in action…

And his nail-biting story of training Prince Harry.

‘Rounds slammed the ground all around the Taliban. He hit the earth face first, vanishing into the foggy confusion of desert conflict. The Apache’s engines rumbled on as we orbited, hoping to see immediate harsh, hard proof that he was no longer a threat.’

Steve Jones is a former senior British combat pilot flying with the Army Air Corps (AAC), and Apache At War is his vivid and uncompromising account of flying ‘the ultimate fighting machine’, the Apache AH1 attack helicopter in action. From patrolling ‘Bandit Country’ in Northern Ireland in the late 1990s, to taking out Taliban fighters in Afghanistan in the mid to late 2000s, with active service in the Balkans and Iraq along the way: Steve Jones offers the taut, gritty, and graphic reality of flying in military service.

Besides his time spent in the air, Steve Jones was also a qualified instructor on the Apache. He brings us a first-hand account of his time spent teaching the then ‘Lieutenant H. Wales’ – Prince Harry – to fly and fight the aircraft. He tells of mentoring the hard-living prince, of equipping him with skills that would later bring out the best in him in Afghanistan, offering insights into Harry the soldier and pilot far removed from the media figure that we all know so well.

Immediate, dramatic, peppered with military insights and laced with laconic humour, Apache At War is a testament to the vital work of combat helicopter pilots, as well as an intimate salute to a truly remarkable aircraft.

‘Joyously unpredictable, clever, witty and warm. Gorgeous!’ RUTH JONES
‘I was immediately gripped by the story and the characters’ 5***** READER REVIEW
‘A great read . . . A born writer’ LORRAINE KELLY, ITV LORRAINE
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Bob Bloomfield is, in the words of his best friend’s wife, a ‘selfish, arrogant a*sehole’, who hasn’t spent a great deal of time making friends in his 49 years on earth.

But what if he could change? What if Bob could stop the very thing that has made him the man he is, the death of his younger brother, Tom in 1986.

If he could save Tom, could he save himself?

. . . And what if all it took was a phone call – to his childhood self?