Desert Venom

A Cold War novella

By: James Blatch

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Paperback | 4 February 2023

At a Glance

Paperback
192 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
20.32 x 12.7 x 1.12

Paperback

$19.79

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Junior RAF pilot Rob May has arrived in Iraq at the worst possible moment.

1957 should have been the year the British treaty was renewed, instead the Royal Air Force have been asked to leave.

With an urgent need for him to qualify on the De Haviland Venom to enable a hurried sudden evacuation, May is thrown together with an irascible and unpredictable flight commander, Flight Lieutenant 'Bunny' Pater-Smith.

The Venom is a fast jet which needs careful handling or it will kill you quickly.

But that's nothing compared to Bunny.

In a mix of biting desert sandstorms, a broken flight commander and a corrupt member of the Iraqi royal family, Rob May, must choose his next step carefully.

His life depends on it.

A Cold War novella from James Blatch, Desert Venom evokes the golden age of military jets among the dying embers of the British empire.

Industry Reviews

What they said about Blatch's first two Cold War thrillers...

"...a beautifully structured story, full of intriguing characters and a pulsating finale'

Sir John Major, former British Prime Minister

"This is a beautifully written book and is the best military book I've read since Mark 'Billy' Billingham's "The Hard Way" and Andy McNab's 'Bravo Two Zero!"

Mark Llewhellin

"James Blatch writes with an authority and authenticity that transports you mind and soul into a 1960s RAF test squadron."

Nathan Van Coups

"...a gripping novel from such an accomplished journalist."

Five-star review

"As an ex-RAF technician I was totally absorbed by this rollerball of a story."

Five-star review

"I was rapidly and inexorably drawn deep into the world of Test Flying. Having worked at Boscombe Down some 4 decades after the time this story is set, I soon found myself saying "Yep, I know just what he means!" or "That reminds me of when I....!"

Five-star review

"I must admit that I became hooked on this book and by the end couldn't put it down! Exciting and a cracking ending!"

Five-star review

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"A wonderful book, capturing the spirt of the period and injecting some heart stopping action into this thrill ride. There was a moment in this book where I had to put it down and go for a walk to organize my thoughts, such was the devasting revelation, but it which ultimately served to make me feel closer to the characters."

Five-star review

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