This was after he single-handedly intervened in a deadly terrorist attack in Mali.
Now a Regiment outcast, Carter finds himself in another hot soup on his current overseas assignment as a trainer in Chile. When things are just about to get messy for him, an unusual offer comes his way that he can’t resist.
Apparently, a fellow Blade, his mentor, David Vann has gone missing while on assignment in Afghanistan and with no way to get in touch with him, Carter is sent in to extract Vann.
As soon as Carter lands there, meets up with his local contact and guide, he soon picks up Vann’s trail. At the same time, he immediately gets a sense that something isn't quite right. But little did he realise the trouble and danger he is about to walk into.
Vann had been sent into Afghanistan to train local rebels to fight the Taliban. But since he has gone silent, the expected attacks on key targets have not happened either. Tracking Vann through Afghanistan and Tajikistan, Carter not only discovers the rogue SAS’s involvement in a conspiracy that stretches far beyond the Middle East, but that it is an imminent attack that will have dire consequences the world over.
There is action and betrayal behind every chapter and it ends up in a race against time for Carter as there is much more at stake than he first thought.
The plot which is set in the aftermath of the American’s sudden and disorganised withdrawal from Afghanistan makes the story feel timely and relevant. It is a situation where an official Western military presence has been replaced by embedded Special Forces agents whose actions are deniable if things go wrong, which they do.
The book doesn't disappoint and there is plenty of action and adrenaline as Carter constantly has to reassess the situation as the plot takes a twist. Characterwise, the plot leaves little chance for character development but it perfectly matches the flow as the author packs details in that will help readers assess the characters and their motives. Also Ryan does not make Carter a killing machine. Joining the SAS saved him from himself - it gave Carter a purpose and instilled discipline in him, especially when he is on a mission.
Carter’s physical fitness is certainly tested in the course of this mission which includes perilous border crossings and constant dashes along steep mountain paths in pursuit of an enemy who becomes more deadly by the minute.
Outcast is an action-packed thriller that oozes authenticity, and a page-turner that will keep the readers glued till the end.
