Strap yourself in...this one is going to be bloody!
Damien Hunter returns alongside the rest of Taipan One Six, and from the very first page there’s absolutely no easing into it. The book detonates straight into high‑octane action and never lets up.
After the explosive opening, One Six is sent to extract the wife and daughter of a cartel boss from the clutches of the Japanese Yakuza. From that moment, it’s a relentless sprint—action, blood, and tension—driving all the way to a brutal climax in Ukraine.
Nathan once again delivers at the top of his game. His writing is sharp, fast, and lean, with no bloated detours—just pure story muscle. Exactly the kind of storytelling I love.
In my review of the last book, Long Surrender, I said it went from 0 to 100 in the space of a gunshot. This one starts at 100 the moment you crack it open.
Now the wait begins for the next instalment.
Brent Towns, Author
A brutal non stop military thriller, however not the usual suspects, here the antagonist are a Guatemala drug baron in Africa and the Japanese yakuza and their mercenaries in a turf war over drugs, and the Ukrainian war thrown in the mix. In the middle of this, is a 12 year old girl held hostage.
Whether its describing the desert of Oman or the Ukrainian battle field Nathan Best writing has you lying on the hot desert sand or standing a Russian minefield in Ukraine. The story switches between various main characters giving their perspective and background, even the various minor characters have a bit of a story, the transition is smooth and doesn't detract from the storyline.
There are some confronting scenes in the book ... "I don't think you've seen war African style. Its quite brutal." [Esi]
The Ukrainian war storyline was well researched and I certainly enjoyed Damien's interaction with Isai and Vedmid.
The amount of detail regarding military weapons, tactics, aircraft and submarine operations compliment the storyline. Noahs ISR activities and how they interact with Taipan 16 and other militaries including South Africa was interesting and well researched.
There are twists, betrayals, double crosses and a occasional glimpse of the other Damien. There is bit more about Taipan and Mr Thompson and Don's interaction with him.
The usual dark humour of Taipan 16 is always there "only one lunatic per team at a time" [Grinder]and no matter what issues come up, Damien, Wuz, Grinder, Don and Noah are a team and always on mission.
Another gritty and intense military action thriller from Australian author Nathan Best, packed full of real-world details, visceral combat scenes, constant twists, a cinematic flow, and original characters who aren't the typical American or British operators. This time, series protagonist Damien Hunter returns to Afghanistan to save a friend, confront an old enemy, and face some personal demons. Nathan Best is a must-read author for fans of this genre, and deserves to be mentioned alongside Chris Ryan and Jack Carr (though I think he's better). Readers will be left wanting more Taipan missions and Damien's next face-off with Rainer.
RS
What a fantastic read. Nathan Best has just gone to the top of Australian military authors currently in the genre. Full of action and page-turning narrative, the Long Surrender draws you in immediately and doesn't let up until the last operator is dusted off and on their way home.
I allowed myself a week to read the book and enjoy it, but that didn't happen. Two and a half days later and book complete.
I loved the array characters, and the scene setting was perfect, something only a man with experience could portray to the degree that it was.
All up, it was a cracking read, and Nathan is now at the top of my must-read authors.
Brent Towns
Look no further. Long Surrender, like Battle Born and Ghosts in the Fog are a must read for any fans of the Military Thriller genre. Damian Hunter is a
tough as nails warrior who doesn’t take a backwards step. The detailed battle scenes and action had me on the edge of my seat wanting more. Nathan Best does an amazing job of building the story and characters and I couldn’t put the book down. I wanted to get to the end to see if Hunter prevailed and was then promptly upset as I had finished and still craved more Damian Hunter action. Hopefully Nathan Best has more plans for further books as I need to know what happens. These books could stand proudly next to the likes of Jack Carr and Matthew Reilly and are a must read.
Mitch Buchanan
Fantastic read. I hadn't heard of Nathan Best and took a punt on purchasing this novel. This action-packed story was hard to put down.
Excellent author with great characters.
John Beattie
Gripping and intense follow-up to Battle Born. Former Australian Air Force special operator and former mercenary Damien Hunter, struggling with drug abuse and PTSD, has exiled himself to working on an offshore rig in the brutal Russian arctic. Chechen terrorists are staging in nearby Murmansk to target Russia's natural gas infrastructure in the Shtokman Field. The Russians launch a special forces team to intercept the terrorists. The gas company contracts Damien's old employer, the shadowy Taipan Organization, to defend their assets. Hunter is an original and strong series protagonist, and his Australian nationality provides a refreshingly unique perspective to a genre that tends to focus on the US/UK. A must-read for fans of gritty, violent military action thrillers.
RS Amazon Review
“Ghosts in the Fog is the first gripping sequel in the Damien Hunter series and is sure to have you glued from the first chapter. Recommended for anyone in the services and is reminiscent of a Forsyth novel but very genuinely Australian.”
– Dylan Conway, Brothers and Books
"Another compelling novel by Nathan Best that sees ex-special forces combat controller Damien Hunter seeking purpose and reprieve in the frigid waters of Russia. Viscerally descriptive, with an authenticity that places the reader at the scene, Ghosts in the Fog is a raw encounter with one man’s torment of a past that won’t let go of the future. Fast-paced, gritty, and highly readable."
- Adam Smith
Royal Australian Air Force veteran turn action thriller author Nathan Best has written a pulse-pounding, battle laden, stirring and stimulating, military action thriller in “Battle Born.” His 30 years of active service in the Royal Australian Air Force supported the realism and bravery of this inspiring action novel. The protagonist, Air Force special forces operator turned private contractor Damien Hunter, is employed by a shadowy organization called Taipan. Hunter commands a covert three-man outfit named Taipan One Six that takes on difficult missions that no one else will. Afghanistan has become the graveyard of another military mission as Hunter and his three-man team undertake a flawed mission in the deadly Chora Valley of Afghanistan. Taipan One Six is contracted to support a Dutch special operations mission against a ruthless Afghani warlord. Subsequently, Hunter and his team are forced to contend with the Afghans and a psychopathic ex-French Legionnaire in a battle for survival. The combat action scenarios in the book are insurmountable! At 350+ pages, this story is the cornerstone of a military action thriller novel. Authentic plot, legitimate characters, and ample action, Born Born was exciting, engaging and exhilarating! A very appealing read for military action enthusiasts.
Steven Hendricks
Battle born is an action-packed modern warfare novel featuring Damien Hunter, an Aussie Air Force special forces operator turned contractor. Damien, battle scarred already, leads a team of three supporting a Dutch operation based in Afghanistan. The team’s mighty mission soon becomes a battle for survival.
Kylie Kraus
One of my top thrillers of 2023 already, “Battle Born” by author Nathan Best was an action packed, brutal military thriller that ended too quickly and not quickly enough. I’ll explain. Taipan One Six, a small group of military contractors from the secretive Taipan Organisation, are tasked with being the overwatch for a Dutch military mission against an Afghan warlord. The warlord has a personal hatred for the Dutch and has planned an ambush, with help from an informant, for the Dutch forces. Taipan One Six, lead by Damien with his colleagues Stayer and Wuz, are drawn into the ambush and must fight, alongside the Dutch, to escape. Damien is severely burned-out, to the point where it is affecting his leadership. Throw a former the French Foreign Legionnaire ‘Rainer’ into the mix as a mercenary hired by the warlord and once the action/ambush kicks off it doesn’t stop. As the death toll mounts so does the pressure on Damien. No spoiler alerts here but I couldn’t wait to get to the finish to see how Best wraps this thriller up, but it was so good I wasn’t in a hurry to see the novel end. Best’s military experience is displayed as he expertly describes the battle scenes, but the characters move the story along. Don’t let the $11.99 Amazon price scare you off (I didn’t), “Battle Born” was well worth the price of admission. Well done.
Steve Leper. Military Thriller Book Group, Facebook.
A powerful gut wrenching story that highlights comradeship and the brutality of combat against an enemy who is willing to die.
A phrase, comes to me, from my mentor Colonel Hans 'Iceman' Fleer. 'The best laid plans go to waste after the first shot is fired', has never rung truer as detailed in this action packed thriller
CK, Callsign 'M1'
Special Operations Command 1997- 2013
Infused with action this book also immerses you in the plethora of powerful human emotions with its characters. A gripping read close to my heart not only due to the military connection but highlights the mental effects of war. Battle Born will generate a new group of readers in the the military fiction genre.
Troy Knight
Combat Controller and Author of Havoc 06