A very fine way to revisit history - in the hands of a new fictional hero!
British author Nigel Seed served with the British Army, helicopter division, joined the Civil Service, and now has retired to Spain where he continues to write historic fiction action thrillers. His books to date - BACKPACK 19, THE MINSTREL BOY, GRANDMA’S LIMERICKS, FIELDS OF PAIN, DRUMMER’S CALL, The Thomas Mason Trilogy, The Jim Wilson Series of 7 books, The Michael McGuire Trilogy of which NO ROAD TO KHARTOUM is Book 1. The Trilogy is fictional based on fact - a fine way to learn history by identifying with the principle character Michael McGuire. The author very cleverly opens the book on November 5, 1883 in Sudan and heightens the interest in this story by changing to the same day and year in Dublin where we meet McGuire, a writing technique that assures reader involvement in historic events.
The tension launches in the first lines (in the Sudan) - ‘The millions of flies did not bother the dark skinned tribesman as he wandered through the mass of bodies scattered around him. The booty to be taken was far more important than mere flies and he was used to them anyway. Any of the wounded he found were dispatched with a swift blade to the throat and the gush of bright blood fed yet more flies…’ Opening the curtain, the drama follows - ‘From the filthy back streets of Dublin to the deserts of the Sudan to fight and die for the British Empire. Found guilty of stealing bread to feed his starving family, Michael McGuire is offered the “Queen’s Hard Bargain”, go to prison or join the Army. He chooses the Army and, after training in Dublin Castle, his life is changed forever as he is selected to join the ‘Gordon Relief Expedition’ that is being sent south of Egypt to Khartoum, in the Sudan.’ Facts and colloquialisms are added at books end to enhance the value of the book.
The opportunity to examine the Sudan Campaign in a fictionalized account as finely written as this is a gift to history majors! Michael McGuire is a well-sculpted protagonist whose involvement in the Gordon Relief Expedition is wholly credible, as is his adjustment to life in the sands of the desert - a character that encourages following his continuing challenges in this excellent trilogy. Very highly recommended, both for thriller and for history buffs!
No Road to Khartoum (Michael McGuire Trilogy 1) This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
This is a competent recreation of a part of British history of which I was largely unaware ... I can't remember any other novel covering this period. No Road to Khartoum (Michael McGuire Trilogy 1) No Road To Khartoum by Nigel Seed has received a Chill with a Book Readers' Award.
www.chillwithabook.com
This book is excellent; historical fiction at its best, with the characters expertly interwoven into the history of the Sudan war.
No Road to Khartoum is a book that is very hard to put down.
Pauline Barclay
Founder of Chill with a Book Awards No Road to Khartoum (Michael McGuire Trilogy 1) A First-Rate Historical Adventure!
Michael McGuire lives in the slums of Dublin, struggling to feed his mother and sister by any means. When he is arrested for stealing a loaf of bread, the judgment he receives is known as the 'Queen's Hard-Bargain.' It's 1883 and the monarchy needs men to serve in the military. McGuire is told he can go to jail or serve in the army. He chooses the latter and the most incredible things happen to McGuire as a result.
The army introduces McGuire to steady pay, three meals a day, and the regular feel of a bath. During training McGuire has become quite the marksman, a talent that proves to help him in the coming years. When General Charles 'Chinese' Gordon is trapped in Khartoum, Sudan, the Gordon Relief Expedition is formed and McGuire finds himself on a ship taking him to the Middle East where his greatest adventure begins.
But will it prove his undoing? The Mahdi (the Expected One) has created an uprising throughout the territory. All of Britain's interests are at stake as the Dervish army wreaks havoc in the Sudan and threatens Egypt. McGuire's skills are put to use as a scout, which helps the British forces immensely, but he finds himself in the thick of the fray throughout the entire campaign. Will his skills as a soldier help bring victory to the British army or cost him the ultimate price?
This is my first book by the author and I'm certainly looking forward to the follow-up in this trilogy. I've always been an admirer of the rise of the British Empire, and the Khartoum affair was one of the most written and read about during its time. The author utilizes historical fact with fiction so well, I'm not all uncertain that someone like McGuire actually did exist and help the British in their encounters with the Dervish army. McGuire is a fine character who rises from the slums to one of good standing. Anyone who loves historical books, adventure, suspense, and more will love 'No Road to Khartoum.'
Keep on reading! No Road to Khartoum (Michael McGuire Trilogy 1) Riveting read!
I love it! Good writing! Great plot filled history related to the late 19th century English military in Egypt and Sudan area.
I've watched the movie Khartoum many times and this book fills in the blanks and relates a more realistic picture.
Told from the aspect of a young Irish man sentenced to join the army after a plea of guilty for stealing a loading bread for his starving family gives a human side to this action-filled story. His eventual assignment to Major Kitchener's command makes it all the more interesting.
Definite recommendation to readers of historical fiction. Lots of detail. No Road to Khartoum (Michael McGuire Trilogy 1)
READ Á TEXASBEERGUIDE.COM ↠ Nigel Seed
From the filthy back streets of Dublin to the deserts of the Sudan to fight and die for the British Empire.
Found guilty of stealing bread to feed his starving family, Michael McGuire is offered the “Queen’s Hard Bargain”, go to prison or join the Army. He chooses the Army and, after training in Dublin Castle, his life is changed forever as he is selected to join the ‘Gordon Relief Expedition’ that is being sent south of Egypt to Khartoum, in the Sudan.
No Road to Khartoum (Michael McGuire Trilogy 1)
I'm not usually a fan of even fictional military histories but I enjoyed the obvious historical research and the central character (even if at times he was a bit too good to be true). The historical detail was well selected and presented. No Road to Khartoum (Michael McGuire Trilogy 1) No Road to Khartoum, the first book in the Michael McGuire Trilogy by Nigel Seed, is a gripping and highly entertaining historical fiction novel set during the Sudan Campaign in the late 19th century. The story follows the life of Michael McGuire, an Irishman who joins the British Army at the age of seventeen and finds himself in Egypt and Sudan. Through his eyes, we witness the major events of the campaign, including the fall of Khartoum to the Mahdi and the retaking of the city years later.
Seed's writing is fast-paced and engaging, and the plot is complex and well-paced. Michael McGuire is an excellent military protagonist, intelligent, courageous, and capable, and his character is well-developed throughout the book. The supporting characters are equally well-drawn and add depth and richness to the story.
Seed's attention to historical detail is impressive, and he provides a chapter on the actual historical facts and characters, which adds to the book's authenticity. The descriptions of the landscapes, battles and cultural nuances of the region are vivid and immersive, transporting the reader to another time and place.
Grab your copy here. No Road to Khartoum (Michael McGuire Trilogy 1) A detailed and enjoyable read
I truly marvel at the descriptions of various battle formations different armies and countries used in the battles of history records them. No Road to Khartoum (Michael McGuire Trilogy 1)