Death's Sting — Ewen Southby-Tailyour

Based on the author's 32 years as a Royal Marines officer in numerous war zones, including leading the amphibious assault in the Falklands War, Death's Sting tells this fictional tale of international intrigue, murder, love and revenge.

The Balkans War of the 1990s is the setting, with 200,000 Serbs about to be ethnically cleansed despite United Nations attempts to prevent the slaughter, rape and destruction of their 500-year homeland.

During a Serbian artillery attack Matea Markovic and her young son are saved by James Laidlaw, ex-Royal Navy officer and European Community monitor, but he soon realises that there are even greater evil forces at play. Colonel Ante Slavic of the Croatian army is determined to prevent James from discovering the truth of his murderous campaign and is prepared to kill anyone who stands in his way, including Matea and her son.

With American Special Forces and the Secret Services of France, Germany, Greece and Britain all in theatre James is forced to fight on many fronts. James, Matea and her son are in danger once again when the indicted war criminal Slavic, on the run from justice, pursues them to the rugged south Cornish coast where the outcome, and who is destined for a watery grave, are far from certain.

While the author's expertise and experience is demonstrated throughout, readers will have to decide for themselves how close to the truth Death's Sting really is.