Another 5 Star review for Merdeka

Many thanks to Steve B for a kind review posted on Amazon's UK site.  All reviews are really appreciated and extracts can be seen on the Review Page of this blog.

ATMOSPHERIC
Story of a young Scots officer pondering what he wants out of life, set against the sometimes brutal background of the Malayan communist insurgency. This novel fully reflects the rich variety of themes provided by the subject matter- even a hint of the supernatural without which no story set in Malaysia would be complete. Lachlan Gunn is not a broad brush writer. Everything is presented in meticulous detail, which is how he creates an intensely realistic atmosphere (although the dialogue is modern). Even my old school gets a mention! In his new career path with the Gurkhas, Alick can look forward to plenty of action in the jungles of Borneo and I look forward to reading about them...

Two more 5 Star reviews for 'Merdeka'

Many thanks to another two readers for their kind reviews posted on Amazon's UK site.  All reviews are really appreciated and extracts can be seen on the Review Page of this blog.

This is an excellent book I served in Malaya during the emergency and reading this book made me relive it all again ,including the wonderful love affair. I recommend this book to all who are interested in the emergency years.(the so called forgotten war)
H. Whitehead

It was a captivating read, I had no idea what the book was going to be like but found the plot gripping.
D. McBride

How to get the book.

Another five star customer review for 'Merdeka' on Amazon's UK site.  All reviews are really appreciated and extracts can be seen on the Review Page of this blog. Many thanks to "Al" for the following:

A book of three parts: first, preparation for action by both sides (with just a bit too much detail in places for my taste, eg: every item of kit detailed, what order people get into and out of the helicopters, etc); second, the action itself and the immediate aftermath; third, a love story.
Put like that, it does not sound like my cup of tea but they all hang together well and I really enjoyed it.
Well written; good pace; good character development; good background on the communist insurgency and how it was dealt with; good descriptions of the country and weather.
Looking forward to more from this author.

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A great story, evocative of a forgotten era

Another great customer review for 'Merdeka' on Amazon.com.  All reviews are really appreciated and extracts can be seen on the Review Page of this blog. Many thanks to Leslie Jones for the following:

A great story, and very well written with good pace and a believable narrative. I particularly liked the balance of descriptive narrative, which brought the story alive with its evocation of a forgotten era, and the face-paced action and story development. Great stuff Lachlan - when's the next novel coming out?

How to get the book.

Read the latest review of 'Merdeka'

Another great customer review for 'Merdeka' on Amazon's UK site.  All reviews are really appreciated and extracts can be seen on the Review Page of this blog. Many thanks to "action man" for the following:

As someone who was in Malaya at the time about which this book was written it is a very good story and describes the situation well. I liked the way each side's actions were described as the plot unfolded. A good read.

How to get the book.

The most thought provoking book I have read this year!

Another great customer review for 'Merdeka' on Amazon's UK site.  All reviews are really appreciated and extracts can be seen on the Review Page of this blog. Many thanks to "Hisboss" for the following:

I chose this book because I had spent two years living in Brunei and had had the opportunity of travelling around Malaysia and loved the experience.

Lachlan Gunn has written this story beautifully. I was a bit slow in getting into the plot but once I did I was totally captivated. I imagined myself in the jungle getting nowhere fast. Again, something I have done. The way the author describes the noise , the heat and the leeches, and the cat and mouse situations of the hunters and hunted.

'Merdeka' gets another 5 Star review

Many thanks to J S V B Harrison for a 5 Star review on the Amazon.co.uk site.  To read all Merdeka's customer and professional reviews visit the Reviews Page on this blog.

Work on the next novel is progressing with over 25,000 words penned to date.

Read the latest customer review for 'Merdeka' on Amazon

Many thanks to "Linda Bahnan" for a 5 star review recently posted on Amazon.co.uk.  Extracts from this review, other customer reviews and professional reviews can be seen on the Review page of this blog, or you can visit 'Merdeka's' customer review page on Amazon.co.uk.

Read the latest customer review for 'Merdeka' on Amazon

Many thanks to "ted9658" for a 4 star review recently posted on Amazon.co.uk.  Extracts from this review, other customer reviews and professional reviews can be seen on the Review page of this blog, or you can visit 'Merdeka's' customer review page on Amazon.co.uk.

Another customer review for 'Merdeka' on Amazon

Many thanks to "diebus" for a 5 star review recently posted on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.   Extracts from this review, other customer reviews and professional reviews can be seen on the Review page of this blog.

More reviews for 'Merdeka' on Amazon

Many thanks to Robert Grant Stewart and Ian Dee for reviews of 'Merdeka' recently posted on Amazon.co.uk.   Extracts from these reviews, other customer reviews and professional reviews can be seen on the Review page of this blog.

A great review for 'Merdeka' on the QARANC website

According to a website dedicated to Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC): 

'Merdeka is a military book that smoothly finds the balance between love, history and warfare.' 

The review also states:

The QARANC and RAMC feature in Merdeka and a romance soon blossoms between Alick and a QA Sister serving at the Military Hospital Penang at Minden Barracks..............There is a huge emotional feel to Merdeka and the effects of combat and killing on the young officer, especially following the strange turn of events during the ambush.

To read the whole review visit the 'Books About Army' page on the QARANC website.

For other reviews visit the 'Reviews Page' on this website.

A great review for 'Merdeka' on Amazon

Many thanks to "DJB" for a 5 star review of 'Merdeka' just posted on Amazon.co.uk.  Extracts from this review, other customer reviews and professional reviews can be seen on the Review page of this blog. 

Another review on Amazon

Many thanks to 'WicklowLass' for a review of 'Merdeka' just posted on Amazon.co.uk.  Extracts from this review, along with all the others, can be seen on the Review page of this blog.  Its great to know that 'Merdeka' is being read with enjoyment by people who would not ordinarily read a book with a military theme.........

Another professional review for 'Merdeka'

According to Trevor Royle 'Merdeka' is ‘.... a crisply told tale with a strong narrative line and a cast of well-drawn characters.’ 

Trevor is a broadcaster and author specialising in the history of war and empire.  He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a regular commentator on defence matters and international affairs for the BBC and an Editor at The Sunday Herald. His books include:

The Flowers of the Forest, and A Time of Tyrants
The Civil War: The War of the Three Kingdoms 1638-1660, Patton: Old Blood and Crimea: The Great Crimean War 1854-1856.

Another of his books is 'The Last Days of the Raj'. 

A review with a difference - 'Merdeka' at sea.....

A review has been kindly sent by Nigel St George, along with a picture of a yacht called 'Merdeka' taken on the Andaman Sea after a voyage from Malaysia to Phuket.

'Merdeka' at sea

7th June 2012
Dear Lachlan,
I have been meaning to send you this photo for ages.  I was reading your book whilst travelling between KL and Penang, then Langkawi and on to Phuket. 
The photo was taken whilst actually reading your book whilst at anchor off Phuket.
A great read and made all the better by being in Malaysia.
Regards
Nigel

For other reviews of 'Merdeka' see the Review Page of this blog.

Another great review for 'Merdeka'

Many thanks to John Angus for a 5 star review of 'Merdeka' just posted on Amazon.co.uk.  Extracts from this review, along with all the others, can be seen on the Review page of this blog.  Work on the next book is underway and the feedback from all the reviewers is hugely appreciated.

Merdeka receives a great review!

'Merdeka' has just been favourably reviewed by the British Army Rumour Service (ARRSE).  This a website that receives up to 5 million hits per month.  Some extracts from the review are:

"The book is well written by someone with a good knowledge of the country and history of the period."