Hugh is an ex Australian special forces soldier who suffers from PTSD. He goes to Thailand to track down the missing son of friends. This is a fast paced story about the dark world of drugs and drug smuggling. There is plenty of action and a lot to the story. I hope there is more of Hugh to come.

Hugh Fitzgerald is damaged, physically and mentally. Invalided out of the army after being blown up in a vehicle in Iran, he’s now in a downward self-destructive spiral of drinking too much, smoking too much, depression and apathy. His ex-girlfriend is about to get married and he feels he has nothing in his life.
Then comes an unexpected plea from his over-achieving younger brother, Nick. The son of a friend of his has gone missing in Thailand. Knowing that Hugh has been there several times, and that he can handle himself when the pressure’s on, thanks to his army background, Nick suggests that Huge goes to try and find Jack and bring him home. Hugh is reluctant at first, then motivated by the fee alone. However, after some reflection he realises this mission is exactly what he needs. It seems that saving Jack may also be his own salvation. He can prove that he still has value.
He hits the ground running in Thailand, where he soon becomes immersed in its seedier side. He picks up Jack’s trail and doesn’t like where it’s leading at all, but he’s an honourable man and will see his commitment through to the bitter end. Flawed as he is with his addictions and failure to take better care of himself, at heart we see he has a strong moral code. It may not entirely agree with that of the general populace, but he plays by his own rules which he has thought through. He’s intelligent, surprisingly empathetic and loyal. He’ll do whatever it takes to get this job done.
Events take him from Thailand into the no-man’s land of between that country and Cambodia, namely Poipet, which has its own rules. Hugh has to track down The Chairman who is ruthless in the extreme. It’s going to take all his courage and determination to survive, and succeed.
We experience the glory and the horror of Thailand. The writing is no-holds-barred, and stunningly beautiful imagery is found next to the shockingly jagged and brutal. We see our hero’s finest moments as well his lowest. We get a real sense of the desperation of so many lives, and yet sense the optimism and spirit of these same people. You can feel the humidity, the energy, the tension. Christopher Bardsley takes you by the throat with his writing and hangs on for dear life. The book is unputdownable, combining thriller, social commentary, politics, travelogue and self-discovery, and it stays with you long after you’ve finished it. It’s a haunting, challenging and powerful book.
Note: I'm currently unable to post the review to Amazon, either co.uk, .fr or .com. Keeps coming up with 're-submit'. Will keep trying.

This is a missing person search conducted by an unusual hero. His name is Hugh Fitzgerald . He is an ex-soldier suffering severely from stress and depression after one tour too many in Afghanistan. He spends his days drinking, drug -taking and generally ruining his life. Then, out of the blue, he is asked by close family friends if he would go out to Thailand and find their son who is out there on holiday. Uncharacteristically he has not made contact for weeks and had been scheduled to return 3 weeks previously. Maybe it is the amount of money offered or perhaps it is that Hugh is just looking for a way out of his depressing existence but , for whatever reason, he decides to go. Does he find the boy? Does he find himself? These twin searches form the heart of the novel but, one thing is for sure, it's a grim and gritty search undertaken in a beautiful yet very dangerous part of the world.
Bardsley paints a vivid picture of Thailand and Cambodia but the romance and beauty of these countries is continuously counter-balanced by his ruthless description of how depression dominates, and indeed takes over, Hugh's life. Not a book to be taken lightly as we now know, all too well, the long term affects war has on soldiers. In many cases, although they return home alive, in reality they have lost their lives.

Great read, slow to start, however once the story line got going I found it riveting. The description of PTSD is excellent and very well written. The story line of the search in Thailand for Jack is very believable and I felt that I was there in Thailand as the authors ability to describe the places and tensions are just as recall the atmosphere. The corruption and drug use all part of everyday life in parts of Thailand and Cambodia. I good read that I would recommend.

Really interesting book, quite a conflicted hero. Trying to reorganize his life after the shattering experience of war, Hugh smokes, drinks and wallows. He can't seem to find a way to find peace and direction and things look like they may spiral out of control.
Then a chance arrives that offers financial support. a purpose and a goal. His turf is familiar and amd he embarks on his quest to save someone with the same abandon he had been living. Slowly his focus sharpens, the drink is no longer as important, although the smoking is relentless, and his drive to succeed strengthens.

While not a bad guy, and ultimately a good guy, Hugh is a little tough to love.
The book is a fast read, a little violent, and has a semi-satisfying conclusion.
Try it.

Wow. Thanks, NetGalley for the ARC. It is one of the best I have received from you. I didn't expect much, so I was extra surprised to find a riveting story about an ex-soldier with PTSD going to Thailand to find a missing teenager. His adventure there was mind-boggling, told with precision by author Christopher Bardsley. I don't know him, or anyone associated with this book. But I highly recommend it for a story that will grab you.