[Wittmann 44]

After the Ryan stories from his trek across Iraq it would take something special to eclipse a market already full to the gills of SAS heroics.

3 Para is a completely different and better sort of book Peter to the whole "I was there" genre spanwed by Andy McNabb which do nothing for me. Much better written for a start. Lots of decent background on the politics and personality. The fcuk ups at a tactical level aren't covered over and there are no supermen just peopel doing their best in a terrible situation with improvisation, courage and humour. Its not a whitewash job by any means but if I was British I'd be proud of the British army's general conduct after reading this. Unfortunately for the squaddies like "Blackadder goes forth" the Army is still very much lions led by political donkeys.

In tone and style as I said very close to Mark Bowden's "Black Hawk Down". I'd be amazed if this wasn't optioned as a film in the near future.