The Britannia Contract [Hardcover]

Paul Mann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1993

When the British royal yacht, Britannia, is hijacked with Queen Elizabeth aboard, the hijackers demand the removal of troops from Northern Ireland. By the author of The Traitors Contract. 50,000 first printing. $50,000 ad/promo.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Mann ( The Traitor's Contract ) has crafted a pip of a thriller. After a state visit to Saudi Arabia, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are heading home aboard the royal yacht Britannia when it is hijacked by IRA terrorists demanding the evacuation of all British troops from Northern Ireland in one week's time. Moving swiftly from the Red Sea to London to Ulster to Washington, Mann portrays the frenetic responses of terrorists, soldiers, politicians and hostages. Almost everyone schemes against foe and friend: Whitehall is especially internecine and eventually even the terrorists fall out. Coming to the rescue is a small team of British SAS commandos armed with top-secret American high-tech weapons and minisubs, ready to rescue the Queen in a daring attack on the Britannia . Despite over-the-top awe for the Queen as "the world's most enduring symbol of grace" and stock good guys/bad guys, the tale offers good, clean, fast-paced fun. Only cads would carp at the Queen's English when she asks someone to arrange "for Philip and I to speak with our children." Everyone else will keep turning pages. 50,000 first printing; $40,000 ad/promo.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

YA-Mann's exciting page-turner is filled with political manuevering, larger-than-life special agents, and heart-stopping terrorist activity. The plot pivots around the IRA kidnapping of Her Royal Majesty's yacht with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip on board during a royal visit to Saudi Arabia. As the prime minister grapples with the choice of either pulling all British forces out of Northern Ireland or losing the sovereign, credible insights are given into several areas. What would happen if Britain really did leave Northern Ireland? How does the prime minister play politics with Parliament? What type of individuals commit terrorist acts? Fans of the genre will find this book a stimulating read.
Jessica Lahr, Edison High School, Fairfax County,
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 443 pages
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf Pub; First Edition edition (July 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881849332
• ISBN-13: 978-0881849332
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,699,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Paul Mann was born in the northeast of England, the only son of a police constable and a nurse. After a career as an itinerant journalist working in several different countries he settled in smalltown Maine. He is the author of several techno-thrillers, including 'The Britannia Contract,' and the George Sansi murder mystery series set in India, including 'Season Of The Monsoon.' After a 15 year digression he has resumed writing and has two new books on Kindle, 'The Witch's Code,' his first foray into supernatural mystery writing, and 'The Leek Club' a semi-autobiographical novel about growing up in the coalfields of East Northumberland.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book about a hostage situation., October 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Britannia Contract (Hardcover)

Asides from the troubles caused by the terrorists demands, this book also features a few true surprises. Well worth the effort to read.