Cry Havoc

By: Captain Simon Mann

Narrated by: Captain Simon Mann

Simon Mann’s remarkable first-hand account of his life delivers like a thriller, taking listeners into the world of mercenaries and spooks, of murky international politics, big oil and big bucks, danger, love, and betrayal.

On March 7, 2004, former SAS soldier and mercenary Simon Mann prepared to take off from Harare International Airport. His destination was Equatorial Guinea; his intention was to remove one of the most brutal dictators in Africa in a privately organized coup d’état. The plot had the tacit approval of Western intelligence agencies, and Mann had already planned, overseen, and won two wars in Angola and Sierra Leone. So why did it go so wrong?

Here he reveals the full involvement of Mark Thatcher in the coup d’état, the endorsement of a former prime minister, and the financial involvement of two internationally famous members of the House of Lords. He also discusses how the British government approached him in the months preceding the Iraq War, and the pain of telling his wife, Amanda, that he believed he would never be freed.

©2011 Simon Mann. (P)2012 Bolinda Publishing

A story of adventure and betrayal

Perhaps the author reading this book brings this entire saga more to life. Perhaps the irony of the name Executive Ourcomes brings closure to its relevance when the events in EG were rolled up. But I found the story to be a good listen as the author brings his account of events to life in this reading. Well worth the time since this is a replay of the often told story of reality versus the sound bytes often fed to the public by the feckless media and entertainment industry.

A Brilliant Rare Telling of an Unconventional Soldier’s Story

The contracting world is a murky underbelly of how modern spheres of influences and enterprise function. Privatized armies are not a new concept and present opportunities for soldiers that otherwise would not have much to look forward to after coming home from deployment. Mann is spot on and honest about the pragmatism where flags of nations fade to grey and decision making industries become more apparent. This story is not for the idealist or the person with views on how the world “should” be.

Cry Havoc

great story. really enjoyed it. the really of African states is cruelly revealed. its fact

Simon Mann, larger than life and beyond exceptional.

I can't say it enough how much I enjoyed this audiobook. Mann's retelling of his failed coup d'etat and time spent in various African prisons was intriguing from start to finish. personally his account of his time in prison I found to be the most heartfelt and thereby interesting. But make no mistake his exploits in Sierra Leone and Angola too are incredible for so many reasons. My only unfulfilled desire was wishing that there was more of a post-prologue and retelling of his assimilation back to life in London. that in it of itself could have easily been a very long and detailed chapter of this book left off. rightfully so the abrupt ending is most likely reflective of his immediate desire to move on following his release from Black Beach prison.

I highly recommend this audiobook, and it is one of my favorites and most recent memory.

Average

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

THere is no doubt that he had an interesting and intriguing story to tell but he should have got somebody to write it for him. He is no writer so it is not his fault. The story would have worked better presented as a simple straightforward readable story that one could actually follow in linear format. The flash back technique he used unfortunately did not work that it ends a incoherent mess in parts especially when you add in his endless unnecessary ramblings.I persevered until the end because I am Zimbabwean and his story was interesting on a personal level. To his credit he wrote the Chikurubi experience quite well. He fails to explain exactly how he was arrested and how he got to be sentenced to Chikurubi. He imposed a black out on those details which I thought gave the story an incomplete feel.

If you’ve listened to books by Simon Mann before, how does this one compare?

No. Its a plus point that he read his own story but unfortunately he did not add very much to it. You did not feel him or his emotions coming through because he failed to own his own story. In many parts he tended to lose concentration or even interest in what he was saying. That deadpan monotone of his was not very encouraging compounded by his habit of rambling which he did for about three quarters of the book

Would you be willing to try another one of Simon Mann’s performances?

Sadly no

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Sadness and boredom

Any additional comments?

It was good of him to attempt and write this important account of history. Commendable effort all in all.