Eight Lives Down

by Chris Hunter

Paperback, 2008

Status

Available

Call number

956.7044

Collection

Publication

Corgi Books (2008), Paperback, 448 pages

Description

Bomb-disposal operative Hunter takes us behind the scenes in an eye-opening portrait of the most dangerous job. By the time he got to Iraq, Hunter was one of the most experienced bomb-disabling operators in the British armed forces. But Iraq was different--a place where terrorists and soldiers were climbing the same deadly learning curve. Where new devices and new tactics led to countermeasures, and the line between killer and innocent bystander was impossible to draw. As Hunter's unit became more skilled at disabling bombs, the bombers became more skilled and determined--until Hunter ended up with a price on his head and bombs designed just for him. From ambush to interrogation, Hunter guides us through his hellish high-stakes, high-pressure world, where every decision could be your last, and where boredom is interrupted by terror, fury, and raucous humor.--From publisher description.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member jztemple
As a memoir of a British explosive ordnance disposal operator it's exciting and quite moving. His writing captures the boredom, the fear and the excitement of what must be one of the most harrowing occupations, military or civilian. He also speaks of the problems of a family man, trying to balance
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remaining focused and in emotional check at his task and yet being upset and unhappy trying to keep his marriage together. What is missing from this book, yet present in other British memoirs such as Sniper One by Dan Mills and Apache by Ed Macy, is a more detached look at what he and others were doing while deployed in service. It's not a failing of the book, but simply the focus of the writing. The book is still a very good read and worthwhile for the general reader of military history.
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LibraryThing member Luftwaffe_Flak
An honest memoir by a British Bomb Disposal squad leader. Its not all pretty, nor is it all horrible. Chris does a great job of conveying the give and take of the job, the moments of sheer excitement, absurdity, danger, boredom, and touching moments. The author and his team were called out to 48
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disposals in 2 months time before he got promoted and put to a desk job to try and take the bomber cells out.

Whats also interesting is the natural drama of life he chose to include throughout the book, he also writes about his family and how he came very close to losing his wife and kids because of his promises to them that he broke. He accepts responsibility for his actions and knows how close he came to losing it all. During his time in Iraq he also had a bounty put on his head by the terrorists and was specifically watched and targeted repeatedly. An excellent look at the war in Iraq through the eyes of a foreign participant (In my case that is, Im American the author is English).
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Language

Original publication date

2007

Physical description

448 p.; 7.72 inches

ISBN

0552155713 / 9780552155717

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