Berry Hill

By Ron Kirk

A career in military intelligence isn't as it is described in the exciting and glamorous high-society world of the James Bond books and films. For most part the job is boring, repetitive and mind-numbing, interspersed with short periods of high drama and mortal threats. Normally two different types of personnel are needed, the analysts and the enforcers. The former ideal for a chartered accountant trying to string together random micro-bits of information to construct the best fit from the available data. Then there are the enforcers who take the calculated risks and execute the action plan. Sometimes, recruitment channels reveal 'special people' who can combine both demands into one individual. Learning the mistakes of the past, Mi6 expanded their recruitment net beyond the Oxbridge Universities and Elite Public Schools to the post-war wild and unwashed growing up in the tough council estates of Britain. The main character James was a prime example. He was bred into the working-class areas of Nottingham, educated in a secondary modern school for backward boys and forward girls. No political correctness here given the school's name was taken from the international cigarette factory in the City and where bullies were sent to the boxing club for the school champion to have a ready supply of sparring partners. Written as a novel, the book attempts to reflect a closer portrayal of the military intelligence community, whilst still retaining the adventurous aspects. It contains elements of black humour to aid the flow of the story-telling. James is exposed unwittingly and naively into this strange dark world. In my career as a chartered accountant and as an entrepreneur, I have 'brushed up' against such people. They may have had formidable intellects and street guile, but in any pub would melt unnoticed into the background amongst the crowd. Little do many of us know how valuable their work is for which there is little reward and no recognition.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B08N3PJHYN
• ISBN13: 9798560421397
• Release Date: November 2020
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 260 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"