I came to WAR TORN as a well-established McNab fan, yet while the Nick Stone series of thrillers have always proved exceptionally entertaining, this novel nonetheless represents a welcome change of scene for the author.
As you would expect, McNab manages to articulate the edgy nervousness and sporadic exhilaration of life for the soldiers in-theatre, yet proves equally capable of giving a sense of the frustrations of the families and loved ones left behind at home. As to be expected, McNab pulls no punches when describing either scenario. McNab's soldiers suffer severe battlefield trauma and evidently are suffering from combat stress and his descriptions of the effects of both are necessarily harsh. What I enjoyed best about the book was the equal significance given within the narrative to both the exhilarating combat sequences and the quiet moments after engagements when the soldiers anxieties and psychological strains comes to the surface. It's sometimes a necessarily unpleasant read when witnessing the sudden eruptions of violence between the veterans who return home damaged (both physically and psychologically) and their loved ones at home. Rather than see this as a criticism of the novel, it's fairer to say that in this respect WAR TORN does a very good job at articulating an aspect of combat that doesn't get talked about in the media enough; that being, the effect it has on those involved when the soldiers get back home to their loved ones. Tense silences, sudden eruptions of verbal aggression and mutual misunderstandings prove to be as destructive in certain ways as conflict itself.
The sections dealing with the frustrations and anxieties of the wives and girlfriends are both poignant, harsh and realistic. The frayed relationships between soldiers pursuing one course of life, and their partners who often neither understand or accept the motivations of the men are explored with just as much honesty and insight as the descriptions of realistic combat that you would obviously expect from the writer. As an earlier reviewer noted, the contrast in style between WAR TORN and Mcnab's earlier work will frustrate some readers looking for a more straightforward read. That said, WAR TORN works best for this reader less as a special-forces type thriller, more as a welcome effort to suggest the day to day frustrations, achievements and realities for both the soldiers serving overseas and their families at home. I wouldn't go so far as to say that it is 'essential' reading for anyone either involved in the forces or for their families at home, but for the many other members of the public with no direct involvement in the types of events described, WAR TORN seems an excellent description of the often emotionally fraught lives lived by soldiers serving in today's war zones. Overall, WAR TORN represents an admirable effort by an exceptional writer.