Ballistic is the fifth novel in Frank Gardner’s Luke Carlton series, following the former SBS trooper turned MI6 operative on another high-stakes mission. If you like your thrillers to actually thrill, this is definitely one for you. Drawing on his extensive experience as a BBC Security Correspondent, Gardner weaves contemporary geopolitical tensions into a fast-paced narrative that feels both authentic and strikingly plausible.
The novel depicts a near-future security landscape in which the United States has withdrawn from NATO, forcing European nations and Canada to establish the ‘awkwardly titled’ Europe and Canada Treaty Organisation (ECTO). Deprived of America’s formidable intelligence-gathering capabilities, the alliance faces a mounting threat as Russia prepares to deploy a revolutionary and deeply alarming new weapons system.
Britain, however, still possesses one of its greatest strengths: human intelligence. A highly placed mole within Russia’s security apparatus provides urgent warnings that a potentially catastrophic operation, codenamed Holy Trinity, may be imminent.
Luke Carlton, sidelined by MI6 bureaucracy while undergoing a mandatory reassessment programme in Scotland, is suddenly thrust back into action when Russian counterintelligence begins closing in on the mole. Dispatched to Finland’s remote border regions, Carlton teams up with the elite Tier 1 Utti Jaeger Regiment to extract the asset before it is too late.
What begins as a seemingly straightforward retrieval mission quickly spirals into chaos, triggering a relentless series of events stretching from the Arctic to the Caribbean. As Europe edges towards disaster, Carlton must uncover Russia’s true intentions and identify the nature of the new threat before the continent faces devastating consequences.
One particularly memorable scene has all the hallmarks of a classic James Bond novel. A double agent reveals the secret behind the new weapon, believing Carlton is moments from death. Realising too late that they have made a grave mistake, the conspirators desperately scramble to silence him before the information can be used.
Ballistic is a gripping tale of espionage, double agents, military power, and international politics. Gardner’s deep understanding of intelligence and security affairs lends the novel a strong sense of authenticity. The story skilfully combines credible tradecraft, contemporary geopolitical concerns, and fast-paced action, ensuring that the tension rarely lets up.
By combining sharp strategic insight with an engaging narrative, Gardner delivers a thriller that feels only a few headlines removed from reality. Ballistic is both entertaining and thought-provoking, confirming Frank Gardner’s position as one of the most authoritative voice in contemporary espionage fiction.

Ballistic by Frank Gardner is published by Transworld
Reviewer: Hunter Class by Alan Bardos is available from Sharpe Books