STEVE SAILAH
Readers enjoyed Killing Kitchener
"A story of friendship, love, murder, betrayal, war, colonisation and the complexities - and gradations - of moral truths. A rollicking read."
– David Leser, author To Begin to Know
"What a great book! What do you get if you cross a journalist with a novelist? A story intertwining real events with made-up characters that is told with such finesse it can be hard to tell fact from fiction. Sailah takes our dusty old history books and turns them into a work of art full of intrigue and mystery. I really enjoyed this book, the reality of the novel's setting helped me to learn about significant events in Australia's history and the fictional characters kept me turning the pages. I've also read Sailah's prequel to 'Killing Kitchener', 'A Fatal Tide', and can honestly say these books only get better and better, can't wait for a third."
– KS
"Steve Sailah's Killing Kitchener is a nicely-paced yarn set against a historical background...
Pace is Killing Kitchener’s great strength – one has to concentrate hard to keep up with the rapidly-wrought twists and turns..."
– David Stephens, Honest History
"It’s not a book to read in little bits as it really suckers you in and makes you want to read more. Sailah’s research is good. There were a few facts I shook my head over. Having taken the time to google I found the facts were spot on. It was just little things such as a camera a soldier might possibly have taken to war with them. If the little things are right it makes the book that much more believable. I loved the historical figures we see in this book and the little facts. I now look at the English Your Country Needs You poster developed for the first World War with different eyes...Something that struck me were the historical figures. I’ll only mention one, that of Arthur Conan Doyle. Both Thomas and Snow are fans of his writing, incorporating Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson into their everyday life. We saw this in both books, but in this book Thomas actually has a chance to meet and talk with Arthur Conan Doyle..."
– Suz's Space
“Well-crafted and well-researched, Steve Sailah’s Killing Kitchener is a tour de force based on historic fact and includes several key characters from World War One, including Lord Kitchener, the German spy Duquesne, Lawrence of Arabia, Harry Chauvel and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
….exceptionally well written and drawn together, encompassing most of the historic detail…a must for readers who enjoy adventure stories, clever murder mysteries with a twist or are HMS Hampshire or WW1 devotees. Excellent!”
– John Ross Scott, Living Orkney magazine
"This book is a powerful and astute commentary on the complexities of war and the ambiguity of loyalties.
There is no black and white in war, or for that matter in any human encounter. This book skilfully explores this,
and the hero who starts out believing that some things are clear cut, comes to realise that it is not always that simple.
I don’t usually read books about war but I loved this novel as a masterful piece of historical fiction.
Anyone who likes this genre, will love this book."
– Susan Biggs
"If anything, this page-turning mystery WW1 novel is more riveting than its prequel, A Fatal Tide...! It skillfully weaves together a very human story of its fictional Australian hero caught up in a web of murder and mystery, amidst astounding, historically true events and characters. It is beautifully written, satisfyingly bringing to life dramatic historical events including the demise of Kitchener at sea, spy plots to overturn the outcomes of WW1, exotic locations including Gallipoli and Cairo, little discussed themes of aboriginal and women’s participation in the war, cameo encounters with Lawrence of Arabia and sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The perfect Christmas read or Father’s Day gift."
– LL
"Great work...and the cover is a winner as well. This is my kind of story."
– Len Dray
"What price murder in the midst of war? Five stars from me. Well researched and an exciting read...a gripping crime mystery set against the backdrop of World War 1 in the desert and on the high seas. The author portrays the terrible pressures on two young Light Horseman – Thomas, the teenage sniper and would-be detective struggling with his PTSD, and his Aboriginal comrade, Snow, falsely accused of the murder of a corrupt policeman. The story weaves an intriguing crime from an earlier conflict into the plot, while examining the wartime eccentricities of real–life historical figures – field marshal Kitchener, Lawrence of Arabia, Arthur Conan Doyle, and the saboteur Fritz Duquesne. Exciting from beginning to end. I couldn't put it down.
– Sinbad
"Such a great read! Have been waiting for the sequel to a fatal tide for ages and this definitely did not disappoint.
Riveting story with so many twists and turns and really put a unique thrilling spin on a war we know so well.
Sailah's books are great to pass on to teenagers too as they really bring alive the horrors of war,
as well as the camaraderie and courage of those who were there... I'm buying it for my kids for Christmas.
Highly recommend!"
– Cran
"Entertaining, exciting and historically informative! Another great read by this author. Easy to read and hard to put down. Highly recommended."
– Christine Hawkins
"Top notch crime thriller. A thrilling read, fast-paced action and beautifully researched. A must read for any modern history buff...couldn't put the book down after about the halfway mark!"
– Verified Amazon Customer
"Recommended reading. The evocative images created in this historical novel clearly indicate the author’s thorough research and attention to detail. His description of battling the sea was particularly gripping. Enjoyed meeting some familiar characters from ‘A Fatal Tide’, as well as one or two intriguing new ones. Appreciated the unpredictability of the plot and touches of humour."
– HS
"'Killing Kitchener’ is an intriguing novel illustrating that warfare goes far beyond the battlefields...a massive task introducing various historic (and) mysterious events resulting in a most enchanting yarn. I recommend it. ‘A Fatal Tide’ was another of Steve’s enlightening works illustrating the personal wartime experiences of returned servicemen from WW1 and how it affected the rest of their lives. This novel provided a prelude for ‘Killing Kitchener’...(the) extensive research and interviews with returned servicemen is clearly obvious."
- Peter Tilley
Readers loved A Fatal Tide
"This is a powerful novel that gives you the sights, sounds, smells, feel and horrors of Gallipoli, the courage and camaraderie, written by one who has actually interviewed many of the men who were there. I highly recommend it for readers young and old....great book...I loved it."
- Peter FitzSimons, author Kokoda, Tobruk, Batavia. Eureka…
“…significant achievement…deserves a wide readership. The plot is tight. And it works very well as a narrative driver but much more importantly I think, as a device to explore the many complexities about the First World War, at home and on the battlefields, from which mythologisers too readily turn away. A Fatal Tide…is an astute, complex and well-written novel that I dare to hope will set a high standard for others to follow.”
- Paul Daley, The Guardian, author Armageddon & Beersheba Read full review here.
"The book was a cracking read. Love the murder mystery framed by the Anzac campaign. It's an idea that I can imagine working very well for a literary audience."
- Ian Collie, film and television producer
“A marvellous novel with ongoing resonance for Australia today..."
- Andrew Pople, Final Draft, 2SER
"Steve Sailah's enthralling book comes at a time when the case of Lieutenant Harry Breaker Morant is receiving scrutiny by senior lawyers and community figures. Steve's book explores the drama and intrigue with flair and imagination!"
- James Unkles, military lawyer & convenor ‘Justice Denied’
"It's the best book I've read."
- Eric Law, teacher, Aboriginal elder and Vietnam veteran, Murgon, Queensland
"This is a great story, full of the reality and desperation of this campaign, as well as great mateship and outstanding bravery, with an underlying dilemma, the bitter moral question in any war of when to shoot to kill and when to show mercy."
- Margaret Bannister, Otago Daily Times
"Exploring the themes of duty, honour, mateship and humanity, Sailah weaves together a compelling story of war, friendship and murder in A Fatal Tide. It offers both an interesting mystery, and fascinating insight into the experiences of our Australian diggers in Gallipoli’s trenches."
- Shelleyrae Cusbert, Book'd Out, read the full review here.
“Extremely insightful and well-written, with themes of mateship, patriotism, family, loss and ultimately hope, this is a well-researched story about Gallipoli that is not often heard from the point of view of a digger and Sailah’s keen eye for detail is so perfectly construed to the reader, that it leaves us in no doubt as to the reasons why our diggers arrived back disillusioned and suffering with PTSD. Lest we forget.”
- Book Muster Down Under, read the full review here.
"The book could be easily categorised as ‘historical mystery’, but it’s so much more than that. It’s the story of two teenage boys being forced to grow up very quickly as World War I rages amongst them, it’s a story describing in detail life in the trenches during a war and it’s a story about love for your family. It’s also a book that should be read as a lesson as to why war is not a good thing. Sailah doesn’t hold anything back when describing the carnage and fear of the soldiers in addition to the illness and boredom of military life.
"I liked how Sailah took a historical ambiguity and made a wonderfully written and powerful story. This book should be required reading for those with an interest in the Anzacs, and those looking for a jolly good read."
- Sam Still Reading, read the full review here.
"I feel this book is a good addition to the stories written about World War I, it was published only a few days ago at the 100 years commemoration of the war. It helps to give some idea of the unspeakable horror that was Gallipoli and how some people came to hate killing and only did what was absolutely necessary to get through."
"If you’re a Gallipoli person or obsessed with World War I I suggest you add it to your collection, it should fit in quite nicely. Sailah’s facts fit with what I know of this era of history. There are uplifting moments when mateship shows through and many times when you realise war is hell."
- Suz's Space, read the full review here