Cider - Shop now
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
$4.99 with 62 percent savings
Print List Price: $13.00

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.

Audiobook Price: $17.46

Save: $9.97 (57%)

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Ken Fry
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Red Ground: The Forgotten Conflict: A Military Thriller Kindle Edition

by Ken Fry (Author), Eeva Lancaster (Editor) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 35 ratings
Blood diamonds, oil, and a greedy dictator scar the landscape and citizens of West Africa in this action-packed military thriller.

★★★★★ "I would rate Red Ground up there with any other book on the African, conflict experience. Blood Diamonds Indeed! Red Ground is a masterpiece of its genre, but not for the faint of heart."

★★★★★ "Perhaps the biggest compliment I can pay author Ken Fry is that RED GROUND reminded me of Conrad's masterpiece. It portrays the dark, ugly side of Africa, but also the dark, ugly side of humanity, and it does so in fine style."

Sgt. Alex Dalloway, a disgraced ex-soldier, finds himself embroiled in a dangerous mission – protecting a corrupt president in war-torn Salonga. But beneath the surface of this seemingly straightforward task lies a web of intrigue, greed, and revenge.

Red Ground is a gripping military thriller that seamlessly weaves heart-pounding action with poignant moments of humanity. Dalloway's quest for revenge takes him through a brutal landscape, where he confronts ruthless corporations, hungry mercenaries, and a power-hungry dictator. Witness the devastating effects of war firsthand, from child soldiers caught in the crossfire to the desperation of mercenaries clinging to survival.

More than just a military thriller, Red Ground offers a powerful exploration of the human condition. As you turn the pages, you'll confront the chilling realities of war and the dark corners of the human soul, all while experiencing moments of raw emotion and surprising tenderness.

Join author Ken Fry on this unforgettable journey where the price of wealth and power is laid bare. Red Ground is a stark reminder that even amidst the brutality, the embers of humanity continue to flicker.

Are you ready to face the abyss?
Get your copy today!

★★★★★ "Fry brings to life a dark, seemingly realistic story through strongly developed characters and graphic descriptions. Frankly, while this is a fictional piece, it could be pulled from current headlines. I was hooked from the first page and couldn’t put Fry’s grisly, fast paced thriller down. Brilliant work!"

BOOKS BY KEN FRY

The Blood Red Robe (Lady Aveline with the Knights Templar)
The Magdalene Mission
The Keeper’s Cup
The Patmos Enigma: Quest of the Wandering Jew

THE LAZARUS MYSTERIES (Duology)
The Lazarus Succession
The Lazarus Continuum
The Lazarus Mysteries: Omnibus Collection
La Sucesión Lazaro

THE LADY CRUSADER SERIES (Complete Trilogy)
The Chronicles of Aveline: Awakening
The Chronicles of Aveline: Love and Blood
The Chronicles of Aveline: The Final Sacrifice

SUSPENSE THRILLERS (Standalone Novels)
Shakyamuni’s Pearl
RED GROUND: The Forgotten Conflict
The Brodsky Affair
Suicide Seeds

BITE-SIZED THRILLS
Something Nasty in the Woodshed
A Porky Tale
Looks Can Be Misleading
Check Mate
The Long Case Clock (FREE)

CONTEMPORARY FICTION
Drunks: An Alcoholic Drama
Dying Days
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    289 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    March 18, 2017
  4. File size
    4.6 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details
Unwell Hydration from Alex Cooper
Hydrate & focus with every sip Shop now

Editorial Reviews

Review

PRAISE for RED GROUND: The Forgotten Conflict
★★★★★ "I would rate Red Ground up there with any other book on the African, conflict experience."
★★★★★ "Red Ground is a masterpiece of its genre, but not for the faint of heart. I loved it!"
★★★★★ "Red Ground is action packed. A fast read revealing horrors beyond imagination. Whether in the UK or West Africa, continuity is maintained. The in depth characterization is masterful. The vivid imagery of the battle scenes will have you ducking for cover."
★★★★★ "I thoroughly enjoyed RED GROUND. One minute, it is full of action, and you can practically feel the bullets whizzing past your ears. And then the mood becomes poignant..."

From the Author

Whilst this is a work of pure fiction, many of the incidents are based upon actual events that occurred in Sierra Leone during the rebellions. It is bloody and violent, and the atrocities some people committed are unimaginable. But all too real. The State of Salonga is an invention.
 
In writing this, I hope to stir memories or interest in one of the nastiest episodes in West African history. We should pray that it will never be repeated.
 
This book is dedicated to the people of Sierra Leone and all those who suffered; killed or mutilated in this horrifying conflict. In doing so, I do not forget the trials and ordeals of troops and soldiers, from various nationalities, who risked their lives in rescuing others from terrible ordeals. Without them, many more would have perished and the entire continent destabilized.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B06W572FYV
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amazon Digital Services (March 18, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 18, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.6 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 289 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 35 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Ken Fry

Ken Fry

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Ken Fry is a multi-award-winning British author with a university Master's Degree in Literature. He has travelled around the world and is known for his captivating storytelling and vivid imagination. His attention to detail and meticulous research ensure that readers are fully immersed in the world he has created.

Fry has extensive knowledge of the Art world. This he acquired while working as a publisher in a major UK publishing house, a wholly owned subsidiary of the HEARST Corp of the USA. In his thirteen years with the company, he worked within the Fine Arts and Antiques division of the organisation and controlled four major international titles.

As of this release, Fry has published 21 novels and short stories and 10 audiobooks and has received several book awards from prestigious award-giving bodies.

He is now retired and devotes his full time to writing. He lives in the UK and shares his home with 'Dickens' his Shetland Sheepdog.

Connect on Twitter: @kenfry10

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
35 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find this military thriller action-packed and eye-opening, with one review describing it as a fast read revealing horrors beyond imagination. The book receives positive feedback for its writing quality.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

7 customers mention "Action packed story"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the action-packed story of the book, describing it as an eye-opening thriller that grips the heart.

"...actual events brought about by governmental corruption, motivational greed of big business, mercenaries, and a sadistic, psychopathic rebel leader..." Read more

"...So much death and deception, and yet also with threads of hope and goodness. A must read, in my opinion." Read more

"...The story will grip your heart, test your nerves and send you on a rollercoaster ride that you’ll never forget...." Read more

"...This is, I suspect, a very personal story and I felt the pain and angst of Fry's main characters, the British mercenaries who were recruited to..." Read more

4 customers mention "Writing quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, describing it as well written and a great read.

"...Red Ground is a well written, well researched, eye-opening, frightening account of how cynical humanity can become...." Read more

"...A must read, in my opinion." Read more

"...Like Is That you, Jim, Red Ground is a magnificently written, and sometimes gory depiction of the civil war in Sierra Leone, and the complete..." Read more

"...It is bloody and brutal and brilliant. Take the journey. You won’t forget it anytime soon. I’m off to grab another of Ken Fry’s works." Read more

Red Ground is a maginficent thriller about Blood Diamonds and greed. Full 5* Star
5 out of 5 stars
Red Ground is a maginficent thriller about Blood Diamonds and greed. Full 5* Star
A story well told. A work of fiction, MAYBE. But horrors of blood diamonds are real. Thank you Ken for a 5* action packed read.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Tina Mari
    5.0 out of 5 stars The True Darknessof the Dark Continent by Tina Mari
    Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Red Ground, a magnificent work is not for the squeamish! In the Author's Note, Ken Fry describes the Blood Diamond rebellions in Sierra Leone as, "... one of the most nastiest episodes in West African history." After reading the book I personally think the word nastiest is an understatement. I don't know if there is one word that could describe this terror.

    Red Ground is a suspenseful thriller that reveals the dark side of humanity driven by greed. Although a work of fiction, it is based on actual events brought about by governmental corruption, motivational greed of big business, mercenaries, and a sadistic, psychopathic rebel leader surrounding the lustful desire for money and power afforded by Africa's Blood Diamonds and abundance of oil.

    The story center's on a RUF's (Revolutionary United Front) leader's sadistic forced slavery, mutilations, amputations and other horrific methods of torture and murder, the UK's corrupt governmental officials that turned a blind eye to the carnage in support of a UK mining company's efforts to financially support the rebel leader in exchange for mining and drilling rights retaining a large percentage of the profits. Astronomical financial gains, power and prestige were the rewards of the victors. Wedged in the middle of these three entities is a group of military misfits; mercenaries on a mission to protect General "Body Chop" Walker, the RUF's psychopathic leader. Walker was determined to one day establish his own one party state and eventually become king of his new rich nation. The ex-militaries were faced with a difficult choice once they learned the real purposed behind their mission. They must choose between their taunting moral ethics and their own need for financial reprieve. Enroute to their final destination the mercenaries were attacked numerous times by savage, renegade RUF groups. They witnessed unfathomable carnage everywhere; body parts, blood, gray matter. All testifying to the level of evil humanity had fallen. They realize the fate of the world restsed on their shoulders. Emotions in this book range from love and heartache to extreme disgust and murderous rage in both the characters themselves and the reader.

    Red Ground is action packed. A fast read revealing horrors beyond imagination. Whether in the UK or West Africa continuity is maintained. The in depth characterization is masterful. The vivid imagery of the battle scenes will have you ducking for cover. We have all heard of the Blood Diamond inhumanities and were appalled at what we heard but Ken's book brings this evil to life so colorfully my heart skipped a beat more than once. Red Ground is a well written, well researched, eye-opening, frightening account of how cynical humanity can become. It is evidence as to why we must know and learn from our history. There were a few insignificant wording and/or typo errors in the last quarter of the book that did not curb the intensity or pace of the story. I would suggest an edit before any reprints. Otherwise, Red Ground is a great read.

    Tina Mari Combs,
    TMC Author Services, LLC
    Helpful
     Report
  • Elaina J Davidson
    4.0 out of 5 stars A definite eye-opener
    Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A harrowing read; a definite eye-opener. This isn’t the first Ken Fry book I’ve read, but it has been the most difficult, although not due to the author’s writing, rather the subject matter. So much death and deception, and yet also with threads of hope and goodness. A must read, in my opinion.
    Helpful
     Report
  • S.J. Hermann
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well written, heart pounding thrill ride.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    After reading, Is that You, Jim?, the first book I read by Ken Fry, which I thoroughly enjoyed, Red Ground is a far departure from that short story. Like Is That you, Jim, Red Ground is a magnificently written, and sometimes gory depiction of the civil war in Sierra Leone, and the complete ignorance of the U.K. to turn the other cheek in the name of mining for “Blood” diamonds.
    The brutality of the RUF’s leader, General Walker, otherwise known as “Body Chop” is not for the faint of heart. There is one part where mercenaries come across a scene that is vial and goes to show the heartless manner that Walker will go. Fry gets you in the heads of the characters and you truly feel what each one is going through. I found Walker to be the most fascinating due to his brutal manner, and his teachings to his son, Lamin, on how to handle disobedience.
    This is one of the best crafted, and well written books I’ve read. The story will grip your heart, test your nerves and send you on a rollercoaster ride that you’ll never forget. Red Ground is an amazing book and one that I highly recommend picking up.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Ellen Oceanside
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good
    Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2021
    Riveting story, the subject was a little much of the brutality and deception the dark history of Sierra Leone. The author did a good job of dealing with a person who has dark motives.
    Given audio for my voluntary review
    Helpful
     Report
  • Rea
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Trip Into West African Hell.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I haven't yet read a book by this author that I haven't absolutely loved and Red Ground is no exception.
    This is quite a departure from Fry's usual, international, spy-style thrillers, Fry has, in Red Ground given us an up close and very personal look at a fictionalized version of a horrific atrocity that was the civil war in Sierra Leone. In many ways this is a military, action book and yet it is so much more. Fry takes us inside the minds of the combatants and shows us that even in the most evil of places, humanity can still rise to the fore.
    This is, I suspect, a very personal story and I felt the pain and angst of Fry's main characters, the British mercenaries who were recruited to protect a despicable, insane and evil despot, who would be King. This is a similar story to many, that sadly can be seen reflected all over the African continent, since Colonial days. The colonists may have departed, but their greed and lust for Africa's abundant riches of oil and diamonds still remains.
    I would rate Red Ground up there with any other book on the African, conflict experience. Blood Diamonds Indeed!
    Red Ground is a masterpiece of its genre, but not for the faint of heart.
    I loved it.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Soooz Burke
    5.0 out of 5 stars Uncompromisingly brutal and utterly riveting.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This is the first book by author Ken Fry that I have read.

    It won’t be the last.

    Make no mistake, this work is uncompromisingly brutal, because it needs to be. The devastating pages of the dark history of Sierra Leone don’t allow for compromise.

    The characterizations are brilliant and shattering, this author has a deep empathy and an understanding of the dark motives that drive the most inhuman of our species.

    This is not pristine matter prettied up for mass consumption, these people are at times horrendously real, and horrifically brutal. Author Fry explores the deepest of emotions and he does it in a way that will alternatively shatter you, and have you moved to tears with its poignancy.

    This book is a journey into the darkest of man’s motives and is unforgiving in its depiction of greed, the lust for power, and the driving thirst for vengeance.

    It is bloody and brutal and brilliant. Take the journey. You won’t forget it anytime soon.

    I’m off to grab another of Ken Fry’s works.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Stuart Kenyon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Dark and thrilling
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 25, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Africa is a colourful, diverse and fascinating continent. As such, it makes a fascinating setting for a novel, my favourite being HEART OF DARKNESS - the inspiration for APOCALYPSE NOW. Perhaps the biggest compliment I can pay author Ken Fry is that RED GROUND reminded me of Conrad's masterpiece. It portrays the dark, ugly side of Africa, but also the dark, ugly side of humanity, and it does so in fine style.

    Alex Dalloway, a former soldier discharged for supposedly failing his duty, returns to West Africa with his eyes on the prize. Diamonds are on offer, and his money woes supersede his reluctance to wade into the blood and gore of war-torn Sierra Leone. As a mercenary, he must forget his grudge and overcome his principles, but the paymaster awaiting is a monster who's left indelible scars on Alex in the past. Will he survive his ill-advised venture, or will the vultures soon be picking at his dismembered corpse? Shadowy governmental forces are at play, too, and it seems the mission is bound to end in disaster.

    The characterisation in RED GROUND is superb. As well as former sergeant Dalloway, Mr Fry tells the tale of "Bodychop" Walker, the psychopathic warlord intent on establishing his own kingdom; Zaria, a dynamic female fighter sworn to destroy Bodychop, and Lamin, Bodychop's understandably rebellious son. The villain of the piece is wickedly evil, whilst his enemy and his son are more sympathetically depicted. Fry excels at character studies, switching regularly between the main players yet exploring their motivations in depth. Lesser figures, like the duplicitous Colonel Grigson, and the despicable Prime Minister Starkey, add to the suspense.

    I thoroughly enjoyed RED GROUND. One minute, it is full of action, and you can practically feel the bullets whizzing past your ears. And then the mood becomes poignant, as you watch the traumatised boy, Lamin, care for his pet owl. I look forward to reading more of Ken's many thrillers, and I recommend you join me.
    Report
  • Gothgran
    1.0 out of 5 stars One Star
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 12, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Boring
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report