At Close Quarters - 1987

Summary
The Beqa'a Valley in east Lebanon is home for many of the most revolutionary groups of the Palestinian guerrilla war against Israel, a dangerous, closed valley to which unauthorised access is virtually impossible, where capture by the Syrian Army results in torture and death.

Holt, a diplomat, and Noah Crane, Israeli master-sniper, mentor and guide, plan to walk by night into the noose of the valley's fortifications to find one man. Holt alone can identify him, the subject of an act of vengeance by the British, who mean to display their strength in the face of terrorism. To Israeli Intelligence it is a mission of suicidal folly.

Holt and Crane are far into to the Beqa'a, out of reach, unrecoverable, when their cover is blown and Syrian Intelligence alerted to their approach.

Extract
Matins said, "It's a British show, British equipment will be used."
Holt reckoned he had the drift. British equipment to be used, and none too sorry if after a successful snipe the British equipment could be left behind. British ammunition cases...a calling card for the Syrians.

Reviews
"Gerald Seymour writes with great authority, never fails to control his taut but diverse plot, and manages to make his chilling tale moving" PUNCH

"Brings it off with bravura" GUARDIAN

"Gerald Seymour's novel on terrorism...have become the yardstick by which almost all other writers of the genre are judged - and rightly so" WEST AUSTRALIAN

"Gerald Seymour probably now stands on a par with any of the great suspense novelists, and if his latest proves anything it's that it won't be long before he surpasses them all" DURBAN DAILY NEWS