First they betrayed his trust… then they betrayed his country. Nicholas Sharp was the best of the elite. But after deliberately planted false intelligence caused him to shoot an innocent man, the US Marine sniper walked away. Seeking refuge in the solace of his beloved piano, he's moved on. Until… Suddenly, Sharp’s new world is blasted apart. While he’s preparing to back well-known singer Robbie West on a USO tour of Iraq, a close friend and her daughter disappear. Simultaneously, faces from Sharp’s troubled past re-emerge… and it’s no coincidence. Enter the last man on the planet Sharp wants to see, his former superior officer, ex-Major Giles Winter. Winter and his colleagues are convinced that the failed Saddam regime had strategically secreted biological and chemical weapons well away from prying eyes, and they want to get their hands on them. Sharp is dumbfounded. Everyone knew there were no WMDs in Iraq. But what if everyone was wrong? In Winter’s eyes, Sharp’s involvement in the USO tour provides access and opportunity, the kidnapped mother and child, his motivation. Sharp is ordered to retrieve Saddam’s cache so Winter can auction it to the highest bidder. But Nicholas Sharp gave up following orders long ago. Trapped in a deadly maze of colliding worlds and dark agendas, Sharp is compelled to act. He knows there’ll be blood on his hands. It’s just a question of whose. As tensions mount, his ‘would be’ masters raise the stakes, so Sharp forces their hand, defiantly stepping on stage in front of 75,000 fans. However, somewhere in the crowd, a deadly assassin awaits. One wrong decision, one misstep… and the consequences could be disastrous. Somewhere between Clancy’s Jack Ryan and Ludlum’s Jason Bourne , Nicholas Sharp may be a flawed and reluctant hero, but you sure as hell want him on your side. What Amazon readers are saying about the Nicholas Sharp Series: “Wow!! I simply had to keep reading, I was hooked pretty much from the start, and can't wait to read more.” “I love Lee Child and now have another author who is just as good.” “Emotions run high, as does the suspense.” "I really enjoyed the sniper-musician-reluctant warrior character..." "Without a doubt this is a cracking novel... the story keeps at you in leaps and bounds! Full of action all the way. Just brilliant!" "A clever mix of two totally different worlds." "I've read hundreds of books throughout the years and the pandemic has provided me with extra time to discover more reading treasures. Play Out (Nicholas Sharp Origins novella) is one of the best." "I had to keep reading to the end,could not put it away until I had finished. So much tension, with cruel villains, innocent hostages and two great heroes.There was an occasional smile with Nicholas Sharp's self-recriminations or confidence boosters...I will be reading more of this series." Sylvia-Amazon Canada-5 Stars "I really enjoyed the sniper-musician-reluctant warrior character...I connected." M.J. Parker-Author-Goodreads-4 stars "A witty, compelling and thoroughly enjoyable thriller...ticks all the boxes." Ryan Editorial Mark Mannock was born in Melbourne, Australia. He has had an extensive career in the music industry including supporting, recording with or writing for Tina Turner, Joni Mitchell, The Eurythmics, Irene Cara and David Hudson. His recorded work with Lia Scallon has twice been long-listed for Grammy Awards. As a composer/songwriter Mark's music has been used across the world in countless television and theatre contexts, including the 'American Survivor' TV series and 'Sleuth' playwright Anthony Shaffer's later productions. Mark has also been active in music education across Australia promoting student's ownership and voice in their own educational music journeys. He has won several awards for his endeavours in this area. Mark is presently writing the 'Nicholas Sharp' thriller series about a disillusioned former US sniper whose past plagues him as he makes his way in the contemporary music industry. Sharp is a man whose insatiable curiosity and embedded moral compass lead him to places he ought not go. The series is currently read in over 50 countries. Mark lives on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula with his family. His travels around the globe act as inspirations for his writing. Mark enjoys hearing from his readers, so please feel free to contact him.