What do you think?
Rate this book
Ryan Kealey #4
The Exile
For the President of the United States, the horror of life in West Darfur just hit too close to home. His niece Lily, a nurse caring for Sudanese refugees, has been murdered by a corps of fearsome government-backed militia. Any response will destabilize the region and threaten the security of the world. America is out of options. Except Ryan Kealey. Kealey, ex-Special Forces, former CIA, has finished trying to save the world. But now the government has revealed its trump card, the one thing Kealey will risk everything for. Spurred to action, Kealey is plunged into the centre of a conspiracy that runs from the lawless streets of Sudan to the highest levels of American government. Brimming with intrigue and danger, "The Exile" pulses with high-stakes gamble after gamble, as one man navigates a tenuous web of international relations that could collapse at any moment.
307 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2010
About the author
Andrew Britton
19 books159 followersDuring his early childhood, Andrew Britton lived between England and Camlough, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, until the family emigrated to the United States in 1988 at age seven. Britton spent years in both Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Raleigh, North Carolina. After graduating from Leesville Road High School in Raleigh in 1999, Britton joined the U.S. Army as a combat engineer. He stayed in the Army for three years and served in Korea.
After his military service, Britton attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he studied economics and psychology.
He published his first novel at age 23.
Britton died at the age of 27 of an undiagnosed heart condition in Durham, North Carolina.
After his military service, Britton attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he studied economics and psychology.
He published his first novel at age 23.
Britton died at the age of 27 of an undiagnosed heart condition in Durham, North Carolina.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
October 15, 2016
Weak effort. Being bored towards the end of a thriller is a pretty stinging indictment of a book, but that's the truth. Ryan Kealy plays too minor a role in this fourth book in a series. He is asked to unofficially look into the heinous murder and violation of the U.S. President's niece, who is working as a nurse in a refugee camp in Darfu (western Sudan.) Evidence points to the much-vilified president of Sudan, and the President is manipulated to take action.
July 13, 2015
DNF.
I tried, I really tried.....but I just could not make myself finish this book. I am on a current phase where I am enjoying CIA and Black Ops thrillers and have found some amazing and phenomenal series. These are the types of books that you can not stop reading (or listening to) and you just have to keep going because everything is so interesting and fast paced and you feel like if you put the book down - something is going to happen while you are away.
This....was not one of those. Maybe it was because I started in book 4 of a series, at least that is what I told myself to make myself keep going through the first 100 pages - but really, it just was not my cup of tea. It is a very, very slow paced novel that has so much - I can't think of another word, but the word that comes to mind is fluff. Not fluff in the sense that it was easy reading, but fluff in the means that there were too many words and those words did not build a credible, likable story. There were too many details that were not important and not enough content. Nothing about this book caught me or even made me care about what was going on. Yes- I'm sorry that I didn't finish so I'll never know why the President's niece was targeted, but honestly - there was not enough character development for me to care. Believe me - there are very few books that I do not at least make myself finish. I just couldn't do it.
Would I give this author another chance - probably not. There are too many books in the world to waste reading time on books that don't just grab me and take me on a wild ride.
I tried, I really tried.....but I just could not make myself finish this book. I am on a current phase where I am enjoying CIA and Black Ops thrillers and have found some amazing and phenomenal series. These are the types of books that you can not stop reading (or listening to) and you just have to keep going because everything is so interesting and fast paced and you feel like if you put the book down - something is going to happen while you are away.
This....was not one of those. Maybe it was because I started in book 4 of a series, at least that is what I told myself to make myself keep going through the first 100 pages - but really, it just was not my cup of tea. It is a very, very slow paced novel that has so much - I can't think of another word, but the word that comes to mind is fluff. Not fluff in the sense that it was easy reading, but fluff in the means that there were too many words and those words did not build a credible, likable story. There were too many details that were not important and not enough content. Nothing about this book caught me or even made me care about what was going on. Yes- I'm sorry that I didn't finish so I'll never know why the President's niece was targeted, but honestly - there was not enough character development for me to care. Believe me - there are very few books that I do not at least make myself finish. I just couldn't do it.
Would I give this author another chance - probably not. There are too many books in the world to waste reading time on books that don't just grab me and take me on a wild ride.
November 18, 2019
Quick and dirty: I can tell this was either completed by a ghostwriter or edited posthumously, as the style differs considerably from the first three Kealey novels.
The plot of this one holds potential but whichever editor/ghostwriter they got for this novel made a lot of mistakes. The other mistakes cost the novel a star; the most grievous mistake that cost the novel a second star was portraying Interpol as some sort of autonomous international police agency when in reality it's strictly an information-sharing organization. Compared to the much more realistic portrayal of events in the first three novels, this is a stark and negative departure from the norm.
I also didn't like how Kealey basically became "generic stoic action hero." Books 1-3 had great character development. That screeched to a sudden halt here. I wanted to see more of Kealey's struggle with overcoming the death of Naomi Kharmai and his feeling sold out by the Agency.
Not the most terrible book I've ever read, but definitely the weakest of the series.
The plot of this one holds potential but whichever editor/ghostwriter they got for this novel made a lot of mistakes. The other mistakes cost the novel a star; the most grievous mistake that cost the novel a second star was portraying Interpol as some sort of autonomous international police agency when in reality it's strictly an information-sharing organization. Compared to the much more realistic portrayal of events in the first three novels, this is a stark and negative departure from the norm.
I also didn't like how Kealey basically became "generic stoic action hero." Books 1-3 had great character development. That screeched to a sudden halt here. I wanted to see more of Kealey's struggle with overcoming the death of Naomi Kharmai and his feeling sold out by the Agency.
Not the most terrible book I've ever read, but definitely the weakest of the series.
March 6, 2017
Having read his first three books and knowing this fourth book came out after his death, I had concerns going into it. The earlier books and the character Ryan Kealey were engaging and enjoyable. This book turned into drudgery. The storyline was convoluted and lacked any real suspense. I found myself losing interest over many pages at a time. Unfortunately, a real disappointment and my last book in this series. It's sad to see Andrew Britton pass since he had great promise as an author.
October 21, 2018
During an attack on a refugee camp in Darfur, ostensibly by Sudanese government-controlled troops, aid worker Lily Durant, the US president's niece, is brutally killed. With his judgment clouded by emotion, the president is unwilling to listen to his CIA advisors counselling caution, as they believe there to be more to the story. To find out who was really behind the attack, Jonathan Harper manipulates his former star operative Ryan Kealey, lately in the employ of the controversial security contractor Blackwater, into travelling to the region to investigate.
Not as gripping as the previous installments. The plot was too disjointed and unfocussed and had trouble holding my attention. Pretty much the entirety of Kealey's exploits in South Africa in the first half of the book could have been left out, as they had absolutely no bearing on the rest of the story.
Not as gripping as the previous installments. The plot was too disjointed and unfocussed and had trouble holding my attention. Pretty much the entirety of Kealey's exploits in South Africa in the first half of the book could have been left out, as they had absolutely no bearing on the rest of the story.
July 26, 2019
It's been so long since I read any of the books in the Ryan Kealey series by Andrew Britton that the The Exile is effectively a stand alone book in my mind. That being said, it was exactly what I was looking for while on vacation, an easy to read bit of escapism. Did the book follow many of the same patterns common to the special operative thriller genre? Yes. Because of this, were there elements which were predictable and easy to see coming? Yes. Did this affect my overall enjoyment? Not in the least.
May 29, 2020
I thought the first 3 books were very good but was disappointed in this 4th book. The flow was very slow and at times a little boring. Britton died in 2008 and apparently had several manuscripts written but it seems that whoever took over the finished product failed on this book. I have the next 3 books and hope they will be better than this one.
October 17, 2021
I did not finish this book. Too many words that do not add to the story. The main character appeared at page 180 in the book and even then nothing really happened. Too many background for all the main characters that was not important for the story, and too much details about what was happening around: type of cars parked along the road, two woman at a stand selling peanuts and so on.
June 20, 2018
I should have read the reviews before starting this; but, after enjoying the first 3, I read this one as well. It's disjoint, plodding and was very difficult to finish. Apparently Britton died while writing this one and the results show.
October 27, 2019
I'm done, 130 pages into the book. Slow, and full of background! Very little action, dialog, or content with the lead character of the series. I'm dumping the remainder of the series too. Just too many good books on my self to suffer my way thought something I am not really enjoying.
February 29, 2020
Complicated shadow war in Africa, instigated by American politicians with their own varied agendas working at odds with each other. Depressing story of the people at all levels in multiple countries caught up in the intrigue. Compromises to ethics and morality to achieve dubious ends.
September 4, 2023
Did not have the same impact as the previous novel in this series. Have to admit that I did skip read much of this one. To be hoped that the next one gets me back as an avid follower of Ryan Keatley. Hence my 3 star rating..
March 14, 2018
I liked the characters. The story line was ok, but there was too much "filler" that didn't have anything to do with the plot.
June 26, 2018
First 2 books were great. The last were a struggle to get through. I am done with the series.
February 5, 2019
maybe it was too much o the same; but I didn't find this book as riveting as the previous Kealey series books.
May 24, 2019
Predictable
Much the same as the others in this series. Doesn’t hold my interest like Ben Coes or Brad Thor does.
Much the same as the others in this series. Doesn’t hold my interest like Ben Coes or Brad Thor does.
January 24, 2020
This one was not that great.
April 10, 2020
Too much f word and graphic violence and too wordy!
July 14, 2020
Not on par with the first three.
February 28, 2021
This wasn’t as good as the previous ones. I am holding out hope his next in the series is better.
June 16, 2021
I read it fast. Maybe too fast. Will read it again and enjoy it more.
August 18, 2021
I didn’t finish - cheated and read the ending so I’d know who the bad guy was. Too much psychobabble and very little conversation.
Read
September 15, 2022Sucked
June 2, 2023
Not nearly as good as the three previous Ryan Kealey books.
March 15, 2024
Exile
The book was well written. Ryan Kelly is a great character, but when do we find out what happened to Naomi? That part of the puzzle is still hanging.
The book was well written. Ryan Kelly is a great character, but when do we find out what happened to Naomi? That part of the puzzle is still hanging.
January 7, 2011
Out of the four books, I enjoyed the first half of The Exile the most. The end of the third book leaves our heroes divided and broken, so it really does take half the book to start up the action and reconnect the players. It may seem like a lot of pages to use for this, but the jumps through locale (and time), actually make the pages fly by.
Once we get to the race against time, it's a lot more of what you expect. Example: discussion about how a leaving and breaking up a team includes Kealey's comment that he tries not to get to close because team members die...flash forward and you can guess at what happens.
I did like many twists, reveals and surprises in the last half, but it didn't capture as much of my attention.
Once we get to the race against time, it's a lot more of what you expect. Example: discussion about how a leaving and breaking up a team includes Kealey's comment that he tries not to get to close because team members die...flash forward and you can guess at what happens.
I did like many twists, reveals and surprises in the last half, but it didn't capture as much of my attention.
November 23, 2010
Another quick read featuring Britton's main character Ryan Kealty, former CIA operative. This time, the plot is a little more convoluted. Lily Durant, the neice of the president, is murdered in a Sudanese refugee camp. The president, not surprisingly, isn't very happy about it and seems to cut some of his closest advisors (the CIA) out of the picture. Eventually, we catch up with Ryan Kealty and follow a meandering path to figure out what is going on and how people are related to the murder of Lily Durant. Quick read, interesting characters, like a summer blockbuster movie--it's a popcorn book.
August 15, 2010
A fantastic book from a relatively new author! Mr. Britton's style is reminiscent of both Robert Ludlum and Tom Clancy. The action comes right out of today's headlines, and keeps you wondering what could possibly happen next. The action shifts from Washington, DC to South Africa to Khartoum and all around the areas. The U.S. President's niece has been horribly tortured and murdered in Africa, and any response he orders is sure to upset what balance of power there may be. Add in some personal greed along the way, the number of those killed continuing to mount, fast-action intrigue, meetings in unlikely places, and you have the makings of an excellent novel.
July 22, 2010
Apparently the late Andrew Britton left several manuscripts that are now being published. His main character, Ryan Kealey, former CIA troubleshooter and now a security consultant/bodyguard finds himself in Africa protecting a head of state. In another African country the U.S. president's niece, working in a refugee camp, is brutually raped and murdered. Ryan is called in to help and the action gets hot and heavy trying to figure out who is out for justice, who is out for revenge, and who is responsible for the woman's death. Good escapist reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews