Heard lots about this and seen the tv shots and who dares win film based on it etc. so good to read the details of it. Ben MacIntyre as always has researched this very well and get a real feeling of what it was like for all the participants from hostage, PM, police and the SAS. Certainly things didn’t run as smooth as I had thought from the propaganda round that final day although it was still a huge success interesting to read how everyone is human and things don’t all go to plan

A colleague recommended it... Then it was shortlisted for the Waterstones book of the year... So obviously I just had to read it! Old enough to remember it happening, this is an excellent read. It gives you the tension of a thriller but it is of course non fiction. Very happy to recommend it.

Yet another page turner from a really fine author. There is limited reference at all to the political side of all this: there is of course oblique reference to it and that discussions were ongoing and Thatcher had determined to give no let to the Terrorists. When relevant Cabinet papers are released there may well be another exciting story to tell. As to the SAS well it seems they were pretty lucky having made a mess of the "attack" with one man just left dangling and two of the gang actually threw down their weapons when they could have shot a few hostages. But where they succeeded was in the relentless continuation of the job despite those things no doubt reflecting their dedicated training. A great and true story and well worth the read.

Yet another great book from Ben Macintyre. I am old enough to remember watching the live coverage of the end of the siege on TV and have read and about it since and watched documentaries but this book goes into far more fascinating detail about the events and the background to them. And then it is all told in a compelling style. As Hector Gullan , one of the dramatis personae, would say "it's cracking"!

I feel like The Siege is a masterclass in narrative non-fiction. Ben Macintyre brings the 1980 Iranian Embassy siege to life with such detail and tension, I felt like I was right there on the ground — despite not being born when it happened. This event is often referenced as a key moment in modern British history, and I’ll admit I was slightly embarrassed by how little I knew about it. Macintyre not only filled in the blanks, but also offered fascinating insight into all the moving parts — from political manoeuvring and police negotiations to the inner workings of the SAS. Gripping, accessible, and deeply informative, this is history told with pace and humanity. Highly recommended for fans of true crime, military history, or anyone keen to learn more about the moments that shaped the headlines.