I loved this book. It is day by day, minute to minute, superbly detailed account of the siege, its background and fallout. I enjoyed how the author always kept the focus on the human element. That kept the story alive and moving. Well written and crisp, the book just draws you in.

The UK’s narrative non-fiction maestro returns to the fecund history of the SAS. This time, he recounts one of the regiment’s most famous but also mythologised operations: the Iranian Embassy siege of 1980. However, this is no hagiography of elite soldiers overcoming insurmountable odds. Macintyre is too good to trot out such a trite angle. Instead, he focuses on the other players in the drama: the gunmen, the hostages, and the police. The SAS, naturally, hangs over the entire narrative as the siege is seen as a defining moment for the regiment (not everyone thinks for the better). However, through contemporary and modern sources, Macintyre digs into the moment by moment interactions of everyone, giving as balanced an overview as is possible. The final chapter is as fast-paced and enthralling as anything written by Lee Child, Len Deighton or any other thriller writer you care to mention. An exceptional book by an exceptional historian.

Well researched and written. In depth account of the whole six days.

Easily one of the reads of the year for me, possibly the read of the year. I vaguely remember the Iranian embassy siege being on the news in 1980 when I was a kid and the renowned images of the SAS storming the building, but I was too young to recall much else about it. The Siege starts moments before armed gunmen enter the embassy and finishes with the dramatic eleven-minute SAS operation (plus a short aftermath). Macintyre completely captures the delicacy of the situation and gives us the benefit of the unique insider sources he's had access to. Gunmen, hostages, police, military, press - no one knows how long the situation will last and how it will end. Some parties are frantically improvising; others are frantically planning down to the last detail. The extent of the police and then military operation is astonishing. You feel the horrible responsibility those in positions of authority have to contend with as well as the stress of negotiation. But anything anyone says could have life or death implications. There's incredible, mounting tension punctuated by surreal moments of normality. Alongside the immediate risk of death, people are still having to think about the day-to-day realities of unblocking toilets, making tea or contending with someone's snoring. The relationship between hostages and gunmen is a good illustration of the Stockholm and Lima syndromes. A group of people thrown together by hideous circumstances, we get the whole gamut of human emotion and behaviour. Amidst the fear, there's respect and friendship, even humour, making later events all the more poignant. There are obviously tales of huge daring do and bravery but also warmth and compassion. A terrible dilemma presents itself, finding out that gunmen are not straightforward villains but young men who have also been through atrocious experiences themselves. Macintyre has made The Siege a thoroughly accessible reading experience with enough context, plus all the relevant maps and photos you need, and a 'Selected Dramatis Personae', which I always find useful. Plus, and I know this might sound strange, one of the best indexes I've seen in a book; Macintyre obviously knows what moments interest people. But most importantly, he knows how to grab you with a breathtaking narrative. Well-researched, well-balanced. well-told. Simply outstanding.

Thoroughly researched and bringing a wealth of information to a story that those old enough to remember will be surprised to learn. With his usual style of creating a fast-moving and engaging storyline, this book will captivate you from start to finish. You will not be disappointed if you've read any of his previous books. If you haven't, and you like this one, seek out his other titles for turning historical events into gripping adventure stories.