I’m very protective of my guys at SAS Hereford DO NOT buy Pilgrim Spy here is a post from a good friend of mines hubby I have just written an open letter to the Times concerning a book called Pilgrim Spy written by Tom Shore, an alias. In the book Shore claims that he was a member of the SAS, which he wasn't, and he also claims that his book is based on his own personal memoirs, which they obviously are not. So given that the Times probably won't publish the letter I thought I would share it with you and welcome any comments: My name is Keith Ball and I would like to write an open letter to Tom Shore, author of Pilgrim Spy, and Mark Booth, publishing director of Hodder & Stoughton. I read the article written in the Times recently concerning Pilgrim Spy with great interest and more than a little annoyance. Normally I wouldn’t comment on a book of this nature but I firmly believe that publishers should be honour bound to carry out due diligence when publishing such a book. Especially when the author is claiming these are his own memoirs based on fact rather the fiction they very obviously are, which in my view is unforgivable. The book is a complete fabrication from start to finish and I know this to be true because I served in 22 SAS from 1979 until 1996 and was there when these supposed events took place or rather didn’t take place. Whilst serving in the Regiment I also spent two years working in BRIXMIS, based in West Berlin, and carried out many operations right across the former GDR, so I know the ground this book is set over very well. Unlike Tom Shore I can prove that I served in the SAS and in BRIXMIS and am more than willing to do so, I am also willing to meet Tom Shore or Mark Booth face to face to discuss the contents of the book. The most infuriating part of this whole sorry saga for me is the fact that Shore had the temerity to dedicate this literary nonsense to Andy Massey, a man that neither Shore or Booth ever met. Andy was one of my OC's when I served in 'A' Squadron and he went on to have a very distinguished career within the SAS Group. Sadly Andy passed away in 1998 and is not here to speak for himself, which he would have done with great temerity, so I will speak for him. He was an honourable, dedicated man who served his country well and his name should not be linked in any way whatsoever to this book filled with plagiarism and lies. It is fanciful nonsense, written by a man who lacked the moral courage to step into the arena but who seeks to make money on the backs of those many brave SAS men who did. I welcome any comments that Tom Shore or Mark Booth may have and publicly challenge them to prove that any of the events in this book actually took place. I and some of my former SAS colleagues would be happy to sit with them in a private session and look at whatever evidence they may have to support this story. This would save Shore from having to sign an affidavit or any other legal document attesting to the truth of the account he has written. There is one thing you can all do to send a message to the writer and publisher of this garbage. Go onto Amazon books, find Pilgrim Spy, download the free sample, which should tell you all you need to know, then write a one star review. All the negative comments will let them know that they can't get away with writing a book based totally on lies...
Stolen valour I believe. I've read many sas books over the years and been lucky enough to meet a few ex members of the regiment but non of them really talk about what they did, other than what has been on the tv. How anyone could lie about being in the sas is beyond me. Sas members are super human guys and deserve a lot more credit than they get.
Many of the guys you wouldn’t give a second glance too and they don’t talk about their jobs These imposters make me mad
I've never been in or had anything to do with the military, makes my piss boil to hear people say they have , especially special forces.
looks like it's collapsing all around him (Shore) already, hopefully the sooner the better. Shame on Hodder & Stoughton for going with it in the first place. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...el-quiller-kgb-wikipedia-hodder-a8535851.html
@Ducbird isn't there something to say they can't talk about stuff.. Just trying to understand, I by no means support someone lying about being in something they weren't, but what's the understanding within it that some have written real books and made TV programmes. I recall this discussed a long time ago with the bravo book.
Never been convinced by 'true stories' by 'ex-special forces' - Chris Ryan and McNab included....the latter's novels seem to be written by a ghost writer (ie, nothing like the grammar used in Bravo 2 Zero) but the novels only consist of 'same old, same old' stuff that was in Bravo 2 Zero, plus stuff that all seems to be 'I wish I had done that'. Complete fantasists like Patricia Cornwell who thinks she is really Scarpetta.
