John Nichol Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

About John Nichol

The retired Air Force navigator and Flight Lieutenant John Nichol is a British author with a wealth of books to his name. Creating an extensive backlog of work inspired by his time spent working as a navigator, he is well regarded throughout the literary industry for his action packed stories that have caught the imaginations of readers worldwide. Fighting in the first Gulf War, he was shot down and captured, an experience which has influenced him and his work enormously. Writing from his own experience has allowed him to create work that is both authentic and groundbreaking in equal measure, allowing his audience to feel as if they’re really there.

Early and Personal Life

Born in December 1963, John Nichol was raised in North Shields in the United Kingdom, before later attending St Cuthbert’s Grammar School. Later he would leave following the end of his O levels in 1980, after which he would then go on to join the RAF in February 1981. Prior to being commissioned he would work as a Ground Radio Fitter, later going on to become a navigator for the RAF.

It would be in 1986 that he would be commissioned to work as a navigator, which would be in the month of December. Whilst based at RAF Laarbruch he was deployed in the first Gulf War as part of Operation Desert Storm, serving in the XV Squadron. This would see them deploy him to the Muharraq Airfield located in Bahrain, whereby he was then assigned his first mission on the 17th of January, 1991.

During the flight itself he would receive damage, which would lead him and his pilot, John Peters, to be captured by the Iraqi forces. Sent to Abu Ghraib prison where he was detained, he would also appear on Iraqi television badly bruised, after being tortured by his captors. Following the end of the Gulf War he was subsequently released, but his experience would stay with him, inspiring him to write a book with his pilot.

Leaving the RAF in 1996, he would then go on to become a prominent author, having already written and published his first book, Tornado Dawn, in 1992. Working as a broadcaster as well as a novelist, he would go on to increase his profile, something which he continues to do to this day. Currently living in Hertfordshire with his wife, Suzannah Nichol, and their daughter who was born in 2005, as he still writes on a regular basis.

Writing Career

With him having published his debut novel, Tornado Dawn, in 1992, the Air Force navigator turned author would go on to enjoy a huge amount of prominence throughout the industry. Following this he would go on to write over ten books, along with five novels, which would largely revolve around his time spent in the RAF. These would include such titles as ‘Vanishing Point’, ‘Decisive Measures’, ‘Stinger’, ‘Exclusion Zone’ and ‘Point of Impact’.

Not writing series as such, he mostly opts for titles that provide stand-alone narratives, making his stories concise and to the point. He has also recently started to publish more non-fiction works, such as ‘Tail End Charlies’ and ‘The Last Escape’, which include eye witness accounts from World War II. Providing some of his own insight as well, he has allowed the survivors to speak for themselves, creating an authentic and realistic portrayal of what life was actually like serving back then.

Using his own experiences too, John Nichol has worked alongside other authors and writers, such as his pilot John Peters, along with Tony Rennell. It has also allowed him to shine a much needed light on what actually happens during time spent serving, giving readers an insight into what it’s really like. The recounting of history also ensures people don’t forget what actually happened, proving a historical document that will stand the test of time for generations to come.

All this has seen him become a bestselling author, as he achieved international recognition from the outset with the release of his first novel. This has then paved the way to winning numerous awards and nominations, including being short-listed for the ‘Wellcome Trust Book Prize’ in 2009, received for the title ‘Medic’. With critics and the general public singing his many praises, he has fast become a literary phenomena, achieving a worldwide level of fame.

Going into broadcasting as well, he currently enjoys a position at talkSport radio as a stand-in presenter, along with occasionally presenting on television too. Along with this, he also has made a name for himself working as a motivational speaker, thus increasing his profile even further. This includes lectures, many of which involve him speaking on the subject of change for business and self-motivation, something to which he has become highly accustomed to over the years, as he continues to be a leading voice throughout the industry.

Tornado Down

Released under the Signet Books publishing imprint, this was originally published in 1992. This would also be the first book John Nichol, which he would publish alongside John Peters, his pilot in the RAF. A factual recounting of his ordeal endured in the Gulf War, this is a work of non-fiction.

During their first mission of the Gulf War, John Nichol and John Peters, both RAF Flight lieutenants, were shot down. This was whilst flying over enemy territory, leading to them being captured by the enemy in the desert, just a half-mile away from the burning wreckage of their Tornado bomber. Following this they’re made to endure a seven week ordeal, whereby they’re tested to their limits through interrogation and torture, as they both recount the shocking events and the effects of war in the wake of a Tornado down.

Exclusion Zone

This time creating a work of fiction, John Nichol would produce a book inspired by the conflict in the Falklands, whilst looking ahead into the future. Initially published in 1998 through the Hodder and Stoughton label, this would take place in 1999, as it features Sean Riever, an RAF pilot, and Jane Clark, one of the only female navigators deployed in her squadron. Wanting to be legendary hero, Sean allies with Jane as they both seek to defend the island at all costs from Argentine forces, after they manage to penetrate the Exclusion Zone.