"As astonishingly impressive début… convincingly drawn, perfectly paced and expertly written… A joy to read." - Antony Beevor
"Sparkling… The scope of A Close Run Thing is quite breathtaking… A sustained piece of bravura writing." - The Observer
"Cracking tale of love and heroism in the Napoleonic Wars… I have never read a more enthralling account of a battle… This is the first in a series of Matthew Hervey adventures. The next can't come soon enough for me." - The Daily Mail
"Allan Mallinson has a splendid feeling for period and for soldiers. His tale of Waterloo will delight all those who share his enthusiasm." - Max Hastings
"O'Brian's equal in accurate knowledge of the equipment, methods, weapons and conditions of serve of the fighting men of whom he writes… An imaginative feat of high order." - Country Life
"Now at last a highly literate, deeply read cavalry officer of high rank shows one the nature of horse-borne warfare in those times… A Close Run Thing is very much to be welcomed." Patrick O'Brian
"He has an eye for historical detail and an ability to spin a good tale… marks the emergence of a new talent in historical fiction." - Irish News
"Fast-moving, exciting, and above all, accurate. The author combines the experience of a serving cavalry officer with the knowledge of a military historian, blending the two into a colourful historical tale." - Army Quarterly & Defence Journal