King's Gambit
In the heart of Copenhagen, the autumn breeze carried with it the ominous scent of uncertainty as the government is determined to secure victory in the upcoming general election. The "fight against terror" has been positioned as a central theme and the Danish government gets entangled in a web of political turmoil as the nation teetered on the brink of chaos. Islamist terrorists had taken a Danish soldier hostage in a remote, undisclosed location. The politically explosive situation threatens the government's very survival depending on how this delicate predicament is handled.
A relentless media spotlight casts a shadow over every move made by the government as it faces a gut-wrenching dilemma. On one hand, his administration's chances of re-election hung in the balance. On the other, the lives of Danish soldiers, including the hostage, were at stake. Behind closed doors, the Prime Minister embarks on a dangerous double game, knowing that any action could be denied at a moment's notice.
Amidst this political turmoil, an unexpected player enters the scene - Holger Berg, a brilliant and unyielding lawyer with a reputation for seeking justice. Holger had never imagined being thrust into the heart of international intrigue and political spin. Still, with a background as a Special Forces soldier, he is framed as a deniable pawn in a murky plan to rescue the hostage and the puppet masters leave him no choice but to get involved.
Holger Berg is soon ensnared in a nightmare of lies, deception, and denials that reach far beyond the Danish borders. Each step puts his own life, his family's safety, and the very honour that defined him at risk. Holger finds himself in a desperate race against the clock, a corrupt political machine, and ruthless international hostage-takers. The odds were stacked against him, and escape seemed like an elusive dream.
In this high-stakes thriller, where the line between right and wrong is blurred with every passing moment, Holger Berg discovers the true cost of honour and the lengths to which one man would go to save his nation and its soldiers from the jaws of terror. The fate of Denmark is in the balance, and the world watched with bated breath as the deadly game played out.
From the book:
The nausea flash flooded her again. She fought the urge to vomit and strode into the kitchen, forcing two large glasses of cold tap water down. She then dialled a new number. And another. The answer was the same at every turn: all the other team members were home. For a moment, her anxiety got the better of her. I know something isn’t right! The sickness swelled up inside her, and she could hardly breathe. She couldn’t contain it this time as she bolted to the bathroom and dropped onto her knees as it came gushing out of her. She had forgotten how horrible it was to throw up. On her knees as her stomach cramped to expel the last of her stomach acid. It felt like doing sit-ups at the gym, and when the cramps subsided, she had to lean against the cold tiled wall to catch her breath.
Exhausted, she got up and brushed her teeth to eliminate the awful taste in her mouth. The pregnancy test she had bought yesterday lay on the sink next to the toothpaste. That’ll have to be later, she thought with slight irritation as the cold water slowly nudged her thoughts back on track. I’ve got to do something. The police have to know. She rushed to get dressed. The blouse was on inside out. Fuck! She pulled it off hurriedly, turning it back the right way as she grabbed a Diet Coke in the kitchen and donned her windbreaker and sneakers in the corridor. Her body was in gear now, and she quickly tied her laces and left.
Praise for 'King's Gambit'
“Now and again a new thriller writer comes on to the market of whom one knows that there cannot be a shadow of doubt over the authenticity of what you are about to read. Such a new writer is Anders M. Hansen, whose background guarantees that whatever he describes he really has been there. On that basis alone, let me recommend the book you are holding.” Frederick Forsyth, author of 'The Day of the Jackal'
“Gripping and thrilling, and underpinned by a rigorous sense of authenticity, which is hardly surprising, for Anders Hansen is the real deal. With more plot twists and bite than a raging anaconda, the tactics, techniques and tradecraft are to die for.” Damien Lewis, author of 'The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare'
“A ripping yarn, and a fitting tribute to those who do good work in the dark corners of the world.” Tim Spicer OBE
“A volatile, fast-paced mix of high politics and Special Forces... by an author who knows of what he speaks.” Nigel West
The Unwilling Pilgrim
Holger Berg thought he had left his days of covert operations and dangerous missions behind. His time as a Special Forces Operator buried deep beneath the tailored suits and courtroom victories of his life as a prominent lawyer in Copenhagen. But fate had a cruel way of reminding him that sometimes, the past never truly let go.
It was a crisp autumn evening in Copenhagen when a cryptic voice from Holger's former life cracked through the calm, a warning from a contact in the intelligence world chilling him to the core. Holger's heart sank as he turned on CNN. A hostage was taken in the Colombian jungle. Not just anyone; her. The mother of his daughter, Louise. The woman he'd sworn to protect long after love had vanished.
Taken by FARC rebels, buried in cartel territory, and likely already on borrowed time. The very thought of his daughter growing up without her mother was unbearable.
With the Danish government paralysed by political posturing ahead of a global climate summit, Holger knows no help is coming and teams up with a former UK Special Forces Sergeant Major. As they delve deeper into the heart of the murkiness in Colombia, navigating the dangerous labyrinth of violence, drugs, and hidden agendas, they realise that FARC are not the only ones with a stake in this deadly game. Old Nazis, hidden alliances, and a web of deception stretch far beyond Colombia's jungles. The Danish Prime Minister's agenda leaves little room for the rescue of his former wife, marked by political double-dealing and international intrigue.
In this heart-pounding thriller, Holger's past collides with the present, and the line between right and wrong blurs in the shadows of political intrigue at the climate conference in Copenhagen. The fate of one woman and the future of a nation hang in the balance. Failure is not an option, as he has promised his daughter that he will stop at nothing to bring back her mother. This is Holger's most dangerous mission yet.
From the book:
Everything was dark save for a thin shard of light that forced itself into the vast room at the far end, enough for him to see the dust dancing and sense the contours around him. There were boxes everywhere, some stacked on top of each other, others lodged side by side. The room had a filthy and sour smell. Cautiously he raised his head and was instantly overwhelmed by a nauseating headache that seemed to envelope the entirety of his head. His hair was stiff from dried blood. Slowly, he pushed himself into a seated position; every little movement sparked a cascade of pain, and it took several deep breaths for him to sit up straight against the cold wall. He had no idea how long he had been sitting with his head resting on his chest but in his new upright position his headache became more bearable. He closed his eyes again. A series of rapid images played out in his mind: as a young boy sitting on the family sofa holding slides up to the light; his family home and the face of Susanne; exchanges of gunfire; the fall from the ladder; and the sickening force of the rifle butt as it hit him in the forehead. Now fully engaged with his surroundings, he remembered the bullet wound in his right thigh and wanted to rub it but could not: he had only just realised his hands were tied behind his back.
The Devil Repents Not
In the shadows of international intrigue and political turmoil, the stage is set for a gripping Holger Berg thriller: The bustling streets of Copenhagen, usually tranquil, are anything but as the news of the foiled Iranian assassination plot breaks. Danish intelligence agencies are on high alert as diplomatic relations with Iran hit rock bottom. The world watches as a delicate dance between nations begins. Holger Berg, a lawyer with a hidden past as a Special Forces soldier, is drawn back into the world of danger and espionage when a Danish-Iranian citizen is killed in Tehran. His daughter's passion for injustice towards women in Iran fuels his determination to uncover the truth. With diplomatic cover, he embarks on a treacherous journey to Iran.
Holger Berg's every move is monitored by the watchful eyes of the Iranian security services. As he digs deeper into the murder, he stumbles upon secrets that powerful forces are willing to kill to protect. With no one to trust, he's forced to go on the run, a lone wolf in a city teeming with danger. In Denmark, high-ranking officials use the crisis to further their agendas. The Iranian situation has become a political minefield where the truth is a dangerous commodity. Everyone has a stake in keeping Holger Berg from leaving Iran alive. Holger's only ally in this deadly game is a former British Special Forces Sergeant Major; together, they navigate the treacherous waters of Iranian politics, corrupt officials, and a world of espionage.
With the Iranian nuclear program as a looming backdrop, Holger and his unlikely ally devise a daring plan to escape the clutches of the pursuers. It's a gamble where the odds are stacked against them, but they have no other choice if Holger is to survive. As the tension escalates, a final confrontation unfolds in the Middle East. Holger Berg and his ally face off against ruthless Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps operatives and ISIS sympathisers, all while the fate of international diplomacy hangs in the balance.
From the book:
Holger tried to sit up, but pain jolted through his body, and he imminently rolled up into the fetal position again as his mind tried to soothe the pain from the bare-knuckle beatings and vile kicking. He tried to get his breathing under control, but the hot, stale air in the small cell was stifling, and pain shot through him again as he moved. Images of the brutal beatings with knotted ropes and rubber hoses cartwheeled across his inner eye as last night’s abuse swamped his thoughts. It probably got too physical for them as well, thought Holger and tried to force a smile, but his swollen lips would have none of it. The last twenty-four hours had been a hailstorm of random abuse, and Holger’s only hope for a respite was that it could only be a matter of time before someone higher up in Tehran learned of his arrest and would request him transferred. Not that he would be treated with kid gloves there, but it would at least give a hiatus from the relentless savagery, and Holger knew that from his Conduct after Capture training back in the day that time was paramount. Whatever information they thought he possessed would be obsolete over time, and by every hour, the likelihood of the embassy starting looking for him would increase exponentially. His mind again let the destructive thoughts get the upper hand and told him that the embassy had been useless concerning Farah Hedayati’s murder, so why would they be any better now? As fear kicked in, the questions carted aimlessly around in his head, and his heart sank; he finally accepted that there was no one to rely on but himself. Cautiously, he mustered all his strength to counter the agony that cut through him and pushed himself up to sit with his back against the cold concrete wall. Trying to be optimistic was brutal as anguish constantly derailed his mind, and every breath forced an unwelcomed panting that only sent torment rippling through his tortured frame.
From A Shallow Grave
When a drug bust at a European port uncovers a stowaway and a pouch of rough diamonds, Denmark’s intelligence services are thrust into a deadly game of deception.
Holger Berg, lawyer and former Special Forces Operator, and reluctant operative, is pulled back into the shadows. His mission: trace the diamonds, uncover their source, and stop a threat that could ignite a global crisis.
The trail leads from Copenhagen to Antwerp’s diamond district and deep into the blood-soaked mines of South Africa. What begins as a smuggling case spirals into a deadly conspiracy born in the ashes of apartheid—and reborn in the age of terror.
The trail leads from Copenhagen to Antwerp’s diamond district and deep into the blood-soaked mines of South Africa. What begins as a smuggling case spirals into a deadly conspiracy born in the ashes of apartheid—and reborn in the age of terror.
As Berg digs deeper, he collides with Iranian-backed networks, white supremacist
cells, and a new Danish prime minister whose secret agenda could destabilise nations. Every move is watched. Every ally might be the enemy.
Diamonds, deception, and death.
Hunted by terrorists and betrayed by politicians, Berg must decide how far he’ll go to protect a nation from oblivion, and what price he’ll pay for honour.
From the book:
Holger gritted his teeth and clenched his eyes shut as he tried to wrestle free of the pain clamp that squeezed unbearably on his head. A slap across his face stopped that as his head recoiled, initiating fireworks of pain in his head. Holger squinted slowly and saw the two beastly-looking black men rolling up their shirt sleeves.
'There are two options: either you tell me everything I want to know, or you refuse to do that. They'll both result in me getting the information I need; the latter just has a very painful middle part. You are such a good lover, and I would prefer it if you chose the first option,' said Ms Thandi lusciously.
Holger grunted and focused his stare on her, nodding sluggishly.
Good boy; tell me your real name and why you're here in Kimberley.'
'Berg, Holger Berg, is my name,' Holger hissed hoarsely.
WHAM!
Holger did not even see the fist coming before pain jolted through his head as his cheekbone emitted a harsh squeaking sound.
'Let's try again: what is your real name, and why are you here?'
The bizarre sound of her honey-coated voice trying to drown out the painful throbbing in his ears as blood shot through his head almost made him smile, but the pain was too overpowering.
'It's the truth…my name is Holger Berg, and I'm here because I'm interested in diamonds.'
This time, Holger was prepared and steeled his frame.
WHAM!
This time, the knuckle punch came from the right, jerking his head violently to the left as he could feel slime and snot flying through the air.
'That hurt,' whispered Holger as he spat blood on the floor.
WHAM! WHAM!
The two body punches left Holger gasping for air.
Bring Out The Dead
Off the coast of Yucatán, a luxury yacht goes down in flames.
Several Danish intelligence officers drowned. Officially, it’s a botched drug sting. Unofficially, Copenhagen scrambles to silence the truth.
But the mission wasn’t about drugs. It was something far darker. And it’s not over.
Holger Berg, a brilliant lawyer and former Special Forces Operator, a man who doesn’t flinch, gets pulled into the wreckage. Used as a pawn in a game he doesn’t understand, Berg is sent to finish what the dead began.
From the heart of Mexico’s cartel country to the power corridors of international politics, Berg chases a woman whose identity could bring nations to their knees. Each step drags him deeper into a web of lies, betrayal, and war.
Each move puts his life, his honour, and his country’s future on the line.
One man. One mission. No way out.
In the deadly race against betrayal and peace itself, the fate of Denmark hangs by a thread.
From the book:
Holger came to with a pounding headache, sweat beading on his temples and dripping down his neck, as he felt the black hood suffocating him every time he drew a deep breath. Slowly, he tried to push himself into an upright position on the hard surface and realised his shirt was already soaked through. Mustering all of his strength, Holger finally pushed himself upright against the cold stone wall. He paused to catch his breath and realised that he had no idea of how long he had been unconscious. The flickering images of the checkpoint tauntingly dancing in before his inner eye gave him the feeling that it could not have been long. As he tried to get his breathing under control again, sabotaged only by the pain shooting through his head as if a pneumatic drill was working on his skull, he strained his ears for something indicating where he was. The only sounds were the distant drone of cicadas and the occasional whine of a moped echoing past outside. Questions kept piling up in his mind: He was sure no one had followed him from Pátzcuaro today, but had they been expecting him? Could someone have overheard his conversation with Isabella Larios, or had someone at CNI leaked the fact that she was conducting an investigation with him? It had all the hallmarks of an ambush. Suddenly, his optimism of finally having a concrete lead was coming crashing down like a treehouse with termites, still standing, but rotting from within, and about to collapse with one wrong step. With his hands still tied behind his back, sitting up was quickly becoming painfully awkward, and Holger was about to ease himself down on the floor again when he heard a door open briskly, and suddenly the room filled with a murmur. Next, strong hands lifted him and placed him on a chair before removing the black hood.