Words from those who know
First-hand reactions from experienced voices, professional reviewers and readers.
Advance praise“A warts and all first-hand account of ‘the circuit’ when it was at its most dangerous and volatile ever.”
Colin MaclachlanStar of Channel 4's SAS: Who Dares Wins
Advance praise“Atmospheric, gritty — captures the reality of life as a private security operator.”
Tim Spicer OBECEO, Aegis Defence Services
Reader review“It's a masterpiece and a true insight into the early years of the modern era of Private Military Contractors from the eyes of one that was there.”
Gary Darling Parks
Reader review“You can actually feel the hurt, the highs, the lows, the grief, the tension. It had me captivated from start to finish.”
Michael Harrison
Reader review“Incredible book. I’m not much of a reader but I was interested in this before I even read it. And it gripped me!! Pictured it in my mind as if I was watching a film. Surprisingly some parts felt too true to my own life… just shows you, you can meet people and know what they do in the present but you never really know their story. Thank you for sharing!”
Emma
Bleak, brutal but surprisingly human
5 out of 5 stars · Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 August 2026
“The Silent War is an incredibly interesting and engaging read that draws you into the bleak reality of war while still finding moments of humanity within it.”
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“Scott White’s humour shines through the darkness, adding a genuine warmth and personality to the story without taking away from the seriousness of what’s being portrayed.
“What really stands out is Scott’s humanity. Even amongst the bleakness and hardship of war, his compassion and character come through strongly and that makes the book feel all the more honest, relatable and powerful.
“A gripping, thought-provoking and surprisingly human read giving us a glimpse into a mad, chaotic world most of us only see in the movies. I couldn’t put this book down.”
A fundamentally honest account
“A fundamentally honest account of the daily reality of private sector CP in the most hostile environments in the world at the time.”
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“There’s no overly macho invincibility about the writing, it’s a true account. Also, the progression from lower level outfits with unserviceable weapons and unreliable vehicles to better resources and much higher value principals as the story progresses is inspiring to see; improvements in Scott’s tasks, still with serious danger at all times. The thoughts and actions of camaraderie are often mentioned throughout the book, also inspiring and for many, relatable.
“For those who read ex military autobiographies, you’ll find that this book doesn’t have to leave anything out in comparison to ex SF accounts for example.
“Excellent book by Scott which I hope will lead to more writing from him, superb!”
A readable and candid memoir
“The book not only gives an insight into the nuts and bolts of private military work, but more subtly how to handle the work.”
Read more from the review
The review follows Scott's path from close protection work in Iraq through the private security “circuit”, including the constant threats, difficult conditions and the gulf between life in a conflict zone and home in Edinburgh.
It highlights the memoir's detail on anticipation, control and the discipline of close protection, while noting the personal cost beneath the work. Its final assessment calls the book well-written, highly readable and painfully candid at times.