"...this firsthand account of life as an Afghan interpreter provides the reader with the unambiguous evidence of the power of education and the expanded independent thinking that goes with it. It is an expose on the human condition, what drive can discover, what education can empower, and what expanded perspective can achieve."

Read the full review here.

Inter Populum: Journal of Irregular Warfare and Special Operations.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

What a fantastic book to read. A right eye opener. Very powerful. The book was very well written I really enjoyed the authors descriptive writing. He really captured it well. I couldn’t possibly imagine what it was like. But made for a great book.

NetGalley, Lisa Houston

"...a captivating story not only about Special Forces operations in Afghanistan, but also about human fortitude in difficult times".

Read the review here

BookMarc

I fled the hell of Afghanistan... only to find the enemy in Britain

Scottish Daily Mail 08/05/21

If you want to know what it's like to be an interpreter for the US and UK Special Forces, then this is your book!

NetGalley, Francis Tapon

"The book provides an explanation of the Afghan interpreter’s role and contribution in the fight against the insurgents...Those who served with the military in Afghanistan will already be familiar with the important role that Afghan interpreters played during that conflict. For those that haven’t the book will provide insight as to why so many US and UK Afghan war veterans are so forceful in their arguments that the Afghan interpreters should be allowed entry into the United States."

Read the full review here

SOF News

Featured in

Publishers Weekly

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A fascinating and revealing insight into the world of local Interpreters in the British and American military during the military campaigns in Afghanistan,
The author was attached to the Allied Special Forces in Afghanistan and participated in hundreds of covert and very dangerous missions against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. The 'Terps' played a vital role in acting as the interface between the civilian population and the NATO military. Sadly, they were hated and mistrusted by a large majority of Afghanis, leading to widespread executions of them and their families.
Most of us know that interpreters were widely used by the military, but were unaware of their very high death rate. The author, understandably, skims over a lot of details of his highly classified missions. What horrors he must have seen, which must have affected his mental health.
One detail I found really fascinating was the headset that the author used on operations - one earpiece was tuned into the NATO frequencies, the other into listening to the Taliban chatter. He was also expected to be able to converse in English and Pashtun at the same time as monitoring his headset conversations - all in the middle of a conflict zone!
The way the interpreters were treated after the Allies left was appalling. Many were left to be executed by the Taliban, even though the allied forces were fully aware of the interpreter's eventual fate. Some, including the author, were eventually given asylum in the UK and US, but were treated abominably by the immigration authorities.
An easy, and sometimes shocking read. Congratulations to the author.

NetGalley, Peter Coxall

Wow, this was quite the read! I have never read a book before which was written by an interpreter and this one was an eye-opener.

Eddie worked with the Americans in Afghanistan as an interpreter and the British SAS as well. He went on missions with them and he got fully involved with those operations, not just interpreting/translating but also bearing arms etc. His hatred of the Taliban is clear, and it is also very clear why he needed to relocate to the UK, to keep himself and his family safe.

NetGalley, Monica Mac

Idrees provides an inside view of missions carried out during his time in service; he also sheds light on the depressing fractures that exist among the Afghan people, both in their country and in the UK. Readers are left more knowledgeable about the conflict and also with a heavy heart for this young man and the many others like him.

NetGalley, Joy Walsh

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Extremely interesting and emotive book.
‘Eddie’ takes us from childhood in Afghanistan to living as a Asylum Seeker in the UK and all that’s inbetween, and it’s full on, enlightening and informative, dramatic, scary, anger inducing and upsetting.
It is obvious from the onset his love for Afghanistan, his home and his heartbreak for the past decades of hell his Country has gone through and how via a complicated but fascinating route he becomes an interpreter for the SAS, he details missions he was involved in and his life through the years and what really went on ( from what he saw ) in Afghanistan/Pakistan and what is happening now in the UK, it is frightening stuff in part and his hatred for the Taliban is given no short measure, I admired his honesty and his love for his Country and his pride in working for the SAS.
Written well and reads easily as only a book where someone is relaying their life to a stranger can it is truly an eye opener and I finished it having only respect for him and his life.
Thoroughly readable.

10/10
5 Stars

NetGalley, Mark Fearn

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic insight. Having the courage to carry out your conviction is one thing, this takes it to another level. Wow!!

Read the full review here

GoodReads, Chris Conlon

I fled the hell of Afghanistan... only to find the enemy in Britain: A brave interpreter who risked death on SAS missions reveals how he discovered Islamist extremists in the UK spouting the very hatred he thought he'd left behind

Daily Mail 08/05/21