Once A Pilgrim cover art

Once A Pilgrim

Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free + £10 Audible voucher

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

Once A Pilgrim

By: James Deegan
Narrated by: Joshua Manning
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £16.36

Buy Now for £16.36

‘You couldn’t make it up. Brilliant.’
Jeffrey Archer

‘Decades of war has given James Deegan a natural ability to create a world that is incredibly realistic and exciting. This takes military fiction to a whole new level entirely. Deegan is a master’
Tom Marcus Mi5 Survellance officer, Author of Capture or Kill

‘Move over Andy McNab and Chris Ryan, there’s a new SAS veteran writing thrillers and he’s good. Very good.’
Stephen Leather

John Carr has recently left the SAS, after a long and distinguished career, and is now working for a Russian oligarch in the murky world of private security.

But an incident from his past – in which three terrorists were brutally killed – suddenly comes back to haunt him.

Tracked by a hitman out for revenge, John Carr is forced to step over the line to defend himself and his family. It’s a cruel and violent world – and one he thought he’d left behind.

But some wars never end.

Patriot Games meets Taken: In Once A Pilgrim, John Carr shows all the Reacher-esque hallmarks of a cold-blooded antihero doing what needs to be done, whatever the consequences.

JAMES DEEGAN MC is a fantastic new voice in the thriller genre, writing with unprecedented authority and authenticity.

‘Carr is a hero for our times’
Daily Mail

Action & Adventure Espionage Genre Fiction Historical Military Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense War & Military Fiction Exciting War Suspense
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1

Critic reviews

‘Inevitably Deegan will be compared to Andy McNab and Chris Ryan, but he adds his own brand of contemporary authenticity. Carr is a hero for our times.’
Daily Mail

‘Fans of Andy McNab will lap up ONCE A PILGRIM by SAS veteran James Deegan, a cracking page-turner’ DAILY EXPRESS

‘As close as it gets to the real thing’
Mark 'Billy' Billingham MBE . Former SAS Warrant Officer and star of TV's SAS Who Dares Wins

‘James Deegan write with masterful authority and unsurpassed experience as he transports the reader deep into the troubles of Northern Ireland – and then brings them back up to date with a dramatic bang. Uncertain times require certain people, and ex-SAS operator John Carr fits that bill. A tough, enigmatic man from the shadows, he is brought to life in this fast-paced, easy-reading thriller, and is bound to end up on screen. The character detail is credible but not clinical, and ONCE A PILGRIM will undoubtedly introduce James Deegan and John Carr as forces to be reckoned with.’
Chantelle Taylor, Combat Medic and author of Battleworn

‘authentic detail and heart stopping narrative grips you from the outset bringing the shadowy world of today’s special forces bursting in to life in a way that other authors of the genre couldn’t hope for….the best thriller I’ve read in years’
Major Chris Hunter QGM – Author of Eight Lives Down and Extreme Risk

‘exposes the raw with the reality. This is a gripping high intensity drama’
Bob Shepherd, ex SAS Warrant Officer and bestselling author

‘Move over Andy McNab and Chris Ryan, there’s a new SAS veteran writing thrillers and he’s good. Very good.’
Stephen Leather

'An impressive debut, that rates up there with Gerald Seymour and Fredrick Forsyth; blending a realistic vernacular of special forces soldiering to make a cracking read with page turning pace from start to finish.'
Stuart Tootal

All stars
Most relevant
I really enjoyed this story. Very pacy and technically accurate on many occasions. Looking forward to the next book.

My only criticism was the narrator who got some abbreviations wrong and mispronounced some words. A small matter but irritating.

Great story. Racing from the start.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Gripping from start to finish. Loved it so bought more by James Deegan.
Looking forward to more of John Carr.

A must read and listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I normally read reviews and never bother to write one myself.
I would urge anyone who likes this kind of subject to listen to this book.
My first book I listened too was bravo two zero which I loved since then I have been trying many different titles to match it.
This book being some fiction and I would imagine a lot of real life matter is great and I was with it the whole way.
Joshua the voice artist is brilliant as well and does all the different nationalities really well.
It find it amazing how these ex regiment men write such good accounts of there previous life's and careers.
It is not for the faint hearted as some scenes hold no punches.
Clever killings like the scene in the car in ireland ( won't spoil it but really grime. )
You are left thinking did this happen in his experience or is it made up brilliant writing.
I will buy the next book out as I know there is going to be another and wish James all the best for writing a cracking book and too many more hopefully.
Also I almost missed the author speaking on audio after the book has finished so don't miss that.
He gives a good account of himself.!!!

exceptional listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Incrediy well written, none of the over the top nonsense you get in other similar titles. So much realism. An addictive read you just can't put down.

The best read ever

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Probably the best military fiction I've read/listened to as I read the book on my kindle at home and listened to it on audible when commuting. It's very realistic and a real page turner. The narration into different accents gave the story much more realism and authenticity and I found myself totally emerged into it. Already purchased the second novel and looking forward to starting it.

Only slight chritisism is where the character refurres to 22 SAS as "Twentytwo SAS" however it is actually reffered to as "Two-Two SAS" and when he uses callsign 19 he says "Nineteen," however the military says "One-Nine" when using callsigns.

Outstanding

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews