Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

  • Charlie One

  • The Story of an Irishman in the British Army and His Role in Covert Counter-Terrorism Operations
  • By: Sean Hartnett
  • Narrated by: Aidan Kelly
  • Length: 6 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (158 ratings)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Charlie One cover art

Charlie One

By: Sean Hartnett
Narrated by: Aidan Kelly
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £13.00

Buy Now for £13.00

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

Fishers of Men cover art
Like No Other Soldier cover art
Undercover War cover art
Double Agent cover art
MRF Shadow Troop cover art
The Operators cover art
Stakeknife's Dirty War cover art
Thatcher's Spy cover art
First into Action cover art
Bandit Country cover art
Secret Victory cover art
Killing Zone cover art
Deep Cover cover art
Rescue Pilot cover art
The Accidental Spy cover art
Hard Stop cover art

Summary

Filled with roller coaster emotions and explosive revelations of covert operations, Charlie One provides a unique, detailed and unbiased account of the secret war fought in Northern Ireland.

Seán Hartnett grew up in Cork in the 1970s where he observed the worst of the northern Troubles. Despite his family’s republican ties and his own attempt to join the IRA, Hartnett shocked family and friends when he joined the British Armed Forces. In 2001 Hartnett returned to his native Ireland, but this time as a member of the British Army’s most secretive covert counter-terrorist unit in Northern Ireland. For the next three years Hartnett was directly involved in some of the highest profile events of that period, from the arrest of John Hannan for the bombing of the BBC in London and some of the biggest blunders by British intelligence agencies in the history of the Troubles.

©2016 Sean Hartnett (P)2020 W. F. Howes Ltd

More from the same

What listeners say about Charlie One

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    124
  • 4 Stars
    24
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    96
  • 4 Stars
    24
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    3
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    103
  • 4 Stars
    19
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

interesting insight

great read from grass roots level perspective. I had no idea how sophisticated the intelligence services had become during the Troubles.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant and Insiteful

A testament to the Tradesmen/Women, who through long hours, innovation, dedication and technical expertise keep operational equipment in the hands of troops. And a really interesting account of the real fight against terror.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

An ending of Squaddie humour magnitude, well written an amazing insight behind the scenes of true guts and fearless people

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic. Had me gripped right from the start!

Fantastic book. Being from L-Derry in Northern Ireland and growing up through the troubles I can relate so much to the content of this book. With lots of the action been based in my hometown and surrounding areas it gives an insight as to what went on behind the scenes in this horrific war. Narrated by an Irish man makes it all the more real. Enjoyed it so much I just about to start it all over again!!!

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Audible book

A great listen from start to finish.
Some amazing stories from the Det.
I can’t imagine what it was like for the author in the British Army but you have my upmost respect.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Legends, One and All

A great personal story of one outsider's life as an insider in one of the most secretive and effective units in the war to preserve the peace process in Northern Ireland. Having spent some years there myself I'm only too aware of the simmering discontent in certain sectors and how easily it boils over.
The narration was good (and effective with the Irish accent) but the appalling accents when quoting non-irish players brought it down just a little for me.
Money well spent! Thank you.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

really enjoyed this book. would recommend it.

A must listen. Good story, good reader.
would recommend everytime.
looking forward to similar from this author.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great listen

Well written, nice to have a story that’s not about inflating their own ego and come across genuine.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A soldier’s story

Great listen , no huge story or plot but a big slice of a soldier’s enlistment with some great twists and super insight into a different aspect of the “troubles”.
Kept interesting with great narration , just a shame it wasn’t longer .
I recommend.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good Coverage

Interesting viewpoint and insight I have nothing but respect for the author he has more morals than some he worked with if he is to be believed. Intriguing work during a period of time which led to the demise of the terrorists for now, contributing to the safety offshore on the island of Ireland. Good stories some of which I knew about from a time before. Kept my interest and time flashed by. Lest we forget!

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!