Product Description

Klong Prem prison, Thailand. The 'Bangkok Hilton', where 600 foreigners wait and rot among the 12,000 inmates. Amidst the tragic, ruthless and forgotten, one man resolves to do what no other has done: escape. This is the true story of drug smuggler David McMillan's perilous break-out from Asia's most notorious prison. After being arrested at Don Muang airport, McMillan spent over a year in Klong Plem awaiting trial. He watched as the other foreign prisoners fell prey to disease, violence and despair. Death appeared to be their only way out, but he resolved that this would not be the end for him. Two weeks before a near-certain death sentence, McMillan escaped, never to be seen in Thailand again. In this gripping account, he reveals the nightmare of existence in this infamous jail and explains how he made his hazardous jailbreak.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10540 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
"The chapters as the escape draws near move with break-neck speed of the best thrillers."
--News of the World, July 20, 2008

"As the escape draws near the book moves with the break-neck speed of the best thrillers."
--News of the World, July 20, 2008

From the Author
Learning Thai Made Hard
The reader who recently expressed confusion about my understanding of the Thai language in ESCAPE is not the first to do so.
For those doubting expats (for only expats ask) perhaps it's best to explain: having visited Thailand for almost twenty years before the fateful arrest, I'd gained a trader's knowledge of their language, while still mangling its five tones - the tones that alter meaning.
Those 18 months in the Bangkok Hilton certainly improved my Thai but quoting Thai speakers in ESCAPE demanded an appreciation of accent and manner - when I could get it. Fortunately, such as when the room leader of my first night made his set speech, I was told by roommate Tam not only where room-leader Lim came from but of his the slangy speech. His manner needed no translation being that too-familiar school prefect, scout-leader type. I imagined the English midlands for his local equivalent, and so better, I'd hoped, to give readers a recognisable voice in print rather than an artificial concoction - such as when Hollywood does the Nazi accent (in English!) To add, "... I later came to know --" before every quote seemed unnecessary.
Like every writer, I enjoy feedback especially when critical; even those shamelessly promoting a rival work, or those whose savoury dislike of the author needs some quibbling hook. It's all welcome!

About the Author
David McMillan began his drug-smuggling career following a trip to India in his 20s. Following his arrest in Thailand and subsequent escape from Klong Prem maximim security prison in 1996, David continued to undertake risky adventures until retiring to London in the late '90s.

Customer Reviews

Thoughtful yet Hard-Hitting
I read this on a plane out of Asia and enjoyed every page. I've seen some bad reviews of this book but I've only read a couple of this type. For me, Escape is terrific and very good. Maybe some readers are impatient but the payoff - the escape - had me on the edge of my seat. Worth taking a chance with this, and worth reading twice.

Break Out from a Nightmare
Most of us might pass by gut-wrenching stories of prison escapes, but this true prison break story breaks the mould. It is really a story of loyalty and friendship.
Without the jazz-club chanteuse who flew to Bangkok the moment she saw his arrest flashed on the nightly news, the tireless supporters and his enduring friends David would have never managed the near-impossible jailbreak. Every chapter left me wanting more, and as ever, the truth is stranger than fiction. This book deserves to be moved from the airport racks to the libraries.

Great Book
I tuned in to an episode of Danny Dyer's Deadliest Men on Bravo with David McMillan the main subject matter (Series 2 Episode 3) but missed the first half hour. A week later was shopping for a book for my holiday and this caught my eye. I found it a little slow to begin with but as it went on my persistence paid off and i was treated to a thoroughly enjoyable account of how a very well connected drug trafficker managed to deal with the appalling day to day living conditions and how almost from day one he masterminded his brave and genius escape from the Bangkok hilton.

When i got home from my holiday i watched the episode again and it was a nice to meet David McMillan in the flesh and provided a nice way to finish off the story for me.

Overall I recommend the book highly and would suggest getting a hold off the episode of Danny Dyers Deadliest me to see David McMillan for yourself.