Review: A-Z of Hell: Ross Kemp's How Not to Travel the World by Ross Kemp (4.5/5)

Ross Kemp's fascinating guide of the worst places in the world.

Want to know where to discover the perfect sunset in Fiji? How about a tropical paradise in St Lucia, or one of the world’s beautiful natural wonders in the Alps?
Well this is NOT the book for you.

But if you want to know about meeting transvestite prostitutes in a South African prison, or being attacked for a can of tuna in the Congo, buying crack cocaine in a Venezuelan prison or being chased by dogs in a haunted house in Belize, then look no further. Ross Kemp has visited the worst places in the world, and here they are in all their horror – in a handy A to Z format.
This is not one hell of a travel guide. This is a travel guide to hell.

I am a huge fan of Ross Kemp, having loved all of his books I was really intrigued by the sound of A-Z of Hell. Having read all of Ross's previous books and now this, it really is a wonder he is still alive. You only have to watch one of his brilliant television series to know that he is an incredibly brave man, putting his life on the line to highlight to his audience some of the dangers people face around the world. It's easy to forget then that it isn't just Ross, the stories in this book also focus on the people that have been there for him throughout all of the series, the crew members such as the cameramen who again put their own lives on the line to make what is essentially 'entertainment' for the audience. 

This is not one hell of a travel guide. This is a travel guide to hell. 

Some of the tales will be recognised by those that have watched his various programmes yet rather than being repetitive they are told through fresh eyes, giving the reader a new insight. There are some truly heartwarming stories in the book as well, from the adventures the team have got up to, to stories about the people Ross has met along the way. It's also very much a celebration of what Ross and the team have accomplished over the years. The book was just too short for me. Or, perhaps because I enjoyed it so much it was over before I wanted it to be. Fans of Ross's shows or his books yet to pick this book up should definitely do so.

Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.