Through Fear and Fire

John Taylor with Heath O'Loughlin | Paperback | July 2025

The thrilling memoir of Special Operations Group bomb squad veteran John Taylor. 

The Special Operations Group are Australia's most elite policing unit. They are who we turn to in times of crisis: shoot-outs, armed robberies, terrorism. And when the threat gets explosive, enter the Bomb Response Unit. John 'JT' Taylor has seen it all, from backyard blow-ups to the largest bomb to ever go off in Australia. He became the force's longest serving bomb disposal expert and one of its most distinguished members. Between handling unpredictable homemade explosive devices, daring driving manoeuvres and swapping bullets with hostage-takers, JT has stared down death. He's an adrenalin addict, having scaled some of the highest peaks in the world, including Mount Everest. From armed robberies to counter-terrorism, bombs and booby-traps, this tell-all memoir reveals details of chilling true crime stories that have never been told before, and shows the grit and bravery of the world's toughest police unit.

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Author Info

John Taylor is the longest-serving bomb squad expert in the Special Operations Group. After decades of frontline work in Victoria Police's tactical group, John is now retired and lives in Melbourne with his wife.

Heath O'Loughlin is the son of a former head of the SOG, Douglas. Heath worked as a television journalist for eight years across the Seven and Nine networks, including as a specialist police reporter. After leaving journalism, he worked at the North Melbourne Football Club for 13 years as its GM of Media & Communications, then moved to the National Basketball League in 2021 as Chief Media & Content Officer.