No comments about Wrath of the Lion-2 Cassettes.

5 comments about White House Connection, The.

1. The plot of this book is simplistic: a mother wants revenge for her son, and gets it. Other than that, nothing much happens. The whole story is predictable. I don't think I will spoil anybody's surprise by disclosing that the mother -- loved by all -- dies when revenge is complete and has a lovely funeral.

   This is a book peopled by ... caricatures, such as the troubled soul with a difficult past, and bizarre habits only to be hinted at. Imagine! one character has a Gurkha batboy named Kim. I bet the author stayed up all night trying to think that one up.

   You can get cancer just by reading this book, with all the smokers in it. If you cut out every time somebody lights up, or asks for a cigarette, you would reduce the book's volume by a good 10 per cent.

   The dividers tell you that this section takes place in New York or London, or something. Beyond that, and a few street names, the book does not produce any sense of place. It doesn't help that the "Americans" sound British. Read James Lee Burke and you're squarely in rural Louisiana; Ian Rankin places the reader right in Scotland. I have never visited either place, but feel I know them, just from the authors' skill. Jack Higgins' writing makes you feel you are sitting in a chair at home, wondering, isn't New York any different from London?

   It rains a lot in this book. Characters slip through walls and out windows. They like to do nothing so well as to tell about battles they have fought, and they do so almost every time they speak. Two characters (Hedley and the Secret Service agent) even review their battle resumes as they slug it out: My war was bigger than your war! Fortunately, the Gurkha orderly doesn't get a speaking part. Otherwise, he too would be telling us about battles he fought: "Here's your tea, sir. Reminds me of the time I was in Nam."

   There is an interesting line; the author refers to types you see 'anywhere in the world, from New York to London.' The world is a lot larger than the shores of the North Atlantic, but Mr Higgins is probably surrounded by so dense a cloud of cigaret smoke that he cannot see very far or very deep.

   Would I recommend that you read this book? Well, I hear there's a new Robert Parker out, if you get my drift. Let's go see what Michael Connelly is up to.




2. I've read few Jack Higgins books, and this was my first. That said, I didn't know any of the recurring characters or their stories, yet it didn't make a difference. The story makes perfect sense without foreknowledge of the characters, and this was still a great book.

   In the opening pages, an assassin waits patiently for a Senator to arrive at his residence. Against the backdrop of a light rain, two men pull a woman into an alley with the intent to rape her. The assassin comes to her aid, and we find that the assassin is an old woman, a kindly old grandmother! From this moment on, my interest was peaked. I had to find out who this woman was, how she entered her profession, etc. I was not disappointed. "The White House Connection" is a spy thriller true to its purpose, perfect for a rainy day or an extended plane ride. If you like Jack Higgins, you'll definitely love this novel. And if you've never read his work, this is a great starting point. For a quick reality escape, read this book!

   Britt Gillette
   ...




3. I debated between four or five stars and gave it five stars because I enjoyed it from the beginning to the end. It piqued my interest at the first with the 60 year old hit woman and kept it all the way through the book. She is killing the Sons of Erin and the British and American special intelligence are trying to find out who is doing it and why. They are also looking for the connection at the White House who has been giving out secret information to the IRA group. I read this book in one day. I highly recommend it.



4. ...to rate this book so low. I am a long time fan of Jack Higgins having enjoyed his books since I was a teen. I don't know if the writing has deteriorated or maybe my tastes have matured, but I could not finish this book. The plot was stale, the dialouge staged and it just failed to generate any suspense at all. Maybe it's time for the Sean Dillon series to end, I know there are several more after this. Whatever happened to the Martin Brosnan character? He and Dillon have an old score to settle. Now that would make an interesting book.



5. I think this book is not worth much. The story is simplistic and slow up to the half of the book. Then the suspense kicks in and you don't want to put it down. The description of the characters, however, lacks depth. On top of this the author seems to know his homeland (Britain) very well while his description of the United States is very much lacking. (see use of words, habits that are described)
   
   The characters on both sides of the ocean just seem to be interested in the case. The union worker is connected to the mob, a typical stereotype. The president, whose name is Cazalet, seems unrealistic. We never hear of his security detail and he just seems to think that smoking is OK but a trouble if his voters hear it. Otherwise he seems to lack any political convictions or plans (i.e. what is his take on the Northern Ireland problem?).
   
   The book also talks alot about the situation in NIreland and peace but very little about the issues involved. Should every reader be an expert?

5 comments about Drink With the Devil.

1. Equals everything else this writer has written! A master at the top of his game!



2. Higgins doesn't break a sweat with this one. If you have read Higgins' other books with Sean Dillon as the protagonist there's is no need to read this one. Same story elements, same set piece action scenes and so on. Maybe I have read one too many of his books but they are all very much blending together now. Even the name of the book is unoriginal, note his earlier "Touch the Devil." Harmless enough few hours of reading but not much is new.



3. I LOVE THIS BOOK. I am 13, and this is my favorite book. It is the best Higgins book yet.



4. THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK BY JACK HIGGINS I HAVE READ ANDI THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD ONE. THIS BOOK STARTS OUT IN 1985 WHEN MARTIN KEOGH AKA ( SEAN DILLON) PLAY HERO FOR TEENAGE GIRL NAMED KATHLEEN RYAN WHO ENDS UP INTRODUCING HIM TO HER UNCLE MICHAEL RYAN WHO IS A IRISH PROTESTANT LOYALIST AND WHO HAS A PLAN TO STEAL A SEMI THAT IS LOADED WITH GOLD WORTH A 100 MILLION POUNDS . BUT MARTIN KNOWS THIS BECAUSE HE IS WORKING FOR JACK BARRY A LEADER IN THE IRA AS IS MARTIN . TEY FIGURE ON STEALING THE GOLD TO HAVE MONEY FOR WEAPONS JUST LIKE MICHAEL RYAN. I WONT GIVE ANY MORE OF THAT PART AWAY BUT THE BOOK JUMPS A HEAD 10 YEARS AND THERE ARE SOME NEW ALLIANCES. THIS WAS A REALLY GOOD BOOK WITHWHAT I THOUGHT WAS A PRETTY GOOD ENDING



5. No thrill in this thriller, I was surprised to see other "good" reviews. I basically felt it was boring without any "bang" at the end.

5 comments about The Eagle Has Landed.

1. A world war two book that captures the mind of all readers!! Noone ca forget about when their not reading it!! Max Radl never disobyed his master, the Admiral. But his loyalty to the Admiral is only outdone by his loyalty to the Fhurer. So when Hitler starts to think anything is possible, he decides that someone should capture Churchill! The Admiral tells Radl to forget about it ( something that the Fuherer is soon to do). But soon believes it is possible and tries it!! This book combines love and action into one!!



2. As one who loves history, I must say that this book is a great thriller, gives you a "feeling" of history, and is a *must* for anyone who is interested in the history of WWII, and is looking for fiction books regarding that period.
   
   The phrase "can't put it down" usually express one's positive impression from a book he read, meaning he enjoyed it very much. Higgins "The Eagle Has Landed" gives this pharse its' literally meaning: you really can't put it down! time flies, hour by hour, and you read page after page, thrilled to know what happens next...
   
   It's my first Higgins books ever. Now I know for sure I'm going to read his other novels. Bravo!



3. 
   
   Higgins turns the characters upside-down; good and evil are not always where we would think to find it. Yes, the Germans were human too. The characters are very real and convincing. He claims that 50% of the story comes from true accounts. I highly recommend this read.
   
   A movie by the same name was made shortly after this novel came out. It is about a failed plot to capture or kill Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Himmler of the Nazi SS gives orders for a plan in which a group of highly trained paratroopers land on the coast near a small town in the U.K., then move inland for the assault.
   
   Before the Germans could breach the town, two operatives were placed there months in advance. One an elderly spy, the other a young Irishman sent to gather up arms for the assault. The Irishman ends up befriending the townspeople, then later the German paratroopers rescue a boy from drowning.
   
   
   Wish you well
   Scott



4. I tried to get into this book, I really did, but it failed to capture me.
   I love espionage novels, 'Eye of the Needle' being a really
   good one, but this book... the characters failed to draw me
   in. It took some effort to finish it.
   
   Notice the number of times alcohol is mentioned in this book.
   People keep drinking as if they are paid for it...
   
   Try Frederick Forsyth instead.



5. Get Churchill : shorty.
   
   
   Old Adolph is having not a great time of it as the Allies begin to make gains in various theatres of war, so he hatches a spy-raid type plot to kill Churchill while he is not as easily defended.
   
   To do this involves landing a team near a small town, and being assisted by a couple of local ratzi sympathisers.
   
   A decent enough book, nothing particularly good.
   
   
   3.5 out of 5

5 comments about Day of Reckoning.

1. Not even same, same. Clearly Higgins and publishers have resorted to churning out mediocrity written by school children for pocket money under the brand name of Higgins. Obviously the best work is now behind us and like so many authors who have established themselves and then cease to respect the readers who established them (Clancy, James Patterson, John Grisham et al) we get insulted by teams of nobodies trying to write a book under a known name using stale ingredients mixed together in a drunken stupor. That's the last Higgins I read.



2. The Day of Reckoning is an exemplar of a novel at its worst. Sean Dillon and his all-star cast of superhuman vigilantes hardly inspire, and infact tend to irritate.
   My advice: This book is worse than the plague, so run away from it.



3. This book was so forgettable I had to search Amazon on the names of the lead characters to find the name of the book only a few days after finishing the novel!
   You see this book coming a million miles away. Higgins simply phones in the effort.
   I've read other books as part of larger series and I never felt left out. This book was the exception. Unlike the Master and Commander series, or the Leaphorn/Chee mysteries, this book depends on previous books. At least that's my assumption since this book is so lame on its own. For example, you start this book with a lead character, but once we meet the series' principal characters, the first character gets third billing.
   This book is NOT recommended. I gave it 2 stars because I was entertained moderately and did finish it. (If it was really bad, I would have cut bait!) The character Dillon is somewhat interesting, perhaps more so if you have interest in the IRA, Northern Ireland, and all that.



4. This book is truly awful. I picked it up to read on my way home labor day - kept stopping to tell my husband how awful it was. Finally put it down and quit torturing myself. There is pitiful character development - characters are introduced by the plenty in the first few chapters, all in under a paragraph. The book is primarily dialogue - and the dialogue is cliched, and forced. Thankfully I didn't pay for this book - it was a hand-down from my Aunt.
   
   I am reassured that I'm not crazy after reading these other reviews. How did this ever make it to the bookshelves? Insane that new authors are turned down every day, and this drivel kills trees.



5. Had I not been trapped in a car for hours with nothing better to do I would never have finished this horrid mess of a book. Eventually I decided to enjoy it as camp and parody, as if SNL had done a spoof of spy novels, and that made it a bit more fun. The book proper probably only deserves 2 stars. The characters are charicatures, the plotting vacillates between predictable and inconsistent, and there really isn't anyone to root for in the whole story once we get past the first couple of chapters. The most interesting characters are either killed off or just disappear from the story for no good reason. But this version gets a single star because this has to be one of the worst narrations in the history of recorded books. The breathy, melodramatic reading by Patrick Macnee almost drove me crazy until I decided to shift to parody mode. Then it fit. Maybe Macnee had to go there himself to get through this disaster.
   
   I have great admiration for anyone who makes a living writing, and for Mr. Higgins other successful books, but not every word put to paper has to see print. This one should have been left in a drawer somewhere.

5 comments about The Eye of the Storm.

1. In this Jack Higgins classic which ranks as one of his very best, IRA gun-for-hire Sean Dillon is the protagonist and main character(recurring throughout several Higgins books) who is recruited by Saddam Hussein through French arms dealer Michael Aroun to assassinate the Prime Minister and War Cabinet during the Gulf War. As the plot develops, it is up to American CIA operative Martin Brosnan and head of the PM's clandestine intelligence agency Brigadier Charles Ferguson to stop Dillon when they are tipped off about the threat. Those of us that remember the real-life mortar attack on 10 Downing Street when John Major was in power are presented with a fast-paced account of what might have happened - could it have happened this way? This thought-provoking actioner is well-paced, easy to read and crams in a Clancy-esque story at less than half the length with no unnecessary subplots. A must-read winner!



2. As the book that first exposes us to Sean Dillon, reading EYE OF THE STORM is pivitol to one's better understanding the Dillon books that follow because you get to read more about his background, experience his coldheartedness, and witness his modus operandi.

   As for the audio versions, I've had the pleasure of listening to the unabridged version by Patrick Macnee and there is no better reader (or performer) around. The abridged version is OK and definitely better than the downloaded version whose quality made it sound like I was listening to the downloaded audio through string with a tin cup. Their problem seemed to be of the four levels of quality that they could download it in, only the first two were available, with a burnable quality and an MP3 quality not available.

   If you're going for the audio versions, get the cassette version and avoid the download so that you can experience Macnee's delightful way of crisply going from one accent to the next.




3. Sean is definitely a character you will learn to love. Though ruthless, he is certainly a wonderful edition to Jack Higgins' wonderful writing. A must read!



4. This is a great and exciting adventure book which contains many little twists along the way. You meet Sean Dillon who is a quick, scary figure whom the story revolves. I am not about to give the plot away, but Dillon plots what he plans to be a devestating attack on the English government with great intentions. He gets help along with his friends which sometimes have to make a sacrifice - of their life. This also isn't one of those boring stories which everything goes the way of the main character, which to find out more you will have to read this great thriller of a book which I really recommend to you.



5. As the 1st in one of the author's longest series, the characters are not full formed as they will become in later books. But this one, "Eye of the Storm", does lay some much needed background that will help with understanding the actions and attitudes of some of the characters in furture books of this series.

5 comments about The President's Daughter.

1. In 1969, Jake Cazalet saved the life of a Frenchwoman in Vietnam, and a brief passionate affair ensued. Years later in Paris, he was introduced to another beautiful young woman, his daughter. For many reasons, their relationship remained a secret. Some of these reasons include that fact that Cazalet is now the President of the United States. The American populous does not take kindly to illegitimate children when it comes to politicians. As I said before, Cazalet is now the president of the United States. Somehow, someone has discovered the truth about his daughter, and she is seized by a vicious extremist group. This group of men call themselves Macabees. They believe they are going to free Israel from its oppressors as Judas and his Macabees did in the fifth century. If the president does not comply with the kidnappers' demand, or uses any of America's security agencies to track them down, they will execute her. This forces Cazalet to make the toughest decision of his life. However, he only has ten days to decide. Desperate he turns to British operative Sean Dillon and Brigadier Charles Fergesun. If these two men cannot find hi daughter, the president will have to make the toughest decision of his life. He must choose between his daughter, whom he loves more than anything, and doing his duty to his country and not complying with terrorist demands. This is a great book for anyone who likes action and suspense. I would recommend this book to anybody, the reading is very easy and the story is never dull. This book forces you to keep reading.



2. Hey fellow readers, this is another of Jack Higgins action-packed thrillers. It is not Tolstoy and it was never intended to be. How do you think Higgins got so many of these things published? He sure doesn't spend a lot of time on them. These books are to action adventure fans what popcorn and Coke are to theater goers.

   In this action adventure thriller, Higgins reprises former IRA enforcer Sean Dillion, Brigadier Charles Ferguson and Scotland Yard Chief Inspector Hannah Bernstein. Later on in the book, the author also recalls from retirement that old IRA legend Liam Devlin. His cunning, wit and skill (despite his advanced age) were a welcome intrusion into the story line as it moved toward its conclusion.

   The President's Daughter is another one of those Higgins stories that really requires a major suspension of disbelief. The plot's premise is that the US President, as a young Army officer in Vietnam, met a beautiful French woman who was searching for her husband thought lost when ambushed by the NVA. It just so happens that the woman is married to a French Foreign Legion captain who retains a noble title and significant wealth. Thinking her husband dead, she has a one night affair with young Lt. Jake Cazalet. The very next morning, she finds out that her husband, Captain (Count) de Brissac is alive and out of a sense of duty, returns to him. Jake is heartbroken but the two of them agree to part. What neither one knows is that the one night liaison has resulted in the conception of a child. After the child's birth, the Comtesse de Brissac convinces her husband that the child is his and life goes on.

   As the years pass, Jake Cazalet returned to Harvard where he completed his doctorate and law school. He enters politics and eventually becomes a Senator. Later, he is elected President. After he becomes President, Jake finds out that the Count de Brissac, a former French general, has passed away. He eventually meets his long-lost love and she tells him a secret, her daughter was not 'the general's daughter,' but his own. Jake's wife, who had died years earlier of leukemia, had never been able to bear children and now the POTUS has one 28 years old, who he cannot acknowledge.

   Enter the complication. Someone else finds out Marie de Brissac's identity and they kidnap her. The kidnappers are not the usual PLO, IRA or former Communist thugs Higgins has employed in these roles in the past. They are Israelis who want to force the President to sign an order that will result in the nuclear destruction of Syria, Iran and Iraq. They give him a time limit and with that clock ticking, the tension also starts to build.

   In his own way, Higgins chooses to involve Sean Dillon, Brigadier Ferguson and Hannah Bernstein. He also introduces a new character, Blake Johnson, an FBI agent who runs "The Basement" in the White House. He is the President's special action team and as a result of the kidnapping, he and Dillon join forces. Readers will meet him again in THE WHITE HOUSE CONNECTION.

   While the entire premise for this book is truly far-fetched, the way in which Dillon and Blake Johnson resolve the crisis is what makes for the most interesting reading. It is in the problem solving stage where Higgins provides most of the action, tension and enjoyment. That is why he has so many fans around the world. This is not great or memorable literature. What it is is an enjoyable, mindless, escapist way to pass some time.

   Higgins is spare with his wording and his details. That is also another factor in why his books are so quick and fast paced. If you're looking for a quick way to escape your everyday existence, then Higgins (and this book) is a good place to start. Sean Dillon and the rest of the characters in these books have become like old friends. It's always good to visit with them every once in a while.

   Higgins fans will like this installment. It's full of everything they expect from this extremely prolific author. Cast aside the critical eye. Sit back, put your feet up and visit with old friends.




3. The scenario : an extremist pro-Israel terrorist group has access to the most sensitive Intelligence of the UK and the US, and also the US President's secret - an illegitimate daughter. They kidnapped her to force the President to launch surgical nuclear strikes against Israel's primary adversaries in the Middle-East.

   Then, the plot just went on a completely wrong angle. They kidnapped Sean Dillon to act as their messenger to the President. Though what happened later were not bad for an action thriller, I keep wondering why did they want to get a man like Sean Dillon, and more importantly, Charles Ferguson, involved. They could have convinced the President they got the girl and they mean business without involving people who eventually caused their downfall.




4. Ever since I read "The Eagle Has Landed" in the 70's, I have been a fan of Jack Higgins. Sean Dillon returns in "The President's Daughter". The President of the United States, Jake Cazalet, fathered a child during a brief affair while he was in Vietnam. Only he and the child's mother knew her true paternity, or so they thought. Almost thirty years later, the president's daughter, Marie de Brissac, is kidnapped by Israeli terrorists who hope to get Cazalet to support an effort by the US government to bomb Arab countries like Syria and Iraq. Cazalet opposes the initiative, and calls on Sean Dillon, ex-IRA enforcer now working for the British to try to find Marie and rescue her. In the meantime, this group kidnaps Dillon's colleague, Chief Inspector Hannah Bernstein. After finding out where the women are held, Dillon and American Blake Johnson stage a daring rescue. The suspense is taut, and I found it impossible to put down this excellent novel by the master of the thriller, Jack Higgins.



5. I have been a Higgins fan for a long time, but I am somewhat mystified as to why I still read him at this point. I think it's because I was so enthralled by "The Eagle Has Landed" years ago, and some of his other older books and the quick read that you get. However that being said, Higgins follows the same formula for every book and if you have read at least 3 of his books, then you know what is coming at every stage of the game. "The President's Daughter" is no different from a dozen other Higgins novels I have read. What I do appreciate is it's a quick read that's entertaining and doesn't make you think hard. If you want to give one Higgins book a shot, then read "The Eagle Has Landed", this was when he was at his best and is a quality novel. If you are a Higgins fan, then you'll read this book regardless, just don't be surprised that it doesn't stand out from many of his other books.

   So what's the recommendation overall. If you are looking for a quick mindless read with adventure, then this is for you. If you want a book with a lot more substance and a believable adventure tale, then you need to look elsewhere.

5 comments about Eagle Has Flown.

1. The central disappointment of this novel was that Steiner, the sympathetic anti-hero of "Eagle has Landed," remained alive, despite him being so convincingly (and movingly) killed at the conclusion of that instalment. But nothing succeeds like success, and despite his own mission's failure his first book's success leads Steiner to have a Lazarus-like existence in this sequel. Some of the characters and sub-plots are very well constructed, and Higgins' writing style - always way above average for this gentre - carries you along as well. If you like rear-echelon British Fascists in secret partnership with the Axis, or ruthlessly unpleasant M15 interrogators, or exciting things happening with light aircraft, this is the book for you.



2. This was the follow up to the Eagle Has Landed. I wish he had not tried so hard to get my hard earned dollars and spent more time working on this story. I fell into it thinking it would be as good as the first and came away disappointed. I also think he has put out much better books and this one was the first to really disappoint me. The book is just an average book. This book seams rushed, almost like the author did not want to take the time to really develop either the story or the characters. Because of the light development it does not hold your attention. Overall it is just an average, light World War Two action novel that does not do him credit.



3. This Historical fiction, The Eagle has Flown is a sequel to Higgins previous novel The Eagle has Landed. The novel takes place in Europe during the last years of World War II. Higgins starts the novel with an investigation regarding the attempts on British Prime Minster Winston Churchill's life. The one in specific conducted by a Nazi, General Steiner of the SS from Germany. The mission was compromised and General Steiner the only survivor jailed in a priory run by a Father and several nuns. Himmler a senior SS orders his comrade General Schellenberg to conduct a rescue of the fallen prisoner of war. General Schellenberg contacts Liam Devlin a British Nazi, who knows Nazi sympathizers in London who will help plan the release of General Steiner. The mission is to sneak into the Priory and rescue Steiner but this mission was to busy the officers while extremist in the SS including Himmler would assassinate Hitler and organize a coup. The reason the SS wants to kill Hitler is not because of the tremendous war crimes but because of his careless and contradictory plans regarding the war that were hurting the German forces.

   The novel in part of Higgins is well planned out and put together. There are several concepts that Higgins touched that are factual but omitted from history books and other novels. The concepts include the willingness of the German people to stop the war and the German officers who fought to protect and honor their country not Hitler. This novel has the great ability to pull you into the book and make your mind wonder in deep optimism for the Nazi, even though they were on the wrong hand in this bloody war. Higgins after getting a taste of sequels left this novel's end in great conflict with no definite closure, he must plan to continue the The Eagle series. This novel is recommended to those who like war read and who will not stress themselves over late World War II terminology contained in this novel.




4. This Historical fiction, The Eagle has Flown is a sequel to Higgins previous novel The Eagle has Landed. The novel takes place in Europe during the last years of World War II. Higgins starts the novel with an investigation regarding the attempts on British Prime Minster Winston Churchill's life. The one in specific conducted by a Nazi, General Steiner of the SS from Germany. The mission was compromised and General Steiner the only survivor jailed in a priory run by a Father and several nuns. Himmler a senior SS orders his comrade General Schellenberg to conduct a rescue of the fallen prisoner of war. General Schellenberg contacts Liam Devlin a British Nazi, who knows Nazi sympathizers in London who will help plan the release of General Steiner. The mission is to sneak into the Priory and rescue Steiner but this mission was to busy the officers while extremist in the SS including Himmler would assassinate Hitler and organize a coup. The reason the SS wants to kill Hitler is not because of the tremendous war crimes but because of his careless and contradictory plans regarding the war that were hurting the German forces.

   The novel in part of Higgins is well planned out and put together. There are several concepts that Higgins touched that are factual but omitted from history books and other novels. The concepts include the willingness of the German people to stop the war and the German officers who fought to protect and honor their country not Hitler. This novel has the great ability to pull you into the book and make your mind wonder in deep optimism for the Nazi, even though they were on the wrong hand in this bloody war. Higgins after getting a taste of sequels left this novel's end in great conflict with no definite closure, he must plan to continue the The Eagle series. This novel is recommended to those who like war read and who will not stress themselves over late World War II terminology contained in this novel.




5. A Review by Jace

   The end of the Second World War is near, and Hitler is relentless. British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, had been kidnapped by a secret Nazi spy group and no one knows his exact location. Except for one man Kurtis Steiner who is being held prisoner by the British forces. Jack Higgins enters the story as a young historian who must now find the keys to unravel the secret mysteries of the Nazi army. He is sent on a mission to Ireland to find the closest link to Kurtis Steiner, but is unknowing of what he will find. Higgins must fight his way through chambers, dungeons and ward of enemy spies and troops. Higgins is in for the fight of his life and he is bringing you along for the ride.

   This book is a masterpiece. It shows the true horror of war from a different stand point. Many war books show you a view from the U.S. but this book gives you a look from the British and Nazi sidelines. It also has a truckload of suspense. I was awake at night wondering what would happen next. My head was full of predictions and guesses of who was to die next, and what was behind that door. My hair was on end through the entire story. This book also brought along enough action for everybody, and had leftovers. Higgins challenges his mind against the mind of a Nazi general and henchman. Higgins challenges tanks and specially trained troops. This book is a work of art.

   I would recommend this book to anybody who has read a bond book. This novel blows good old James out of the water. It has mystery, suspense, and action. I was left with my jaw on the floor. Higgins has left his heart in this book, which makes it worth the read.

5 comments about Angel of Death (Unabridged).

1. This was a fantastic story! The plot was able to change with little hints. This book like many of Jack Higgins' are great at charcter build up. It will make you want to keep reading till the very end. I would like to quote Tom Clancy, "JACK HIGGINS IS THE MASTER."



2. This is a relatively old book I came across, but thank goodness for that. The story has characters that you would have to force yourself to believe are in any sense of the word, real. Gun toting female actresses; an MP who is an assassin and homosexual and GRU and with a friend who is a professor, homosexual, Russian lover, GRU, with a plot that might meet the expectations of the illiterate. The author's knowledge of weapons seems to be something he gleened from the internet. A waste of time. The author's reputation has dropped with this book.



3. I picked this book up expecting to have something entertaining to read for a week. It was entertaining. That's all I can really say to describe it. But, in order to help some people shopping around, I'll throw in something a little more informative.
   
   If you pick this book up expecting the diction of Umberto Eco, the character development of David Baldacci, or the insight of John LeCarre, think again. All of those traits are pretty weak in this book. However, the pace is good. There's quite a bit of action and dialogue (however simplistic), and only one character that I can really say I like, and that's Sean Dillon, the main protagonist. I only like him because he's a real wise-guy.
   
   The pages will continue to urge you to turn them. It's entertaining, but not intellectually stimulating. If you're looking for something fun and quick without being challenging, give it a shot.
   
   However, if you're looking for better character development, fewer wisecracks, and more engaging intellect, try Ken Follet's 'Eye of the Needle'.
   
   Happy reading!



4. This book became boring after the first 20 pages. Then it got interesting for a while and then boring again. Ups and downs, over and over again. Like other readers said - the story is rather ridiculous, the characters lack in depth. Some characters are not only not impressive in any way - it would be better if they were not a part of this book at all. This could be a good book - unfortunately Higgins did not take well to researching the topic in any way, apparently.



5. I have a copy of this around which I never pick up to read largely because of all the Sean Dillon books, this is the weakest - why? Weak plot, substandard characters when it comes to villains. Don't get me started on the idiotic and overly used premise of a political assassination, I mean come on now - what book hasn't throughly abused the notion of a political assassination and in this day and age; it just doesn't fit the nature of Dillon's previous challenges. You like dramatic, edge of your seat firefights and intense bursts of Dillon in action? You won't find those in this book either. I don't know if Higgins was afraid of people not reading his books due to the violent and bloody nature of the inquiries of Ferguson and Dillon but the action in this book is kept a bare minimum. It's a tragedy when you consider that there's irrefutable proof out there that Higgins can do better than this. Do yourself favor, if you want Dillon at his best, go for Thunder Point, Edge of Danger or even The President's Daughter is a better bet.

5 comments about Touch the Devil.

1. I recently picked up this 10-year old book (at least) form a used obook store and ended up finding it one the best I read recently. It just goes to show that good stories never die. The plot seems a bit rusty so far removed from the Cold War, but Higgins' lively writing soon makes you forget the present for a trip into the past - a trip you won't regret.



2. This book centers around three men: Former IRA gunmen Liam Devlin, Martin Brosnan and Frank Barry. Devlin is now semi-retired, working as a professor of English Literature at Trinity College in Dublin. Brosnan is in an island jail off the French coast for shooting a policeman during an IRA arms deal. Barry is now working as a gun-for-hire to various left-wing European terrorist groups, and sometimes the KGB.

   After he attempts to kill the British Foreign Secretary on a visit to France, the Prime Minister decides Barry must be dealt with, once and for all. Group 4, the PM's special missions unit headed by Brigadier Charles Ferguson, is given the task.

   Ferguson enlists the aid of Devlin and, after he breaks out of the prison, Brosnan, in the mission. There is personal bad blood between Brosnan and Barry. The final confrontation is the best part of the book, when Barry tries to escape England with a stolen rocket-launcher prototype and Brosnan and Devlin hot on his heels.

   This book would be enjoyable for Higgins fans, because the characters have either appeared in other Higgins books, or (in the case of Barry) been alluded to. It's nice to get some background on Brosnan, and it makes his actions in "Eye of the Storm" more clear and understandable.

   But Barry is the most interesting character. He's Sean Dillon, only less charming and more cold-blooded. The relationship between Barry and Dillon was hinted at in "Eye of the Storm," where Dillon refers to Barry as sort of his mentor. That relationship is interesting, and I would like to see Higgins devote an entire book to it, because I think it could work well.

   I would also like Higgins to give us some more background on the time in the late-60s/early-70s when Devlin, Brosnan, Barry, and Dillon were all in the IRA together. Hopefully he'll put out a book on that, too.

   As for "Touch the Devil," if you're a Higgins fan, you'll like it. If you're not, it's a good introduction to some of his main characters, but not his best book. I recommend "Eye of the Storm" as an introducition to Higgins, because it'll get you hooked and coming back for more.




3. I have read all of the books by Jack Higgins. He is the master of world war II espionage and puts his history knowledge in every book he writes. I have read all of the books. This is a true grabber. Un-down-putable!



4. With a Jack Higgins book you always get a fast paced, easy to read book. He always gets the correct mix of historical facts and a new story line to make his books some of the best of the class. The thing with Higgins is that he probably is not going to go down in history as one of the best writers ever, but the stories are so good with enough action to make you lose track of time. You have fun reading this book and I bet that if this is the first of his books you read you will start to hunt down other works of his. This book is worth the time.



5. Our introduction to the prolific Jack Higgins was his early (1969) thriller "A Fine Night for Dying". That novel, while mildly entertaining, was short and pretty tame by modern standards. With "Devil" we moved ahead several years to a Higgins' work written in 1982 and set in roughly that same time frame. Based on other reviews, apparently the lead characters -- Martin Brosnan, Liam Devlin, and Frank Barry -- appear in several other Higgins stories; but their appearances stand by themselves just fine in this story. A flashback prologue set in Viet Nam during the war introduces us to Brosnan and a female photographer, Anne-Marie Audin, who plays a minor role throughout the book. But the main focus is on Barry, who spends most of his time as a paid assassin with seemingly little loyalty to any cause or country. When he nearly offs a British Foreign Secretary on a visit to France, and slays an important agent instead, the Prime Minister orders her Secret Service to retaliate. The guy in charge, Brigadier Charles Ferguson, deciding it takes a killer to kill one, in effect hires (now) death row convict and ex-IRA terrorist Martin Brosnan to attempt the deed. Brosnan figures Ferguson will never pull off getting him out of the slammer, and so stages a stunning escape instead, setting up a climax where it's bad guy versus bad guy for the suspenseful latter section of the book.

   "Devil" is a fun read: it's long enough and complex enough to build and sustain your interest; the characters are interesting; and in the end we're not completely sure which bad guy we want to root for!! Along the way a number of bystanders and lesser characters get knocked off by our author, but some twists and turns fool us on more than one occasion. A somewhat philosophical but stunning denouement even gives us pause for thought. Presuming this is more representative of Higgins' work than our first read, we can see why he has built a loyal following. Enjoy "Touch the Devil"!