Rain on the dead jack higgins
357400
Another absolutely fantastic book featuring sean dillon the ex feared IRA gunman. As usual non stop action and intrigue. Dillon works for British in a highly covert status. I've read all of higgins books and I thoroughly enjoyed them all...you like Jason Bourne???? Try higgins you will love them!!
1396874
Jack Higgins continues to bring excitement in every one of his works. His characters came alive as they interacted with each other from the beginning to a truly unimaginable end. You will enjoy this novel.
2672363
Once again Higgins has given us a great tail. Anyone who likes a fast-paced story will enjoy this. I highly recommend a story
880818
When I read a Jack Higgins novel these days, it is with a certain kind of sadness. Gone are the complex plots, intriguing characters, and story twists that marked so much of his earlier work. Now, he seems to have become nothing more that a word hack, cranking out a weak novel every year. At the same time, I keep reading them hoping to see flashes of past brilliance. Unfortunately, Mr. Higgins continues the recent tradition in his writing where the good guys do evil (at times) for the right cause and the bad guys are misguided and do evil for the wrong cause.
In this case, the lovely Kate Rashid leads the evil forces that plan to destroy the world, as we know it. The novel follows up on the situation at the end of his last novel, Edge Of Danger, where her three brothers were dead at the hands of the good guys leaving Kate Rashid vowing vengeance. As Countess of Loch Dhu, Kate Rashid controls the vast holdings of the Rashid Empire. Like the last book, the flow of oil to the United States and England is her weapon to topple governments. But, she also seeks to inflict personal pain on Sean Dillon, Blake Johnson, General Charles Ferguson and the others she holds personally responsible for the deaths of her brothers. As she assembles her supporters and pawns, so too does General Ferguson assemble his pawns and supporters. Soon, all the usual suspects are in play and a plot that could be sketched on the back of a bar napkin is underway.
This novel continues in the recent tradition of Jack Higgins. The writing is weak, the character development is exceedingly limited, the style is poor and the scenic descriptions are poor. The sameness of his recent novels continues and the reader is left with the sense that this has been read before, many times. It is unfortunate that he continues in the slide from the promise of his early novels to a writing style and effort that just seems to be going through the motions for a few sales. This author has talent and expertise that he simply is not using, for whatever reason, and that is a shame. It may be time to forget this author and move on because like many a great athlete that pushes past his prime, he simply does not have it anymore and that is a shame.
558406
Jack, Dan, Pete, Smoke and their respective matches are a joy to curl up with on rainy July afternoon.
2020648
The above sentiment concisely summarizes the prevailing attitude of Don Carpenter's little known masterpiece, Hard Rain Falling. A brief prologue introduces Jack Levitt's parents who are around only to conceive and abandon the story's main character. From orphanage to pool halls, reform school and then prison, HRF shines a harsh light on the lives of people without resources or opportunity in post war and 1950s America. As his life unfolds I was reminded of Dante's admonishment inscribed above the entrance to Hell. This America is definitely not grandpa's suburban dream come true.

This is a hard, spare novel that is entirely masculine in its perspective and outlook, without even a pretense of understanding women.  They exist on the periphery as sexual objects or as the mother's of sons--users or untrustworthy because of their unpredictability.  Some may find this disturbing as I did initially but it is entirely in keeping with the emotional disconnect of Jack's existence.  Others have remarked upon the homosexual relationship set in prison and it is remarkable for frankness, but most especially for its tenderness and impact on the core of the story. Carpenter is an astonishingly empathetic writer who does more then identify with the downtrodden and outcasts, he dignifies their lives with his storytelling making them as intriguing as an Edward Hopper painting.

Institutions are equally excoriated, and in the end it is the relentless grinding down by the social machine that defeats and overwhelms. From fantasies of murder to easy rage and brawls, Jack is slowly beaten down til the most precious thing in his life is taken away, and taken with barely a whimper.  Perhaps the most brilliant accomplishment of the book though is its lack of sentimentality or self pity.  Neither Jack nor the reader is allowed to feel sorry for him, pity being not merely useless but offensive. It is through struggle that one finds purpose, if only surviving what should, long ago have worn you out.

In the end there is an appreciation of the only thing in life worth pursuing.--love. To receive it and give it is what make an otherwise miserable existence even close to meaningful.
2476672
Atmospheric, brooding, mysterious and violent. Dead Souls packs a real punch of genuine Horror, wrapped in an Occult glove.

Johnny Petrie, trapped in a restrictive upbringing, comes into an unexpected inheritance on his 18th birthday - and then all hell breaks loose. The discovery of who he really is, what happened when he was a baby, and how he got the scar on his chest sets off a chain of horrific events that mirror the occult ritual, started 17 years previously by his Father, that went horribly wrong and left a lasting curse on his forebears and those involved.

Drawn inexorably to the town in rural Maine where the nightmare unfolded, Johnny and the other important parties find themselves in a fight for survival against evil, possessive violence that wants Johnny's blood to seal the pact made long ago.

Soon to be a TV Movie - Dead Souls is a real page turner - at times truly frightening, and always tense and thrilling.
703133
Jack Higgins is a master story teller as exemplified by his "Night of the Fox" novel.  The characters and scenes are well described and the plot will definitely hold your interest, despite the use of British terms and sentence structures throughout.  After reading this book, I plan to read many more of Higgins' books.
2631114
The book kept one's interest to the end.  Most of Jack Higgins' books are the same in that the grab  one's attention and hold it to the end.

The Death Trade
4880471
As an avid reader of the Higgins novels..only Higgins can weave the tales of suspense that keep you up late..unable to put it away. That irish rascal Sean Dillon always seems to find a way to put you on the edge, wondering will he or won't he come thru alive. For the new reader..be prepared to go on an adventure thru literature that will be unlike any other..Higgins novels read like motion pictures and are addictive..This ranks with his best..buy it
1811495
I am a big fan of Jack Higgins' characters.  I enjoyed this new adventure and would recommend it to anyone who likes intrigue and justice fighters.  You will want to go back to meet these characters in earlier books.
3195920
Jack Higgins has written a great action novel that takes place in the Caribbean islands. With a communism versus democracy storyline and love interests, it has something for all fans.
77468
Another good Jack Higgins story with some WW2 history mixed in.  If you enjoy his writing style and are a bit of a history buff you will enjoy this book.
302538
Tenth in the Jack Taylor mystery series about an ex-Garda private investigator who lives in Galway, Ireland.

My Take
This is a stroll down memory lane, looking back over past cases and events, and per usual, Bruen includes an increasing selection of book titlesand Im adding to my TBR as well as my TBV---to be viewed.

I felt a detachment in reading this, as if everyone were simply going through the motions. A few loose threads in this including what Reardon is up to in this. What happened with Westburys daughter? Cause I cant see him allowing anyone to get away with hurting her! Once you learn who C33 is, youll wonder at the choices this vigilante has made. Whats the rhyme or reason to making these choicesnoBruen did provide the clue to this one as I think on it. But I still have to wonder because such a person doesnt normally make choices for other peoples good.

This was definitely an odd one. More disconnected than the earlier nine Jack Taylors and possibly a reflection on Jacks sudden sobriety. Yeah, can you believe it? No drugs, no booze, no smokes. Strangely enough, for all its disjointed words, it was a relatively easy follow. One I wish I had avoided. I just cant bear it, especially with that bloody ending Bruen has left us hanging with. What the hell!!?! All I can say isBruen better get on with book 11 and either finish me off or allow me to sigh with relief, for theres just too much loss. A loss that I suspect will suddenly hit me in the middle of the night and leave me weeping.

Part of me wonders if Stewart undertook this task because hes missing Jacks usual modus operandi. NOT that Im saying any of this is Jacks fault.

We get more about the type of woman his mother wasdefinitely, we need parents to be licensed.

Oh god, this was awful. Absolutely awful. I wish I hadnt read it, and I do have to wonder if this is the end of the Jack Taylor series, if only because I cant imagine how it can continue as the story steps from Purgatory into a potential Hell.

The Story
Its a sober Jack whos mystifying Galway and his few friends with his new habits. No one can believe this tearaway can possibly behave this well, especially C33 who leaves him notes taunting him with the possibilities, egged on by the past cases hes solved which have righted many wrongs.

The Characters
Jack Taylor has been ex-Garda for years and an addict using alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes for much longer. Except now. Hes worked a long time as a private investigator and has a long string of successes. More than he has friends thats for certain.

A former dope dealer and now a yuppie Zen-entrepreneur, Stewart has been Jacks friend for quite a while. Ridge is a sergeant in the Garda and another friend of Jacks. Shes no longer married to, as Jack calls him, that bollix.

C33 is a vigilante taking out the bad guys and addressing notes of invitation to Jack.

Daniel Reardon is a dot-com billionaire who has arrived in Galway to set up his business and buy up the town. I must say, I don't like him. Kelly is Reardons PR director. And wife. Skylar and Stan are a couple of Americans working for Reardon. Moore is a short-term babysitter.

Gerald Roy Westbury is the lawyer to the criminal element.

Tim Rourke is a raping thug; Sister Maeves loss of Our Lady of Galway gets Jack and Ridge in trouble and sets Stewart up for an attack of nerves; Peg Ramsay is a nasty moneylender; FX are her two bodyguards; Brennan Jr doesnt have the smarts to follow in his daddys footsteps  thank god; Len Waters is another psychopath; and, Dr. James seems to be in charge of the nuthouse.

Lee, Clancy, and Sharkey are the negative side of the Garda with a brief appearance while Tremlin is slightly better. He has a daughter, Oonagh, who needs a job.

The Cover
The cover has a cozy, pub sort of feel with its wooden table and a hint of light at the back, a couple of shot glasses rolling on its surface and one of the notes addressed to Jack.

The title is where Jack lives, in Purgatory.
4641750
What can I say except to get your hands on any John Rain novel. You will enjoy it. I highly recommend any of Barry Eisler's books.
1761221
A catholic priest named Father Thomas who lives in a town called Dunwich just hung himself in a cemetery, so an ancient curse has been awakened as it brings the dead back to life. A New York psychic named Mary (Catriona MacColl) who died out of shock from having a seance with a terrible vision of what things may come was buried alive, a newspaper journalist (Christopher George) just saved her life and become friends. The couple are told that bizarre things are happening in Dunwich such as some mirrors breaking, dead bodies appearing in some places and bizarre zombie-like spirits are appearing killing the living for in 2 days they must head to the town of Dunwich to find the grave of the priest to shut the gates of hell before All Saint's Day.

Creepy and gross as hell Italian supernatural shocker import from the legendary Lucio Fulci as it serves as a follow-up to his successful cult fave "Zombie (aka Zombi 2)". This is the first film of his gates of hell trilogy which began with this then The Beyond (his masterpiece) and finally "House By The Cemetery" as it has a connection to them both loosely. This is another movie that followed in the footsteps of George Romero's successful "Dawn of the Dead" and one of the better imitators so far but this one is more in the tradition of "Phantasm" but does have a small element of Dawn in it with a supernatural twist to it. This one features teleporting zombie-esque ghosts that can literally rip a person's brains out then eat a person but can be destroyed in an unusual way unlike the traditional bullet in the head which is interesting. The story is a little silly but the atmosphere makes it up as it's spooky and loaded with memorable gore from the infamous scene where a girl is hypnotized by the priest's spirit then her eyes bleed then she literally pukes her insides out with blood to the drilling sequence done on famed Italian star Giovanni Lombardo Radice (Italy's whipping boy on film). The film is also known in 1983 when it came here to the states as "The Gates of Hell" to other titles like "Twilight Of The Dead" or "Fear in The City of the Living Dead" to others, this movie has gained success here in the states and other countries despite being banned in a few countries as it became a cult classic even in Japan that it could be one of the inspirations to the Silent Hill games. I first saw this movie when i was 10 years old on video when i rented it as "Gates of Hell" and thought it was one of the scariest/grossest films i've ever seen as it made me a Fulci fan since.

The Blue Underground special 30th anniversary blu-ray is absolutely stunning in highly detailed picture and surround sound that makes it one of BU's best blu-rays ever and heaven for High-def horror junkies. The extras are cool too like a 32 minute documentary on the film to interviews with the stars like Catriona MacColl and Giovanni Lombardo Radice, a featurette on teh cast/crew working with fulci, poster & still gallery, theatrical trailers and radio spots.
4746969
As usual Jack Higgins knows how to thrill.  Former IRA terrorist Sean Dillon, who walks a fine line between good and bad, takes to the Scottish Highlands for this fast-paced adventure.  In 1944 a secret pact was signed by Hong Kong and England extending British rule over Hong Kong by 100 years until 2097 rather then restoring the nation to China in 1997.  However, the document vanishes during an airplane crash over Scotland.  The two pilots survive but the vital paper is lost, and with it the matter is laid to rest.
In 1993, the only living pilot confesses on his deathbed to an Italian doctor the details of the covenant.  The doctor, who is from a Sicilian mafia family, informs them of the news.  The mafia has a vested interest in the deal, as they run and own much of Hong Kong's most successful enterprises.  Meanwhile, the reports of the old treaty leak to British officals and like the mafia, they want to get a hold of the paper if it still exists.  But who would be the brightest and best person to overcome the odds in finding it?  Bring in Sean Dillon!
The pursuit heats to a boil as the charming Dillon takes on the most powerful men in the Italian underworld.  The Scottish countryside is turned upside down while Dillon and his colleagues Brigadier Ferguson and the lovely Chief Inspector Hannah Bernstein face continous grave danger as attempts are made on their lives.  Indubitably, Sean Dillon outwits the most skilled assassins and finds incredible solutions to get out of the non-stop trouble surrounding him.  Sounds a bit far-fetched?  You bet!  But that's what fiction is all about.  I believe Sean Dillon is one of the most exciting characters in modern day thrillers, even if I do find myself rolling my eyes at the amazing way he works his way out of his predicaments.  Also recommended:  "Eye of the Storm," my personal five-star favorite by Higgins featuring the ever-clever Irishman Mr. Dillon.