Helpful Score: 1
Humdrum company would be a more accurate title. This sequel to Higgins's last, ripsnorting yarn, Midnight Runner, is mostly a by-the-numbers effort, though the numbers do speed by. The novel, the author's 35th, begins promisingly, playing to Higgins's greatest strength, WWII action. Young Baron Max von Berger, entrusted by Hitler during the last days of the Third Reich with his diary as well as the key to a vast fortune in Swiss banks, makes a daring and exciting escape from the Fhrerbunker. But once the narrative leaps toward the present, it begins to flag, with a second setup (including a nifty Saddam cameo) explaining why and how the baron inherits the wealth and power of the Rashid family, the Arab oil kingpins destroyed by Higgins's customary antihero, Sean Dillon, in the last book. Problematic is Higgins's use of von Berger and his thuggish son as villains here; they lack the evil charisma of the Rashids. To avenge the death of the Rashids, von Berger targets Dillon and his master, British black ops commander Gen. Charles Ferguson, who fights back with the help of the usual crew of "hard" men, including computer whiz Major Roper, White House black ops chief Blake Johnson, London tough guys Harry and Billy Salter, et al. Matters pick up a bit when von Berger's son kidnaps General Ferguson to Germany, but Dillon's rescue attempt whips by much too quickly, as if Higgins were hurrying to finish this book and get on to number 36. The author's fans will find enough gnarly action and sentiment here to make them anticipate his next, but this entry is sub par and the series as a whole could use a kick in the spine.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW
Jack Higgins's previous novels Edge of Danger and Midnight Runner put British intelligence agent Sean Dillon through "a lot of thrills [and] wild action" (Los Angeles Times) with the ruthless Arab-English Rashid family. Now an enemy has emerged with a dark secret from America's past -- and a score to settle with agent Dillon.
In the waning days of World War II, Hitler entrusted his "holy" diary -- a document detailing clandestine communications between Nazi Germany and the United States -- to a young aide, Max von Berger. Hitler's instructions were to keep it hidden until it could be used to advance their cause...
Today, von Berger has assumed control of the Rashid family fortune -- and is still loyal to his fuhrer. His plan is to use the information to destroy President Jake Cazalet -- and Cazalet's powerful enemies are willing to help by any means neccesary.
And White House operative Blake Johnson and British intelligence agen Sean Dillon must traverse the hairpin twists of an international conspiracy and keep Hitler's diary out of the wrong hands...
In the waning days of World War II, Hitler entrusted his "holy" diary -- a document detailing clandestine communications between Nazi Germany and the United States -- to a young aide, Max von Berger. Hitler's instructions were to keep it hidden until it could be used to advance their cause...
Today, von Berger has assumed control of the Rashid family fortune -- and is still loyal to his fuhrer. His plan is to use the information to destroy President Jake Cazalet -- and Cazalet's powerful enemies are willing to help by any means neccesary.
And White House operative Blake Johnson and British intelligence agen Sean Dillon must traverse the hairpin twists of an international conspiracy and keep Hitler's diary out of the wrong hands...
In WWII, Hitler gave his diary to an aide, Max von Berger. Now, Max is using the diary to destory President Jake Cazalet. Two White House agents are willing to do anything to keep the diary out of enemy hands.
Contemporary espionage. Good
another great Sean Dillon story
My husband read this, he loves the books that Jack Higgins writes.
good read
til the day I die
