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Xfine Night for Dying Midnight

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Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

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About the author

Jack Higgins

489 books1,287 followers
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Jack Higgins was best known of the many pseudonyms of Henry Patterson. (See also Martin Fallon, Harry Patterson, Hugh Marlowe and James Graham.)

He was the New York Times bestselling author of more than seventy thrillers, including The Eagle Has Landed and The Wolf at the Door. His books have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide.

Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Patterson grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland. As a child, Patterson was a voracious reader and later credited his passion for reading with fueling his creative drive to be an author. His upbringing in Belfast also exposed him to the political and religious violence that characterized the city at the time. At seven years old, Patterson was caught in gunfire while riding a tram, and later was in a Belfast movie theater when it was bombed. Though he escaped from both attacks unharmed, the turmoil in Northern Ireland would later become a significant influence in his books, many of which prominently feature the Irish Republican Army. After attending grammar school and college in Leeds, England, Patterson joined the British Army and served two years in the Household Cavalry, from 1947 to 1949, stationed along the East German border. He was considered an expert sharpshooter.

Following his military service, Patterson earned a degree in sociology from the London School of Economics, which led to teaching jobs at two English colleges. In 1959, while teaching at James Graham College, Patterson began writing novels, including some under the alias James Graham. As his popularity grew, Patterson left teaching to write full time. With the 1975 publication of the international blockbuster The Eagle Has Landed, which was later made into a movie of the same name starring Michael Caine, Patterson became a regular fixture on bestseller lists. His books draw heavily from history and include prominent figures—such as John Dillinger—and often center around significant events from such conflicts as World War II, the Korean War, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Patterson lived in Jersey, in the Channel Islands.

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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Profile Image for Geoff Woodland.
Author 1 book33 followers
November 25, 2019
A short book that is ideal for a beach holiday - it doesn't supply much background detail of the main characters, it has action, goodies & baddies and a simple plot that doesn't strain the reader, hence my beach holiday comment.
Originally came out in 1969 (James Bond clone ??) under the author's name of Martin Fallon, today we know him as Jack Higgins. I read it while on holiday and it fitted well in to my holiday timetable.
Profile Image for Alexander.
152 reviews7 followers
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September 9, 2009
An action book (similar to an action movie). A head of a multi-billion company is trying to do hurt president of the US, while she can not deal even with a senator.
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