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Simon Vaughn #3
Day of Judgment
May, 1963...As President John F. Kennedy prepares to make his historic visit to West Berlin, a covert group of ruthless killers prepares to strike. And only one man can stop them: Father Sean Conlin, hero of the West German resistance.
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1978
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About the author
Jack Higgins
484 books1,281 followersThere 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.
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 - 30 of 60 reviews
July 26, 2019
A cold war espionage book that is interesting and told in a straight forward manner. Just prior to JFK visiting Berlin a priest is kidnapped in order to get him to confess to atrocities and embarrass Kennedy. The west decides to rescue him. To me, this is much better than the Sean Dillon series. Recommended.
November 11, 2017
Haven't read a vintage thriller for a while and haven't read any Jack Higgins that I can recall so here goes. We're way back in the Cold War and JFK's on his way to make that "Ich bin ein Berliner"(with that Boston accent) speech. The East Germans have some shenanigans planned and so off we go. In other words, it's the spring of 1963. Poor guy doesn't have much more time to live in any case. I guess the hero here - Simon Vaughn - is one of those recurring characters. Seems like all those spymaster novelists did that, didn't they?
- Couldn't find the "right" cover image in the lookup. My edition is from 1980. A Bantam paperback.
- The rushing river and the weir. The lady in this story is saved by the weir. Eustacia Vye didn't make it ...
The A-team is a-gathering to effect some sort of dramatic rescue and put those nasty Stalinists in their place. At this point it's all a matter of how it works out. Mr. Higgins seems to be reliably competent, as these thriller writing English-folks invariably are.
- It's the sixties, everybody is lighting up. Blecchh ...
- Hints of "The Pit and the Pendulum, "Brave New World"(conditioning), "The Ipcress File"(brainwashing), "The Manchurian Candidate((same stuff), "A Clockwork Orange"(re-conditioning, aversion "therapy")
Finished last night with this crisply done programmer. Nothing particularly remarkable about it except for the digging in the graveyard - ICK! Made me think of "Hellboy."
- The cover image of my edition(not pictured) has little relevance to the plot.
- The whole Hartmann-cross-bearing schtick was a bit much, and of dubious relevance to the plot, but I suppose ONE(at least) of the rescue team had to be sacrificed for some credibility. I did like the little flying stunt that saved the hero and his rescuee.
- Any plot-logic problems? A few. These type of stories are vulnerable to that. Oh well ... For instance, politically speaking, one would have thought that Conlin's plight SHOULD have been publicized instead of being kept hush-hush.
- 2.75* rounds up to a weak-ish 3* rating.
- Couldn't find the "right" cover image in the lookup. My edition is from 1980. A Bantam paperback.
- The rushing river and the weir. The lady in this story is saved by the weir. Eustacia Vye didn't make it ...
The A-team is a-gathering to effect some sort of dramatic rescue and put those nasty Stalinists in their place. At this point it's all a matter of how it works out. Mr. Higgins seems to be reliably competent, as these thriller writing English-folks invariably are.
- It's the sixties, everybody is lighting up. Blecchh ...
- Hints of "The Pit and the Pendulum, "Brave New World"(conditioning), "The Ipcress File"(brainwashing), "The Manchurian Candidate((same stuff), "A Clockwork Orange"(re-conditioning, aversion "therapy")
Finished last night with this crisply done programmer. Nothing particularly remarkable about it except for the digging in the graveyard - ICK! Made me think of "Hellboy."
- The cover image of my edition(not pictured) has little relevance to the plot.
- The whole Hartmann-cross-bearing schtick was a bit much, and of dubious relevance to the plot, but I suppose ONE(at least) of the rescue team had to be sacrificed for some credibility. I did like the little flying stunt that saved the hero and his rescuee.
- Any plot-logic problems? A few. These type of stories are vulnerable to that. Oh well ... For instance, politically speaking, one would have thought that Conlin's plight SHOULD have been publicized instead of being kept hush-hush.
- 2.75* rounds up to a weak-ish 3* rating.
January 11, 2017
President Kennedy is about to visit West Germany in 1963. It's when he gives his famous 'Ich bin ein Berliner' speech. The East Germans hire a specialist in 'thought reform' to brainwash a popular priest with the intention of embarrassing the president in public. The West hire a group of people from intelligence, the Vatican, and the underground to infiltrate the fortress where the priest is being held, and kidnap him, bringing him safely to the West which would in effect avoid the embarrassing event.
This book was written in 1979 by Jack Higgins, a favorite author of mine. I left his books for some time because I found his stories a bit redundant what with his recurring character Sean Dillon, who reminded me a lot like Liam Devlin. I've enjoyed Higgins' stories about WWII, a topic he writes with vivid accuracy and excitement. In this book we are taken behind the scenes and learn how it is possible to brainwash a person into believing something they normally would not, and can actually be made to behave and act a certain way. Kind of scary when you think of it. Because this book is so old, I found it intriguing. Higgins' characters are original and the East German treachery and suspense of the Cold War are vivid in this book. I don't intend to keep my copy in my personal collection, but I do recommend it for a one-time read. You'll be reminded of the Jack Higgins author of the early days when he reveled in the limelight of his famous novels like 'The Eagle Has Landed.'
This book was written in 1979 by Jack Higgins, a favorite author of mine. I left his books for some time because I found his stories a bit redundant what with his recurring character Sean Dillon, who reminded me a lot like Liam Devlin. I've enjoyed Higgins' stories about WWII, a topic he writes with vivid accuracy and excitement. In this book we are taken behind the scenes and learn how it is possible to brainwash a person into believing something they normally would not, and can actually be made to behave and act a certain way. Kind of scary when you think of it. Because this book is so old, I found it intriguing. Higgins' characters are original and the East German treachery and suspense of the Cold War are vivid in this book. I don't intend to keep my copy in my personal collection, but I do recommend it for a one-time read. You'll be reminded of the Jack Higgins author of the early days when he reveled in the limelight of his famous novels like 'The Eagle Has Landed.'
August 13, 2016
Evocative of the cold war, interesting aspects to the Vatican's 'secret' operations. Credible, few plot holes that I could detect (but I'm not Sherlock). Entertaining. Learnt something about Catholic liturgy. 4 star minus.
March 16, 2013
Fast paced thriller. Definitely a Jack Higgins brand.
September 1, 2021
“Day of Judgement” by Jack Higgins
Another old-school Jack Higgins classic thriller, packed with action, suspense, and intrigue, made even more interesting by the historical backdrop of JFK’s legendary visit to Berlin. And there’s some fascinating examination and underlying themes of Catholic morality and spirituality as well, not to mention the evils of communism and the hypocrisy of East Germany calling itself a “Democratic Republic.”
A few minor nitpicks here and there, such as (1) referring to Britain’s MI5 as “M15” [sic], (2) not specifying which model of Walther the Vopo (East German Volkspolizei) pistols are wielding (though most likely it was the Walther P-38), and (3) incorrectly referring to the AK-47 as a “submachine gun” a mere two pages after correctly referring to it as an assault rifle. Nonetheless, highly engrossing and hard to put down.
RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS:
—Seeing how the Kübel character was a WWII Luftwaffe ace, and Higgins describes the Luftwaffe aces’ impressive air-to-air kill tallies, is it mere coincidence that there’s also a key supporting character in the novel named Erich Hartmann (albeit a priest, not a pilot), which was also the name of the top-scoring WWII Luftwaffe pilot (352 confirmed kills)?
—Also, is it mere coincidence that there is a minor character named Honecker, which was also the surname of the real-world East German head of state at the time Higgins wrote the novel?
—Ironic to see the communist characters repeatedly use expressions like “for God’s sake” despite their staunch atheist ideology.
NOTEWORTHY PASSAGES:
—p. 7 (of the Bantam paperback edition): “‘He’ll be hearing confessions round about now.’
‘At four o’clock in the morning?’
‘Night workers, whores, people like that. It makes them feel better before going to bed,’ Vaughan said. ‘He’s that kind of man, you see, Miss Campbell. What some people would term a holy fool.’”
—p. 10: “There was a movement on the other side of the screen, and a familiar voice said, ‘You know, I’ve been thinking. Maybe people give themselves to God when the devil wants nothing more to do with them.’”
—p. 82: “‘I’m a Sun-Leo,’ Vaughan said. ‘Most fortunate week of the Zodiac. Did you know that?’”
—p. 129: “‘And why should you assume that sin should shock me, Major?
The average priest listens to more evil and wickedness in the confessional in a week than the average man experiences in a lifetime.’”
—p. 221: “‘Even that old fraud Sigmund Freud admitted that sometimes a cigar is only a cigar.’”
—p. 246: “He turned to address the crowd now. ‘And you use the word *democratic* to describe it.’” [author’s original emphasis, in reference to East Germany’s official German Democratic Republic moniker]
CENTRAL CASTING CALL
—Sir Roger Moore (R.I.P.) as Major Simon Vaughan
—Cheri Lunghi as Margaret Campbell
—Hardy Kruger as Fr. Erich Hartmann
—Ben Affleck as Harry Van Buren
—Donal Donnelly as Fr. Sean Conlin
—Raf Vallone as Pope John XXIII
—Robert Shaw as Col. Klein
—Pierce Brosnan as Col. Bruno Teusen
—Rutger Hauer as Max Kübel
—Patrick Macnee as Pascoe
Another old-school Jack Higgins classic thriller, packed with action, suspense, and intrigue, made even more interesting by the historical backdrop of JFK’s legendary visit to Berlin. And there’s some fascinating examination and underlying themes of Catholic morality and spirituality as well, not to mention the evils of communism and the hypocrisy of East Germany calling itself a “Democratic Republic.”
A few minor nitpicks here and there, such as (1) referring to Britain’s MI5 as “M15” [sic], (2) not specifying which model of Walther the Vopo (East German Volkspolizei) pistols are wielding (though most likely it was the Walther P-38), and (3) incorrectly referring to the AK-47 as a “submachine gun” a mere two pages after correctly referring to it as an assault rifle. Nonetheless, highly engrossing and hard to put down.
RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS:
—Seeing how the Kübel character was a WWII Luftwaffe ace, and Higgins describes the Luftwaffe aces’ impressive air-to-air kill tallies, is it mere coincidence that there’s also a key supporting character in the novel named Erich Hartmann (albeit a priest, not a pilot), which was also the name of the top-scoring WWII Luftwaffe pilot (352 confirmed kills)?
—Also, is it mere coincidence that there is a minor character named Honecker, which was also the surname of the real-world East German head of state at the time Higgins wrote the novel?
—Ironic to see the communist characters repeatedly use expressions like “for God’s sake” despite their staunch atheist ideology.
NOTEWORTHY PASSAGES:
—p. 7 (of the Bantam paperback edition): “‘He’ll be hearing confessions round about now.’
‘At four o’clock in the morning?’
‘Night workers, whores, people like that. It makes them feel better before going to bed,’ Vaughan said. ‘He’s that kind of man, you see, Miss Campbell. What some people would term a holy fool.’”
—p. 10: “There was a movement on the other side of the screen, and a familiar voice said, ‘You know, I’ve been thinking. Maybe people give themselves to God when the devil wants nothing more to do with them.’”
—p. 82: “‘I’m a Sun-Leo,’ Vaughan said. ‘Most fortunate week of the Zodiac. Did you know that?’”
—p. 129: “‘And why should you assume that sin should shock me, Major?
The average priest listens to more evil and wickedness in the confessional in a week than the average man experiences in a lifetime.’”
—p. 221: “‘Even that old fraud Sigmund Freud admitted that sometimes a cigar is only a cigar.’”
—p. 246: “He turned to address the crowd now. ‘And you use the word *democratic* to describe it.’” [author’s original emphasis, in reference to East Germany’s official German Democratic Republic moniker]
CENTRAL CASTING CALL
—Sir Roger Moore (R.I.P.) as Major Simon Vaughan
—Cheri Lunghi as Margaret Campbell
—Hardy Kruger as Fr. Erich Hartmann
—Ben Affleck as Harry Van Buren
—Donal Donnelly as Fr. Sean Conlin
—Raf Vallone as Pope John XXIII
—Robert Shaw as Col. Klein
—Pierce Brosnan as Col. Bruno Teusen
—Rutger Hauer as Max Kübel
—Patrick Macnee as Pascoe
October 8, 2019
2.5 Stars
Standard midlevel programmer set in East Germany in the early sixties. Something of a throwback to Mr. Higgin's earlier salad days. Considering that it was published just a couple years after "The Eagle Has Landed" I find myself speculating that Day of Judgment was written beforehand and was just sitting on his desk.
Here is what I think occurred. After having enjoyed a smash best-seller (The Eagle Has Landed), and brisk sales with "Storm Warning", Mr. Patterson's (his actual name) publisher and agent wanted another book (strike while the iron is hot). So he dusted off the manuscript and handed it over. I suppose that he might have had an outline and notes stashed away, but whatever the exact mechanics involved it's a return to his earlier days. It reminds me of the espionage thrillers that were churned out for British television in the seventies and eighties. They often featured excellent actors and were directed either by up and coming directors or old pros who were moving towards retirement.
Not a terrible read and very suitable for the last twenty or thirty minutes of the day while in bed. It just isn't what I would expect from a author during his white-hot period.
Afterword: I will gladly eat crow if Mr. Patterson contacts me and tells me that I'm totally off the mark.
Standard midlevel programmer set in East Germany in the early sixties. Something of a throwback to Mr. Higgin's earlier salad days. Considering that it was published just a couple years after "The Eagle Has Landed" I find myself speculating that Day of Judgment was written beforehand and was just sitting on his desk.
Here is what I think occurred. After having enjoyed a smash best-seller (The Eagle Has Landed), and brisk sales with "Storm Warning", Mr. Patterson's (his actual name) publisher and agent wanted another book (strike while the iron is hot). So he dusted off the manuscript and handed it over. I suppose that he might have had an outline and notes stashed away, but whatever the exact mechanics involved it's a return to his earlier days. It reminds me of the espionage thrillers that were churned out for British television in the seventies and eighties. They often featured excellent actors and were directed either by up and coming directors or old pros who were moving towards retirement.
Not a terrible read and very suitable for the last twenty or thirty minutes of the day while in bed. It just isn't what I would expect from a author during his white-hot period.
Afterword: I will gladly eat crow if Mr. Patterson contacts me and tells me that I'm totally off the mark.
October 20, 2024
A thrilling read of a Cold War era
May 17, 2022
An espionage thriller set in East Berlin in 1963. Good story, solid storytelling. Higgins (Harry Patterson) was a master.
September 2, 2014
A very interesting novel in typical Jack Higgins style. The novel takes place during the cold war. The novels main character is Simon Vaughn who is likeable but very distant in his personality. It was very hard to become attached to any of the characters. The story is fast paced and well written. The book is the last in a series featuring the main character. Not the best of jack Higgins, but worth reading.
Dark Side of the Street (1967)
The Savage Day (1972)
Day of Judgement (1979) (a number of sources have this listed as featuring Paul Chavasse, but they are in error; this is a prequel to The Savage Day)
Dark Side of the Street (1967)
The Savage Day (1972)
Day of Judgement (1979) (a number of sources have this listed as featuring Paul Chavasse, but they are in error; this is a prequel to The Savage Day)
August 11, 2014
The story was okay and reasonably well told, but I really wasn't able to become attached to any of the characters, which is a necessity for my enjoyment of any story of this kind.
Since I knew that Kennedy's Berlin speech ended up being a triumph, it follows that I knew the bad guys would fail before I got very far into the story. The only real mystery to me as I read was which one (or more) of the characters would end up dead.
Since I knew that Kennedy's Berlin speech ended up being a triumph, it follows that I knew the bad guys would fail before I got very far into the story. The only real mystery to me as I read was which one (or more) of the characters would end up dead.
August 26, 2011
It was OK. Nothing special, kind of predictable and without big turns and twists. It lacked action towards the latter chapters and that was kind of disappointing, making the whole book sort of anti-climatic. If you want a simple book to kill time it's fine, but if you want a book full of action and surprises in the plot look elsewhere.
August 3, 2016
Another quick read because attention is held from the beginning. Conlin is caught and imprisoned by a psychopath who thinks he is the last word in mind control. Conlin's niece doesn't give up and in the end saves the day even though Conlin's life hangs in the balance. All has to be done quickly before Pres Kennedy arrives in Berlin. All's well that ends well. mikiel
October 23, 2014
Just prior to President Kennedy's trip to Berlin Father Sean Conlin is kidnapped by the East German Intelligence to undermine the trip. Father Conlin has been smuggling refuges out for years. Now the communists plan to brainwash the priest and use him against the president.
December 12, 2014
Good adventure stuff. Well written, interesting concept, well drawn characters. On the other hand a disappointing lack of twists and turns. A fairly straightforward tale, but well told and well worth a read.
February 8, 2009
As Martin Fallon. My edition is actually a Holt, Rinehart and Winston hardcover.
August 26, 2014
Fun cold war novel with some remnants of WW II Germans around the fringes
April 2, 2017
Standard, traditional cold war political thriller. Good for a read if you dont want to have to think about the book.
December 20, 2022
Vintage Jack Higgins! Day of Judgment was published in 1978. This is the third and final Simon Vaughn novel, as originally written under the pen-name Martin Fallon.
It’s 1963. The story mainly centres on Berlin and East Germany. Father Sean Conlin, a survivor of the concentration camps Sachsenhausen and Dachau, was responsible for smuggling people out of Communist East Germany. Unfortunately, on one such mission he was betrayed, captured and taken to the nearby Schloss Neustadt. The Communists intend to employ a rogue American, Harry Van Buren to brainwash the old priest so he could reveal he was working for the CIA; he would announce this publicly at the time of President Kennedy’s visit to Berlin, thus creating massive embarrassment and public humiliation for the West.
Secret agent Vaughn, ‘the beast of Selangor’, is tasked with rescuing Father Conlin from the seemingly impregnable schloss before the president’s visit in a few weeks’ time. Vaughn brings together a formidable team, including Lutheran monks, an American Jesuit, an ex-Luftwaffe ace, a Jewish undertaker, and the ex-SS caretaker of the schloss itself.
The method of penetration into the schloss is imaginative, quite unique and particularly unpleasant and fraught with danger. The map provided actually gives away the means of access, but does not detract from the actual drama and difficulties encountered.
Towards the end there’s a poignant sequence involving Father Hartmann, a man who has found his purpose in life at last.
Higgins effortlessly creates the claustrophobic communist environment the characters have to contend with; as Kennedy remarked at the time: ‘Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect, but we never had to put up a wall to keep our people in.’
Sadly, even now, freedoms we take for granted were – and are – crushed or perverted in these communist states.
Day of Judgment is an exciting, fast-paced page-turning adventure. (But this copy has a very poor dust jacket.)
It’s 1963. The story mainly centres on Berlin and East Germany. Father Sean Conlin, a survivor of the concentration camps Sachsenhausen and Dachau, was responsible for smuggling people out of Communist East Germany. Unfortunately, on one such mission he was betrayed, captured and taken to the nearby Schloss Neustadt. The Communists intend to employ a rogue American, Harry Van Buren to brainwash the old priest so he could reveal he was working for the CIA; he would announce this publicly at the time of President Kennedy’s visit to Berlin, thus creating massive embarrassment and public humiliation for the West.
Secret agent Vaughn, ‘the beast of Selangor’, is tasked with rescuing Father Conlin from the seemingly impregnable schloss before the president’s visit in a few weeks’ time. Vaughn brings together a formidable team, including Lutheran monks, an American Jesuit, an ex-Luftwaffe ace, a Jewish undertaker, and the ex-SS caretaker of the schloss itself.
The method of penetration into the schloss is imaginative, quite unique and particularly unpleasant and fraught with danger. The map provided actually gives away the means of access, but does not detract from the actual drama and difficulties encountered.
Towards the end there’s a poignant sequence involving Father Hartmann, a man who has found his purpose in life at last.
Higgins effortlessly creates the claustrophobic communist environment the characters have to contend with; as Kennedy remarked at the time: ‘Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect, but we never had to put up a wall to keep our people in.’
Sadly, even now, freedoms we take for granted were – and are – crushed or perverted in these communist states.
Day of Judgment is an exciting, fast-paced page-turning adventure. (But this copy has a very poor dust jacket.)
December 16, 2023
Jack Higgins is one of my go-to authors for recreational reading. Later in his career, Higgins settled on series of books with the same character, most primarily Sean Dillon as the enforcer from the British Prime Minister’s “private army.” This is a stand-alone story, written earlier in his career, but late enough that it comes from a seasoned writer. Early or late, Higgins’ main characters all seem to have a very similar personality: skeptical cynicism combined with moral and physical courage.
This book is no different, though the protagonist is a priest, he still has that cynical / heroic formula that works so well with Higgins. Father John Conlin has been captured by the East German secret police who have plans to exploit him in undermining the visit of US President John F Kennedy to Berlin in 1963. West German intelligence has put together a misfit team of spies and priests to find and extract him before the President arrives. How they accomplish it is the stuff of Higgins’ plots and in working out the plot, we find the East Germans are not as secular as everyone is led to believe.
A good page-turner from a great action author.
This book is no different, though the protagonist is a priest, he still has that cynical / heroic formula that works so well with Higgins. Father John Conlin has been captured by the East German secret police who have plans to exploit him in undermining the visit of US President John F Kennedy to Berlin in 1963. West German intelligence has put together a misfit team of spies and priests to find and extract him before the President arrives. How they accomplish it is the stuff of Higgins’ plots and in working out the plot, we find the East Germans are not as secular as everyone is led to believe.
A good page-turner from a great action author.
Read
April 1, 2023The thirty-eighth #jackhiggins #martinfallon #hughmarlowe #harrypatterson #henrypatterson #jamesgraham novel #dayofjudgment published in 1978. Another prison break novel this time featuring #simonvaughan and set in the early 1960s, taking place on both sides of the Berlin Wall. The usual tropes: the capable woman falling for the moral but dangerous man, an innocent priest. the antagonist is psychologically manipulative. A drunk in a bar tries to take advantage of a waitress and the protagonist has to step in for the obligatory action scene. Some new additions for Higgins: the inclusion of the Vatican, the pope and JFK. Interestingly the vast majority of the novel is all about the planning and preparation, the actual prison break is over very quickly towards the end but the actual ending was quite surprising. Enjoyable.
January 11, 2018
The story is about the events before the famous visit of president J.F.Kennedy to Berlin where he said "Ich bin ein Berliner " Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect but we have never had to put up a wall to keep our people in. Let them come to Berlin!!
A group of people in the League of the Resurrection had to snatch a well known and loved priest who was being tortured in an East Berlin prison to make him confess that he was an American spy and was top be paraded during the visit by Kennedy.
A group of people in the League of the Resurrection had to snatch a well known and loved priest who was being tortured in an East Berlin prison to make him confess that he was an American spy and was top be paraded during the visit by Kennedy.
March 1, 2024
Jack Higgins always fills the bill when you just want to have a fun adventure with interesting characters and locations. I don't really remember much about each of these adventures after a week or two, but I do know that I super enjoy his writing and the whole ambience of each book.
I have about 25 more of these lying around that I picked up for free, and I will do them justice. I will also donate all of them when I finished them. I've already donated at least 10 of them. I hope someone enjoys them as much as I have.
I have about 25 more of these lying around that I picked up for free, and I will do them justice. I will also donate all of them when I finished them. I've already donated at least 10 of them. I hope someone enjoys them as much as I have.
January 13, 2023
A poorly written book with over the top dialogue and excessively contrived situations (a woman falling into the hero's arms almost instantly after meeting her, for example).
It just shows how far the skill-level of writers has come since then, and the quality we expect as modern readers
It did at least give some intriguing references and some background on Eastern Germany prior to the Berlin Wall coming down
It just shows how far the skill-level of writers has come since then, and the quality we expect as modern readers
It did at least give some intriguing references and some background on Eastern Germany prior to the Berlin Wall coming down
Read
December 5, 2022This book had a very slow pace all through the book. This story was very boring and I did not enjoy it especially with the time crunch. My favorite character was president kennedy and his agent. They were the more entertaining part of the story. I would recommend this to people with a lot of patience and people that like war books.
February 20, 2024
Higgins Hunt #38
My research tells me Jack Higgins is the author of 76 books, so this marks the half way point in the tourney of reading through Jack.
This was another of his spy books and it was an average outing.
My research tells me Jack Higgins is the author of 76 books, so this marks the half way point in the tourney of reading through Jack.
This was another of his spy books and it was an average outing.
October 25, 2017
good straightforward thriller. well told.
March 7, 2018
Higgins always has told a good story. Since this one involved Kennedy's trip to Berlin, it rang lots of old bells, and was fun, even if as gory as usual.
April 28, 2019
It has a good build up. Gives you an ocean's eleven kind of feel with the planning. Rest is just Bollywood style story especially the end.
October 31, 2019
As with all of Jack Higgins' novels, they are just fun. strong characters who do what you think they should. Always interesting to read something about the cold war written in the 70s.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews