Thunder Point

Rating:
Summary: Fast-paced story that you won't want to put down
Review: I admit that before I read most books, I check what others have to say on Amazon so I don't end up wasting my time. I noticed several mediocre reviews, and even a few very negative reviews about this book. This is only the 2nd Jack Higgins book I've read (the first being Solo, another excellent book), and I must say I'm glad I didn't let the negative reviews steer me clear.

As someone who has been to the Virgin Islands, I found that Mr. Higgins did a great job of capturing the feel and flavor of the tropical islands. Add to that a very interesting cast of characters, not the least of which is Sean Dillon, who is portayed as an ex-villain and general poor-man's James Bond who doesn't pull any punches, and always gets his assignment accomplished. The fact that Sean Dillon is portrayed as an ex-actor and is written with more depth than many 'leading man' characters in series today was an extra treat.

To the critics of this book, yes this was a fairly predictable plot. The good guys came out on top. But how many of us would read a book where the good guys ultimately failed? The book wasn't written as a mystery, but as an adventure. There were never any real secrets that you had to figure out, which is okay. The book wasn't intended as that sort of a book. What it did deliver was a fast-paced story with some very interesting bad guys, a lot of great action, and even a hint of romance.

Like other authors that I love and read regularly, this book is the kind where you find yourself staying up 'just a bit longer' so you can read an extra page or two. For those of you expecting one of Tom Clancy's epic stories with dozens of characters in settings all around the globe, mixing politics, intrigue, and lots of technical jargon, I'll warn you in advance. This book isn't like that. Instead, it's a focused story about some characters that I really enjoyed, going off on an adventure that was loads of fun.

This book was so great and easy to read that it's got me hooked on Jack Higgins. In fact, I've just started 'Eye of the Storm', the first Sean Dillon story from before he became a good guy. If you enjoy action, a bit of wit, and the sort of book you just don't want to put down, read this story.

Rating:
Summary: Jack Higgins marries history and fiction
Review: Jack Higgins has done a great job of marrying the shady end of World War II with a great action-packed yarn with Sean Dillon leading the way. A great summer book you can read in a day!

Rating:
Summary: As Usual, Higgins Doesn't Disappoint
Review: Once again, Jack Higgins uses his knack for merging past history with modern day thrills in the high-octane adventure, Thunder Point. Featuring everyone's favorite IRA terrorist turned hero Sean Dillon, this yarn takes to the dangers of the high sea as Dillon is hired by the British government to recover documents missing since World War II. These papers aren't just old political red tape rubbish--quite the contrary. They were property of Adolf Hitler and they contained the names of many members of the British establishment who were friendly to the Nazi cause. Now nearly fifty years later if these documents fell into the wrong hands they would have a devastating impact on Britain's aristocracy and Parliament, as kin of the people on the list were working their way up the ranks in British societal order.

In the Caribbean, rumor has it that a U-boat that sank in 1945 which carried Hitler's associate Martin Bormann was discovered by a lone diver in a treacherous remote location. Coincidentally, the diver is killed in a freak accident just days after finding the U-boat and so he takes to his grave the secret of its whereabouts. Soon the hunt is on as Dillon and a barrage of enemies are in a race to find it first, thus obtaining the documents Bormann was thought to carry.

The Sean Dillon series is always addictive action-packed stay up all night reading. Thunder Point is only a slight notch below Higgins' best Dillon tales. Even Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt can't hold a candle to Sean Dillon's considerable scuba diving talents in Thunder Point. But then again, is there any area where the illustrious Dillon doesn't excel? After all, this man is an accomplished theatre actor who speaks fluent German, Spanish, French, Arabic, Italian, and Russian, not to mention English and Irish. He's a master of disguises, transforming his looks, voice, and mannerism to suit the occasion. He's an expert skydiver, scuba diver, martial artist, and airplane pilot. He single-handedly can take down an entourage of men with his fists. He's one of the best pistol shots on the globe. He's been a gun for hire not only for the IRA but also for the PLO and KGB. Oh, and did I forget to mention that women find him to be fantastic between the sheets? Do men like this exist in real life? I think not, but if one does please send him my way.

Thank God for fiction and thank you Jack Higgins for giving me a dose of the unreal.

Rating:
Summary: A worthwhile read but ...
Review: Readers of Higgins' previous works would have been introduced to Sean Dillon, ex-IRA turned mercenary, a man who had his own codes regarding keeping of one's word but kills ruthlessly.

The background to the plot is this : a long lost sunked German U-boat from WW2 was found, and somewhere inside is a briefcase containing a list of secret bank account numbers to fund Nazism after the war, and a list of British secretly supportive of Nazi Germany, including the abdicated former monarch Duke of Windsor. The potential embarassment and backlash led the British PM to give the job for Group Four under BG Ferguson, who in turn sought the assistance of Sean Dillon, given the delicate nature of the job, the sub being in Virgin Islands, US territory and all. However, the operation is not as secret as it should be, for already, descendants of people named in the list were urgently seeking to get the briefcase first.

Higgins' flair in his work lies in keeping his story short, quick-moving with not too complicated characters who are just about credible.

Unfortunately, there were some loopholes in this one. First of all, the capture of Sean Dillon was rather hard to believe given the past records about him. If he was a chameleon who travels constantly under various guises, it would have been rather hard to believe that Ferguson could have known to bait him in Vienna.

Second, how the actual site of the wreck was discovered was rather incredible, given how no one thought of it earlier. Most divers would have come to it sooner.

Third, given the resources available to G4, and the critical nature of the job, it seems hard to believe that such a small force was despatched and they kept being tangled by simple hoodlums. People of experiences like Ferguson and Dillon should have been able to prevent most of their mishaps through simple but effective precautions.

What is satisfying though was how the villains were terminated.

What I could not forget though, was the promise of Martin Brosnan in a previous book, Eye of the Storm, who intended to hound Dillon down. Of course, it was not widely known where Dillon was, but if Dillon was going to come out in the open after completing his job, Brosnan would find him sooner or later to settle the debt. Can't wait for that to happen, hope it does, in a later book.

Rating:
Summary: decent Jack Higgins fiction
Review: Thunder Point is based on the premise of a World War II-era manuscript being uncovered in the present day and having widespread ramifications. For a similar (and much better) tale of suspense, check out Spandau Phoenix by Greg Iles. Higgins handles the Dillon character well, and Thunder Point is good enough for a quick satisfying read.