The White House Connection

Rating:
Summary: It Pains Me...
Review: ...to rate this book so low. I am a long time fan of Jack Higgins having enjoyed his books since I was a teen. I don't know if the writing has deteriorated or maybe my tastes have matured, but I could not finish this book. The plot was stale, the dialouge staged and it just failed to generate any suspense at all. Maybe it's time for the Sean Dillon series to end, I know there are several more after this. Whatever happened to the Martin Brosnan character? He and Dillon have an old score to settle. Now that would make an interesting book.

Rating:
Summary: It Pains Me...
Review: ...to rate this book so low. I am a long time fan of Jack Higgins having enjoyed his books since I was a teen. I don't know if the writing has deteriorated or maybe my tastes have matured, but I could not finish this book. The plot was stale, the dialouge staged and it just failed to generate any suspense at all. Maybe it's time for the Sean Dillon series to end, I know there are several more after this. Whatever happened to the Martin Brosnan character? He and Dillon have an old score to settle. Now that would make an interesting book.

Rating:
Summary: An OK read...
Review: ..but not the best. I have difficulties with superheroes who are capable of leaping tall buildings with a single bound, speaking 20 languages fluently and invariably surface from the most incredible mayhem with hardly a scratch. Moreover, coming from Northern Ireland, I have difficulty believing in Sean Dillon as a real product of the province. The story itself is entertaining enough, but lacking in suspense and in basic credibility (the same chameleon-like qualities is shown by Higgins's blue-blooded heroine who adeptly turns her hand to major league assasination, apparently without any problem).

Rating:
Summary: My First Higgins Read--I'm Impressed and Will Read More!
Review: 95% of what I read is non-fiction--but living in the D.C. area for eight years, and learning everything I could about the area and its key inhabitants--this book caught my eye. This is my very first Higgins read and I will seek other Higgins books. The author kept me fully engaged on two business flights--I don't even remember the snack on the flight. This book will take you from the White House--to the United Kingdom and back on the Concord or US Government Aircraft, with many plots taking place, key people involved, and many connections on both continents taking place at the same time--you will be itching for the flight to be over--to get the key players where they need to be. The bumper-sticker for this book--"revenge--above the law decision makers--perfection--knowledge is power". A quick, but engaging read.

Rating:
Summary: This ain't the Higgins I used to admire
Review: After an interesting prologue, it's straight down the metaphorical tube. The plot doesn't thicken. It's thin gruel all the way. This is about as weak a story as Higgins has produced. Come on Jack, you can do so much better! It's obvious that no research was done regarding the site of an important part of the plot--Park Avenue, in Manhattan. It just isn't like that. His scenes there are pure fairy tale. I guess, '...Connection's suitable for a mindless read at the beach. One afternoon should do it.

Rating:
Summary: The dependable modern-day bard does it again
Review: As always, Jack Higgins is a quick and excellent read. This one is as pleasing as ever. A novel with either Hannah Bernstein or Charles Ferguson as the main character would also be interesting, and no doubt entertaining with this dependable modern-day bard at the helm. While it certainly does not spark intellectual curiosity or cause one to ponder the state of man and/or society, that is perhaps simultaneously the beauty and appeal of Higgins' novels. My quite favorable views toward Jack Higgins' novels now having been expressed, ditto for this one, only kudos on the invention and implementation of the heroine. Rarely has a villain been so well written as to make me refer to her as the "heroine." Anyone who reads the book will know without a doubt that of which I speak.

Rating:
Summary: Please disconnect me from this nonsense
Review: Excuse me, with all the clues out there, why did it take these masterminds so long to figure out who was knocking off all the Sons of Erin? Higgins must be getting royalties from the tobacco and alcohol firms, with all of the gratuitus product plugs he's inserted between the lame storyline. I was starting to hope that Dillon would go the way of the Soak Hole, and I'm sorry, but I have no sympathy for Lady Helen, despite what the President may think. One final slam - this book was far too rich in Irish brogue and British colloquilisms. Go back to Thunder Point if you want to see Sean Dillon in good form.

Rating:
Summary: Please disconnect me from this nonsense
Review: Excuse me, with all the clues out there, why did it take these masterminds so long to figure out who was knocking off all the Sons of Erin? Higgins must be getting royalties from the tobacco and alcohol firms, with all of the gratuitus product plugs he's inserted between the lame storyline. I was starting to hope that Dillon would go the way of the Soak Hole, and I'm sorry, but I have no sympathy for Lady Helen, despite what the President may think. One final slam - this book was far too rich in Irish brogue and British colloquilisms. Go back to Thunder Point if you want to see Sean Dillon in good form.

Rating:
Summary: Originality please!
Review: Good God! Mr. Higgins it seems has done himself in again on another book starring the invincible Sean Dillon using the same lines that all the rest of his books have. (Next time a WASP says "Good God!" when confronted with shocking news, please notify me)(also "Damn you!" and many other old Higgins 'classic' cliches) all in all this book looks like taken from a bunch of his other novels cut apart and taped together in one big book. definitly not 'Eaglehas Landed' or 'Eye of the Storm'.

Rating:
Summary: No connection
Review: Higgins is capable of better than this. If you want to read fiction like he used to write, pick up a copy of The Triumph and the Glory, or one of his earlier works like Flight of Eagles. The White House Connection is pretty feeble for a writer of Higgins' stature.