Rating: 
Summary: Dreadful and quite implausible, yet mildly addicting
Review: I felt compelled to finish the book partly because I read on the treadmill and I didn't have anything else to read. That said, it wasn't the worst book I have read, but it certainly is the worst I have read recently. Since this is my first go at reading Higgins I will assume perhaps he is an acquired taste that I just haven't acquired as of yet.My suspension of disbelief was stretched to the limit and beyond by such gems as (***** Spoilers follow *****) * The president of the United States only has 2 secret service men every weekend, and one of those is a communications guy. * A billionaire hires an assassin apparently incapable of accomplishing the simplest of tasks. Why didn't he use a law rocket instead of a sniper rifle? Don't you think a billionaire could hire several competent assassins? * Why could Dillon just go round and shoot the bad guys sometimes but other times he needed proof. * Continually the bad guy keeps trying to kill Dillon at every opportunity "because he is not expecting it right now". Well golly gee, I guess maybe Dillon would never have caught on to that the first dozen or so times Rashid tried to have him offed. I sort of liked Sean Dillon but at times the novel seemed almost a self-parody. The number of times the characters threatened to do one another in face to face was ludicrous. Really, why not just pull out the guns and have at it right there. Now I am going to go drink a Bushmills. The worst part is I might actually buy the follow-up book to this one because I developed a modicum of curiosity as to the future these characters. So it wasn't a total loss. But after reading some espionage thrillers by Daniel Silva I was quite disappointed in this Higgins offering.
Rating: 
Summary: namby-pamby
Review: Reading this book was a waste of time. The story was very predictable and the characters were dropped at author's will. The author builds such a strong image about Paul Rashid that I thought there would be an interesting encounter between Paul and Dillon, but Higgins disappointed terribly. Higgins has divagated from Paul Rashid's "pledge" to avenge his mother's death. The cover of this book is very misleading, beware!. NY times bestseller - you be the judge
Rating: 
Summary: Plenty of action
Review: This is my second Higgins novel and I am reall getting into this world that has been created by the author. I have learned a lot of the IRA in ways that I find pretty entertaining if at times a little fantastic.
The story once again centers around Dillon the bad boy of the IRA that is now working for the British. His mission is to stop this family of half British and half Arab bilionaires.
The action is non-stop and pretty interestng. It's a quick read sometime that is to the point and nothing really deep.
The only compaint that I have is that I want to know more of Dillon but little by little we are seeing more of the character and some character growth.
Rating:
Summary: I would rather watch paint dry
Review: Boy, this was a disappointing read. The characters were not well developed (hence challenging to keep track of), the plot was implausible yet predictable, and half way through I had to wrestle with whether or not to even finish the book. I did, although it was unrewarding to do so. I'd rate this lower if I could. FYI, if you're looking for an alternate selection in the same genre, I highly recommend Silent Joe by T. Jefferson Parker.
Rating:
Summary: One Of Jack's Punch-Outs. Wearying.
Review: Here's the whole three hundred pages, in a nutshell: Supercool IRA hitman Sean Dillon plays some piano (cigarette hanging from lip, Hoagy Carmichael-style), cracks wise (Irish-style) with the resident skirt, kicks a** (with style, of course), and has a Bushmills. Then he goes somewhere to eat and talk, cracks wise, kicks a**, and has a Bushmills. Subsequently, he (inexplicably) gets into an underwater speargun duel, kicks a**, and manages to find a Bushmills in some hellhole in Yemen (no clean water, but they've got Bushmills). Then he takes a break, and has a Bushmills. Then he crash lands his plane after it gets machine-gunned by baddies, wins a three-page mini-Beau Geste gunfight at a deserted desert fort, cracks wise, and--even though he has to walk a few miles to get it--has a Bushmills. I could go on, but you get the picture. Ludicrous, flat, and uninvolving, from a writer who's capable of much more (The Eagle Has Landed, The Eagle Has Flown, Storm Warning, etc.). And does J.H. own stock in Bushmills' distillery, or WHAT???? Have a bourbon and soda once in a while, for the love of god.
Rating:
Summary: SO bad.
Review: Sean Dillon, Blake Johnson, Hannah Bernstein and Brigadier (now promoted, though heaven knows what for because he never does anything) Ferguson are back; this time they are after the dastardly half-British, half-Bedouin Rashids, who seek revenge and will not be stopped. They hire a completely inept assassin to take down the President of the USA, or, when that doesn't work, an Arab Council of Elders, or, when that doesn't work, the Russian Premier (and that doesn't work). Yes, it's ridiculous. Sean is the same caricature of himself, with a growing disciple in young Billy Slater, who should be killed off ASAP. Blake is the same, only useless in this story. Hannah is the same, only even flatter as a character. The Brigadier is still a dullard. The Rashids are supposedly bad, bad guys and gal. Bored yet? If the story doesn't hold you, you could always entertain yourself by counting references to Bushmill's whiskey. You'd have to pay me a lot to go back through this book but I bet there are hundreds. I pick up Jack Higgins's books sometimes because they're usually good entertainment, despite being cliched, generally preposterous, and awfully short on character development. This one, though, was so bad it can't be forgiven. My advice is to skip it. And if that wasn't enough: Patrick Mcnee's narration on the audiotape version was awful. Gravelly to the point of silliness, and all the characters sounded the same. The worst news yet: The villain's motto is "We always return." That means we are in for a sequel... which I for one will avoid.
Rating:
Summary: Edge of Danger
Review: 1 star - only because that's the minimum. This book proves the famous can publish anything.
Rating:
Summary: 1, and thats being generous....
Review: I have read many of Jack Higgins' books and this is the poorest so far, in my humble belief. As I travelled thro' the pages it just got harder and harder to believe the simplicity with which Mr Dillon strolls thro' the events at hand. The story also lacks any imagination and could probably have been summed up in a short story. Mr Dillon is just to sci-fi I'm afraid. There is a quote at the start of the book and as I got near the final chapters, I was starting to imagine that the Author would be writing the finale of Mr Dillon....the quote read "To Tess, who thinks it's about time" Author, I think she may mean something else....
Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant plot driven novel
Review: Jack Higgins a.k.a Granny's favourite. His world war 2 novels were very well written, with good plots. However, these latest Higgins novels lack something which the early Higgins novels had in abdance. They were obviously written by a person with a high command of the English language. His latest books have been somewhat lacluster in the way they are written. He seems to have cast aside the need to write well in favour of high powered plots. Lucky for him it works. Many authors couldn't get away with letting their writing get slack. But with Higgins, we just don't seem to care. And Why? Because his plots are so damn good. He writes to a very old formula of action novels. There is a flawed but brilliant hero, and a girl, and a formidable enemy. throw in different world location, lots of guns, lots of fighting, and simmer for 15 minutes. It is a very simple formua, and one which he never strays from. SOme people criticise him because they believe this shows a lack of depth and range. In some ways they are right, but in others wrong. It is really great hwo he can just put pen to paper, no matter what he writes, and just make you want to turn the page. Also, it astounds me how he manages to come up with so many differney and exciting ideas which still manage to satisfy his writing formula. it is simple yet effective. This latest book is no less a pageturner than several of his previous ones. He has a great plot here, and a great, and very popular lead character, and one of the best baddies in a long time. extract from blurb: "When Paul Rashid, leader of the Rashid Bedouin of Hazar in the Persian Gulf, uncovers an international conspiracy to deprive his family of the oil wealth that is theirs by right, he vows to gain vengeance. The man sent to stop him is the British Government's uncompromising sevret enforcer Sean Dillon. It is a mission that will test him as never before, confronted by old foes and new in a deadly game of cat and mouse that will take him from Ireland to the USA, and from the heart of the English countryside to the deserts of the Hazar...and the very edge of danger." This in itself promises a brilliant an exciting book. Especially with such motives of the villain, who the reader empathises with right from the very beginning, hoping against hope that he does in fact gain his vengeance. It's a strange device Higgins uses here, because the reader knows they are not supposed to want the villain to win. But in this book you just can't help it. You feel so much sympathy with the fact with the fact taht Russia and America are trying to take away their families land and oil. You will him on, to win. And you, for once, wish Sean Dillion would fail. It's a book that really toys with your emotions. Because the characters are so compelling, and the plot so great, it more than covers up for the fact that they are not actually very much more than card-board cut outs. He doesn't draw his characters in any depth, but you.just.dont.care. I got through this book in a single day. It's excellent. It starts with a bang (when a gypsy insults Paul rashid's mother and abuses, whereupon Paul goes to the gypsy camp to have it out with the man, and ends up cutting his ear off). and does not let up from there. Higgins writes excellent plot-driven thrillers. As well as being able to be very tender with his writing. There are times when you want to cry (rather like with his previous book "The President's Daughter"). Another good thing about this book is Paul Rashid's sister, Lady Kate Rashid. She's superb. A wonderfully strong willed young woman, who vows vengeance upon Sean Dillion right at the end of the book. I cannot wait for the sequel. Kate Rashid pitted against Dillion, will be an absolutely wonderful read. This book comes highly reccomended, with a stunning plot and compelling characters. You shoudl definitely give it a try if you like quick, exciting reads. But if you think that half the beauty of a book is in the writing, then it probably isn't for you. great. can't wait for Midnight Runner
Rating: 
Summary: Better Than Most Higgins Tales
Review: Edge of Danger is a step above a number of recent Jack Higgins tales. The protaginist - Sean Dillon, must track down a dangerous Middle Eastern billionaire before he can reek havoc on the world. While prior to 11 September, this book is relevant to our crisis. Higgins does a nice job bringing out more dimensions of Dillon and some of the other good guys. The author bumbles a chance to knock off a key character - losing the opportunity to add some tension and passion to the survivors. Incredibly, this person takes three bullets and lives. The plot is solid and fast paced. My only problem is with the enemies. They are too cold and their motives are weak. The key assaisin could audition for the Key Stone Cops. Don't get me wrong, the Edge of Danger is a good yarn. I hope Higgins continues to improve the depth and reality of his characters. I look forward to the next edition.
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