Customer Reviews

A Devil Is Waiting

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I should preface this by saying I have enjoyed Jack Higgins novels ever since my Dad gave me a copy of "Storm Warning" many years ago. I have always made it a point to get his novels ever since. I will be honest and say that not all of his works are of the same high quality with some not as good as others. However, more often than not, Higgins is like "comfort food", if you know what you like and it makes you happy, it's just fine. His last one, "The Judas Gate" was a return to form and the new one is a sequel, and the latest in the "Dillon" series...

A few years ago, Jack Higgins killed off a popular character, Hannah Bernstein. I thought it was kind of "ironic" that it seems like she has been "re-incarnated" to a degree with the introduction of new character, Capt Sarah Gideon. Let's see what traits does she share... short red hair, crack shot, jewish, doesn't take crap from anyone, has a cleric in the family. Big difference is that she is very attracted to one of the characters and doesn't mind letting him know it.

I enjoyed the new book. I won't spoil it for anyone and get into all the plot points. If you like the Dillon series, you will enjoy this one.

One wish I do have and have noted in another review.. I wish that Higgins would write a final chapter to the "Eagle has Landed" series. At the end of the sequel, it was revealed Kurt Steiner was alive and kicking. Would love to see a story with him and Devlin again. I'd laugh my tail off if it turns out Steiner is an alias for Harry Salter.. LOL

Well, it's back to work for the private army of General Ferguson. But they have a new player in their midst. Captain Sara Gideon is going to join the group. She has returned from service in Afghanistan where her linguistic skills were put to good use, but the most amazing thing she did was fight off a group of Muslim Taliban during an ambush of a British Convoy. She fought like a true warrior and earned the highest award that the Brit's can give. One problem, with her new role she might not be able to collect her medal.

She joins Holley, Dillon, Roper and Miller in their quest to rid England of Muslim terrorist. With the killing of Osama Bin Laden you would think that the game has changed for the better, but no, Ali Selim has taken center stage and the group needs to work hard to put an end to him and his plans of chaos that he wants to bring down on London.

Higgins does another good job of building on the characters, especially the new character of Sara Gideon. He further develops the angst between Jack Kelly and Dillon and Holley. All of this done as Ali Selim tries to bring about riot's, chaos, bombings and the death of the Prime Minister as well as the President of the United States. And hopefully in the middle of all this the deaths of General Ferguson's private army.

This is a good read and if you have enjoyed the tales of Holley and Dillon you will again enjoy this tale. The addition of Sara and another character, retired Captain Greg Slay, will bring new enjoyment as you get to know them and follow the team on their latest conquest.

I have enjoyed all of Higgins works and this one is no exception.

Enjoy!

Following a difficult rough tour in Afghanistan, British Captain Sara Gideon heir to the Gideon Bank returns home. The Prime Minister's "private army" leader General Charles Ferguson recruits war hero Sara to join his elite antiterrorism team. He knows her linguistic skills will enhance his unit's chances for success against a devious enemy.

Meanwhile Muslim terrorist Ali Selim offers a special blessing to anyone who kills the infidel leaders of the West. Ferguson takes Selim's threat serious as POTUS is coming to London to meet with the P.M. He assigns agents Sean Dillon, Daniel Holley and Sara to take out Selim before anyone acts on his assassination blessing. However as they follows clues to the Persian Gulf in seeking the Mullah, a kidnapping turns the mission into a desperate quest.

The latest Dillon-Holly tale (see The Judas Gate) is an action-packed thriller although somewhat similar in theme to this series and other stop the terrorists' sagas. The story line refreshed by Sara who brings a feminist perspective to the mix. Although the story line is thin and the terrorists seem stereotypes, fans will enjoy this fast-paced novel.

Harriet Klausner

Perhaps I'm not overly bright, but I found this book exciting, fast paced and the story plausible. We're still dealing with nut cases in the terrorist world and this story reminds us of that. The extent to which these people will go defies imagination. Jack Higgins hasn't faulted me yet and this book proves that. Why only 4 stars? Picky me, but the Medal of Honor is that, it isn't called (incorrectly by most) the Congressional Medal of Honor. Mr. Higgins should know that...and he shouldn't have the president refer to it as that. Otherwise, a jolly good read!

I have been waiting forever for another book from Jack Higgins and I was not disappointed with "A Devil is Waiting". Many changes however including the introduction of Sara Gideon as the new female lead in the PM's private army. Sara is a very cool-headed addition with a sexy side who instantly became attracted to Daniel Holley, another fairly new character whom I like as part of the crew. I do not like, however, that the Salter's have taken a backseat to this adventure and are not mentioned or used as much. Giles Roper had more of a precedence then Harry and Billy. No matter, I loved it and will continue to wait for every book to read and enjoy.

I'll admit that these characters were interesting initially, and who doesn't love a book where the bad guys always get killed? However, the characters and plots are beginning to become tiresome. The series is becoming repetitive. Even the one relatively new character is almost the mirror image of a character that Higgins killed off a couple books ago. It's OK. There's action and a lot of dead bad guys, but there is nothing new here, and I just can't get very excited about this book.

I'm a Jack Higgins' fan and have for, oh I dunno, the last twenty years so when this book came out, I rushed out to Costco and bought it. Sorry Amazon, I feel like I'm cheating on you but the book, I swear, gave me that come hither look!
Anyway, I took it home, read it, and, at times, I enjoyed it. The key words here are: 'At Times.'
While it was nice to revisit with all of the old characters again and meet some new ones,it was also a little crowded, like a 20th year high school reunion where you are really happy to see some old friends again, listen to a few others tout their accomplishments, and maybe wonder who in the heck the others are that are wandering around and not saying much.
Some of the characters in A Devil is Waiting came and went with a little too much frequency or not enough, and some of the scenes with the quick in and out missions came across as rushed.
A Devil is Waiting isn't quite classic Jack Higgins. While it's not a bad book, it's not up to five stars either. The four stars I give it are for the classic Jack Higgins writing style, and the nice feeling I get visiting with some of the old friends again; genuinely pleased to see the ones I like and hoping to run into them again soon while remembering better days.

I think Higgins is getting to be a softie in his old age - don't get me wrong I love a good romance, but this story would have been better if he replaced Sara with Billy and axed the romance with Holley completely or had it off stage. If he wanted to have a romance he could have had her off page and refered to, rather than force fed to the reader.

Over all, the story was good, but not great.

Out standing book, great story as usual. What one would except from Jack Higgins.
The action goes on from page one through the end.

This Jack Higgins at it's finest. I love the addition of the character of Sara Gideon. With Hannah Bernstein gone. As always it has intrique and suspense. Sean Dillon never disappoints.