Customer Reviews

In the Hour Before Midnight

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Higgins fans rejoice! A number of his older books are being re-printe. Although In the Hour Before Midnight was first published in 1969 it has aged quite well. His characters are well crafted and his plots and story lines have never been tied up with the Us versus KGB plots that now seem so out of date.

Stacey Wyatt is a typical Higgins creation. Born into a life of privilege, raised by a Sicilian capo, he escapes into a world of the mercenary and finally learns, almost too late, where his true loyalties should lie. Is Sean Burke really the true friend, or an opportunist who could shed Wyatt like an old shirt? What about Joanna, or Rose, or all the others. Is Hoffer a man of his word? Can Vito be trusted? You'll enjoy finding the answers.

Of Higgins' 57 titles, I have been able to find and read 53 of them. Not a bad book in the bunch and I forgive him the repetition of plots. The thing is, these books are just plain fun to read. So enjoy! And don't forget to thank the re-print people.

This book is supposed to be an oldie and a goodie. Well, it's an oldie. Goodie? OK, it's pretty good, but not spectacular. We enter the lives of an international gang of mercenaries on a special mission to rescue a kidnapped daughter of a multi-millionaire on the island of Sicily. Soon we find out one of our heroes has mafia connections, and the story changes character. This book is a very quick read. The ending was predictable and I never figured out the significance of the title. Several times I cannot figure out what causes our hero to act the way he did.

k, for those of you who have not ever read a Jack Higgins book, this one will be quite a treat... With this latest installment Higgins proves to maintain his ability to keep suspense high with nonstop action and character development. although, this book follows the patten, or formula of his past books, as the sales records show, it is a formula he works very well with. Howver, none of the books, especially this one, seem repetitive. Unique and capturing as its own story, people will not regret the purchase of this book. in my own experience, after reading one jack higgins's novel by chance, i have continued to by every book he has published, and i have never regretted a purchase, well thats about it, its a damn good book. trust me

Great plotting is what I look towards in any book. This guy is what I call the best writer these days! His plotting is well done. He never disapoints at all.

As always, Jack Higgins is a quick and excellent read. This one introduces a new character, and is as pleasing as ever. Sean Dillon this new character is not, but I could certainly go far a dose of this character as an occasional break from Dillon. On another note, a novel with either Hannah Bernstein or Charles Ferguson as the main character would also be interesting, and no doubt entertaining with the dependably bard-like Higgins 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.

Yes, it's a little strange reading a first-person account from an individual who resembles Superman more than Wyatt Earp. Of course, since Wyatt's telling the tale in the first person, he's going to be there standing proudly at the end of the story. The only question is, what happens in the meanwhile. Truly, very little happens.

What was positive about this book was its setting: mostly in Sicily. The author does a good job of describing the geography and people of that island. I read it with an atlas nearby and looked the places up as they were cited. I've never been to Italy, much less Sicily, so this part was interesting.

Otherwise, this novel is entirely "formulaic." Good guy bests all his bad adversaries and runs off into the sunset with the pretty girl.

Do "Higgins fans" enjoy this kind of a formula? Well, I'd say they certainly must, since Higgins is as prolific as a spider monkey and apparently has a large readership.

Me, I think I would get bored reading about "vengeance is mine," saith the hero. In fact, I did get bored reading this book, but I finished it (because I'm not a "quitter," you know, "quitters never win" etc.). Is that formulaic or what?

Well, quitters may never win but they might occasionally find a more interesting book to read than this one by Jack Higgins. However, I'm not giving up on Higgins. I'm going to try another book and see how closely it follows the formula. Diximus.

Stacey Wyatt had earned his living as a member of a small band of mercenaries who hired out their services. Branching out on his own as a smuggler, he was captured and imprisoned. His old pals show up to break him out for a new assignment, rescuing a kidnapped young woman. The mission takes him back into contact with his Mafia family in Sicily he has not seen for years. Then things get interesting.

Stacey finds himself involved in a high stakes game where it is hard to tell who your friends are and where loyalties lie. There is double dealing from many directions. A string of bodies is left scattered about the landscape as the plot works towards a surprising conclusion.

We have read about 25 of Jack Higgin's books and love every one of them! We recommend this, and all, of his books for suspense and intrigue!

Having come across this book, I thought I would give it a try. Bad choice on my part. The characters are unbelievable, and the reader continues to think of them as someone in the author's imagination rather than real characters during the story. The author needs to 'know' his subject. With statements such as; "... I learned that I acted instinctively like a real professional who always aims for the shooting hand with his first bullet, knowing that a dying man can still get off a shot at him." Really! Give me a break. A 'professional' is not some John Wayne. A professional shoots for body mass and lots of it. The author has seen too many cowboy movies and totally spoiled this book from page 22 onwards. The characters are totally unbelievable. Not worth the read.

Many of Jack Higgins older books are back in print, including the 1969 novel, In The Hour Before Midnight.

Stacey Wyatt is a young and talented mercenary. Half Italian and half American, he is the grandson of Sicily's most notorious mafia boss. When an Italian bandit kidnaps a millionaire's stepdaughter, Stacey and his three partners are hired to rescue her. Making their way into the high altitude, rugged mountain terrain, Stacey and his friends encounter dangers beyond belief. It isn't long before Stacey realizes that he has actually walked into a trap. Unknown who the real enemy is, Stacey must use his skills to come out of the backcountry alive and in one piece.

Fans of Higgins more recent novels, such as the Sean Dillon series, may notice in this book that Higgins spends a greater deal of time setting up the plot before jumping into the action. Nevertheless, the story stills reads with all the twists, treachery, and other elements you've come to expect from Higgins. All in all, In The Hour Before Midnight stands a a solid, enjoyable thriller.