Night Of Error [Paperback]

Desmond Bagley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 28, 2008

The only discernable bond in the relationship of brothers Mark and Mike Trevelyan is their fascination with the sea and its secrets. When Mike hears of his brother's death, during an expedition to a remote Pacific atoll, the circumstances are suspicious enough to force him to investigate, and when he is the victim of a series of violent attacks, his search for the truth becomes even more desperate. Mike has only two clues - a notebook in code and a lump of rock - enough to trigger off a hazardous expedition and a violent confrontation far from civilisation.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

British author Bagley was an effortless master of the compelling action-packed thriller free from gratuitous sex and violence. This posthumous novel has the elements of credible characters, meticulous research, and complex plot that together were the hallmark of his previous best sellers. Mike Trevelyan, an English oceanographer, learns that his brother has died in suspicious circumstances while prospecting in the South Pacific. When an attempt is made to steal the few effects shipped back to the family he decides to investigate. With a crew of ex-commandos and the backing of a Canadian tycoon an expedition is launched to investigate the death and look for the rich mineral deposits the brother had apparently discovered. The result is sustained excitement complete with international villains, natural and unnatural disasters, and an exciting twist of a conclusion. John North, LRC, Ryerson Polytechnical Inst., Toronto
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Desmond Bagley was born in 1923, in Kendal, a rural town in England's scenic Lake District. He left school aged fourteen and worked for a number of years in the aircraft industry before embarking on an adventure - travelling to South Africa by road and supporting himself along the way by working in gold and asbestos mines. Bagley spent the Fifties in South Africa, working as a freelance journalist and critic, before moving to Italy with his wife, Margaret, and then to Guernsey. His first novel, The Golden Keel, was based on a true story overheard by Bagley in a bar in Johannesburg, about Mussolini's vast personal riches and the men who went looking for it. It was published in 1963 to great acclaim and followed by a further fifteen popular adventure ovels. Bgley's career spanned two decades and his influence can be seen in the work of several highly respected thriller writers. When he died, in 1983, his final novel, Juggernaut, was completed by his wife.

Product Details

• Paperback: 302 pages
• Publisher: House of Stratus (November 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1842320157
• ISBN-13: 978-1842320150
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,640,539 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, September 8, 2009

By 

Vinay Sikka - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night Of Error (Paperback)

I started reading Desmond Bagley in my teens (in the 80s) when he and Alistair Maclean were very popular in India. And I have read almost all of his books. Loved his boks all those years ago, when I was also reading Ludlum, Craig Thomas etc.

Recently I have started on a project to re-read these books. Gives me a fresh perspective. I find that I still love his writing. Very crisp, very british and never slacking. Lot of the newer writers can learn from Mr Bagley (or Alistair Maclean). You'll find that lot of their characters have come out of the 2nd world war.

The books title is a bit of a mystery. Otherwise it is a fast paced engrossing book. A good plot, adventure and skulldaggery - like a really great 60s movie. read this and other Desmond Bagley books.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars New old Bagley, July 5, 2010

By 

H. Jin (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night Of Error (Paperback)

The rather unusual title for this book comes from a quote from Jonathan Swift about loving and supporting your brother no matter what, and the theme of Brotherly Love and Hate certainly flows strongly through 'Night Of Error'. When Mike Trevelyan's estranged brother Mark is reported dead in suspicious circumstances, Mike gives up his comfortable English academic life and heads to the South Pacific to investigate. Backed by some choice ex-mercenaries, a billionaire, and a couple of Mark's casually-discarded girlfriends, Mike tries to unravel the mystery of both his brother's death and a potentially lucrative scientific discovery. Despite hating his late brother's ruthlessness and ambition, Mike is forced to think and act more and more like Mark to solve the puzzle and bring the responsible parties to justice.

'Night Of Error' was the first of two books published after Bagley's death, and I wonder whether this really was his planned next book. His second posthumous book 'Juggernaut' is much more in keeping with the style of later books such as 'Flyaway' and 'Windfall', whereas 'Night Of Error' seems more of a throwback to Bagley's earlier books such as 'The Golden Keel'. The fact that the novel is set in 1962 (before 'The Golden Keel' was written) and contains a couple of plot points similar to that book makes you wonder whether 'Night of Error' is actually one of Bagley's early, discarded attempts at his debut.

Whatever the reason, 'Night Of Error' is a good book. Just keep in mind that it is far closer to Bagley's early stuff, and lacks the more epic, Hammond Innes like feel of his African-themed later books. 'Juggernaut' is much more likely to be Bagley's genuine "next novel" after 'Windfall', but if you loved Bagley's leaner, more action-focussed earlier books, you should get alot of pleasure out of 'Night Of Error'.

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent South Seas adventure, March 18, 2007

By 

Cory D. Slipman (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night of Error (Paperback)

Research oceanographer Mike Trevelyan is the protagonist is Desmond Bagely's 1964 adventure novel "Night of Error". He stunningly receives word in his London flat that his competetive, manipulative younger brother Mark, who he despises, also an oceanographer has died in a remote Pacific Ocean location. Within a short time Trevelyan is forwarded his brothers special effects including a diary and deep sea manganese nodules.

As soon as he receives these items he is subject to robbery and general mayhem and he soon discovers why. He had retained one of the manganese nodules and assayed it discovering that it possessed an unusualy high concentration of cobalt and other rare metals such as nickel and vanadium.

Trevelyan soon was visited by one Geordie Wilkins, a commando sergeant under the command of his father, a career military man and now skipper of a 200 foot sailing ship. Together they schemed to pitch the idea of an expedition to uncover the location of these precious nodules to Canadian mining entrepreneur Jonathan Campbell, using Wilkins ship the Esmerelda as their research vessel.

Along with a crew of tough gritty ex-commandos they all embark on an exotic South Sea voyage into French Oceania to discover the cache of high yield nodules.

Bagley creates an aura of suspense as rivals of Campbell's a corporation known as Suarez-Navarro lead by a hook nosed murderous fellow named Ramirez leave behind a path of murder and terror also seeking the rich booty. We also discover that the purported cause of death of Mark Trevelyan, acute appendicitis was bogus.

While Bagley's finale leaves little to the imagination and is predictable, "Night of Error" was a decent read.