Customer Reviews

A Prayer for the Dying

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
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I was first introduced to Jack Higgins with 'The Eagle has Landed' and 'Storm Warning', two WWII era stories. I enjoyed his ability to develop characters while keeping the action moving and suspenseful. However, it was this book, 'A Prayer for the Dying' that made me a lifelong fan of his writing. Actually written before he exploded into popularity with 'The Eagle has Landed' this tale is deeper and more moving than any of his books, before or after. Each character, both good and bad, have demons to overcome.

The story is about Martin Fallon, an ex-IRA executionor, who has bailed out on the movement after an tragic miscalculation caused a bus-load of school children to be blown up. We find him in London trying to leave the country and being chased by both his old comrades and Scotland Yard. He is blackmailed into killing one crime boss by another, and is seen by a priest Father De Costa. The story takes Fallon from executionor to hero as he is forced to protect the life of the priest at all costs.

Higgins takes the time to develop each character in this story into very complex people. Beside Fallon and De Costa we're introduced to Jack Meehan, (the crime boss with a twisted sense of fairness), his brother Billy (the original thing from under the rock), Miller (the frustrated Scotland Yard Detective), and Anna de Costa (the blind niece). Each character has wonderful and surprising quirks. A great example: Jack Meehan is an legit undertaker with many non-legit sidelines including prostution, gambling, and drugs. However, he is also VERY protective of the elderly, feeling they are always being taken advantage of. He actually crucifies one of his employees for trying to swindle an 87 year old widower out of 20 pounds.

To go further into the plot would spoil all the great surprises and twists. If you're a Jack Higgins fan you MUST find this book and read it. It's out of print but any good used book store will have it and it's well worth the trouble.

I must have read this book five years ago-- probably more like seven. In any case, it wasn't my copy-- we were renting a cabin, and it happened to be on the bookshelf-- I picked it up, and could NOT put it down until I read the whole thing, at the expense of my vacation. Not that I minded, mind you. ;) In any case, Higgins' tragic tale will have you aching over every moment. In fact, this novel is nearly perfect-- except for a couple of sexually explicit scenes, which I skipped quickly over. Due to that fact, this is not for sensetive readers at all, and usually I'm one of those-- but, frankly, after all the books I've ever read, this one was in my life for a mere twenty-four hours, and I remember it as one of the best.

I first read this book about two decades ago. I think I can best describe the book by describing how that first encounter with APFD went. I had borrowed the book from a friend. I read it at one sitting - it's a quick read - and felt compelled to share it with others. In the week for which I had the book, I loaned it to four other friends then read it once more before returning it. Since then, every two years or so, I'd have an urge to read it again and I'd go out and find a copy. The book can almost be called a classic.

The book will take a grip of you from the first page and it will hold you untill the last one. The book contains many good characters, like Martin Fallon, a ruthless killer whose life is a big black hole. Higgins surely knows how to keep the pace and suspense "at maximum speed". The book contains many spectacular action scenes, described skillfully. The ending is bloody with a twist.

Higgens is marvelous in understanding charachters. A nice story a hitman who's feels finaly guilty after blowing up a schoolbus by accident.The sign of taking innocent children's life leads him for an escape full of suspense.With a priest he was paid to kill, but can't for a spiritual reason and and hunting past leads him to the contridiction of life.Higgens is a fair story teller who burries the reader in violence and thrill but gratefully puts a summer rose of emotions above the grave.You don't have to be christian or an irish dude to read it.It's a cultural suspense in a religious frame.Very good

Jack Higgins plumbs incredible depths of emotion in this book. I've read 'em all, and in my opinion, APFD is one of his greatest works. It's really incredible how well Higgins blends violence, religion, and passion into the story, without making the book into a cheesy mess. Regardless of what you believe, you'll enjoy this book, and truly hurt for the tragic hero, Martin Fallon. If you're looking for a book that will twist your heart inside out more than once, look no farther than Prayer For The Dying.

Very very good. Try not to read all the other summaries -- you don't need to know all about Fallon's past until the book fills in those details. :)

This book was short, but it was mighty.

Ex-IRA soldier using the name Martin Fallon, is pushed into performing a contract hit (on a very bad mobster by another very bad mobster) in exchange for a new passport, new identity, and a trip on a ship out of England for a new life. His soul carries wounds from an IRA bombing gone bad. A priest witnesses his contract killing, but Fallon can't bring himself to kill the priest even though he has seen his face. What follows is a painful journey for Fallon and the characters affected by his actions.

Higgins created characters that resonate and, though the book was written many years ago, those characters are true to life and the story has a timeless quality. The writing is nearly flawless and, though short, this book carries the weight in your heart that a longer work would carry. I finished it last night and haven't been able to get the story out of my mind - now that is the mark a truly great work.

This was the first book by Jack Higgins that I read. The plot grabbed me by the second page and didn't let go until the end. The characters were all very well developed, with no loose ends in their various encounters. The particular development of Martin Fallon was very interesting...Higgins established his "death wish" in a good manner, but kept me guessing to the end just how Fallon would resolve all of his issues. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good thriller.

Wow.

This is a great book. I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked this up, but was surprised from the outset by the well balanced combination of detail, character development and pure page turning action.

The story of a 'washed up' IRA Hitman, contracted to do one last hit to gain his freedom, a new name and passport, and a new life. In the end he is torn between his desire for freedom - and the desire for inner peace and to do what is right. A solid page turner, full of action, with a deserving ending. Highly recommended.