The Wolf at the Door (Thorndike Core) [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Jack Higgins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 5, 2010 | Series: Thorndike Core

On Long Island‚ a trusted operative for the president nudges his boat up to a pier‚ when a man materializes out of the rain and shoots him. In London General Charles Ferguson‚ adviser to the prime minister‚ approaches his car o

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In bestseller Higgins's exciting 17th Sean Dillon thriller (after A Darker Place), Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin is behind a plot to kill Dillon and other members of the British prime minister's private intelligence army as payback for their being such a thorn in his side over the years. In London, Gen. Charles Ferguson, who's just left a late-night meeting of Commonwealth ministers, is walking toward his car when it explodes, killing his driver. In New York City, Maj. Harry Miller, who's in the U.S. to attend a U.N. meeting, goes for a stroll in Central Park, where he neatly turns the tables on a hired hit man. Extensive flashbacks explain how the attacks on each of the marked men evolved, with much space devoted to the chief assassin, Daniel Holley. Higgins provides a more cerebral story than usual, but he doesn't stint on action. Though most of the plot threads tie up nicely, the ending makes clear that readers will be seeing Holley again. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Higgins has been around a long time, and he continues to bring readers page-turning suspense. This novel reads like a family reunion, as characters from previous novels show up and quickly discover they have targets on their backs. Who would want to kill them and why? After Higgins’ main character, Sean Dillon, figures out the puzzle, the story line moves back in time to unveil the reason for the revenge plot and the man hired to carry out the mission. As a result, the familiar characters in whom fans are most interested end up taking a backseat to the revenge story. The overall result is hit and miss. When focusing on Dillon and his friends, the novel shines with all the Higgins flash, but the rest of the book is pedestrian at best. For Higgins completists. --Jeff Ayers --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 430 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press; Lrg edition (January 5, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 141042085X
• ISBN-13: 978-1410420855
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,572,240 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jack Higgins is among the world's most popular authors. Since the publication of The Eagle Has Landed--one of the biggest-selling thrillers of all time--every novel he has written has become an international bestseller, including The White House Connection and Day of Reckoning. He has had simultaneous number-one bestsellers in hardcover and paperback, and has been published in thirty-eight languages worldwide. Many of his books have been made into successful movies, among them The Eagle Has Landed, To Catch A King, and The Valhalla Exchange. He lives with his wife on Jersey in the Channel Islands.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars His best effort in a long time, February 2, 2010

By 

Tim Joyce "Tim Joyce" (Alamo, CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Wolf at the Door (Hardcover)

I've been a Jack Higgins fan for years and have read every one of his books. I have always enjoyed the way he tells a story, but truthfully, the last few years have seen some mediocre efforts. The storylines were fairly predictable, and the characters sounded very dated. In other words, I hate to say it, but the books had gotten boring.

But not this one. I couldn't put it down. It was well thought out, and I liked the way the new characters were added to the mix. Most of the story didn't include the same old characters, but some new ones. The new guy, Daniel, is potentially a good character for the future. I can see him becoming one of Ferguson's guys shortly.

That said, I think that some of Higgin's writing is forced. I find the term "switch off" to be awkward. I realize that it's a British phrase, but he was having an American say it. We don't use that phrase. We say "turn off". Small detail, but when combined with the constant drinking that every character seems to need to do at all times of the day, and you see what I mean.

I enjoyed it, and give it 4 stars. I look forward to the next one!

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Awful, February 20, 2010

By 

Kurt M. Govertsen (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wolf at the Door (Hardcover)

I've read all of Higgins' books and am generally a fan, but this latest effort was absolutely terrible. I honestly had to force myself to finish from the halfway point on just to see if it would improve - it didn't. The action, such as it is, all occurs at the beginning, and is entirely implausible - multiple assassination attempts that occur concurrently all fail? Please. Simply not credible and not worth reading. This book falls into the category of one I would literally throw away.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars super international intrigue thriller, January 22, 2010

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wolf at the Door (Hardcover)

In Quoque, Long island a man waits at a pier for Blake Johnson, security adviser to the POTUS, to dock his vessel the Lively Jane; his mission is to kill the American. The British Prime Minister ordered top operatives Harry Miller and Sean Dillon to attend a U.N. gathering in which Russian Federation Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is speaking. The President wants Blake who will be at the gala to gauge the Russian delegation.

Harry takes a walk in Central Park but is also stalked and attacked. In London, General Charles Ferguson leaves a late-night meeting of ministers only to see his car with the driver inside explode. Although all roads lead to Moscow, none of the operatives realize Putin has hired the best assassin in the world Daniel Holley to eliminate the agents who have interfered with the Russian's plans for world domination; that is except Dillon who fears his most dreaded enemy has surfaced.

The latest Sean Dillon and company espionage thriller (see A Darker Place) is a super entry that moves on several subplots before converging for quite a climax. The story line focuses with back stories on how each chosen victim was targeted, stalked and attacked with an emphasis on Holly who ironically and fascinatingly holds the plot together; as opposed to Dillon and the other heroes. Jack Higgins proves he remains one of the grandmasters of the international intrigue thriller with this great entry.

Harriet Klausner