Rough Justice

June 23, 2008
The solid 15th entry in Higgins's Sean Dillon thriller series (after The Killing Ground
) finds aging, arthritic ex-gangster Harry Salter retired from active operations, leaving Dillon, once the IRA's most feared enforcer, as the real leader of the loose gang of stalwart lads who covertly battle the foes of Western civilization. A newcomer to the team, Maj. Harry Miller, on the surface a mild-mannered MP who's in reality the British prime minister's secret hit man, hooks up with series regular Blake Johnson in Kosovo, where the Russians, intent on reclaiming old glory, are stirring up trouble. Meanwhile, Islamic fundamentalists are intent on bringing Britain to its knees. The action moves swiftly amid a variety of foreign locales, including Moscow, London and Beirut, to a climax that will leave readers asking themselves, evidence to the contrary, whether the great game is really
over.

November 24, 2008
Action, betrayal, murder and mayhem have long been the staples of Jack Higgins's international thrillers featuring ex-IRA enforcer turned British operative Sean Dillon, and this latest outing continues that tradition. However, Dillon falls into more of a supporting role in a story involving the current Russian regime's efforts to bring forth a new type of cold war. Most of the heavy lifting is performed by the seemingly mild-mannered MP Harry Miller, who, like Dillon, is in reality a British secret agent. Michael Page's narration keeps the action flowing, all the while balancing an international cast of heroes and rogues. Whether the characters are Russian politicos or Irish thugs, British elites or Islamic terrorists, Page provides each with their own particular voice. With a dry, straightforward delivery, he is equally adept in presenting the intricate, globe-trotting plot, driving the story forward and maintaining the taut suspense. Fans of this enduring series will not be disappointed. A Putnam hardcover (Reviews, June 23).