The Hostage (Stratton #1)

The Hostage by Duncan Falconer is his first book featuring Stratton - a British SBS (like our Navy SEALs) undercover officer who is stationed in Northern Ireland fighting the IRA.

When an undercover operation goes wrong and an SBS agent is captured, SBS pulls out all of the stops to get him back. Stratton, who has never lost an agent on his watch, will do whatever he can to recover the agent before he can be transported across the border.

The battles in Northern Ireland between the British and various configurations of the Irish Republican Army have been ongoing since the 1800s. But now, the IRA may have a mole in British Intelligence who is helping plan their next moves.

At the same time, US Navy SEAL Hank Monroe has been assigned to SBS for a cross-training / good relations tour of duty. His wife is not happy about moving the family to England. She has been taught by her family in Boston to hate the British because of their occupation of Ireland.

When Monroe joins Stratton on a job that goes wrong it could lead to an international incident. Between the many players and sides trying to recover Monroe it could be all out war.

Falconer has created an engaging political/military thriller that will keep readers fascinated. There are currently seven book in the Stratton series. They will appeal to fans of Jack Higgins' Sean Dillon series or anyone interested in the Ireland-England situation.

Falconer, Duncan. (2003). The Hostage. New York: Time Warner Paperbacks.

The Wolf at the Door (Sean Dillon #17)

The Wolf at the Door by Jack Higgins is his 17th book featuring Sean Dillon, Charles Ferguson and the rest of the group referred to as the Prime Minister's Private Army.

In this volume there is no planned attack against British soil, no plot to blow up 10 Downing Street, there is a rival intelligence group seeking revenge. Though they do not know who yet, each member Ferguson's team is attacked within a few hours of each other.

Higgins takes a different look at the plot this time. Usually the story is told through the eyes of Sean and company tracking down a threat. This book, after a brief, attention grabbing few chapters about the attacks, goes back in time and follows the man plotting against them. It is an interesting approach because readers already know what will happen at the end of the planning. The reason it works is that Higgins is great at developing characters. So the "bad guy," even though he is predictable, captures the reader's interest.

Higgins, Jack. (2010). The Wolf at the Door. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

Drink with the Devil (Sean Dillon #5)

Drink with the Devil is the fifth book in Jack Higgins' Sean Dillon series. Dillon is an ex-IRA soldier who now works for British Intelligence.

Higgins has done what most readers of fiction series fail to do - he has gone back into the past of his main character to give us a look at where Dillon came from.

The book starts in 1985 in Belfast. Dillon is still with the IRA and he is assigned to infiltrate a plot by the Protestants to steal enough gold to start a civil war in Northern Ireland.

In the second half of the book - 1995, Dillon is called upon in his Intelligence work to look into a gold heists from ten years ago. None of the reports linked him with the theft, but he has inside information that will help the operation.

Drink with the Devil is another great book by Higgins. He creates characters that are likable (sometimes in spite of their actions), plots that keep readers staying up late to read, and a series that is addictive. Do not read the first book unless you are ready to commit to all seventeen.

Higgins, Jack. (1996). Drink with the Devil. New York: G.P.Putnam's Sons.

Angel of Death (Sean Dillon #4)

Angel of Death is the fourth book in the Sean Dillon series by Jack Higgins.

After 25 years of war, there is a strong chance for peace in Northern Ireland. But there are still groups fighting. A new group - January 30 - has been assassinating people Catholics, Protestants, KGB, and even CIA.

Brigadier Ferguson, Sean Dillon, and Chief Inspector Hannah Bernstein will lead the investigation to track down January 30. So far every agency that has tried has failed to find any information about January 30.

Though I have loved each Sean Dillon book, this is my favorite (so far). The complicated plot and characters leave readers guessing until the last page. Throw in a bit of Irish history and Angel of Death is a great novel.

Higgins, Jack. (1995). Angel of Death. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

On Dangerous Ground (Sean Dillon #3)

On Dangerous Ground is the third Sean Dillon book by Jack Higgins.

A dying man confesses to knowing about a treaty that, if recovered, will extend British control on Hong Kong for another one hundred years. Not only is the Prime Minister interested in finding the document, but so is an Italian family that is heavily invested in Hong Kong and stands to lose millions of dollars when China takes over.

Sean Dillon, an ex-IRA soldier who now works for British Intelligence, will have to use much of his extensive knowledge and skill to find the treaty before the mafia. And he will have to do it while recovering from an injury that would send the average man into retirement.

Higgins is a great suspense writer with characters that are captivating. Read this series.

Higgins, Jack. (1994). On Dangerous Ground. New York: G.P.Putnam's Sons.

Thunder Point (Sean Dillon #2)

Thunder Point by Jack Higgins is the second book in his Sean Dillon series.

When Henry Baker retired and moved to St. John he thought his life would be relaxing. He learned to scuba dive and generally did what he wanted. It was on a dive, just after a hurricane, that Henry discovered a Nazi submarine. He had just enough time to pull a briefcase from the boat before he had to surface.

Inside the briefcase were documents about Nazi loyalist in England and the US. Henry immediately takes the case to his friend in London who can read German.

Sean Dillon, ex-IRA soldier and hired assassin/terrorist, will be recruited by British Intelligence for his skills as pilot and master diver. Together Dillon and Brigadier Charles Ferguson hope to find the submarine before the information falls into the wrong hands.

Jack Higgins' Sean Dillon series is a must read for any fan of adventure, espionage, politics or suspense. He is a master.

Higgins, Jack. (1993). Thunder Point. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

Eye of the Storm (Sean Dillion #1)

Eye of the Storm is Jack Higgins' first Sean Dillion book (a series that now includes seventeen novels).

Sean Dillion is a ghost. All European intelligence agencies have heard of him but not one picture of him exists. He is an assassin trained by the IRA. Since leaving the IRA he has worked for various other terrorist/political groups including the PLO.

Now (1992) Dillion has been hired by Michael Aroun, an Iraqi man who would like to boost the moral of Saddam Hussein's army by pulling off an attack on the British.

After an ambush on former prime minister Maggie Thatcher fails, Dillion sets his sights on a new target - the current prime minister John Major and his entire War Cabinet at 10 Downing Street.

Higgins is a master storyteller. His character may rival the skill and creativity of Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon, though he usually plays for the opposite team. Any readers of suspense or espionage would love this series.

Higgins, Jack. (1992). Eye of the Storm. New York: G.P.Putnam's Sons.