Want a NOOK? Explore Now
Treachery has a price in the mesmerizing new thriller from the New York Times-bestselling writer.
A disturbing tape has made its way to British intelligence, and from them to the new President of the United States: battlefield chatter from an ambush in Afghanistan, in which twelve U.S. Army Rangers and a British medical team died. Most of the Taliban voices are Afghan, but not all of them-the voice of the commander bears an Irish accent. The idea that one of their own could be responsible for such a massacre is appalling, and Sean Dillon is put in charge of hunting down the traitor. But Dillon has his own way of doing things and, he will eventually discover, so does his quarry. Dillon will not only be going to war-the war will be coming to him.
Higgins (The Wolf at the Door, 2010, etc.) pits the Taliban and al-Qaeda against the British prime minister's "private hit squad," led by the redoubtable Gen. Charles Ferguson.
The action involves Ireland and England, with high-flying escapades into Pakistan and Algeria, but it all begins in Afghanistan with an intercepted radio transmission, one occurring during a firefight between the Taliban and NATO troops. Gen. Ferguson knows something wicked is afoot when one of the guerrilla commanders is heard speaking with an Irish accent and using the code name "Shamrock." Are British Muslims supporting the Taliban and al-Qaeda? Enter Sean Dillon, once an enforcer for the Provisional Irish Republican Army and now Gen. Ferguson's top anti-terrorist agent. With Dillon at the sharp end of the spear is Daniel Holley, also former IRA, but now a somewhat legitimate arms dealer with Algerian citizenship. They are aided by wounded Maj. Giles Roper, who mans the computers for the squad and plays a vital part in the search. There are assorted other good guys, including night club owners and part-time counter-agents Harry and Billy Salter, more than enough bad guys and traitors working both sides of the terror game. Also deeply enmeshed is Justin Talbot, a decorated British veteran of Afghanistan who now is de facto head of his family's influential multimillion-dollar corporation and who also dabbles in illicit arms trading. The most diabolical Judas is the Preacher, a respected British professor who has embraced Osama bin Laden and Islamic fundamentalism. Higgins' adventure is action-driven, with minimal character development, no romance and plenty of male bonding. Fans of the genre will appreciate the noisy occasions involving Semtex, AK-47s, silenced Colt .25s and villains coming to proper grief and swift justice.
Sure to be a hit with Higgins' fans, and a fast first read for newcomers to the work of this action-adventure writer.
General Ferguson, Sean Dillon and company hear a tape Major Roper made. It takes place in Afghanistan in which a horde of terrorists led by Shamrock killed several Army Rangers and a British medical team. They hear the euphoric voice of Shamrock whose accent is English. There exists plausible evidence he has ties to Al Qaeda; although unknown to Dillon and company this killer answers to Osama's main henchman in Britain the Preacher. After listening to the tape taken from the Afghan battlefields by Major Roper, General Ferguson thinks a Taliban attack was led by an educated upper-class Englishman. The General and Dillon want to track down the traitor and put him on trial for treason.
Daniel Holley, as lethal as Dillon is, joins the team but he makes the mistake of telling his business partner and close friend Hamid Malik what he is doing. Malik considers Hill a member of his family; he worries about him and confides his concerns bed friend of thirty years Ali Hakin; unaware that hat his pal is an Al-Qaeda agent. Hakim informs the Preacher that Dillon and company are searching for him. The Preacher welcomes the news by setting up a chain of events leading to a confrontation on is terms in a crowded sector of Algiers populated by the dregs of society.
Highly regarded for his Dillon suspense thrillers, Jack Higgins' latest is the usual strong tale that feels plausible as the author extrapolates the story line from the headlines. The plot is filled with triple crosses accentuated by the addition of a new player to the team, who readers will wonder if Hill is to be trusted or a pure capitalist crossing back and forth between sides. Once started The Judas Gate is impossible to put down.
Harriet Klausner
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.PapaJohn70
Posted January 8, 2011
I Also Recommend:
Higgins has been around a long time. I have read some of his books including the "Storm Warning" which was one of my favorites. The Judas Gate is a action packed novel with lots of current events woven into the adventure. It is not his best effort; but, a real suspense thriller that you won't want to put down! Very enjoyable read.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.hammerTK
Posted January 25, 2011
I kept reading this book thinking it would have to get better and it only got worse.
2 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.The Jack Higgins books are interesting reading, which keeps his publisher busy as he has developed a big fan base, including me. But Judas Gate starts out with the wildest improbabilities that make it take so much longer to get into the story. If such wild improbabilities are all that propel these novels, well, okay then. I'll still read them, just don't insult other authors and give them five stars.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.6441876
Posted August 7, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted February 11, 2013
If you like others in this series you won't be disappointed
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I am a fan of the Sean Dillon series, however the Judas Gate didn't have the usual suspense and punch that the previous novels have had. It is worth reading, but I hope the next one is better.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 26, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted April 8, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted January 4, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted February 3, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted October 3, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted July 12, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted February 9, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted January 24, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted April 1, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted June 23, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted September 17, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted June 24, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted January 15, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
Treachery has a price in the mesmerizing new thriller from the New York Times-bestselling writer.
A disturbing tape has made its way to British intelligence, and from them to the new President of the United States: battlefield chatter from an ambush in Afghanistan, in which twelve U.S. Army Rangers and a British medical team died. Most of the Taliban voices are Afghan, but not all of them-the voice of the commander bears an Irish accent. The idea that one of their own could be ...