The Midnight Bell

Sean Dillon Series, Book 22

By: Jack Higgins

Narrated by: Michael Page

The new Sean Dillon novel, a knife-edge story of terrorism and revenge, by "the dean of intrigue novelists" (St. Louis Post-Dispatch).

"The bell tolls at midnight as death requires it."

In Washington, D.C., on a night full of rain, a woman is struck down and killed by a hit-and-run driver. But she is not just any woman - she is the assistant to the head of the secret White House department known only as the Basement. And she had secrets of her own.

In the Virgin Islands, former president Jake Cazalet receives a warning. He is recuperating on a diving trip after successfully helping Sean Dillon and the rest of the "Prime Minister's private army" defeat an Al Qaeda operation in London. But though AQ may be weakened and facing competition from other terrorist upstarts, it is far from dead - and it intends to prove it.

Soon the ripples from these two events will spread and overlap, not only in Washington but around the world. Everyone involved will find themselves in the most desperate battle of their lives - and the midnight bell will toll.

©2016 Jack Higgins. (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Keystone Cops ultimately beat ISIS

Jack Higgins books are normally extraordinary. Well researched, carefully plotted and filled with twists and turns. Even the Sean Dillon series is one where each next book is eagerly awaited.

Until now.

"The Midnight Bell" doesn't toll for thee or for a good book either.

It's almost a Keystone Cops meet ISIS. The secret army bumbles its way through one thing after another that even the most green spy would figure out. The dialogue is really weak, but the most annoying aspect of the novel is the ISIS antagonist on his barge in the Parisian Seine.

ISIS or Al Queda, it's never clear which, seems to be able to get anybody's unlisted satellite phone and make untraceable calls. The terrorist organization has extraordinary intelligence capabilities making MI-5 and MI-6 seem as capable as Maxwell Smart. And when ISIS makes the call, the protagonists respond like a president on Twitter at 6 in the morning.

In nearly all Dillon books, after he jumps from the IRA to Ferguson's secret army, there is always a transition where Ferguson reveals he withheld information critical to making plot and subplots come together. Since this is expected, it's always fun trying to figure out when the general is going to say, "Oh Sean, by the way..."

In this book however, Ferguson's role seems to be ... well it seems to be a role without a mission or purpose. But then, most of the plot seems to be without a mission either.

The book is finishable, but not pleasurable. If those are words.

The reader is good enough to keep you listening

I’m a fan of the Sean Dillon series, but this one lacked direction and the dialogue repetitive. Characters kept telling their backstory over and over again. The villain was utterly uninteresting.

Everything has gotten so formulaic

A game I now play when a new character is introduced is live or die? villian, her or or bystander? This is nothing like Thunder Point.

Great to have Sean Dillon back!

It seems like it’s been a while between books but as a Sean Dillon fan, this book does not disappoint!
Love the narrator!

Just fair

Good narrator. This is one of his weakest books in the series. Weak plot and too many flashbacks to previous books.

Not up to snuff

It appears Jack is reaching the bottom of the barrel. This was an okay book, but the weakest SD I have read.

Predictable

Most of Higgins books still have quite a bit of action , but are starting to become so predictable. Still good overall.

Disappointing Sequel

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

After listening to all of the other books in the series, this one is very disappointing. The plot nor characters are very well developed, with the writer just seeming to go through the motions by moving quickly from one scene to the next and repeating the same phrases throughout.

Would you recommend The Midnight Bell to your friends? Why or why not?

No, worst book in the series.

What does Michael Page bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Great accents in an attempt to make this book sound better than it is.

Did The Midnight Bell inspire you to do anything?

To no longer read any more books in this series.

where do we go from here?

I have enjoyed nearly all of the Jack Higgins books, And now that he is gone I wonder if someone will take take the time to continue the Sean Dillon series.
In Audible's chapter 9 Sean is talking to Kate Munroe, a free freelance writer. He says, speaking of the Holkamd Park crew, "You can write a book about it Kate."
What a great place for someone to take off and continue the Sean Dillon Series.
I wish I had the Knowledge of Ireland and the troubles, I would take on the challenge myself.
Jack Higgins had a great career.
MarkMirzaDOTcom

Another Rip-Snorter by Higgins

Jack Higgins delivers again! The addition of Hannah the concert pianist-turned-spy was great! I’ve enjoyed every book in the Sean Dillon series. The narrator is fantastic!