Dark Justice

Sean Dillon #12

by Jack Higgins

From the master of suspense, a novel about a very different kind of war-with a very different set of rules.

Jack Higgins is "the dean of intrigue novelists," wrote the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about his last novel, Bad Company. "He has no equal." In the words of the Associated Press, "When it comes to thriller writers, one name stands well above the crowd-Jack Higgins."

It is night in Manhattan. The President of the United States is scheduled to have dinner with an old friend, but in the building across the street, a man has disabled the security and stands at a window, a rifle in his hand.

Fortunately, his attempt is not successful-but this is only the beginning. Someone is recruiting a shadowy network of agents with the intention of creating terror. Their range is broad, their identities masked, their methods subtle. White House operative Blake Johnson and his counterpart in British intelligence, Sean Dillon, set out to trace the source of the havoc, but behind the first man they find another, and behind the second another still. And that last man is not pleased by the interference. Soon he will target them Johnson, Dillon, Dillon's colleagues. And one of them will fall.

Filled with all the dark suspense and sudden action for which Higgins has become famous, and driven by characters of complexity and passion, Dark Justice shows the master at the peak of his powers.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Adventure, Action, Espionage, Suspense

276 pages, Hardcover

First published August 19, 2004

About the author

There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Jack Higgins was best known of the many pseudonyms of Henry Patterson. (See also Martin Fallon, Harry Patterson, Hugh Marlowe and James Graham.)

He was the New York Times bestselling author of more than seventy thrillers, including The Eagle Has Landed and The Wolf at the Door. His books have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide.

Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Patterson grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland. As a child, Patterson was a voracious reader and later credited his passion for reading with fueling his creative drive to be an author. His upbringing in Belfast also exposed him to the political and religious violence that characterized the city at the time. At seven years old, Patterson was caught in gunfire while riding a tram, and later was in a Belfast movie theater when it was bombed. Though he escaped from both attacks unharmed, the turmoil in Northern Ireland would later become a significant influence in his books, many of which prominently feature the Irish Republican Army. After attending grammar school and college in Leeds, England, Patterson joined the British Army and served two years in the Household Cavalry, from 1947 to 1949, stationed along the East German border. He was considered an expert sharpshooter.

Following his military service, Patterson earned a degree in sociology from the London School of Economics, which led to teaching jobs at two English colleges. In 1959, while teaching at James Graham College, Patterson began writing novels, including some under the alias James Graham. As his popularity grew, Patterson left teaching to write full time. With the 1975 publication of the international blockbuster The Eagle Has Landed, which was later made into a movie of the same name starring Michael Caine, Patterson became a regular fixture on bestseller lists. His books draw heavily from history and include prominent figures—such as John Dillinger—and often center around significant events from such conflicts as World War II, the Korean War, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Patterson lived in Jersey, in the Channel Islands.

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could be I'm burned out of Sean Dillon as I have read them all. Did not find this as captivating as others in the series. 4 of 10 stars

[Razvan Banciu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing to impress or to remind after. It looks like a twopenny dark policier from the early 1920s. Tons of blood, far too many coincidences, the bad guys are as dumb as night. The fight scenes are also very poor.
So the two stars are in fact a sign of great benevolence...

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somebody tries to assassinate the president, but they are caught before they can pull the trigger.

Sean Dillon and company set out to find out what's what, and mostly have glib exchanges between killing people.

It actually reminded me of a Fred Williamson movie, despite Dillon being Irish.

[Addy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another masterpiece by Jack Higgins with Sean Dillon at the peak of his powers. The Irish touch once again makes this novel extra special. The old school IRA names and even the British gangsters were so believable. And so was the entire Russian entourage. Set in the post 9/11 world, this no holds barred, non stop action ride doesn't have a single dull moment. Starts off with an assassination attempt on the US President and ends with an assault on an Irish country home. Couldn't have asked for anything more.
4.5/5

[Lisa James · Rating 3 out of 5]

First read by this specific author. Darkly funny, fast paced, engaging storyline, great action-adventure/thriller/crime genre book. Kind of reminded me of Tom Clancy or Clive Cussler in style. Not my favorite genre as a rule, but I really got a kick out of this one.

[Debra Jeakins · Rating 5 out of 5]

DARK JUSTICE BY JACK HIGGINS is the first of the series I have read. I can tell you now, it wont be the last . The fast pace of the book, as well as the twists and turns in the plot make this a must read for anyone who likes the thrill of spy novels.

Sean Dillon,in his 12th book of the series is after a Russian/Muslim group who are plotting to kill not only the President but the leaders of the free world, and they have already tried to assassinate the President!!

Loved Dark Justice. Dillion is the type of character who has zero PC and plenty of guts and skill. He will stop and nothing,even murder to protect the Prime Minister and the free world leakers from the Russians and the Muslims.

[Nancy I · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been many, many years since I last read one of Higgins's Sean Dillon books. I liked them in the past and liked this one as well, and as this is #12 of 22 in the Dillon series I have a long way to go. With the passing of Mr. Higgins in April, 2022, we lost a prolific novelist . . . overall her wrote more than 80 books.
My only issue with this was at times it was difficult to tell who the dialogue belonged to as there is no "he said" or "XYZ character chimed in" etc. However that did not detract.
This novel grabs you from the beginning as an assassin is attempting to take the life of the U.S. President. It goes full speed ahead from there with Russians and Muslims in the mix, oh, the Brits and the Irish are there as well.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! I love this series - they just get better and better! The characters are so well done and I love the way they manage to tie in to each other with little references to things that happened in the previous books in the series. I can always rely on Higgins for a good bit of fun easy reading - the perfect pick me up after a bad book! 5 stars.

[Oli Turner]

The sixty-second #jackhiggins martin fallon Hugh Marlowe harry patterson Henry patterson james graham novel #darkjustice published in 2004. The twelfth #seandillon novel. It’s been 22 years since I read this. Not a direct sequel to the rashid saga of the last few books but it does follow on a little. This time a thwarted assassination attempt of the president leads our heroes to Russian intelligence and terrorist mosques in London being behind it. Lots of chasing after people with information in order to capture and interrogate them while the villains are trying to permanently silence them. Some commentary on the anti-terrorism legislation. Hannah Bernstein is falling deeper into moral crisis in this new post 9/11 world. Debating whether to resign, she is almost killed by the villains running her over in their car and she may never be the same again. The full cast of recurring characters appear. Possibly a bit repetitive (billy wanting to accompany Dillon, persons of interest being thrown in the river, Dillon shouting at old ladies!, the villains recruiting Irish criminals that met Dillon back in his IRA days). Higgins is playing with his well established format and tinkering at the edges a bit here and there. It’s a bit like he had a few different solutions in mind to a particular scenario so rather than limiting himself to one he writes a similar scenario in the next book so he can use the alternative solution rather than waste it. Economical storytelling as normal. The usual tropes for a Higgins novel. Interestingly he is bringing back the ‘wise priest’ stereotype from his earlier novels, putting them in Dillon’s world and flipping gender to a woman. Also a return to using a ‘fake’ nursing home as a safe house/detainment facility. A flashback to a meeting with an unhinged saddam hussein. A cameo from Putin (who had a Cold War encounter with Ferguson apparently - that would be an interesting book!). An action packed set piece in Iraq. Quite short but reasonably effective.

[Serdar Poirot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harry Morgan adında bir temizlik görevlisi ABD'de görev yerine gider ama niyeti temizlik yapmak değil Jake Cazalet'i vurmaktır. Blake Johnson ve ekibi onu yakalar ama dişindeki siyanür kapsülünü sıkarak intihar eder. Allah'ın Gazabı örgütüne mensuptur. Annesi İngiltere'de yaşamaktadır ve iş doğal olarak Ferguson ve ekibine kalır. Sean ve Hannah kadını konuşturmaya çalışır ve cami imamı olan Ali Selim'in adını öğrenirler. Aslında iş Rus milyarder ve eski KGB elemanı Belov'a aittir. Zamanında yardımcısı Yuri Ashimov ile Saddam Hüseyin'in hayatını kurtaran Belov'a, canı karşılığında 1 milyar dolar verir Saddam. O da işi bırakıp Sibirya'daki madenleri işletmeye başlar. Ferguson bir davette onunla konuşur ve neleri bildiğini anlatır. Ashimov, sevgilisi olan GRU ajanı Greta Novikova'dan habersiz Morgan'ın annesini öldürür. Ali Selim de Kuveyt üzerinden Irak'a kaçar. Greta bir ekiple yola çıkar. Sean ve Billy Salter da gider. Çatışmada Greta Sean'ın hayatını kurtarır. Ali Selim İngiltere'de sorgulamaya başlar. Ashimov yanına Dermot Kelly, Tod Murphy adındaki eski IRA elemanlarını almıştır. Onlar da Fahy ve Regan adlı elemanları alır. Kelly ve Murphy, gizli tanıkların yerine gizlice girip Selim'in öldürür ve Ferguson'u yaralar. Roper'ı öldürmek isteyen Fahy ve arkadaşını da Roper'ı ve Sean engeller. Ama İrlanda'ya diğerleri kaçar. Hatta Ashimov kaçarken yolda Hannah'ya arabayla çarpar. Ameliyata alınır ama Sean çıldırmıştır. Billy ile beraber onlar yok etmeye gider. Acaba başarılı olabilecek midir? Selim'in sorgulanmasında avukat olmasını savunan Hannah eskisi gibi olacak mıdır? Belov, Novikova ve diğerlerinin bindiği tekneyi havaya uçuran Sean başarılı olabilecek midir? Bundan sonra neler yaşanacaktır? Keyifle soluksuz okunan bir roman.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven’t read anything by Jack Higgins in some time and sort of forgot that while the plot and action moves along quite quickly, that is part of my problem. Things happen TOO quickly. I don’t need super long shootouts or battles, but I’d like more than “he entered the room and shot him twice in the heart”. Lots of dialogue propel the story which isn’t all bad, but there is very little description to give this novel any context. The differences between Washington, Baghdad and London are minimally discussed and are irrelevant to the plot to kill the president. Still, I was entertained enough and knew what I was getting into when I picked this up. Quick and dirty action!

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I particularly like the Sean Dillon character. I started reading Jack Higgins years ago and then after a lapse in my reading habits, have started reading again. Dillon is quite the intriguing man...always up for a fight so to speak but underneath a big soft spot for those he really cares for.....he is smart, reliable, and in fact even honorable....his past activiites in the IRA surfaces from time to time in these fast paced stories. I've been a fan of jack Higggins' writings for quite a number of years and recommend them highly to those readers who enjoy intrigue.

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Jack Higgins and specifically the Sean Dillion series. However, this book is far too similar to the previous book, “Bad Company”. The plot points seem to parallel each other with little variations. Without providing spoilers, it seems the magic, which worked well in “Bad Company”, was duplicated with a new protagonist (who assumes the previous villain’s empire). I was distracted and put off by these similarities. My goal is to read all the Dillon series, but I think its time to take a break.

[Mike Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of espionage because I have found most to be slow-moving and more intellectual than action. Also, I have a hard time remembering the characters' roles.

I liked the way Mr. Higgins told what was going on in one paragraph and then the next paragraph telling what was going on at the same time with other characters. Also. I liked how he kept the reader informed of who was who quite often. Still not a fan of espionage but Mr. Higgins did a good job making it bearable and more interesting than others have.

[Al · Rating 3 out of 5]

Straightforward black ops featuring the invulnerable antihero Sean Dillon. In this story, Dillon goes back to work with British intelligence to foil criminal efforts by a Russian oligarch to foster Muslim terrorism in the free world. Unusually, Higgins even makes time for some extended discussion about the moral aspects of Dillon's (and others') cheerful willingness to employ lethal vigilante methods to overcome demonstrable evil. I'm sure that very few of Higgins's readers would have any concerns about Dillon's methods.

[Jeff Tankersley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark Justice, Jack Higgins (mystery, thriller)
Jeff Book Review #279

2004's "Dark Justice" starts with a foiled assassination attempt on the President of the US and former IRA hitman-now-Irish-UK spy Sean Dillon is on the case. Dillon is a hardcore anti-terrorist, capable and forward-thinking, like a cop with a 007 license.

Verdict: A short, post-9/11 international terrorism thriller. Think maybe "24" but with an Irish Jack Bauer. An easy, at-times comicy read.

Jeff's Rating: 3 / 5 (Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG-13

[Tabitha Chamberlain · Rating 3 out of 5]

while this is typical terrorist are vile plot line, this is also the first book i've read of Higgins, i did find i liked the main Dillon while totally missing what the point of the book blurb was about. the story was interesting but more you know what's going in the first part of the book and the middle part gives you backstory then ending wraps it all together. if you're looking for a cliffhanger this is not it. easy weekend read, but probably won't stay with you for long.

[Jim Bowen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, which sees a group of British Jihadis work with the Russians to attempt assassinations on senior Western leaders is a little formulaic maybe? It certainly let a little predictable, if you ask me. It started well, but after that... nope. Anyone could have written it.

I've only read one other Jack Higgins book, The Eagle Has Landed. That was good. After this book, I won't be going back for a while.

[Neil Fulwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

If the previous instalment, ‘Bad Company’, was an improvement on the preceding two or three entries in the Sean Dillon saga, then ‘Dark Justice’ is a taut, snarling, take-no-prisoners return to form. Okay, Higgins lifts an entire set-piece from the last book (he normally leaves it two or three titles before self-plagiarising so shamelessly), but that’s a small criticism for an action thriller that moves with the propulsion and clarity of, say, an on-form Alistair MacLean adventure.

[Glen Feulner · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know what you're getting with Jack Higgins, And this book definitely won't sway your opinion. either way. It is a classic Dillon story. I enjoyed it, like I did all the other Dillon stories, but I am a little bit disappointed in the lack of character development for Hannah Bernstein. she's been in enough books at this point that she shouldn't be considered one note, but that's how she comes across. still worth a read if you're a fan of this series.

[Mr Roy Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've not read a Dillon book for a number of years and I have forgotten how cliche'd and old fashioned the narrative. Mr Higgins would not be allowed to publish such books today :). Anyway, Sean the good bad 'un somehow manages to top off all the baddies and not get a scratch himself. Back to the bad old Russians and the IRA again, but it is Sean Dillon and Jack Higgins.

[Lois Baron · Rating 1 out of 5]

A good first scene involves the thwarting of an assassination of a U.S. president. Then, sadly, the book lacks tension, engaging characters, much of a plot. Perhaps it's fine for people who have been with the series since the start. Seriously deficit for the rest of us.

[John Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book at one of those little roadside libraries. I was not inspired to keep reading and usually only read a chapter or two at a sitting. Frankly, now a week later, I really can't tell you anything about it. But it was free, so I have no regrets.

[Ajitabh Pandey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another adventure of Sean Dillon. This book (like couple of other in the series), starts with an attempted assassination of the US President. The book starts at USA, and then moves on to the UK and, Iraq before finally ending at Ireland.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somehow I find the Sean Dillon novels less than credible but fun to read. When you start thinking, well, of course what is happening is nothing more than pen and ink, then maybe the author has exceeded the limits of good writing. Still, a good book.

[thea Capazzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable Read

Wonderful characters to create a story that moved a great pace!
Dillon is such an exciting character that knows what to do a the
Exact time necessary! Fun to see the bad guys out foxed!

[William Howle · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual a page turner. Sean Dillon and Billy Salter at the end of the book go to avenge Hannah Bernstein.. They are dealing with Russians and former IRA thugs. My regret is that I did not read the books in order. I have a few more Sean Dillon adventures to read

[Gail Tavis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventure

Really good adventure/spy book in this continuing series. Lots of action, the England good people against Russian bad people. Jack Higgins was a great action adventure/spy writer.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was more melancholic than others in the Sean Dillon series, with two of the main supporting characters being shown to be human, the main character also feeling his own also mortality with the escapades throughout the story.

[Ninamarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this story...would be interested in reading others.
Best part was the audiobook had a reader who used a variety of accents, making it very enjoyable to listen to!