A Phoenix in the Blood

by Harry Patterson, Jack Higgins

Jay Williams is a young, intelligent man of Jamaican descent who, after receiving his PhD in history, is doing his National Service in the Intelligence Corps. He is learning Russian in a small language school in the textile town of Rainford, England when he meets Caroline Grey. Caroline is a young girl—only 15 years old—who is more lonely and broken than anyone should ever be. The two start a strange (and platonic) relationship that causes something of a stir. The townspeople understandably whisper about the relationship, and when Caroline’s mother finds out she forces its end.

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

One of the many pseudonyms used by Henry Patterson. See Jack Higgins for more complete information.

Reviews

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Morally confusing and uncomfortable. Quite sad. Quick read

[Terra Epsilon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Czego spodziewalibyście się po takiej okładce? I tytule? No powieść sensacyjno-przygodowa pełną gębą! Co prawda opis mógł zapalić czerwoną lampkę, ale na pewno nie na tyle dużą, abym nie zrobiła oczu jak pięć złoty po przeczytaniu całości.
Amber należy się nagroda za najbardziej odklejoną od treści okładkę!

Pewnie gdybym zaczęła od tego, że Feniks we krwi jest historią związku dwudziestoparoletniego mężczyzny z piętnastolatką, sporo osób powiedziałoby ,,stop, nie wezmę do ręki!”, bo przecież wiadomo JAKA TO RELACJA.
A guzik! Cielesności tu zero, cała relacja wyrosła na zwykłej potrzebie bliskości dwojga samotnych ludzi, których świat ma w dupie do momentu, aż zaczynają stawiać się temu światu - i wtedy dostają od niego po przysłowiowej mordzie, aby wrócili do szeregu. Tu nawet nie chodzi o wiek, nawet nie aż tak o rasizm - na pewno prawie każdy z nas choć raz w życiu słyszał, że ,,ta dziewczyna jest nie dla ciebie”, lub ,, ten chłopak jest nieodpowiedni”. I o to wszystko się rozbija, o to, że to ,,wstyd”, o to ,,co ludzie powiedzą”. Partner może pić, bić, zdradzać, być dupkiem - ale jeśli ma odpowiedni STATUS to wszystko git. Ktoś nie pasuje do tego konkretnego szablonu, nawet jeśli jest dobrym człowiekiem, ale po prostu wygląda inaczej, słucha innej muzyki, interesuje się czymś innym - wtedy nieee, bo ,,co ludzie powiedzą”! To jest ta chora mentalność, która wcale nie zniknęła do końca z naszego świata i to jest w tym wszystkim najsmutniejsze.

[Oli Turner]

A significant change of pace for Higgins. No action. No adventure. Just a simple and poignant love story. I’ve been critical of the romantic relationships detailed in Higgins previous work, this shows that he can write a more comprehensive relationship/romance. Of course things could have been fleshed out a bit more but he retains his lean and precise style with focus on a relationship between a 15 year old and a 23 year old. He includes some social commentary and proves he was ahead of his time. Possibly he could have used the Cold War/intelligence corps/Russian spy elements to make the plot a bit more complex, but evidently that wasn’t his intention or goal. It’s not Romeo and Juliet but he succeeds in making a haunting and moving love story. Plus the time jumps in the later chapters and the ending itself were very effective.

[Karuna Edwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant love story

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sad!

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is something I picked up recently in a charity shop because it intrigued me. It was in such good condition that I thought it was a modern book with a vintage design to it, but it is actually a 1964 first edition of a relatively unheard-of thriller. I bought the book and took it home, and found out upon further research that the author is still around today, and writes best-selling thrillers under the pseudonym Jack Higgins, a name I’ve heard of. This book is published under his actual name, Henry Patterson.

With that as the background to this book, it becomes clear that it is written by an author who is still developing their craft. I haven’t read any of his books written under the name Jack Higgins, so can’t compare, but A Phoenix in the Blood was a fairly simple read. That doesn’t mean it was a bad read though.

It tells the story of Jay Williams, a young West Indian man who has completed his history studies at Cambridge and is now called up for National Service in the Intelligence Corps. Posted to the Yorkshire Dales on a Russian interpreter’s course, he meets Caroline Grey, a fifteen-year-old girl who shares his loneliness in such an isolated place. They immediately connect and grow closer together, yet he is aware that their relationship is almost certain to fail. Caroline’s mother decides to move Caroline away, and Jay is posted to Germany for a short time. On his return, he finds it is impossible for their relationship to continue, as something tragic has happened to Caroline in his absence.

As I said, I mainly picked this book out of curiosity, as its pristine condition drew me in. The novel was a short read, but definitely worth my time, just to read something that is not very well known of. I have to say though that the story has definitely aged, and probably wouldn’t be released nowadays.