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Solo
The classic Jack Higgins thriller—now available as an ebook Piano virtuoso John Mikali’s flair as a musician is matched only by his skill as an assassin. The trail of bodies he’s left in his wake is proof. But when he kills a young woman while fleeing from a murder scene, the woman’s father, a special forces soldier in the British military, vows to avenge his daughter’s death. Now, both men are locked in a deadly game, playing for the ultimate stakes.
285 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
548 people are currently reading
851 people want to read
About the author
Jack Higgins
481 books1,276 followersThere 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
March 24, 2018
A young John Mikali was raised by his grandmother and a dear friend. But it was when his grandmother died, then the person who was the closest thing to a mother he’d ever had was killed in a hit and run accident that Mikali felt the darkness descend. The Foreign Legion taught him much in the two years until he was released due to injury – his recuperation with his grandfather brought him back to the land of the living. It was also where his ability with the piano showed its true colours – he would be famous in his chosen career…
Asa Morgan was a colonel in Northern Ireland and hadn’t seen his ex-wife or daughter in London in quite some time. But when he was notified of the tragic death of his daughter in a shocking accident, Asa’s direction in life changed. Revenge was foremost in Morgan’s mind – he would find the person who killed his fourteen-year-old daughter if it was the last thing he did.
Solo by Jack Higgins was published back in 1980 but still has the same punch as all his others I’ve read. I thoroughly enjoy Higgins’ work, having read all the Sean Dillon series and was surprised to see Brigadier Charles Ferguson appear in Solo. Fast moving, the tension is electric and the twists well done! Highly recommended.
Asa Morgan was a colonel in Northern Ireland and hadn’t seen his ex-wife or daughter in London in quite some time. But when he was notified of the tragic death of his daughter in a shocking accident, Asa’s direction in life changed. Revenge was foremost in Morgan’s mind – he would find the person who killed his fourteen-year-old daughter if it was the last thing he did.
Solo by Jack Higgins was published back in 1980 but still has the same punch as all his others I’ve read. I thoroughly enjoy Higgins’ work, having read all the Sean Dillon series and was surprised to see Brigadier Charles Ferguson appear in Solo. Fast moving, the tension is electric and the twists well done! Highly recommended.
July 27, 2016
"Ο σολίστας", εκδόσεις Bell.
Δεύτερο βιβλίο του Τζακ Χίγκινς που διαβάζω φέτος, πέμπτο συνολικά. Τον Απρίλιο διάβασα το πιο πολυδιαβασμένο και ίσως το καλύτερο μυθιστόρημα του συγγραφέα, το κλασικό "Ο αετός άγγιξε τη γη", το οποίο με ξετρέλανε. Τώρα δεν έγινε ακριβώς το ίδιο με το "Ο σολίστας", όμως χωρίς αμφιβολία έμεινα ικανοποιημένος. Η ώρα πέρασε γρήγορα και, πάνω απ'όλα, ευχάριστα, ενώ απόλαυσα σε μεγάλο βαθμό δράση και ένταση.
Δεκαετία του '70. Ο ελληνικής καταγωγής Τζον Μιχάλης είναι ένας μεγάλος πιανίστας, που έχει δώσει παραστάσεις στα καλύτερα μέγαρα μουσικής της Ευρώπης (και όχι μόνο). Τυχαίνει όμως να είναι και ένας ψυχρός εκτελεστής, με δύσκολα παιδικά χρόνια, που στο παρελθόν ήταν και στρατιώτης της Λεγεώνας των Ξένων. Σκοτώνει υπουργούς, επιχειρηματίες, στρατιωτικούς και άλλους επιφανείς άντρες, για λογαριασμό διαφόρων οργανώσεων. Τα κίνητρα του δεν είναι πολιτικά. Την ίδια ώρα κάνει περιοδείες και συμμετέχει σε κονσέρτα. Μετά από μια "δουλειά", κατά την διαφυγή του, θα σκοτώσει κατά λάθος ένα δεκατετράχρονο κορίτσι. Αυτό το κορίτσι είναι η κόρη ενός σκληρού Άγγλου συνταγματάρχη, του Άσα Μόργκαν. Η εκδίκηση είναι μονόδρομος για τον Μόργκαν...
Ωραίο περιπετειώδες θρίλερ, καλογραμμένο και ευκολοδιάβαστο, με γρήγορους ρυθμούς και μπόλικη περιπέτεια. Μην περιμένετε ιδιαίτερο βάθος στους χαρακτήρες ή τα κίνητρά τους, είναι αυτοί που είναι και κάνουν αυτά που κάνουν. Είναι σαν να βλέπετε μια καλή αγγλική ταινία δράσης της δεκαετίας του '70 ή του '80. Οι περιγραφές των σκηνών δράσης είναι ωραίες και με ρεαλισμό, η ένταση μπόλικη, η ατμόσφαιρα εξαιρετική. Στα θετικά βάζω και ότι ένα μικρό κομμάτι της πλοκής διαδραματίζεται στην Ύδρα. Δεν μιλάμε για αριστούργημα, αλλά για ένα ικανοποιητικό και ψυχαγωγικό περιπετειώδες θρίλερ παλαιάς κοπής, made in UK.
Δεύτερο βιβλίο του Τζακ Χίγκινς που διαβάζω φέτος, πέμπτο συνολικά. Τον Απρίλιο διάβασα το πιο πολυδιαβασμένο και ίσως το καλύτερο μυθιστόρημα του συγγραφέα, το κλασικό "Ο αετός άγγιξε τη γη", το οποίο με ξετρέλανε. Τώρα δεν έγινε ακριβώς το ίδιο με το "Ο σολίστας", όμως χωρίς αμφιβολία έμεινα ικανοποιημένος. Η ώρα πέρασε γρήγορα και, πάνω απ'όλα, ευχάριστα, ενώ απόλαυσα σε μεγάλο βαθμό δράση και ένταση.
Δεκαετία του '70. Ο ελληνικής καταγωγής Τζον Μιχάλης είναι ένας μεγάλος πιανίστας, που έχει δώσει παραστάσεις στα καλύτερα μέγαρα μουσικής της Ευρώπης (και όχι μόνο). Τυχαίνει όμως να είναι και ένας ψυχρός εκτελεστής, με δύσκολα παιδικά χρόνια, που στο παρελθόν ήταν και στρατιώτης της Λεγεώνας των Ξένων. Σκοτώνει υπουργούς, επιχειρηματίες, στρατιωτικούς και άλλους επιφανείς άντρες, για λογαριασμό διαφόρων οργανώσεων. Τα κίνητρα του δεν είναι πολιτικά. Την ίδια ώρα κάνει περιοδείες και συμμετέχει σε κονσέρτα. Μετά από μια "δουλειά", κατά την διαφυγή του, θα σκοτώσει κατά λάθος ένα δεκατετράχρονο κορίτσι. Αυτό το κορίτσι είναι η κόρη ενός σκληρού Άγγλου συνταγματάρχη, του Άσα Μόργκαν. Η εκδίκηση είναι μονόδρομος για τον Μόργκαν...
Ωραίο περιπετειώδες θρίλερ, καλογραμμένο και ευκολοδιάβαστο, με γρήγορους ρυθμούς και μπόλικη περιπέτεια. Μην περιμένετε ιδιαίτερο βάθος στους χαρακτήρες ή τα κίνητρά τους, είναι αυτοί που είναι και κάνουν αυτά που κάνουν. Είναι σαν να βλέπετε μια καλή αγγλική ταινία δράσης της δεκαετίας του '70 ή του '80. Οι περιγραφές των σκηνών δράσης είναι ωραίες και με ρεαλισμό, η ένταση μπόλικη, η ατμόσφαιρα εξαιρετική. Στα θετικά βάζω και ότι ένα μικρό κομμάτι της πλοκής διαδραματίζεται στην Ύδρα. Δεν μιλάμε για αριστούργημα, αλλά για ένα ικανοποιητικό και ψυχαγωγικό περιπετειώδες θρίλερ παλαιάς κοπής, made in UK.
September 24, 2012
Tense revenge mystery
As a musician who has written a similar novel, Natalie's Revenge, I was eager to read Solo, by Jack Higgins. The opposing forces in this dark tale are two men bent on revenge. One is a concert pianist, an unlikely calling for a hit man, but one that provides a perfect cover as he plays concerts in various cities, where he kills people.
His pursuer, a British Intelligence agent described by one of his colleagues as "a right bastard," is determined to capture the man who killed his daughter.
The backgrounds of both men are carefully detailed to reveal their motives. A winsome woman psychologist provides a major complication when she becomes the love interest of both men.
The action-packed opening creates the crisis that drives this book to its tense concluding showdown, an ending in which there are no winners.
As a musician who has written a similar novel, Natalie's Revenge, I was eager to read Solo, by Jack Higgins. The opposing forces in this dark tale are two men bent on revenge. One is a concert pianist, an unlikely calling for a hit man, but one that provides a perfect cover as he plays concerts in various cities, where he kills people.
His pursuer, a British Intelligence agent described by one of his colleagues as "a right bastard," is determined to capture the man who killed his daughter.
The backgrounds of both men are carefully detailed to reveal their motives. A winsome woman psychologist provides a major complication when she becomes the love interest of both men.
The action-packed opening creates the crisis that drives this book to its tense concluding showdown, an ending in which there are no winners.
December 18, 2019
An accomplished assassin who travels the globe as a world class pianist. After one hit, while trying to escape the police, he happens to run down a 14 year old girl. Her father, a SAS colonel, seeks revenge. Along the way he encounters IRA gunmen and members of the London mob.
As with so many of Higgin's thrillers, not all is as it seems.
As with so many of Higgin's thrillers, not all is as it seems.
August 5, 2012
Incredibly superficial and really doesn't stand up to the test if time. Seems outdated and old fashioned, but not in an interesting or stylized way.
April 4, 2016
His best book by far.
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November 26, 2024I can't bring myself to give this one a rating, as whilst it was arguably engaging and maintains a compelling sense of tension throughout, it has aged like milk on a radiator.
The overarching plot is well structured, it made for a fun read, sure, and I breezed through it, but you have to turn off the part of your brain that thinks critically when you pick it up. It seems silly even criticising Solo, because it's a spy/assassin adventure thriller written in the 80s, so what do you expect, but then even Robert Ludlum managed to criticise the US 'intelligence' machine.
The antagonist is an assassin so sexy that even the women he kidnaps can't resist him, and the protagonist is a former soldier who tells a woman she looks like a man until she agrees to go on a date with him. It's hard to know which one you're supposed to root for.
All of this is drenched in a really Anglo-centric, boot-licking, God Save the Queen belief that literally everything the British Army has ever done, and will do, is just and praiseworthy. The book is so ham-fisted in presenting its political ideology that it's sometimes genuinely quite funny. But then again, criticising the politics of a book about an SAS soldier on a revenge quest seems about as useful as arguing that "the James Bond books are sexist" or "Dune is set in space".
I leave you with an extract from the book's imagined retelling of Bloody Friday, 1972:
'Mother of God, what a waste of good whiskey,' Liam O'Hagan said. 'Ah, well, the day will come, or so my Socialist Democratic comrades tell me, when not only will Ireland be free and united again, but with whiskey on tap like water in every decent man's house.'
He grinned and slapped the boy on the shoulder. 'And now, Seumas, my boy, I think we should get the hell out of here.'
The overarching plot is well structured, it made for a fun read, sure, and I breezed through it, but you have to turn off the part of your brain that thinks critically when you pick it up. It seems silly even criticising Solo, because it's a spy/assassin adventure thriller written in the 80s, so what do you expect, but then even Robert Ludlum managed to criticise the US 'intelligence' machine.
The antagonist is an assassin so sexy that even the women he kidnaps can't resist him, and the protagonist is a former soldier who tells a woman she looks like a man until she agrees to go on a date with him. It's hard to know which one you're supposed to root for.
All of this is drenched in a really Anglo-centric, boot-licking, God Save the Queen belief that literally everything the British Army has ever done, and will do, is just and praiseworthy. The book is so ham-fisted in presenting its political ideology that it's sometimes genuinely quite funny. But then again, criticising the politics of a book about an SAS soldier on a revenge quest seems about as useful as arguing that "the James Bond books are sexist" or "Dune is set in space".
I leave you with an extract from the book's imagined retelling of Bloody Friday, 1972:
'Mother of God, what a waste of good whiskey,' Liam O'Hagan said. 'Ah, well, the day will come, or so my Socialist Democratic comrades tell me, when not only will Ireland be free and united again, but with whiskey on tap like water in every decent man's house.'
He grinned and slapped the boy on the shoulder. 'And now, Seumas, my boy, I think we should get the hell out of here.'
October 24, 2020
Quite an entertainning book. I was enveloped by a feeling of divine destiny as we approached the climax, and the climax assured me it was intended.
February 25, 2025
Me ha parecido una novela absolutamente bien construida. El género policiaco/novela negra, nunca defrauda y me parece un acierto conocer desde un inicio la identidad del asesino, y poder seguir tanto su punto de vista en la historia como su "antagonista", un John Mikali carismático y sobresaliente en los suyo, y el de su contraparte, Asa Morgan, el "héroe", coronel renegado y entregado profundamente a su causa, movido por la sed de venganza. Un final absolutamente impoluto que deja ver qué la venganza, una vez mas, no conduce a nada, no siendo nada más, que un juego de idiotas.
"El campo de batalla es una tierra de cadáveres en pie"
"El campo de batalla es una tierra de cadáveres en pie"
October 31, 2023
Quick story of a killers mistake that puts him in the sights of a vicious and vengeful father. No wasted pages in this one. It goes by fast simply because Higgins made it that way. I enjoyed it, but the ending felt flat and too quick, I was hoping for some ending where we find out what's next, but clearly, Higgins didn't feel the need for that. I enjoyed it. It was fun, quick, and exciting.
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January 4, 2019Ik heb dit boek niet uitgelezen/uitgeluisterd. Het zal ongetwijfeld een mooi boek zijn, maar al na 5 minuten begon de voorlezer van dit verhaal me te irriteren. Boek dus maar aan de kant gelegd.
March 30, 2013
John Mikali, a fantastic piano player, was born in California of a father from Hydra, an island off the Greek coast, and an American mother. His father died early in his childhood, and then his mother when he was 17, and he went back to Greece to live with his grandfather. He then joined the Foreign Legion and became a very skilled killer. His first non military killing was to kill the men who killed his grandfather, and then worked for a soviet agent in Paris in between his piano concerts. When fleeing from a killing, he kills a young girl in a hit and run accident. The girl's father, Colonal Asa Morgan, also a skilled killer, vows to catch his daughter's killer. The book documents Morgan's search for for Mikali and their final encounter. The plot is complicated by the fact that they both love the same woman - Katherine Riley, a PhD in Psychiatry with a specialty in terroists.
May 26, 2016
Jack Higgins' Solo is a thriller novel about murder and revenge. The book is set in the 1970's, and follows John Mikali, a Greco-American assassin who targets political figures from around the world, and Asa Morgan, a man who seeks revenge against Mikali. The focus shifts back and forth between the two.
The book opens with the quote "Revenge is a wild kind of justice," from Francis Bacon, foreshadowing the book's theme of revenge. Mikali, who takes great care to avoid any deaths other than that of his target, makes a crucial mistake in the prologue. During his escape from a job, he accidentally runs over and kills the daughter of Colonel Asa Morgan. Morgan then makes it his objective to hunt down his daughter's killer.
Solo would be good for people who like thriller novels, and enjoy books with the theme of vengeance and murder.
The book opens with the quote "Revenge is a wild kind of justice," from Francis Bacon, foreshadowing the book's theme of revenge. Mikali, who takes great care to avoid any deaths other than that of his target, makes a crucial mistake in the prologue. During his escape from a job, he accidentally runs over and kills the daughter of Colonel Asa Morgan. Morgan then makes it his objective to hunt down his daughter's killer.
Solo would be good for people who like thriller novels, and enjoy books with the theme of vengeance and murder.
April 20, 2020
Higgins over the years has steadily moved down my list of go-to authors. I feel that his stories are too predictable - cannot-die hero killing all the bad guys. Very macho stuff. "Solo" is a page turner but as with most of his latter stories, you begin to wonder what it's all about the moment you finish the book. Overhyped 70s author mostly because of movie adaptations. Not recommended.
December 10, 2017
Great from the first word.
I have been a fan of Jack Higgins from the first times I read my first Jack Higgins novel. Never a lot of fluf or padding. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a fast moving novel with unique plot.
I have been a fan of Jack Higgins from the first times I read my first Jack Higgins novel. Never a lot of fluf or padding. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a fast moving novel with unique plot.
December 15, 2019
Higgins never disappoints
I have read most of Mr. Higgins' books. He takes you from your world into the world of each detailed plot. His characters become part of your world as you become acquainted with each main one. As I said in the title description, he never disappoints.
I have read most of Mr. Higgins' books. He takes you from your world into the world of each detailed plot. His characters become part of your world as you become acquainted with each main one. As I said in the title description, he never disappoints.
February 18, 2013
good reading
November 11, 2016
Te older books by Higgins used to be good, but this wasn't. Forced tempo and shallow story.
November 23, 2017
Greek tale
As always an exciting mystery worth every minute and hard to put down! I always enjoy a Jack Higgins tale.
As always an exciting mystery worth every minute and hard to put down! I always enjoy a Jack Higgins tale.
February 11, 2018
S true thriller
I enjoyed every page of this book. You never know what will happen next and I liked the ending. If you like Jack Higgins books you will enjoy this one.
I enjoyed every page of this book. You never know what will happen next and I liked the ending. If you like Jack Higgins books you will enjoy this one.
July 30, 2018
Gripping
I thought it was captivating, brilliant and sad. I can't think of anything that would have improved it. A true artist wrote this one!
I thought it was captivating, brilliant and sad. I can't think of anything that would have improved it. A true artist wrote this one!
May 14, 2019
SOLO
Another great Jack Higgins book. I always enjoy his writings and can hardly put them down till I finish them, then regret I have read them so fast.
Another great Jack Higgins book. I always enjoy his writings and can hardly put them down till I finish them, then regret I have read them so fast.
July 7, 2019
Este es un libro lleno de acción de principio a fin, eso es lo más destacable sobre él.
La historia me parece que tuvo un inicio muy fuerte presentándonos a este famoso pianista que por cosas del destino se convierte en asesino de varios enemigos políticos, además de crearse fama de Don Juan mientras su carrera como pianista va en ascenso.
Las primeras 100 páginas me parecieron magníficas, sin embargo y tristemente, esto no siguió así pues a partir de estas páginas el resto del libro se centra más en otro personaje (Asa Morgan) con el cual nunca logré empatizar, ni entender muchas de sus acciones, mucho menos el intento fallido de vínculo amoroso que se intentó crear con cierto personaje, fue lo peor sobre este personaje. Y aunque Morgan se encuentra rodeado de muchas escenas de acción, en ocasiones no lograba mantener mi atención.
Otro personaje que no terminé de entender es Katherine Riley, ni siquiera me parece necesario hablar mucho de ella pues fue un personaje que a lo largo del libro mostró muy poco de personalidad y casi nada de aportaciones a la historia.
Por último quisiera hablar de John Mikali, mi personaje favorito de esta historia. La presentación de Mikali al inicio, contándonos todo su pasado y cómo llegó a ser quien es, me pareció fenomenal, no podía parar de leer. Cada parte en la que Mikali aparecía mi atención e interés volvía por completo. Un personaje muy complejo, en todo el sentido de la palabra. Me hubiera gustado que apareciera más sobre él, y estoy muy molesto con el final que se le dio, sé que era lo más obvio y propio para la historia, pero a mí no me gustó.
En pocas palabras, El Solista es un libro que inicia con un protagonista fuerte que se ve despojado del protagonismo por otro personaje plano, que no capta el interés por completo. Un libro lleno de acción que decae poco a poco en cuanto al desarrollo de personajes
La historia me parece que tuvo un inicio muy fuerte presentándonos a este famoso pianista que por cosas del destino se convierte en asesino de varios enemigos políticos, además de crearse fama de Don Juan mientras su carrera como pianista va en ascenso.
Las primeras 100 páginas me parecieron magníficas, sin embargo y tristemente, esto no siguió así pues a partir de estas páginas el resto del libro se centra más en otro personaje (Asa Morgan) con el cual nunca logré empatizar, ni entender muchas de sus acciones, mucho menos el intento fallido de vínculo amoroso que se intentó crear con cierto personaje, fue lo peor sobre este personaje. Y aunque Morgan se encuentra rodeado de muchas escenas de acción, en ocasiones no lograba mantener mi atención.
Otro personaje que no terminé de entender es Katherine Riley, ni siquiera me parece necesario hablar mucho de ella pues fue un personaje que a lo largo del libro mostró muy poco de personalidad y casi nada de aportaciones a la historia.
Por último quisiera hablar de John Mikali, mi personaje favorito de esta historia. La presentación de Mikali al inicio, contándonos todo su pasado y cómo llegó a ser quien es, me pareció fenomenal, no podía parar de leer. Cada parte en la que Mikali aparecía mi atención e interés volvía por completo. Un personaje muy complejo, en todo el sentido de la palabra. Me hubiera gustado que apareciera más sobre él, y estoy muy molesto con el final que se le dio, sé que era lo más obvio y propio para la historia, pero a mí no me gustó.
En pocas palabras, El Solista es un libro que inicia con un protagonista fuerte que se ve despojado del protagonismo por otro personaje plano, que no capta el interés por completo. Un libro lleno de acción que decae poco a poco en cuanto al desarrollo de personajes
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May 18, 2023The fortieth #jackhiggins #martinfallon #hughmarlowe #harrypatterson #henrypatterson #jamesgraham novel #solo published in 1980. featuring an interesting concoction of characters: a famous concert pianist that moonlights as a ruthless assassin who is only in it for the excitement and a soldier seeking revenge. The prologue is really impressive and immediately exciting action packed and intriguing. The novel also includes one of the first appearances of brigadier Charles Ferguson who would later take on a recurring role in the Sean Dillon series. Perhaps there is a shared Jack Higgins universe incorporating many of his novels/characters. The majority of the book is fast paced and exciting, lots of different locations and a mixture of hard criminal types Asa Morgan makes his way through gradually following the breadcrumbs to his target. Morgan’s deduction involves a little leap in logic but it is justified. The meeting between the two central characters starts under false pretences but this is dropped immediately in a surprising and entertaining way. Higgins would use this plot device a few times in the Sean Dillon novels (perhaps a little too repetitively in the later books) but it works very effectively in this story. The usual tropes of medicinal brandy, military, classical music etc. good stuff.
December 19, 2018
Bueno. un thriller corto que nos mezcla asesinatos con música. Nos cuenta la doble vida de John Mikali, pianista reconocido a nivel mundial que también es un asesino. todo comienza cuando descubre que su abuelo no murió de forma accidental, sino que fue asesinado y torturado. Con su amplio conocimiento en la lucha tras haber ingresado al ejército de muchacho, se vale para vengarse y dar muerte a los asesinos. pero aquí es donde comienza la situación, ya que se irá dando fama del cretense.
En este libro vemos la facilidad con que uno aprende a engañar y ocultar su otra cara ante los demás, y cómo eso permite actuar con cautela mientras llevas perfectamente el paralelismo de tu vida como músico y como asesino. Ligero y corto, fácil de leer, si bien para mi gusto la acción no es tan fuerte ni hay un final desbordante o inesperado, pues ya te esperas lo que puede ocurrir (es algo predecible a mi gusto, salvo en ).
recomendable. por cierto fue una lectura
En este libro vemos la facilidad con que uno aprende a engañar y ocultar su otra cara ante los demás, y cómo eso permite actuar con cautela mientras llevas perfectamente el paralelismo de tu vida como músico y como asesino. Ligero y corto, fácil de leer, si bien para mi gusto la acción no es tan fuerte ni hay un final desbordante o inesperado, pues ya te esperas lo que puede ocurrir (es algo predecible a mi gusto, salvo en ).
recomendable. por cierto fue una lectura
October 4, 2025
This is Jack Higgins at the height of his powers, an exciting game of cat and mouse or snake and mongoose, pick your metaphor.
Higgins takes his time putting all the players on the board, but keeps things interesting.
There is an assasain known as the Cretan--from Crete--who executes a variety of leaders throughout the world and no one knows who he is or how he gets to his targets despite high security. He's invisible. Until he makes a mistake in London. During an escape from his latest hit, he's involved in a hit and run accident, killing a young girl.
Unfortunately for him, her father is a general in the British army and relentless.
Higgins lets you know who the assasin is early in the book.
The pacing never fails, keeping you on the edge of your seat thoughout. It comes down a tense finale, that pays off handsomely.
One of the key players here is Brigadier General Ferguson, who is a major player in the Sean Dillon books. I'm not sure if this is where he first introduced Ferguson, but I got the feeling that this may have been where he got the idea for the Dillon novels.
This is worth re-reading.
Higgins takes his time putting all the players on the board, but keeps things interesting.
There is an assasain known as the Cretan--from Crete--who executes a variety of leaders throughout the world and no one knows who he is or how he gets to his targets despite high security. He's invisible. Until he makes a mistake in London. During an escape from his latest hit, he's involved in a hit and run accident, killing a young girl.
Unfortunately for him, her father is a general in the British army and relentless.
Higgins lets you know who the assasin is early in the book.
The pacing never fails, keeping you on the edge of your seat thoughout. It comes down a tense finale, that pays off handsomely.
One of the key players here is Brigadier General Ferguson, who is a major player in the Sean Dillon books. I'm not sure if this is where he first introduced Ferguson, but I got the feeling that this may have been where he got the idea for the Dillon novels.
This is worth re-reading.
May 12, 2021
Relata la historia de un fantástico (?) pianista, huérfano desde pequeño que por fuerzas del destino se convierte en un hombre rico, refinado, amante de las artes, concertista de éxito mundial y asesino. Es decir, un ser insoportable.
El libro está bien escrito, habrá a quienes les apasionen las historias aceleradas y con mucha acción. En cada párrafo sucede algo realmente interesante, pero no encuentro en los personajes o en la prosa la introspección que busco.
Uso excesivo del recurso deus ex machina, pero no deja de ser disfrutable.
Es como leer una vieja película de James Bond. Interesante pero muy pasada de moda, sobre todo por el protagonista. Not my cup of tea.
El libro está bien escrito, habrá a quienes les apasionen las historias aceleradas y con mucha acción. En cada párrafo sucede algo realmente interesante, pero no encuentro en los personajes o en la prosa la introspección que busco.
Uso excesivo del recurso deus ex machina, pero no deja de ser disfrutable.
Es como leer una vieja película de James Bond. Interesante pero muy pasada de moda, sobre todo por el protagonista. Not my cup of tea.
December 27, 2022
This is an early Higgins book, with Ferguson in it, and Asa Morgan as the main character. Asa’s daughter has been killed, accidentally, but Morgan seeks revenge. He hunts down the assassin known as the Cretan, whose true identity is John Mikali, a world renowned piano soloist. I just never got to like any of the characters, not Morgan, certainly not Mikali, and not the female interest Dr. Katherine Riley. I also didn’t particularly like the ending, as I just thought there would be a better closure between Asa and Katherine. For these reasons, 3 stars rather than 4.
December 12, 2023
I read quite a few of Higgins novels in my early teens and loved them, so had a hankering to read him again recently and bought a job lot on eBay.
It was like seeing an old friend for the first time in years and I read Solo in one long sitting pretty much. All the familiar phrases and ticks were there, a Mauser with a bulbous silencer as a weapon, the mention of a “Judas gate” several times, and Bushmills whiskey! I’m going to enjoy this nostalgic trip I think. His books were always propulsive reads and Solo certainly rattled along!
It was like seeing an old friend for the first time in years and I read Solo in one long sitting pretty much. All the familiar phrases and ticks were there, a Mauser with a bulbous silencer as a weapon, the mention of a “Judas gate” several times, and Bushmills whiskey! I’m going to enjoy this nostalgic trip I think. His books were always propulsive reads and Solo certainly rattled along!
March 26, 2023
Read two books by Jack Higgins back to back. This is much better than the previous one I read, but no where near- the eagle has landed, the judas gate, luciano’s luck, confessional, night of the fox(one of his best).
He succeeds to some extent using the same general premise as many if his previous novels, but he falls short by more than a mile! Still, for a staunch fan of Higgins, like me, it is an okay read.
He succeeds to some extent using the same general premise as many if his previous novels, but he falls short by more than a mile! Still, for a staunch fan of Higgins, like me, it is an okay read.
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