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The Thousand Faces of Night
Hugh Marlow fought for his country before ending up on the wrong side of the law. After five hard years inside, he was ready to fight anyone who stood in the way of what was his. Rough justice was still the only thing he understood. Until a beautiful, vulnerable woman started asking for his help A world away from London gangland, Marlowe was ready to try a new life. But like the night, his devil was waiting. Not one of his faces the same
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
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268 people want to read
About the author
Harry Patterson
48 books29 followersOne of the many pseudonyms used by Henry Patterson. See Jack Higgins for more complete information.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 15, 2022
Good thriller about a man released from prison in Great Britain after five years who goes to a small town to hide out from previous criminal acquaintances. There he gets involved with a family who sell veggies and fruits and coal who are being squeezed out of business by a local corrupt competitor. Pretty good story but the dialogue is just so-so.
March 15, 2021
I've been readying the Federalist Papers and wanted something light for entertainment. I found this paperback and remembered my enjoyment of
The Eagle has Landed
. Clearly written in 1961 - men (good and bad) settled things with their fists, and beautiful women admired them and treated their wounds - it was a quick read where the good guys battle the bad guys. Not much character development or suspense.
August 17, 2018
Marlowe recently released from prison. Five long years. Robbery. Now he wants to collect the money he has hidden. Problem is his old partners want it too. He decides to leave London and lay low for a short time. He gets a job in a small village driving a truck for a local produce company. A rival company is trying to run is boss out of business and will resort to any tactics including murder. Marlowe won’t stand for this. He will fight back. This is a classic Higgins thriller! Enjoying tremendously!
October 21, 2020
A good short and satisfying novel, rather dated now, but ideal for a journey. It concerns a released convict, Hugh Marlowe and his struggles to retrieve the hidden fruits of his crime and then preserve it from his former comrades in crime and from the police. During this he escapes from London by train, is forced to jump from it en route to Birmingham and finds himself in a new scenario in small town middle England where a market garden business is threatened by criminals. There is a lot of violence, a good twist and a suitable ending.
August 21, 2025
Plot
Hugh Marlowe is a man with a plan. After spending five long years in prison thanks to partners who left him in the lurch with some stolen loot, he’s getting out—and he’s going to get his money. But his former friends want it too. And that means Marlowe must go on the run.
The small village of Litton seems like the perfect spot to lay low. And working for a local farm collective is the perfect job to hide his true identity. But trouble finds Marlowe anyway when his employer comes under pressure from a local big shot who doesn’t appreciate competition of any kind—and is willing to burn out whoever stands against him.
Desperate to keep his head down, but unable to stay out of a fight to help those who have become his new family, Marlowe is going to have to take on all comers—both old and new—if he ever hopes to be truly free.
My Analysis
Higgins just writes good stories. A little shorter than most novels, not much setting, and with some standard and expected characters.
You have Marlowe, an ex-con just wanting to get the money he went to prison for. He runs into small-town bad guys while running away from London bad guys. he ends up helping the small-town businessmen against the gang of thugs.
You have the daughter who falls in love and constantly frets about Marlowe not starting trouble.
You have Jenny, the supposed niece of bad-guy O’Connor who tries to use her feminine wiles on Marlowe.
Mac, the stalwart and determined Jamaican.
Just a good story set in rural England with the expected action, tension, and outcome once gets from Higgins.
Don’t get too deep into character development, although there is some from Marlowe. Don’t expect too much detailed setting. These are tight scenes with standard bad guy dialogue and heroic moments.
Just enjoy the story. Higgins pumped out these stories in the traditional “dime a dozen” fashion, but I’ve enjoyed them all.
My rank:
Blue Belt
Hugh Marlowe is a man with a plan. After spending five long years in prison thanks to partners who left him in the lurch with some stolen loot, he’s getting out—and he’s going to get his money. But his former friends want it too. And that means Marlowe must go on the run.
The small village of Litton seems like the perfect spot to lay low. And working for a local farm collective is the perfect job to hide his true identity. But trouble finds Marlowe anyway when his employer comes under pressure from a local big shot who doesn’t appreciate competition of any kind—and is willing to burn out whoever stands against him.
Desperate to keep his head down, but unable to stay out of a fight to help those who have become his new family, Marlowe is going to have to take on all comers—both old and new—if he ever hopes to be truly free.
My Analysis
Higgins just writes good stories. A little shorter than most novels, not much setting, and with some standard and expected characters.
You have Marlowe, an ex-con just wanting to get the money he went to prison for. He runs into small-town bad guys while running away from London bad guys. he ends up helping the small-town businessmen against the gang of thugs.
You have the daughter who falls in love and constantly frets about Marlowe not starting trouble.
You have Jenny, the supposed niece of bad-guy O’Connor who tries to use her feminine wiles on Marlowe.
Mac, the stalwart and determined Jamaican.
Just a good story set in rural England with the expected action, tension, and outcome once gets from Higgins.
Don’t get too deep into character development, although there is some from Marlowe. Don’t expect too much detailed setting. These are tight scenes with standard bad guy dialogue and heroic moments.
Just enjoy the story. Higgins pumped out these stories in the traditional “dime a dozen” fashion, but I’ve enjoyed them all.
My rank:
Blue Belt
July 24, 2021
Ok,but not great.
Excon tries to keep stolen money from London mob. He hides on a train, jumps off before he gets to a large city. Stumbles into a church where he meets a produce farmers daughter .She takes him home ,helps him and her father gives him a job. Good place to lay low until he can get to the money. Ah,but farmer has problems of his own and our hero gets nvolved. Multiple fights, another sexy woman and many near death experiences and he still going strong. Really??? This story reminds me of when I was a child watching TV and would yell,"Watch out,"to the screen. Jack Higgins other books were better,much better.
Excon tries to keep stolen money from London mob. He hides on a train, jumps off before he gets to a large city. Stumbles into a church where he meets a produce farmers daughter .She takes him home ,helps him and her father gives him a job. Good place to lay low until he can get to the money. Ah,but farmer has problems of his own and our hero gets nvolved. Multiple fights, another sexy woman and many near death experiences and he still going strong. Really??? This story reminds me of when I was a child watching TV and would yell,"Watch out,"to the screen. Jack Higgins other books were better,much better.
June 11, 2020
Written in 1961,Racism,Sexism,Violence.It is a book of its time centering around Hugh Marlowe who has spent his time in prison trying to get away from his fromer life he end sup in a small town near Birmingham,there are women involved ,a black character and small time gangsters trying to take over an old mans fruit selling business.Hugh gets involved giving out maximum violence and receiving it.
Finished the book out of boredom but never again !!
Finished the book out of boredom but never again !!
Read
July 9, 2021The third jack higgins / harry patterson novel published in 1961. Starts off really strong with a brilliant first chapter and a great premise but then takes a dramatic left turn and out of nowhere you find yourself reading a novel about a war between rival green grocers 😂🤦🏻♂️🤔. Not what I expected and consequently a little disappointing but perhaps that’s my fault. On the plus side short and fast with some reasonable character development and decent action
January 13, 2023
Brilliant
My profession, (psychiatrist,) does not permit to read a book straight through, this I could not put down, a truly excellent story, keeping you on the edge from front to back, wanting to know what would happen next, how would Marlow bring everything to a close.
A must read if you enjoy a thriller.
My profession, (psychiatrist,) does not permit to read a book straight through, this I could not put down, a truly excellent story, keeping you on the edge from front to back, wanting to know what would happen next, how would Marlow bring everything to a close.
A must read if you enjoy a thriller.
May 14, 2025
Read this in a day - so short. This is his 4th published book, maybe 3rd, but he is getting better.
Again, WARNING, read his stuff just before The Eagle Has Landed, then whatever you can after, until you get to Sean Dillon, then go back and read this early stuff - you will appreciate these early stories more if you do that.
Again, WARNING, read his stuff just before The Eagle Has Landed, then whatever you can after, until you get to Sean Dillon, then go back and read this early stuff - you will appreciate these early stories more if you do that.
May 18, 2017
A book of its time. Storyline was ok, didn't get attached to any of the characters and kinda knew where it was headed. No surprises, but an easy read.
September 13, 2017
A bit predictable and I wanted Hugh's relationships in a little more detail. I didn't like how he kept calling Mac "the Jamaican".
June 30, 2022
Dated and template from other books
July 1, 2022
1961 stand-alone thriller by author Jack Higgins (a pseudonym of Harry Patterson).
October 7, 2022
Still have no idea what the title refers to.
April 4, 2023
Enjoyable story
July 21, 2025
Different type of story
Interesting story and compelling finish for this Huggins book. Good characters and interesting turn throughout this book keeps the reader engaged.
Interesting story and compelling finish for this Huggins book. Good characters and interesting turn throughout this book keeps the reader engaged.
January 1, 2026
Ending saved it a little bit but the main character is 1-dimensional and violence is always the answer
August 20, 2022
my first time reading a suspense/thriller. this was my mum's old book that she read to help her learn english and I decided to read it to get out of my reading slump since it was really short. I really enjoyed it but that may be because the genre as a whole is new to me. I hated Jenny O'Connor from the start and I was a 100% valid for that in the end so...
September 3, 2016
Despite his reputation as a thriller writer, most of Higgins' novels are straight-forward, predictable reads. This early effort is no exception. This is the only Higgins' novel I had not read (except Dance-Hall Romeo which got horrible reviews). I wasn't saving it. I just found it hard to find a copy for many years. Ebooks has solved that.
I should add that this is not one Doc needs to search out. My guess is Kent read it many years ago. I seem to recall he was often ahead of me on Higgins, especially the older titles. Like most of the world, I discovered Higgins with The Eagle Has Landed, and its still his best book among the 67 I have read.
I should add that this is not one Doc needs to search out. My guess is Kent read it many years ago. I seem to recall he was often ahead of me on Higgins, especially the older titles. Like most of the world, I discovered Higgins with The Eagle Has Landed, and its still his best book among the 67 I have read.
October 11, 2011
Every now and again I listen to books on CD. It is good to hear another voice read the story. Like this story. Michael Page did a great job with this story. He made it better then what book is.
I like the story though. I just knew what Jenny was up to way before the end. The ending got so predictable. I predicted what will happen before the parts was read. Still, a good story.
I like the story though. I just knew what Jenny was up to way before the end. The ending got so predictable. I predicted what will happen before the parts was read. Still, a good story.
February 8, 2012
I couldn't really get into this one, my mind kept wandering so I couldn't keep up with what was going on.
May 3, 2012
A very weak Higgins.
December 30, 2012
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11612917
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11612917
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews