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Paul Chavasse #4
Midnight Never Comes: The exhilarating spy action thriller novel for 2025 by the legendary Sunday Times bestselling author
British Intelligence's maverick agent Paul Chavasse has been forgotten. Now his country needs him and he's back – back from the dead, back at work, and most importantly back in print!
After a botched mission in Albania, Paul Chavasse has been put out to grass. The Bureau figured their best agent was finished. But for Chavasse it is far from all over, as he seeks to rebuild his strength under the guidance of a martial arts master. And he is going to need every ounce of it.
In the Scottish Highlands, the Royal Artillery is testing a lethal new weapon. A Russian trawler fleet is nosing about in the Atlantic in entirely the wrong season. And a very rich Australian is using his financial power to put together an army.
Mission-ready or not, Paul Chavasse must prevent the government’s deadliest missile technology from falling into enemy hands. An enemy who is one of the most dangerous men in the world. But once upon a time, so was Paul Chavasse.
After a botched mission in Albania, Paul Chavasse has been put out to grass. The Bureau figured their best agent was finished. But for Chavasse it is far from all over, as he seeks to rebuild his strength under the guidance of a martial arts master. And he is going to need every ounce of it.
In the Scottish Highlands, the Royal Artillery is testing a lethal new weapon. A Russian trawler fleet is nosing about in the Atlantic in entirely the wrong season. And a very rich Australian is using his financial power to put together an army.
Mission-ready or not, Paul Chavasse must prevent the government’s deadliest missile technology from falling into enemy hands. An enemy who is one of the most dangerous men in the world. But once upon a time, so was Paul Chavasse.
150 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1966
201 people are currently reading
244 people want to read
About the author
Jack Higgins
494 books1,292 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 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 31, 2024
Paul Chavasse Arnavutluk görevinden döndükten sonra sağlık taramalarına girer ve sağlıklı bulunmaz. Görevden el çektirilir. Şefi Mallory'nin eski işi olan üniversitede dil bilimi hocalığı teklifini de reddeder. Bir Çin lokantasına girer ve burada bir kaç serserim ile cebelleşir. Adamlar bunu iyice dövecekken lokantanın sahibi olan Bay Tao hepsini devirir. Chi adı verilen güçle yaptığını söyler. Chavasse'yi 2 ay boyunca eğitir. Güçlenen ve gençleşen Chavasse 3 ay sonra kaçırılır. Kaçıran Kişi Mallory'dir ve ona göreve geri döndüğünü müjdeler. Max Dunley adında bir adamın peşine düşecektir. Asta Svensson adında bir üvey kızı ola bu milyonerin hayatında 6 yıl eksiktir ama yaşadığı yerlerde sürekli İngiliz ajanları kaybolmaktadır. Şimdi satın aldığı yerde ise Firebird adında bir füze denemesi yapılmaktadır. Bir şekilde Asta ile tanışan Chavasse onu Fergus Munro adında bir serseriden kurtarır. Böylece aile ile yakınlaşır. Albay Craig'in amcası olduğunu söyler ve Asta'yı geyik takibine götürür. Bir Rus bilim adamının peşindedir ve gizlice gittiği bir yerde onu bulur. Ama bilmediği Max'in aslında bir Alman ajanı olduğudur. Firebird ve bilim adamı ile gidecektir. Yardımcıları Murdoch ve Stavrou da pis işlerini yapmaktadır. Fergus'u öldürmüştür. Hapsedilen Chavasse Hector Munro ve Rory Munro ile görüşüp Fergus'un cesedini gösterince onu salarlar. Hapisteki Von Bayern adlı alman subay ile kaçar ve Max'in peşine düşer. Acaba başarılı olabilecek midir? Asta ne olacaktır? Bu işten sağ salim kurtulabilecek midir? Asta'nın annesini kim öldürmüştü? Keyifle okunan bir roman.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2022
published in 1966. paul chavasse returns in this highly atmospheric and enjoyable thriller. You can see Higgins becoming more polished in style and prose. This is a really solid spy novel with some good character development in the first act. A good deal of intrigue. Some great action and suspense. Possibly my favourite chavasse novel so far.
February 28, 2022
#4 in the Paul Chavasse series. This 1966 series entry by author Jack Higgins writing as Martin Fallon continues the saga of Paul Chavasse after he was seriously wounded in The Keys of Hell (1965). After being found unfit for duty and retired, Chavasse defies protection racketeers in a Chinese restaurant and finds a way to regain his dormant skills. Enjoyable.
October 23, 2018
Well done as always
As always, with books written by Jack Higgins, this book is well and I enjoyed reading it. The characters are interesting and the action is exciting. If you like to read action and adventure and are a fan of Jack Higgins you will enjoy this book.
As always, with books written by Jack Higgins, this book is well and I enjoyed reading it. The characters are interesting and the action is exciting. If you like to read action and adventure and are a fan of Jack Higgins you will enjoy this book.
September 11, 2025
A book very apt for its time. Being published first in 1966 I’m sure this was more the writing style. But for me, the objectification of women, was just too much.
As for the plot itself, somewhat predictable at parts, although I did find myself not wanting to put it down.
A quick easy read.
As for the plot itself, somewhat predictable at parts, although I did find myself not wanting to put it down.
A quick easy read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2018
Sept. 2018 book on tape. I am a Paul Chavasse fan. Good story with lots of action.
October 11, 2018
Quick read
Story wasn't up to the quality of some of his other reads. Missed the chance to expand in several areas
Story wasn't up to the quality of some of his other reads. Missed the chance to expand in several areas
August 10, 2019
Another great Paul Chavasse story by Jack Higgins.
February 13, 2024
midnight never comes
good story, easy read, disappointing with the abrupt ending. Would’ve liked to see more of how he finished with Asta
good story, easy read, disappointing with the abrupt ending. Would’ve liked to see more of how he finished with Asta
August 23, 2024
Very quick read.
March 6, 2025
DNF - Didn't appeal to me.
July 6, 2025
Remixed
Good reading, but be aware that much of the plot is remixed nearly 20 years later in Exocet. Of the two, I prefer the latter, as Mr. Higgins has become a better writer.
Good reading, but be aware that much of the plot is remixed nearly 20 years later in Exocet. Of the two, I prefer the latter, as Mr. Higgins has become a better writer.
April 17, 2026
Another good read. Wish there were more stories about this interesting character.
March 17, 2021
On the cartoon spy scale, if Nick Carter is a 5, James Bond is a 4, Matt Helm is a 2 and Harry Palmer is a 1, then Paul Chavasse is about a 3. He's realistic enough not to be insulting, but good enough to be entertaining.
The fourth book of the Chavasse series is the best one yet. The action moves along quickly, from run-ins with local gangsters and a Chinese martial arts guru in London to encounters with a beautiful young woman, tough hillbillies, and a villain with a castle and a private army in the Scottish countryside. Along the way, Chavasse demonstrates his impressive combination of commando skills, spy subterfuge and scholarly knowledge in infiltrating and disrupting the operations of Max Donner, a formidable enemy of the free world (not to mention his charm in seducing the beautiful Asta). Sometimes with Higgins you get half or two thirds of a great story and the rest is disappointing, but not this time—I enjoyed “Midnight Never Comes” from cover to cover. Four stars.
The fourth book of the Chavasse series is the best one yet. The action moves along quickly, from run-ins with local gangsters and a Chinese martial arts guru in London to encounters with a beautiful young woman, tough hillbillies, and a villain with a castle and a private army in the Scottish countryside. Along the way, Chavasse demonstrates his impressive combination of commando skills, spy subterfuge and scholarly knowledge in infiltrating and disrupting the operations of Max Donner, a formidable enemy of the free world (not to mention his charm in seducing the beautiful Asta). Sometimes with Higgins you get half or two thirds of a great story and the rest is disappointing, but not this time—I enjoyed “Midnight Never Comes” from cover to cover. Four stars.
May 21, 2016
This was a very good reading and interesting. The country side they were in sounds like a perfect place for criminal elements to hide. In this case it was close to there target and very secure. The only problem was that it was not secure because of the intelligence agency. Paul is a good investigator, but was taken advantage of by the Russian who he believed had been kidnapped and was actually working for the criminal element. It was a very good book.
April 10, 2012
Higgins wrote this as Martin Fallon in 1966. There are seven books in this series whose main character is a British intelligence agent named Paul Chavasse. They are pretty short novels but carry the classic Higgins style. It was an enjoyable read.
January 18, 2013
First of Jack Higgins I've read though I've seen his books all my life. This one a fast moving adventure in the U.K. of the good guy vs. the bad guy and what usually follows. Pretty standard fare in the espionage market. Though well written and fun. I recommend.
April 30, 2015
Midnight never comes jack higgins
A short, but great thriller by Higgins. Usual non stop action and suspense. Primarily takes place in Scotland. A sinister plot to take highly sophisticated missiles to Russia. A great read!
A short, but great thriller by Higgins. Usual non stop action and suspense. Primarily takes place in Scotland. A sinister plot to take highly sophisticated missiles to Russia. A great read!
January 5, 2009
Another black hole in my head. Why do I read these stupid spy books?
April 15, 2012
Good Jack Higgins action/thriller.
January 17, 2019
It seems weird to say this because I only gave it two stars, but it wasn't a bad book. There just wasn't anything special about it
October 10, 2014
It was OK...
February 21, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews