Τζιγκ

Frank Pagan #1

by Campbell Armstrong, Μάρκος Χρόνης (Translator)

Ποιος είναι ο Τζιγκ; Κανείς δε φαίνεται να ξέρει. Είναι ένα μυστήριο, ένα φάντασμα. Τζιγκ ο Χορευτής - ένας άπιαστος δολοφόνος, όργανο του IRA. Διαλέγει τα θύματά του με προσοχή και είναι άψογος στη δουλειά του. Πάντοτε διαφεύγει κι εξαφανίζεται· ο Τζιγκ από μέρα σε μέρα γίνεται θρύλος. Ο Φρανκ Πέιγκαν είναι ο ντετέκτιβ της Σκότλαντ Γιαρντ που του ανατίθεται η σύλληψη του Τζιγκ. Ο Πέιγκαν δεν είναι ένας κοινός ντετέκτιβ: έχει μανία με τ' αμερικάνικα αυτοκίνητα και το ροκ εν ρολ, αλλά έχει ακόμα και μια μοναδική αίσθηση καθήκοντος κι αφοσίωσης στη δουλειά του. Με λίγα λόγια είναι αποφασισμένος να βρει τον Τζιγκ.

Όταν δέκα εκατομμύρια δολάρια που προορίζονται για τον IRA εξαφανίζονται στην Αμερική, ο Τζιγκ αναλαμβάνει να πάει στις ΗΠΑ και να βρει τα χαμένα χρήματα. Ο Πέιγκαν τον ακολουθεί. Εκεί, ο πρώην γερουσιαστής Χάρι Κέρνι και η νεαρή γυναίκα του Σελεσντίν, ο γιος του Πάτρικ Κέρνι, ο Άιβορ Μακίνες - ένας προτεστάντης ιεροκήρυκας — ο καθολικός παπάς Τάμαλτι -σύνδεσμος του IRA στις ΗΠΑ - και ο πράκτορας του Εφ Μπι Αι Ζάμπορικ θα «χορέψουν» όλοι μαζί στον ίδιο ρυθμό με τον Τζιγκ το Χορευτή, σε μια περιπέτεια αδιάκοπων εκπλήξεων και σασπένς.

«Μια έξοχη περιπέτεια που θα γίνει τρομακτική επιτυχία».
Publishers Weekly

«Ένα βιβλίο τυφώνας, που ίσως έχει το πιο συγκλονιστικό πρώτο κεφάλαιο που έχει ποτέ γραφτεί σε βιβλία του είδους του...»
Richard Condon Συγγραφέας του «Η Τιμή των Πρίντζι»

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Ireland, Action

568 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 28, 1987

About the author

aka Thomas Altman, Campbell Black, Jeffrey Campbell (with Jeffrey Caine), Thomas Weldon

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Campbell Armstrong got a degree in philosophy before taking a position teaching creating writing. After his excellent series about counterterrorism expert Frank Pagan, Mr. Armstrong has written several compelling novels of crime and life in his native Glasgow.

Reviews

[Eric_W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being sucker for Irish mysteries, I picked this one up. It's first in the Frank Pagan series. Pagan is a British cop sent over to the U.S. in pursuit of an IRA assassin, nicknamed Jig, who, in turn has been told to track down those who had stolen $10 million intended for the IRA. Throw in a psychotic Protestant minister with his own agenda and the FUV (Free Ulster Volunteers) and things get surprisingly messy with colliding agendas. Pagan and Jig are forced to link up in order to sort things out as ostensible IRA terrorism comes to the United States. To say more would ruin the surprises.

While I wouldn't say this was a favorite book, I will look for more titles by Campbell Armstrong, whose books are being reissued by OpenRoadMedia. Armstrong died in 2013.

[Deb]

A thriller wealthy American supporters of the IRA are shocked out of their complacency when the distant war comes to their own homeground. The theft of $10 million bound for the Cause provokes the secret army's inner circle to send out its most reliable man, the nameless, faceless Jig, an unerring terrorist who avoids harming the innocent. I've never forgotten this character and I read this book years ago.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughtful and erudite thriller written more than 20 years ago. Although the IRA is not really an issue any more, many of the underlying motives in the book (honour, jealousy, vanity, greed) still hold true today.

Well-written and not particularly high-octane, this is an enjoyable read

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die Connie O'Mara befördert seit Jahren wichtige Güter über den Atlantik. So auch in dieser Nacht, als sie einen Kurier mit gleich drei Geldkoffern an Bord nimmt. Aber die Verlockung war wohl zu groß, denn jemand hat das Schiff verraten. Es wird überfallen, alle Männer an Bord getötet und das Geld verschwindet. Geld, mit dem die IRA Waffen kaufen wollte. Es gibt nur einen Mann, der das Geld zurückholen kann: Jig, der beste Söldner der IRA. Er wird in die USA geschickt, um den Weg des Geldes von Anfang an zu verfolgen und Geld und Verräter zu finden. Auf seiner Spur ist Frank Pagan, ein Beamter von Scotland Yard. Er ist schon vorher mit Jig zusammen getroffen und soll ihn dieses Mal zur Strecke bringen.

Die Geschichte wirkt auf den ersten Blick sehr geradlinig: Geld der IRA verschwindet, sie schicken ihren besten Mann und der hat einen Beamten von Scotland Yard auf den Fersen. Wenn man genau aufpasst, weiß man auch schnell, wer sich hinter Jig verbirgt. Aber so einfach ist es nicht. Es gibt viele Nebenschauplätze, auf denen die verschiedenen Gruppierungen ihren eigenen Kampf führen. Denen ist jedes Mittel recht und mehr als einmal gibt es Verräter in den eigenen Reihen.

Das Buch wurde Ende der 1980er Jahre geschrieben, aber man merkt ihm sein Alter nicht an. Er ist clever aufgebaut, rasant geschrieben und wirkt trotz der vielen Verwicklungen nicht konstruiert.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suppose it should be considered that this was Mr. Armstrong's first novel; that being said, I felt that while there were interesting story lines present, it was long-winded in parts and the storytelling, somewhat clumsy. I would put it at about 70-80 pages longer than it needed to be.
Sometimes a storyteller gets a bit caught up in the telling of the tale and includes details that, while helping them fill a character out in their mind, are largely unnecessary for the reader to absorb for the purposes of the story.
That being said, there were interesting characters present, along with some turns and twists to reward the reader for staying the course. At 500 pages, however, I am unconvinced that the rewards equalled the effort ~

[Rishi Prakash · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was lying in my collection for a long time as it came from the landlord in "hand me down" collection and finally i picked it up thinking it has been waiting way too long !!

A brilliant thriller which makes you wonder how come a movie has not been made so far! A story that grabs you from the first page to the very last. Brilliant for a holiday read because you won't want to put it down so it was tough for me to read it in the current situation when i am nose deep in work!

A must read for people who like fast paced thrillers.

[John Hodgkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know this is an "old" book, published in 1987, and I've probably read it 4 times since then, but it is worth the re-reading. I like my anti-hero cops and Frank Pagan is yet another of them, one of the originals.
The storyline is all bout the Troubles in Ireland in the 1980s and how the opposing forces try to bring the violence and religious nationalism to the USA. Don't be put off by this, as it really is mainly about Pagan's relentless pursuit of the Irish killer, Jig. A convoluted plot, which, of course, all pans out right (or almost) in the end.

[Murray Watt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The horror and fascination of 'The Cause' in 1980's , Ireland , captured brilliantly by Campbell Armstrong. Campbell creates a spiders web of characters from both sides of the Troubles , spanning Belfast, London, to the continental USA direct to the White House! Gagging to be made into Netflix Mini Series , with James Nesbitt as McInnes! You'll understand when you read Jig.

[Martta]

Jig - Irlantilainen, vaikka kirjan onkin kirjoitettu vuosia sitten se oli todella viihdyttävä, se
vei mukanaan IRA:n kuvioihin kultaiselle 80- luvullle. Vaikka kirja kertoikin menneistä ajoista se ei haitannut lukemista. Juoni oli punottu hienosti ja se piti mielenkiintoa yllä, tuskin maltoin jättää kirjaa käsistäni.

[Ruth Ogadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it started of quite slowly, I spent a good portion of time dozing off at the beginning but as I got closer to the middle, it started to get more and more intriguing till I started looking forward to what each page brought. It’s a good book.

[Bruce Frampton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good page turner, somewhat historical given the political climate today. I read this may years ago when the IRA were still highly active.

[Brucie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly adequate police-detective-terrorist-political-religious thriller that seems to be written for the bestseller genre without overwhelming heart or talent.

[Kathei · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like this one at all.

[Dani Noble · Rating 2 out of 5]

Storyline had the potential to be really good, especially given the history. Whilst there were moments where I was captivated, for the most part i unfortunately lost interest and eventually gave up.

[Roger Pfaff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, great writing

[Kaila · Rating 2 out of 5]

On accounts of the fact I skipped just under two hundred pages, and then only skimmed over the last hundred, I should be giving this book a one star. However, despite my personal boredom with Jig, I don't believe the author deserves such a low rating. The story is well thought out, and it has a good array of characters. When I first started reading it was I overjoyed that I'd found such a well written book. Unfortunately by the time I was two hundred pages in I was having to force myself to read on.

[Ahmed Dahl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like this one at all. Gran always gave me a three chapter rule where you have to read three chapters before you say you don't like it because sometimes books take a while to warm up. But I read three chapters twice (the second time was about a year later because I think you should give people a second chance) and I was still bored out of my skull. I am not going to give it another chance I can tell you!

[henrys-axe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read introducing British counter-terrorism agent Frank Pagan. Reading this novel in 2015, almost thirty years after it was written, gives the reader a different perspective of extremist groups involved in the conflicts in northern Ireland. Lots of cat and mouse chases, terrorist activity and bureaucratic bumbling. Very good character development.

[Claire Hayhow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that really turned my love for reading back on again. A recommendation from a colleague in the good old days of book sharing boxes in the office. Sinnfein and the DUP. Mystery, murder and espionage at its Irish best.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good thriller, very exciting and fast paced right up until the last page.
Worth reading.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

an outstanding cat and mouse thriller I first read back in the 1980,s
and found it to be just as good the second time around.Highly recommended.

[Amy Sheldon · Rating 5 out of 5]

So well written - all the characters are believable, excellent dialogue. I thought a good capture of the way the characters tick.

[Helen Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first and only book that I stayed up all night to read. I read it when it was first published but have read it several times since and it is of its time but still resonates today. Excellent.

[Catriona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this book down . Read it in 1988 and will always be one of my favs.

[Pankaj Verma · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best thriller I have read. and I have read hundreds. fast paced, excellent plot and treatment.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good solid 80s blockbuster type thriller. In typical 80s fashion, this is built bigger than required, a 100 pages less would have made this so much better IMO.

[Judie · Rating 2 out of 5]

While interesting, Jig was overly long, peopled with stereotypes and little depth to most of the characters. It seemed to go on and on about nothing for a good part of the book.

[Gautham Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

found this book torn and abused in a book sale. Nobody bought it. They through it into the lump of raped books. I took it. Turned out to be quite a read.

[Raresaturn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Spent 8 hours waiting for a ferry with nothing but this book. I wish I didn't have it.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: policeman Frank Pagan is tasked with finding an IRA assassin, Jig, but no one has ever seen him.