Rough Justice

Sean Dillon #15

by Jack Higgins

Intrigue in the halls of power, blood in the streets, the master of suspense returns with a novel of dark passion and darker deeds.

After almost two score books, Higgins knows how to fire up a thriller, wrote Publishers Weekly about the author's latest book, The Killing Ground. It's all pure Higgins: almost every shot hits square between the eyes, and all the characters are hard lads indeed. But none of them harder than the heroes and villains of Rough Justice.

Dispatched by the President to report on the state of still troubled Kosovo, his trusted agent Blake Johnson runs into a military man there named Harry Miller, who has the same task from the British Prime Minister. They band together just in time to stop a Russian officer from torching a mosque or rather, Miller stops him, with a bullet to the forehead.

This action will have considerable consequences, not only for Miller and Johnson and their associates, including Britain's Sean Dillon, but for a great many people, all the way to the top of the governments of the United States, Britain, and Russia. Death begets death, and revenge leads only to revenge, and before the chain reaction of events is done from Kosovo to London to Beirut to Ireland to Moscow there will be plenty of both.

Rich with all the ingredients that have made the author justly admired, Rough Justice is further proof that, in the words of the Associated Press, When it comes to thriller writers, one name stands well above the crowd Jack Higgins.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Espionage, Mystery, Suspense, Action, Spy Thriller

326 pages, Hardcover

First published August 19, 2008

About the author

There 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.

Reviews

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. Anyone who complains about too many characters obviously didn’t read the first 14 books of this series where most were introduced and indeed would be super confusing otherwise.

[==Anne== · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate to give anything a one star rating but I had such a difficult time with this book. There were just WAY too many characters introduced. It was like walking down a busy street and meeting every single person and learning at least two things about them. The problem is after meeting them and thinking ok, here's where the book gets going - no, it didn't. Just kept meeting character after character and then not seeing them in the story again. Just get on with the plot - enough with the 2100 characters.

[Diane Large · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not finish this book. Too many characters, very confusing, and all over the place.

[Serdar Poirot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harry Miller parlamento üyesi bir eski askerdir. Yıllar önce İrlanda'da görev yaparken bir rahip tarafından hayatı kurtarılmış ve bu rahip Sharkey'in sonradan Sean Dillon olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır. Kosova'da Blake Johnson ile BM görevi için gezerken bir köyde kızlara tecavüz etmeye çalışan Zorin adında bir yüzbaşıyı öldürür. Volkov ve Putin annesinden saklamak istese de başaramaz. Bir şekilde intikam alınması gerekir. ABD'ye ziyarete gittiğinde Broker adlı sesten oluşan adamın ayarladığı birileri öldürmeye çalışır ama başaramaz. Lady Sterling olan kız kardeşi Monica ve karısı tiyatro oyuncusu Evelyn iyi anlaşır. İngiltere'de işini bitirmek için Broker yine adamlarını kullanır. Sean Fahy adında bir elektronik dahisi arabasının frenlerini bozacak bir düzenek kurar. Ama araba karısına lazım olduğu için veren Miller karısının ölüp şoförünün komaya girdiğini öğrenir. Fahy hasta karısı işin para bulmak adına girmiştir bu işe. Allahın Ordusu üyeleri onu da öldürmeye çalışır ama ölmeden önce her şeyi itiraf eder. İrlanda'da Belov güvenlik sorumlusu eski IRA lideri Michael Quinn ne yapacağını bilemez. Putin Broker ile ilişkiyi keser. Quinn artık ölü biridir. Ferguson, Helen Black, Billy Salter ve Monica tekne ile gidecektir. Normalde Miller da ekibe dahil olacaktır. Ama kendisini bıçaklayan bir kızı öldürmüş ve hastanede yatmaktadır. Dillon da Monica'dan etkilenir. O farklı bir yolla Quinn'e gidecektir. Volkov ve yanındaki GRU ajanlarını öldürür. Quinn ise Monica'yı esir alır. Ama Dillon yine hünerini konuşturur. Ancak Broker kimdir? Roper yanındaki adamların düz mantığını dinleyip kamera kayıtlarına bakar. Hiç beklemediği bir isimle karşılaşır. Simon Carter'dır bu adam. Yani Ferguson'a düşman olan istihbarat başkanı. Ekip ne yapacaktır? Miller nasıl hisseder? Dillon ve Monica ne olacaktır? Keyifle soluksuz okunan bir roman.

[Cathy H · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book but I found it hard to follow with so my characters.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a rather complicated but still enjoyable thriller that is packed with action, conspiracy and dirty dealings as Sean Dillon is called in to help with the aftermath of Blake Johnson;s and Major Harry Miller's interference in Kosovo, interference the Russians didn't take kindly to at all. And so begins a traditional battle of good versus evil, a battle fought in the shadows but with civilian casualties that leads to a quest for revenge like none other.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

July 2018 I was surprised to see that I'm one of the few Goodreaders to give ***** on this story. I had mentally told myself that I should back off on anymore ***** for Jack Higgins but this story was such a page turner and the new characters were quite likable that I gave *****. This is escape writing at its BEST!!! (Well, as far as I'm concerned.) I would have thought that most Higgins followers would have loved this story as I did!

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating says it all, really.

[Tom Petit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same story new player

[Zen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first Jack Higgins read. The only thing I knew about him was I saw the movie "The Eagle Has Landed" for a dollar at the rep theatre. I remember liking the movie but I don't remember a damn thing about it. Except for Treat Willuams and a bunch of other U.S. soldiers having a shot out with Nazis in a country graveyard. That pretty much sums up the kind of books JH writes I suppose. Treat Williams behind a tombstone being strafed with bullets. Pretty cool.

Anyways, this was a good book. I read 75% of it in one day. I was even pleasantly happy at the end when I realized I should have guessed who the real secret bad guy was. Oh well, I've never been any good at that sort of thing.

So why only 3☆'s. Well the book's got some problems.

1. The structure is wonky. Yes I know it's just pulp cheese but I'm a literary guy. The first chapter has a bunch of charactors who never appear again in the story. Except for Clancy who makes a 1 page cameo later. Then slowly over the next few chapters we are introduced to Henry Miller who is our main charactor. But at the end of the book HM is laid up in hospital and suddenly the book becomes a Bob Dillon thriller through the climax. But where was BD throughout the rest of the book. Somewhere in the background. It's awkward and clunky and even a bit dull kind of story telling until about half way through the book. Then, finnally, the story starts to pick up.

2. Flat, dull charactors. This might have something to do with it being Book #15 in the Bob Dillion series so maybe that's where the problem lays.

3. Tooooo many charactors! Too many! By the end of the book it just became a running joke. Who's this guy driving the boat? I don't know. Who cares! Just laugh, nod your head and keep reading. Someone's bound to die soon and it won't matter.

4. That awful, AWFUL cover. Talk about cheap. They used royalty free Getty images of lightening and a helicopter. Wait! Was there any lightning or a helicopter in the book? Nope. Not a glimmer of either. Groan.

Oh well. Just read it. It's actually good fun. Just take notes as you are reading or you won't know who's driving the boat at the end. I still don't know.

[Neil Fulwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover of second hand hardback copy which I picked up for chump change is emblazoned with the legend “the new Sean Dillon thriller”. By which Mr Higgins’s publisher no doubt mean the hundred or so pages (the novel runs to 436) in which he actually appears. In fact, it seems for a good period of time as if Higgins is easing Dillon out with the intention of new character Harry Miller replacing him in the lead role. Mercifully, this isn’t the case and when Dillon finally takes centre stage it’s to deliver a proper action-packed finale. It’s an odd and somewhat transitional entry in the series, but the slam bang entertainment factor can’t be denied.

[Manogna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hands down one of the worst experiences reading a book. There were far too many characters and I cared for none. There was no clear flow in the story and too many jump points. The reader is bombarded with so much information that he just cant register it and ends up not understanding one bit. The writing style was horrible in my opinion, not something written with a reader's perspective in mind. This book gave me a headache.

[Don Follett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two special agents are dispatched to Kosovo by the USA and Great Britain. They meet and the British agent kills a Soviet Special Forces officer for molesting village girls. The Soviet Union and their allies attempt to kill the British agent and the fun and games begin. Good, believable characters and an interesting and fast moving plot make for an exciting and enjoyable read.

[William Howle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real page turner, having read others, it was easy to place the characters. I like these books, because there are usually surprises and the villains get it in the end. The Sean Dillon character is very interesting and as I read these books, I have a mental picture of him. In all his books, there is some philosophy I can identify with.

[Rosherzzz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read. Satisfying ending. I would have liked to have made this 3.75 stars.
It did get a bit confusing at times with many characters (still confused who Billy is) but the mini missions stacked on top were really good to read.

[DavidWerner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, great ending

A real page turner with lots of action and many twist and turns with a little romance thrown in. Danger and deceit with a surprise ending and all the pieces falling into place

[Paritosh Vyas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, this book is not 326 pages but it is 628 pages.

Secondly, I'm a big fan of Sean Dillon and the team and 1st time Dillon readers to start with book number one so as to understand the composition of the team and their backgrounds.

[roland clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping units entirety.

All the characters are well defined as are their backgrounds and roles. Skillfully crafted by paragraphs in following the progress of all the different story lines.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as other Sean Dillon books I have read, I found the ideal of the a Lady being around, and actively in the circumstances strange which lowered my rating and some of the more convoluted plot and ending very strange

[Donn Lorber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sean Dillon, a really easy read, very well done.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor Sean, a romance that really doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

Surprisingly, for entry #15 in the Sean Dillon series, this story was pretty intense and engrossing throughout.

3 1/2 *

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I surmised the ending early on, but ....boy....was it fun getting there. Always interesting

[Dorothy Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dillion was only a second tier character in this one, but made an interesting priest. This sets up Harry Miller as a character for future novels.

[William Lepretre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Le dernier d'une série agréable et rafraîchissante, de Sean comme on l'aime.

[Jackieg]

stopped reading it

[William Kolar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Higgins is excellent! Sean Dillon and Major Harry Miller are great charaters.

[Tman]

*****

[Graeme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took a while to get the tempo of this novel. It plodded along until about mid-way, then the pace picked up and became a more Higgins-like work.

[Keith Barraclough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always enjoy Dillon. Boys own thriller, I did pick the ending!

[Azmir Ismail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid Sean Dillon adventure. :)