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Temporada en el Infierno

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Una mujer decidida a jugarse la vida para descubrir la identidad de los asesinos de su hijastro... Un exmiembro de los cuerpos de élite del ejército británico empeñado en vengar la muerte de su hermana... Una electrizante historia de acción y suspense en el sórdido mundo del narcotráfico internacional y sus ramificaciones insospechadas...

283 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1989

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739 people want to read

About the author

Jack Higgins

480 books1,278 followers
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.

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5 stars
654 (29%)
4 stars
788 (36%)
3 stars
598 (27%)
2 stars
124 (5%)
1 star
24 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
105 reviews1 follower
November 28, 2016
After randomly finding the early and relatively little-known Higgins East of Desolation and enjoying it more than expected, I said to myself, I'll have to go and reread some of his more blockbuster works sat on my bookshelf, so I plucked this one out to start with. It's kind of put me off any further nostalgic Higgins binging, because I honestly found this one a bit lame.

East of Desolation didn't exactly have the deepest, most three-dimensionsal characters ever but somehow the simplified sketches and sparse prose style of that book came across as stylised brushstrokes. In this one, the rather two dimensional characters came across as more a case of lazy cliches. It's hard to explain why. Perhaps because the former book was in rather unfamiliar territory (freelance pilots and jewellery thieves in Greenland), and hence fresh, whereas the latter book and its main characters lie firmly in Higgins' comfort zone (our (anti)hero is a rogueish Irish/British elite ex-military mercenary type with a Troubles history; stop me if this sounds familiar...)

It's by no means terrible: in fact it was so page-turning I whizzed through it in record speed, but it certainly felt like absolute tosh as I did so. The name-dropping surrounding the affluent characters and their taste for particular brands of champagne, etc, felt rather embarrassingly unctuous, while the east end gangsters and mafia lowlifes were equally cringy at the other end of the class scale. Neither end of the spectrum seemed particularly believable, in the sense of making me think the author really knew those worlds and those types of people, and was painting them from life.

As a teenager I lapped these books up and I can't help but wonder whether I changed, or the world changed (or most likely both). Certainly this world populated by brigadiers with the right tie drinking the right vintage in the right restaurants, while cockney delinquents with the wrong vowels congregate in the wrong pubs to plot the wrong crimes, doesn't seem at all realistic to me anymore. But I suppose it never was anything more than a pulpy cartoon even in the 80s, I just didn't have the mindset to notice or care, back then.

Anyway, if you're prepared to ignore all that, or even revel in it, in a guilty pleasure kind of way, then this is a decent enough thriller, but even in that narrow sense it's little more than OK. Even taken strictly as a pacy action romp it was somewhat like playing a video game with cheat codes, such was the lack of genuine peril or difficulty our protagonists faced.
Profile Image for L.M. Mountford.
Author 34 books1,273 followers
July 19, 2017
It's books like this that are really turning me into a fan of Mr. Higgins.

True, the summary is a bit misgiving. I was expecting a dark and gritty story of a former SAS soldier now working as a assasin, dealing bloody vengeance to the mom who murdered the stepson of a wealthy American Woman.

No, this book has a lot more heart than that and is gripping from the first page to the last. The only reason i have given it a 4 star opposed to a 5 star is because i wanted to see a showdown, the minibattle of the two hired guns going head to head. How Mr Higgins handed it instead was thrilling all the same but it's not the same.

The writing style is quick and easy, the characters while not exactly deep or hampered with growth, are endearing. Forget, Custler, Clancy & Ludlum. This is the perfect example of why Jack Higgins is the master of adventure and action.
Profile Image for Marco Antonio.
141 reviews1 follower
November 11, 2023
He leído y no pocas de las obras de Jack Higgins, dicho esto creo que Temporada en el infierno debe de estar dentro de las más discretas.
Si bien la historia al igual que sus personajes no están del todo mal, de hecho tiene cosas positivas además de una lectura bastante fluida y de alguna forma el relato te mantiene expectante y lo más importante es que entretiene.
El punto es que no es un título de aquellos que Higgins nos tiene acostumbrados, claramente no está a la altura de Ha llegado el Águila o El ojo del Huracán por nombrar algunos, quizás estos títulos hayan dejado la vara un poco alta y por esta razón no pude apreciar Temporada en el infierno de mejor manera.
No quiero poner en duda la calidad de Jack Higgins en lo absoluto, sigue siendo uno de los grandes escritores de novelas históricas y de espionaje que se conozcan, es solo que este título en particular debe ser uno de sus eslabones más débiles.
3.5⭐👌
Profile Image for portihieri.
95 reviews13 followers
August 29, 2022
3.5

Momentami nieco się dłużyła, a kiedy indziej wydarzenia były opisane tak pobieżnie, że ciężko było się połapać w tym, co się właśnie stało. Zakończenia również można się było od pewnego momentu spodziewać, niemniej książka bardzo mi się podobała i polecam ją jako niezobowiązującą pozycję na luźniejsze wieczory.
Profile Image for Louis.
564 reviews27 followers
August 1, 2019
This tale of intrigue, murder and treachery falls into that unique genre, the airplane read. As its duo, a New York socialite and an ex-Special Services man (a must for this kind of book; there must be thousands of them for their own suspense thriller) search for revenge for a murder. Nothing special but it is a page-turner.
Profile Image for Antonio.
128 reviews16 followers
July 15, 2024
Bastante mala...tengo un recuerdo estupendo de otras novelas del autor de hace muchos años... en concreto la serie de Liam Devlin "ha llegado el águila, etcc"..Ésta, se me ha hecho muy pesada y aburrida..
322 reviews1 follower
July 14, 2025
liked the book a lot of action and twists and turns and surprises in the book.
Profile Image for Kris.
256 reviews5 followers
January 25, 2016
A typical military/spy/English thrill a minute, action packed book. Plenty of twists and turns with the story moving right along. This certainly is not a book for deep reading or thinking and that is as it should be. Every book does not have to rise to the heady heights of "literature."

This is just a ripping yarn where a wealthy woman with pockets deep enough to fly all over the European continent, teams up with ex-military and current intelligence operatives to pursue the truth behind her step-sons death.

When the law can't get it done, she works with the English Underworld, the French Underworld and the Sicilian mafia. Of course a trail of death and destruction lie in her wake but the truth will out.

I personally needed this book as a simple break from reading literary fiction. Sometimes I just want to dive into a simple action or adventure book that doesn't last too long, that I can pick up and put down and that fills my need to read. This is one of those books. No more and no less. I had read other Higgins books and there are a few I really loved so it was an author that I knew and was familiar with.

Just like a chocolate chip cookie, you know what you get - comfort food with words. Cover to cover comfort food.
Profile Image for Sharon Yulong .
104 reviews
October 8, 2024
Libro che è andato per le lunghe; non mi ha fatto molto effetto, a partire dalla copertina (con etichetta Super Best Seller) e i 50 nomi menzionati già dal primo capitolo mi hanno confusa. Le prime settanta pagine sono state noiose e per questo sono andata a rilento - l'assassino diciamo subito palesato e spiattellato...
Era nella mia libreria da tanto tempo, nonostante non appartiene a me, e ora ho capito perché!
"Non c'è mai una fine. In un modo o nell'altro tutto quanto hai fatto, o che altri hanno fatto a te, persiste, magari sotto forme diverse.
Azione e passione sono come droghe che ti acutizzano i sensi, che ti inebriano."
324 reviews
August 20, 2020
I really do love Jack Higgins. These books are so much fun, because the action is non-stop. I love the fact that characters are reintroduced over the books, and you get to really like them and understand them somewhat. This was a lot of fun with the introduction of an American businesswoman, who makes a very unlikely adventurer.

More good times.
43 reviews2 followers
February 23, 2024
Vintage Higgins - Tight and grippinge

Ireland and England are always crossing in Higgins' books. No wonder he is so popular. As you follow the quest to find the villain behind the murder of Sarah's son, you start to wonder if the reason is crime, drugs or politics. There is a thread leading to Mr. Smith, but it is long, thin and leads everywhere. Enjoy it.
Profile Image for Bradley L. Stout.
103 reviews
March 4, 2020
As Always.

Another great and twisting thriller. No saints here, only some less saintly than others. Great story line that kept me from my beauty sleep. Can't wait to start another Higgins tale.
15 reviews
April 20, 2020
Great Read

This book grabbed me at the beginning and didn’t let go until the end. The ongoing action combined with well developed characters and a great plot made it a great read. Recommend.
61 reviews
July 25, 2020
Really good Higgin’s tale

I have not read a Jack Higgin’s take in over 20 years, but saw this one and decided it was time. It didn’t disappoint. Really enjoyed it, and I think you will, too!
Profile Image for CW Crollard.
128 reviews1 follower
September 12, 2017
Higgins thriller.

Again, the complicated situations and characters keep the reader hooked. Twists and turns kept me sticking to see what happens next.
316 reviews1 follower
March 23, 2022
A very good mystery. Hard to put down. Well written with good characters.
14 reviews
November 8, 2022
fantastic

This was one of the best books i have read in years. It always kept you involved and wanting more
Profile Image for Rithani.
5 reviews
December 24, 2022
the end twist is cliff hanging and so awesome . i did really liked it so much
Profile Image for Rick.
658 reviews4 followers
February 20, 2023
Been a long time since reading Jack Higgins, but it was worth the wait.
16 reviews
June 28, 2023
Higgins at the usual

Higgins never disappoints. Crisp writing; intriguing plot; great character development; a great writer. I have read all his books. Fantastic!
Profile Image for Ricardo García Sánchez.
284 reviews3 followers
October 5, 2024
Mi nota es 8/10.
Temporada en el Infierno es un thriller lleno de adrenalina que cumple con lo que los fans de Jack Higgins esperan acción trepidante, personajes decididos y una trama llena de intriga internacional. Desde el comienzo, la novela te engancha con su ritmo ágil y sus giros constantes, haciendo que sea difícil dejarla una vez que te adentras en la historia.

La trama sigue a Sarah Talbot, una periodista que se ve arrastrada a una peligrosa conspiración tras la muerte sospechosa de su esposo. Junto con Sean Egan, un agente lleno de recursos, Sarah navega por un mundo lleno de engaños, secretos y violencia. Lo que más me gustó de esta novela es cómo Jack Higgins consigue equilibrar las escenas de acción con momentos más tensos, donde la intriga y las relaciones entre los personajes juegan un papel fundamental.

Los personajes, aunque típicos del género, están bien construidos y son fáciles de seguir. Sarah es una protagonista fuerte que, aunque en algunos momentos parece caer en estereotipos, demuestra una evolución interesante a lo largo de la historia. Sean Egan, por su parte, es el típico héroe de acción con una mezcla de carisma y determinación que lo hace un buen compañero para Sarah.

Aunque el argumento en sí sigue los patrones habituales de los thrillers de espionaje y conspiraciones, lo hace de manera efectiva. Hay algunos giros sorprendentes que mantendrán a los lectores atentos, y el escenario internacional le añade una dimensión extra que hace que la novela sea más envolvente.

En resumen, Temporada en el Infierno es un buen ejemplo del estilo de Jack Higgins , un autor que sabe cómo mantener a los lectores en vilo. Para quienes disfrutan de los thrillers de acción bien ejecutados, esta novela ofrece una experiencia entretenida, intensa y con el toque justo de suspense.

Profile Image for Oli Turner.
526 reviews5 followers
Read
August 13, 2023
The forty-seventh #jackhiggins #martinfallon #hughmarlowe #harrypatterson #henrypatterson #jamesgraham novel #aseasoninhell published in 1989. Featuring #brigadiercharlesferguson and #tonyvilliers again as well as sean Egan who is another Sean Dillon prototype (in addition to their military skills and close ties to group 4 they both drive a Mini Cooper)

Higgins style has switched slightly in this novel and he would use this style in the early Sean Dillon novels as well. This feels like a template for the early Dillon books. The atmosphere is very similar.
Although this book features a very different Sean.

Higgins different stages of career
Early experiments with different pseudonyms
Major success with eagle has landed
Some further experimental books
Then really finding his stride and taking elements of his previous characters and putting them into Dillon
Then after a while the Dillon novels become a little repetitive from my recollection but I will get to them soon enough

This novel even features the prototype of successful / honourable London gangster that Higgins would develop further with Harry salter in the Dillon books

Fast paced, action packed. Enjoyable. The ending really surprised me. A number of the characters deserve a second novel but other than Ferguson I’m not sure if any of them do come back.

Profile Image for Serdar Poirot.
320 reviews3 followers
September 30, 2024
Sean Egan dizinden sakatlandıktan sonra bir eğitim için askeri bir yerden kaçar. Ama sonunda dizi onu yarı yolda bırakır. Komutanı ve dostu Tony Villiers, ona devam edemeyeceğini ancak başka bir birimde çalışabileceğini söyler. Sean, ya hep ya hiç diyip işi bırakır. Üvey kardeşi Sally ölmüştür. Bu arada Eric Talbot adında bir bağımlı genç, Paris'te ilaçla uyutularak öldürülür. İç organları çıkarılıp yerine eeoij paketleri konulur. Ancak bu da patlar ve cesedin içinde bir paket kalır. Böylece kimliği ortaya çıkar. Başkan'ın yakın dostu olan üvey anne Sarah Talbot, İngiltere'ye gelir ve akrabası Villiers ile görüşür. Ferguson da dahil olmuştur. Sally ile aynı madde çıkınca Eric'te Sarah Sean ile görüşür. Araştırmalar sonucunda Bay Smith adında birine ulaşırlar. Sean Egan, eski büyük gangster Jack Shelley'in yeğenidir. Jack onu ve Sarah'yı alıp Paris'e gider ama burada vurulur. Smith, Jago adında bir eski asker ile onları sürekli takip ettirmektedir. İşin ucu önce Sicilya'da Frasconi kardeşlere sonra İrlanda'da Sir Leland Barry'ye dayanır. Sarah ve Egan'ın geçtiği yerlerde hep ölüm olur. Ama Jago 2 kere Sarah'nın hayatını kurtarır. Peki en sonunda ne olacaktır? Bay Smith kimdir? Sally'nin ölümüne kim sebep olmuştur? Jago ne yapacaktır? Sarah zor durumda tetik çekecek midir? Keyifle soluksuz okunan bir roman.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
46 reviews
March 15, 2024
I saw this book why back in early '89 and it looked interesting .

I finally got it from the library and read it in about week!

Well worth the wait, enjoyed it immensely! Did not expect the villian to be the villain.

Hope the "other villain" makes his appreance again in other Jack Higgins' novels.
Profile Image for Paula Murtagh.
57 reviews
December 31, 2016
Simple and action packing. Lacks all of the interesting but unneeded detail of many books of this genre which is refreshing. Going to put all his books on my reading list. Loved seeing my name on the book!
Profile Image for Nia.
Author 3 books194 followers
July 5, 2018
Somehow, attempting to even skim through most of this book has felt like my short season in hell. It did not keep my interest , and it feels almost hard boiled. Perhaps just not the author for me, because I thought I normally liked thrillers.
Profile Image for Jack Adams.
189 reviews5 followers
August 19, 2018
Standard Higgins book really.
I enjoyed reading it. The characters were pretty great, the storyline was good and the action was typical.

It suffered a bit for being obvious, I managed to work out the ending quite early on and wasn’t surprised when I finally reached the end.
Profile Image for A.
308 reviews
June 20, 2019
I enjoyed this book. Very fast paced. The only thing that let it down was that the 'baddies' had the lead on technology and the 'good guys' seemed totally clueless to it. Great story and twist at the end. Worth a read
404 reviews4 followers
May 6, 2020
I like the author but I think mid-80s is too far ago especially when the author is British. The focus on England and Ireland is just to strong. I cannot relate. I think the story is solid but I didn't understand the back drop. I will read another Higgins but either Nazi or more modern.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews

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