Fear Is The Key

by Alistair MacLean

Thanks to a report from Interpol, John Talbot's trial in a sleepy southern town turns into a desperate — and violent — attempt to flee custody. Bringing along a pretty young "insurance policy" (at gunpoint), he outfoxes the local constabulary ... but other, more powerful forces are after him as well. How does this tie in to an attack on a cargo plane carrying a special shipment out of South America, years ago? And what deadly secrets are housed in a spectacular drilling platform just off the Florida coast?

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Adventure, Mystery, Action, Crime, Suspense

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

Alistair Stuart MacLean (Scottish Gaelic: Alasdair MacGill-Eain), the son of a Scots Minister, was brought up in the Scottish Highlands. In 1941, at the age of eighteen, he joined the Royal Navy; two and a half years spent aboard a cruiser were to give him the background for HMS Ulysses, his first novel, the outstanding documentary novel on the war at sea. After the war he gained an English Honours degree at Glasgow University, and became a schoolmaster. In 1983, he was awarded a D. Litt. from the same university.

Maclean is the author of twenty-nine world bestsellers and recognised as an outstanding writer in his own genre. Many of his titles have been adapted for film - The Guns of the Navarone, The Satan Bug, Force Ten from Navarone, Where Eagles Dare and Bear Island are among the most famous.

Reviews

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this along with the first 20 or 25 Alistair MacLean books, 50 years ago or so. Most of them I loved.

This was perhaps my very favourite, along with The Black Shrike, The Satan Bug, The Golden Rendezvous, and Night without End.

[Nandakishore Mridula · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the better MacLeans - a real mystery, non-stop suspense, and a tale of sweet revenge very satisfactorily carried out using the weapon of fear.

[P.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've never read Alistair Maclean, it will open you up to a whole new genre of thriller -- the post WW2 British yarn. A little more literary and less ribald than its American counterpart, but just as guilty a pleasure. It would be nearly impossible to offer an illustration of FEAR IS THE KEY without dropping a few spoilers, but it's a fine example of Maclean's work.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book by Alistair MacLean I have re-read recently (Sept-Oct ’18) and is much better than the first one, which was published in 1973. This novel, Fear is the Key, came out in 1961 when MacLean was at the height of his literary powers.

The first short chapter tells us what happened in the past to the main character, Talbot, to make him work so tirelessly and selflessly to achieve his ends. From Chapter 2 onwards we find him in court on serious charges, only for him to escape with a female hostage and cause mayhem in the process. Could this be the same man? Why is he doing this? The action is not slow in coming, but the storyline is intriguing – we have an inkling he is really a ‘goody’, but we don’t know this until a third of the way through the book; neither do we know whether he will succeed in his revenge on those who sinned against him or suffer a hideous death at their hands, until the end.

MacLean, who passed away in 1987, was a prolific writer and hugely popular author from the early 1950s until his death, although arguably his best work was produced in the ‘50s and ‘60s. His stories are all adventuresome, full of larger-than-life heroes, evil baddies and thrill-a-minute plots that race along. You have to keep reading to see what will happen next and see if the hero will be able to extricate himself (they’re nearly all men) from his latest precarious situation. His list of massively successful novels (many of which were made into films) is extensive: The Guns of Navarone, Force 10 from Navarone, H.M.S. Ulysses, Where Eagles Dare, The Golden Gate, Ice Station Zebra, The Satan Bug, Breakheart Pass – and more. Not only are MacLean’s heroes in the mould of James Bond but the plots match Bond as well for audacity, boldness, difficulty in execution and excitement – definitely Saturday night fare.

This tale is set in Florida and involves a wealthy retired general running an oil company, complete with his own oil rig, the X-13; a silky-smooth and ruthless villain who always gets his way; his hired hitman accomplice who is also smooth, evil-to-the-core, highly skilled and who enjoys his work; a tough but sophisticated chauffeur; and the general’s daughter, who is by turns haughty, charming, scared witless and feisty. Then there’s Talbot, who is intelligent, tough as nails but nice with it, though a skilled actor able to suppress the niceness and his physical pain when he sees fit.

What sets this novel apart from some other thrillers is MacLean’s writing. Some of the dialogue comes across as old-fashioned, but that is to be expected from an author born in 1922 and does not detract from your enjoyment of the story. What surprised me was that I alternated the accent in which I read Talbot’s dialogue in my head (does everyone do that or is it just me?): he is English, but much of his dialogue comes across to me as classic American noir, à la Chandler and Hammett. What adds to this feeling is that the tale is told in the first person, often in short, staccato sentences - Talbot is telling it and giving us a running commentary of his thoughts. For example:

I finished my drink and got up. The heavy library door opened outwards into the passage and Royale, gun in hand, stood to one side to let me pass through first. He should have known better. Or maybe my limp deceived him. People thought my limp slowed me up, but people were wrong.

Valentino had disappeared. I went through the doorway, slowed up and moved to one side round the edge of the door as if I were waiting for Royale to catch up and show me where to go, then whirled round and smashed the sole of my right foot against the door with all the speed and power I could muster.

Royale got nailed neatly between door and jamb. Had it been his head that was caught it would have been curtains. As it was, it caught his shoulders, but even so it was enough to make him grunt in agony and send the gun spinning out of his hand to fall a couple of yards down the passage. I dived for it. I scooped it up by the barrel, swung round, still crouched, as I heard the quick step behind me. The butt of the automatic caught the diving Royale somewhere on the face, I couldn’t be sure where, but it sounded like a four-pound axe sinking into the bole of a pine. It took only a couple of seconds to push him off and change my grip to the butt of the pistol, but two seconds would always be enough and more than enough for a man like Jablonsky.

I can almost hear Humphrey Bogart narrating this story (what a great audiobook that would make!) Here’s some dialogue:

‘Alright, Royale.’ I said without turning my head. ‘You can put your gun away. The show’s over.’
But the show wasn’t over. A hard voice said: ‘Go pick up that gun, Talbot. And the clip. Put the clip in the gun and give it back to Larry.’
I turned round slowly. Vyland had a gun in his hand and I didn’t care very much for the whiteness of the knuckle of the trigger finger. …
‘How would you like to go up top and take a walk over the side?’ I asked.
‘I’ll give you to the count of five.’
‘And then what?’
‘Then I’ll shoot.’
‘You wouldn’t dare,’ I said contemptuously. ‘You’re not the type to pull triggers, Vyland. That’s why you employ this big hatchet-man here. Besides, who would fix up the bathyscaphe then?’
‘I’m counting, Talbot.’ As far as I was concerned he’d gone nuts. ‘ One … two–‘
‘O.K., O.K.,’ I interrupted, ‘so you can count. You’re a swell counter. I bet you can even count up to ten …’

See what I mean?

In keeping either with publishing guidelines at the time, MacLean’s sensibilities or perhaps because it widens the book’s appeal, i.e. clever marketing, there is no swearing, though references are made by Talbot to unprintable words being used, so it is only the ruthless violence that may prevent you allowing early teens to read this – though I suspect they see far worse while playing their computer and console games, so I wouldn’t worry too much about that.

The final chapter or two are sublime. The action slows right down but the tension is ramped up to the heights, one step at a time. The characters’ feelings are described continuously as they develop, their emotions shredded, their physical discomforts minutely interpreted until you can almost feel their fear, and fear, as we know, is the key.
Five stars.

[George K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Στα νύχια του φόβου", εκδόσεις ΒΙΠΕΡ.

Ενδέκατο βιβλίο του Άλιστερ Μακλίν που διαβάζω, μου φάνηκε και αυτό εξίσου συναρπαστικό και ψυχαγωγικό με όλα τα προηγούμενα. Άλλωστε, είναι από τους αγαπημένους μου συγγραφείς στο είδος της περιπέτειας και των ψυχροπολεμικών θρίλερ, οπότε δύσκολα θα με άφηνε παραπονεμένο. Το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο έγινε και ταινία, με πρωταγωνιστή τον Barry Newman (Fear Is The Key, 1972), η οποία όμως δεν είναι και τόσο γνωστή. Θα την ψάξω πάντως.

Ο πρωταγωνιστής και παράλληλα αφηγητής της ιστορίας μας, ονόματι Τάλμποτ, θα ξεφύγει από το δικαστήριο όπου δικαζόταν για διάφορα εγκλήματα, απαγάγοντας μια κοπέλα για προστασία. Αυτή η κοπέλα έτυχε να είναι κόρη ενός εκατομμυριούχου στρατηγού που ασχολείται με τα πετρέλαια. Μετά από διάφορα γεγονότα, ο Τάλμποτ θα πέσει στα χέρια του στρατηγού, αλλά και κάποιων περίεργων και επικίνδυνων ανθρώπων, που φαίνεται ότι ελέγχουν τον στρατηγό. Ο Ταλμποτ θα τους φανεί χρήσιμος σε μια ανέλκυση που έχουν κατά νου, κοντά σε μια εξέδρα πετρελαίου που ανήκει στον στρατηγό. Τίποτα δεν είναι όπως φαίνεται...

Ο Μακλίν δεν ξεφεύγει από την πετυχημένη του συνταγή, μας προσφέρει και εδώ μπόλικη δράση, δυνατές εικόνες, λίγο μυστήριο, κάποιες ενδιαφέρουσες αποκαλύψεις (αν και όχι συγκλονιστικές) και σούπερ ατμόσφαιρα. Η γραφή είναι καλή και ευκολοδιάβαστη, με ρεαλιστικές περιγραφές των σκηνών δράσης. Οι χαρακτήρες απλοί, χωρίς ιδιαίτερο βάθος, κάνουν όμως μια χαρά την δουλειά τους. Γενικά πρόκειται για ένα ακόμα ενδιαφέρον και ψυχαγωγικό περιπετειώδες θρίλερ.

[Sidney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read opinions that early MacLean is better than later. I think that proves true in this tale from the early '60s, which is comparable in my opinion to The Satan Bug, one of MacLean's pseudonymous novels. (Originally anyway.) This one is a bit more rollicking than Circus, a later MacLean which I read shortly before this title where espionage and intrigue fill up the early pages while driving the plot toward an action conclusion. Fear moves in overdrive from the opening moments. After a poignant and almost poetic prologue, the protagonist turns up in a Florida courtroom, kidnaps a court patron, shoots a deputy and speeds away. His escape route gets him entangled with the girl's father, a couple of vicious villains and a quest for treasure near the base of an offshore oil rig, territory MacLean revisits in Seawitch.

There are twists and surprises as well as tension and fisticuffs throughout. It may not be paced quite like thrillers today, but it's pretty enjoyable, and it made for a film version that kept me on the edge of my seat as a kid on TV. Unfortunately it seems to be a bit hard to come by today unless you want to rent it for $9.99 on one of the streaming services.

[Jonathan Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this book more than four decades ago. Fast-paced, thrilling, a stunning opening. I decided to read the book online; it took a whole day. The book merits 5 stars. Superb. Nobody writes thrillers better than Alistair Maclean.

Imagine, I read a book that I read sometime around 1968-69. That's more than four decades ago. I'm a teenager then; probably 15 or 16. I read the book today in 2015 - reading it online is painful, but what can a man do? - and I can feel the pace, the verve, the vitality, the thrill, the suspense, the plot unravelling. And so much research gone into the book - about oil-rigs and bathyscapes and boats and storms and stuff which other writers would avoid. But not Maclean; he makes it authentic. It's real. You can feel it happening; the book drags you inside. You are gripped; you have to read it till the very end - it's 8.20 pm now, and I began reading this online from 11 am onwards with no time for an afternoon nap!

Any day, Alistair Maclean outbeats everyone else!

[Suzannah Rowntree · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm still doing some re-reading for my reading slump. This one made the list because as a teen, it blew my little mind: I'd legitimately never read an unreliable narrator before and didn't even know it was possible. The revelation that the first-person narrator had been deliberately misleading me (and everyone else) throughout the story was absolutely exhilarating.

A re-read proves the book to be hot garbage, of course. The prose is amazingly purple, the entire world of the story revolves adoringly around the horrible narrator, and there's a racial slur on page two that had me choking. While there are definitely some things MacLean does well, I spent the entire book laughing my socks off at how hard this book, its narrator, and its author try to sound ever so tough and manly. Don't take a shot of whisky every time the narrator does: you will not come away capable of coolly out-thinking and out-fighting a gang of international bandits. This is the sort of story where the very ornamental and useless love interest (who has the same name as 80% of MacLean's other love interests, and is not conventionally beautiful despite being described as, basically, Brigitte Bardot) gets to exercise a choice of her own and not fall for the narrator, although this is done purely to pitch the narrator as the grand tragedy who walks alone. What else? Well, the plotting is pretty nifty, the action is well written, it sounds as though he might have consulted some underwater salvage experts to add artistic verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative; and about 5% of the dry wit does hold up. Enjoyable, in a so-bad-it's-good sort of way.

[Ekta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from the moment I picked it up and until I reached the last page. It creates all the mystery in the beginning so that you are compelled to think about what will happen next when you are not reading the book. MacLean also gives room to his readers to actually get their horses running and think as to what might happen or who is the culprit or who is not, almost like he is with you, reading, discussing, and eventually leading you to the answer. A short read, but a damn good one!

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've read much MacLean, the "twist" on page 80 won't be much of a surprise; but otherwise, 50 years on this remains a surprisingly strong book. Catches and holds your attention, and generally stands the test of time — with a few glaring exceptions, like references to George Raft, Little Lord Fauntleroy, and the fact that the whole plot revolves around trying to salvage "ten MILLION dollars" — which comes off awfully Dr. Evil. And of course, there's the very unfortunate line, "you silly young muggins, what do you go and do a daft thing like that for?," which yes, was spoken by our hero to yes, our beautiful but helpless female. (But hey, when was the last time you actually read a James Bond book? I'm sure they're even more dated.)

Other than that, however, I'd argue that this is one of MacLean's better efforts, up there with his more famous works. And speaking of Ian Fleming, I would wager that MacLean is in fact the better writer, but is less remembered today largely for the fact that he didn't create a memorable series character like Bond, Jack Reacher or Alex Cross.

Oh, fun fact: this book was also turned into a HIGHLY unmemorable movie starring Barry Newman. But bad-guy "Royale" was played by...Ben Kingsley, with hair and in his first film role!

[Neil Fulwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of MacLean’s top-flight thrillers. ‘Fear is the Key’ starts in effectively blunt style. A brutally cynical prologue sets off a propulsive narrative of espionage and revenge, of tense set pieces and the double-bluff twists that MacLean did so well. It’s one of a string of first person thrillers that he wrote during his golden period - a technique he abandoned completely (and inexplicably) after ‘Bear Island’ - and the style suits this kind of story brilliantly. Okay, it shows its age a bit and the usual problems with dialogue are present (dialogue was always MacLean’s weak spot), but as an example of a pared-down, tautly plotted action thriller it’s hard to beat.

[Mihai Frenţiu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The twist of situation comes when you expect the least and the last scenes are actually pretty good. Lots of mistery.

[Lenny Husen · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS COVER IS SO FABULOUS.

The Handsome Hero stands firmly planted wearing a Chartreuse Sports Jacket, matching pants with slightly bulging crotch, with flaming bright red* hair and a scar** from his right eye to the angle of his right mandible, he is in the act of firing a Pistol with his Right hand, and clutching with his Left the terrified beautiful blonde Heiress with the skimpy green halter top and tight white pants. In the background we see an airplane that has been shot down heading in a dive straight for the ocean, carrying the Hero's brother, wife and toddler son tragically to their deaths. Hence, the need for REVENGE, a dish that is certainly served up coldly and calmly in this Classic 1961 Dick Lit Genre Novel by Scotsman Alistair MacLean.
If this weren't enough, depicted on the cover, in addition to the Firearm, are other Penis Extenders: a Helicopter, an Oil Derrick, and last, not certainly not least, a Bathyscaphe.

Everything on the cover is in the Book. Every. Single. Thing.
I am hooked on MacLean. Glad I have so many more to read. Warning: I am never going to rate a MacLean less than 4 stars, even if just for the British English and the writing.



We discover much later:
*hair dyed to fool the Greedy Bad Guys
**scar created surgically also to fool the same GBGs

[Kurt Reichenbaugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took the paperback along with me on a trip to Mexico for reading on the buses and plane. I was a fan of some of MacLean's novels when I was a teenager and reading this one reminded me why I liked them. This one had a lot of action and violence in it. And like other MacLean novels, most of the motives and details behind the caper are kept from the reader until opportune moments. This one has a millionaire daughter who is kidnapped by the hero, a hop-head sadist, a coldblooded killer, an arrogant general and a couple of guys handy with saps, guns and fists. There is a final confrontation near the end where the tensions mount to the breaking point. It's cool...

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the classic, action-packed, 'one man takes on a load of bad guys and wins' story, much loved by Hollywood film companies. It is a good one however, with lots of plot twists and challenges for our hero to overcome, and at least he hurts when beaten up and gets tired sometimes.
The author has a certain whimsical humour in his writing, which adds an enjoyable counterpart to all the gung-ho stuff.

[Eva-Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5.

This book was recommended to me by a very good friend, who said it was her favorite MacLean book. Since I really enjoyed Where Eagles Dare, I thought I'd give it a go, and it was quite good. Still like WED better (maybe because it's set in WWII) but Fear is the Key was definitely worth my time. Favorite character? Jablonsky. And now I want to re-read FITK sometime so that I can piece everything together the way it REALLY was. ;)

[Teri-K · Rating 4 out of 5]

MacLean wrote excellent, clean adventure novels set during WWII or the Cold War. Full of tough good guys and nasty baddies they always have some twists and are solid escapist reading. There's usually a woman who may not be a great fighter but is courageous and smart, too. This tale of revenge is especially clever - a good way to while away a cold, grey afternoon.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of excitement and suspense. Not a straight forward thriller either. At several points you don't know who is telling the truth or who is who.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alistair MacLean is my focus author for September. Fear is the Key was originally published in 1961 and is my first book of the month. I read many of MacLean's books back in the late '60s as he was a favorite of mine. But when I came to the Valley in 2001, I found his books again and over time have begun exploring his work again. So with that boring preamble, these are my thoughts on Fear is the Key.

Like every MacLean book, you have a sort of 'everyman' anti-hero caught up in a dangerous, thrilling situation. Of course this man is more than he seems and this will come out as the story progresses. In the prologue to this story, a small cargo aircraft carrying cargo (of some value it seems) from Colombia to Florida is shot down by a fighter jet. This is witnessed (via radio communication) by the partner (and pilot's brother) of the cargo business. Also on board is the wife and child of the man witnessing the event.

The story jumps to a trial in Florida many years later. The defendant escapes, taking along a woman as a hostage. People are killed during this escape. And so begins an action-filled, far-fetched but totally entertaining thriller. The adventure will take John Talbot to the 'home' of multi-millionaire oil baron, General Ruthven and then to his oil well off the coast of Florida during a hurricane. He will battle hardened criminals, search the ocean floor for a mystery cargo and ultimately risk his life for vengeance.

As I say, it's often far-fetched, as most of MacLean's books are. His stories are often hit or miss. Fear is the Key is a hit, exciting, non-stop & filled tension. If you like to escape to this kind of story, try Fear is the Key. Most enjoyable. (4 stars)

[Kannan M K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another classic revenge thriller by MacLean.

The plot centers on a DC3, carrying gold ingots and precious stones, that is shot down somewhere over the Gulf of Mexico. A murderer with underwater salving background is coaxed into salvaging the treasure from the depths from an oil rig setting using a bathyscaphe. As the plot unravels, this salvager is found to have a strong connection to the crashed DC3 and the rest of the story is how he gets his revenge.

To be honest, MacLean keeps the plot moving even though it is easier to ascertain the mystery of what Talbot is after. This facet makes me rank this book below Ice Station Zebra!

Overall an entertaining read for MacLean fans.
3.25/5

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Odd

[Tristan Clovis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my kinda book at all.

[Kev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this for an absolute bargain along with Where Eagles Dare and Ice Station Zebra.
My first taste of Maclean and I must say I was very impressed particularly with the way he structured the plot and kept the key twist from becoming too obvious until the last thirty pages. I was also surprised by the dialogue which contained more than a few Chandler-esque similes that actually came off. A solid & fun 4/5 read.

[Oupa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alistair will always remain a favorite author his stories are brilliant!

[Päivikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something in Finnish too:

Ollaan Amerikassa suurkapitalismin pimeällä puolella, kovapintaisten gangsterien keskuudessa. Eräässä oikeussalissa syytetään John Talbot –nimistä miestä törkeistä rikoksista. Ilman ennakkovaroitusta John Talbot ampuu oikeussalissa poliisia, sieppaa erään vaaleaverikön kilvekseen ja syöksyy pakoon oikeuden puheenjohtajan omalla Chevroletilla. Koko maassa suoritetaan takaa-ajohälytys. Tytön nimi on Mary Ruthven – mutta kuka hän oikeastaan on? Ja kuka on loppujen lopuksi tämä John Talbot?
Miksi hän osallistuu selkkauksiin, joiden näyttämönä on öljymagnaatti Ruthvenin öljynporaustorni x13 Meksikon lahdella?
Mistä Talbot tuntee Jablonskyn, virkaheiton poliisimiehen, jolla on huono maine ja vähän elonpäiviä – miksi hän seurustelee narkomaanien ja gangsteripäälliköiden kanssa? Ja miten on mahdollista, että yleistä arvonantoa nauttiva kenraali Ruthven on voinut sekaantua hämäräperäisiin puuhiin?(takakansiteksti)

TEKIJÄ Alistair MacLean
TEOKSEN NIMI Pelko on aseeni
PAINOVUOSI 1971
PAINOS 6
KUSTANTAJA WS
SIDONTA Nidottu
SIVUMÄÄRÄ 294 (1)
ALKUTEOS: Fear is the key
KIELI suomi
SARJA Taskukirjasto 46
KORKEUS (MM) 180
PAKSUUS (MM) 14
SYVYYS (MM) 110
PAINO (G) 182

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is far from an unbiased review. Fear is the key is the first novel, I read by scottish novelist Alistair Maclean, and it immediately became my favorite novel of one of my favorite authors.

The story is fast paced, well written and leaving enough twists and tension to last a life time. Or at least they did for somebody first introduced to the German translation. For reasons of their own the german publisher, had decided to remove the prologue and epilogue from the novel. A crime I usually call unforgivable, yet in this rare instance I do approve of it. If you own a copy of the novel, I challenge you to do a reread, skipping the prologue. Suddenly the novel isn't kicking of with the first person narrator losing his family in a suspicious plane crash. No we begin with the first person narrator facing a judge, being accused for multiple crimes, taking a hostage and going on the run.
The whole story has a very different dynamic, in my opinion greatly increasing tension and mystery.
But don't take my word for it, read it for yourself, this book is most certainly a good read.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading Alistair MacLean back in the late 60s, when I was only nine years old. While I didn't like his novels written after the early 70s, I've re-read many times all his novels from the 50s and 60s.

Fear Is The Key is from the late 50s and while it was written during MacLean's heyday, it's not his best effort. I enjoyed the setting and the main character. Both had a lot of depth and MacLean seemed to particularly enjoy expanding on the descriptions of the section of Florida where the story is set. Supporting characters were decent, though formulaic even in that early effort. (MacLean's novels from Circus onward had a tiring repetition of cut-out characters that made me abandon him.)

Despite the down-checks, however, Fear Is The Key is certainly worth the first read and followup re-readings. It doesn't compare favorably to his truly good novels like When Eight Bells Toll, The Golden Rendezvous, Night Without End, The Black Shrike, or Puppet On A Chain. But Fear Is The Key does fit in with that list, even if toward the bottom.

[Tim Corke · Rating 3 out of 5]

After an early uncertainty about the plot and the style, unfortunately they didn't get any better. Whilst an interesting enough plot and series of characters, Fear is the Key didn't really do anything for me. The writing was OK but was written simply and without a great deal of depth so didn't really feel like picking it up and reading a few more pages.

The role of Talbot and the development of the character was clear but for a long while it wasn't clear what was actually happening and how it was relating to the general idea of the story. Within a relatively quick time the whole plot had been unraveled and broken down quite matter of factly and the mystery had disappeared.

I can imagine this story to be revisited by another author who could add another dimension to it and to be frank can equally imagine it would be a much better read.

I'd recommend it if you didn't have any other books to read and you wanted something straightforward but it won't do much else.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping and well written. Sympathetic (anti?)hero. Don’t read Goodread’s blurb because it gives away too much!

[Joseph Grinton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have recently been re-reading all the books by Alistair Maclean that I read when I was a teenager, which was all the ones he'd written up to Caravan to Vaccarès I think. After that they lost something and I stopped reading them. I wondered if it was because I'd grown up. Apparently not. They are still great fun to read. The characters are flimsy. The situations are corny. The vocabulary is predictable. But he has a great sense of humour and the plots zing along with not a word wasted. He has a light touch and astounding creativity. This is one of his better ones. It is much better than the film, which I saw shortly after reading the book the first time and was hugely disappointed. It had little of the suspense and none of the humour. There is also a sentimental theme here, which appeals to me, especially since I was reading my original Fontana edition from 1972.