What do you think?
Rate this book
In the Hour Before Midnight: A Thriller
Stacey Wyatt knows the power of the Mafia. He has seen what its brutal vengeance and sinister corruption can do. But when he is broken out of prison and brough to Sicily, his only choice is to enter the Mafia's shadowy world of treachery and death.
His was a simple job - rescue the daughter of a wealthy businessman from the Sicilian bandit who had kidnapped her. The money was big, and the risk was worth it.
But it's only when he's in too deep that he realizes the tables have turned, the job was a setup, and the only person left to trust is himself...
His was a simple job - rescue the daughter of a wealthy businessman from the Sicilian bandit who had kidnapped her. The money was big, and the risk was worth it.
But it's only when he's in too deep that he realizes the tables have turned, the job was a setup, and the only person left to trust is himself...
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
130 people are currently reading
432 people want to read
About the author
Jack Higgins
484 books1,280 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
October 14, 2022
3.5 stars
This was a slight departure from Higgins usual as it was about mercenaries in the 60's as opposed to during WWII.
I'm familiar with some of the history of Sicily so I liked that part of the story-learning more.
And though Stacey is a violent man, he was still likable. You root for him b/c as the story develops you become more empathetic towards him & his introspection.
Very good character development. Action packed & suspenseful.
There were twists & turns along the way.
I liked the ending.
This was a slight departure from Higgins usual as it was about mercenaries in the 60's as opposed to during WWII.
I'm familiar with some of the history of Sicily so I liked that part of the story-learning more.
And though Stacey is a violent man, he was still likable. You root for him b/c as the story develops you become more empathetic towards him & his introspection.
Very good character development. Action packed & suspenseful.
There were twists & turns along the way.
I liked the ending.
December 8, 2016
Despite being EXTREMELY light reading, In the Hour Before Midnight is a perfectly solid, exciting thriller, and the most fun of all the Higgins novels I have read. The James Bond-esque story line kept me on the edge of my seat...the perfect book to take with you on a long plane ride, camping trip, or day at the beach.
April 3, 2022
Zanimljiva priča puna obrta. Dobri opisi mafije,plaćenika,rata,ubijanja. Izdvojila bih još fine opise ženskih ličnosti. Preporuka.
February 24, 2018
An old fashioned Mafia story without any excess baggage. Straightforward , in your face, extremely fast paced and most importantly thoroughly engaging.
January 1, 2022
رمان جذابی بود. منو یاد کتاب پدرخوانده انداخت. ترجمش هم قابل قبول بود. پشت جلد زده بود : کتابو دستت بگیری زمین نمیزاری!
و درست هم میگفت . توی دو روز آخر هفته تمومش کردم.
و درست هم میگفت . توی دو روز آخر هفته تمومش کردم.
December 6, 2025
stand alone and different enough to be awesome
June 18, 2019
Good, diverting escapist stuff, great for getting you through a plane flight--especially if you happened to be headed for Sicily; Higgins took the trouble to do some homework in setting the stage (something that required more time and effort back in the days before Wikipedia and Google Maps)
August 11, 2019
IN THE HOUR BEFORE MIDNIGHT is the second novel Harry Patterson published as by Jack Higgins (the first was East of Desolation) and it, like East of Desolation, is a step above Patterson's earlier work. The early narrative is slower to develop, but once it does, the action explodes with a satisfying intensity. The characters, especially the lead, Stacey Wyatt, is nicely developed with real-world emotions and the tale is powerful enough to change him.
IN THE HOUR BEFORE MIDNIGHT is prime-time Jack Higgins.
IN THE HOUR BEFORE MIDNIGHT is prime-time Jack Higgins.
December 7, 2010
Taking advantage of a lazy Saturday I decided to dip into my trusty Higgins stash (an ebay lot I picked up years ago) and pulled out this fun title. True to form you can typically finish a Higgins book in a day. This was a solid read staring a young mercenary of shady heritage trying to find his way in the world. Of course, along the way there are guns and guerrillas, mimosas and mafioso, pianos and pus...well you get the picture.
January 13, 2014
There's always that point when you know what's gonna happen but still, the book had a lot of surprises that would amaze you. The storytelling was entertaining. If you really like action and mafia stuff then you better read this. It will keep you busy and entertained.
Read
May 29, 2022The twenty-fifth #jackhiggins #martinfallon #hughmarlowe #harrypatterson #henrypatterson novel #inthehourbeforemidnight published in 1969. The Sicilian mafia, mercenaries, a kidnapping, betrayal upon betrayal. A slight change of setting for Higgins but still including his typical rain and medicinal brandy. Great atmosphere, fast pacing, action and adventure. Short and punchy very little fat. Not my favourite Higgins book but certainly serviceable. It includes a slightly unnecessary romantic subplot, but the relationships between all the characters (even the secondary characters) are what really shine.
February 21, 2021
I am impressed by Higgins's craftmanship. He writes a compelling, character driven story and writes it very well until three pages before the end when he adds two events so improbable that I twice rolled my eyes. I had already determined that no matter how skillfully Higgins cobbles this tale together that the world really does not need this book. It is essentially interchangeable with other well crafted thrillers, but that ending: oh, dear.
April 22, 2025
A solid mafia thriller. Higgins doesn't get bogged down in either the glamor or the grime of the underworld, just sprints through at an action-packed pace. This is sort of like what you might get if Harold Robbins's The Predators were told by a competent writer. Higgins sets up plotlines, then pays them off and moves on to the next thing, but not before making them feel like worthwhile waypoints on the route to the end (which you'll reach before you know it).
January 1, 2019
I have been looking for a new author to start reading and I had seen reviews on this book. I decided to give it a try and it took everything in me to stay awake and even make it half way through the book. It is very boring. I will give one of his other books a chance since all authors have that "one book" that makes you wonder if it was really them writing it.
March 19, 2022
Stacey Wyatt is rotting away in The Hole in an Egyptian prison, but is miraculously rescued by his former mercenary leader, Colonel Sean Burke. As time goes on, Stacey begins to realize that there is some underlying reason why Burke rescued him, and it appears to be related to his Sicilian half, and his grandfather, a mafia capo.
July 29, 2024
Another thrilling story by Jack Higgins. It was a short book that didn’t take long to read, but it was worth it. Normally I do not like books written in the first person, but Higgins did it well in this book.
April 30, 2025
good book
Jack Higgins never disappoints and proves it here. Good tale, we’ll developed characters and good ever changing plots. And a little love thrown in also. Highly recommend this one.
Jack Higgins never disappoints and proves it here. Good tale, we’ll developed characters and good ever changing plots. And a little love thrown in also. Highly recommend this one.
January 30, 2018
Simple story of vendetta, nicely told.
August 14, 2018
August 2018. This is a "stand alone" Higgins story. Unlike any Mafia centric story I've read! Another page turner.
November 9, 2018
The author is absolutely confused. The main protagonist is confused and the storyline is confused.
November 20, 2018
A good story, well told
December 22, 2019
A refreshing new venue based on insights into the mafia.
February 21, 2021
The characters are well defined. There is some action. The plot has a good flow. I liked that it was simple not going into much Mafia detail.
March 21, 2021
Cracking read . Lots of plot twists
September 25, 2022
Ok read
January 12, 2024
This was really hard to put down, loved the pace and cadence to it. A few little bits that jarred slightly, but overall a thoroughly enjoyable thriller. You just can't go wrong with Jack Higgins
April 5, 2024
self insert male hero type stuff
June 20, 2024
Has a gay psychopath manipulator mercenary couple 10/10
November 22, 2024
A great read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews