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Hell Is Too Crowded
The face swimming at him out of the fog. The strange woman appearing suddenly. The invitation to her flat. The offer of a drink...that drink was the last thing Matt Brady remembered.
When he woke, police were all around...and the body of the girl was lying near him. Of course they did not believe his story. He was charged with murder and sent to prison.
But few prisons can hold Brady, and he knew he had to get out...fast! He had to find out the truth behind this crazy nightmare. Who wanted to frame him? Who wanted him out of the way?
160 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
206 people are currently reading
209 people want to read
About the author
Harry Patterson
48 books29 followersOne of the many pseudonyms used by Henry Patterson. See Jack Higgins for more complete information.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 16, 2017
Aim of the reading this book was a polishing up my english. For me English reading should be fluent, catching my interest up and etc. I am also looking for a bit of quality. The book is all about the guy called as Brady who was meeting a girl middle of the night, offer her a lift to home and waking up at her house which was full of officers and she was killed. End of the story we understood that he was the first guy on the first bench!
I gave two stars because I might not really like the detective story but this is not the only reason I suppose. The characters are not well drawn and I do not be mean but i felt plot was not complieted also. It needs to work on it. This was a fast trip for me indeed. This book may be interesting for detective story lovers or teenegers.
I gave two stars because I might not really like the detective story but this is not the only reason I suppose. The characters are not well drawn and I do not be mean but i felt plot was not complieted also. It needs to work on it. This was a fast trip for me indeed. This book may be interesting for detective story lovers or teenegers.
December 28, 2021
This is an early Jack Higgins novel, originally published under his real name Harry Patterson in 1962, reprinted by Fawcett in 1976 and reissued here in 1977 with the name-change and the strapline ‘by the author of The Eagle Has Landed’.
It’s a pot-boiler and reveals that Higgins was learning his trade.
Matt Brady was inebriated when he met the woman; he was ‘caught between the shadow lines of sleep and waking when strange things fill the mind’ (p5). One wonders if Higgins was alluding to the Joseph Conrad book The Shadow Line (1917) which depicts the threshold of a young man entering adulthood at sea. The woman was wearing a trench-coat and a scarf ‘peasant-fashion’.
‘A ship moved down the Pool of London sounding its foghorn like the last of the dinosaurs lumbering aimlessly through a primeval swamp, alone in a world that was already alien.’ (p5) Here, Higgins might be referencing Ray Bradbury’s classic short story ‘The Foghorn’ (1951).
Once in the woman’s apartment, he accepts a drink and abruptly passes out. When he comes to, the police are in the room and the woman is dead – her face brutally damaged… Brady is sent to prison for life. He must escape, however, to prove his innocence, which he does manage with some inside help. The trail leads him to several individuals, one of whom is Das who is a proud owner of a Ming vase among other items. In his desperation to get answers, Brady threatens to destroy the valuable vase. (This will be echoed in The Dark Side of the Island when the doctor Van Horn is threatened by the Nazi’s in a similar way).
Brady is befriended by Anne, a young woman, the daughter of a friend who has died. She believes in his innocence. The story behind the woman he was accused of murdering is revealed about three-quarters through the book; after which it’s a case of tracking down the real murderer.
There are several deaths before the denouement is reached.
The book was originally published in the US, I assume, since there were references to ‘color’, ‘hood’ of a car instead of ‘bonnet’, and ‘sidewalk’. Higgins may have been attempting an American point-of-view since Brady was from the States; however, there were other instances of the spelling ‘colour’. These were the days when publishers actually employed people to change the trans-Atlantic vocabulary as appropriate; now, they tend not to bother. None of this spoils the story-telling, which is page-turning.
It’s a pot-boiler and reveals that Higgins was learning his trade.
Matt Brady was inebriated when he met the woman; he was ‘caught between the shadow lines of sleep and waking when strange things fill the mind’ (p5). One wonders if Higgins was alluding to the Joseph Conrad book The Shadow Line (1917) which depicts the threshold of a young man entering adulthood at sea. The woman was wearing a trench-coat and a scarf ‘peasant-fashion’.
‘A ship moved down the Pool of London sounding its foghorn like the last of the dinosaurs lumbering aimlessly through a primeval swamp, alone in a world that was already alien.’ (p5) Here, Higgins might be referencing Ray Bradbury’s classic short story ‘The Foghorn’ (1951).
Once in the woman’s apartment, he accepts a drink and abruptly passes out. When he comes to, the police are in the room and the woman is dead – her face brutally damaged… Brady is sent to prison for life. He must escape, however, to prove his innocence, which he does manage with some inside help. The trail leads him to several individuals, one of whom is Das who is a proud owner of a Ming vase among other items. In his desperation to get answers, Brady threatens to destroy the valuable vase. (This will be echoed in The Dark Side of the Island when the doctor Van Horn is threatened by the Nazi’s in a similar way).
Brady is befriended by Anne, a young woman, the daughter of a friend who has died. She believes in his innocence. The story behind the woman he was accused of murdering is revealed about three-quarters through the book; after which it’s a case of tracking down the real murderer.
There are several deaths before the denouement is reached.
The book was originally published in the US, I assume, since there were references to ‘color’, ‘hood’ of a car instead of ‘bonnet’, and ‘sidewalk’. Higgins may have been attempting an American point-of-view since Brady was from the States; however, there were other instances of the spelling ‘colour’. These were the days when publishers actually employed people to change the trans-Atlantic vocabulary as appropriate; now, they tend not to bother. None of this spoils the story-telling, which is page-turning.
August 23, 2022
Good story, lots of action are character is framed for murder he did not commit he escapes from prison and tracks down the responsible man
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2016
The face swimming at him out of the fog, the strange young woman appearing, suddenly, the invitation to her flat, the offer of a drink ---the last thing he remembered - a GREAT SET-UP! When he woke up from the effects of the drink, police were swarming all about and the body of the girl was lying near him on the floor. Of course, they did not believe his story. He was charged with murder, sent to prison for life (where some ones unsuccessfully tries to murder him also). Not only does he, break out of prison but he breaks out the truth behind this bizarre nightmare. Who wanted to frame him? Who wanted him out of the way? --- a superb, headlong paced tale of suspense and murder of a violent, innocent man who refused to compromise with evil.
This is the first Jack Higgens' mysteries I've ever read. I picked this one -- it's obviously been well read(tattered, torn and yellowed) and the title itself HELL IS TOO CROWDED ---thinking to myself and, "so is earth ---imagine what HEAVEN must be!". I wanted a SHORT mystery to try a new author---figured I didn't need a 400 plus page book to decide if I liked his writing ---if I do, I'll read the fatter ones! So, Jack Higgins has been added to my own personal Wish List.
This is the first Jack Higgens' mysteries I've ever read. I picked this one -- it's obviously been well read(tattered, torn and yellowed) and the title itself HELL IS TOO CROWDED ---thinking to myself and, "so is earth ---imagine what HEAVEN must be!". I wanted a SHORT mystery to try a new author---figured I didn't need a 400 plus page book to decide if I liked his writing ---if I do, I'll read the fatter ones! So, Jack Higgins has been added to my own personal Wish List.
January 20, 2019
A bit dated and it all felt very rushed and cliched. Not one of his better books.
March 25, 2020
This novel reminded me of "The Fugitive": a man is framed for a murder, imprisoned, escapes and goes on the run, desperately trying to find out who framed him and why, and bring them to justice. I really enjoyed the first half of this book; the prison break and fugitive sequences were riveting. Unfortunately, the second half, where he finds out who his enemies are and confronts them, was rushed and disappointing. Too many cartoonish characters were introduced too quickly, and the resolution was too easy and not very believable. A fun early Higgins effort that fans of the author will enjoy, but not his best work.
August 5, 2021
The fifth jack higgins / harry patterson novel published in 1962 a fast paced thriller with a typical innocent man framed for murder plot which includes a prison break and a compelling mystery as he works his way along the chain to find out who framed him and why. So much happens in 160 pages. Lots of great scenes and compelling characters . Plenty of action and intrigue with a very satisfying ending. Marvellous stuff. Although I’m concerned the protagonist might have brain damage after the amount of times he gets drugged/knocked unconscious 🥴.
August 20, 2023
Well I certainly cannot write a flowing beautiful review like some of those I have seen in Goodreads but I can tell you that I enjoyed this Higgins book!. It is different than many of his other writings and I read from one of the more knowledgeable (seemingly anyway) reviews that it was written under his pseudonym before "The Eagle Has Landed". I would agree with that as it was somewhat different than a lot of his books in a subtle way. I read most of this book in one afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed it.
December 21, 2023
Ilmeisen varhaista Higginsiä. Montaa hänen kirjaansa en ole lukenut, mutta toivottavasti myöhemmällä iällä hän saa aikaiseksi sellaista, mikä todistaa suosion syyt.
Nopea tämä oli lukea, mutta tylsä ja kliseinen. Lisäksi suomennos oli todella surkeaa työtä ja vei loputkin ilot lukea.
Nopea tämä oli lukea, mutta tylsä ja kliseinen. Lisäksi suomennos oli todella surkeaa työtä ja vei loputkin ilot lukea.
May 29, 2018
The pace is good, the character illustrations are vivid. I think I might have found a new favourite author!
August 14, 2018
A good, short novel.
April 26, 2021
Another good story by JH
I read this book in two days. Easy reading
I am trying to read all the Jack Higgins books . Almost there.
I read this book in two days. Easy reading
I am trying to read all the Jack Higgins books . Almost there.
May 21, 2022
A little disjointed and repetitious.
September 6, 2022
Too many improbable escaped from danger.
January 20, 2023
Another fine book by Jack Higgins, not my favorite, but still a good read. He had so many good reads that not every one of them can be the best.
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July 13, 2023Disappointing not Mr. Higgins' usual good work.
September 2, 2023
Not his best.
May 16, 2025
An okay book. There is no real tension or drama, everything just happens really easily. It's not a bad read though.
February 8, 2009
As Harry Patterson
November 21, 2013
Not the best - too many confusing characters to follow well in such a short book.
October 22, 2015
Virtually read it in one sitting. Tense to the end.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews