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Passage by Night
Harry Manning, a freebooter with a past he doesn't like to talk about, runs a charter boat in the Bahamas. Also, he boozes.
When his sweetheart leaves him by dying, Harry can find no relief. Except for the thought of revenge. And because he is Harry, he sets out to settle the score.
174 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
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About the author
Hugh Marlowe
12 books5 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
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October 4, 2021The eleventh jack higgins / harry patterson / henry patterson / hugh marlowe novel passage by night published in 1964. A tale of revenge in the Bahamas featuring island hopping, a plane crash, a prison break, some detective work, a CIA mission, a twist I did not see coming, a torturing colonel, a sinking ship, a betrayal, an assassination attempt, a boat chase, an underwater fight and in classic Higgins style some dramatic and foreboding rain. Although, Perhaps not the most memorable of his novels. A slightly better love story/relationship than his earliest work - at least Higgins lets them fall in love at the end rather than immediately upon meeting, but not much time spent building a relationship before love is declared. A slightly abrupt ending with a mysterious fate of one of the antagonists that might be unsatisfactory to some but worked quite well for me.
May 8, 2020
This was an action/thriller. It was a quick read. I did learn that the Bahamas 🇧🇸 are over 600 islands. Alot of which are Cays like Blair Cay, Snake Cay & Johnson Cay..I learned some about Cuba 🇨🇺 but this was written right after the Cuban missile crisis. The storie was supposedly right after this event. The storie was dated, for instance having [Merthiolate] in you medicine kit. It was used as an antiseptic in the sixties. Was discontinued because it contains mercury. There was one thing that rubbed me the wrong way. The use of the word negro when talking of someone. I realize this was written in a time when we were not as tuned to the sensibilities of others, but it still made me grit my teeth when it was used. This was a good short action book. I really connected with the characters.
October 4, 2024
A change of location and how can you not love the beautiful Caribbean?
Sort of. Higgins isn’t ignorant of the setting, and it does impact on the characters he’s swapped in for this one. The main point is that it the setting is always secondary to the plot. We learn whatever is absolutely necessary to get to the next step. The protagonist goes to a bar so he can meet somebody. His ship has an engine so it can go somewhere. The ocean has water so he can swim in it.
Once again the it’s a smooth, disposable read, most notable for the confident predictions by multiple characters that Castro was unlikely to last long. Guess no real harm if you’re wrong – it’s fiction, right?
Sort of. Higgins isn’t ignorant of the setting, and it does impact on the characters he’s swapped in for this one. The main point is that it the setting is always secondary to the plot. We learn whatever is absolutely necessary to get to the next step. The protagonist goes to a bar so he can meet somebody. His ship has an engine so it can go somewhere. The ocean has water so he can swim in it.
Once again the it’s a smooth, disposable read, most notable for the confident predictions by multiple characters that Castro was unlikely to last long. Guess no real harm if you’re wrong – it’s fiction, right?
June 8, 2022
An early thriller, originally published under the pseudonym Hugh Marlowe, this is a cracking example of the form: succinct, suspenseful, bristling with action. It shows its age and its politics are silly to the point of juvenile, but it presents a masterclass in economy.
June 28, 2019
Pretty forgettable and extremely dated.
January 5, 2020
Good early Higgins read. Lots of sea action, suspense and a good dose of retribution.
December 2, 2020
Vintage Higgins
This is vintage Higgins. The Cuban Colonel twist is great. A quick enjoyable read. The author at his earliest best.
This is vintage Higgins. The Cuban Colonel twist is great. A quick enjoyable read. The author at his earliest best.
June 8, 2025
So far, so good. Page 120 and I'm chugging along. The book is a page turner. B movie schlock but I'm loving it!
My only complaint is that Manning, the protagonist has zero depth of character. No personal motivation that we know of for him taking on the entire Cuban Revolution.
Mind you... the Cubanists did blow up his Cuban girlfriend and her body was eaten by sharks which.... I guess is fairly motivating if one wants revenge.
Also, booooring cover.
Oh cool. Manning has now hooked up with a Russian guy and they've become buds. Bring on the schlock!
And now.......but that's a spoiler. More schlock and yeah, I should have seen that one coming, lol.
And now it's time for the big final showdown! Such fun, bring on the schlock!
OK. It was a predictable end but still enjoyable for a light read. Some reviewers say ol' JH has written better and they're right. But if you got a Sunday afternoon to kill on the beach, just read for the fun of it.
A solid 3 stars.
My only complaint is that Manning, the protagonist has zero depth of character. No personal motivation that we know of for him taking on the entire Cuban Revolution.
Mind you... the Cubanists did blow up his Cuban girlfriend and her body was eaten by sharks which.... I guess is fairly motivating if one wants revenge.
Also, booooring cover.
Oh cool. Manning has now hooked up with a Russian guy and they've become buds. Bring on the schlock!
And now.......but that's a spoiler. More schlock and yeah, I should have seen that one coming, lol.
And now it's time for the big final showdown! Such fun, bring on the schlock!
OK. It was a predictable end but still enjoyable for a light read. Some reviewers say ol' JH has written better and they're right. But if you got a Sunday afternoon to kill on the beach, just read for the fun of it.
A solid 3 stars.
February 19, 2026
A short and rapidly paced Cold War espionage pot boiler. Our protagonist gets pulled into a world of Caribbean intrigue and scarcely has a moment to spare to breathe as he's shuttled from confrontation to revelation and so on. This is my third Higgins book that lives in this niche, and I still find his prose pleasantly readable, but the pacing and plot on this one were weaker than the other two of his that I've tried. It's a cut above many of the Nick Carter types of spy books that it resembles, though!
December 13, 2022
Same old template and predictable.
April 19, 2023
A fun story and the Germans are not thr enemy.
June 24, 2025
A quick easy read but somewhat more enjoyable because of the Cuba connection. But there was a lot of stereotyping etc.
May 4, 2015
ebook Library
Harry Manning, a freebooter with a past he doesn't like to talk about, runs a charter boat in the Bahamas. Also, he boozes.
When his sweetheart leaves him by dying, Harry can find no relief. Except for the thought of revenge. And because he is Harry, he sets out to settle the score. travels on the tial of the Cuban agent to Island near Cuban and ends up captured as he was expected.
Manning has his own boat and on his chasing the agent for vengence meets another girl and her father as his boat transport to the next Cuban island. They all escape the island in the old man's boat but it sinks. He gives his own boat to the father and daughter. Then the CIA agent Morrison the Russian picked up in the Cuban escape and Manning all get kidnapped and taken to another Island where Maria the supposedly dead girlfriend is in fact a colonel in the Cuban spy network with a murderous plan. She had killed people in the bombed plane previously where she was thought to have died. They all eacape agin then run the devious spies down. Manning gets the girl and the father old man gets a new boat from the US government. Manning got compensation from US for his lost cuban salvage business.
Harry Manning, a freebooter with a past he doesn't like to talk about, runs a charter boat in the Bahamas. Also, he boozes.
When his sweetheart leaves him by dying, Harry can find no relief. Except for the thought of revenge. And because he is Harry, he sets out to settle the score. travels on the tial of the Cuban agent to Island near Cuban and ends up captured as he was expected.
Manning has his own boat and on his chasing the agent for vengence meets another girl and her father as his boat transport to the next Cuban island. They all escape the island in the old man's boat but it sinks. He gives his own boat to the father and daughter. Then the CIA agent Morrison the Russian picked up in the Cuban escape and Manning all get kidnapped and taken to another Island where Maria the supposedly dead girlfriend is in fact a colonel in the Cuban spy network with a murderous plan. She had killed people in the bombed plane previously where she was thought to have died. They all eacape agin then run the devious spies down. Manning gets the girl and the father old man gets a new boat from the US government. Manning got compensation from US for his lost cuban salvage business.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2016
Harry Manning ekes out a living by chartering his beloved boat, the Grace Abounding, to wealthy tourists visiting the Bahamas. When Cuban terrorists blow a plane out of the sky with his girlfriend on board, he's left with only one thought...revenge.
Passage by Night is a straightforward action-adventure novel which takes place in the days following the Cuban missile crisis. Manning goes from one harrowing situation to the next, escaping by the skin of his teeth each time.
This book is fast paced and action packed, but the plotting lacks realism and the characters are unnuanced. More guilty pleasure than award winning literature, Passage by Night rates 3 stars, no more no less.
Passage by Night is a straightforward action-adventure novel which takes place in the days following the Cuban missile crisis. Manning goes from one harrowing situation to the next, escaping by the skin of his teeth each time.
This book is fast paced and action packed, but the plotting lacks realism and the characters are unnuanced. More guilty pleasure than award winning literature, Passage by Night rates 3 stars, no more no less.
January 19, 2017
Nice early thriller written by Higgins. Harry Manning's love dies when her plane has an explosion and falls into the sea. He explores the area and finds a swarm of sharks in a feeding frenzy but no sign of her body. He decides to investigate the situation and is pulled into danger. Well written, moderately suspenseful.
January 16, 2012
It had an exciting story with lots of action, but it was pretty forgettable overall. This would just be my personal preference. It's not a bad book and there are some surprises and, like I said, lots of action. I really like his Sean Dillon series, especially on CD.
May 27, 2018
The story was okay, moved along quite well, had a few surprises but to me, it was an average story... Jack Higgins has done better...
May 22, 2014
A good short story from Jack Higgins. Characters are a little dated - but entertaining.
March 19, 2016
A quick thriller book. Fast paced, and it keeps you wanting more.
January 14, 2016
Simple, uncomplicated but enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews