Confessional

Liam Devlin #3

by Jack Higgins

New York Times A rogue terrorist in Northern Ireland prepares to assassinate the pope in this thriller from the author of Rain on the Dead.

Trained by the KGB, the assassin known as Cuchulain has been wreaking havoc throughout Northern Ireland for over two decades, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. Now he has set his sights on his most audacious target the pope.

Desperate to stop the terrorist, British Intelligence enlists an enemy Irish gunman, Liam Devlin, to accomplish what it never could. He must put an end to Cuchulain's reign of terror, once and for all.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Action, Espionage, Mystery, Adventure, Historical Fiction

349 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enter Liam Devlin the legendary former IRA man who is called once more into the world of espionage and terrorism because there is a hitman out there whose sole purpose is to create chaos and havoc, anything to stop any peace between the parties involved in Northern Ireland.
Cuchulain is this unknown assailant who has been doing his job, for which he had been trained by the Russian secret service for almost twenty years without nobody ever noticing this one player whose sole goal was creating instability.
Devlins job is being the go-between for the British security forces and the Profisional IRA because both parties would gain by tracking down this hindrance in any peace proces. Pretty soon people are dying especially people that can identify the killer. The Russians want him dead because he would be a pointing finger towards them, the IRA want him dead because he has killed them and for them, the British want him dead because he is a security risk, especially with the Pope coming for a visit. Liam Devlin just wants to know why.

Another well written adventure story of the thriller variety that does not delve deep into anything but delivers a fast tale that is easy to read. This time it is more personal for Liam Devlin because this whole affair comes very close to home. You will not be kept long in suspense as Higgins fairly early in the book decides to release the identity of this mysterious gunman. You then do not lack any thriller aspects for the rest of the novel as it turns into a race to the main event, the assassination of the Pope.

Well written and a boys adventure novel. Good fun and an easy read.

Criticism is easy with the choices Higgins takes with the description of the struggles or Troubles in Ireland, but these novels are made to entertain and not be some social criticism of what has happened.

The last one of the Liam Devlin novels would be the straight sequel to "the Eagle has landed" which I never read but will read after I have finished the first novel. Looking forward to it.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Take a KGB assassin and send him on a sleeper mission to Ireland where he causes great consternation to both the Protestants and the IRA for 20 years, all unbeknownst to them. As his term of service winds down, he embarks on a covert operation which, if he can pull it off, will have massive international implications. Can he be stopped?

I multitasked throughout this book: As I read, I was biting my fingernails down to the quick. What tension!

[Δημήτρης · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ένα βιβλίο που βρήκα εντελώς τυχαία, μεταχειρισμένο μόλις με 1€ κάπου στα Εξάρχεια. Έκδοση του 1986 αν δεν κάνω λάθος.

Η ιστορία πιάνει Σοβιετική Ένωση, Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο, Ιρλανδία, IRA, κάτι λίγο από Παρίσι την περίοδο του πολέμου Falklands μεταξύ Ηνωμένου Βασιλείου και Αργεντινής. Έχει αρκετό ενδιαφέρον, διαβάζεται ευχάριστα και κατά περιπτώσεις έχει αρκετά γρήγορη ροή. Δεν είναι σίγουρα κάποιο αριστούργημα αλλά πέρασα όμορφα διαβάζοντάς το.

[Oli Turner]

The forty-fourth #jackhiggins #martinfallon #hughmarlowe #harrypatterson #henrypatterson #jamesgraham novel #confessional published in 1985. Featuring #brigadiercharlesferguson and #liamdevlin once more as well as a cameo appearance from #tonyvilliers . Interestingly the novel takes place simultaneously alongside #Exocet with characters weaving in and out of both novels. Ferguson is often seen in the Higgins novels as being very busy but this is the first time seeing him handling two operations simultaneously from the perspective of two different novels.
It starts off with a broad scope featuring international geo-political shenanigans some of which are still relevant today. Russians in Ukraine becoming involved in Ireland to destabilise the British (with connections to Oman, Israel and france).
Featuring a Sleeper agent as well as an astute and an accomplished pianist defecting from Russia seeking revenge for her father’s murder.
The second act was full of tension and excitement including a chase across france to england by train, plane and boat, plus a reveal of a secret identity and face to face encounter that was gripping.
The last 50 pages were a little padded but the time was spent developing the antagonist’s character and showing a different side to him.
Even though the final act was padded in places there were other sections towards the very end that felt rather abrupt. The epilogue was poignant.
As fairly typical for Higgins the novel starts one way (often broad in scope), deviates in the middle (going places the reader does not expect) and ends much more intimately (smaller in scope and generally character based).

[David Lucero · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Jack Higgins for years. 'The Eagle Has Landed' is my favorite. The character 'Liam Devlin' is brilliant, and unfortunately not used in many books by the author. The character Sean Dillon is reminiscent of Devlin, but not the same.

In 'Confessional' Devlin returns to help Tanya Voroninova, a pianist and daughter of a KGB general, stop the Russian assassin known as Cuchulain, a master of disguise and murder. The KGB trained this man to think like a foreigner, live among them, and be accepted in their community. When acting on orders to remove a threat, Cuchulain strikes like lightning, taking out his target with cool precision.

British Intelligence learns Cuchulain is now after the Pope himself, who will be visiting England. As it turns out, their own nemesis Liam Devlin, is needed to help stop this threat. But can they trust him? He is after all, a feared member of the IRA. And how will an assassin get close to the Pope? Close enough to kill him, and get away with it?

This book is unlike many of Higgins' latest, which is to say his plots and book flow become repetitive. I'm not saying I don't enjoy his books, they are certainly good! However, they lose a certain flair and creativity when the plots appear similar to previous books.

'Confessional' isn't like that. He's only used Devlin in 3 books, and this one is far different from others he's written, which brings out the writing talent I enjoyed about Higgins. It's a book that leaves you guessing at every turn.

David Lucero, author
Big Jim

Who's Minding the Store?

The Sandman

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[Eric_W · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I would give Higgins another try. Several years ago I listened to part of a Sean Dillon novel and it must have been the reader. I quit half way through. This one is read by a different reader and perhaps it's the narration or simply a better story, but this one was riveting. The KGB has planted a mole/sleeper in Ireland. He was trained in a replica of a little Irish community located in the Ukraine (yes, it's dated, so what?). Kelly is charged with fomenting discard between the Irish and British in hopes of preventing any kind of peace accord. Brigadier Ferguson and Captain Fox discover a pattern of assassinations almost by accident and they enlist the support of the IRA and Provisional Army to locate the culprit.

Lots of twists and turns, a very believable plot, if archaic and predictable. Solid page-turner.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

HOARDER CHALLENGE #26-TURN THE OTHER CHEEK

Here's another Higgins book that I leave on my shelf until I need a 'purse bag book'. I had previously read 2 others so I figured I might as well do this one too.
I went on vacation & left it at home which is why there's a large gap to read this.

Ah Liam...I like him. I also think he's very similar to the Sean Dillon character in that series by the writer.
I did think it took too long for Liam to figure things out. It seemed obvious to this reader who the assassin was.
Lots of suspense and action but no female romance element which I missed.
It did have a lot of characters to keep track of & it switched between POV's & flashbacks.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack Higgins has me hooked. Fast moving and interesting characters. These are a fun read.

[Christian D. D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first Jack Higgins novel I've read in 30 years (that one being "The Run to Morning, back when I was at the tender age of 11 y/o). It's such a pleasure to rediscover Jack's writings after all these years; now that I've got my own military, law enforcement, and international travel experience (to include England, Scotland and Ireland alike) of my own, as well as an academic background in International Relations (baccalaureate degree from the University of Southern California) I'm able to appreciate novels like "Confessional" even more, and moreover, my experience as a practicing Catholic (which wasn't the case 30 years ago) give me additional appreciation and perspective on the plot elements.

A highly enjoyable, fast-paced, action-packed, page-turning read involving a half-Russian, half-Irish sleeper agent living a dual life as a priest (an example of Carl Jung's "Duality of Man?") plotting to assassinate Pope John Paul II, being relentlessly pursued by not only the British intelligence apparatus but by the legendary Liam Devlin (Higgins' Irish protagonist from "The Eagle Has Landed"). The historical setting during the time of the Falkland Islands War of 1982 provides for an interesting backdrop and perspective. That said, I have a few nitpicks, which I'll elaborate on below....
--p. 13: Paul Cherny? Shouldn't that be *Pavel* Cherny?

--p. 28: "'We all want something different, that's the trouble with human beings, particularly men and women. In spite of what the feminists say, they are different.'" True dat.

--p. 32: D15 branch of of SIS? Near *which* London Hilton?

--p. 45: "Ceska" pistol as in CZ-75?

--p. 47: "'Ireland free and Ireland for the Irish. We don't want any Marxist pap here.'" Och aye, laddie, Erin Go Bragh!

--p. 50: "five pound note"....or five *Punt* note?

--p. 79: Lieutenant-General = Colonel-General??

--p. 86: "'Dasba?'" Does the author mean "dacha?"

--p. 89: Shouldn't "Peter" be "Pyotr?"

--p. 106: Hey, a reference to the Proms!

--p. 134: Hmmm, here the author references the Walther PPK, Carswell silencer, and 350CC BSA as if he were introducing them to the reader for the first time, rather than as items that have already been used several times previously in the novel.

--p. 148: "'I imagine the last thing they [Moscow, that] want is the Pope dead..." Jack Higgins apparently forgot to tell this to Tom Clancy (R.I.P.) when the latter wrote "Red Rabbit!"

--p. 154: Aw jeez, that whole "Automatics jam, revolvers never jam" canard.

--p. 157: a Baptist who "'thinks music is a sin'" and considers Catholics to be the "antichrist." Gawd, I hate those kind of people.

--p. 158: "'Fallon?'" An homage to Martin Fallon in "A Prayer for the Dying?"

--p. 164: nice to see Baptist bigot Brodie get a well-deserved arse-beating and a ruined career, but too damn bad Cussane doesn't kill him.

--p. 194: R.I.P. Col. H. Jones, 2 Para.

--p. 206: "He took the Walther from his pocket, cocked it, then put the safety catch on as the far shot forward." Well, shit, on a Walther, the safety would de-cock the hammer anyway, so what's the point of cocking it....unless Higgins actually meant racking the slide to chamber a round?

Central Casting: John Lithgow as Ferguson, Jeff Bridges (or Treat Williams) as Liam Devlin, Jeroen Krabbé as Chuchulain/Kelly/Cussane, Sean Bean (or Norman Reedus) as....(the IRA leader whose named escapes me at the moment), Pierce Brosnan as Maj. Tony Villiers

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years ago, I gave up hope on Higgins's Sean Dillon novels. He was phoning them in, if he was even doing the writing; cookie-cutter characters, in one case he replaced a killed character with an exact replica, right down to religion and grandfather (both grandfathers were superstar Rabbis). He kept feuds going on for way too many books. I grew to hate the Sean Dillon novels. I couldn't even tell you if a new one has been released in the last couple of years.

But going back to Higgins from the mid 1970s up through at least the early 1990s is another matter all together, and Confessional is a perfect example of Higgins at his best. The plot involves a Soviet sleeper who has been placed in Ireland for at least 20 years whose job is to cause chaos and instability. As a result he kills people on both sides of the issue in Ireland--both Catholic and Protestant--just to keep the war going on. But then his cover is blown, and he goes out on his own. The KGB can't control him and fails at bringing him down. The British enlist the aid of retired IRA terrorist, and protagonist of the Eagle has Landed, Liam Devlin. What follows is a taut, fast-paced story which operates in the real world.

This story is set against the backdrop of the Falklands War and world-hopping Pope John Paul II. Higgins weaves the real world politics into a one of his best novels.

In the course of this novel Higgins introduces one of the chief characters in the Sean Dillon novels, Brigadier General Charles Ferguson.

This book reads fast, and you won't regret having read it.

[Arqam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thriller-History-Spy novel i suppose.
Disappointed by reading Higgins as heard a lot good about him,
Thrill there was none!
At Points felt like struggling to read instead of enjoying, Suppose that what i read for.
I seemed to me at times that story nowhere and everywhere.
Too much of drama involved, would have made a reasonable movie out of it.
Character seemed to fade away, some i just can't think why.
The whole story was like building house of card and as you come close it would scatter again.

[Serdar Poirot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zamanında Rusya'da KGB ajanları için İrlanda'nın bir köyü birebir kopyalanmıştır. Burada Mikhail Kelly adında bir ajan eğitim görür. Amiri yetki vermemesine rağmen rolü gereği muhbiri kulağından vurur ve polis rolündekileri öldürür. Para verdiği kız polislerden birinin kızı Tanya Vorononiva'dır ve Mikhail'in amiri onu evlat edinir. Uyuyan bir ajan olarak İrlanda'ya gidecektir. Tony Villiers, çölde Levin adlı bir Rus'u kurtarır ve her şey değişir. Cuchulain adlı ajanı Hakkında ilk bilgileri o verir ama öldürülür. Liam ise yakın arkadaşı Rahip Harry Cussane ile satranç oynar. IRA, İngiltere ve diğer örgütlerin arasının açılmasına sebep olan olayları bunun yaptığı anlaşılır. Tanya, Fransa'daki konserdeyken kaçar ve Liam'ın yanına gelir. Harry Fox da yardımcı olur. IRA başkanı McGuiness bu işi çözmesini söyler. Liam'ın bilmediği ise telefonunun dinlendiğidir. En sonunda Cussane ve Cuchulain'in aynı kii olduğu anlaşılır. Tanya ve Liam'ın bağlayıp kaçar. Falkland savaşı devam etmekte ve Papa da ilk kez İngiltere'ye gelecektir. Cussane, Papa'yı vuracağını söyler. Çünkü Andropov SSCB başkanı olunca Tanya da dahil hepsinin infaz emrinş vermiştir. Kaçarken Morag Finley adında bir kızla tanışır ve zorunluluktan beraber yolculuk yaparlar. Bir yerde Liam Cussane'yi, o da Fox'u vurur. Tüm gözlerden uzakta Papa'ya doğru yola çıkar. Acaba başarılı olabilecek midir? Papa ne yapacaktır? Susan Calder adlı polis ne yapacaktır? Morag, bu adama karşı ne hissetmiştir? Keyifle soluksuz okunan bir roman.

[Carl · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Confessional” is the third book in the Liam Devlin series. Here we have a deep-cover mole (a sleeper agent), KGB-trained IRA assassin, planted 20 years as a Catholic priest. A taut thriller from beginning to end; however, it is perhaps a little dated in spots as it takes place during the Cold War. Devlin is recruited by British intelligence to ferret out an unknown assassin who has used murder to sabotage peace efforts for decades. He is now after the Pope. Who knows who this mysterious mole is - - - and the cat and mouse game begins with the sleeper agent several moves ahead.

This is the first Jack Higgins novel I've read, and I really liked it. His plot was a bit confusing at first, but it was well crafted with many twists and turns. His characters – especially the main ones – were well developed with even a sympathetic side for the villain. This one was a new author for me, and “Confessional” did not disappoint. I have seen the movie, but I will now read his “The Eagle Has Landed” – the first in the Liam Devlin series.

[MisterLiberry Head · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who says operatives aged in their mid-sixties can’t be dynamic and “relatable” (hate that word!) heroes in espionage fiction? Admittedly, the 1989 mini-series version of CONFESSIONAL went with a then-40-year-old Keith Carradine to play ex-IRA gunman Liam Devlin – younger, but no more Irish than Donald Sutherland playing the same character in the film version of ‘The Eagle Has Landed.’ The action throughout this three-pack offered by Kindle Unlimited is informed by a sentiment frequently expressed by Devlin: "We don’t control the game any more, it controls us” (p786). This is only the third Jack Higgins thriller that Mister Liberryhead has read, but CONFESSIONAL repeats the motif of an audacious, would-be assassin successfully getting his gun onto a world leader at close range. Mighty diverting, pandemic-proof recreational reading here.

[Tim Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Higgins’ third book with Liam Devlin as the main character. Higgins fans will remember Devlin as the somewhat sarcastic devil-may-care Irishman of the IRA who played important roles in “The Eagle Has Landed” and “The Eagle Has Flown”.

In this story, Devlin agrees to do the work of Charles Ferguson of the Prime Minister’s private intelligence organization and disrupt a plot to kill the Pope. Does he succeed? Well, you’ll have to read the book for yourself. It’s full of the typical Higgins action scenes, hard-bitten characters, and the desperate struggle between good and evil, where good sometimes walks up to the edge of the line…

Not quite as compelling as the “Eagle” books, but a good read.

[Timothy L. Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liam Devlin takes a back seat

This is certainly an action-packed novel, but it doesn’t have the coherence of Higgins’ best work. It reads in a straightforward manner, but the action is confused at spots and somewhat dull in others. Most importantly, it is billed as the third in the Liam Devlin series, and Devlin certainly plays a role
— but it is prominent in the first half and decreases from there. It feels as if Higgins couldn’t really decide if this book was about Devlin, or about his enemy, Harry Cussane. Worth reading if you’ve a Higgins fan, but not as memorable as his best.

[Rob Haswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The International Thriller is one of my most reliable genres to read. The practitioners of this writing absolutely know the definition of the word "page turner" and Confessional by Jack Higgins is no exception. Make no mistake, this isn't high art (but either are the Bourne movies and who doesn't love those?), but a really fun story is well worth the time. I haven't read Higgins before, but I will gladly pick his stuff up going forward and he's very prolific. Confessional is set in Ireland during "the Troubles" and involves Soviet mischief and a whole host of other twists and turns. What's not to love?

[Cam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read as assigned reading for Bad Luck Book Club.

And it was okay. It was a smooth read, a quick read, and it genuinely was entertaining for the short time that I sat with it. I had no trouble coming back to it, anyway. There were plot holes here and there, the ending was rushed, and more than once while reading did I suspect that Higgins has a weird fetish for firearms, but ain't that the charm of all spy thrillers?

Not my usual read, but decent.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good fast paced thriller that puts Devlin in the middle of Northern Ireland during the Troubles as a KGB agent continues to stir things up to keep the violence alive and prevent the two side from talking. Added to this is a visit to Britain by the Pope, who finds himself a target as all sides close in on the agent at the heart of it all. All this against the backdrop of the Falklands War, which divides opinions even further. The pace of the story is superb and while it is a traditional good versus evil story, it is an enjoyable one and it does leave you on edge at times.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in the Liam Devlin series, sees a KGB-trained IRA assassin planted so deep under cover as a Catholic priest, some 20 years in the past. Following his discovery by the British Secret Service, he has gone rogue and is hellbent on killing the Pope. The IRA, KGB and British Secret Service are all after him, but Liam Devlin, insights get there first? Cuchulain, one of his many names, has been operating in Ireland to keep the cycle of violence between the IRA and British Intelligence at a fever pitch. Cuchulain targets the pope as his ultimate victim. Who can stop him! A great Jack Higgins suspense novel, full of fast pace action, twists and turns. Thoroughly enjoyable!!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yay for Jack Higgins and Liam Devlin. I needed something to cheer me up after a really dire book and this did the trick no end. This was so much fun. I really love the Liam Devlin books. He was one of my favourite characters aside from Steiner in The Eagle has Landed and I like seeing what happened to him afterwards. With a bit of Russian spy element and also Harry Ferguson this was like frontrunners to the Sean Dillon novels. Loads of fun and a quick and easy read. 4 stars.

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great thriller by Jack Higgins; one of his best. An Irish priest turned KGB killer terrorizes both sides of the Irish, causing each to blame the other. The story picks up where the English authorities begin to suspect the truth. It's a winding trail, and we learn that in addition to being the brutal killer, the priest has a heart. Lots of interesting characters and cliffhanging situations. Recommended.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than book 2 and as good as book 1. Liam Devlin, a priest, a reprise of London anti-terriorist officers Ferguson and Fox, the enigmatic Cuchulain (Irishman-working-for-Russians), the Russian orphan-turned concert pianist. Russian intrigue, the IRA, British intelligence, and the Roman Catholic Church. Oh so good! My only complaint... a little abruptly anti-climactic at the end.

[NCHS Library]

From Follett
For thirty years KGB operative Cuchulain has been content to pit the IRA against the British, but when he learns of a papal visit he becomes a rouge assassin, and only two people can stop him: Liam Devlin, the retired IRA gunman, and Tanya Voroninova, the beautiful daughter of a KGB general.

[Gail Tavis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

Exciting, interesting, intriguing those are the words to describe this book. Excellent plot, and great actors in this Jack Higgins book. This is the second time I have read it and probably will read it again. Jack Higgins books are always excellent, and very readable. I highly recommend this book.

[David Patsel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I’ve really enjoyed the three book series on Liam Devlin. Higgins has done a remarkable job weaving an interesting and exciting story on all three. Characters are all unique and well developed. Just a very entertaining read. Highly recommend all three books!

[LOWELL P YODER · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learn the "bad guy" early!

Another very good story line, but I was surprised at how early in the book I figured out who the "villain" was! But that left a lot of book for him to "meet his 'end'"!

[CW Crollard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liam Devlin is following a part-time priest who is plan ing to kill .

A thriller of a case where Liam covers a lot of ground to catch Harry Cussane, to prevent an assassin of a VIP.

[Cathie Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting book to read. Even though the bad guy is the main character, from the start, he's a character that you learn to appreciate throughout the story. Lots of twists and turns. No Sean Dillion in this book, but Kelly has the same MO as him. Worth the read.

[Ken French · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this book before and have a soft spot for it, since I was in London when the events in the novel take place (i.e., the Pope's visit and the Falklands War). Also, Liam Devlin is a great character.