Solo

There is a brilliance about this book because of the unique story that keeps once riveted, you move with the characters, especially Asa Morgan who sweeps you up into his own emotions which are right, and he knows only one way to resolve it.

Whenever I see a Jack Higgins book on the Amazon deals page I snap it up because they are always easy reading thrillers. This one was no exception. While it was written in 1980 it doesn't show signs of age like many others and I have seen similar plot lines in several more modern thrillers.A psychopathic but artistically gifted killer whose career sends him around the world has found a regular and satisfying source of victims. While the source is politically inspired he is not interested in political gain, only the adrenaline kick of another successful kill. Things start to go wrong when he accidentally kills an innocent young girl in a hit-and-run accident when he is getting away from the scene of another assassination. The girl is the daughter of Asa Morgan, one of England's most dangerous soldiers with a record of violent success in many dangerous flash-points around the world.Asa vows to avenge the killing himself. Through his contacts he is able to find clues where MI5 and Scotland Yard cannot venture. But the ultimate clue is uncovered through Asa's sheer cunning.Higgins racks up the drama with an unlikely relationship between Dr. Katherine Riley, a foremost authority on terrorist mentality, and the killer. Riley becomes part of an emotional sandwich when she slowly uncovers the truth from her friendship with Asa.The finale is high drama and great spy-craft as the Asa, the killer, his source, the MI5, and Katherine meet in a highly charged public performance.A page-turning and satisfying thriller - well recommended.

Author Jack Higgins of "The Eagle Has Landed" fame delivers a fast, thrilling book. John Mikali is a famous pianist, a man of refinement, high profile, who is also a hired assassin. He enjoys this work though he has scruples about killing anyone other than the intended victim. It is therefore an unfortunate mistake when he runs down Megan Morgan while eluding pursuit after shooting another high-profile victim. Unfortunate indeed since Megan’s father, Colonel Asa Morgan, belongs to Special Section and is himself highly qualified in the arts of tracking down and killing terrorists. “A right bastard, so I’ve heard,” as one man describes him. Unfortunate that academic authority on terrorism methods, Kate Riley, happens to be Micali’s lover and Morgan’s friend. While Asa ferrets out leads to his daughter’s killer, Micali obtains information about Morgan. The two are worthy opponents, and well-matched though Asa’s desire to avenge his daughter may blind him to the dangers of taking on the brilliant and lethal Mikali.Mikali is a fascinating, almost romantic, character despite his career as a cold-blooded assassin. For some dark reason, this reader was rooting for him. “At the end of the day there isn’t really too much to choose between us,” as he tells Asa. The author tries but fails to establish Asa’s anguish over his dead child. Perhaps more personal insights into her or his relationship with her might have made him more likable and helped to side with him in his overwhelming desire for revenge.

SPOILERS within:Unique in a way that's quite unlike any book I've read up until now. Jack Higgins opens the story with what will set the stage for the conflict that will be at the heart of the book and then give the us the readers an intimate bio of the assassin. If done the usual way I would have been rooting for Colonel Morgan to avenge his daughter's death from the beginning, but instead I felt a peculiar attachment and sympathy for the "Crete Lover" John Mikali. This all despite it being said that during the war he fought in he killed women and children and killed somewhat indiscriminately once he became a contract killer. An added wrinkle in the form of Mikali's relationship with a doctor who could have potentially been nothing more than a loose end for him to tie up made me pity him all the more and wish he could have lived despite the lives he took.

I rarely read this genre, but I was in the mood for an escape from reality. The fact that the central character is a world class pianist was the primary attraction of this particular book for me. Strangely, the musical aspect of the story turned out to be the biggest obstacle to my suspension of disbelief. The notion that someone, even a very talented musician, could leave music, join the French Foreign Legion, and then return to music without any apparent difficulty is harder to accept that the elements of the thriller that comprises the primary story. The world is well populated by very talented and accomplished musicians. It takes more than talent to become a concert artist of international standing. Once such standing is achieved, it is very easy to lose the audience. Further, the picture of how a concert artist functions was a great stretch. Read this book for the main mystery, but if you are familiar with the world of classical music performance, be prepared to struggle with that aspect of the book.

This book was the most enjoyable of all the many excellentworks by Jack Higgins - an author whose books my husbandand I have read over a number of years since we were introducedto them on holiday by a couple we met in Portugal one of whom had filled his suitcase with numerous works by this author!I found Solo unputdownable - a real thriller right through to its dramatic endand have great pleasure in recommending it to others

Not a great read to be honest and a struggle to get through. A lot of the scenes in the storyline are copies from previous books by Higgins such as dealing with gangsters to trace the source of a firearm is pretty much exactly the same as when Devlin dealt with gangsters in the Eagle has Landed. Wont be buying another Higgins ebook the prices are too high given much better and cheaper content out there that is original and not rehashed lazy writting.

Gripping story. Fast action throughout. Brilliant

Love the book. Well written. Good story

Another great Jack Higgins book - as described, great value and prompt delivery.Highly recommended seller 5*+++