A PRAYER FOR THE DYING

by Jack Higgins

Book Overview

The classic Jack Higgins thriller. An ex-IRA soldier must save a priest targeted for elimination to gain absolution for his violent past Everyone has demons to overcome, but Martin Fallon has more... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0330265822
• ISBN13: 9780330265829
• Release Date: January 1981
• Publisher: Pan
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.

Customer Reviews

One of Jack Higgins' Best

I was first introduced to Jack Higgins with 'The Eagle has Landed' and 'Storm Warning', two WWII era stories. I enjoyed his ability to develop characters while keeping the action moving and suspenseful. However, it was this book, 'A Prayer for the Dying' that made me a lifelong fan of his writing. Actually written before he exploded into popularity with 'The Eagle has Landed' this tale is deeper and more moving than any of his books, before or after. Each character, both good and bad, have demons to overcome.The story is about Martin Fallon, an ex-IRA executionor, who has bailed out on the movement after an tragic miscalculation caused a bus-load of school children to be blown up. We find him in London trying to leave the country and being chased by both his old comrades and Scotland Yard. He is blackmailed into killing one crime boss by another, and is seen by a priest Father De Costa. The story takes Fallon from executionor to hero as he is forced to protect the life of the priest at all costs.Higgins takes the time to develop each character in this story into very complex people. Beside Fallon and De Costa we're introduced to Jack Meehan, (the crime boss with a twisted sense of fairness), his brother Billy (the original thing from under the rock), Miller (the frustrated Scotland Yard Detective), and Anna de Costa (the blind niece). Each character has wonderful and surprising quirks. A great example: Jack Meehan is an legit undertaker with many non-legit sidelines including prostution, gambling, and drugs. However, he is also VERY protective of the elderly, feeling they are always being taken advantage of. He actually crucifies one of his employees for trying to swindle an 87 year old widower out of 20 pounds. To go further into the plot would spoil all the great surprises and twists. If you're a Jack Higgins fan you MUST find this book and read it. It's out of print but any good used book store will have it and it's well worth the trouble.

Spectacularly heartwrenching

I must have read this book five years ago-- probably more like seven. In any case, it wasn't my copy-- we were renting a cabin, and it happened to be on the bookshelf-- I picked it up, and could NOT put it down until I read the whole thing, at the expense of my vacation. Not that I minded, mind you. ;) In any case, Higgins' tragic tale will have you aching over every moment. In fact, this novel is nearly perfect-- except for a couple of sexually explicit scenes, which I skipped quickly over. Due to that fact, this is not for sensetive readers at all, and usually I'm one of those-- but, frankly, after all the books I've ever read, this one was in my life for a mere twenty-four hours, and I remember it as one of the best.

A perennial favorite!

I first read this book about two decades ago. I think I can best describe the book by describing how that first encounter with APFD went. I had borrowed the book from a friend. I read it at one sitting - it's a quick read - and felt compelled to share it with others. In the week for which I had the book, I loaned it to four other friends then read it once more before returning it. Since then, every two years or so, I'd have an urge to read it again and I'd go out and find a copy. The book can almost be called a classic.

Whew! What a page-turner!

Jack Higgins plumbs incredible depths of emotion in this book. I've read 'em all, and in my opinion, APFD is one of his greatest works. It's really incredible how well Higgins blends violence, religion, and passion into the story, without making the book into a cheesy mess. Regardless of what you believe, you'll enjoy this book, and truly hurt for the tragic hero, Martin Fallon. If you're looking for a book that will twist your heart inside out more than once, look no farther than Prayer For The Dying.

Bloody Marvellous!!!!

The book will take a grip of you from the first page and it will hold you untill the last one. The book contains many good characters, like Martin Fallon, a ruthless killer whose life is a big black hole. Higgins surely knows how to keep the pace and suspense "at maximum speed". The book contains many spectacular action scenes, described skillfully. The ending is bloody with a twist.