Written by Rich Rogers
“Night of the Fox” by Jack Higgins
Open Road Media Mystery & Thriller, 1986. 337 pages.
This month seems to be about historical fiction and great books for reading at the beach or while traveling. I picked this up on the same trip to the Paperback Exchange when I found “Jericho’s Road.”
Jack Higgins–the pen name of Harry Patterson–has been a fixture in the action and thriller genres for the better part of six decades, writing under his own name as well as a variety of pen names, including Jack Higgins and James Graham. But it’s as Jack Higgins that he has made his reputation. For most of his early years, his output was mainly cheap paperback thrillers, but he always distinguished himself with his eye for detail while keeping the filler to a minimum. He can say more in one chapter than many of today’s thriller and techno-thriller writers do in five. In a few words, he gives you enough information to tell you he’s done serious research without overwhelming you.
He came of age with 1975’s “The Eagle Has Landed,” the fictional story of a German attempt to kidnap British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and bring him back to Berlin. Higgins is at his best when writing about World War II. Maybe it’s because Nazis make great villains. World War II also has great, untold stories, and some of the best war movies ever made are set during the Second World War. Unfortunately, World War II has become too distant for too many today.
His current Sean Dillon series, with 19 titles so far, started out fun but has degenerated to rehashes of characters and a definite lack of imagination. His best work in the last eight years has been a four-book YA series, co-written with Justin Richards, featuring twins Rich and Jade. I don’t know if it’s Richards who has brought back the energy to Higgins writing, but they’re great reads, and the Sean Dillon novels, which I once loved, bore me now, and I have seriously considered giving up Higgins’ new work.
With “Night of the Fox,” the action happens on the German-occupied British island of Jersey. For many Americans, it’s a little-known fact that the Nazis actually did occupy British soil: the islands of Guernsey and Jersey in the English Channel between Britain and France. Higgins uses these islands as the setting for a couple other World War II novels. A more literary look is offered in the book, “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.”
The main story is about Hugh Kelso, a U.S. colonel with very specific knowledge of the day, time, and place of the D-Day invasion who has gone down while on a secret night maneuver in the English Channel. After several days, he washes up on German-occupied Jersey. Fortunately, he’s found by locals, but the Allied high command can’t risk him falling into German hands. They have to get him out or silence him.
Enter Harry Martineau, a British professor who is now a colonel in the SOE and a skilled Nazi impersonator. He has to get in, assess the situation, and make the call. He has a got a young nurse who’s been recruited into the SOE for the mission, an Irish general (it’s a rare Higgins novel that doesn’t connect into the IRA in one way or another), and an Italian serving in the German navy on his side.
Things soon get even more complicated. Germany’s favorite war hero, Field Marshal Rommel, shows up in the middle of everything. Actually, Rommel is off conspiring with some other generals to kill Hitler and needs to be in two places at the same time, so he’s sent a double.
“Night of the Fox” is in the same league as “The Eagle Has Landed.” He quickly sets up his chessboard with skill and finesse, placing the pieces for maximum effect and interest and keeping it all based in believable history and plausibility. The twists and turns he throws at you don’t throw you out of your seat and strain your credulity, but they are definitely exciting, white-knuckle stuff.
You’ll have to hunt this down at your used bookstore or online if you want a physical copy, but it is also available in Kindle and Nook formats.
“Night of the Fox” is Higgins at his absolute best and makes you remember why Tom Clancy called him “the Master.” Even better, it reads quickly and interestingly.
Rich welcomes questions and comments from readers. You can contact him at [email protected].
