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Rating: 
Summary: A fast-paced plot, somewhat damaged by historical inaccuracy
Review: As an avid Higgins reader, I was mostly pleased with this book. Higgins returns to World War II, a topic he knows fairly well, and centers the story on twin brothers--aviators for England and Germany--and other assorted characters. I was put off, however, by the "Bubi" Hartmann character. Higgins knows, or ought to, that Erich Hartmann was Germany's leading Luftwaffe ace, and not the individual portrayed in this book. The real "Bubi" Hartmann, now deceased, would have had nothing to do with Himmler or the SD, and I had a difficult time reading the novel each time Higgins' "Hartmann" showed up. In addition, wasn't there a "Kelso" in an earlier Higgins novel? Finally, the close approximation to the tale of how "Harry cum Max" met his end--flying an Arado toward war's end--to the way in which another character in an earlier novel died--flying an Arado toward war's end--was off-putting. At least one was shot down by a Spitfire, whilst the other fell to the guns of a Mosquito. Despite these quibbles, I liked Higgins' return to WWII. I'll look for more.
Rating: 
Summary: A gripping flight through the last great war!
Review: Jack Higgins' latest adventure carries you from the present into the dark depths of the air war in europe during World War Two. The story is a both gripping and touching tale of twin brothers: Max and Harry Kelso, raised through childhood together in post WWI America but seperated as Max is taken to Germany with his mother, the Baroness Elsa von Hadler after the death of their American father. Both begin seperate lives but share their common love of aviation and of a small teddy bear named Tarquin. Max assumes his rightful title as the Baron von Hadler and rapidly becomes a fearsome fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe as the world goes to war once more. Meanwhile, his brother Harry Kelso pursues the same occcupation when he travels overseas to join in the european conflict as an ace fighter pilot on the side of the Allies at the war's inception. Both twist and turn through a series of harrowing battles and adventures but are continously crossing paths in many ways as the war progresses on. Always mindful of each others achievements and predicaments across the lines they are brought together once again and unwittingly at first, drawn into a wicked plot by Nazi leaders that may force them to betray both sides and threatens to destroy everything they love. The reader is held by tension to the very end with a surprise twist via a personal note by Jack Higgins.
Rating: 
Summary: A Real Flavour of the Time
Review: The first thing I thought when I read this book was, is this for real? Though the basic pconcept of the story, the twins living apart and on opposite sides, is rather contrived, and reminiscent of movies with bad stories, somehow, the way it has been written makes you feel that maybe, maybe all this is a historical account. That is one thing Higgins can do like noone else. However, there is a line to be drawn. I felt that the "twist" in the absolute end, those who have read it know which twist I'm talking about, and those who haven't, I won't spoil it, but the twist is, I felt, unnecessary. The story ties up quite nicely without it, and I can't figure out the author's motivation for that little extra. But all in all, this play is an A-Class read! Definitely worth reading. It brought back a lot of the flavour of the era which seems to be fast becoming a lost art. All I can say is that this book was engrossing enough to make me miss a couple of appointments, and in the end, that's all that matters!
Rating:
Summary: Good Story
Review: This is a really good story that will keep you interested and wondering until the end.
Wonderful twists and turns... just when you think you have figured it out... here comes another. Holds the readers interest until the end. most enjoyable and entertaining.
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