- Hardcover: 432 pages
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd (17 Feb 2011)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1847372880
- ISBN-13: 978-1847372888
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.7 x 3.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 162,001 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Old Enemies
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'Prolific best-selling author Michael Dobbs...has once again produced a first-class thriller that is hard to put down.' --Press Association, February 17, 2011
`I believe we have a duty to think of others, and that can be a wonderful way of making our own lives better.' --How to Give It feature, Financial Times, February 22, 2011
`I believe we have a duty to think of others, and that can be a wonderful way of making our own lives better.' --How to Give It feature, Financial Times, February 22, 2011
Review
'The son of a newspaper owner in possession of damning political documents has been abducted and ex-soldier Harry Jones is called upon to find him. Allies are scarce as Harry realises loss of life in this political game is inevitable but who will live and who must die?' 5 stars Daily Express 25/2 'Prolific best-selling author Michael Dobbs - recently ennobled as Lord Dobbs - has once again produced a first-class thriller that is hard to put down. Their lordships would be justified in wondering what new ideas for novels he might acquire as a result of having joined their ranks...An evil African politician, horribly sadistic abductors, millions of pounds in ransom money and a romantic link between Jones and Ruari's mother are among the ingredients of this sizzling thriller, party set in the picturesque city of Trieste' Press Association 17/2 'I believe we have a duty to think of others, and that can be a wonderful way of making our own lives better' How to Give It feature, Financial Times 22/2 'The previous night, he explains, he voted against the Government over an amendment on the AV Referendum. The Government had lost the debate by a single vote..."Which puts me on the naughty step, and I shall probably be thoroughly punished...I keep asking myself: am I here as a writer or as a politician, or a bit of each? And then I say to myself, there are plenty of politicians here - maybe the odd writer wouldn't be a bad thing around the place' ... Old Enemies is the kind of dependable, pacy, well-observed thriller for which he can be relied upon.' Interview, The Scotsman 19/2
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
With the Harry Jones books from Michael Dobbs you know what to expect and this one is no different.
Harry is, as usual, a reluctant hero but when an old flame comes to him about her kidnapped son, his reluctance slowly disappears. Not surprisingly, this pits him against the kidnappers and, to make matters worse, against the husband of the old flame.
Dobbs manages to cover a lot of geographical ground with a stand-in president of Zimbabwe, a couple of South African heavies, a few Romanian thugs and a location not far from Trieste where bumbling Italian police try to deal with the problem and where the kidnapped boy is struggling to stay alive.
The book is easy reading and, as the story unfolds, you sort of know where the subplot is heading. Even so, Harry is good value for money. A traditional, laid back English hard man, moving on into middle age but still up for the challenge - and dealing with it with a little help from the old enemy, no matter the cost to his personal wellbeing nor the emotional cost as the storyline unfolds.
I suppose, in a way, the characters are somewhat stereotypical but, as I said, you know what to expect with Michael Dobbs. I enjoyed the book and I am sure we can expect another adventure for Harry in the future. After all, being an MP, ex-SAS, friend of the American President and our own Prime Minister, this can only keep him in demand.
Harry is, as usual, a reluctant hero but when an old flame comes to him about her kidnapped son, his reluctance slowly disappears. Not surprisingly, this pits him against the kidnappers and, to make matters worse, against the husband of the old flame.
Dobbs manages to cover a lot of geographical ground with a stand-in president of Zimbabwe, a couple of South African heavies, a few Romanian thugs and a location not far from Trieste where bumbling Italian police try to deal with the problem and where the kidnapped boy is struggling to stay alive.
The book is easy reading and, as the story unfolds, you sort of know where the subplot is heading. Even so, Harry is good value for money. A traditional, laid back English hard man, moving on into middle age but still up for the challenge - and dealing with it with a little help from the old enemy, no matter the cost to his personal wellbeing nor the emotional cost as the storyline unfolds.
I suppose, in a way, the characters are somewhat stereotypical but, as I said, you know what to expect with Michael Dobbs. I enjoyed the book and I am sure we can expect another adventure for Harry in the future. After all, being an MP, ex-SAS, friend of the American President and our own Prime Minister, this can only keep him in demand.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Book 4, in the Harry Jones series
This is a story of international conspiracy where more than one life is at stake, an exhilarating race against time where the past will come back and decide the future.
It starts in the Swiss Alps, a teenage girl is thrown from a helicopter and her boyfriend is severely beaten and abducted to Trieste, a city filled with undercurrents of past hatreds. This is no ordinary kidnapping; it is about power rather than money.
The main plot centers on the kidnapping of a 16 year old boy used as a bargaining chip to pressure his father into withholding the publication of a diary written by one of South Africa's most influential people. As one of UK's most powerful man in the newspaper industry, he has a strong say as to whether the career killing information is to be released to the public. The revealing details about the acting President could jeopardize his chances in the upcoming elections and many supporters are willing to go to great limits to make the diary disappear or at least suppress it until after he is back in full power.
The boy's terrified mother contacts Harry Jones, her former lover who she walked out on many years ago. Harry soon finds himself drawn into a high stakes political game one that is much higher than he can ever imagine and along the way he discovers personal secrets that have been held from him for many years, secrets that were never intended to be revealed.
The storyline has all the ingredients to make it a sizzling thriller and the action slowly builds suspense as secrets of those involved are uncovered. The action is mostly played out in the picturesque city of Trieste Italy and showcases an evil African politician and the extremes he and his sadistic followers will go through to attain wealth and power.
It is always a plus to read a series in sequence but Mr. Dobbs provides enough background to plunge anyone in Harry's adventures without being lost. This is a first-class novel that is very hard to put down and will probably simulate the readers' interest in following other exciting exploits of the writer's protagonist.
This is a story of international conspiracy where more than one life is at stake, an exhilarating race against time where the past will come back and decide the future.
It starts in the Swiss Alps, a teenage girl is thrown from a helicopter and her boyfriend is severely beaten and abducted to Trieste, a city filled with undercurrents of past hatreds. This is no ordinary kidnapping; it is about power rather than money.
The main plot centers on the kidnapping of a 16 year old boy used as a bargaining chip to pressure his father into withholding the publication of a diary written by one of South Africa's most influential people. As one of UK's most powerful man in the newspaper industry, he has a strong say as to whether the career killing information is to be released to the public. The revealing details about the acting President could jeopardize his chances in the upcoming elections and many supporters are willing to go to great limits to make the diary disappear or at least suppress it until after he is back in full power.
The boy's terrified mother contacts Harry Jones, her former lover who she walked out on many years ago. Harry soon finds himself drawn into a high stakes political game one that is much higher than he can ever imagine and along the way he discovers personal secrets that have been held from him for many years, secrets that were never intended to be revealed.
The storyline has all the ingredients to make it a sizzling thriller and the action slowly builds suspense as secrets of those involved are uncovered. The action is mostly played out in the picturesque city of Trieste Italy and showcases an evil African politician and the extremes he and his sadistic followers will go through to attain wealth and power.
It is always a plus to read a series in sequence but Mr. Dobbs provides enough background to plunge anyone in Harry's adventures without being lost. This is a first-class novel that is very hard to put down and will probably simulate the readers' interest in following other exciting exploits of the writer's protagonist.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I purchased this book on the back of an interview the Author did on Radio 2 promoting it. The described plot intrigued me and having never read a Dobbs book I thought why not.
Personally I think the plot could have been much better, all the action was saved for the last couple of pages in the book. I kept reading it hoping it would pick up and gather pace but alas it didn't.
It wasn't an awful read and I have read worse, but on first showing, I would probably not pick up a Dobbs book again. It lacked the "umph" i need from a good book.
Personally I think the plot could have been much better, all the action was saved for the last couple of pages in the book. I kept reading it hoping it would pick up and gather pace but alas it didn't.
It wasn't an awful read and I have read worse, but on first showing, I would probably not pick up a Dobbs book again. It lacked the "umph" i need from a good book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
kidnap story
This was a greast read as usual from a Michael Dobbs book. A kidnap story with a great underlying twist or two. Definitely a can't put it down book.
Published 3 months ago by M. E. Jones
Better than Jones' last outing
i like the character Dobbs has found in Harry Jones and his first outing in The Lords' Day was brilliant. Read more
Published 6 months ago by freedomrulesok
The name is Jones.Harry Jones..licenced to thrill
So Harry Jones, the 'English Jack Reacher' is back, this time helping to resolve a kidnapping situation in Europe. Read more
Published 8 months ago by 1fcscout
Not quite old Dobbs
SAFE READING - NO SPOILERS
Like a previous reviewer, I came to Dobbs through the Churchill novels which I thoroughly enjoyed; buy the Tim Pigot-Smith audiobooks to... Read more
Like a previous reviewer, I came to Dobbs through the Churchill novels which I thoroughly enjoyed; buy the Tim Pigot-Smith audiobooks to... Read more
Published 9 months ago by RR Waller
I'm in love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Having read almost all Michael's great books, I couldn't wait to get my hands on Harry Jones again!!! Following on from Michael's previous books (i.e. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Anne Broad
Michael Dobbs Old Enemies
Quite good, but the love story interfered with the action narrative. Not Dobbs at his best. I much prefered the four Winston Churchill novels.
Published 13 months ago by cfriend
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