This is a short, uninspired novel that feels like it was rushed out in order to fulfill a book contract or something. Either that, or Higgins is running out of ideas. Day of Reckoning is entertaining enough to be a passable read, but there's hardly a description or moment of subtle characterization anywhere to be found throughout. Nearly every sentence in the book is either action or dialog, so the plot progresses at a dizzying, streamlined pace. A great number of characters (sometimes with similar names) pop in and out, and it's hard to keep track of who everybody is. The plot is extremely derivative of countless action/heist movies, and Higgins seemingly tries to make up for it by trotting out as many popular characters from his previous books as he can manage. Still, the result is not entirely disagreeable. But definitely disappointing.
This is a pretty good story line, but there isn’t a lot of character development or down-time between action scenes to make you have any feeling for the people in the book. Instead, it’s just a narrative of all the events as they happen, and you do want the bad guy to “buy the farm” (as they say), but if Higgins had just taken the time to let you get to know the characters a bit better instead of rushing to the next action scene, I think there was a potential for a very good book instead of just an average one.
What do You think about Day Of Reckoning (2001)?
Not bad, but nothing special. One part I found ridiculous is that the Mossad would depend or even request the help of Sean Dillon to destroy the boat carring the Hammerhead missiles. Not a bad read for those who like action and international thrillers, but nothing special and definitely not worth buying it new. Get it as a second hand or better yet borrow it from the local library or a friend.
—Uri
The starting point is a bit different from the other Dillon novels, it is not about Sean trying to save the world from a bad guy, but rather helping his Yankee friend Blake Johnson to avenge the death of his ex-wife, killed by the mafia because she “knew too much”. So everything turns down to the elimination of the Sollazzo family. For once I agree with Hannah Bernstein that private justice is not the way to go, especially since it turns a nice person as Blake into a killer and Dillon and Ferguson into means to an end. The only thing I truly liked are the supporting characters: the Salters are great and Roper, the IT genius, is a really good add to the team! All things considered is not a bad novel, just not as good as the others.
—Lu
