Day of Reckoning (novel)
Encyclopedia
Day Of Reckoning is a novel by Jack Higgins
, first published in 2000. It is one of a series of books featuring the philosopher/killer Sean Dillon
.
, befriends businessman Jack Fox in order to write an article on his business success. Fox learns that she plans to expose him as a Mafia
member and nephew of a Mafia family, and he has her killed. Her ex-husband, Blake Johnson, an ex-FBI agent now heading a special unit in the White House
learns of the death, and he vows to destroy Fox and all he represents. Armed with a Presidential mandate, he flies to London and contacts Brigadier Ferguson of the Ministry of Defence. Together with Hannah Bernstein, a Detective Superintendent with Special Branch
and Sean Dillon, an ex-IRA gunman and mercenary
now working for the British government on 'black' operations, he launches a series of operations to bring Fox down.
Their first foray involves causing Fox's London casino
to be caught using loaded dice; this has the effect of closing down the casino and Fox's other gambling interests.
The next operation sees Johnson and Dillon join with a Mossad
commando force to destroy a ship in Beirut
harbour which is loaded with missiles destined to be used against Israel. Johnson is wounded in the action.
Dillon recruits Billy Salter, a young but enthusiastic London gangster, for the next operation, in which they land commando-style on the coast on County Louth
in Ireland to destroy a cache of weaponry in which Fox has a large financial interest.
Finally, they foil a plot by gangsters working for Fox to steal several million pounds worth of diamonds from a London safe deposit.
Johnson is captured by Fox's henchmen and taken to his mansion in Cornwall
. Dillon and Billy plan a parachute landing and attack the mansion. Whilst Johnson is released, Fox is killed. His minders escape to London and report to Fox's uncle and patron Don Marco Solazzo, who comes himself to London for what he hopes will be a final showdown. Solazzo and his henchmen die in the ensuing fight on a boat in the Thames.
Jack Higgins
Jack Higgins is the principal pseudonym of UK novelist Harry Patterson. Patterson is the author of more than 60 novels. As Higgins, most have been thrillers of various types and, since his breakthrough novel The Eagle Has Landed in 1975, nearly all have been bestsellers...
, first published in 2000. It is one of a series of books featuring the philosopher/killer Sean Dillon
Sean Dillon
Sean Dillon is a fictional Irish character who is the hero of certain Jack Higgins novels. He is described in the stories as a short man and fair-haired. An aspiring actor at the age of 19, Dillon takes up being an IRA member, seeking revenge after his father is killed in Belfast in the crossfire...
.
Plot summary
Katherine Johnson, a New York journalistJournalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, befriends businessman Jack Fox in order to write an article on his business success. Fox learns that she plans to expose him as a Mafia
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
member and nephew of a Mafia family, and he has her killed. Her ex-husband, Blake Johnson, an ex-FBI agent now heading a special unit in the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
learns of the death, and he vows to destroy Fox and all he represents. Armed with a Presidential mandate, he flies to London and contacts Brigadier Ferguson of the Ministry of Defence. Together with Hannah Bernstein, a Detective Superintendent with Special Branch
Special Branch
Special Branch is a label customarily used to identify units responsible for matters of national security in British and Commonwealth police forces, as well as in the Royal Thai Police...
and Sean Dillon, an ex-IRA gunman and mercenary
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
now working for the British government on 'black' operations, he launches a series of operations to bring Fox down.
Their first foray involves causing Fox's London casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
to be caught using loaded dice; this has the effect of closing down the casino and Fox's other gambling interests.
The next operation sees Johnson and Dillon join with a Mossad
Mossad
The Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
commando force to destroy a ship in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
harbour which is loaded with missiles destined to be used against Israel. Johnson is wounded in the action.
Dillon recruits Billy Salter, a young but enthusiastic London gangster, for the next operation, in which they land commando-style on the coast on County Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
in Ireland to destroy a cache of weaponry in which Fox has a large financial interest.
Finally, they foil a plot by gangsters working for Fox to steal several million pounds worth of diamonds from a London safe deposit.
Johnson is captured by Fox's henchmen and taken to his mansion in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. Dillon and Billy plan a parachute landing and attack the mansion. Whilst Johnson is released, Fox is killed. His minders escape to London and report to Fox's uncle and patron Don Marco Solazzo, who comes himself to London for what he hopes will be a final showdown. Solazzo and his henchmen die in the ensuing fight on a boat in the Thames.