Games Of The Hangman
Games Of The Hangman
Autumn 1991
New York Times Bestseller
Extracts From Reviews
". . . astoundingly successful . . . O'Reilly's readers will be turning the pages into the early morning hours." - Publishers Weekly
". . . a gory but consistently clever thriller . . . Freewheeling gore, sex and violence presented skilfully and with plenty of good humour. Switzerland can be expected to sue." - Kirkus Reviews
"The hunt for the Hangman drives the plot with all the ferocity of the Indy 500, but the author never sacrifices character to action - a rare grace in this genre . . . A truly captivating, atmospheric, un-put-downable read." - Cosmopolitan
"Once word gets around about Victor O'Reilly's Games of the Hangman and just how enthralling and exciting the book is, there can be no doubt that his future novels will be as eagerly awaited as those of Robert Ludlum - that's how good this Irishman's first story is . . . Grab a copy of this one and then recommend it to a friend before they recommend it to you. This one's hot enough to scorch your skivvies." - Rocky Mountain News
"During the '60s the king of the thriller was Alistair Maclean. Robert Ludlum dominated the 70s, and Tom Clancy assumed the mantle during the 80's. After reading Victor O'Reilly's thriller Games of the Hangman, I believe I know the heir apparent for the new decade. It provides a rousing adventure novel, heavily laced with action, strong characters and enough plot twists to keep the reader turning pages with anticipation . . . O'Reilly has provided a wonderful evening of escapist adventure." - Tampa, Florida Tribune and Times
"Games of the Hangman is the closest thing to a Robert Ludlum that doesn't have his name on the cover - hell of a read . . . big cast, nice scenery and a big blazing finale at the hero's castle in Ireland." - New York Daily News
"Games of the Hangman is a well-written, well-researched tale. O'Reilly's keen eye for social and moral oddities, and his wry Irish humour, enhance its driving plot. For readers who enjoy final conflagrations a la Robert Ludlum, O'Reilly offers an intelligent trade-up." - Chicago Il Tribune
"The surprise international thriller of the year, hands down, was Games of the Hangman, a first novel by Victor O'Reilly . . . O'Reilly is a literary puncher in Forsyth's weight class. He prefers action and fine scenic detail to 007 sexcapades; and his game is European terrorists, meaning he doesn't need the old-hat Russkies." - Deloitte Free Press
"Victor O'Reilly's tense and gory new thriller is full of surprises . . . It is also blessed with a quirky, sly and entirely unexpected wit." - San Francisco Chronicle
" This all adds up to a marvellous cartoon-y movie script . . . O'Reilly's portraits of Fitzduane, Raufmann and several other characters are full and convincing, and he plays the contrasting national characteristics of the Irish and the Swiss to entertaining effect . . . I think O'Reilly is a writer to watch." - Los Angeles Times
". . . so exciting that even the most jaded thriller fan will hate to put it down . . . O'Reilly's control over events is inspired: I can't remember the last time I've read action scenes so vivid and spellbinding. Advance publicity for Games of the Hangman compares O'Reilly to masters Ludlum, Forsyth and Trevanian. That's some tough hype to live up to, but O'Reilly - now working on a sequel - succeeds with ease." - Jacksonville Florida Times Union
"The action from beginning to end is fast paced, and the characterization and plot are excellent. It's an outstanding thriller." - Irish Echo
"For many years we have had spectacular books on worldwide spying, but this is the best novel written on worldwide terrorism. The author clearly understands the terrorist movement and the fact that around the world there are still too many hangmen. This is a novel you must read." - Pierre Salinger
". . . entirely successful individual style, plot and characters". - Ted Allbeury
"Games of the Hangman is a big, rich stew of a book that is piquant enough to burn the enamel off your teeth." - Irish Times
"Games of the Hangman is high-class thriller writing. It's concisely, coherently styled, with more pace than a marathon. . . This is a thriller par excellence. Through a deft combination of a precise, taut writing, intricate yet comprehensible plot and large, diplomatically-placed doses of sex and violence, Victor O'Reilly has fashioned a new benign superhero for the Nineties. . . All the ingredients of good thriller writing are here, including a healthy input of almost-black and self deprecating humour. Recommended." - Irish Press
"Heavy hardware and a sense of authorial confidence dominate O'Reilly's debut thriller . . . In spite of the technical gloss, this in an enjoyable, old-fashioned thriller . . . Thanks to the author's firm grasp of character, what should be preposterous somehow is not." - The Times
"Victor O'Reilly's imagination could be described as blast-off: there is enough weird, wicked and surprising action in this first novel for three thrillers, and characters to match. The writing is assured, polished, witty . . . It is huge, horrendous fun . . ." - Daily Telegraph
"This is a book which grips the reader throughout, and is well-written and researched. It is a very promising start for a new author, whose next work will be eagerly anticipated." - Books
"O'Reilly's debut novel is a tour de force of suspenseful story telling. The author not only understands the rules of characterisation and plotting but he brings a fresh and credible voice to the stale thriller genre. What more can be said? Terrific and well worth picking up in hard-cover - get it now." - Cult
"As a debut thriller, this book takes some beating. A thundering epic of atmosphere and action, the story is packed from start to finish with believable characters, brilliant and fascinating combat details, and vivid atmosphere". - Dorset Evening Echo Weekender
"It's hard to believe this is Mr. O'Reilly's first novel. The inborn knack of storytelling, for which the Irish are famed, shines through in this accomplished book, unravelling a grim tale of international terrorism . . . This is a book which will appeal to a wide audience." - Coventry Evening Telegraph
"This debut novel explodes onto the scene with the force of an Exocet missile. . . O'Reilly's story of international terrorism is powerful, high-octane entertainment and definitely not for the faint-hearted . . . But for those who have a stomach strong enough to last the course, there is the reward of a spellbinding thriller. O'Reilly writes plausibly on the mechanics of terrorism and authoritatively on the weaponry involved. This, combined with occasional flashes of wry humour, makes for a top-notch thriller that will keep you turning the pages to the very end." - Yorkshire Evening Post
"O'Reilly employs the human mastery of political and psychological manipulation to full effect. This is a raw and rugged story that spares no detail in relating horrific accounts of murder and sexual deviance . . . the storyline is tight and bound to hold the attention." - Nottingham Observer
"More than just another terrorist tale, this fast-moving read from a gifted newcomer provides plenty of action, nice touches of humour and a fine spirit-of-place evocation of the city of Bern". - Lancashire Evening Post
"This is a ripper of a yarn". - Daily Advertiser, Australia
". . . a fast-moving story, very much a thriller, with an interesting plot, particularly concerning the operations of terrorists, and with strong characters. . . . well worth reading". - 2 ARM:FM Armidale, Australia
"Threaten your bookseller with a SIG Sauer to get this one! How does an author compete in the crowded genre of techno-thrillers? By writing a book like GAMES OF THE HANGMAN, that's how. In Hangman, Victor O'Reilly has written a book of such ferocious action and adventure that, upon finishing it, readers will marvel that it was his debut novel. What makes Hangman and O'Reilly stand out? By dishing out what readers of this genre love . . . memorable characters, a truly complex plot and tons of riveting action scenes. O'Reilly's protagonist, Hugo Fitzduane is one of the more compelling characters around - a reluctant, but more-than-capable man with friends in VERY high places. And to offset Fitzduane, O'Reilly gives us Kadar, a deliriously malevolent villain. Throw in some wonderful European locales and lots of detailed descriptions of high tech toys and you get a book that will definitely have you going to work bleary-eyed. Hangman is a testosterone lovers dream. Clancy, Ludlum and Forsyth beware - there's a new gunslinger in town." - Reader Review by marius1@soho.ios.com on the Amazon Online Bookstore website, rating 9 (out of 10).
