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Floodgate by Alistair Maclean
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Floodgate (original 1985; edition 1984)

by Alistair Maclean

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6321336,709 (3.06)17
The tense tale of a deadly terrorist plot set in Holland, from the acclaimed master of action and suspense. AMSTERDAM AIRPORT HAS DISAPPEARED BLACKMAIL The mass of water in its place is the work of the FFF - an Irish terrorist group who want to force Britain's hand. SUBTERFUGE The Dutch call in Detective Lieutenant van Effen - feared interrogator and undercover intimate of the criminal Krakers gang - to sabotage the FFF's plan. DISASTER If van Effen fails and the FFF get control of the vital dyke, either Holland will sink beneath the sea or Britain will be awash with blood.… (more)
Member:PippaKay
Title:Floodgate
Authors:Alistair Maclean
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Collections:Your library
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Tags:Loft A, Adventure Thriller, Holland

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Floodgate by Alistair MacLean (1985)

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» See also 17 mentions

English (11)  Danish (1)  Dutch (1)  All languages (13)
Showing 1-5 of 11 (next | show all)
Great
  Dermot_Butler | Nov 8, 2023 |
Great
  Dermot_Butler | Nov 8, 2023 |
Interesting premise, but not one of MacLean's better efforts. ( )
  encephalical | Nov 18, 2018 |
Another MacLean book that'd doubtless make a good film and is a perfectly serviceable read if none-too-challenging. ( )
  expatscot | Mar 11, 2018 |
My first thought when I read the summary of this book was a flashback to Canadian history class. Around the time of Canadian confederation, a group of Irish fighters invaded Canada with a view to using it as a hostage in exchange for Irish independence from Britain. This book also features a group of Irish fighters invading another country in order to get Britain's attention, although in this case, it's the Netherlands being invaded (and having its dams and dykes breached, flooding the country) with a view to forcing the UK to remove its troops from Northern Ireland.

It's a bit of a stretch as an analogy, but then this thriller is a bit of a stretch overall. The good guys are extremely competent, foreseeing every possible eventuality, which becomes exhausting after a while. The dialogue, especially that of the inhumanly skilled Lieutenant van Effen, seems stilted and unnatural, almost declamatory. The good guys also have an unfortunate tendency to use the "r-word" when discussing the actions of their adversaries (or hypothetical adversaries), and multiple characters have backward views on women, thinking that they are hysterical or should be married off instead of risking their lives on undercover police operations, or worrying that they'll give the game away by shrieking and hugging their disguised rescuers. Come on guys, give them some credit. And with regard to the plot, almost the entire book builds up to the final showdown, only to have it wrap up in maybe five pages.

As an Alistair MacLean thriller, this is a bit of a disappointment, but not his worst, at least not in my personal ranking. ( )
  rabbitprincess | Oct 2, 2015 |
Showing 1-5 of 11 (next | show all)
The plot meanders and chases its tail and then doesn't deliver at the key moment. Instead of a typical story where good and bad guys are aware of each other and have unpleasant/violent interplay at various points, this one offers an almost purely psychological buildup that isn't satisfyingly resolved.
 

» Add other authors (11 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Alistair MacLeanprimary authorall editionscalculated
Hakala, ErkkiTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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The tense tale of a deadly terrorist plot set in Holland, from the acclaimed master of action and suspense. AMSTERDAM AIRPORT HAS DISAPPEARED BLACKMAIL The mass of water in its place is the work of the FFF - an Irish terrorist group who want to force Britain's hand. SUBTERFUGE The Dutch call in Detective Lieutenant van Effen - feared interrogator and undercover intimate of the criminal Krakers gang - to sabotage the FFF's plan. DISASTER If van Effen fails and the FFF get control of the vital dyke, either Holland will sink beneath the sea or Britain will be awash with blood.

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