To Catch a King

Written by Jack Higgins

Narrated by Guy Mott

July 1940. England prepares for invasion, all eyes focused on its borders.

But such focus inevitably leaves gaps elsewhere, and Hitler sees an opportunity to carry out an audacious plot that would change the course of the war…

The Duke of Windsor, brother to King George VI and former ruler of the United Kingdom in his own right, is a target.

Hitler’s intention: to kidnap him and hold him ransom – the ultimate leverage against an embattled and beleaguered British government.

But can it really be done? And who amongst the German secret services is audacious enough to set a trap to catch a king?

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Jun 20, 2019
• ISBN: 9780008361242

Jack Higgins

Jack Higgins lived in Belfast till the age of twelve. Leaving school at fifteen, he spent three years with the Royal Horse Guards, and was later a teacher and university lecturer. His thirty-sixth novel, The Eagle Has Landed (1975), turned him into an international bestselling author, and his novels have since sold over 250 million copies and been translated into sixty languages. Many have been made into successful films. He died in 2022, at his home in Jersey, surrounded by his family.

Reviews for To Catch a King

[dcavin-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Pretty good. Quick, no-nonsense.

[bridgey_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Anyone familiar with Jack Higgins will be aware of his best selling book The Eagle has Landed. In my opinion this book more than equals it.The scene is set in the second world war with the german army poised to invade Britain. The Duke & Duchess of Windsor are in Lisbon. The British are desperate to send them off to the Bahamas (out of sight, out of mind) and the Germans are convinced that they would jump at the chance to defect to them, whereby they would place the Duke on the throne after the invasion. A plan by the Germans is put in place in order to ensure the Duke sees things their way, and if not, then a kidnapping is in order.....Walter Schellenberg is put in charge of the case but doesn't really see things the way Himmler would like, and proves to be an almost anti hero. As usual, Higgins has created various characters to help the script flow nicely along with the pages flying by. Expect killing, torturing, double agents, & beautiful girls mixed with real life events. As in the style of many of his works there is a prologue and epilogue that tidys up events in only the way Higgins can. An excellent read and another book to add to my collection of favourites :)

[stbalbach_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Charles Spencer (brother of Diana, Princess of Wales). I'd probably give it higher marks but for a couple reasons. I'm not too familiar with 17th century English history. The first half is background not the 'Great Escape' and I was totally lost in a jungle of names and places and events that are unfamiliar. The escape itself has a few dramatic scenes but nothing super amazing. Finally, I read it via audiobook making it impossible to slow down and look stuff up or backtrack to fill in. So yeah, my fault, probably a great book, not for me right now. I really enjoyed Spencer's White Ship.