HOSTAGES

by Geoffrey R. Lomas ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1979

Yes, the title says it all: more terrorists-holding-hostages, but less convincing than many (for example, Lippincott, above). Daniel Ellington Park-Jones is a famed international free-lance terrorist who this time has kidnapped a wealthy American businessman in London, along with a busload of passengers, and has taken them all to the suburban mansion of Sir James Mallory. Daniel's team is quite small, and he has too many hostages for his own comfort. So he releases a few hostages and shoots one in the leg just to show he's mean, but as the siege develops from days to weeks, it becomes clear that Daniel lacks real belief in anything, although he claims to represent the Palestinians. Time drags on as the police reaffirm that they will not negotiate with the terrorists--they're demanding a plane and a million pounds--and the terrorists begin a slow massacre of the innocents. But delay works against Daniel, his cohorts are cracking, and even the hostages are organizing resistance. Formula violence, with no distinguishing features.

Pub Date: April 1, 1979

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Scribners

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1979

Categories: FICTION