Setting & Historical Backdrop

The novel is set in 1963, during the height of the Cold War, on the eve of President John F. Kennedy’s historic visit to Berlin. The world is deeply divided between East and West, with Germany at the frontline of the ideological conflict. Higgins uses this tense moment in history as the backdrop for a high-stakes thriller.

 

Central Conflict

At the heart of the story is Father Sean Conlin, a Catholic priest, Dachau survivor, and outspoken advocate for freedom. He is being held prisoner in Schloss Neustadt, an East German fortress, where his captors seek to force him into confessing that he is a CIA operative. Such a confession, timed with Kennedy’s visit, would be a propaganda victory for the East and a humiliation for the West.

 

The Rescue Mission

The West cannot allow this to happen. A small, determined team of men—a mix of intelligence operatives and adventurers—undertakes a daring and near-impossible rescue operation. Their mission is not only to save Father Conlin’s life but also to protect the credibility of the West and prevent a major Cold War disaster. Every step of the mission is fraught with danger, deception, and deadly consequences.

 

Themes

• Freedom vs. Oppression: Father Conlin symbolizes resilience against tyranny, embodying moral courage in the face of authoritarian brutality.
• Espionage & Sacrifice: The novel underscores the shadowy world of spies, covert missions, and the personal sacrifices required in the Cold War struggle.
• History & Fiction Intertwined: By setting the story around JFK’s Berlin visit, Higgins blends real-world tension with fictional espionage, heightening the suspense.

 
Tone & Style

True to Jack Higgins’s reputation as a master of adrenaline-fueled thrillers, the novel is fast-paced, full of clandestine maneuvering, moral dilemmas, and edge-of-the-seat suspense. Like The Eagle Has Landed, it mixes historical context with a gripping tale of survival and daring.

✅ In short: Day of Judgment is a Cold War espionage thriller about a desperate rescue mission to save a defiant priest whose forced confession could change history, set against the backdrop of JFK’s Berlin visit.

 
 
Product details

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0007234740
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 19, 2007
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780007234745
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0007234745
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.1 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.37 x 0.94 x 7.01 inches
• Condition: Used Very Good

Spies & Political Thrillers, Suspense Thrillers, Genre Literature & Fiction