The Dogs of WarThe Dogs of War
Score Classic
What it's about
In a remote corner of Zangaro, a small African republic, lies Crystal Mountain, which glows at certain times of day. Only mining magnate Sir James Manson knows why: it holds ten billion dollars' worth of platinum. His plan to get it is to hire a band of cold-blooded mercenaries, topple the government and install a puppet ruler.
Why it's worth reading
It was one of the ten best-selling books of 1974. Frederick Forsyth's thriller is known for its realistic detail.
You'll love it if you liked
The Day of the Jackal
The Odessa File
The Fourth ProtocolGood to know
It's full of logistical detail about planning a coup.
By the numbers
- Readers43 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller31 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #393 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #625 of the 762 classics we rank
- #2183 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Adventurous
More by Frederick Forsyth
The Day of the JackalThe Odessa FileThe Fourth ProtocolIf you like this, read next
The Godfather
The Pillars of the Earth
In Cold Blood
Rebecca
Crime and Punishment
The Spy Who Came in From the ColdExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Dogs of War worth reading?
Yes. It was one of the ten best-selling books of 1974. It ranks #2,183 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 62.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Dogs of War about?
In a remote corner of Zangaro, a small African republic, lies Crystal Mountain, which glows at certain times of day. Only mining magnate Sir James Manson knows why: it holds ten billion dollars' worth of platinum. His plan to get it is to hire a band of cold-blooded mercenaries, topple the government and install a puppet ruler.
How long does it take to read The Dogs of War?
About 11 hours (438 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Dogs of War?
If you liked it, try The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth, The Odessa File by Frederick Forsyth or The Fourth Protocol by Frederick Forsyth.