Helpful Score: 3
Ken Follett does not disappoint. At first, I was a little ho-hum about this one but once he added a little sizzle, the characters started to really pop, the story line picked right up and it was a real page turner that kept me up at night. Give this one a try, you will really enjoy it!
Helpful Score: 2
I've read almost all of Ken Follett's books and would rate this as his second best, behind Pillars of the Earth, and right up there with Eye of the Needle. It has the usual stock elements found in any thriller: an admirable hero, a despicable villain, a vulnerable but brave young girl, but infuses them with real humanity and builds to a crackling and suspenseful climax. As in other Follett books, he makes the conflict many-layered: The hero (Major Van Damme) wants to apprehend the villain (Alex Wolf) not only because it can have an effect on the progress of the second World War in Egypt, but because they have a past together, and because the girl he is falling in love with has been used as "bait" for Wolf. Shades of Alfred Hitchcock's Notorious.
What I like about Follett's best work is that it really delivers the suspense and resolves the story in an incredibly satisfying way. Like many spy novels, there are contrived situations, but he "gets you to turn over the next page" (Ian Fleming's goal as author of the James Bond books) so eagerly that you just want to see how it ends. His female characters are far from cardboard as well: both of them are fully realized. And, best of all, he makes everyone vulnerable; he knows that we can identify with characters that have strengths and weaknesses, instead of the usual cast of robots exchanging gunfire from speeding cars.
AMAZON.COM READER'S REVIEW
What I like about Follett's best work is that it really delivers the suspense and resolves the story in an incredibly satisfying way. Like many spy novels, there are contrived situations, but he "gets you to turn over the next page" (Ian Fleming's goal as author of the James Bond books) so eagerly that you just want to see how it ends. His female characters are far from cardboard as well: both of them are fully realized. And, best of all, he makes everyone vulnerable; he knows that we can identify with characters that have strengths and weaknesses, instead of the usual cast of robots exchanging gunfire from speeding cars.
AMAZON.COM READER'S REVIEW
Helpful Score: 2
Ken Follett is an interesting author and while this is a great thriller it also engages you in real history. The setting in Africa so pull out your atlas and takes place as Britain is about to lose a key part of a major battle. This is what Follett uses to create an effective page turner.
Helpful Score: 1
Those darn Nazi supermen are at it again. Can a down on his luck English agent thward the takeover of Egypt with the help of a young beutiful woman who will will have to act as sexual bait?
Helpful Score: 1
An adventure that takes place in Egypt just at the beginning of the 2nd World War.
Helpful Score: 1
A WWII spy classic set in Egypt, full of desert color and intrigue, and a first-rate read.
In an unusual twist, the villain is set as the protagonist, more clever than his British counterpart and far more interesting. Story opens with an awe-inspiring trek across the Sahara and a brief look at Beduoin life. Then Wolff, the Nazi spy, goes to ground in Cairo and feeds Rommel info that will certainly win this war for Germany unless the British Major Van Damn can stop him.
As in any Follett, there is plenty of sex and the two women characters are each unique and fascinating. Follett's apparently love of 'menage a trois' is captured in a surprisingly graphic depiction.
The suspense is edge of the seat from start to finish and if you are like me, you want to grab Van Damn by the neck and holler at him to get on with it, man!
In an unusual twist, the villain is set as the protagonist, more clever than his British counterpart and far more interesting. Story opens with an awe-inspiring trek across the Sahara and a brief look at Beduoin life. Then Wolff, the Nazi spy, goes to ground in Cairo and feeds Rommel info that will certainly win this war for Germany unless the British Major Van Damn can stop him.
As in any Follett, there is plenty of sex and the two women characters are each unique and fascinating. Follett's apparently love of 'menage a trois' is captured in a surprisingly graphic depiction.
The suspense is edge of the seat from start to finish and if you are like me, you want to grab Van Damn by the neck and holler at him to get on with it, man!
Typical Follett spy thriller. Page-turning intrigue with a smattering of romance. The closer you get to the end, the harder it is to put it down!
this story,set during WWII.it is a comples spy thriller as only this author can do.
This was a good story. I like Ken Follett books, but this one seemed to drag on and on to me. As I said, it is a good story, but it struck me as just a bit overdone as far as some parts of the plot, some interactions between characters. I really had to fight to finish it.
Good story. Interesting from an historical perspective, too.
I've read almost all of Ken Follett's books and would rate this as his second best, behind Pillars of the Earth, and right up there with Eye of the Needle. It has the usual stock elements found in any thriller: an admirable hero, a despicable villain, a vulnerable but brave young girl, but infuses them with real humanity and builds to a crackling and suspenseful climax. As in other Follett books, he makes the conflict many-layered: The hero (Major Van Damme) wants to apprehend the villain (Alex Wolf) not only because it can have an effect on the progress of the second World War in Egypt, but because they have a past together, and because the girl he is falling in love with has been used as "bait" for Wolf. Shades of Alfred Hitchcock's Notorious.
What I like about Follett's best work is that it really delivers the suspense and resolves the story in an incredibly satisfying way. Like many spy novels, there are contrived situations, but he "gets you to turn over the next page" (Ian Fleming's goal as author of the James Bond books) so eagerly that you just want to see how it ends. His female characters are far from cardboard as well: both of them are fully realized. And, best of all, he makes everyone vulnerable; he knows that we can identify with characters that have strengths and weaknesses, instead of the usual cast of robots exchanging gunfire from speeding cars.
AMAZON.COM READER'S REVIEW
What I like about Follett's best work is that it really delivers the suspense and resolves the story in an incredibly satisfying way. Like many spy novels, there are contrived situations, but he "gets you to turn over the next page" (Ian Fleming's goal as author of the James Bond books) so eagerly that you just want to see how it ends. His female characters are far from cardboard as well: both of them are fully realized. And, best of all, he makes everyone vulnerable; he knows that we can identify with characters that have strengths and weaknesses, instead of the usual cast of robots exchanging gunfire from speeding cars.
AMAZON.COM READER'S REVIEW
This book is not up to Ken Follett's standard. It was fairly suspenseful at times, but quite a bit of the action is not very believable. It also has a poor title considering the content of the book. Very little of it deals with the key to Rebecca.
His code name: "The Sphinx." His mission: to send Rommel's advancing army the secrets that would unlock the doors to Cairo...and the ultimate Nazi triumph in the war. And in all of Cairo, only two people could stop this brilliant and ruthless Nazi master agent. One was a down-on-his-luck English officer no one would listen to. The other was a young Jewish girl...
A spy novel with lots of action that keeps the pages turning. Great character development and excellent plot. Follett is the best storyteller and his books have accurate historical research. Recommended for those who love WWII spy thrillers
A spy novel with lots of action that keeps the pages turning. Great character development and excellent plot. Follett is the best storyteller and his books have accurate historical research. Recommended for those who love WWII spy thrillers
Extremely enjoyable, and a quick read. If you like Follett, you'll love this novel.
Excellent story.
Good book....well written.
Set in Cairo in 1942 menaced by Rommels tanks, steaming intrigue spiced with a gorgeous belly dancer a stoic British hero, the courageous Jewish girl he recruits and a master Nazi spy.
Ken Follet never disappoints. My only complaint about this book is that it just wasn't long enough. It was hard to put down, and until close to the end, I was cheering for both the "good guy" and the "bad guy" - both characters were that interesting. Feel free to email with any questions. ~LeAnn
Another excellent spy thriller by Ken Follett. A must read.
Set in Cairo in 1942, menaced by Rommel's tanks...steaming intrigue spiced with a gorgeous belly dancer, a stoic Brithish hero, the courageous Jewish girl he recruits and a Nazi spy.
Fast paced, exciting, intelligent, and romantic!
Fast paced, exciting, intelligent, and romantic!
Old copy with yellow pages, but in good condition other than that. Really exciting spy book. I enjoyed it very much.
Good Follett.
Many surprises, good story. I felt like Iwas "there"!
I didn't even realize this was a spy novel when I picked it up, but I read it anyway even though spy novels are not my cup of tea. While it was nothing compared to Pillars of the Earth for depth, it was well-written and it did hold together with interesting characters.
An irresistible page turner, set in Egypt during World War Two. The storytelling pulls you along with lots of intrigue, danger and plot twists you probably wouldn't have seen coming. Highly recommended.
Set in Cairo in 1942 with a combination of your Stoic British Hero, a spicy belly dancer, a nice Jewish girl and,of course, your master Nazi Spy. A good read.
Great book ,written by one of the best writers around today.Suspence,plot twists untill the final page
