Eye of the Needle

Customer Rating:
Summary: Suspense, Some Sex, and then Some More
Comment: "Eye of the Needle" is the novel that got me hooked on the suspense genre. This World War II thriller set in London and then a remote island off the coast of Great Britain is rich with spy lore, intrigue, fact-based characters, and features some of the most sizzling scenes ever depicted in a spy novel, as well as one of the most memorable grand finales ever to grace the pages of a thriller.

This was Follett at his very best, and is well worth reading or rereading.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Follett Set the Standard for the WW2 Thriller Genre with "Die Nadel"
Comment: Ken Follet wrote this book and came out of the gates as the leader contender in the World War II Thriller category. Eventually, it was made into a pretty good movie with Donald Sutherland. Why did I think it was such a good book?

(1) He established that Hitler is weighing the need for information on the Allies intentions on the Western front. If Hitler can predict - and foil - the Allies invasion so the theory goes, then he can throw his Western divisions against the Communist onslaught in the East.

(2) Intimate Plotting - the plot revolves around the German spy (codename: "Needle" or Die Nadel), a woman and the investigator. By bringing into a real, intimate forum, the character jump off the page . He uses a neat triangulation of destiny to finally fulfill the suspense and premise of the book.

(3) The "What If" - Suspense at its best, particularly when the stakes are the greatest invasion in HIstory.

(4) Excellent complication - Die Nadel is a particularly adept spy. He doesn't even trust his fellow German spies for fear that they have been compromised (which was true in England's case of subverting all the German spies during this period).

The book is an essential read for the thriller and World War II genre.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Huge Hole in the Plot
Comment: I was incredulous at the end of the book because all I could think was: When Faber went back to the shepherd's cabin alone to neutralize the shepherd, why didn't he send his radio message to Hitler then??? He was alone with a functioning radio and he could have contacted the U-boat that was there to pick him up and he could have transmitted his critical, war-winning news to the Feurer. Why did he come all the way back to the woman, then go through all the drama that followed trying to get BACK into the shepherd's cabin to send his message?? You can drive a tank through a plot hole that big!

Customer Rating:
Summary: This was a good one
Comment: I won't go into the plot of the book because it seems every other reviewer does.

I found it entertaining to read. It develops and brings together characters nicely.. he paints a nice picture of what is going on in your "minds eye".

Luckily I had never seen the movie to provide me with any input other than my own little brain :-)

I will be reading more of his work.

Customer Rating:
Summary: What a thriller!!
Comment: One word came to mind after finishing this book. WOW! I believe this is the best spy thriller I have ever read. He was cunning and so devious, he kept outsmarting all those who were trying to find him. But in the end he was no match for the adversary Ken Follett put him up against.
I have read Mr. Follett before and he has never disappointed me. I look forward to reading more of his works.
If you like a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat and you don't want to put it down, you MUST read this one.