Follett, Ken. Eye of the Needle,  Pan books, London, 2009. (pages 464) First published in 1978 by Futura Publications.

Rating: 7/10

With the literary retirement of Fredrick Forsyth, I have been looking for an author resembling him. The Century Trilogy by Ken Follett (3000 pages) at least partly put an end to that quest. Follett is British, his writing is normally based on true history, his books are easy and pacey to read, and most importantly, he has been super-prolific. I may need six months to read his published books. To start with, I decided to read the book that made him famous, a spy story from the second world war called "Eye of the Needle." (originally published as "Strong Island") Follett wrote this when he was twenty-seven. Since I read his century trilogy first (when Follett is in his mid-sixties), the writing in Eye of the Needle is understandably less mature, youngish, chaste. If James Hadley Chase were to write a historical novel, it would read something like this.

The year is 1944, a few weeks before D-Day. The allies are inflating their invasion plan with phoney armada of ships and planes. Their strategy would be ruined if the Germans were to find out. The top German spy, so highly respected, that Hitler relies on him, is travelling across England to learn and pass on the war secrets. This spy is far more ruthless than James Bond. Killing is as natural to him as sneezing to a man with cold. His weapon is the stiletto knife, his code name is "the needle." To take care of the "love" angle, there is a remarkable young woman he encounters on a storm battered island.

The concept of this novel based on true history is interesting, and the ending of the book very clever. Credibility of certain scenes is low probably the result of the very young author.

Verdict: If you wish to read Ken Follett in total, this book is a useful starting point.

*****