Will I love The Key to Rebecca?

Yes, this is a young man's novel, and the emphasis on sex and beauty may be hard for some readers to take. (I listened to the very good audio version in the company of a friend who made frequent comments in this regard.) But this is still the work of a master novelist, and so much of it left me in awe. Unputdownable, a WWII espionage narrative set in Egypt with unrelenting dramatic tension and characters so vivid it's impossible to forget them. The audio version with Tim Downie narrating is truly spectacular!

The war in Africa, where Rommel’s tanks seem unstoppable, sets the stage for this novel of intrigue and spies, with Egypt and The Suez Canal the prize. Follett is a master of suspense and he makes great use of it here as two secret agents lock horns. The German agent with a wonderfully appropriate name, The Spinx, enlists the wiles of a belly dancer and the British agent, seeks the help of a beautiful young Jewish woman, who plays a key role in unmasking the German agent and the final defeat of Rommel. I always love reading Follett. You’re never… show more.

This is my top favourite when it comes to choosing a World War 2 spy novel. I read it several times and I never get tired of it. I adored the exotic setting and the colourful cast of characters that feel authentic and so intriguing, for they are all flawed to a certain degree and yet they pursue what, in their view, is the greater good. Follett manages to make the reader care for every single one of them, and that’s what I absolutely love about this writer.

This is a book that also gives a better understanding of what… show more.