The Key to Rebecca by Ken Follett Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Key to Rebecca
Book Review: As always can not put the book down
Summary: 5 Stars
Every Ken Follett novel I have read so far has been outstanding. The Key to Rebecca is no exception. This book centers around a spy in the 1940's in Cairo named Alex Wolff. Through most of the book, all of the characters are very likeable. But keep reading, and the story takes a drastic turn. The book is fast paced. It is full of mystery, suspense, and romance. The book keeps you guessing until the end. Personally, I think this book is even better than The Eye of the Needle.Book Review: BORING
Summary: 1 Stars
I decided to get this book , based on some of the other reviews. But couldn't finish it. Just plain boring. I have read much better works of Ken follet.Book Review: Based on a real story,
Summary: 4 Stars
I first read this book about 20 years ago when it was first published.
Recently, I read The Battle of Alamein by John Bierman, a description of the N. African campaign in WWII. About 1/2 way through this book I realized that Ken Follett had lifted the whole plot from (or based his book on) a real life German spy planted in Cairo during the war. Everything was the same including the name of the codebook and the "key" to it. Shame on Follett for not putting a blurb in his book. Still "The Key to Rebecca is a great read". I seem to remember the fictional spy was real suave as compared to the real life bumbling spy.
I'm re-reading it right now to see how much of the book mirrors the actual events. This is one of Follett's early works and the plot has a sense of grittiness/urgency that his latter books (when he became rich) don't have.
I think another reviewer said this was a child's plot?(!) This proves the adage that truth is stranger than fiction.
Book Review: Follett & WW2...It doesn't get much better
Summary: 4 Stars
I am an avid fan of Ken Follett and, with the exception of "Pillars of the Earth", he is at his best in the world of WW2 intrigue. "Key to Rebecca" drops us smack into the middle of the desert war with Rommel's Afrika Corps. Follett has created another fascinating undercover agent, a dynamic, intriguing woman and a host of other gritty characters lurking in the shadows of Cairo. Hang on for a lightning fast, twisting ride barreling along toward a dynamite ending.Book Review: Frustrating fiction
Summary: 2 Stars
Having consumed Giants Fall and Dangerous Fortune I went back to some older Follet books expecting good reads, I had a copy of a book called The Third Twin and now have finished the Key to Rebecca. Great idea, colourful and interesting setting he brings Cairo to life with the gravity of saving Egypt from the wily Rommel. It had potential to be something very good however the lead character and everything about his fumbling ventures to catch the great spy of Cairo were frustrating enough to make you scream aloud. I cant believe that an Intelligence operative in 1942 could be so incompetent even as part of the decaying British Army. Vandame a self made officer is the most clumsy, stupid character I have read in "serious" fiction, is he meant to reflect the pompous class affected Britain we think of from the Gallipoli campaign of the First World War?
This central character and his plot flaws spoiled the book for me, I found myself unable to "buy into" the concept and therefore he failed me as an author as I was a willing reader ready to commit. I enjoyed his peripheral characters greatly and the super spy could have been something really special, I think he wanted to make this guy the hero of the story and then found himself having to put the British spin onto it for understandable pragmatic reasons. The ending lacked detail and was concocted poorly as if to wind it up, it could have used some more "interesting" details about how the Rebecca Key ended up being used exactly rather than a sun set shot and a passionate kiss. I like the fact the Follet writes genuine sex into his stores it is a big part of most peoples lives and it certainly is a factor in decisions made at all levels of society and government, it shapes history. I am sorry Rebecca disappointed me I really enjoyed the first half until the Keystone Cop went into action, hey maybe it is representative of British WW2 army intelligence and thats why the war went on for so long if so then I must apologise.