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Jackdaws (Paperback)

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Key Phrases: electric shock machine, telephone engineer, odd shoes, Mademoiselle Lemas, Dieter Franck, Lieutenant Hesse (more...)
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Jackdaws + Eye of the Needle + A Dangerous Fortune
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Penzler Pick, November 2001: Each book by Ken Follett, one of the most successful suspense writers of our time, is a welcome event. With Jackdaws, he returns to his most successful era, the darkest days of World War II.

It is 1944 and the Allies are preparing for the invasion of Europe. In the occupied town of Sainte-Cecile, the French Resistance is preparing to blow up the chateau that now houses the crucial telephone exchange connecting the French telephone system to that of Germany. Bombers have been unable to inflict enough damage on the chateau to disrupt communications for more than a few hours at a time, but the Allies need to make sure that communications is down for longer so that there will be as little warning of the invasion as possible.

Felicity Clariet, known as Flick, is a British secret agent patrolling the streets around the chateau waiting for the first explosions that will give the signal for the attack to begin. She is married to Michel, a Resistance fighter. When the operation goes horribly wrong, they barely escape with their lives and Flick returns to her home in London--but not for long. When Flick returns to France it will be as part of an audacious, quickly assembled plan to put female spies in the chateau as telephone operators and cleaners, enabling the Allies to destroy the ability of the Exchange to warn Germany in advance of the landing on the beaches of Normandy. The twists and turns of the plot will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Follett tells us that Jackdaws is based on a true story. The Special Operations Executive sent 50 women into France as secret agents. Thirty-six survived. --Otto Penzler --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.



From Publishers Weekly

Time is running out. With D-Day rapidly approaching, the Nazis are actively trying to quash the French resistance. Meanwhile, Britain's Special Operations branch is working hard to supply the resistance with intelligence, supplies and agents. Felicity "Flick" Clairet is one of England's most effective operatives in northern France. Having failed in an assault on the Nazis' main European telephone exchange, she regroups in England for another attempt, this time with an all-female team that will infiltrate the exchange under the guise of a French cleaning staff. Unfortunately, finding female agents fluent in French proves impossible and Flick resorts to crash-training nonprofessionals for the task. Imagine Charlie's Angels (minus the campiness) in The Guns of Navarone. Written in Follett's (Pillars of the Earth, etc.) riveting style and with his penchant for historical detail, the Jackdaws (the codename of the all-girl team) are given a heightened air of authenticity with Kate Reading's performance. She flavors her confident delivery with a wry cynicism that is inherent to Flick's character, and her use of international as well as regional accents keeps the rapid narrative flowing flawlessly. Simultaneous release with the Dutton hardcover (Forecasts, Oct. 15, 2001).
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 416 pages
  • Publisher: NAL Trade (December 5, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0451219597
  • ISBN-13: 978-0451219596
  • Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (158 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #51,710 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Ken Follett
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Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
electric shock machine, telephone engineer, odd shoes, cathedral crypt
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Mademoiselle Lemas, Dieter Franck, Lieutenant Hesse, Field Marshal, Flick Clairet, French Resistance, Hans Hesse, Brian Standish, Sergeant Becker, Willi Weber, Major Clairet, Michel Clairet, Percy Thwaite, Simca Cinq, Walter Goedel, Madame Guillemin, Major Franck, Miss Lindleigh, Ruby Romain, Baker Street, Finishing School, Major Weber, English Channel, Felicity Clairet, Lady Denise
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158 Reviews
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54 of 56 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars This Is The Follett I Remember, December 4, 2001
This review is from: Jackdaws (Hardcover)
One of the earliest books in this genre that I read was the, "Eye Of The Needle". The author has since ranged widely amongst a variety of subjects, however with, "Jackdaws", Mr. Follett returns to World War II just prior to the Invasion Of Normandy. And like his previous efforts with this historical setting it is very well done, and will bring fond memories to those readers who were waiting for him to turn his pen once again to this theme.

The book is a substantial work offering readers well over 400 pages of taught writing that unfolds over a little more than a week prior to D-Day. Like all books of this event it contains heroes, however they play against the background here, as a heroine takes charge of the story as well as the events in the book. The book begins with a notation that states that 50 women worked as secret agents in France for The Special Executive during the war. The book never seems to reach the moniker of historical fiction, although comments at the end strongly insinuate there was a real woman who, at the very least provided the inspiration for the heroine, "Flick". The women who volunteered to serve behind enemy lines in occupied France, and repeatedly traveled back and forth across The Channel during the war were clearly remarkable women, and were as fearless as any of their male counterparts.

This novel is a bit scattered in its tone. The changes in the mood of the book work well as a whole, however they can seem a bit jarring and out of place as the book is read. If very graphic descriptions of the most brutal interrogation of both men and women are an issue, several areas of this book will be troublesome to read. I don't feel the length to which Mr. Follett took the level of detail was necessary, he is a wonderful writer, and many of these dungeon settings with their attendant horrors struck me as gratuitous. The main event of the book will either work well for a reader, or will be dismissed as being far too improbable. Mr. Follett increases the likelihood of the latter response as the team that is selected is from a practical standpoint untrained but for Flick, and their conduct is so outrageous it tests the reader's ability to suspend disbelief. There are always amazing true stories conducted by a group that should have a near zero chance of prevailing, however Mr. Follett takes the group a step further by making them all fairly dysfunctional as individuals. This is a bit like the stories of a group of jailed soldiers being granted a chance at redemption. The difference is they are at least soldiers, again with the exception of Flick, the group ranges as far as a member who can be likened to Julie Andrews in Victor Victoria, albeit reversed.

As odd as it may sound in conclusion I did very much enjoy the book. The only rationale I can offer is that the Heroine Flick was a wonderful character, beautifully written, and as competent as any Special Forces Operative. So while there may be bits that will make a reader wince with incredulity, read on. This is very much a case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.

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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Predictable, Yet Solid Entertainment, May 12, 2002
By Gary Griffiths (Los Altos Hills, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Jackdaws (Hardcover)
In "Jackdaws", Ken Follett returns to the form of "Eye of the Needle" and "The Key to Rebecca", spinning a tale that if a bit melodramic and not quite believable, is still entertaining and well worth the time. "Jackdaws" is reportedly based (very loosely, one would assume) on the true story of female allied spies operating in Nazi-occupied France during WWII. It "stars" Felicia 'Flick' Clairet, a British agent married to a French resistance fighter. As with many of Follett's novels, the sub plot of a love affair is woven into the story line, likely to insure additional appeal for broader audience, as well as the attraction for a possible screen play. Follett at his best is a master story teller, and he is in top form with "Jackdaws". He crafts a suspense that is palpable and engrossing, set with just enough history to establish some credibility. But while the plot and story development are superb, the same level of depth falls short in the character development. The characters appear to come straight from central casting: the brave but irreverent hero/spy, the sadistic Nazi officer, a female crew of ally agents reminiscent of "The Dirty Dozen". On balance, a good book for the beach or a long plane trip: mindless entertainment that will neither make you think nor disappoint.
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Thrill Ride Master, January 6, 2002
By "coachmax" (Sparta, TN USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Jackdaws (Hardcover)
I have just read my first, but definitely not last Ken Follett novel. I received Jackdaws as a Christmas present. What a present it turned it out to be!

Jackdaws, based on a true story, needs to be made into a blockbuster movie. It tells the story of how people thrust into dire situations can do amazing things. Felicity Clairet, aka Flick, is a strong main character, operating behind enemy lines in occupied France. On her trail is Dieter Franck, Gestapo agent. What ensues is one of the best cat- and- mouse chases I personally have ever read in modern fiction.

During the entirety of the book, I kept saying to myself, This is a master at work! There were several interesting supporting characters. At times you need a card to keep track of these characters, but they are thoroughly believable and well written.

This is easily one of my all-time favorite books. Think of The Fugitive during Nazi WWII occupied France and you are getting the idea of just how impressive this novel is!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific suspense with a superb heroine
The greatest heroine character I ever read in this genre. While the story may be inplausible in parts, if you like WW2 suspense with a superb heroine you'll love this book. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Anonymous Action

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely brilliant!
I'm going to make this review short and sweet, since there's not much to be said here. Jackdaws is the second novel of Ken Follett's that I read after Eye of the Needle, and I... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Alex F. Chabot

2.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but nothing great
1. I've heard a lot of good things about Ken Follett and was looking forward to this book.

2. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Harry M. Shin

5.0 out of 5 stars Follett is master of riveting stories.
As usual, Ken Follett takes you on a journey where there is mystery, thrills, danger, and a learning experience of times in our history.
Published 3 months ago by M. O'Malley

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Gem From a Master Storyteller
Jackdaws is set in occupied France in the ten days preceding the D Day invasion of June 6, 1944. The basic story line is almost exactly the same as The Dirty Dozen, but this time... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Ralph White

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT READ!
Follett's books always keep me reading, even long after the sun has set. Jackdaws is even more fascinating, since I'm a woman, cuz it's about women spies in WWII. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Terrificspot

3.0 out of 5 stars Return to the WWII subjects proved good for Ken Follett
Follett as the author of perfectly researched historical plots, strong, complex characters and " chess -like " intelligent fast paced action. Read more
Published 11 months ago by M. Adams

5.0 out of 5 stars A Feat--and a Feast
Ken Follet achieves the nearly impossible task of creating genuine suspense about an event that is well-known, using fresh characters, clever plotting, and surprising twists on an... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Donald Gallinger

3.0 out of 5 stars Not very thrilling
In the field of World War II historical novels, this is strictly
a commercial entry. I turned the pages, but I also felt Follett
searching to keep interest up (like... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Steven Lee Wiggins

3.0 out of 5 stars Not very thrilling
In the field of World War II historical novels, this is strictly
a commercial entry. I turned the pages, but I also felt Follett
searching to keep interest up (like... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Steven Lee Wiggins

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