The Key to Rebecca

Ken Follett

Feb 2011 · Pan Macmillan

About this ebook

The Key to Rebecca is a gripping espionage thriller set during the Second World War, from master storyteller and author of The Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett.

A Ruthless Spy

1942. Alex Wolff’s goal is Cairo. Following a relentless trek across the scorching Sahara, he arrives in the city with a copy of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, a lethal blade and a trail of bodies in his wake. Known to his handlers as the ‘Sphinx’, Wolff is a Nazi spy with a brutal desire to succeed.

A Failing Campaign

The British campaign in North Africa hangs in the balance. Led by Rommel, the Germans are closing in and the Sphinx’s reports on British troop movements and strategic plans are giving them the edge. Intelligence officer Major William Vandam is tasked with hunting down the Sphinx before the British are defeated.

A Deadly Chase

Vandam enlists the help of courtesan Elene Fontana, who agrees to try and ensnare the spy in exchange for a better life in Palestine. Can they catch the master spy before he uncovers Cairo’s secrets and the campaign fails?

Ratings and reviews

What started as a promising book with a promising plot and storyline ended up totally disappointing me. The book was ok till the middle of it, with some soft erotic passages which I could have lived without it, and the last 3-4 chapters were something that I wished to finish the book as soon as possible or just drop it entirely.

I'm not usually drawn to WW2 as a genre, but having read and enjoyed the Kingsbridge Trilogy and also having visited Cairo, I gave this a try and I'm glad I did. It's full of intrigue and fascinating characters and the ending is just amazing.

Step back in time to Egypt during WW2 and enjoy a thrilling tale from an excellent author .

About the author

Ken Follett was born in Cardiff, Wales. Barred from watching films and television by his parents, he developed an early interest in reading thanks to a local library. After studying philosophy at University College London, he became involved in centre-left politics, entering into journalism soon after. His first thriller, the wartime spy drama Eye of the Needle, became an international bestseller and has sold over 10 million copies. He then astonished everyone with his first historical novel, The Pillars of the Earth, the story of the building of a medieval cathedral, which went on to become one of the most beloved books of the twentieth century. One of the most popular authors in the world, his many books, including the Kingsbridge series and the Century trilogy, have sold more than 178 million copies. A father and husband, Ken lives with his wife in England and enjoys travelling the world when he can.