• Eye of the Needle

  • A Novel
  • By: Ken Follett
  • Narrated by: Samuel West
  • Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (2,497 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Eye of the Needle  By  cover art

Eye of the Needle

By: Ken Follett
Narrated by: Samuel West
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.62

Buy for $19.62

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The worldwide phenomenon from the best-selling author of The Pillars of the Earth, World Without End, A Column of Fire, and The Evening and the Morning

His code name was “The Needle.” He was a German aristocrat of extraordinary intelligence - a master spy with a legacy of violence in his blood, and the object of the most desperate manhunt in history....

But his fate lay in the hands of a young and vulnerable English woman, whose loyalty, if swayed, would assure his freedom - and win the war for the Nazis....

©1978 Ken Follett (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Top-notch suspense . . . a terrific thriller . . . spellbinding." (The Miami Herald)

"Great . . . one of the twelve best thrillers from the last fifty years." (Rocky Mountain News)

"Extraordinarily satisfying . . . a truly suspenseful novel . . . heart-stopping, nerve-freezing terror." (Los Angeles Times)

Featured Article: The Best Audiobooks About Psychopaths


There's no denying the allure of psychopaths. There's something disturbing but fascinating about people so ruthless and manipulative, who lack the ability to feel guilt or remorse over their actions. Stories of psychopaths abound in just about every mystery subgenre, from action-packed thrillers to nuanced psychological character studies, and also stand out in works of psychology and neuroscience. Listen to some of the most riveting books about psychopaths.

What listeners say about Eye of the Needle

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,102
  • 4 Stars
    304
  • 3 Stars
    64
  • 2 Stars
    15
  • 1 Stars
    12
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,992
  • 4 Stars
    171
  • 3 Stars
    28
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    6
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,859
  • 4 Stars
    254
  • 3 Stars
    46
  • 2 Stars
    13
  • 1 Stars
    10

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great historical Adventure

love everything about World War II and Churchill, and this is a great adventure story set in those times. totally believable and exciting

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Gripping Story

I loved the story, but do wish the author could have told it with less graphic descriptions of the romantic encounters. The plot, relationships, and characters were interesting without stooping to add the lurid bedroom details.
Very good job by the narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Entertaining!

Really good all the way around. Only reason I didn't give more stars, I'm picky.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent mystery

First time I have read or listened to a Ken Follett novel. After this one I really look forward to the next one. The readers were great

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An Exciting Read!

I very much enjoyed this book, the first Follett novel I have read. Mr. West's narration added greatly to the experience but he did often speak too softly. That's my only complaint.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Captivating. Both story and narration

Really appreciated the story. Narrator managed accents and voices with care. Will listen to another Follet book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoying it but a little distracted

I enjoy the author’s succinct yet descriptive writing style and couldn’t stop listening once the story got going. However, certain decisions made by the “genius” antihero seem careless if not stupid and hard to believe someone so intelligent would choose to do. I was pulled right out of the world of the story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Best book

I've ever read twice! A.real nail biter with a bittersweet love story and a female heroine

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Immensely gripping

Fantastic plausible fiction. Rich historic detail believable characters and insightful. A delightful listen performed by a deft actor. An adult read because Follett threw in some steamy sex and gruesome details.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another Win for Historical Fiction

Ken Follett never disappoints with historical fiction. I’m coming close to having read everything he’s written. I’m late to the party with this piece, but it was fantastic. The last couple of hours were some of the best suspense hours I’ve ever spent with a book. Great tale of intrigue, murder, suspense and passion…even a bit of love story. I’m usually fond of John Lee’s narration of his books, but Samuel West did a superb job here. Can’t wait to devour his last few novels that I haven’t already read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!