• Jackdaws

  • By: Ken Follett
  • Narrated by: Emilia Fox
  • Length: 17 hrs and 10 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (49 ratings)

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Jackdaws  By  cover art

Jackdaws

By: Ken Follett
Narrated by: Emilia Fox
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Publisher's Summary

Jackdaws by Ken Follett is an irresistible novel of the French Resistance, love, courage and revenge set in the Second World War, read by Emilia Fox, who expertly brings the story to life.

A Failed Mission

Two weeks before D-Day, the French Resistance try to destroy a telephone exchange vital to Nazi communications. Heavily defended, the mission fails disastrously.

A Daring Plan

With invasion looming, Flick Clairet, a British secret agent, proposes a daring but perilous new plan. She, along with an all-female team – the Jackdaws – will infiltrate and neutralize the exchange before Allied Forces land in France.

A Race Against Time

However, unbeknownst to Flick, Rommel has assigned a brilliant spy-catcher – Dieter Franck – to crush the French Resistance. And now Franck is closing in . . .

©2018 Ken Follett (P)2018 Macmillan Digital Audio

What listeners say about Jackdaws

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Great book

Loved this audible book. I couldn't stop listening. Five stars deservedly. Hope others will enjoy it as much.

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  • Mr. N. W. Boothman
  • 01-06-21

A huge disappointment

I came to this after thoroughly enjoying Audible's recording of The Eye of the Needle, performed superbly by Samuel West. The drop in quality, both of Follett's writing and especially of the performance (here by Emilia Fox) is startling.

The story is set at exactly the same time as the Eye of the Needle - in the weeks running up to D-Day in 1944. Jackdaws has none of the tension and craft of the older book. Despite being a much less far-fetched idea it's a lot less plausible, mainly because of the Jackdaws themselves: a set of unlikely caricatures. It also seems to be written for a dopey audience; countless times we get plodding explanations of what a character is thinking when it's blindingly obvious from the context...'he was disappointed that she had escaped again, but still hoped to capture her later.' Well...duh.

There are similarities with The Eye of the Needle: the father-figure spymaster is called Percy again, there is an unnecessary warm n' fuzzy post-script to wrap up some characters' lives and there is a lot of very explicit sex. Follett just manages to make it erotic in TEotN but in Jackdaws it leaves you feeling like you need a good wash, and adds to the implausibility.

But the worst thing by far is the performance. Emilia Fox is a successful and accomplished actor but she's a disastrous choice for this job...she chooses to perform all the non-English characters in their respective accents, i.e. German and French. She lays these on with a trowel and the effect is amateurish and grating. Imagine a 17-hour episode of 'Allo Allo' without any funny moments and you'll have a good idea what it's like.

I've bought something like 120 titles on Audible and most of them have been fantastic. I've never given something such a bad review and I hope I never do again. I can't believe Jackdaws is so highly rated by most others so maybe it's just me...or maybe superstar thriller writers like Follett, Le Carré, Deighton, Forsyth et al can get away with a bad book every now and then with no apparent dip in ratings.

20 people found this helpful

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 09-12-18

Gripping listen

I am not sure how one enjoys a book that at times is quite brutal, but this book greatly exceeded my expectations and I found it quite gripping. I loved the way the author switched between telling the story from different angles, so that the same scene could be reflected from opposing sides. Extremely well read by Emilia Fox.

16 people found this helpful

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  • S. Foster
  • 11-04-18

Captivating

With perfect narration by Emilia Fox and Ken Folletts amazing ability to create engaging characters to share history with such clarity. Loved every minute of it.

8 people found this helpful

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  • Graham Stubbs
  • 10-01-18

Excellent

A must listen for any lover of WW2 drama. Very well written and incredibly well read.

5 people found this helpful

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  • Johnny
  • 04-09-20

Outstanding listen

Being a father and Having 3 daughters mysrlf having an interest in the SAS and SOE historic records during WW II .

the story of a highly motivated intelligent and courageous woman that can be as ruthless and determined as any man at that time when homosexuality and the recognition of such and there part in the war was brushed under the carpet .. by pompous men the same men that tried to disband the SAS after the war

Thankful it’s change not sure by how much but books like this one I want my girls to read instead of other girl gibberish that can be pushed on them

Well written and narrated real edge of your seat stuff

Well done !


3 people found this helpful

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  • Clair
  • 04-21-19

A very enthralling listen

The story is so good that I found it difficult to put down, indeed at the end I was up until 2:40 am!
I like Emília Fox as an actress and her reading is superb. Her gentle cultured voice delivering some very gruesome and upsetting scenes made them all the more chilling.
Highly recommended

3 people found this helpful

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  • Robert and Hilary Purvis
  • 10-06-18

Very poor

Clumsy , clunky writing, shockingly bad editing, terrible, cliche-ridden characterisations, laughable, unnecessary expositions in respect of obvious, telegraphed plot developments, utterly cringeworthy attempts at romance and sex, topped off by “allo-allo” comic accents and a vocal style which served to distract and irritate.
Apart from that, it was ok...
A basically interesting premise utterly spoiled by the above.
I’d hesitate before considering any of The author’s other works, or any other narrations by Ms Fox.
Oddly, I have in the past read one of his books, set in wartime Denmark, and I don’t recall it being this terrible.

3 people found this helpful

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  • Paul Martin
  • 01-31-21

Loved every minute

This is the second Ken Follett audiobook i've listened to,the first one being Eye Of The Needle,which was read by Samuel West,this story which was read by Emilia Fox which was a thoroughly enjoyable story from my perspective,she really brought the story to life,although some of the character's were somewhat stereotypical of French and German character's it was a great listen,I'd throughly recommend this audiobook to those that like spy stories or WWII stories....

2 people found this helpful

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  • Daire
  • 02-29-20

Love this author!

Ken Follett’s books work well in audio form. This is the third one I’ve listened to and it was just as good as the others. Great performance also!

2 people found this helpful

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  • Fittpar
  • 12-14-18

Not at all one of Ken Folletts best books

I normally love Ken Folletts books, this is clearly not one of them. started well, but went down hill as the book unfolded. didn't enjoy the narration which didn't help.

2 people found this helpful

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  • samantha bryant
  • 12-12-19

THANK you thank you Author and Narrator

What a brilliant book..from the beginning..all the way through..to the end. It took me on a wonderful journey from which I didnt want to return. It is a HUGE act to follow.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Deb Goodrick
  • 09-29-19

Sensational

Could not stop listening. Ken Follet is the master story writer. This is one of his best.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 02-23-23

A war story with women as the heroes.

I didn’t think I would enjoy this book, but I soon changed my mind. Emilia Fox is able to capture each character’s voice and Ken Follett is a great storyteller. I felt like I was watching each scene. Thanks again.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 02-07-23

Great story with an excellent narrator

Story has a lot of depth with a lot of twists and turns. Well written

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  • Anonymous User
  • 02-06-23

WWII

Could not put it down! just l9ced the story, the intrigue, the nail biting operation! thank you.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 01-21-23

Thought i wouldnt like it

I dont ever review, but:
Was so thrilled to hear the narration of this audio, i had to, i had not at all expected Emilia pull this off, and NOTHING against her, im just that sort of twat that doesnt think female narration gels with archaic chest thumping war stories. But i opine now that this story wouldnt be the hit it is without her. Fantastic effort. I played entire story at 1.1x speed, again to suit my own sensibilities (i often do this, vary the speed of narration) and viola!
Oh yea. Ok i guess Mr Follett, not your best, could breezed over some sex torture a little lighter, not to exclusion, just a little less zeal...
Well done Emilia! 5stars.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 11-20-22

Jackdaws

Once again.. another brilliant and gripping tale from Ken Follett... loved this book and would pass it on to wveryone

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  • Anonymous User
  • 06-05-22

Emilia Fox - brilliant portrayal

Emilia was an excellent choice to narrate this story. She was able to tell the story well from a female perspective and her ability to mimic the various accents in the story was impeccable. The story itself was well written, but nothing less than you would expect from Ken Follett. Five stars all around from me!

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  • Anonymous User
  • 03-15-21

very disappointed

could not get into it. long winded and verrrrry slow.
Great if you needed to get some sleep. only bought the book going off other readers glowing reviews. Didn't get past chapter 10

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  • Anonymous User
  • 02-06-21

The Best Follett Yet!

I've listened to a number of Follett's books but this is definitely his best so far! Loved it!