Hornet Flight

By: Ken Follett

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 14 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

It's June 1941, and the low point of the war. England throws wave after wave of RAF bombers across the Channel, but somehow the Luftwaffe is able to shoot them down at will. The skies, indeed, the war itself seem to belong to Hitler.

On a Danish island across the North Sea, Harald Olufsen stumbles upon a secret German installation. With England preparing its largest aerial assault, what Harald has discovered may turn the course of the war, but the race to convey the information could have terrible consequences for everyone close to him. For his older brother, Arne, a pilot in the Danish air force, and for Arne's fiancee, Hermia, an intelligence analyst desperate to resurrect the foundering Danish resistance. And most of all, for Harald himself.

Filled with knife-edge suspense and rich, tantalizing characters, this is Ken Follett writing at the top of his form, unforgettable storytelling from an unforgettable writer.

Don't miss Ken Follet discussing the history of the thriller and its role in literature at the 92nd Street Y.

©2002 Ken Follett (P)2002 Penguin Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"An intricately woven espionage yarn... a gritty picture of the spy game and wartime Europe." (People)

"Follett at his compelling best." (The Hartford Courant)

"Zips along to an exhilarating climax." (Entertainment Weekly)

Very enjoyable spy story and adventure yarn

First I really enjoyed the performance, I don't know whether the accent works as a Danish accent for Danes but it seemed reasonable compared to the Scandinavians I know. The only thing I wondered is whether it is necessary to have a foreign accent when the characters are actually speaking their own language? But in any case it worked for me.

While I could say that the story was a little predictable, and I think I did at the time, that is partially a middle aged man's experience and cynicism. We all try to predict where stories are going and by my age I should be quite adequate at it. That isn't a fair criticism of the book.

I enjoyed the world that Follett created, it actually made me want to visit Denmark. I enjoyed the people, though I didn't always agree with what they were doing, but there are always good and bad guys in stories or they wouldn't be worth reading.

I don't want to say too much because I think you should try this one for yourself too.

Love Ken Follett one of my favorite authors

Keeps you interested start to finish. Love his books been reading them for many years.

Follett has better books out there

I absolutely loved Follett’s Kingsbridge series, so thought I would give one of his stand-alone books a try. For me, the first three-quarters of this book were fairly dull and I struggled to remain attentive. The last bit became a little more exciting, but I wouldn’t recommend this book as an introduction to the author.

Thrilling listening

Thrilling story narrated very well by John Lee with good accent changes.

The story itself is enthralling and I couldn’t stop listening to it on Audiobook.

I likey!

Took me by surprise and really enjoyed the characters. Sometimes wishing I could jump in and help.

Once started it was almost impossible to to put down.

Romance and spy intrigue. A great combination. Follett at his best. A must read for you.

Captivating

What made the experience of listening to Hornet Flight the most enjoyable?

The wonderful narration and amazing performance of the Danish accents. John Lee is a master with accents and gives each character a distinct voice that makes the listening so much more enjoyable.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hornet Flight?

Without giving much away, the sacrifice Arnie makes left the biggest impression on me during this story.

Have you listened to any of John Lee’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, and I think this one was just as amazing as the rest of his performances. This was different because I had never heard an entire book with these type of accents.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, especially when the chase begins to really pick up. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened.

A great Listen

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, A seat of the pants thriller. A great listen for a long drive, you won't want to stop for gas.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Edge of the seat. Every problem that could arise did. Excellent detail and well told.

Have you listened to any of John Lee’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Can't recall. Good voices though.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed and cheered!

I hate Nazis

Very entertaining. Admirable job by the narrator.

Love this book

Ken Follett has an amazing way of turning history into something that feels so relevant for right now. You love his characters and hate to see them leave when you’re finished with the book