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Jackdaws  By  cover art

Jackdaws

By: Ken Follett
Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat,Colin Stinton
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Publisher's summary

D-Day is approaching. They don’t know where or when, but the Germans know it’ll be soon, and for Felicity "Flick" Clariet, the stakes have never been higher. A senior agent in the ranks of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) responsible for sabotage, Flick has survived to become one of Britain’s most effective operatives in Northern France. She knows that the Germans’ ability to thwart the Allied attack depends upon their lines of communications, and in the days before the invasion, no target is of greater strategic importance than the largest telephone exchange in Europe.

But when Flick and her Resistance-leader husband try a direct, head-on assault that goes horribly wrong, her world turns upside down. Her group destroyed, her husband missing, her superiors unsure of her, her own confidence badly shaken, she has one last chance at the target, but the challenge, once daunting, is now near impossible. The new plan requires an all-woman team, none of them professionals, to be assembled and trained within days. Code-named the Jackdaws, they will attempt to infiltrate the exchange under the noses of the Germans - but the Germans are waiting for them now and have plans of their own. There are secrets Flick does not know - secrets within the German ranks, secrets among her hastily recruited team, secrets among those she trusts the most. And as the hours tick down to the point of no return, most daunting of all, there are secrets within herself....

Filled with the powerful storytelling, unforgettable characters, and authentic detail that have become his hallmarks, Jackdaws is Ken Follett writing at the height of his powers.

PLEASE NOTE: This is the abridged edition. An unabridged version is also available.

Don't miss Ken Follet discussing the history of the thriller and its role in literature at the 92nd Street Y.
©2001 Ken Follett (P)2001 Penguin Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"[A] celebration of uncommon courage and unlikely heroes." (People)

"A very entertaining, very cinematic thriller about a ragtag, all-female band of British agents, code-named Jackdaws, sent to blow up a key telephone exchange in France on the eve of D day...adventure, romance, derring-do.... [Jackdaws] promises to be one of Follett's most popular novels ever." (Publishers Weekly)

"Compelling reading...great entertainment." (The Baltimore Sun)

What listeners say about Jackdaws

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

I didn't realize this was an abridged version. It cuts out too many important details and changes the ending.

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29 people found this helpful

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

Sooo disappointed by the abridgment

The choice of how to abridge Jackdaws effectively gutted all characterization leaving only the basic plot.
Too bad, now bland and without nuance.

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13 people found this helpful

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

Jackdaws - abridged

I believe I would have enjoyed the unabridged version more. But it is not available via Audible apparently except in languages other than English.

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8 people found this helpful

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

Disappointed

As a fan of Ken Follet's historical writing I was most disappointed with this abridged version. It left so many gaps on the story which totally distracted from the suspense. If I could find a full version I would certainly read it again.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Spy story which doesnt make the grade

Would you try another book from Ken Follett and/or Barbara Rosenblat and Colin Stinton ?

Of course his normal stories are great.

Has Jackdaws turned you off from other books in this genre?

No but just surprised how this one got made and music added to make it worse.

What aspect of Barbara Rosenblat and Colin Stinton ’s performance would you have changed?

no comment

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disapointment

Any additional comments?

Music should not be added although comical.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Follet is Fantastic

A must listen! After listening to "Flight of the Hornet" and "Pillars of the Earth" (PoE not in audible library), two of my alltime favorites, I was clammering for more Follett.

Jackdaws did not disappoint!! While I did not enjoy them as much as the two mentioned above, it's a terrific book and read well.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

no jack splat

With two different readers , I thought it would would slow the progress of the book and I found it more interesting than loss of momentum.
I loved the build up of the cast of characters along with attention to detail. Flick was a wonderful addition to the exciting display of courage and female strength.In fact , all the characters were believable and I felt a part of the book as an added commando. Even though there were some gory descriptions , it can be conceived that those torture chambers really existed and became a viable part of the Gestapo interrogation. I was sorry to see it end but look forward to another of Ken Follett's books, which now numbers three( Hornet Flight and Whiteout).Please keep them coming.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Exciting Read

The story is well developed and exciting. Kept me on the edge of my seat with many tense moments and situations.

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6 people found this helpful

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

Great story but the music added, distracting

great book, I think the unabridged version would be better. the music added for dramatic effect was distracting at best, annoying at worst.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
  • AD
  • 05-05-15

Good listen

Very good story and the story telling is entertaining. Do I have to use all the words in this review.

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1 person found this helpful