Jackdaws

By: Ken Follett

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat, Colin Stinton

Length: 13 hrs and 31 mins

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)

Another Masterpiece

Has this author received honorary awards for his portrayal of strong women protagonists? He should have! Another great yarn by the best story teller of our time.

A Winner

I enjoyed this story very much. It was fascinating and kept me riveted. All the way through Ken Follett doesn’t disappoint.

Very suspenseful! Inspiring courage!

A very exciting story, filled with action! Great language facility and French and German accent.

Great book

I hated for this the end. So suspenseful! I loved all of the characters. I wish that Hollywood would make a movie of this book. Ken Follett is a genius.

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.

Good listen

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

Great story

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would change the reader Barbara Rosenblat. I find she does not understand the characters and tries too hard to be dramatic. Let the story tell itself.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Jackdaws?

When the Jackdaws are have infiltrated the German stronghold.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I think the reader tries too hard to be dramatic. She does not seem to understand the characters. I find her very distracting. I will not buy another book that she reads.

Excellent

Best book in a long long time. I loved the story and the reader highly recommend.

Excellent

I love Ken Follett’s historical novels and this was no exception. Great storyline and character development. The narration by Kate Redding was excellent.

Wonderful

Kate Reading did a magnificent job narrating this book. It's nice to hear variations of accents just enough, without overdoing them.
The story was exciting; twists and turns along with humor & brevity. Definitely one of my favorite Ken Follett books.