Night over Water

By: Ken Follett

Narrated by: Tom Casaletto

Length: 14 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

On a bright September morning in 1939, two days after Britain declares war on Germany, a group of privileged but desperate people gather in Southhampton to board the largest, most luxurious airliner ever built - the Pan American Clipper - bound for New York.

The passengers include a fascist English aristocrat fleeing with his family and a fortune in jewels; a German scientist escaping from the Nazis; a murderer under FBI escort; a beautiful young woman heading for a new life; and a handsome, charming, unscrupulous thief.

They will be in the air for 30 hours, soothed by the carpeted lounges, the curtained beds, the gourmet dining room, and the endless champagne. But once inside the flying palace, there is no escape. Over the Atlantic, the Clipper's passengers are gripped by mounting fear and tension as their journey reaches the point of no return.

©1991 Ken Follett (P)1991 Brilliance Audio

Critic reviews

"Follet soars to a thoroughly satisfying ending with aeronautical precision." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Tom Casaletto's glib performance makes this seemingly endless journey fly by with ease. His many accents are first-rate." ( AudioFile)

Not my favorite Follett

Descriptions were too detailed to keep enjoying the plot. Found the various chapters boring. Disappointed

Great book, terrible narrator

I loved this book but listening to this particular narrator was painful. He put nearly the same inflection on every sentence, so that he always sounded as if he were reading the exciting line of a kid's book. If Follet weren't so good, I couldn't have kept going.

Reader

Didn’t enjoy the reading. Too fast and not even pause for transitions. I wouldn’t recommend

One of my favorites

Would you listen to Night over Water again? Why?

Yes. I would like to hear the passages again, and recall some of the great details that Ken Follett put in this book, about the characters and the fast moving action and events in the story.

What other book might you compare Night over Water to and why?

This book is almost uncomparable in its attention to detail and events that are moving at the rapid pace, in sync with the fast moving plane(s) that the characters are traveling on.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scenes on the Clipper are my favorites. But the scene describing Elizabeths departure from her family during the rail journey from London to Southampton was dramatic. Also, the plane ride carrying Nancy and Merv from England to Ireland.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Certainly, the dramatic ending with Margaret and Percy, saving the honor of their family, against all odds and especially the tyrant of their father.

Any additional comments?

This is an excellent audio book. The story and dialogue is crisp and fast moving. The exciting passage of the Pan Am Clipper, and the dramatic life stories unfolding as the pages turn, keeps you listening and coming back for more.

Narrator Nearly Put Me To Sleep

I had to check several times to make sure this was a Ken Follett book. It is the first I have ever thought of putting down and not picking back up. I think a great deal was the flat tone of the narrator. Hard to stay awake when the voice doesn't modulate much at all. Story was okay. For Follett this is a real downfall in my ratings. It is a book I could have skipped and been very happy for doing so.

Aviation Insight

Way too much sex.. nothing left to the imagination.. Not one of my favorite Ken Follet's novels.. The information of the aircraft was interesting..

Not my favorite Foliett

The story was pretty outlandish, with unbelievable characters. The best thing was the narrator's voices, but his straight reading was tiresome

Really poor narration

I have enjoyed Ken Follett novels in the past, but the narration of this audiobook was so poor that the characters were completely unconvincing.

The flying boat.

It was exciting and entertaining throughout. Follet's research was thorough except the fuel mismanagement was a little hard to accept for a seasoned aviator. Very enjoyable book.

Not Follett's best work.

The story was a bit flimsy and the female characters were not very genuine. Too much unnecessary sex, too. Didn't add to the plot at all. The narration was stiff and the stereotypical Brooklyn mobster voices were just dumb.