Book info

• Title Hornet Flight
• Author Ken Follett
• Year 2002
• Genre Historical

Europe in Darkness. 1941. The Nazis have Denmark in their vice-like grip, their malign presence corroding everything its inhabitants hold dear. Even the police betray their countrymen and work with the Gestapo to hunt down spies. A Glimmer of Hope. In this hostile climate the Danish resistance discover a secret that could change the course of the war – proof of an advanced German radar installation that is causing catastrophic losses to Allied planes bringing the fight to Germany. A Dangerous Mission. The resistance must get the information to the British and will have only one chance, using a near-derelict Hornet Moth bi-plane mouldering away in a church. If they succeed the balance of the war will be tipped in the Allies’ favour but failure will see them killed...

Thoughts

The third and final book in a collection of three Ken Follett war time spy thrillers focused on another allied country - this time, Denmark. With Germans occupying the Danish territory, a fledgling resistance network takes shape, and this story follows the boy who tries to save the day, and the policeman trying to stop him.

Unlike in the last book, the bad guy is clearly a bad guy. He’s mean and spiteful, proud and in search of power, and that means you’re clearly rooting for the Danes to get their plan together. As always, the characters are well drawn, although I found some of the dialogue a bit stilted at times - and these weren’t all stiff-upper-lipped Brits either!

But overall, it’s a fun read, a spy thriller that isn’t too entrenched in the spy game, as most of the people participating are new or got involved accidentally.

Rating: 3 / 5