Book info

• Title Night Over Water
• Author Ken Follett
• Year 1991
• Genre Thriller

The Eve of War. Britain has just declared war against Nazi Germany. In Southampton, the world’s most luxurious airliner, the Pan American Clipper, takes off on its final flight to neutral New York – a haven for those fleeing the conflict. A Disparate Group Flees. The passengers aboard the plane each have their own reasons for leaving Britain. Amongst them are an English aristocrat fleeing with his family and a fortune in jewels; a German scientist running away from the Nazis; a murderer returning under FBI escort; a wife escaping her controlling husband; and a devious thief determined to keep his spoils. A Journey into Danger. Trapped on the plane, with only their fellow passengers for company, their journey over the Atlantic becomes increasingly fraught. Especially when it becomes apparent a plot is unfolding that may endanger all of their lives...

Thoughts

Another Ken Follett classic, I really enjoyed this one. Telling the tale of the one final flight of the Boeing Clipper, crossing the Atlantic from Southampton to New York in various stages and getting more and more dramatic as each stint unfolds.

Firstly you are introduced to all the various characters, and as always it doesn’t feel like they could possibly have anything to do with each other. But once onboard the plane and as a dastardly plot starts to unfold, they intertwine in fascinating and unexpected ways. Some of the characters were a bit irritating, and some of the dialogue and their inner-thoughts a bit too stilted, but that’s probably to do with the time period more than anything.

I loved following the story of this one, wondering what’s going to happen next and more importantly, how on earth they were going to defeat the bad guys. Top stuff.

Rating: 4 / 5