Book info

• Title The Key to Rebecca
• Author Ken Follett
• Year 1980
• Genre Thriller

A Ruthless Spy. 1942. Alex Wolff’s goal is Cairo. Following a relentless trek across the scorching Sahara, he arrives in the city with a copy of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, a lethal blade and a trail of bodies in his wake. Known to his handlers as the ‘Sphinx’, Wolff is a Nazi spy with a brutal desire to succeed. A Failing Campaign. The British campaign in North Africa hangs in the balance. Led by Rommel, the Germans are closing in and the Sphinx’s reports on British troop movements and strategic plans are giving them the edge. Intelligence officer Major William Vandam is tasked with hunting down the Sphinx before the British are defeated. A Deadly Chase. Vandam enlists the help of courtesan Elene Fontana, who agrees to try and ensnare the spy in exchange for a better life in Palestine. Can they catch the master spy before he uncovers Cairo’s secrets and the campaign fails?

Thoughts

Another Ken Follett spy thriller that is up to his usual excellent standard, with great characters and a story that twists and turns to a satisfying conclusion. You can tell it’s some of his early work but it still stands the test of time.

It’s an interesting work really, because it starts out from the point of view of the antagonist, and it’s quite a long time before you really see that he’s a bad guy rather than someone just working for the country they are loyal to. He doesn’t seem all that different to someone like James Bond, so it is almost hard to totally root against him - until he starts acting badly, that is.

I liked the cryptography sections, and almost wish there was more of that. Codebreaking is incredibly interesting although I suppose it would break the flow of the thriller somewhat. Good work, anyway.

Rating: 3 / 5