Ken Follett and the intrigue of World War II—“a winning formula” (Entertainment Weekly) if ever there was one. With his riveting prose and unerring instinct for suspense, the #1 New York Times bestselling author takes to the skies over Europe during the early days of the war in a most extraordinary novel. . . . It is June 1941, and the war is not going well for England. Somehow, the Germans are … England. Somehow, the Germans are anticipating the RAF’s flight paths and shooting down British bombers with impunity. Meanwhile, across the North Sea, eighteen-year-old Harald Olufsen takes a shortcut on the German-occupied Danish island of Sande and discovers an astonishing sight. He doesn’t know what it is, but he knows he must tell someone. And when he learns the truth, it will fall upon him to deliver word to England—except that he has no way to get there. He has only an old derelict Hornet Moth biplane rusting away in a ruined church—a plane so decrepit that it is unlikely to ever get off the ground . . . even if Harald knew how to fly it.
Look out for Ken’s newest book, A Column of Fire, available now.
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Enjoyable
Was on of many WW2 stories time I can remember but young without details living thru it….have read all of the authors book that I know of and like them.
I throughly enjoyed this book. It definitely held my interest to the very end.
Another entertaining Ken Follett novel with engaging characters, drama, action and lotsa detail about a peat-burning motorcycle and wood and canvas airplanes!
Very different look at WWII and very thrilling. Loved the characters. Fillet is always good.
Good historical fiction.
Dovetails nicely with previous novel about resistance movement during WWII. Enjoyable read.
Loved it couldn’t put it down
Another Follett must-read and again particularly if you have any interest in WW2 history. KF seems to have lock on realistic presentation and this is one of his best.
Invisible demon Messerschmitts…
…impossible to evade.
A dazed Allied airforce…
…on its last legs.
By what dark magic is the enemy Luftwaffe ripping English bombers from the night and winning the day?
When Harald Olufsen takes a shortcut across a German-occupied Danish island, he discovers a strange secret that the German’s would die to keep and that the English would kill to know.
With the resistance in tatters, enemy soldiers all around, and the North Sea barring his escape, how will Harald get this desperately needed knowledge to the Allies in Great Britain?
Ships are too risky and the only plane available to him is an old Hornet Moth biplane held together by canvas and rust. Even if the rotting plane could fly, Harald cannot…
Get it now
One of my all time favourites.
Listened to the audio book. I thought it was a little slow in the beginning. Got better as it went on.
Great read historical
Fantastic Storyteller, enjoyed ever page
In 1941 British bombers are being shot down at an alarming rate by the Germans. Is it espionage, poor air tactics, or new radar technology? Just read master storyteller Follett’s prologue to see how to set up a suspense story. Then the tale moves swiftly, as early on Harald, an eighteen-year-old schoolboy, stumbles onto a hidden Nazi radar installation on an island off the coast of Denmark and then a moth-balled small Hornet aircraft. It is obvious Harald will figure out a way to fly his secret to the Allies, but oh what a ride with characters and sub-plots zinging in every direction. Bring this book on a long flight and you’ll find yourself turning pages until you land, but don’t expect the literary depth of other titles on this list.
Was this review helpful? I am an avid world war based fiction reader and author. You can read more of my takes at https://brodiecurtis.com/curtis-takes/.
Thanks for another great read
More of the amazing Ken Follett. Great read.
Loved this book based on a true story of WWII heroism.
Read this years ago. Classic Follett with strong characters and plot.
A little predictable but Hornet Flight is still an entertaining adventure. With Follett’s usual skill, he blends story lines and characters together smoothly with plenty of obstacles for the heroes to overcome at every turn. Overall, it’s a satisfying World War II game of cat and mouse that highlights a little known aspect of the resistance to Nazi rule.