New Height Books

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Excellent spy thriller

Posted by JimA1957 on October 17th, 2008

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING MAY CONTAIN PLOT SPOILERS.

Ken Follett's EYE OF THE NEEDLE is an exellent spy thriller with an erotic element. More importantly, it displays the heroism of an individual when faced with a conflict of values.
Set shortly before the D-Day Invasion of the Second World War, EYE OF THE NEEDLE tells the story of a German spy, once educated in England and now based there under the alias "Faber", but whose German code name is "the Needle" because of his quick use of a stilleto whenever anyone gets in his way. The book is also about a young newlywed named Lucy, whose husband, having lost his legs in a car accident and therefore his commission in the RAF, has developed a complex about not being a "real man" and therefore refuses to make love to his new wife. They live on an island in the North Sea with their little son, the only other occupant of the island being an old shepherd ten miles away on the other end.
These two individuals, the "Needle" and Lucy, do not meet until about two-thirds of the way through the book. What brings them together is when the Needle, carrying photographic evidence--which must be delivered to the Fuhrer personally--that the expected invasion of occupied France will not take place at Calais but rather at Normandy, ends up shipwrecked on Lucy's island during a storm while on the way to meet a U-Boat that is to take him back to Germany.
Lucy offers the Needle shelter in her home, and soon finds herself desiring him, and possibly falling in love with him. The Needle begins having the same feelings about Lucy. (I won't say anymore!)
The book also has excellent detail in it, all the historical and geographical facts moving the story forward.
EYE OF THE NEEDLE is definitely worth your time and money.