Hornet Flight

Another good World War II spy thriller from Follett. This time around, the story centers on a young Danish student's efforts to help England discover how the Germans are able to shoot down so many British bombers.

Thematically, Follett explores the difference between a life (and a society) run according to duty, rules, and order---whether it's a Danish police detective cooperating with the occupying Nazis, or an evangelical minister destroying his son's dreams for one youthful "sin"---and one of principle, liberty, and the individual pursuit of happiness---from listening to jazz music and riding a converted steam-powered motorcycle to get around wartime petrol rationing, to pursuing the deeper values of career, politics, and romance. Interesting and inspiring.

And as usual, John Lee's narration of this audio edition is highly enjoyable.

In 1941, Winston Churchill is very worried that his country may lose the war especially when England intelligence intercepts a memo that indicates that Germany may have developed and refined a better system of radar than the one that the allies uses. They need to find this system and have someone send pictures to them so they know what they are up against. Hermia Mount, an agent who works for M-16, mounts a daring mission and discovers that the radar installation is located on the small Danish island Sandee.
Hermia secretly travels into Denmark and meets with her fiancé Arnie Olufsen, whose family lives on Sandee. He agrees to obtain the pictures of the radar installation and give them to her but his younger brother, Harald who has already been inside the edifice persuades him to led him undertake the mission. When a tragedy befalls Arnie, it is up to Harald and his beautiful compatriot Karen who must deliver the pictures to the English.
HORNET FLIGHT is chock full of action, suspense and seat of your pants adventure. Readers will see that though Denmark surrendered twenty-four hours after Nazi Germany invaded, her people became the backbone for a strong underground resistance movement. Though coincidence facilitated the beginning of the strong plot, World War II buffs will want a sequel because the secondary characters deserve to have their story told. Ken Follet proves once again that he is the master of intrigue.
Harriet Klausner

Hornet Flight is another great book by English author Ken Follett. Set in Denmark in WWII, a young boy named Harold must find away to get some secrets back to England after all other means have failed. He is pursued by the policeman Peter Fleming, a childhood friend of Harold's brother who now hates Harold's family.
I listened to this book on Audio-Tape and found it very interesting and well-read.
I have several observations about this book.
Hornet Flight is different than most WWII novels in that it focuses a lot more on characters and their lives as opposed to actual events of World War II. In this way, it is like other Follett books where all characters are done well yet so many characters are the same from book to book. Still this isn't a fault, because I enjoy Follett's books from beginning to end because of the quality characterization (as oppossed to some books where the entire book is read to get to the payoff at the end.)
Peter Fleming, the bad guy in the book, has some human qualities at first, especially as he cares for his handicapped wife. Fleming's anger over what happened to his wife turns him into a hateful person focused only on stopping Harold. Peter and his partner Tilde never seem that bad because they appear to be doing what the police would have to do in a country run by Nazis. They are just doing their duty.
I recommend this book to anyone looking for a strong character based, action novel. If you are turned off by the swastika on the cover, don't be, because while this book is set in WWII, its quality is not dependent upon that fact.

Ken Follett came through for me again in this book. He is not Melville, not Chaucer, and not Steinbeck, but he does churn out good books that serve well to relieve the boredom of an in-flight movie or another bag of peanuts.
The one item that I didn't enjoy about this book from the perspective of plot was the fact that nothing works out for the protagonist and his cronies until the very end. Contrived as it may seem, you know when you pick up the book and read the jacket that he is going to make it and deliver the secrets just in the nick of time. The problem with this is that when you get a third of the way into it, and he seems about to deliver the secrets, you know that it won't work. The same thing happens at least 3 more times in this book, each time saw me checking how many pages I had left and then looking back at the title and realizing that unless he is getting into the Hornet...he isn't going to make it this time either.
Beyond that, if you are standing at the bookstore at LAX at 8:30 in the morning in the face of a 5 hour flight, you can't go wrong with Ken Follett.

I listened to the Audible version of this, the reader did a much better job than many I have heard, though I can't speak for Danes about whether he sounded like an authentic Dane speaking English. The language choice is interesting, do you have an accent when you are speaking your own foreign language in a book.

The good guys aren't perfect and the bad guys aren't stupid. The characters are real, imperfect but not unrealistically foolish, they make some mistakes but overall they do well.

The technicalities don't all really work out 100% in the real world, but they don't really interfere with the story for any but the occasional person who really knows the details of the technology. Even then some are arguable.

Well worth a read or a listen, but not in the top class of stories I couldn't put down, so just the four stars.

The nice thing (if you can call it that) about World War Two in Europe was that the bad guys were so thoroughly bad. Ken Follet is a master of World War Two thrillers. In this tale, the Germans are shooting down British night bombers so readily that it threatens the survival of the British war effort. British intelligence deduces that the Germans have a new way to track British bombers, but they have not been able to identify it. It falls to Harald Olufsen, an eighteen year-old physics student in German-occupied Denmark to stumble across a secret, German installation near his home that looks like a collection of bed springs. He deduces that it is a new sort of antenna system and tells his older brother, Arne, about it. Harald doesn't know that Arne gathers information for the British. Arne suspects that the Germans and Danish police are after him, so he reluctantly asks Harald to slip into the German installation and photograph the antennas. As the Germans learn of the photos and close off all escape routes, it seems impossible to get them to England. The only possiblity is a damaged Hornet Moth biplane belonging to the family of his friend, Karen. As the Germans and Danish police close in, Harald works frantically to get it to fly. The suspense is great throughout the story, the characters are believable, and the plot twists to overcome repeated barriers all make sense. This is another outstanding book by Ken Follet.

Ken Follett has been writing historical espionage novels, mostly set during World War II, for two decades now, and he knows the genre very well. The current novel involves a historical fact (that German air defense radar was very precise, but their system was set up to only deal with one attacking plane at a time) and builds around it the story of Harald, a young Danish boy who discovers the workings of the radar system, but has no way to communicate his knowledge to the English so they can exploit it. The story is told with Follett's usual cast of characters, each of whom is well-drawn and interesting, and also usually three-dimensional. In this particular story, Harald's family had a quarrel some years before with a neighboring family, and the quarrel spins out of control and affects everyone as part of the spy subplot.

I enjoyed this book a great deal. It's not high literature, and there's no real suspense in it, to be honest. It is, however, good entertainment, and certainly worth taking to the beach or on a plane.

The book is very well written - the prose flow smoothly, characters and their surroundings are described in rich detail. The story takes place in Denmark during WWII and revolves around the discovery of a German radar installation that is reeking havoc on the British bomber fleet. The British want to know more about the installation and task members of the Danish resistance with the intelligence gathering mission. Of course this intelligence gathering mission doesn't go smoothly as they are being pursued by the Danish police and Germans. The story moves quickly and Follet does an excellent job of building suspense. However, the story contained many coincidences that detracted from its believability. In summary, this is not one of Follet's best novels but it was certainly an enjoyable read.

This was my first Follet book, and I was somewhat excited to get my hands on it. I had heard of Ken Follet's books, and they seemed to enjoy a wide following.

In "Hornet Flight", the setting in WW2 Denmark, the characters are well developed and the descriptions are well balanced between the detail and pace. Follet also keeps a reasonable level of tension thoughout the book.

And then you reach the middle to the end. What would have been a difficult book even for someone of Follet's skills turns to unadulterated tragedy. The ending is predictable and a disaster, a thorough disappointment after a reasonably good build-up. It seemed shallow and without any real thought or climax. The delay of the flight, (this is after the two main characters slaved and scraped to repair the plane right under the Germans' noses), because of a dance performance was ...well....bad.

Despite Follet's obvious skills as a writer, this book can't be among his best work. I would not reccommend it at all.

Have you ever dug into the pockets of an old coat and found a wadded five dollar bill? Imagine the secret delight, the sense of discovery, the feeling of regaining something you'd totally forgotten about.
"Hornet Flight" is that sort of delight. I was an early Follett fan, devouring "The Eye of the Needle," "The Key to Rebecca," and "The Man from St. Petersburg." His strengths--his characters, his detailed research, his pacing--kept me coming back for more. Then, as Follett branched into other areas of fiction, my interest wavered.
The WWII theme of this latest book brought me back, and I discovered that forgotten "five dollar bill." The story revolves around young Harald Olafsun, a Danish man faced with the occupation of the Nazis and the bland apathy of many of his countrymen. When he realizes that the Nazis have a new technology that gives them the edge in air-battles, when he finds himself entangled in a budding resistance movement, he uncovers his own courage and the surprising resilence of his fellow people...and the treachery of some of her trusted authorities. Soon, Harald and an attractive Danish upperclass girl come to the realization that they alone have the ability to get invaluable info to the British by way of a dangerous flight in a dilapidated Hornet Moth.
"Hornet Flight" is not the most valuable thriller I've ever found, not the slickest or most modern, but it's a nice surprise all the same. Follett's old skills are evident--characters we can believe, well-balanced pacing, and the details to make wartime Denmark seem touchable. I'm sure glad I dug into these old pockets. You just never know what you might find.

Ken Follett can usually be depended upon to deliver a story full of action, adventure and suspense, and his latest is no exception. Once again we are back in the dark days of WWII when the Nazis are at the height of their conquest of Western Europe. In this tale, the location is Denmark, a place not usually the subject of wartime espionage tales. We are given the story of how the Allies were able to overcome the German advantage in early radar, and it is told with all of the old skill of this famous author. We have the intrepid hero, the conflicted Nazi-leaning policeman, the spunky female love interest, and the regular host of supporting characters that we have all come to know and love from Mr. Follett's books. It's formula writing, but it's formula writing at its best, and the reader keeps turning the poages from beginning to end. That's all one can require from a book of this type, and the author delivers. It's great escapist entertainment, and I recommend it.

Ken Follett entered the world of the resistance in his last novel, Jackdaws, (which I reviewed favorably last year). In that novel, the adventure occurred in occupied France and involved trained professionals with a very specific assignment.
Hornet Flight is equally satisfying but of a totally different and, in some ways, much more complex fabric. The scene is occupied Denmark. The primary viewpoint is from a high school student who is slowly drawn into the Nazi resistance without training or coordination by superiors. The novel unfolds as part mystery, part adventure, part war story and, charmingly, part a coming-of-age story of a young man and woman who find each other.
This book also contains a haunting pattern of family feuds, a policeman gone sour because his family has been publicly humiliated and who sees a chance to use his authority to get even, and young people who want to get on with their lives but find the war overwhelming and forcing them into dangerous (and fatal in at least two cases) contact with a larger and more vicious world.
Follett ably presents the crisis Churchill faced with the improvement in German anti-bomber defenses at the very moment of the Soviet Union invasion, creating an opportunity for Britain to have a new ally. The British were in a life and death struggle, the Danes had been defeated but still retained flashes of resistance, and the Nazis were at the peak of their self-assurance and arrogance.
This is a very nice novel, worth reading as a well-told story and as a reminder that at key crises, the actions of individuals and the courage of a few really do matter.

Harald Olufsen, a student in occupied Denmark, stumbles upon a secret German radar station. Unless he relays this discovery to England, huge RAF loses will continue and British and Russian war efforts may crumble. With the help of his heroic brother, a new love and a British agent, Harald needs to dodge some determined pursuers and navigate a 600-mile trek across the cold North Sea to gain his freedom and to help the war effort. Ken Follett delivers a realistic and engaging tale in "Hornet Flight".
Follett is no stranger to World War II yarns, but he approaches this thriller with a new and refreshing perspective. Rather than painting the Germans as rabid Nazis, he portrays them only as menacing background. The real villain is a Danish detective with a very complex personality, determined to break the spy ring and extract personal vengeance from Harald and his family. The hero is imperfect, yielding a clever idea one moment and staggering into a pitfall the next. This heightens the realism and suspense. In fact, Follett downplays his normal gunplay, using the space to develop a very rich ensemble of characters woven into an intriguing and rewarding story.
"Hornet Flight" neither begins nor ends with explosions. The reader ends up enjoying the journey as much as the destination.

This was one of the best audiobooks I've ever purchased. The story line was excellent and nicely paced. The listener cannot help but experience the fear and tension of an ever-present and paranoid enemy presence. The narrator was also very good.

Although I only gave this title 3 stars, I would have liked to give it 3.5 or even 3.75. Follett's prose is always clean and tight, with no additives. While I thought Hornet Flight not as good as Follett's best work (eye of the Needle, Key to Rebecca), I would not call it disappointing. There were one or two scenes that rank with his best, and stay with the reader after the book is done. It just lacked the single- minded focus and action of his best stuff. There were a few historical appearances, and side plots and romances, that diffused the main conflict in the story, which was a contest between a Danish policeman (who works hand-in-hand with the occupying Nazi's during WWII, and a Danish student and resistance fighter, Harald Olufsen. What made me keep turning pages in this novel was the interesting way the author handled the villain, Peter Flemming. He is given much depth by Follett, and he is not just a paper cut out bad guy. He has a strong sense of duty, he is very smart, and he has risen through the ranks by ability rather that birth. The personal life the author gives this character is very detailed, and had me at times sympathizing with him. In fact, Follett does a better job in describing Peter Flemming than he does characterizing the hero, Harald. Harald at times seems a bit wooden, simply brave and noble at all times.

Many of the criticisms leveled at this book by other reviewers are certainly valid, particularly the contrived manner in which Follett moves his characters about. As readers, we know we are being manipulated by the writer... but the writer should at least have the decency to conceal the fact. If this were a movie, you could see the wires and mirrors.

I liked the gadgetry -- a steam-powered Nimbus, for instance. I also appreciated that the callow teenage characters acted, well, callow. Ever read a book where the teenagers act and talk like super-suave, hyper-cosmopolitan thirty-five year olds? Whether by chance or design, Follett avoids this error. Unfortunately, that bit of realism is just too realistic for some readers.

I also appreciated the fact that the characters are fallible. The too-perfect protagonist has always annoyed me. Well, Follett's characters make mistakes in this book (read: LOTS of mistakes). That is life, especially as a teenager, even a teenage genius. And let us not forget that in real life at least one spy was caught because he was hit by a car while jay-walking. Even spies can be amateurish, and relatively new resistance movements can expect such disasters.

So, I liked it enough to keep it on the shelf for future re-reading, but I would recommend purchasing the book used (as I did), or checking it out at the library. Key to Rebecca was greatly superior.

I haven' read a Follett novel since Eye of the Needle which I thought was one of the best spy/suspense novels written during the 20th century. When I picked up Hornet Flight I knew I was going to be told a story that I would not forget. Well, Hornet Flight is good, I mean good....but it is not up to Eye of the Needle.
The story revolves around Harald Olufsen an eighteen year old Dane and information he holds regarding a secret German installation that allows the Nazis to shoot down at will the British long-range bombers before they can reach their objectives. The story is fast paced and full of very believable characters. One of the things I like about Follett's stories is that if you're a villain, then you are completely nasty. No grays here.
You'll enjoy the book even though it is contrived and predictable in places. You can forgive this because there are twists and turns that keep you from becoming too bored. If you've liked other Follett novels you're probably going to enjoy this one.

Although this book was entertaining, it lacked the page turning apeal of Follet's older works. Having read most of his books, this was a disappointment to me. The characters were not all that compelling, the storyline simplified one of the most complex times in World history, and the hero and heroine were a bit unbelievable.
I would suggest picking up any of Follett's earlier works before this one. Particularly On Wings of Eagles, Pillars of the Earth, Night Over Water, or A Dangerous Fortune. Those books had me turning the pages in a frenzy to find out what would happen next.
Hornet's Flight left me wanting -- wanting to know what happened to certain characters, while all the same not really caring much about any of them. It left me emotionless over a time period that was wrought with emotion and fear. I was glad to have finished this book -- albeit an entertaining read. But one that made me wonder when Follett will come out with a book that lives up to the standard he set for himself.

In typical Follett fashion, Hornet Flight is a very fast-paced, exciting thriller that will keep you glued to your seat. If you're a 'Follett reader' you'll see that his latest book highlights a common theme in this author's WWII novels that lends them particular emotional resonance -- how, beyond the mass movements of armies, it is often the heroic actions of individuals that influences the direction of war. Moreover, these heroic actions are often initiated by women. Hornet's Flight is filled with interesting and credible characters as well as with many twists and turns (although several of them are somewhat predictable, which kep me from rating it five stars). Hornet Flight, which follows the very exciting Jackdaws, restores Follett to the top of his game as a writer of spy inrigue and WWII suspense. I would highly recommend Hornet Nest. Enjoy!

Hornet Flight, continuing in the strong tradition of Jackdaws, is a compelling story set in WWII. The story is set in the UK and Denmark in the early part of the war. Denmark has been occupied by the Germans and the citizens are unsure how to at and react. A nascent resistance is at the center of the story, with the Allies desperate to determine how the Nazis are shooting down so many planes. A sense of urgency is increased at the Germans begin their run into Russia. The British must improve their air effort to string out the war and extend the Germans. Hornet Flight is an impressive, fast-paced tale of espionage, full of intrigue, twists, turns and surprises that are classic Follet. The reader is presented with interesting cast of characters that you will come to love and hate. Once you start reading, it will be difficult to stop.

D.S. Buckland, literary critic,
This is a thrilling page-turner that will have you drinking plenty of coffee and reading way into the night, biting your nails, wanting ever so impatiently to know the events of the next chapter. The story is set in Nazi-occupied Denmark and is a behind the scene look at those who both make and live under history. He writes about the common person, who is more often than not excluded by so-called books of learning, textbooks. All in all the strength of this book lies in its incredibly realistic characters, characters who undoubtably draw you into the hell that was Nazi-occupied Denmark. I've always enjoyed Ken Follet's art, and find this work measures up to the rest.No doubt, a triumph. Now if you're looking for a few other titles that will keep you wide-eyed into the night, look no further than these, Buckland's Hot List: most creative, The Butterfly: A Fable (Singh); most engaging, The Alchemist (Coelho); most interesting, Life of Pi (Martel); most enlightening, 9-11 (Chomsky); most thrilling, The Lovely Bones: A Novel (Sebold); and finally, the most creative, engaging, interesting, enlightening and thrilling book of all, The Little Prince (Saint-Exupery). These are the books I'd recommend to my family, friends, students, and wife. There are many more, trust me, but these are the first that come to mind (for having left an impact slight or proud as it may be). Thanks for reading my brief but hopefully helpful review. Happy reading. Donald S. Buckland.

By Ken Follet standards this one is a big let down. And specifically so because he is playing in his home territory - writing about World War II.
Whereas, it is eminently readable as any Ken Follet work generally is, the plot is way too predictable. One can almosty always preview the results of Peter Flemming's investigations, of Hermia's exploits as also of the methods of spying of the two brothers.
Dialogues which should be filled with tension and drama often seem very low key and hurried, eg. when Arnie hands over the entire photography operation to his brother; or when Karen decides to fly the plane. The logical train of thought that Peter Flemming and Tilde Jespersen follow to track the Resistance movement seem too contrived. The ending is a bit rushed. We never get to know what happens to Tilde after Hermia strikes her while the Hornet Moth is taking off. The way an eighteen year old Danish Schoolboy frames the flight formation for the British planes is also pretty childishly handled. The end is too much like a schoolboy romance than a realistic thriller we have come to expect from Ken Follet.

An aspect of World War II that I was unfamiliar with. Well researched as his books always are, with fascinating characters who come to life in the pages. A masterful storyteller who always provides thoughtful entertainment.

Follett is good, even when he's bad. I found too many contrivances to make this more than a formula plot for a rather ordinary B movie. Peter Fleming had a grudge against the Olufsons, but I would have believed it more readily if he had been motivated simply because he was a policeman and he was doing his duty. His handicapped wife was a cheap trick to get reader sympathy, and his treatment of her was abominable. He also didn't treat his cohort very nicely, either. I didn't mind the technical jargon pertaining to the plane, but found it beyond credibility that those two kids could actually fly that thing. The ballet was there only to allow the girl to get a sprained ankle; the Nazis were portrayed as being stupid and careless. This is a potboiler, but I still enjoyed most of the first 90%.

In the past I've enjoyed Follet's earlier thrillers, such as Eye of the Needle and The Key to Rebecca, and I certainly like WWII spy tales, but this newest one is pretty paint-by-the-numbers. Set in occupied Denmark in June 1941, at the height of Nazi power, the story is about a spy ring desperately trying to figure out the German's new secret weapon-radar. At the center of the story is Harald, a whiz-kid teenager with a mechanical bent who stumbles into the resistance and his Jewish ballerina girlfriend helper. Also entangled in the story are the Harald's brother (in Danish Air Force), his brother's fiancee (who runs the Danish Desk at MI6), the boy's stern preacher father, various schoolmates, the girl's wealthy parents, and a Danish policeman who has a vendetta against Harald's family, and his female partner.
Apparently partly based on real event (it would have been nice to have an afterword which explained this in detail), the book is loaded with coincidences which strain credulity. The characters' relationships all dovetail far too neatly. The action moves swiftly and everything is well-paced, but it's rather like an old fashioned "Boy's Own" adventure, or perhaps a Hardy Boys or something, with some really terrible dialogue and scenes where the teen heroes get to meet Winston Churchill and the Danish King. I suppose it'll serve the purpose if you're desperate for a WWII thriller for airplane or beach, but Follett's written much better books, and if you're looking for the real deal in WWII espionage fiction, try anything by Alan Furst. And if you're looking for good histories about the Danish resistance to Nazi occupation, check out Darkness Over Denmark, and In Denmark It Could Not Happen.

Ken Follett's "Hornet Flight" is a fast paced page burner set at the start of WWII. With locales in Denmark and Great Britain, it blends fact and fiction. Mr. Follett is at his best when the setting is WWII.
The plot shows how the heroic action of a few individuals behind the lines can alter the outcome of war. The Nazis are still the ultimate bad guys in fact and fiction and it is always fun to see them outwitted.
The characters are quite strong, believable and they really come alive.
There are enough twists and turns to make you wonder if the protagonists will triumph---as these Nazis are not portrayed as buffoons---they are worthy adversaries.
While there are some predicable resolutions, overall it is a fascinating, irresistible read filled with plenty of tension.

This review is for the unabridged audio version of this book. It's always hard to tell when you've listened with the pleasure of great visual imagery as a wonderful narrator relates a tale how it would play in print. I don't suppose I'll ever know, but I do know it was a helluva good story as related by a gifted reader who does just enough voice change to captivate without annoying. Full of true-to-life courage and emotions with a certain neatness of plot line that does not always ring true with reality. But that is, after all, what a good novel does--resonates with the human spirit if not with the way that actual life unfolds.

All of Euroope has fallen to the Nazi Jackboots, and England stands alone, bracing the for the inevitable. The Nazis have developed a secret weapon tha pinpoints their bombers and vectors fighter aircraft on thier flight paths. Unless something changes soon, the RAF will cease to be a viable military force.
Against this backdrop, Ken Follett takes us to occupied Denmark and fledgling resistance movement called the Nightwatchmen. Their movements are tracked by the Gestapo and their willing accomplices in the National Police. But Denmark is also the site of one of Germany's new RADAR sites and the knowledge a Danish schoolboy is vital to England's war effort.
Besides being a great story, Follett goes back to where he started. The characters are rich, and I immediately took a dislike to Peter Flemming (one of Follett's best villians). You find yourself cheering and crying as a desperate flight to freedom in Hornet Moth bi-plane crosses the North Sea.
A must read!

Hornet Flight has a lot going for that makes for a potent story:, courage and sacrafice, love and hate, loyalty and revenge, human ingenuity, a cerebral teen becomes a hero and gets the girl, World War II espionage, beautiful and spirited women, faustian choices, portraits of life in occupied Denmark, a small education on radar and night fighters, and nasty Nazis and collaborators. Follett builds a compelling plot worthy of a World War II epic such as Where Eagles Dare or Heroes of Telemark, but then seems to be in a hurry wrap things causing the aftertaste of Hornet Flight's ending sequence to be like cotton candy. This is far from a bad book and I will recommend it to my teenage son for vacation reading. However, Hornet Flight is light fare that is good book for a plane or beach, but one that will leave one's consciousness shortly after completion.

This was dull throughout, with the only excitement at all coming at the very end, and even that was very easy to anticipate, and hardly novel. The premise was weak, the plot illogical, and the characters mostly uninteresting. The abrupt character change in Peter Fleming seems to have been designed to ensure that the reader not sympathize with anyone who cooperated at all with the occupying powers; earlier, Fleming had seemed a loyal and charming police officer with a strong sense of duty. I had hoped the book might go beyond the usual stereotypes and examine questions such as whether those British bomber pilots whose lives the hero wanted to save were doing the right thing in fire-bombing German cities. Incinerating women and children from the air might just possibly be viewed as evil, even if carried out by our British allies!

Hornet Flight is an interesting and entertaining Ken Follett spy thriller WWII tale. Several characters are well developed, leaving the reader sad or perhaps relieved when one or more predictably dies in the course of the war time novel.

The story is simple but believable and does not require the reader to completely ignore history to enjoy the book. The length of the paperback is 500 + pages and provides hours of escape to a time most readers are glad they never lived.

This book is definitely not Follet's most detailed or intense, but well worth reading if you enjoy war novels, spy thrillers with light romance.

3 ½ Stars

Note: I have not actually read the whole book. I am writing this review mainly to counter a couple of points which previous reviewers have made:
Martin V. Cusack (and/or Tom Arnold [it's the same review, down to the misspellings]) asks how many authors could get away with having a plane explode when a lit cigar is thrown at its fuselage. Probably not too many. Luckily, Follett does not try. In the scene in question, a lit cigar is thrown into an open cockpit which is soaked with gasoline. While Follett has his faults, I do not usually find plausibility to be one of them.
Robert Busko says that one of the things he likes about Follett's writing is that the villains are completely nasty -- no grays. To the contrary, Follett usually tries to give his victims at least some mitigating sparks of humanity, and this book is no exception.
As far as the book itself, as far as I read, I found it to be a decent read, but nowhere near some of the author's other work. As other reviewers have said, some coincidences seemed far-fetched, and I did not find the characters too compelling. If I would rate it now, I would give it a three. However, as I said, I did not read the ending.

I've been a fan of Mr. Follett's since the release of Eye of the Needle and I'm not disappointed with Hornet. As always, his research is impecable and he brings to life a period of history in a locale with which I was unfamiliar. He does it with aplomb.

I won't recap the story as this has already been done. I will, however, recommend the book for anyone who appreciates a good story that is laced with true-to-life characters with believable motivations. The conflict is inherent right from the start and the tension is maintained until the last page. I had so much fun with this novel that I've begun reading about the Hornet Moth, a very interesting plane in its own right.

Highly recommended!

Ken Follett is an accomplished author, and his talents really shine in this book. The characters are inspiring and real. This book is a good companion to Jackdaws. It is fun to read about the WWII heroics of teenagers--the main characters are very young. The settings are vividly drawn and the action is intense. This book is a perfect vacation read. I highly recommend visiting Ken-Follett.com. His Master Class on writing is a gold mine for writers and interesting for fans. Don't miss his lecture on the history of the thriller.

AS EXPECTED, KEN FOLLETT DELIVERED A BELIEVABLE TALE OF THAT ERA. INTERESTING THAT HE MADE THE NAZIS IN THE BOOK NOT QUITE THE TYPICAL "BAD GUYS " BUT LET A COUPLE OF THE FRINGE CHARACTERS APPEAR TO HAVE MORE ON THEIR MINDS THEN THE REICH. A LITTLE TOO MUCH DETAIL ABOUT THE PLANE, ITSELF, BUT THAT'S JUST MY OPINION...ALL IN ALL IT WAS ANOTHER HIT FOR FOLLETT - NOT ANOTHER "JACKDAWS" BUT WELL WORTH THE READ!

See book description above.
Written in the same vein as "Jackdaws", This World War 2 novel is also about some unlikely heroes.
Ken Follett can certainly tell a good story though his last couple novels are not his best. They have good depth and characters but the story is not as thrilling and involving as his older works. As everyone else seems to think, his earlier novels are much better. 'Pillars of the Earth' is one of my all time favorites. I'm not yet giving up on reading Follett but I certainly hope his next novel will be like his old novels.
Still Recommended for the Follett fan.

I love Ken Follett and his books, but sometimes they do not always hit and this is one of those. The book starts out really slow and it is hard to identify with the characters. As the stroy goes on, about 100 or more pages in, it finally picks up and gets better. But this is definately not one of his best works, and I would only recommend it if you like Ken Follett books and are willing to struggle through the first 100 pages. Overall you wont be disappointed, but you also wont be thrilled. Again if you like Follett's other work, you will need to read this, but if you didn't, you would not be missing much.

This recent work, by Ken Follet, continues the fine tradition of such books as Eye Of The Needle, Triple, The Key To Rebecca, and others. The action is full of suspense; there's some romance, but not enough to detract from the story. Mr. Jennings gives a first rate performance (sounding in places like Christopher Lee).
The "sound effects", e.g., an airplane engine turning over, explosions, etc., help to add realism to this reading. Great job Penguin Audio. I'd recommend this one highly (refers to audio) can't wait to get the paperback. I look forward to Mr. Follett's next book.

I am a great fan of Ken Follett and his many wonderful books. Unfortunately, Hornet Flight is not one of his better books. It is an ordinary and predictable spy vs. spy story set in World War II Denmark. The characters are one-dimensional people, with unlikely affiliations, and unlikely luck. They get into trouble because of their foolish decisions or bad luck. They rely too often on unlikely good luck to get them out of trouble. The story lacks the intensity, credibility, suspense, rich intrigue, and intricate interconnections between interesting people and events that make his books like Dangerous Fortune and The Pillars of the Earth so special.

Follett has written some really great books; "Eye of the Needle", "The Key to Rebecca", "Night Over Water"; that can be easily classed as a "beach read". How is a "beach read" different from an "airplane read" or a "little boy book"? Well, Tom Clancy does "little boy books" and Cormac McCarthy does "airplane reads". Follett's books - except for "The Pillars of the Earth" - are action books with an escapist bent that focuses the reader on learning about a key piece of the plot. In this book it is the Hornet Moth airplane powered by a Gypsy Moth engine - both made by de Haviland. The book's many twists and turns are accelerated by characters as diverse as sinister Nazi cops and strict Lutheran sect ministers along with a handful of bumbling Wehrmacht soldiers. Oh and do not forget the threat of the Gestapo always available to pull out a victims fingernails at the drop of a military secret.

As with all Follett's books, the good guys live in the end to not only escape but return to fight the Nazi's to the bitter end of the war.

Follett has written a number of wonderful books including Jackdaws. Hornet Flight like Jackdaws deals with penetration into occupied Europe, but unlike his past efforts the characters were not believable. Harald the hero and his girl friend Kathy are totally dependent on unreal coincidences to move the plot along. There were opportunities of character development especially with Kathy's and Harald's parents but instead they were made comic book, as a prior reviewer said, figures.
In short I would rather invest my time in reading some wonderful prior Follett's than this effort.

First let me say that I haven't read a Ken Follett book that I didn't like. And this was no exception. I thought the plot, the Danish resistance during WWII, was excellently drawn out and he definitely has a knack for making you able to envision places and people in your mind's eye. Harald is an entirely likeable character as are the rest of the characters in the book and Peter Fleming is someone you love to hate and you hope he gets his in the end.
In short, a very good WWII thriller that I couldn't put down. Thanks, Mr. Follett, for another good read!

Once again Ken Follett presents us with a captivating WWII narrative. Follett is talented at breathing life into his characters both Heros and Protaginsts. With ease this author draws readers into the midst of the action and his skill with words makes the story believeable. "Hornet Flight" presents us with a new front (Denmark) in the fight against Nazi takeover. As with other Follett best-sellers this book will keep you entertained, page after page, to the very end. Follett can always be depended on for a action-packed read.
Beverly J Scott author of "Righteous Revenge"...

This novel, set in early WWII(1941), is about the development of radar by the Nazis. It tells the story of how a handful of Danes (-part of a resistance/espionage movement) work in collaboration with the British war office to thwart the Nazi plan for European (and worldwide) air supremacy. Although I love Ken Follett's style and his previous books (Third twin etc.), I found this book to be a really long read. At over 500 pages, this needs a lot of free time!! Also, unlike his other novels which are usually 'unputdownable', this really needed frequent breaks because the plot is sometimes tedious. I have nearly lost interest a couple of times. (For the record, I love the WWII fiction genre!!) Nevertheless, it's a good read if you can stay with the story (and the 518 page whopper of a book!)

this is another great period peice by the master, Ken Follet. The book starts out on the slow side and there are alot of character to keep straight, but it keeps picking up and up and up with each chapter to the point where I couldn't read the pages fast enough!
The ending really left me wanting more. So far, this is my favorite of his WW2 military style books. Not quite as good as flight over water, a place called freedom, dangerous fortune or especially pillars, but it's definetly up there as one of my favorites.

This is a fun book to read. If you allow yourself, you'll be swept away by the plot. For me it was a fast read. It was addictive almost in the way a soap opera is. You want to find out what happens next, but don't expect much depth to the characters. Certainly their histories are given and their emotions are reported, but it has about as much reality to it as a read-back by a court reporter.
If you want a fun light easy adventure book, this is a good one. It's easy to get caught up in the plot but it's unlikely that you'll be sucked in to the point where the characters seem real to you; you'd have to suspend a lot more than your disbelief for that.

The book Hornet Flight takes place in Europe during World War ll. Harald Olufson, and 18 year old boy living in Denmark stumbles on a secret radio transmitter of the Nazi's with the ability to locate a enemy plane miles away. He then learns of the news of the British launching one of the largest air attacks of the war and realizes that with the new radio, all the bombers will be shot down. He decides he has to fly to Britain but has no way of getting there until he finds a Hornet Moth, a broken down plane in an old church. He then realizes he has to fly across the North Sea in order to tell the British the information or they will lose the war. On the way to Britain, he encounters many challenges including enemy fighters. I won't tell you the ending, but it kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I reccomend this book to all people who love action and learning a little about history at the same time. It is a great book, and the author describes each person and place with great detail. I feel that this book is one of the best war books I have read.

The story of an 18 year old youth who joins the Danish resistance movement and aids the British after he learns of how the Germans are utilizing radar to track and destroy British planes.
The "color by numbers" quality of the plot is not helped by the character's dialog which is, at times, almost laughable. Follet seems to be coasting on his reputation. How many authors could get away with having a plane explode when one of the characters on the ground throws a lit cigar at the fuselage?
The book is probaly good for an airplane ride but if you are looking for something a little meatier go back and reread Follet's Eye Of A Needle ot The Pillars Of The Earth.

I am a fan of this author and was a bit disappointed with the begining of this novel. It got bogged down in many things, but that may have been necessary for the development of the novel which was essentially an espionage tale. Once it got going it was more readable and enjoyable and I would encourage people who like this author to give it a try. Not a ringing recomendation, I know, but an honest evealuation.

Mr. Follett will always be counted on to produce a fine solid novel. I understand the main plot came from a factual incident and certainly is a solid idea for a novel. Intertwined with the German and Scandanavian officials mostly Nazi's at the time there is enough fluff around the plot to keep you highly interested. I do not read fiction to criticize the facts that may be missing but to accept and enjoy the idea of the story. I would highly recommend this book.

Ken Follett is my favorite author. I have read every single one of his books, bar none. Bar none, this was poorest book he has ever written. The settings, characters, and story line are classic -- you can pick almost everyone of them out of his previous WW II era novels. It has a lot of plot similarities to Eye of the Needle and Jackdaws.
However, the overall plot is extremely predictable. You can see just what is going to happen after reading the first 25%. The details however revolve time and time and time again on a whole series of coincidences which is very out of character for Follett. I liked most of his books because the story line follows a logical flow with interesting bobs and weaves stemming from an initial premise. This was more like a low budget movie where things happen by coincidences and characters survive by inches or seconds so many times it becomes unbelievable and ridiculous.
The climatic seen of the flight to England has to be the absolutely worst piece of writing ever by Follett. The events are ridiculous, the characters repeatedly make stupid errors, and the whole thing plays like a cheap B movie. For instance, are we to believe that the only character who knows how to fly the plane falls asleep during a night flight over water half an hour after almost being shot out of the sky -- and the inexperienced person that's awake lets her sleep? Or the king of them all, are we to believe the character waits till the airplane is within minutes of running out of gas before remembering to add the extra can of gas he has in the cockpit -- which he could have done 4 hours earlier? Or how about delaying a day the flight that will change the war and save thousands of lives so that the main character can go to the ballet? Or how about the German guard helping push the plane out for takeoff because he can't put two and two together? He must not be related to the other character that can throw a cigar into the cockpit of a small airplane at takeoff speed.
Come on Mr. Follett, you can do better. Your novels Eye of the Needle, Pillars of the Earth, Key to Rebecca, Night over Water, Hammer of Eden, and Dangerous Fortune were classics.

It's hard to believe Ken Follett could write a book this amateurish. It reads more like his first rather than his latest. The sentences are simple; basic statements are explained; the situations rather simplistic. The storyline is credible; the characters are not...much too naive. It's hard to believe this is the same author who wrote The Eye of the Needle; The Key to Rebecca; The Pillars of the Earth (which I loved) and many other really fine books.
If you must read it, check it out at the library and save your money for his next book. Hopefully, he'll return to his former style.

If you read this book like a thriller you will be disappointed, some parts are thrilling but not even half of the book, this is not a bad story but is not the best of Follett, nevertheless is a book that will get you a good time. This book is a story of the WWII but you will not know to much about that war in this book, but maybe, just maybe you will know how to flight a plane.

Totally entertaining. One page led to the next with excitement and/or adventure on all. I felt as if I were the lead character. The research done for this novel was was accurate and gave me insight into the Danish resistance during WW II. Would love to read a sequel to this book!

Ken Follett writes book that are pretty hard to put down and this is another winner. I have enjoyed his WWII books to the max. He has just the right mix of adventure and romance.... somthing for everyone. I love the fact that his books are such page turners as they progress through the story. Certainly one of my very favorite authors!

From page one I could not put this down. It is a very intricate and exciting book. It was rich in imagery and I felt like I was in Denmark during WWII. The characters are well developed, and I had sympathies for the lead characters routing them on. It is one of the best reads I had in a long while. I highly recommend it.

I love Ken Follett and his books, but sometimes they do not always hit and this is one of those. The book starts out really slow and it is hard to identify with the characters. As the stroy goes on, about 100 or more pages in, it finally picks up and gets better. But this is definately not one of his best works, and I would only recommend it if you like Ken Follett books and are willing to struggle through the first 100 pages. Overall you wont be disappointed, but you also wont be thrilled. Again if you like Follett's other work, you will need to read this, but if you didn't, you would not be missing much.

This recent work, by Ken Follet, continues the fine tradition of such books as Eye Of The Needle, Triple, The Key To Rebecca, and others. The action is full of suspense; there's some romance, but not enough to detract from the story. Mr. Jennings gives a first rate performance (sounding in places like Christopher Lee).
The "sound effects", e.g., an airplane engine turning over, explosions, etc., help to add realism to this reading. Great job Penguin Audio. I'd recommend this one highly (refers to audio) can't wait to get the paperback. I look forward to Mr. Follett's next book.

I am a great fan of Ken Follett and his many wonderful books. Unfortunately, Hornet Flight is not one of his better books. It is an ordinary and predictable spy vs. spy story set in World War II Denmark. The characters are one-dimensional people, with unlikely affiliations, and unlikely luck. They get into trouble because of their foolish decisions or bad luck. They rely too often on unlikely good luck to get them out of trouble. The story lacks the intensity, credibility, suspense, rich intrigue, and intricate interconnections between interesting people and events that make his books like Dangerous Fortune and The Pillars of the Earth so special.

Follett has written some really great books; "Eye of the Needle", "The Key to Rebecca", "Night Over Water"; that can be easily classed as a "beach read". How is a "beach read" different from an "airplane read" or a "little boy book"? Well, Tom Clancy does "little boy books" and Cormac McCarthy does "airplane reads". Follett's books - except for "The Pillars of the Earth" - are action books with an escapist bent that focuses the reader on learning about a key piece of the plot. In this book it is the Hornet Moth airplane powered by a Gypsy Moth engine - both made by de Haviland. The book's many twists and turns are accelerated by characters as diverse as sinister Nazi cops and strict Lutheran sect ministers along with a handful of bumbling Wehrmacht soldiers. Oh and do not forget the threat of the Gestapo always available to pull out a victims fingernails at the drop of a military secret.

As with all Follett's books, the good guys live in the end to not only escape but return to fight the Nazi's to the bitter end of the war.

Follett has written a number of wonderful books including Jackdaws. Hornet Flight like Jackdaws deals with penetration into occupied Europe, but unlike his past efforts the characters were not believable. Harald the hero and his girl friend Kathy are totally dependent on unreal coincidences to move the plot along. There were opportunities of character development especially with Kathy's and Harald's parents but instead they were made comic book, as a prior reviewer said, figures.
In short I would rather invest my time in reading some wonderful prior Follett's than this effort.

First let me say that I haven't read a Ken Follett book that I didn't like. And this was no exception. I thought the plot, the Danish resistance during WWII, was excellently drawn out and he definitely has a knack for making you able to envision places and people in your mind's eye. Harald is an entirely likeable character as are the rest of the characters in the book and Peter Fleming is someone you love to hate and you hope he gets his in the end.
In short, a very good WWII thriller that I couldn't put down. Thanks, Mr. Follett, for another good read!

Once again Ken Follett presents us with a captivating WWII narrative. Follett is talented at breathing life into his characters both Heros and Protaginsts. With ease this author draws readers into the midst of the action and his skill with words makes the story believeable. "Hornet Flight" presents us with a new front (Denmark) in the fight against Nazi takeover. As with other Follett best-sellers this book will keep you entertained, page after page, to the very end. Follett can always be depended on for a action-packed read.
Beverly J Scott author of "Righteous Revenge"...

This novel, set in early WWII(1941), is about the development of radar by the Nazis. It tells the story of how a handful of Danes (-part of a resistance/espionage movement) work in collaboration with the British war office to thwart the Nazi plan for European (and worldwide) air supremacy. Although I love Ken Follett's style and his previous books (Third twin etc.), I found this book to be a really long read. At over 500 pages, this needs a lot of free time!! Also, unlike his other novels which are usually 'unputdownable', this really needed frequent breaks because the plot is sometimes tedious. I have nearly lost interest a couple of times. (For the record, I love the WWII fiction genre!!) Nevertheless, it's a good read if you can stay with the story (and the 518 page whopper of a book!)

this is another great period peice by the master, Ken Follet. The book starts out on the slow side and there are alot of character to keep straight, but it keeps picking up and up and up with each chapter to the point where I couldn't read the pages fast enough!
The ending really left me wanting more. So far, this is my favorite of his WW2 military style books. Not quite as good as flight over water, a place called freedom, dangerous fortune or especially pillars, but it's definetly up there as one of my favorites.

This is a fun book to read. If you allow yourself, you'll be swept away by the plot. For me it was a fast read. It was addictive almost in the way a soap opera is. You want to find out what happens next, but don't expect much depth to the characters. Certainly their histories are given and their emotions are reported, but it has about as much reality to it as a read-back by a court reporter.
If you want a fun light easy adventure book, this is a good one. It's easy to get caught up in the plot but it's unlikely that you'll be sucked in to the point where the characters seem real to you; you'd have to suspend a lot more than your disbelief for that.

The book Hornet Flight takes place in Europe during World War ll. Harald Olufson, and 18 year old boy living in Denmark stumbles on a secret radio transmitter of the Nazi's with the ability to locate a enemy plane miles away. He then learns of the news of the British launching one of the largest air attacks of the war and realizes that with the new radio, all the bombers will be shot down. He decides he has to fly to Britain but has no way of getting there until he finds a Hornet Moth, a broken down plane in an old church. He then realizes he has to fly across the North Sea in order to tell the British the information or they will lose the war. On the way to Britain, he encounters many challenges including enemy fighters. I won't tell you the ending, but it kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I reccomend this book to all people who love action and learning a little about history at the same time. It is a great book, and the author describes each person and place with great detail. I feel that this book is one of the best war books I have read.

The story of an 18 year old youth who joins the Danish resistance movement and aids the British after he learns of how the Germans are utilizing radar to track and destroy British planes.
The "color by numbers" quality of the plot is not helped by the character's dialog which is, at times, almost laughable. Follet seems to be coasting on his reputation. How many authors could get away with having a plane explode when one of the characters on the ground throws a lit cigar at the fuselage?
The book is probaly good for an airplane ride but if you are looking for something a little meatier go back and reread Follet's Eye Of A Needle ot The Pillars Of The Earth.

I am a fan of this author and was a bit disappointed with the begining of this novel. It got bogged down in many things, but that may have been necessary for the development of the novel which was essentially an espionage tale. Once it got going it was more readable and enjoyable and I would encourage people who like this author to give it a try. Not a ringing recomendation, I know, but an honest evealuation.

Mr. Follett will always be counted on to produce a fine solid novel. I understand the main plot came from a factual incident and certainly is a solid idea for a novel. Intertwined with the German and Scandanavian officials mostly Nazi's at the time there is enough fluff around the plot to keep you highly interested. I do not read fiction to criticize the facts that may be missing but to accept and enjoy the idea of the story. I would highly recommend this book.

Ken Follett is my favorite author. I have read every single one of his books, bar none. Bar none, this was poorest book he has ever written. The settings, characters, and story line are classic -- you can pick almost everyone of them out of his previous WW II era novels. It has a lot of plot similarities to Eye of the Needle and Jackdaws.
However, the overall plot is extremely predictable. You can see just what is going to happen after reading the first 25%. The details however revolve time and time and time again on a whole series of coincidences which is very out of character for Follett. I liked most of his books because the story line follows a logical flow with interesting bobs and weaves stemming from an initial premise. This was more like a low budget movie where things happen by coincidences and characters survive by inches or seconds so many times it becomes unbelievable and ridiculous.
The climatic seen of the flight to England has to be the absolutely worst piece of writing ever by Follett. The events are ridiculous, the characters repeatedly make stupid errors, and the whole thing plays like a cheap B movie. For instance, are we to believe that the only character who knows how to fly the plane falls asleep during a night flight over water half an hour after almost being shot out of the sky -- and the inexperienced person that's awake lets her sleep? Or the king of them all, are we to believe the character waits till the airplane is within minutes of running out of gas before remembering to add the extra can of gas he has in the cockpit -- which he could have done 4 hours earlier? Or how about delaying a day the flight that will change the war and save thousands of lives so that the main character can go to the ballet? Or how about the German guard helping push the plane out for takeoff because he can't put two and two together? He must not be related to the other character that can throw a cigar into the cockpit of a small airplane at takeoff speed.
Come on Mr. Follett, you can do better. Your novels Eye of the Needle, Pillars of the Earth, Key to Rebecca, Night over Water, Hammer of Eden, and Dangerous Fortune were classics.

It's hard to believe Ken Follett could write a book this amateurish. It reads more like his first rather than his latest. The sentences are simple; basic statements are explained; the situations rather simplistic. The storyline is credible; the characters are not...much too naive. It's hard to believe this is the same author who wrote The Eye of the Needle; The Key to Rebecca; The Pillars of the Earth (which I loved) and many other really fine books.
If you must read it, check it out at the library and save your money for his next book. Hopefully, he'll return to his former style.

If you read this book like a thriller you will be disappointed, some parts are thrilling but not even half of the book, this is not a bad story but is not the best of Follett, nevertheless is a book that will get you a good time. This book is a story of the WWII but you will not know to much about that war in this book, but maybe, just maybe you will know how to flight a plane.

Totally entertaining. One page led to the next with excitement and/or adventure on all. I felt as if I were the lead character. The research done for this novel was was accurate and gave me insight into the Danish resistance during WW II. Would love to read a sequel to this book!

Ken Follett writes book that are pretty hard to put down and this is another winner. I have enjoyed his WWII books to the max. He has just the right mix of adventure and romance.... somthing for everyone. I love the fact that his books are such page turners as they progress through the story. Certainly one of my very favorite authors!

From page one I could not put this down. It is a very intricate and exciting book. It was rich in imagery and I felt like I was in Denmark during WWII. The characters are well developed, and I had sympathies for the lead characters routing them on. It is one of the best reads I had in a long while. I highly recommend it.

I enjoyed this read very much - a little twist on WWII facts - kept me interested - the only disappointment is the ending - as an aviator and an avionics technician it is totally implausible - but it doesn't take an engineering degree to be disappointed - common sense tells you that radar just does not work this way - too bad he didn't use 'window' as an outcome - it would have made perfect sense - other then that little disappointment, a great read.

Hornet Flight continues the rapid download slide I last encountered in the horrid Jackdaws. C'mon, the British wait 14 days for some amateur spies to get some crappy 35mm photos from some radar installation in Denmark when Russia is being consumed?!???! This ONE installation keeps Bomber Command from attacking Germany??? WHY NOT JUST BOMB THE F'ING INSTALLATION OUT OF EXISTANCE??? HELLO!?!?! Send the Royal Navy to this ISLAND IN THE NORTH SEA installation and shell the place. And then... AND THEN the stupid "heroine" has some dance recital that is SO important that the predictable from page 11 flight to England has to be delayed for a day. Holy unbelieveable crap. Follett (if he hasn't hired teenage ghost writers or has some fancy Macintosh program doing his "writing" for him) violates just about every rule about fiction writing taught to freshmen in college. Hey, Ken, ever heard "show, don't tell"??? This is cheap, pulp fiction at its lowest. I would be ashamed to have people read this if I had written it -- I guess the only difference is the Follett has people that pay him for this claptrap and has people like me fooled into buying it. Well, never again.

This story is about a 18 year old kid who took a shortcut from the beach to his home across the German Military Base and he discovered a big machine he never seen before. after he discovered, he feels he must tell someone while MI6 is talking about Freya. this is more than just a story. It also tells about Wilston Churchell, the Prime Minster of England with is aide, Digby, Lulfwaffe, the Danish traitors, the Danish Military, and of course, the Hornet Flight, including love stories, and almost civil to the germans.

I enjoyed reading this book. It reads well and the story is interesting.
There are a few parts that are far fetched or not very well explained (the author skips some parts - a guy shakes off a covert police tail and the next minute he is the most wanted person and his poster is on every wall of the city...., but the police doesn't know that he guy has done anything wrong just yet?!)
I also noticed a typo (a word missing) if anyone cares...
I think it would make a good movie!
My first Ken Follett novel, I think I'll be reading more of his work.

In early WWII, with Denmark occupied and Great Britain suffering devastating losses, unlikely Danish heroes step up risking all for freedom. Germany is on the cutting edge of radar, baffling the RAF command. Espionage, family rivalries, deceit, young love, and a little science weave their way through this easy read.
There is something for everybody in this book...And, there are pages and pages of exciting flight that can be experienced and felt through Follett's words.

R.M. Gallagher

Like some of the other reviews, the book is predictable, but follet's writing is just great. he is so easy to read, very enjoyable, i always look forward to his next novel. I heard rumors of a sequel to the pillars of the earth, that would be great.

This books takes a little while to get into until all of the characters, and their relationships, are established. Once done, it was a great read, with good flow, which makes you want to read more of his books.

Follet is a master on WWII thrillers. OK, maybe he took a vacation on this one, kind of predictable and formulaic story. If you are a hardcore fan, by all means read it. If you are new to Follet try "Eye of the needle" or "The key to Rebecca" first.

I believe that this is one of Ken Follett's best recent thrillers. I'm sure you've read the other reviews and heard what it was about, so I won't go into detail! If you like spy thrillers and war stories, buy this book right now!!

A great story. I loved all of the characters, and found myself cheering out loud for young Harald. Of all of Ken Follet's previous book I have read, this if by far the best. I had to pace myself because I did not want it to end.

The book was a fast and fun read. If you're looking to read something that won't take much thought in a style quickly accessible, then grab this one. You'll read it in one long afternoon, and you'll most likely enjoy it.

When the Danish quietly welcomed the Germans into their country to avoid armed conflict, the citizenry was split on their opinions of such a move. It all seemed to be going so smoothly, until MI6 started a “Night Watchman” movement; a group of young spies. The early German experiment with radar was causing devastating losses to the English bomber missions.When Hitler invaded Russia, Stalin requested the English increase their bombing of German targets in order to draw off some of the Luftwaffe action on the eastern front. Crucial to the ability of the English to do that was gaining knowledge of what the German radar was all about and where it was. A group of unlikely spies become heroes, including schoolboys, a ballerina and an MI6 agent with a major supporting character of a Hornet; a rickety, old airplane. A quick, fast-paced read ... but then, it’s Ken Follett.

This is a great Ken Follett Book. I found myself looking forward to the time each night that I could continue reading the book. I devoured the book in just a few days and stayed up until 2:00 a.m. one night so that I could finish it and find out what happened. Even though you had a feeling how it would end, it was still filled with suspense. Follett does a great job of creating villains that you love to hate and ultimately dispatching then in a way that is justified. In the same manner, he creates characters that you cheer on and hope will succeed. I read the "Pillars of the Earth" series and became a Follett fan. This book is in the same realm of quality storytelling and will not disappoint.

I've lately been reading through a few of Ken Follett's World War II era novels - including "The Eye of the Needle", and most recently, "Hornet Flight". While many of his dedicated readers seem to prefer the former, for some reason I actually preferred the latter in terms of reading interest and entertainment value. Perhaps it was the fact that this story took place in a relatively unique setting for World War II spy novels - namely, Nazi occupied Denmark. "Eye of the Needle" was likely too familiar to me, having seen the movie years earlier. "Hornet Flight" offered an interesting tale of the Danish resistance and its effort to inform British intelligence on the existence of a German radar installation in Denmark responsible for the downing of many allied bombers. While it may not be the greatest spy story, or even to be found in those ranks, I found the story quite engaging and fun. Recommended!

I believe that this is one of Ken Follett's best recent thrillers. I'm sure you've read the other reviews and heard what it was about, so I won't go into detail! If you like spy thrillers and war stories, buy this book right now!!

A great story. I loved all of the characters, and found myself cheering out loud for young Harald. Of all of Ken Follet's previous book I have read, this if by far the best. I had to pace myself because I did not want it to end.

The book was a fast and fun read. If you're looking to read something that won't take much thought in a style quickly accessible, then grab this one. You'll read it in one long afternoon, and you'll most likely enjoy it.