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JACKDAWS
by Ken Follett
Signet, December 2002
480 pages
$7.99
ISBN: 0451207521


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Jackdaws opens with the French Resistance, led by Felicity "Flick" Clairet, getting ready to attack the chateau of Sainte-Cecile, where the Germans have placed a telephone exchange, which covers all of France. Before the attack can begin, a car pulls up, and out steps Dieter Franck, a top German official, who heads security for Rommel, and his French girlfriend, Stephanie. Franck is there to assess the security arrangements of Sainte-Cecile, as he has learned of an attack planned to take place there.

The attack fails, as the Resistance fighters are outnumbered, when, supposedly, MI5, thought there would only be a handful of guards on duty. Flick gets out of there, returns to London, and begins to think of a way to destroy the telephone exchange. She comes up with the idea of sending in a group of female agents, disguised as cleaners to infiltrate the chateau, plant explosives at the main branch of the telephone exchange, and get out. Flick recruits six women, one of them, a friend from her childhood, who is a crack shot; another is in prison for murder, and has had her sentenced changed due to killing an inmate for a bar of soap; and finally, a female impersonator, who knows about the telephone exchange. However, the operation becomes compromised, when one of the recruits turns out to be working for MI5, giving out the secrets of what is about to take place.

At every turn, the operation seems destined for disaster, as two of the agents are caught by Franck, at a ritzy Paris hotel; then another is killed during the attack; and when getting ready to leave Reims after completing the mission, Flick's husband and his lover complicate Dieter's attempt to capture Flick by using their wits to warn her.

This was a page turner. However, the characters are well drawn, and the events are described with accurate details. The final 100 pages are rapid fire turners. The reader comes away from this book, knowing that what occurred, most likely could have taken place. There are some over-the-top moments, but overall, this is one that is worth the reading.

Reviewed by Steven M. Sill, May 2003

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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