Monday, January 12, 2009

Hornet Flight / by Ken Follett


In 1941 it's looking dour for allied partisans in the Nazi occupied country of Denmark. 18-year-old Harald Olufsen is a prominent physics student on the cusp of an illustrious career when the War interferes with his schooling. Angry with indignation at his lot and his helplessness to aid in ridding his country of the pompous enemy soldiers, Harald's time away from school quickly heats up when he discovers a mysterious military installation near his remote island home. Dumbfounded as to why anyone would want to facilitate anything in such an isolated location, Harald thinks little of it until his test pilot brother, Arne, and Arne's English fiance Hermia indicate it might serve as a secret radar station, one that may be pivotal in the war overhead between the Luftwaffe and British RAF.

Meanwhile in London's military intelligence office, Digby Hoare has been investigating why so many British planes are being disproportionately lost to the enemy, particularly at night and particularly in the North Sea over Norway and Denmark. Everyone including Winston Churchill has been heavily monitoring Digby's progress; yet despite working around the clock, little has been gathered as to why so many planes are being shot down. Now Digby's only hope may be his fledgling field agent Hermia covertly operating in Denmark.When Arne is killed suddenly in an accidental rendezvous with Nazi aircraft, Harald can no longer take being kept away from the action. Together with his new Jewish friend Karen Duschwitz and further assistance through Hermia's connections to Digby Hoare and British Intelligence, Harald embarks on a mission of extraordinary daring to relay info on the radar station safely into the hands of the Allies.

Suspense author Ken Follett has penned a number of historical and military thrillers over the years, long entertaining his countless fans with riveting tales of international intrigue and wartime drama. Hornet Flight is no exception. Follett's heroic tale of adventure, espionage and the world at war is a nonstop suspense thriller complete with noble characters, admirable motives and plot twists. Even the budding romance between Harald and Karen blends nicely in to the fabric of the story. Recommended for anyone interested in aviation, military and historical fiction or just a fun time. (FIC FOLLETT)

No comments: