The Key to Rebecca; The Hammer of Eden

by Ken Follett

Genres: Fiction, Thriller

551 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2004

About the author

Ken Follett is one of the world’s most successful authors. Over 170 million copies of the 36 books he has written have been sold in over 80 countries and in 33 languages.

Born on June 5th, 1949 in Cardiff, Wales, the son of a tax inspector, Ken was educated at state schools and went on to graduate from University College, London, with an Honours degree in Philosophy – later to be made a Fellow of the College in 1995.

He started his career as a reporter, first with his hometown newspaper the South Wales Echo and then with the London Evening News. Subsequently, he worked for a small London publishing house, Everest Books, eventually becoming Deputy Managing Director.

Ken’s first major success came with the publication of Eye of the Needle in 1978. A World War II thriller set in England, this book earned him the 1979 Edgar Award for Best Novel from the Mystery Writers of America. It remains one of Ken’s most popular books.

In 1989, Ken’s epic novel about the building of a medieval cathedral, The Pillars of the Earth, was published. It reached number one on best-seller lists everywhere and was turned into a major television series produced by Ridley Scott, which aired in 2010. World Without End, the sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, proved equally popular when it was published in 2007.

Ken’s new book, The Evening and the Morning, will be published in September 2020. It is a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth and is set around the year 1,000, when Kingsbridge was an Anglo-Saxon settlement threatened by Viking invaders.

Ken has been active in numerous literacy charities and was president of Dyslexia Action for ten years. He was chair of the National Year of Reading, a joint initiative between government and businesses. He is also active in many Stevenage charities and is President of the Stevenage Community Trust and Patron of Home-Start Hertfordshire.

Ken, who loves music almost as much as he loves books, is an enthusiastic bass guitar player. He lives in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, with his wife Barbara, the former Labour Member of Parliament for Stevenage. Between them they have five children, six grandchildren and two Labradors.

Reviews

[Missy]

Edge of your seat thriller set in Cairo during WWI when Rommel and the Nazi's were planning to invade Egypt- good spy story.

[Stacy]

I really thought "The Hammer of Eden" thought provoking. I never would have thought such a thing possible, but with all the fracking, etc. going on, I wonder.

[Antonija]

I didnt finish this book, I just marked it so I can leave a review and say this:

I am a fan of historical fiction in any form. You can literally sell me a bad wikipedia page about non existent Hitlers kids and their destiny, and I will take it, this is how much I love it.

I am also a fan of Ken Follett and I have read many of his books.

So this should carry some weight:

I stopped reading this book around 100 pages in. It was downright trash and I am sad I got this book as a gift, so I cant at least have the pleasure of returning it.

That is all I have to say. Save your money and save your time.

[Cheryl Schibley]

This is a great novel - I believe it is based on actual events during WWII.

[Blark]

I have read and liked all of Ken Follett's books.

[skketch]

📚🕵️‍♀️🐫🔺💃NOVEL THOUGHTS💃🔺🐫📚

I really wanted to love this book, it's Ken Follett after all...but I just didn't. The premise drew me in, WWII spies, double agents, the culture of Egypt especially during WWII (which we seldom hear about when it comes to WWII stories) but this was just meh. The story centers around Intelligence officer William Vandam as he and his love interest Elena, a Jewish courtesan, follow a spy, Alex Wolff who has infiltrated the British strategists fighting Rommel in the desert. Some how he is able to steal then transmits the plans for future attacks against the Nazi forces using the Daphne du Maurier's book Rebecca as his code key so Rommel knows what the Allies will be doing and is able to cut them off at the knees. Wolff, who is half German and half Egyptian, is on the side of the Nazis hoping that they will free Egypt from British control so they can establish their own government. Wolff is a ruthless killer if anyone stands in his way and uses the skills of a his lover, Cairo's famous belly dancer Sonja to help seduce the keepers of the plans. While they are alone together, Wolff is able to get his hands on the secrets without the marks being any the wiser. Sonja is herself a nationalist and also wants Egypt to be detached from British rule so she is very compelled to help Wolff with these rendezvous.
Vandam chases Wolff all over the place but he always seems to be one step ahead until in a huge climax, he's not.
I think it's possible that because I used an audio book for this read is why I just couldn't get into it. The narrator's saying Vandam's name always sounded like Madam which always through me off and all the sex scenes were gratuitous.. This book came out in 1980 so maybe that was the expectation at the time.... 🤷‍♀️ Anyway.... I thought this could have had more depth to it and for me, it missed.

[Laura Escalante Chiquillo]

At first i didn't have so many aspectation about this book, but wow... it is so intresting, you will want to keep reading and konowing more and more about the history... Also, because of the large of the book it's so easy to read. Perfecto for a trip or maybe a boring weekend.:)

[Kathy Smith]

This book, along with Ken Follett’s THE MAN FROM ST PETERSBURG, are responsible for me falling in love with this favorite author’s work as well as opening the door to espionage.

Fast forward to August 30, 2023, I am reading THE THIRD TWIN. Finished in 2 days!

Thank you, Mr Follett!!

[John Avery]

Well written and atmospheric, but…
It is showing its age. The pace is too slow to be called a thriller for a contemporary audience.
It started well and finished OK but the rest would be better with about 25% taken out.
Disappointed because I chose it based on the authors reputation.

[Beth]

I did not read this book recently. Read it a long time ago. Not sure why it popped up.

[Ele Poppy]

Loved the action, it was easy to follow and eager to find out what is happening

[Jorge Aponte Guzman]

Un buen libro de espíonaje y contraespionaje, que sucede durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial en ciudades africanas.

[Caroline Davis]

A great book from an author I always enjoy. The story races along with characters that I care about. A super holiday read.

[Niten]

Great

[Rachel]

Hammer of Eden. A more simplistic Ken Follet thriller. Very enjoyable quick read. God forbid a terrorist had the ability and where with all to cause earthquakes.....

[Don Main]

A great read never a dull spot and interesting storyline too.

[Janice McMillen]

Have read only the Key to Rebecca. A tense mystery that has an old world flavor from the war.

[Jennifer]

Ken Follet is an excellent storyteller & this was an easy read.

[Diane A]

Not one of his best. V

[Luca]

Bello ma non troppo

[Sharon]

I enjoyed this book. Interesting Characters and story about WW11 .

[Cielo Salando]

[Charlie Lake]

Good Read

[Robert Bilicki]

I have read almost all of Ken Follett's books. They are great stories