The book is also populated with a colorful cast of characters that are simultaneously authentic, arresting, and majorly flawed. Like many of Follett’s books, including his meaty bestsellers The Pillars of the Earth and A Place Called Freedom, The Key to Rebecca is rich with captivating historical detail that only adds to the flavor of the book and leaves readers with a better understanding about what World War II was like in the heat of North Africa. But will they be able to accomplish their mission in time, or will the Third Reich finally defeat the British on Egyptian soil? This story keeps readers guessing until the final nailbiting showdown between Wolff and Vandam. As Rommel’s troops draw closer to victory, Vandam relies on a beautiful woman named Elene Fontana to win Wolff’s trust and lure the spy into the open. Set in 1942 Egypt when Rommel seemed undefeatable, the story begins as the Nazi’s master spy, Alex Wolff, crosses the blazing hot Sahara to enter Cairo unnoticed, determined to steal British military plans and radio them back to headquarters using a secret code contained within the pages of Daphne du Maurier’s gothic novel, Rebecca.Īlmost from the moment he enters Egypt, the Brit’s Major Vandam is on Wolff’s heals, eager to catch the spy who eludes him at every turn. Originally published 38 years ago, Follett’s World War II espionage novel, The Key to Rebecca, is still as compelling as it was way back in 1980.

The key to rebecca by ken follett