Eye of the Needle is a spy thriller set in World War Two England.    Henry Faber (Die Nadel) is a long-term spy in England who is called on to find out about the British preparations for the D Day Invasion.   Historically this is Operation Fortitude in which Churchill and military leaders prepared a military deception to look like the invasion would be at Pas de Calais, and from Edinburgh (to land in Norway), not at the true target of Normandy.    The British Special Intelligence Service used double agents, counter intelligence, radio broadcasts, mock military bases, and American support,  to strengthen the deception.

In this novel, Faber is the best German agent in Britain and he discovers the truth.  The rest of the novel is a fast-faced race between Faber and the Intelligence Service to prevent Faber from getting out of Britain with film of the fake base.

A collision of introduced characters will a key to the final outcome.   A newly married couple moved to Storm Island off the northeast coast after he (a pilot) was shot down and becomes wheelchair-bound.    He is bitter and the marriage is torn and damaged when Faber, on the run, comes to the island, while he waits for a rendezvous with a U Boat.

Faber is an interesting character, bright, charming,  and articulate, but ruthless too.   He kills with a stiletto (the needle).   He kills anyone who gets in his way and the finale is tense.

The storytelling is fast-paced with attention to details.    It is a quick, enjoyable and accessible read, recommended to all.   The novel was published in 1978 and in 1981 I saw the exciting and memorable movie, successfully adapted for the screen.

My rating – 4.5 out of 5.0 stars4.5

Here is an audio excerpt: