An early career novel for Follett, was drawn to read it after taking his BBC master class, which was excellent. And the novel? Excellent too, in my view. Nearly perfect in terms of pace and readability I'd say, and it manages to be tense and propulsive while as the same time maintaining Follett's what I would call or "sunny" worldview. And he creates what I consider to be a masterful degree of erotic tension in the scenes on the remote island between the secretive spy and the young Englishwoman disappointed in her marriage. A great choice, in other words, if you're looking for a light and entertaining read. And for fiction writers, it's a most enjoyable masterclass of pacing and narrative drive.