Eye of the NeedleEye of the Needle
Score Classic
What it's about
His code name is the Needle: a German aristocrat, brilliant and ruthless, and Hitler's most valuable spy in Britain. He has discovered the Allies' greatest secret about the coming D-Day invasion, and is the target of a desperate manhunt. His fate depends on a young Englishwoman on a remote island, whose loyalty could decide the war.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Edgar Award and was one of the ten best-selling books of 1978. It's the thriller that made Ken Follett famous.
You'll love it if you liked
The Key to Rebecca
The Day of the Jackal
The Spy Who Came in From the ColdGood to know
It's short, tense and a little violent. It's a great place to start with Follett.
By the numbers
- Readers58 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics49 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller57 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #72 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #246 of the 762 classics we rank
- #787 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Dark
More by Ken Follett
The Pillars of the Earth
World Without End
Fall of Giants
The Evening and the MorningIf you like this, read next
The Godfather
In Cold Blood
Rebecca
Crime and Punishment
And Then There Were None
The Name of the RoseExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Eye of the Needle worth reading?
Yes. It won the Edgar Award and was one of the ten best-selling books of 1978. It ranks #787 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 75.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Eye of the Needle about?
His code name is the Needle: a German aristocrat, brilliant and ruthless, and Hitler's most valuable spy in Britain. He has discovered the Allies' greatest secret about the coming D-Day invasion, and is the target of a desperate manhunt. His fate depends on a young Englishwoman on a remote island, whose loyalty could decide the war.
How long does it take to read Eye of the Needle?
About 9 hours (354 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Eye of the Needle won?
Edgar Award winner (1979).
What should I read after Eye of the Needle?
If you liked it, try The Key to Rebecca by Ken Follett, The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth or The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John le Carré.