O livro trata do roubo do urânio por parte da Mossad que permitiu o fabrico da bomba atómica por parte dos israelitas.
Todo começa em Oxford, onde se encontram 4 moços, de origens diversas que têm em comum o professor Ashford. Mais tarde, 3 deles, estão nos serviços secretos, o judeu na Mossad, o árabe com os egípcios e o russo com o KGB.
E começa aqui um interessante jogo de caça e dissimulação.
Mas este jogo torna-se a partir de certa altura demasiado forçado e leva a situações razoavelmente inverosímeis, o que de todo não me seduz.

Reading Ken's other books has been rewarding. I always think his skills at creating characters with names I have never thought I would pronounce, is too much, but the books were always rewarding. A complex interaction of three spy agencies, not sure how to root for, initially. I found this aspect refreshing. Good links to actual historical events. But the book did not draw me is as much as others, such as Pillars of the Earth (the first half).

Not the least of the disappointments was that it couldn’t decide whether or not it was a spy thriller or a Hallmark movie - with a plot almost as predictable as a Hallmark movie. In the novel, the Arabs are trying to build a nuclear bomb. Israel hears of it and plots to steal enough plutonium to build one of their own as a bargaining child.

Throw in an Arab-ancestry girl whose university professor father’s idealism causes him to treat his daughter as a household possession and servant, and stir in the fact that the daughter falls almost instantly in love with an Israeli intelligence officer plotting to steal the plutonium, mix in one too many coincidences of former students at the university together who all wind up being agents for their own countries, and you have a rather predictable, rather dull spy “thriller.”. He’s written far better, far more enjoyable books. It was a moderately good read, but certainly not the thriller I was expecting.

Storia interessante, ma pesantemente tirata per i capelli per almeno tre quarti del libro. Mi aspettavo molto di meglio.

Interesting historical setting of the nuclear arms race, jumping between Britain, Israel, and Egypt. Based on the real secret Operation Plumbat carrier out by Moussad in the 1960s. Unfortunately, the hero is boring and bordering on creepy (falling in love with his ex-lovers extremely younger daughter...).

yeah alright. It's a book, I guess. I really enjoy Ken Follett's books: they are generally well thought-out and discreetly written. This one is on the line between a 'keeps you on edge' and 'well, this is kinda bs.'. Why? It's got the classic Follett construction, and qualities, but it's pretty predictable and not really a 'mistery'. That's probably bc it's short and the story has to develop in a few pages. It's kinda like the writer had this story he made up and was proud of, but was too busy and bored by it he didn't want to finish writing the whole thing. nevertheless, a Ken Follett book is always worth my time and I'm glad I was introduced to his eye-catching, wonderful plots (either those well-developed and those who are not). the ending was predictable too, and I didn't like the reference to the agent who appears on the first pages to be killed a few chapters ahead. I dunno. I mean, I couldn't put it down, but it certainly wasn't because of the mastermind that is ken Follett. That agent Towfik was put at the end like a 'oh, no he wasn't just there to start up the book in an intriguing way' banner. Worst part is, I even thought, at the beginning of the book,  but no, he had to be swept away in a good ol fashioned way, just to be back in the last page as the name for the child his opponent just had after killing pretty much the best men of his country's security? alright, I mean Israel people are depicted as generally more well-behaved, civil, even when killing other people (letting their companions do a funeral for them), especially on the boats. But still, I mean, giving your son the name of someone who fought against you - and whom you haven't even met personally? Why?
maybe I'm being overly critical, I tend to do that about books rather than focusing on the bright side of them. This time tho, I think it's mainly because the whole 'good' thing about what I read was just that I myself enjoy this kind of things. although I want to bring myself to hate it rationally, I can't based on my instinct. I'm the only one to blame for them 3 stars out of 5.

Una spy story ambientata durante il periodo della guerra fredda, avvincente e scorrevole. Un bel ensemble di agenti segreti con Mossad, KGB, fedayyin ed anche mafia, un romanzo quindi pieno di sparatorie, fughe, colpi di scena, però.....non vedevo l’ora di finire il libro, non per sapere come andava a finire ma perché mi stavo annoiando. È un controsenso lo so, ma ho capito che questo non è il mio genere.

Ken Follet non delude mai con i suoi libri di spionaggio, forse l'unica pecca è che i combattimenti con i nemici durano poco.
Il protagonista deve cercare di rubare dell'uranio e farlo sparire. La vicenda è ambientata tra Egitto, Israele, Palestina, Russia e Inghilterra non manca mai. C'è sempre del romance che non guasta.

I thought the book was a compelling read and ever more suspenseful as each stage of an intricately complex plan unfolded. Efficiency of Israeli secret service at it’s best. Very enjoyable!

A fun read. Good storyline and characters. A shorter novel by Follett’s norm and closer to the present than previous works I have read. Enjoyed it.

I would probably be writing a better review had I never read any John le Carre. Maybe espionage is his forte but I prefer his historical fiction. I have heard about his other books but it's hard to get in to the Winter of the World trilogy and the Pillars of the Earth trilogy. All fantastic reads

Una interesante historia de espías sobre un cargamento de uranio que Israel quiere robar para conseguir la bomba nuclear. Israelíes, árabes y rusos intentando llevarse el gato al agua. Libro correcto, sin más.

It was ok, confusing at parts. Won’t read again.