The Key to Rebecca by Ken Follett

The Key to Rebecca is a historical fiction novel, set in World War II Egypt. The name is derived from the code used by a German spy hidden in the Dauphine novel. I have never read his novel, but have seen Hitchcock’s “Rebecca” many times and it is one of my favorite Hitchcock films.

I found this title while searching for Follett’s latest novel, which was not available. I thought I had explored every facet of WWII from Japan to Europe to Hong Kong, but the North African subject has been little depicted in film and fiction. My ignorance of the subject was nearly complete aside from knowing Rommel’s nickname as “The Desert Fox”.

The novel opens with a mystery man wandering the desert, near death. The reader is startled to discover he is a German/Bedouin entering Egypt to help the Nazi’s win the war. He is a suave chameleon with appetites for sex, alcohol and blood. His plans quickly go awry and he flees to Cairo.

The British are in control of Egypt, and are losing it to the Germans. The Egyptians seem caught in the middle of wanting to be rid of their oppressors, and the annoyance of having a European war waged on their soil. Major VanDam is a Dorset officer who works at General Headquarters in Cairo. He learns the story of a mysterious murder in the south and that it may be related to a German spy.

Alex Wolfe shape shifts through Cairo, European one minute and Egyptian the next. He uses a famous belly dancer to snare his source for British Intelligence. Meanwhile, VanDam contacts Elene, a Jewish escort who is eager to help her country oust the Nazi’s. She agrees to pursue a relationship with Wolfe to stop him. Despite her seeming worldliness, she is offended that VanDam sees her as a prostitute. And, like the character from Rebecca, Elene is vulnerable to the powerful men and women who try to manipulate her.

The novel has suspense and twists, making it a fast and interesting read. There are enough historical references to give a realistic backdrop to the invented story. A young Anwar Sadat is depicted as a nationalist who doesn’t know whether the Nazi’s or the British are the greater enemy. The battles and strategies of Rommel are referenced without distracting from the heart of the novel.

It would make for a satisfying film, and the ending enjoyable. Romance, sand and foiled Nazi’s, I highly recommend for a fun quick read.