Picture this: it's 1979, chaos grips Iran after the revolution, and two American executives sit trapped in a notorious prison. Their boss, the fearless H. Ross Perot, isn't about to wait for diplomats. He assembles a ragtag team of his top company men, drills them under a ex-Green Beret, and launches a rescue straight out of a thriller novel.
The story kicks off with the Iranian Revolution turning deadly for foreigners. Electronic Data Systems employees Paul Chiapparone and Bill Gaylord get arrested on trumped-up charges, thrown into Ghazvin prison—a fortress crawling with armed guards and revolutionary fervor. Back home, Perot fumes at the slow U.S. government response. He decides to act, recruiting Arthur Simons, a legendary retired colonel, to lead the charge.
These aren't soldiers; they're suited executives turned commandos overnight. In just weeks, Simons whips them into shape—marksmanship, evasion tactics, the works. They slip into Tehran disguised as locals, dodging checkpoints and blending into the teeming streets. Every step ramps up the tension: bribes, betrayals, and a ticking clock as escape plans for the hostages loom.
The raid itself? Pure adrenaline. Scaling walls under moonlight, neutralizing guards silently, navigating a maze of cells. Follett, master of suspense, paints every heartbeat, every whispered command. They pull it off—not without close calls that leave you breathless. It's raw, unfiltered courage in the face of fanaticism.
Ken Follett doesn't just recount events; he dives into the human side. Perot's unyielding patriotism, the rescuers' doubts and grit, the hostages' despair turning to hope. At around 400 pages, it's a fast read packed with details from interviews and diaries. Kindle edition means you can dive in instantly, no shipping waits.
Grab this if you crave real-world adventure like Argo or Zero Dark Thirty, but truer and more intimate. It reminds you what one person's resolve can achieve when bureaucracy stalls. History buffs, thriller fans, or anyone needing inspiration—"On Wings of Eagles" delivers on every front.
