Which of Ken Follett's novels is your personal favorite?

I read in this morning’s Mobile Press-Register that today is writer Ken Follett’s 63rd birthday. Follett is best known for his thrillers and spy novels, including international best-sellers like “The Key to Rebecca,” “Lie Down with Lions,” “Triple” and “World Without End.”

Follett’s an interesting guy. After graduating from college, he became a newspaper reporter. He worked for his hometown newspaper and then moved on to the London Evening News. While working at there, his car broke down and he wrote a novel to help bring in some cash. The result was his first novel, “The Big Needle,” which wasn’t a best-seller, but did give him enough money to fix his car.

Follet’s written under a number of pen names, including Simon Myles, Bernard L. Ross, Zachary Stone and Martin Martinsen. Some of his novels also carry different titles, depending on where they were released. For example, his first novel, “The Big Needle,” was published in the U.S. under the title, “The Big Apple.”

“Eye of the Needle” is arguably Follet’s most famous novel. It’s definitely the one that put him on the map and made him a ton of money. It won the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 1979, which placed it among the likes of such famous mystery novels as “The Long Goodbye,” “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold” and “The Lock Artist.”

By my count, Follett has published 30 novels. What follows is a complete list of his books in order of their publication.

- The Big Needle (1974)
- The Big Black (1974)
- The Big Hit (1975)
- The Shakeout (1975)
- The Bear Raid (1976)
- Amok: King of Legend (1976)
- The Modigliani Scandal (1976)
- The Mystery Hideout (1976)
- The Power Twins (1976)
- Paper Money (1977)
- Capricorn One (1978)
- Eye of the Needle (1978)
- Heist of the Century (1978)
- Triple (1979)
- The Key to Rebecca (1980)
- The Man from St. Petersburg (1982)
- On Wings of Eagles (1983)
- Lie Down with Lions (1986)
- The Pillars of the Earth (1989)
- Night Over Water (1991)
- A Dangerous Fortune (1993)
- A Place Called Freedom (1995)
- The Third Twin (1996)
- The Hammer of Eden (1998)
- Code to Zero (2000)
- Jackdaws (2001)
- Hornet Flight (2002)
- Whiteout (2004)
- World Without End (2007)
- Fall of Giants (2010)

His upcoming book, “Winter of the World,” is due out in September.

In the end, what do you think about Ken Follett? Which of his books have you read? Which did you like or dislike? Which is your personal favorite and why? Let us know in the comments section below.

For more information about Follett and his books, visit his Web site at www.ken-follett.com.