First of all, the writing is mediocre when it is not downright boring. And for what concerns the plot - well, to say it's repetitive would be a big euphemism. It's all the same story, again and again and again, and every so-called plot twist is so predictable it's uncanny, up until the point where during the last hundred pages I wanted to shoot myself, or the author, because even if the story was over, finished, ended - there it was, starting again, with yet another unbelievably trite plot twist. Also, Follett clearly has no concept of character development, or of shades. Characters are all good or all evil, black or white, no grays. Even the flaws the writer tries to shove down our throats, if they belong to the good guys... well, they're flimsy at best. Do not go looking for redeeming qualities in the bad ones, because there's going to be none whatsoever, either. And if all this weren't enough, there's more to this bad writing: it's like Mr. Follett forgets what he already wrote! For one, he explains every single plot point. Thank you, but no thank you. Don't treat your readers like they're stupid. Secondly, he repeats the same concepts over and over again, with the same cheesy sentimentalism. Oh, and if that weren't enough, Follett has a disgusting obsession with rape. 
 Overall: this book is terrible. Don't waste hours of your life.