Fabulous Reads: Historical fiction brimming with suspense
Book review - An Affair of Spies: A Novel by Ronald H Balson
An Affair of Spies: A Novel, Ronald H Balson, Pan Macmillan, ISBN: 9781250287427
THIS book was an absolute page-turner. I could not put it down.
Unfolding during the second World War, we follow Nathan Silverman, one of the many Jewish-German citizens whose life was thrown into turmoil in the 1940s.
The Nazi’s increasing persecution of the Jewish community forces the young man to flee Germany to America.
Once there, he has to sell his mother’s wedding ring to survive. His life takes another turn after he spots a recruitment poster, encouraging men to enlist in the army to help fight the Nazi regime. To his surprise, Silverman is not only enlisted but assigned to a special task team consisting of refugee soldiers who are trained as spies to gather intelligence. They would become known as The Ritchie Boys.
Also read : Fabulous Reads: Historical fiction will leave you spellbound
For his first assignment, Silverman is teamed up with the beautiful and brilliant French-speaking scientist, Dr Allison Fisher. They are sent to Berlin to find and smuggle a German theoretical physicist, who has shown interest in defecting, out of Europe – all in an effort to help America’s allies develop a nuclear weapon before the Nazis.
The book starts out a bit slow, however, once Silverman and Fisher embark on their mission, it is filled with so much suspense and anticipation – with the Germans constantly nipping at their heels.
I just loved how this dangerous yet incredibly important side mission takes place while the war unfolds in the background. I was so impressed by how the author weaved this fictional story into the historical reality. It really made this story, which would otherwise seem fantastical, believable.
The love story that unfolds between Silverman and Fisher was both endearing and convincing. It was so wholesome and charming to watch as everyone around them, except for the two of them, were aware of their attraction unfolding while they were on the run. This book should be a treat for any war or spy enthusiasts.
Frans Smit – 4/5 stars
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