Like the author, I am a fan of World War II books. “For Malice and Mercy” is a story of the Meyer family and a few of their friends in the years from 1939 through 1945. The parents, Karl and Marta are arrested and sent to an internment camp for several years. They are stripped of their status as U.S. naturalized citizens and ultimately deported against their will to war-torn Germany where they are arrested as spies.

The Meyer children, Hank and Ella were born in the U.S., thus avoiding internment, but they suffer the loss of their parents as teenagers and have to take care of their home and farm to avoid foreclosure. Hank joins the Air Force when he is old enough and ends up as a prisoner of war, while Ella manages to get through nursing school.

The third storyline is Ella’s best friend Billie, who learns to fly and becomes a member of the WASPS (Women Airforce Service Pilots) and experiences the joys and dangers of flying military planes all around the U.S.

The author did years of research and provided extensive notes referencing the actual people and events that make up this story. This book is an impressive labor of love and reading it provided new insights into the war, but I felt there were several individual stories packed into one rather extensive book and perhaps a trilogy would have been easier on readers.

I received a free eARC for my voluntary honest review from NetGalley. I am very happy to have read this book, but it is lengthy.

I’ve read many WW2 novels but this one, which is inspired by true events, is a little known story which exposes the mistreatment from officials of the US Government.
It’s a full bodied story about a German family living in Utah and the events and ramifications of WW2 that occur. Gary W Toyn took 4 years of meticulous research, including visiting the locations, to write ‘For Malice and Murder’, which was inspired by his friend’s war time story and what a story it is, full of historical facts which anchor the real horrors and consequences that were experienced through WW2 on a level that is quite unbelievable.
A memorable book, prepared to be shocked, saddened and disbelieving of the terrible crimes committed however, the thread throughout the book is faith.

German immigrants Karl and Marta Meyer are very loyal Americans living in Utah with their son, Hank and daughter, Ella. They had come to America for the religious freedom it offers as they were Morman. When America enters the war against Germany, Karl and Marta are arrested as spies and stripped of their citizenship. Their teenaged children are left to maintain their house, farm and farm animals. They are sent to a German/Japanese internment camp where there are violently targeted by Nazi supporters. Their children were surprised at how many people that they thought were friends treated them horribly and taunted them including have red swastikas painted all over the front of their house. In order to have money to keep their house, Hank joins the US Army Air Corp. After training, he is sent over to England as a crew member on a B-17. HIs plane is shot down over Germany and he risks death if he is caught by the Gestapo.. Ella goes to nursing school. This book is a very accurate account of how Germans were treated in the USA during the war. The government covered it up after the war and made German American citizens sign documents that they would never speak of how they were treated to anyone or they risked deportation. This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it...

A spellbinding story! I found it difficult to tear myself away from this book. Full of history and fiction for entertainment.
You will find yourself holding your breath waiting to find out what happens next. Wonderfully written characters you'll connect with and find yourself cheering for throughout the book.
Amazing book, I couldn't put down. Certainly one you should add to your "To Read List".

This book was well researched and well paced with an intriguing storyline that is not often included in historical fiction books set in this time.

The notes explaining where the author got the ideas were interesting and a welcome footnote at the end of each chapter.

I throughly enjoyed this book and hope to read another by this author soon