An Affair of Spies by Ronald H. Balson

Nathan Silverman grew up in Berlin in the 1920s but his parents are able to get him sent to the US in the late 30s, as the noose tightens around the Jewish community. Nathan's dad is a theoretical scientist, and his work and the protection he thinks he gets from the work he does, keeps him from getting the rest of his family out of harms way before its too late.

In the US, Nathan joins the military and he's specially trained to lead others through German territory since he knows the language and the area. He's pulled away from his unit for a special mission. He's to escort a French speaking scientist into Germany so they can help a nuclear physicist defect. What this physicist knows could be very important to the Allies war program and the Manhattan Project.

This story seems more like a cozy WWII spy story than most historical fiction that I read. We get a lot of history and science and it's heavy handed as characters will bombard each other with facts that often the other characters already know. Many facts are given to us in an almost infomercial manner. Both Nathan and Dr. Allison Fisher, the scientist he escorts into Germany, seem to be more immature than their twenty eight years of age when it comes to decision making.

Nathan can't remember to call Allison by her alias and calls her Allison, instead. He gives away vital information that puts the people fighting for our side in great danger, all because he wants people to contact him about his family. Allison does a little sightseeing on her own one morning, they both do more sightseeing together, and they manage to get into situations they should not be in because they aren't discrete. They don't focus on the mission but instead stray off course.

The story is clunky and the characters didn't seem to act naturally to me. Nathan seems so ill suited for what he is sent to do but then everything seems a bit off. I do appreciated how any attraction between the characters is handled.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

A different sort of WWII novel. Can Nathan do it? Can he. along with Allison, persuade a Dr Snyder high ranking German scientist to defect to the US? Equally important, can all of them get out of Germany safely? No spoilers from me. Some of this seems implausible but I found it intriguing. Even better, there are cameos of real scientists, Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of historical fiction,

Ronald H. Balson excels at bringing WWII to life with his meticulous research, vivid characters, and 360 degree view of his chosen topic. His latest offering, An Affair of Spies, is another example of just how talented this author is.

Nathan Silverman, son of a housewife and a highly respected physicist, grew up in Berlin. Following Kristallnacht, when the Nazi persecution of Jews could no longer be denied, his parents sent him to America for safety. He joined the military so that he could return to Germany and right the wrongs being done there, and find out what happened to his family after he left.

Due to his knowledge of Germany, Nathan is being trained as a spy and an intelligence officer when he is told that he has been assigned to a special mission and to report to New York. There he meets with high military officers and the scientific leaders of the Manhattan Project, the American military's effort to create an atomic bomb - the existence of which will hopefully provide enough leverage against the Nazis to ensure that it will never need to be used. He also meets Dr. Allison Fisher a physicist on the project.

Silverman and Fisher are given the mission of entering Germany to find and aid in the defection of a top scientist on Germany's atomic bomb project. Nathan's job is to handle all the logistics of the mission; Dr. Fisher is there to gather all the information she can about Germany's efforts, assess the defecting scientist's information, and determine how close Germany is to having a workable atomic bomb.

Easy-peasy, right??

This is quite a thrilling read! As with all of Balson's books, I was both entertained and educated. I will continue to read every book this author writes.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press for allowing me to access an e-ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

Ronald Balson's An Affair of Spies is a WWII spy-thriller about American agents who are sent to Berlin to extract a scientist and determine whether Germany has the capability to build a nuclear bomb. The combination of actual historical figures with the completely fictional storyline makes for an interesting, tense read. The plot kept the tension high from the first chapter, and did not let up until the very end, and I found myself wondering how in the world Nathan and Allison were possibly going to get out alive!

Readers who enjoy WWII fiction, especially those who prefer one that is focused on espionage and the development of nuclear weapons, will enjoy this book. Ronald Balson's books are well-researched and easy-reading, and I always learn something along the entertaining way.

With all of the historical fiction out there centered around World War II, its sometimes difficult to find one that's a little different. In this novel, Nathan Silverman is a German immigrant that enlisted in the Army to fight the Nazi regime in Germany. His first assignment which he does not at all feel prepared for is to accompany a scientist to Germany and accompany a German defector back to the US. All in an attempt to stop the Nazi's from developing a nuclear weapon. With plenty of scientific material about the nuclear program sprinkled into the story, this was a fast-paced, action-filled thriller. While some sections of the story may have been a bit predictable, overall, it was a good read not to mention a slightly different from the norm World War II story.

In this eerily timely page-turner, author Ronald H. Balson presents a compelling slice of history which zooms in on Germany's prewar and wartime progress in the development of their nuclear technology. Just as scientists in the U.S, were getting closer to their own successful launch, the Germans sowed doubt about which country would get there first. Ritchie Boy G.I. Nathan Silverman is tasked --along with nuclear physicist Dr. Allison Fisher --to pull off the daring rescue/extraction of a nuclear-expert German scientist who wants to defect. Can't-put-it-down pacing, layered characters and a truly standout setting make An Affair of Spies a fantastic read.

Nathan Silverman is a Jewish immigrant who left Germany to escape from Nazi persecution. After joining the army he is ready to go back to Europe and avenge the loss of his family by fighting the Nazis. However, Nathan’s knowledge of Germany and its language makes him far more valuable as a spy. This novel follows Nathan on his quest to rescue a nuclear scientist defecting to the West and stop Germany from developing a Nuclear bomb. Throughout his journey he encounters people from his past that he thought were long gone and just might fall in love as well. This WWII novel is a fun adventure story and has a satisfying ending. The events in the story are a bit romanticized and it reminded me of a cozy mystery. Nathan and his companions were likable, if a bit stereotypical, and I was definitely rooting for them to complete their mission and make it back home! I also enjoyed the thought provoking discussions on the ethics of using nuclear weapons.

Some aspects of this book didn’t quite work for me though. The beginning was a little slow and didn’t initially grab my attention. I would have liked to see more character development for a few of the characters. The dialogue felt a bit stiff and not quite genuine at times. The book also went very in depth with nuclear science and that made the story drag a little for me. However, someone interested in science might enjoy that aspect.

This would be a good cozy read for fans of WWII fiction to curl up with this fall or winter.

Historical fiction based around the German nuclear program during the Second World War. Nathan Silverman, a German Jewish immigrant and currently a recruit in the US Army, is tasked to lead an espionage mission to sneak out a defecting German scientist. His partner on the mission is a brilliant young scientist Dr. Alison Fisher. The novel follows their thrilling escapades as they traverse a largely German-occupied Europe in a quest to carry out their task.

In classic Balson style, the novel subtly blends the human side of the story with the espionage angle. There's a lot of scientific information about the physics involved in an atomic bomb but don't worry about it, you can just skim over those parts. That two amateur spies can take on the might of the entire German Gestapo does seem a bit incredulous and certain coincidence are too we'll times to be true, but I choose to ignore that since something good comes out in the end. The pace is a bit slow on the uptake overall but it's no doubt an interesting and enlightening read.

Alison Fisher has my vote for most likeable character. She is a smart, courageous woman, not at all resigned to being relegated to the background and that's what made the reading all the more enjoyable. If you are looking for world war 2 fiction without the blood and gore of the battlefield or the Nazi concentration camps, this one is for you

Thank you NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Ronald H Balson for the ARC

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copy of this book!

In this historical fiction meets thriller we are taken on a dangerous overseas mission with one goal in mind. Stop the Nazis from creating an atomic bomb.

It is WWII and Berlin native, Nathan Silverman has enlisted in the US Army after moving to the states years ago to escape the growing prejudices against the Jewish community. As the son of a physicist and a former resident of Berlin, he becomes the ideal candidate for a spy mission to smuggle a German physicist who is hoping to defect and to put a halt on the nazis efforts to create a nuclear bomb. Along with him is the bright young scientist, Dr Allison Fisher, who is as brave as she is smart. Will the pair succeed in their mission or are they doomed for failure in this war?

Captivating, entertaining and thrilling, this is a perfect book for lovers of historical fiction and the thrillers! The story is action packed and the characters personalities jump off the page at you. This is out in September so be sure to grab your copy of this book!

Read if you:
- Want a WWII Spy-Thriller.
- Like books that put you on the edge of your seat.
- Would like to learn about physics.

An Affair of Spies is a great, albeit somewhat flawed, read. In telling the story of two unlikely U.S. "spies," Balson educates the reader about the basic science of developing the atomic bombs in WWII, in which the U.S. and Germany were engaged in a deadly race, and he manages to do this without bogging down the story. The spies, Nathan and Allison, race around Europe assuming a variety of identities with the help of the OSS as they search for ways to get the information about Germany's progress in developing and manufacturing atomic bombs that they've been sent to locate and as Nathan, who left his native Germany in 1938, tries to locate his mother, sister, and father, who was a well-known Jewish nuclear physicist before the war's outbreak. The action barrels along at near-atomic speed, keeping the reader on the edge of their seats, although truthfully, the final outcome is quite predictable. Now, as to the several flaws: There is an odd break in tense in chapter 44 that was jarring to this reader, And it stretches credulity to think that someone, even a brilliant scientist, who took high school French could pass as a native born Frenchwoman. As is typical in novels such as this, coincidence and timing play too big a role - too big, at least, for my comfort. But these small flaws, as distracting as they are, won't diminish the value of the book to readers who seek the genre or who are familiar with Balson's previous works..

The story of Nathan's journey through this book had me excited for two reasons. I wanted to find out what happened with his family, and also what happens when two people are randomly put on an overseas mission together! The scientific speech about the mission was daunting and a bit of a muddle to get through, but it was important to the plot. Hang in there, and don't let it get the best of you! I enjoyed being able to read something that held my attention while also not having to skip over vulgar and raunchy parts. I would recommend this book to anyone who has knowledge about physics or the scientists who worked during the time of the atomic bomb creation.

Set during WWII mostly in Europe, An Affair of Spies is an engrossing book chock full of heartache, secrets, spying, disguises, espionage, courage and romance. At the heart of it is Jewish persecution which is why German Jew Nathan Silverman left Germany for New York City. But he did not know whether his family members he left behind were dead or alive. He trained in the military and learned how to interrogate prisoners of war, how to navigate terrain in Europe and recognize ranks and how to spy. His specialized skills earned him a position in the hush hush Manhattan Project. His mission was to safely extricate a physicist out of Germany as well as a himself, a scientist and his physicist father if he was still alive. All this while attempting to avoid the Gestapo who were always on his trail.

Scientist Allison Fisher, an expert in uranium in nuclear reactors, was in the race of her life to beat the Nazis before they developed and used nuclear weapons. She inveigled and ingratiated to learn what she could. She placed her life into Nathan's hands as they encountered adventure after adventure including their daring escape. Nathan is frustratingly at times as he makes some foolish decisions yet he is endearing in ways. My favourite character is spunky and bright Allison who was always ready to unhesitatingly meet challenges. I like that she was not a simpering soulless creature.

Other favourite aspects include the scientific details about nuclear reactors, fission and so on and the behind-the-scenes secrets, layer upon layer of helpful intel and organized administration such as the ability to quickly change identities. I like the addition of Marie Curie and Albert Einstein, the latter who warned America about the dangers of nuclear weapons. Some of the story is predictable but this was overshadowed by the clever and sneaky plots and engaging writing. Ronald H. Balson's inspiration for the book is well worth knowing.

My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this wonderful book!

Impeccably researched and written, this spy-thriller novel is as much a powerhouse of wartime scientific information as it is an edge-of-your-seat thriller! I enjoyed the introduction with Einstein’s letter right to the ending and feel that this has high hopes of being optioned for the silver screen. With so much scientific information (which I loved and am not complaining about), I needed to read in chunks and give myself time to process despite my need-to-know-what-happened anxiety! Keep that in mind if you’re thinking this will be a quick read.

I’ll admit to having struggled with the stiff, uncomfortable sounding/reading dialogue and the use of the third person point of view. I know authors like to use it but I, personally, find that I can’t become part of the story. I feel like I’m standing on the outside, and, for me, this doesn’t work as well as first-person historical fiction. Just because I couldn’t appreciate it, doesn’t mean that you won’t!

This book which highlights the courageous many who risked their lives for the greater good needs to top every historical and thriller lover’s reading list! This one is exemplary in bringing to light the emotional side of war and the humanity shown in the face of so much destruction. I understood Allison’s turmoil about her knowledge being used as a weapon and I understood Nathan’s turmoil about leaving loved ones behind. I thoroughly enjoyed feeling like I was sitting in my high school and university Physics and History classes and would eagerly read another book by this author.

I was gifted this advance copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

In a reading slump for months and suddenly find out there is a new Ronald H. Balson book coming out, my prayers have been answered. Balson is a master storyteller, combining historical fiction with a fast paced exciting storyline filled with lovable characters and unloveable characters. The best part about his books is you get to learn something along the way.

An affair of Spies takes place during WWII, but is not your typical war story. Nathan Silverman is a German Jew who is sent to America by his family. He becomes an American soldier and is sent back to Germany to find out how advanced Germany is in creating an atomic bomb. Readers learn about the Manhattan Project and the American and German scientists involved in the creation of nuclear weapons.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Read this one in two days. Now the difficult part is going to be finding a new book to read. Ronald H. Balson fans you will not be disappointed. Balson is able to keep writing incredible stories each and every time.

In 1938 Nathan Silverman’s parents sent him to the United States to live with his Aunt Gertrude. Life in Berlin had become unbearable, the family anticipated the worse was yet to come. Nathan’s father, a well known nuclear physicist made the dreadful decision to remain in Germany with his wife and daughter. As a young man Nathan began taking classes at Columbia in NYC. A few years later the war is full blown and Nathan is offered an opportunity with the U.S. Army to help fight the Nazi’s. With his sharp insight, language skills and geographical expertise, it is not long before he is transferred to work on the top secret Manhattan Project. The race is on for the U.S. to develop nuclear weapons before Germany. On his first assignment Nathan is disguised as a Wehrmacht officer and will travel with the beautiful and brainy Dr. Allison Fisher on his arm. Their mission is to enter Berlin, learn everything they can about the Nazi nuclear weapons program and extract a world renowned theoretical physicist who wishes to defect. This fast paced WWII novel takes us deep into the evils of Nazi Germany and a peek into the creation of the atomic bomb. A nail biting chase from until the very last page.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for my review. I enjoyed the story. A German Jew Nathan, who joins the army and is put together with a physicist female Allison, to retrieve a German physicist from Berlin to determine Germanys success in developing an atomic bomb..
Nathan is also trying to discover the whereabouts of his dad and sister. His father also an atomic bomb specialist.
The story was like watching a movie or TV spy story. The two set off for Berlin. Then Leipzig Germany to see the bomb. The situations they go thru to travel about under disguise is interesting and keeps you reading the story.
If your looking for a quick read, during the war, about nuclear bombs, which are explained very well for those of us not up on the science, is done very well!

This was a very interesting book. Taking place in 1942, the story is about both the US and German research into nuclear reactions and ultimately a nuclear weapon, and a fictional story about how a soldier and a physicist try to find out how far the German's are from getting said technology.

This story moved along and kept me wanting to read.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book.

Again, another amazing historical book from this author.! The details surrounding the story were very well researched and definitely made for a more authentic read and feel to the book. Definitely a keeper from me!!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

Nathan Silverman was born in Germany and with the help of his parents he was able to escape Nazi Germany and make his way to the United States. The only thing he really had was his Mom's wedding ring to help him in the future. As WWII is under way, and the Germans are working on Nuclear bombs, Nathan, who is a member of the "Ritchie Boys" (a specialized group of soldiers, Nathan has been tasked to go to Germany in disguise along with a woman, Dr. Allison Fisher, who has been working on the Manhattan project. Their task, to help a scientist defect to the United States, to help them in the process of building a Nuclear bomb to put a stop to the Nazis.

Will they be able to do the job? Nathan is concerned about taking a woman, with no military experience into such a dangerous situation. The chance of success is minimal at best, Along the way Nathan is hoping to locate information on the family he left behind all those years ago. He's not heard anything from his Mother, Father or Sister in such a long time.

I admit that the book didn't hold my interest completely and at times I struggled with things that took place that just didn't make sense to me. I had a problem with the depiction of a solider making some of the choices he made.

I do want to thank NetGalley, the author and the publisher for letting me have the opportunity to read it and to leave my honest review

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my feedback.

As a lover of WWII history and historical fiction I was very excited to read this book. The story was further intriguing to me as someone that grew up in Los Alamos. I really liked the theme of the book but was underwhelmed by the writing, particularly when it came to the dialogue. I found I could not suspend my disbelief to the many (many) "chance" encounters they had with the Wehrmacht and Gestapo. Nathan went to his old girlfriend's apartment and on the way just happened to run into an German officer he met in Paris. Albert Speer and the officer just happen to be at the research institute on the same day they are there. It all became way too unbelievable rather than a suspense builder in my opinion.

Having grown up listening and reading about the invention of the nuclear bombs used on Japan in WWII, I was familiar with the scientific descriptions. I imagine those became a bit tiresome to many readers although they were well researched.

Despite me feeling this book was just "fair," I will give another one of Balson's books a try because I just love the subject matter/timeframe of his books and because so many give his other books rave reviews.