Kat Lawson had been an investigative reporter for The Phoenix Gazette but recently lost her job and now she's working for Travel International, covering Germany's holiday scene in Munich. Except ... it's all a cover. Kat is actually working for the FBI. She's hoping to get close Hans von Hausmann, a charming museum curator who is suspected to be hiding artwork, stolen from Jewish families during WWII.
It starts out to be a pretty easy and enjoyable trip for Kat - von Hausmann is a charming man and all her travel expenses are paid for by the agency. But when one of her sources turns up dead, Kat realizes the true danger in being a spy. When the German police want to arrest Kat for murder, she finds she needs to avoid the police and the real killers who want to keep their stash of art a secret.

This is the second book in the Kat Lawson Mystery series. I don't know how I missed the first book - I've tried to read everything Nancy Cole Silverman has published but this somehow escaped my attention.

Although Coleman's early work didn't impress me greatly, I've enjoyed seeing her growth as a writer, and this series shows a lot of that. Our central characters are well-rounded. I liked Kat. She had a nice sense of history (a past that is both useful to what she is doing, and with some baggage that may cause problems) as well as a present and future that feel very believable (getting caught up in the moment before recognizing the danger she would be in).

The relationship between Kat and Hans is really nicely handled. It's a very adult relationship (I read a lot of YA and get bored with the same old yearnings and the way they are presented).

WWII German art theft is certainly not a new theme and there are many books and movies about this (The Monuments Men being, perhaps, the most familiar at this time) but I really liked Silverman's approach here - keeping it current (not writing this as a historical mystery), keeping the tension high, and still managing to keep this in the 'cozy' mystery genre.

I did not sense any big holes in the story - 'holes' as in something I missed because I hadn't read the first book in the series - and that is greatly appreciated. But I do wish I knew more about Kat and so I will need to see if I can find the first book, and I'll definitely be on the lookout for the next volume in the series.

Cozy mysteries still aren't high on my list of reading enjoyment, but I did like this a lot.

Looking for a good book? Nancy Cole Silverman approaches a historical event with a modern mystery in Passport to Spy and does so quite delightfully.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I've had Passport to Spy in my reading queue for several months, but it took me a while to actually get in to the headspace of where I wanted to read again (totally a me problem and nothing to do with the book).  Once I did dive into the story, I had trouble putting it down.  Kat Lawson was a investigative reporter and lost her job and ended up finding a new job as a spy for the FBI working undercover as a journalist.  Everyone in Germany thinks that she is on assignment to cover the holidays in Germany but she's actually trying to find out about some stolen art.  While things start off smoothly, people start catching on that Kat might not be who she says she is and the story really starts to unfold.  I don't want to give too much away but if you're into murder mystery, spies and art heists, then you'll probably enjoy Passport to Spy.

After finishing the book I found out that this is actually the 2nd book in the Kat Lawson series, but I was able to read it as a standalone and didn't feel like I was missing out on any of the story having not read the first.  It also is kind of sort of based on a true situation, which the author explains at the end of the book.

I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

Loved this book despite not having read the first book featuring Kat Lawson. Great mix of reporter turned FBI agent searching for the whereabouts of Gerhardts hoard....historic art works confiscated by the nazis during the war. Great story. Does the hoard exist and, if so, will Kat find it and escape unscathed.

A story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. You can’t stop reading.
Many thanks to Level Best Books and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really tried to get into this book but just couldn’t do it. Just wasn’t for me, and that’s okay!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Kat is hired by the FBI to investigate a case. However, this becomes a lot bigger than expected and Kat finds herself in deeper waters. There are plenty of characters to follow in this historical mystery story as readers can investigate the case alongside Kat.

I don't recall having read Silverman's first novel in this Kat Lawson Mystery series, but reading this one first, I didn't feel like I was missing anything that hindered my appreciation of the book.

Kat Lawson takes on some work for the FBI austensibly as an international travel reporter but on a mission to uncover information about a possible art collection stolen during the Holocaust by a German wealthy family with Nazi ties. There is a lot of what you would expect in a spy novel, but I really appreciated the passages describing the art and the confiscation (stealing) of artworks by Nazi soldiers and bureaus under the guise of protecting the art. This glimpse into a world I was aware of but not really knowledgeable about was fascinating to me, the daughter of an artist who has spent many hours in museums all over the world.

This book makes me want to go back and read the first Kat Lawson mystery book and others that come after.

Passport to Spy by Nancy Cole Silverman is fantastic! I loved the historical aspect mixed with spying, art, and the Christmas scene in Germany.

Will Kat find the Gerhardt's Hoard or die trying?

Kat Lawson
Kat is no longer just a journalist. She is also a spy. Her first assignment is to find proof that Gerhardt's Hoard is actually in Germany. Kat has packed her bags and headed to Germany, where she is posing as a travel journalist for a travel pub that is part of an FBI cover. Even though Kat is there to find the art treasure, she must also write articles for the magazine.

I enjoyed traveling around Germany with her, whether by train or automobile. She also meets up with her brother Sandor and his wife Annika a few times. We see a tougher part of Kat and how stubborn she can be. I had hoped that Adolph and Kat would still be communicating, but that isn't the case. She has, it seemed, divorced her idiot husband. The one thing that Kat learned from this case has got to be to keep her mouth shut unless she trusts a person completely.

The Case
The assignment is to secret stash of old artworks stolen by the Nazis during World War II. The book is set in the 1990s, and the wall is down, but there are still repercussions regarding the rights of the actual owners of the stolen masterpieces. Kat meets some interesting people. Some are nice and help her out, while others are using her. Kat ends up in a bit of hot water. However, she figures a way out of it soon enough. By the end of the story, her job is secured, and she is good with her editor.

After reading Passport to Spy, I want to see Germany, and before, it wasn't even on my list. Ms. Silverman made it seem realistic, beautiful, and filled with yummy desserts. Don't get me wrong; there are freezing temps, crazy drivers, and some rude people. But Kat and Sophie came through in the end.

Five Stars
My rating for Passport to Spy by Nancy Cole Silverman is five stars. I love Ms. Silverman's writing style and how she transports you to the setting. I immensely enjoyed hanging with Kat. She has a beautiful way of dealing with things, and despite being a spy, she sees the good in people. I highly recommend this book and the series to all mystery readers.

Another plus, is the Author's Note at the end of the book that tells where the story idea came from.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Passport to Spy by Nancy Cole Silverman.

Until the next time,
~Jen

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

I really liked the fact that that the story is based loosely on a true character. In the author’s notes she gives the background to how she found out about the story.

I was interested by the premise of this book as I enjoy history and have lived in Germany. Germany is a fascinating country. I think the author did a really good job of depicting the places in the story.

I enjoyed this book but in places I found the main character Kat quite frustrating. She was a terrible spy and at times I felt like shouting at her to abort mission. It was an enjoyable read but I did not find Kat credible. She put her friends in danger and risked a lot for Inga who she had only known for a short period and betrayed her.

I would be interested in reading more from this author.

The summary of the book sounded interesting. Loads of art were stolen by the Nazis during World War II. Rumors had swirled for years that a museum curator and his family were hiding a secret stash of valuable art paintings. Enter Kat Lawson, recruited by the FBI as undercover reporter to do some sleuthing. This was a light spy thriller with linear storyline that skimmed the surface. The plot was conveniently coincidental and rather basic. This was disappointing read. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is book two in the Kat Dawson series. I didn't realize this when I started reading it. However, you can read it as a stand-alone.

I enjoyed the premise of the book as I love reading stories with some type of investigation. Kat is a journalist on assignment for the FBI. She has to navigate a new country while building relationships with various people to discover the truth about Gerhardt's Hoard. Kat needs to be careful as an assassin is watching her every move.

I enjoyed that Kat was able to be cautious and maintain her cover as a journalist. She knew how to read people and when to let her guard down.

The book was easy to read and only 215 pages. I appreciated seeing the German language for common phrases with the English translation next to it.

I loved that Nancy advised of the real-life history at the end of the book. Her book captures the essence of Hildebrand Gurlitt's elaborate art heist. I was not aware of the resurfaced stolen art in 2012.

PASSPORT TO SPY by Nancy Cole Silverman
The Second Kat Lawson Mystery

Kat Lawson is in Munich, Germany ostensibly as a reporter for Travel Life magazine writing about winter attractions. In reality, she's working for the FBI looking for information about a hidden cache of artwork stolen by the Nazis. She has no trouble getting close to her target, a charismatic museum curator, but unfortunately, she's also caught the eye of a suspicious Russian, a gatekeeper receptionist, and a protective sister. Soon Kat gets in deeper than she ever imagined. Will she get out alive?

Though I'm generally a stickler for reading series in order I didn't have time to read the first Kat Lawson mystery before this one. However, PASSPORT TO SPY works perfectly well as an introduction to the series. In fact, it seems as if it is the first book in the series as this is Kat's first assignment. I never felt as if I was missing anything and the book works perfectly well as a stand alone mystery, though I am quite looking forward to see what happens next.

Both intriguing and captivating the second Kat Lawson mystery has mysteries to unravel, though Kat's job is not to solve them. Instead she's supposed to get close to the museum curator and merely gather intelligence. Kat not only gets close, but gets more involved than her handler wants and discovers more than she should. I love how she's able to incorporate her cover story into her real work, as I got to learn about the winter activities and tourist spots around Munich. I also appreciated how Kat was able to keep calm as things spiraled out of control.

PASSPORT TO SPY is an exciting mystery that's part thriller, part historical fiction, and all fun.

Passport to Spy Earns 5+/5 Masterpiece Mysteries … Clever & Compelling Drama!

It’s 1999, Munich, Germany. The Gerhardt Galerie is preparing to display a priceless Gauguin, but its provenance is questioned by a man with the same painting. This dilemma instigated an investigation and sends Kat to Germany on her first assignment as a journalist … well, as a spy; her employer Journey International is really a front for the FBI. Her mission is simple; she meets with the owners/curators of The Galerie, Hans von Hausmann and his sister Erika Schönberg, and finds evidence that the siblings are in possession of their uncle, Otto Gerhardt’s vast collection of art stolen by the Nazis during WWII. Kat’s FBI handler, Sophie Brill is an expert as well as a holocaust survivor, but hides her personal connection to “Gerhardt’s Hoard.” Easy-peasy. Not at all. Kat has the nose of an investigative journalist, but a spy with limited command of German puts her in jeopardy. She’s stalked, mugged, and threatened, but with a truth hard to refute, a plea hard to ignore, and a determination hard to give up, Kat joins forces with unlikely sources leading to tragic consequences and her evading those who wish her harm.

Nancy Cole Silverman second book in her Kat Lawson Mystery starts right off with Kat frantically evading the German police, Russian thugs, and some she didn’t expect finding her first assignment more dangerous than she imagined. Silverman channeled her own experiences in Germany, a customs check turned discovery of WWII stolen art, and the life of museum curator Hildebrand Gurlitt as the kernel around which she’s woven a “couldn’t put down” experience. This intriguing tale portrays Kat Lawson as the perfect undercover “spy;” she’s of a mature age, knowledgeable, and seemingly innocent of a hidden agenda, but the search for information about Gerhardt’s Hoard places her and others in life-threatening situations. She’s approached with offers of friendship and collaboration, but with the truth about her FBI handler, it raises serious issues about trust, the most compelling question and most surprising of dilemmas. The final “truth” is a nail-biting chase and surprising arrest. Kat’s cover story as a travel writer, provided Silverman the opportunity to highlight the beauty of the Bavarian region during the Christmas holidays, and incorporating the German language, easily translated within the narrative, along with google worthy mentions of traditional German delicacies, historical sites with intriguing backstories, and plenty of art from the masters across the eras complimented the mystery. Nominated for my “Top of 2023”!

On her first official undercover case for the FBI after foiling a trafficking ring in The Navigator’s Daughter Kat finds that she may have bit off more than she could chew one her second trip abroad. Based loosely on a true life narrative once again this is a must read!

Silverman blends fact with fiction in an enjoyable, fast-paced and easy-to-read mystery.
It's December, 1999, and investigative reporter Kat Lawson is working undercover for the FBI as a reporter for Travel International magazine. She arrives in Munich to ostensibly cover the holiday scene, but her real goal is to get close to the von Hausmann family and determine whether they are, in fact, sitting on a horde of stolen art their uncle is believed to have ended up with at the end of WWII. Although I haven't read the first book in the series, I felt like I got to know Kat quickly, and I liked her. The descriptions of Munich and Bavaria are vivid and I like that it was set during the holiday season and introduces the reader to so much of the wonderful German Christmas traditions. The mystery wasn't too hard to figure out, but it wasn't blatantly obvious either.

Passport to Spy by Nancy Cole Silverman is the second book in the Kat Lawson Mystery series, and it is so good! It takes place in 1999, and as in the first book, The Navigator’s Daughter, it centers around events which occurred during WWII. In The Navigator’s Daughter, Kat travels to Hungary at her dying father’s request. While she’s there, she gets embroiled in a mystery which she helps solve. Now, she’s got a new job working as a travel reporter for Travel International, and she’s in Munich to cover the holidays in Germany. However, that’s not her real job. She’s working undercover for the FBI! Kat is supposed to find out all she can about where art from the World’s Largest Art Heist is hidden.

Passport to Spy starts out strong and just keeps going! I read it in a day because I just couldn’t put it down! As a former investigative reporter, Kat knows how to ferret out clues while playing a role. Visiting the museum run by Hans von Hausmann and his sister Erika Schonburg is Kat’s top priority as they were suspected of hiding the stolen artwork known as Gerhardt’s Hoard. Their uncle, Otto Gerhardt, helped the Nazis “buy”/steal thousands of masterpieces meant for Hitler’s private collection. Gerhardt supposedly helped himself to a hoard of them. I found this fascinating! Through reading historical fiction, I knew that the Nazis stole artwork from wealthy Jews and museums, but I’d never heard of the story that inspired the author to write this story. (Read her author guest post on my blog, Christy’s Cozy Corners, to find out more!)

The author excels at drawing the reader into a story. I felt as if I were Kat! She puts herself in perilous situations even though her handler tells her to back off if a situation feels dangerous. Kat lives on the edge! There are instances where I was holding my breath waiting to see how Kat would get out of a dangerous situation. One of those occurs on the road. It’s winter. Drivers have no fear in Germany apparently. They cut in and out of traffic and travel at extremely high speeds. I’m never driving there! I would love to tour Germany during the holidays and visit the “marts”, but I’d do it with a tour group!

Passport to Spy keeps you constantly guessing. Kat doesn’t know who she can trust though there is one character she knows she cannot trust! Her interactions with him will make your pulse race. This book has so many suspenseful situations! As I said, I read it in a day, so make sure you’ve got time when you pick up this book! You’re not going to want to put it down! The characters feel so real, and you can’t wait to see what happens to them. You can’t wait to find out who the “bad guy” is because it really could be any of them.

I highly recommend Passport to Spy for its suspenseful plot, true-to-life characters, vivid setting, and page-turning excitement! I absolutely loved it, and I can’t wait for the next adventure!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Book two in this series that works perfectly as a stand alone novel.
Kat Lawson is an investigative journalist working for the magazine, Journal International, which is a front for the FBI.
Kat has been tasked to ascertain the truth about Gerhardt’s Hoard, a hidden cache of art masterpieces, looted by the Germans during WW2. Thousands of items were stolen from Museums, Art Galleries, and wealthy Jewish families and Institutions, and even today, there are still immense problems getting countries to return these items to those who lost their possessions.
She is to get closer to Hans Von Hausman, who with his sister Erika, are the children of Otto Gerhardt, and are both suspected of knowing the whereabouts of these treasures, and of selling them for their own benefit.
An excellent read, the research is top notch. I loved the characters of Kat, Sandor and Aanika, really enjoyed the locations of this novel, Berlin, Hungary and Neuremberg, plus an actual Castle!
Having seen the films Woman in Gold, and The Monuments Men, I was still shocked at the loose description of stolen in Germany. It’s not illegal to own or sell stolen art, all they ask is that you pay any tax due to the state! Even now , Germany and other nations do not ask any far reaching or searching questions about collections of stolen art.
This is based upon the real life exploits of Hildebrand Gurlitt, who collected the best art for Goering, and possibly increased his own collection at the same time.
My thanks go to Netgalley and Level best books, for my advance digital copy, freely given in return for my honest review. I will post reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK.

An interesting mystery that takes place in Germany. I have spent only twenty-four hours in Germany and tend to think their words are much too long. Grin! Intriguing tale of hidden art. I have not read the first Kat Lawson mystery, but this one works well as a standalone. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Kat Lawson’s first official case working undercover for the FBI sends her to Munich, Germany at Christmas. While she is officially there to cover the season for a travel magazine, she is supposed to get close to gallery owner Hans von Hausmann who is suspected of knowing the location of a horde of art missing since the end of World War II. After a slow start, Kat begins to make progress, but without knowing who to trust, can she complete her mission? Or is she in more danger than she realizes?

This was a fantastic book in the series. The world of Munich in December 1999 came to life, and I shivered from cold a few times as I read. The plot kept me guessing as Kat had to deal with one thing after another. The third act just ups the suspense, and I couldn’t put it down. We really only see a couple of returning characters, which means that Kat doesn’t know who she can trust, which was a wonderful addition to the plot. The characters are all strong. This book will have you hooked from the beginning. Enjoy it today.

What a fantabulous and totally engrossing mystery! I read the first book of this series a couple of weeks ago and I was eagerly waiting to catch up with the next installment.

As I was reading through, it felt like a movie playing in my head. Nancy Cole Silverman is a master storyteller. At the end of the book, the author has mentioned what inspired her to write Passport to Spy - from her stay in Germany as a young army wife to coffee parties with fellow German wives to much more.

I really love the fact that the author takes inspiration for her stories from her real life. The first book in this series - The Navigator’s Daughter - was also inspired by a real-life story involving her father.

I was hooked on to this story from the start and couldn't put it down until the end. Excellent plot-to-story development. Impressive character development (we meet Sandor and Aanika too - who first appeared in the previous installment.) Mystery to keep one guessing till the end. A dash of post-soviet-era spying and art thefts to keep one hooked. What else does a mystery lover want? :)

If you are looking for an engrossing, interesting, and unique mystery, I highly recommend you to give Passport to Spy by Nancy Cole Silverman a try.