(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

1944. Physics professor Alfred Mendl is separated from his family and sent to the men’s camp, where all of his belongings are tossed on a roaring fire. His books, his papers, his life’s work. The Nazis have no idea what they have just destroyed. And without that physical record, Alfred is one of only two people in the world with his particular knowledge. Knowledge that could start a war, or end it.
Nathan Blum works behind a desk at an intelligence office in Washington, DC, but he longs to contribute to the war effort in a more meaningful way, and he has a particular skill set the U.S. suddenly needs. Nathan is fluent in German and Polish, he is Semitic looking, and he proved his scrappiness at a young age when he escaped from the Polish ghetto. Now, the government wants him to take on the most dangerous assignment of his life: Nathan must sneak into Auschwitz, on a mission to find and escape with one man.

Andrew Gross - the author I first came across as a co-writer for James Patterson. Then, as a novelist in his own right with some decent crime fiction novels. However, since he has turned his hand to historical fiction, he is really starting to excel. I really enjoyed The Saboteur and this book is just as good.

What makes it work? There is, of course, the historical aspect - the richness of the detail really brings the reader into the story. The thriller aspect is what keeps the pages turning. The humanity of the characters is what makes our hearts happy.

But it is the fact that the author didn't try to gloss over what happened in those camps that won me over. Too many times I have read WW2 fiction that tries to avoid mentioning that aspect - maybe for fear of upsetting or alienating a certain market - but Gross covers this with respect and humanity. He should be congratulated for that!

If WW2 thrillers are your game, then this is the one for you. Enjoy!


Paul
ARH

Filled with twists and turns I ever saw coming! Andrew Gross knows exactly how to pull his readers in and never lets them go!one of my very favorite authors!

Loved it! This book kept my attention and was a great story! I definitely recommend this book!

Great World War II book! Definitely one of the best of those that I've read. This one was heartbreaking and touching and I loved it! It was very intensely emotional and full of suspense. It is high on the list of my top books of the year.

Kept my interest throughout the story. Recommended it to others.