November 1, 2023
Historical fiction devotees will flock to this romantic thriller superimposed over real settings and events of WWII. Harris (Beneath a Starless Sky, 2021) is best known for her Dr. Thomas Silkstone mysteries and several stand-alone novels that all showcase her creative, research-based approach. Katja is a young woman whose unique background qualifies her for a job transcribing archived medical notes about an anonymous psychiatric patient, a soldier. As Katja delves into the details of the mentally unstable soldier's treatment, she realizes that her covert work could potentially topple the Nazi regime--the mere knowledge could place her in mortal danger. Harris imagines Katja's daring efforts to protect and expose the crucial documents while also gifting her with a badly timed romance. Cyclical bouts of tension lend the plot a sense of urgency and intensify its perilous atmosphere. Stereotypical characters and the overuse of coincidence will not dissuade fans of fast-paced narratives crafted with escalating momentum. Despite the improbable romance and some formulaic elements, this is a captivating story based on authentic artifacts from the era.
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