Eight stars
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Mullen, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
A fan of Thomas Mullen, I was eager to pick up this book to read another piece of historical fiction. Mullen weaves a wonderful story and keeps the reader in tune with all that is going on. While I love historical fiction, some authors use little to no creative freedom when they write. Mullen makes sure to develop things as he would like them to be, allowing a better story and stronger developments.
It’s June 1943 and tensions are high across the United States, with distrust enveloping many. Friends are now foes and those who are unrecognised had better not come into town, for fear of major ramifications. As tensions rise, there is a great deal of harm that could occur, should stories not be clear or decisions spun in a certain manner.
Reporter Anne Lemire has her hands full trying to dispel many of the rumours that have been circulating around town. Some are Axis propaganda to divide Americans, while others are locally fabricated to stir the pot. Anne must get to the bottom of them before the tinderbox is lit and things become explosive. Anne is tired of the banality of it all and hopes to find a bigger scoop that is well worth her while and abilities.
Special Agent Devon Mulvey has made a name for himself within the FBI, not all good. He spends his days trying to root out the traitors and weekends finding clerics who are fanning the flames for their own benefit. Nothing is quite as Devon would like. Special Agent Mulvey has a way with the women and does all he can to score with them, while their husbands are out fighting or working.
After Anne begins chasing a story about Nazi propaganda, she comes face to face with Special Agent Mulvey, who has been working on an investigation into the murder of a n immigrant worker. Together, they are pulled into the depths of the propaganda machine, where espionage is the least of their concerns. They must find a way to discover the truth, together. As they struggle, there are aspects of themselves that are key to the larger investigation. Mullen does well with this piece and keeps the action high.
The novels of Thomas Mullen that I have read kept me hooked until the final pages. While I had moments of pace slowing, I found myself quite intrigued with how Mullen set things out. With strong narrative flow and keen characters to fill in all the spaces, Mullen keeps the reader wondering until the very end. Using a known historical period as a background, the story comes alive and keeps the reader guessing. Mullen has mastered the art of development and wastes no time here.
Plot points are well received throughout the piece, keeping the reader on their toes. There is so much going on at some points that the reader must stop to collect themselves. While World War 2 stories tend not to pull me in, I found myself hooked and eager to learn more. For that I must thank Thomas Mullen.
Kudos, Mr. Mullen, for keeping things on point and well-developed throughout.
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