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An Affair of Spies
From the winner of the National Jewish Book Award--A spy mission to rescue a defector from Germany and prevent the Nazis from creating an atomic bomb.
Nathan Silverman grew up in Berlin in the 1920s, the son of a homemaker and a theoretical physicist. His idyllic childhood was soon marred by increasing levels of bigotry against his family and the rest of the Jewish community, and after his uncle is arrested on Kristallnacht, he leaves Germany for New York City with only his mother's wedding ring to sell for survival.
While attending an evening course at Columbia in 1941, Nathan notices a recruitment poster on a university wall and decides to enlist in the military and help fight the Nazi regime. To his surprise, he is quickly selected for a special assignment; he is trained as a spy, and ordered to report to the Manhattan Project. There he learns that the Allies are racing to develop a nuclear weapon before the Nazis, and a German theoretical physicist is hoping to defect. The physicist was a friend of his father's, and Nathan's mission is to return to Berlin via France and smuggle him out of Europe.
Nathan will be accompanied by Dr. Allison Fisher, a brilliant young scientist who can speak French; he travels to her lab at the University of Chicago for a crash course in nuclear physics, then they embark on their adventure. Nathan and Allison soon develop feelings for one another, but as their relationship deepens they move ever closer to their dangerous goal. Will they be able to escape Europe with the defector and start a new life together, or will they fail their mission and become two more casualties of war?
An Affair of Spies is an action-packed tale of heroism and love in the face of unspeakable evil. Author Ronald H. Balson has applied his unmatched talent for evocative and painstakingly authentic storytelling to the high-stakes world of espionage and created his most thrilling novel yet.
Nathan Silverman grew up in Berlin in the 1920s, the son of a homemaker and a theoretical physicist. His idyllic childhood was soon marred by increasing levels of bigotry against his family and the rest of the Jewish community, and after his uncle is arrested on Kristallnacht, he leaves Germany for New York City with only his mother's wedding ring to sell for survival.
While attending an evening course at Columbia in 1941, Nathan notices a recruitment poster on a university wall and decides to enlist in the military and help fight the Nazi regime. To his surprise, he is quickly selected for a special assignment; he is trained as a spy, and ordered to report to the Manhattan Project. There he learns that the Allies are racing to develop a nuclear weapon before the Nazis, and a German theoretical physicist is hoping to defect. The physicist was a friend of his father's, and Nathan's mission is to return to Berlin via France and smuggle him out of Europe.
Nathan will be accompanied by Dr. Allison Fisher, a brilliant young scientist who can speak French; he travels to her lab at the University of Chicago for a crash course in nuclear physics, then they embark on their adventure. Nathan and Allison soon develop feelings for one another, but as their relationship deepens they move ever closer to their dangerous goal. Will they be able to escape Europe with the defector and start a new life together, or will they fail their mission and become two more casualties of war?
An Affair of Spies is an action-packed tale of heroism and love in the face of unspeakable evil. Author Ronald H. Balson has applied his unmatched talent for evocative and painstakingly authentic storytelling to the high-stakes world of espionage and created his most thrilling novel yet.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 13, 2022
297 people are currently reading
8944 people want to read
About the author
Ronald H. Balson
13 books1,871 followersWhen he’s not writing books, Ron is a practicing attorney with the firm of Stone, Pogrund & Korey in Chicago. He has been a civil litigation attorney for forty-three years. He was an adjunct professor of business law at the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business for twenty-five years and was a frequent lecturer in the federal bar certification course and in trial advocacy seminars.
The demands of his legal practice have taken Ron into courts all across the United States and Canada, and for deposition testimony all across Europe and Asia. A few years ago, Ron became involved in a commercial dispute concerning telephone service in Poland. Numerous trips to Warsaw and southern Poland provided the inspiration for his first novel, Once We Were Brothers. Ron’s love of history and his travels to the Middle East provided the motivation for his second novel, Saving Sophie.
During the Once We Were Brothers book tour, Ron was introduced to several survivors of the World War II concentration camps. Of all the stories of courage and determination, one woman’s story was so moving that it formed the basis for Karolina’s Twins, Ron’s third book due out in 2016.
Ron was a finalist for the Harper Lee Award for Legal Fiction in 2014 and a finalist for the Premio Bancarella Italian Literature Award in 2014. He was an honoree at the Chicago Public Library Foundation’s Carl Sandburg Literary Award dinner.
The demands of his legal practice have taken Ron into courts all across the United States and Canada, and for deposition testimony all across Europe and Asia. A few years ago, Ron became involved in a commercial dispute concerning telephone service in Poland. Numerous trips to Warsaw and southern Poland provided the inspiration for his first novel, Once We Were Brothers. Ron’s love of history and his travels to the Middle East provided the motivation for his second novel, Saving Sophie.
During the Once We Were Brothers book tour, Ron was introduced to several survivors of the World War II concentration camps. Of all the stories of courage and determination, one woman’s story was so moving that it formed the basis for Karolina’s Twins, Ron’s third book due out in 2016.
Ron was a finalist for the Harper Lee Award for Legal Fiction in 2014 and a finalist for the Premio Bancarella Italian Literature Award in 2014. He was an honoree at the Chicago Public Library Foundation’s Carl Sandburg Literary Award dinner.
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October 18, 2025
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 appreciate how any attraction between the characters is handled.
Pub Sept 13, 2022
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
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 appreciate how any attraction between the characters is handled.
Pub Sept 13, 2022
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
September 18, 2022
An Affair of Spies by Ronald H. Balson was a fast paced historical fiction thriller. This was my eighth book that I have read by Ronald H. Balson. Although I enjoyed reading it, it was not one of my all time favorite books by him. I appreciated the impeccable research that went into writing this book, though. The plot of An Affair of Spies focused on the mission of helping a German nuclear scientist that was working at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute defect to the United States. In exchange for helping him defect, the German scientist would supply information about Germany’s progress in the development of a nuclear weapon to the army personnel that was helping him defect. This plot idea was a product of Ronald H. Balson’s imagination. It never actually occurred but many of the German scientists, army personnel, locations of certain offices and army regiments and top secret projects that were mentioned in this book were real. At the height of World War II, the United States and Germany were in a race with each other to see who could develop a nuclear weapon first. Ronald H. Balson used these facts to weave a fictional story around them. The Manhattan Project was the guise the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves established to pursue this research and development of a nuclear weapon. A brilliant scientist that was involved with The Manhattan Project and an army soldier were selected to carry out this dangerous and top secret mission.
Nathan Silverman was born and raised in Germany during the 1920’s. He resided in Berlin with his mother, father and younger sister. Nathan‘s father was a brilliant and respected physicist. When Hitler and the Nazi party came into power in Germany and started imposing antisemitic regulations for the Jews, Nathan’s life as he had known it was disrupted and would never be the same. The Nazis started to target Jews and commit atrocities against them. Nathan’s family decided to send Nathan to New York to live with his aunt. The Nazis were still allowing Jews to leave Germany. Nathan’s father believed his position would be enough to keep him and Nathan’s mother and sister safe. To hep ensure Nathan’s well being, his mother gave him her gold wedding ring with instructions to sell it if he ever needed funds. Nathan arrived in New York after a long and difficult journey by boat. He started to take classes at Columbia University when he saw a recruitment poster for the United States Army. Nathan decided to enlist, was accepted and ended up at Camp Ritchie in Maryland. Camp Ritchie was a secret facility that was designed to train soldiers that were originally of German descent. One day, Nathan’s commanding officer, Colonel Charles Y. Banfill told Nathan that he was being reassigned to New York City to The Manhattan Project. Nathan was told to report to Major General Leslie Groves and that he would explain his new orders. When Nathan arrived at the offices of The Manhattan Project in New York City the nature of his new orders were explained. The army needed Nathan to travel to Germany by way of France. He would be accompanied by a brilliant scientist who was also very involved with The Manhattan Project. The two of them would help one of Germany’s top nuclear scientists defect to the United States but not before he disclosed Germany’s progress in producing a nuclear weapon. Nathan pictured an old decrepit male scientist that would accompany him. To his surprise, the scientist was a woman. She was not only brilliant and attractive but close to his own age. Her name was Dr. Allison Fisher. Would Nathan and Dr. Fisher get the information they desperately wanted and needed about Germany’s progress of building a nuclear weapon? Would they be able to help the German scientist escape Nazi Germany? What dangers would they encounter?
There were a few things that I found to be quite exasperating while reading An Affair of Spies. The number one thing that bothered me was the unnecessary repetition of the scientific jargon concerning the nuclear weapons. I found it to be excessively detailed oriented and repeated several times throughout the book. Another thing that I questioned was Nathan’s professionalism as an officer in the United States Army. Why would he divulge information that could jeopardize the mission and put his life and Allison’s life in danger? Overall though, I enjoyed reading An Affair of Spies. I did appreciate the relationship that grew between Nathan and Allison even if I suspected that it would from their first encounter. It was still fun to watch it grow and develop. I recommend this book if you enjoy reading about aspects of World War II and enjoy historical fiction novels.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this ARC of An Affair of Spies by Ronald H. Balson through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Nathan Silverman was born and raised in Germany during the 1920’s. He resided in Berlin with his mother, father and younger sister. Nathan‘s father was a brilliant and respected physicist. When Hitler and the Nazi party came into power in Germany and started imposing antisemitic regulations for the Jews, Nathan’s life as he had known it was disrupted and would never be the same. The Nazis started to target Jews and commit atrocities against them. Nathan’s family decided to send Nathan to New York to live with his aunt. The Nazis were still allowing Jews to leave Germany. Nathan’s father believed his position would be enough to keep him and Nathan’s mother and sister safe. To hep ensure Nathan’s well being, his mother gave him her gold wedding ring with instructions to sell it if he ever needed funds. Nathan arrived in New York after a long and difficult journey by boat. He started to take classes at Columbia University when he saw a recruitment poster for the United States Army. Nathan decided to enlist, was accepted and ended up at Camp Ritchie in Maryland. Camp Ritchie was a secret facility that was designed to train soldiers that were originally of German descent. One day, Nathan’s commanding officer, Colonel Charles Y. Banfill told Nathan that he was being reassigned to New York City to The Manhattan Project. Nathan was told to report to Major General Leslie Groves and that he would explain his new orders. When Nathan arrived at the offices of The Manhattan Project in New York City the nature of his new orders were explained. The army needed Nathan to travel to Germany by way of France. He would be accompanied by a brilliant scientist who was also very involved with The Manhattan Project. The two of them would help one of Germany’s top nuclear scientists defect to the United States but not before he disclosed Germany’s progress in producing a nuclear weapon. Nathan pictured an old decrepit male scientist that would accompany him. To his surprise, the scientist was a woman. She was not only brilliant and attractive but close to his own age. Her name was Dr. Allison Fisher. Would Nathan and Dr. Fisher get the information they desperately wanted and needed about Germany’s progress of building a nuclear weapon? Would they be able to help the German scientist escape Nazi Germany? What dangers would they encounter?
There were a few things that I found to be quite exasperating while reading An Affair of Spies. The number one thing that bothered me was the unnecessary repetition of the scientific jargon concerning the nuclear weapons. I found it to be excessively detailed oriented and repeated several times throughout the book. Another thing that I questioned was Nathan’s professionalism as an officer in the United States Army. Why would he divulge information that could jeopardize the mission and put his life and Allison’s life in danger? Overall though, I enjoyed reading An Affair of Spies. I did appreciate the relationship that grew between Nathan and Allison even if I suspected that it would from their first encounter. It was still fun to watch it grow and develop. I recommend this book if you enjoy reading about aspects of World War II and enjoy historical fiction novels.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this ARC of An Affair of Spies by Ronald H. Balson through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 10, 2023
The author shared that while researching a project, he came across a typewritten letter that led him on a road to write this book.
The letter discovered was typed by none other than A. Einstein who wrote to F. D. Roosevelt in 1939 about the consequences of recent scientific research.
This letter informed the President of his duty to bring this matter to his attention.
He actually named names of individuals involved and said, “it has become possible to set up a nuclear chain reaction in a large mass of uranium, by which vast amounts of power …would be generated.” While this had the promise of a new and important source of energy he warned that “extremely powerful bombs of a new type could be constructed.”
And thus this fictional story was born.
All he had to do was create characters and invent a plot to weave through that historical background, without misstating the critical facts.
Premise: Nathan Silverman’s idyllic life is soon changed by the increasing bigotry against his family and the rest of the Jewish community after his uncle is arrested on Krirstallnacht. He leaves Germany for New York City with only his mother’s wedding ring for survival.
While attending Columbia in 1942, he decides to enlist in the military to fight the Nazis. He is selected and trained as a spy, and then ordered to report to the Manhattan Project.
Mission: to smuggle out a physicist hoping to defect who also was a friend of his father, who was also a physicist.
He travels with Dr. Allison Fisher, a brilliant scientist who trains him, and whom he also develops strong feelings for, as well.
Will they be successful in their mission?
So…
Was this book exciting? Romantic? Historically accurate? Informative? Did it mix history with fiction well? Were we as readers transported back in time?
Answers: Yes.
Was it fast paced, and tense in delivering its message? Yes.
Did the characters feel genuine? Yes.
Was it original in its storytelling? No.
The letter he based this story on is true, but how the author eventually told the story…
We as readers have been-here-before, so it felt like another WWII story told with a thriller edge.
If you are okay with that, you should enjoy the read. 3.5 stars.
The letter discovered was typed by none other than A. Einstein who wrote to F. D. Roosevelt in 1939 about the consequences of recent scientific research.
This letter informed the President of his duty to bring this matter to his attention.
He actually named names of individuals involved and said, “it has become possible to set up a nuclear chain reaction in a large mass of uranium, by which vast amounts of power …would be generated.” While this had the promise of a new and important source of energy he warned that “extremely powerful bombs of a new type could be constructed.”
And thus this fictional story was born.
All he had to do was create characters and invent a plot to weave through that historical background, without misstating the critical facts.
Premise: Nathan Silverman’s idyllic life is soon changed by the increasing bigotry against his family and the rest of the Jewish community after his uncle is arrested on Krirstallnacht. He leaves Germany for New York City with only his mother’s wedding ring for survival.
While attending Columbia in 1942, he decides to enlist in the military to fight the Nazis. He is selected and trained as a spy, and then ordered to report to the Manhattan Project.
Mission: to smuggle out a physicist hoping to defect who also was a friend of his father, who was also a physicist.
He travels with Dr. Allison Fisher, a brilliant scientist who trains him, and whom he also develops strong feelings for, as well.
Will they be successful in their mission?
So…
Was this book exciting? Romantic? Historically accurate? Informative? Did it mix history with fiction well? Were we as readers transported back in time?
Answers: Yes.
Was it fast paced, and tense in delivering its message? Yes.
Did the characters feel genuine? Yes.
Was it original in its storytelling? No.
The letter he based this story on is true, but how the author eventually told the story…
We as readers have been-here-before, so it felt like another WWII story told with a thriller edge.
If you are okay with that, you should enjoy the read. 3.5 stars.
January 3, 2023
I have read all of Ron Balson's canon of works, so I was looking forward to this one. I liked it, although perhaps not so much as the others. I did hear some harsh reviews of it when I was at about 15%, but I am giving it a solid three. Some detracting voices felt it was too heavy on the science and that it was all highly improbably. I feel that when we are talking about regular people, even soldiers outsmarting the Nazi's in 1943, well its all highly improbable anyway. You kind of have to enter these spy novels with a complete suspension of disbelief. If I took apart every single book I had read in this manner, I wouldn't enjoy the experience of reading.
I liked it. I liked the couple. I didn't mind the science. They were fiesty and ethical and humane and daring. I liked the people the met along the way and I thought the book well displayed some of the difficult choices folks had to consider both in the moment and over time. Some of it was pure and plain luck and pluck. Which I think actually did save a lot of people. I am thinking of the non-fiction book We Were The Lucky Ones, and what kind of crazy luck and pluck had to occur for this family to survive in its entirety and reunite. I have to believe there's a little bit of hand of God in there. Which never really explains why some people aren't afforded the same luck or protection. I can't explain that dilemma of preferential discrimination - no one can. I think that is where Faith comes in.
This is my first book of 2023. I read likely about 75% historical fiction or over. For my first book, not too bad. Next up is Carrie Soto is Back. Happy New Year Everyone.
I liked it. I liked the couple. I didn't mind the science. They were fiesty and ethical and humane and daring. I liked the people the met along the way and I thought the book well displayed some of the difficult choices folks had to consider both in the moment and over time. Some of it was pure and plain luck and pluck. Which I think actually did save a lot of people. I am thinking of the non-fiction book We Were The Lucky Ones, and what kind of crazy luck and pluck had to occur for this family to survive in its entirety and reunite. I have to believe there's a little bit of hand of God in there. Which never really explains why some people aren't afforded the same luck or protection. I can't explain that dilemma of preferential discrimination - no one can. I think that is where Faith comes in.
This is my first book of 2023. I read likely about 75% historical fiction or over. For my first book, not too bad. Next up is Carrie Soto is Back. Happy New Year Everyone.
August 21, 2022
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, personally, I 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.
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, personally, I 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.
September 26, 2022
Going into Germany during the war? How can you even think that will be safe and with a civilian in tow?
Nathan is to enter Germany and find out secrets about how far the Germans are with an atomic bomb and to bring back a German scientist to the United States. He is to take physicist Allison to be sure they are getting the correct information.
Nathan is undercover as a high-ranking German officer and Allison is to be his girlfriend.
How safe can this be? Allison is very frightened.
We follow them on their journey and learn a great deal about physics and the building of bombs and feel the tension as they are interrogated by other German officers that are questioning the validity of Nathan’s rank.
The technical aspect was not of interest and I was hoping it wasn't going to be that detailed throughout, but Mr. Balson as always has a story line that is outstanding and pull you in with two main characters you will love.
The tension as Nathan and Allison do undercover work and deal with the Nazis had my heart pounding.
Another well-researched book by Mr. Balson. 4/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
Nathan is to enter Germany and find out secrets about how far the Germans are with an atomic bomb and to bring back a German scientist to the United States. He is to take physicist Allison to be sure they are getting the correct information.
Nathan is undercover as a high-ranking German officer and Allison is to be his girlfriend.
How safe can this be? Allison is very frightened.
We follow them on their journey and learn a great deal about physics and the building of bombs and feel the tension as they are interrogated by other German officers that are questioning the validity of Nathan’s rank.
The technical aspect was not of interest and I was hoping it wasn't going to be that detailed throughout, but Mr. Balson as always has a story line that is outstanding and pull you in with two main characters you will love.
The tension as Nathan and Allison do undercover work and deal with the Nazis had my heart pounding.
Another well-researched book by Mr. Balson. 4/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
October 7, 2022
AN AFFAIR OF SPIES
Ronald H. Balson
I finished this, just barely. As I look over some of the reviews I wonder if my book was different from the rest.
I am a lover of historical fiction, especially during the WWII period. But I do draw the line and demand common sense and good judgment. You can play fast and loose with history all you want, but some things just don't seem possible or probable to me.
I realize it makes a great story to send a famous physicist to Berlin Germany, but they do speak German there and so it would seem that the spy should at least understand the language. I get that you might be shot down there, but to send in a woman, one very important to the Manhattan Project who cannot speak the language just doesn't seem like something that would be done. Then you have a German who keeps getting field promotions traveling along with the physicist who can speak French, but he cannot. WHAT?
Worse is that they have to speak English while they are traveling. In addition, the German soldier is dressed as a GERMAN OFFICER and keeps rescuing persecuted Jews on the street. In addition, this guy is a loose cannon and makes dangerous side treks that put everyone's lives in danger. SURPRISED they made it out, that is for sure.
I just was disappointed and certainly not impressed.
2.5 stars rounded to a LOW 3
Happy Reading!
Ronald H. Balson
I finished this, just barely. As I look over some of the reviews I wonder if my book was different from the rest.
I am a lover of historical fiction, especially during the WWII period. But I do draw the line and demand common sense and good judgment. You can play fast and loose with history all you want, but some things just don't seem possible or probable to me.
I realize it makes a great story to send a famous physicist to Berlin Germany, but they do speak German there and so it would seem that the spy should at least understand the language. I get that you might be shot down there, but to send in a woman, one very important to the Manhattan Project who cannot speak the language just doesn't seem like something that would be done. Then you have a German who keeps getting field promotions traveling along with the physicist who can speak French, but he cannot. WHAT?
Worse is that they have to speak English while they are traveling. In addition, the German soldier is dressed as a GERMAN OFFICER and keeps rescuing persecuted Jews on the street. In addition, this guy is a loose cannon and makes dangerous side treks that put everyone's lives in danger. SURPRISED they made it out, that is for sure.
I just was disappointed and certainly not impressed.
2.5 stars rounded to a LOW 3
Happy Reading!
July 5, 2022
Another excellent WWII thriller by Ronald Balson. Sergeant Nathan Silverman is a German Jewish refugee, who fled Europe at the urging of his family, and has enlisted in the US army, where he has been transferred into an intelligence unit because of his fluency in German. He is sent to NY City to meet a General and Robert Oppenheimer, and introduced to Dr. Allison Fischer, a nuclear physicist. Together, they are asked to sneak into Nazi Germany to evaluate whether a Dr. Snyder can help the U.S. effort to build a nuclear weapon and to determine what progress the Nazis have made in their own efforts to build one. Nathan's father (Josef) worked with Snyder and Nathan is desperate for news of his family, and fears the worst. Nathan impersonates a Wehrmacht officer and Allison is supposed to be his French girlfriend. Of course, they encounter many difficulties along the way, and because of compartmentalization, Snyder only has a partial picture, causing the Berlin chief of station to assist in an unsanctioned daring mission. Very good, 4.5 stars.
September 14, 2022
An Affair of Spies
by Ronald H. Balson
St. Martin's Press
Pub Date: Sep 13
I read Ronald H. Balson's AN AFFAIR OF SPIES late into the night, gripped by this deftly written histfic mystery-thriller.
Think WWII, the atomic bomb, a brilliant theoretical physicist who wants to defect from Germany, and two spies (Army Sergeant Nathan Silberman, and Dr. Allison Fisher, a French-speaking scientist), tasked with getting the physicist out of Europe so he can work on the Manhattan Project in America.
Perfect pacing, keen emotions, twists and turns, a developing romance, and the world on the brink of disaster kept me turning the pages swiftly to the end. A winner highly recommended for fans of histfic thrillers and addictive yarns.
Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
by Ronald H. Balson
St. Martin's Press
Pub Date: Sep 13
I read Ronald H. Balson's AN AFFAIR OF SPIES late into the night, gripped by this deftly written histfic mystery-thriller.
Think WWII, the atomic bomb, a brilliant theoretical physicist who wants to defect from Germany, and two spies (Army Sergeant Nathan Silberman, and Dr. Allison Fisher, a French-speaking scientist), tasked with getting the physicist out of Europe so he can work on the Manhattan Project in America.
Perfect pacing, keen emotions, twists and turns, a developing romance, and the world on the brink of disaster kept me turning the pages swiftly to the end. A winner highly recommended for fans of histfic thrillers and addictive yarns.
Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
June 9, 2022
Another 5 star thrilling historical novel from Ronald Balson!
In 1938, Nathan Silverman was able to secure a sponsor and visa to escape Nazi Germany for the safety of the USA. He had to leave behind his parents and sister and that scared him to death because of the tightening reins on the Jewish community. His father was a well known scientist and his work was vital to the department of weapons and that kept them safe. As Nathan began to settle in to life in America, he answered the call to sign up and serve his new country and home.
Not just his last name but his skill set caught the attention of the big wigs in the war department, specifically those working on the Manhattan Project. He had been chosen to go back to Germany undercover and help another German scientist who wanted to defect. To be sure that this scientist was authentic and could be of value to their program, a physicist would be joining him on this mission…Dr Allison Fisher. The mission was to get in, get the information and get out but complications follow them. With the gestapo on their tail more than once and with the help of other undercover operatives in Berlin, the two manage to find the German scientist. They then begin their journey home but the challenges persist. The determination, bravery and grit makes these characters and their mission one that will keep you on the edge of your seat with each page you turn.
While the story and many of the characters are fictional, the race for nuclear science was a very real part of WWII though it was kept tightly under wraps for obvious reasons. It’s thrilling, it’s complex, it’s scientific but along with so many other WWII novels…it’s sheds light on the brave men AND women who were willing to put their lives on the line for the greater good.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, St Martins Press and Ronald H Balson for early access to another amazing read!
In 1938, Nathan Silverman was able to secure a sponsor and visa to escape Nazi Germany for the safety of the USA. He had to leave behind his parents and sister and that scared him to death because of the tightening reins on the Jewish community. His father was a well known scientist and his work was vital to the department of weapons and that kept them safe. As Nathan began to settle in to life in America, he answered the call to sign up and serve his new country and home.
Not just his last name but his skill set caught the attention of the big wigs in the war department, specifically those working on the Manhattan Project. He had been chosen to go back to Germany undercover and help another German scientist who wanted to defect. To be sure that this scientist was authentic and could be of value to their program, a physicist would be joining him on this mission…Dr Allison Fisher. The mission was to get in, get the information and get out but complications follow them. With the gestapo on their tail more than once and with the help of other undercover operatives in Berlin, the two manage to find the German scientist. They then begin their journey home but the challenges persist. The determination, bravery and grit makes these characters and their mission one that will keep you on the edge of your seat with each page you turn.
While the story and many of the characters are fictional, the race for nuclear science was a very real part of WWII though it was kept tightly under wraps for obvious reasons. It’s thrilling, it’s complex, it’s scientific but along with so many other WWII novels…it’s sheds light on the brave men AND women who were willing to put their lives on the line for the greater good.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, St Martins Press and Ronald H Balson for early access to another amazing read!
May 10, 2022
Nathan, a German Jew escaped Nazi Germany and is living in the US training to be an intelligence officer when he is plucked from training to do another job.
He later meets Dr Allison Fischer, a brilliant physicist who is also tasked with the mission.
The mission: determine the progress of Nazi Germany’s nuclear program and help a German scientist defect to the USA.
What follows is a clever spy thriller full of twists, spy craft, intrigue and danger.
Often heart-pounding, this novel is un-put-down-able!
I fully recommend it to readers of spy thrillers, those who enjoy period pieces, WWII hist fic and anyone wanting a great fast read!
Thanks to St Martin’s Press via Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my review.
4.5 stars rounded up!
He later meets Dr Allison Fischer, a brilliant physicist who is also tasked with the mission.
The mission: determine the progress of Nazi Germany’s nuclear program and help a German scientist defect to the USA.
What follows is a clever spy thriller full of twists, spy craft, intrigue and danger.
Often heart-pounding, this novel is un-put-down-able!
I fully recommend it to readers of spy thrillers, those who enjoy period pieces, WWII hist fic and anyone wanting a great fast read!
Thanks to St Martin’s Press via Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my review.
4.5 stars rounded up!
November 25, 2022
I really enjoyed Eli’s Promise by this author, so I was interested in this book, even though I’m a bit tired of novels about WW2 in Europe. An Affair of Spies focuses on the Manhattan Project, the (successful) attempt to develop an atomic bomb before Germany could. Unfortunately, there were more than one “info dump” sections where the reader got bombarded with scientific information, especially about nuclear fission, and also an info dump on Nazi atrocities and dangers. Because of the scientific info dump, the book was fairly boring for the first 25% or so, until the two main characters get to Europe and actually start their mission. We have Nathan, a German Jewish young man who escaped Germany in 1938 and signed up to fight for the Americans, and we have Allison, a young (and of course beautiful) female nuclear scientist, who are sent to find out what they can about the German atomic efforts and to bring back a German nuclear scientist who wants to defect.
The action in Europe is fast-paced but was not particularly believable. Example: although there’s widespread food rationing in Occupied France, our protagonists apparently have no trouble finding bakeries well stocked with croissants and other delights. Also, and this would be the fault of the fictional US Army, but Allison doesn’t speak German and Nathan doesn’t speak French, so they can only converse in English. And Nathan doesn’t know how to drive a car! (This was actually fairly realistic, as I grew up in New York City and didn’t need to learn to drive a car, so I learned later in my teens than most Americans.) There were just too many absurd coincidences and terrible decisions made along the way for me.
Nevertheless, once I suspended my disbelief and critical eye, I enjoyed reading Nathan and Allison’s adventures.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. I bounced between the ARC and the published audiobook, courtesy of my public library. The narrator, Fred Berman, did a good job with the various voices and accents. All opinions are my own.
The action in Europe is fast-paced but was not particularly believable. Example: although there’s widespread food rationing in Occupied France, our protagonists apparently have no trouble finding bakeries well stocked with croissants and other delights. Also, and this would be the fault of the fictional US Army, but Allison doesn’t speak German and Nathan doesn’t speak French, so they can only converse in English. And Nathan doesn’t know how to drive a car! (This was actually fairly realistic, as I grew up in New York City and didn’t need to learn to drive a car, so I learned later in my teens than most Americans.) There were just too many absurd coincidences and terrible decisions made along the way for me.
Nevertheless, once I suspended my disbelief and critical eye, I enjoyed reading Nathan and Allison’s adventures.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. I bounced between the ARC and the published audiobook, courtesy of my public library. The narrator, Fred Berman, did a good job with the various voices and accents. All opinions are my own.
December 3, 2022
Really?
I had no idea that WWII stories were written for Hallmark. I would have much preferred this one if it had been a lot less floofy and took the dangers seriously. Nathan blabbed to anyone and everyone, and they supposedly forgot to make sure he could drive? Allison would never have been sent with no training at all. Their interactions were about as mature as high school kids on a dare. The main characters as well as many of their buddies treated the whole thing like a game, and Nathan and Allison were both ridiculously naive and unbelievably self important. I mean... How dare the military not inform them that there might be bombing in a military zone while they were there?! Nathan somehow forgot his military training and ran all over the place risking lives and the mission for personal side trips. He gave his word that he would keep Allison safe. War zone, people! And the wrap up with Lena was so convenient.
I really wanted to enjoy this book but the characters kept doing stupid things - big things - and pissing me off. I'm so disappointed. Where was the editor in this process? Someone should have caught this mess before publication.
I had no idea that WWII stories were written for Hallmark. I would have much preferred this one if it had been a lot less floofy and took the dangers seriously. Nathan blabbed to anyone and everyone, and they supposedly forgot to make sure he could drive? Allison would never have been sent with no training at all. Their interactions were about as mature as high school kids on a dare. The main characters as well as many of their buddies treated the whole thing like a game, and Nathan and Allison were both ridiculously naive and unbelievably self important. I mean... How dare the military not inform them that there might be bombing in a military zone while they were there?! Nathan somehow forgot his military training and ran all over the place risking lives and the mission for personal side trips. He gave his word that he would keep Allison safe. War zone, people! And the wrap up with Lena was so convenient.
I really wanted to enjoy this book but the characters kept doing stupid things - big things - and pissing me off. I'm so disappointed. Where was the editor in this process? Someone should have caught this mess before publication.
July 21, 2022
4.5/5
This book made me feel like I was sitting in my 9th grade physics class and wasn’t that time just the best?
In this story, set against the backdrop of WW2, we follow Nathan – a Jewish man who escaped from Germany in the early 1930s and joined the US military. He is suddenly transferred and given an unusual assignment - go to Germany and smuggle out a nuclear scientist (but not before getting information about the German nuclear program out of him). In this mission Nathan is accompanied by Allison Fisher – an American nuclear scientist, who agreed to this mission in order to prevent mass destruction.
The book has a really interesting plot with a lot of unpredictable plot twists. What I liked is that it doesn’t follow the blueprint of a usual WW2 novel.
As to what I didn’t quite like was that the dialogues (especially in the beginning of the book) seemed a little bit too un-human, as in, too perfected and edited, it just didn’t sound the way real people actually talk. Also, I felt like the relationship between Allison and Nathan developed a bit too quickly in the beginning.
This book made me feel like I was sitting in my 9th grade physics class and wasn’t that time just the best?
In this story, set against the backdrop of WW2, we follow Nathan – a Jewish man who escaped from Germany in the early 1930s and joined the US military. He is suddenly transferred and given an unusual assignment - go to Germany and smuggle out a nuclear scientist (but not before getting information about the German nuclear program out of him). In this mission Nathan is accompanied by Allison Fisher – an American nuclear scientist, who agreed to this mission in order to prevent mass destruction.
The book has a really interesting plot with a lot of unpredictable plot twists. What I liked is that it doesn’t follow the blueprint of a usual WW2 novel.
As to what I didn’t quite like was that the dialogues (especially in the beginning of the book) seemed a little bit too un-human, as in, too perfected and edited, it just didn’t sound the way real people actually talk. Also, I felt like the relationship between Allison and Nathan developed a bit too quickly in the beginning.
October 23, 2022
The idea of this book is interesting- they send spies into Nazi Germany to retrieve a defecting scientist who is working on the atomic bomb. Yes, I'm in! However, that was the only good thing about this book. The characters are terrible! Horribly awful spies! All I could think about the entire story was "how are these people still alive!?! Is it true that some people are just too dumb to die? They are going to get everyone killed!"
They make frustrating awful decisions the entire time they are in Germany. They have horrible covers anyway, but hey let's not stay at the safe house- let's sightsee. In fact, let's not only sightsee, but go back to his old neighborhood in broad daylight to visit his parent's house. What could go wrong?!? I wish that was the only dumb thing they did, but it was only one of so many more - talking about their plans in English in public while he's in a Nazi uniform , giving out information to people before confirming they are in fact who they are supposed to be talking to, constantly forgetting to use their aliases, using the defector's name while talking to people, telling outside people their entire plan, telling outside people the safe house address, openly talking about what Germany is doing wrong with the bomb in front of the defecting scientist while still in Germany.... The list goes on and on. Also, who in their right mind sends a woman to walk home alone while the neighborhood is being bombed? Not a single character seemed to have any common sense!! Thus the story just felt all wrong.
I am flabbergasted by the rave reviews! This book is awful!
They make frustrating awful decisions the entire time they are in Germany. They have horrible covers anyway, but hey let's not stay at the safe house- let's sightsee. In fact, let's not only sightsee, but go back to his old neighborhood in broad daylight to visit his parent's house. What could go wrong?!? I wish that was the only dumb thing they did, but it was only one of so many more - talking about their plans in English in public while he's in a Nazi uniform , giving out information to people before confirming they are in fact who they are supposed to be talking to, constantly forgetting to use their aliases, using the defector's name while talking to people, telling outside people their entire plan, telling outside people the safe house address, openly talking about what Germany is doing wrong with the bomb in front of the defecting scientist while still in Germany.... The list goes on and on. Also, who in their right mind sends a woman to walk home alone while the neighborhood is being bombed? Not a single character seemed to have any common sense!! Thus the story just felt all wrong.
I am flabbergasted by the rave reviews! This book is awful!
January 12, 2025
AN AFFAIR OF SPIES
The concept for this story is excellent and, according to the author, based on a letter written by Albert Einstein. Nathan Silverman is a German citizen of Jewish descent who left Germany in 1938 and is now serving in the US Army. He is sent on a mission to return to Germany in 1943 to find out what progress has been made in the development of the nuclear bomb. He will also facilitate the defection of German scientist Günther Snyder. He is accompanied by Allison Fisher, a nuclear physicist who will assist with technical issues.
There is a good deal of introductory information regarding the race to develop the nuclear bomb, and the story is interspersed with actual persons involved in the process. Much of the background is set in theaters of nuclear development including the Kaiser Willhelm Institute, Leipzig, Haigerloch, Los Alamos, and the offices of the Manhattan Project.
Unfortunately, it goes downhill from there. The characters are juvenile and silly and the writing is poor. The dialogue sounds very much current day as opposed to the 1940s and the characters come across as extreme snowflakes. Cringeworthy. Solutions to every problem are resolved quickly, easily, and almost in a flippant manner. If you’re looking for a lighthearted, silly and fun romantic comedy perspective of spy craft in World War II, this one might be a good choice.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Ronald H. Balson, and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The concept for this story is excellent and, according to the author, based on a letter written by Albert Einstein. Nathan Silverman is a German citizen of Jewish descent who left Germany in 1938 and is now serving in the US Army. He is sent on a mission to return to Germany in 1943 to find out what progress has been made in the development of the nuclear bomb. He will also facilitate the defection of German scientist Günther Snyder. He is accompanied by Allison Fisher, a nuclear physicist who will assist with technical issues.
There is a good deal of introductory information regarding the race to develop the nuclear bomb, and the story is interspersed with actual persons involved in the process. Much of the background is set in theaters of nuclear development including the Kaiser Willhelm Institute, Leipzig, Haigerloch, Los Alamos, and the offices of the Manhattan Project.
Unfortunately, it goes downhill from there. The characters are juvenile and silly and the writing is poor. The dialogue sounds very much current day as opposed to the 1940s and the characters come across as extreme snowflakes. Cringeworthy. Solutions to every problem are resolved quickly, easily, and almost in a flippant manner. If you’re looking for a lighthearted, silly and fun romantic comedy perspective of spy craft in World War II, this one might be a good choice.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Ronald H. Balson, and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
June 20, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley, Ronald H. Balson, and St. Martin’s Press for providing this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Wow. Just wow. I am a sucker for a good historical fiction with romance story. This story was amazing, powerful, and suspenseful. I had a hard time putting it down. I had a constant need to know what was going to happen next.
I would 10/10 recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction during the WWII era. Can’t wait to read it again!
This review will be posted to my Goodreads and Amazon accounts immediately and to my instagram account @ginganinja333 upon publication on 9/13/2022.
Wow. Just wow. I am a sucker for a good historical fiction with romance story. This story was amazing, powerful, and suspenseful. I had a hard time putting it down. I had a constant need to know what was going to happen next.
I would 10/10 recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction during the WWII era. Can’t wait to read it again!
This review will be posted to my Goodreads and Amazon accounts immediately and to my instagram account @ginganinja333 upon publication on 9/13/2022.
September 10, 2022
Nathan Silverman grew up in Berlin. In 1938 his parents sent him to America to keep him safe from the Nazis. His father was a high ranking physicist working on developing a bomb so his wife and daughter had some level of protection. When given the opportunity Nathan joins the army to fight Hitler but with his knowledge of Germany and his father's connections he is sent to Germany with an American physicist, Allison Fisher, to help a fellow scientist to defect. He also hopes to locate his family who he has not heard from for a few years.
At times the dialog seemed a little forced and there were times during the mission where Nathan wasn't very discrete but in all fairness he was trained as a soldier, not a spy. But I liked Nathan and Allison. She was terrified but very brave and determined and at times was able to keep Nathan in line and he was fiercely protective of her. While the story was not a nail biter it had lots of moments of tenseness and urgency which kept going until the end. All in all I felt like it was an easy read even with all the physics thrown in.
I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me a digital copy.
At times the dialog seemed a little forced and there were times during the mission where Nathan wasn't very discrete but in all fairness he was trained as a soldier, not a spy. But I liked Nathan and Allison. She was terrified but very brave and determined and at times was able to keep Nathan in line and he was fiercely protective of her. While the story was not a nail biter it had lots of moments of tenseness and urgency which kept going until the end. All in all I felt like it was an easy read even with all the physics thrown in.
I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me a digital copy.
August 23, 2022
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!
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!
September 6, 2022
Any story that has an American going into enemy territory during WWII will always capture my interest. This one surely did with a soldier of German background and a young woman who is a scientist being sent right into the center of the spider’s web.
Nathan, the soldier was born and raised in Germany. His father was a scientist who worked for the Nazi’s, but was also Jewish. While he felt he was relatively safe due to his work, he did not feel the same about his family, so he sent Nathan to the United States to live with an aunt.
Nathan signed up with the military as soon as the US entered the war. While in training, he was taken from his regiment to go on a special mission that could be accomplished only with an insider’s knowledge. Because Nathan was a native German, familiar with the area and could recognize his fathers co-workers, he was the best man for the job.
The plan was for them to go in and extract one of the scientists who wanted to defect. Because the US wanted to make sure the scientist had information about nuclear weapons, they sent along Dr. Allison Fisher.
As soon as the two begin their mission, they are faced with obstacles. They managed to accomplish their mission, but Nathan had an agenda of his own and that was to find out what happened to his father, whom he had not heard from in months.
The story was very suspenseful from start to finish and had a bit of romance and a satisfying ending. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to give my honest review.
Nathan, the soldier was born and raised in Germany. His father was a scientist who worked for the Nazi’s, but was also Jewish. While he felt he was relatively safe due to his work, he did not feel the same about his family, so he sent Nathan to the United States to live with an aunt.
Nathan signed up with the military as soon as the US entered the war. While in training, he was taken from his regiment to go on a special mission that could be accomplished only with an insider’s knowledge. Because Nathan was a native German, familiar with the area and could recognize his fathers co-workers, he was the best man for the job.
The plan was for them to go in and extract one of the scientists who wanted to defect. Because the US wanted to make sure the scientist had information about nuclear weapons, they sent along Dr. Allison Fisher.
As soon as the two begin their mission, they are faced with obstacles. They managed to accomplish their mission, but Nathan had an agenda of his own and that was to find out what happened to his father, whom he had not heard from in months.
The story was very suspenseful from start to finish and had a bit of romance and a satisfying ending. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to give my honest review.
December 9, 2022
3 stars—I won this book from goodreads a while back and finally got around to reading it. I honestly wasn’t too interested when I read the synopsis but it turned out to be a fascinating, fact-based story. I really appreciate the author’s efforts to keep it factual in some parts.
September 14, 2022
4.5 stars
January 25, 2023
This WWII. story had potential but most of the characters were made to look pretty stupid or reckless.
August 1, 2022
Great thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for the ARC in return for an honest review.
What can I say? Thrilled, and blown away by this one.
This book hit multiple bullseyes for me personally. I've always been obsessed and fascinated by that particular episode of history that deals with the formulation and creation of the atomic bomb and all the participants involved,......I've pounced on and devoured every book and film on the subject, both fiction and non-fiction.
And there's nothing I enjoy more than a behind-enemy-lines, suspense filled World War 2 spy thriller. Any novel that involves courageous, daring spies going into the heart of occupied Europe to thwart the Nazis becomes an automatic 'must read' for me.
"An Affair Of Spies" combines both those things together - American's desperate race to achieve an atomic bomb before Hitler''s Germany and a breathless, impossibly dangerous mission to to find out how far along the Nazis nuclear program has progressed, as well as help a German scientist escape to work on the Manhattan Project.
Nathan Silverman, a German refugee, whose parents arranged his own escape to the U.S. as a child is now a trained U.S. army soldier, preparing' for the eventual European invasion. But Silverman, the son of a brilliant physicist still trapped in Berlin with the rest of his family, is selected for a mission by no less than Gen. Leslie Groves, who's overseeing the race for an atomic bomb.
Silverman's 'mission impossible - penetrate occupied Europe, bring the defecting scientist back to the U..S., discover the current status of the Nazis atomic efforts and learn the fate of his father, mother and sister..
(I think the only thing missing from this mission was asking Nathan to cure cancer along the way...._)
Since Silverman has little or no knowledge of nuclear physics, he's accompanied by Dr. Allison Fisher, a young scientist who's been working within the Manhattan project and will know what vital data to collect and bring back with them.......if they can avoid relentless Gestapo agents who excel at hunting down and torturing spies.
I wouldn't dare spoil all of the non-stop excruciating suspenseful episodes that follow Nathan and Allison as they plunge into the lion's den of Berlin. Of course, nothing goes as planned and the surprises and sudden reversals-of-fortune thrown into their path really dial up the anxiety. As if there already wasn't enough nail-biting scenes packed into the book,, this dynamic duo's attempts to pull off an outrageous plan to gather the top secrets they've been tasked with stealing had me squirming in fear for them.
Unquestionably a stay-up-all-night thriller for me, one of the best 5 star page-turners I've lucked into this year so far.
What can I say? Thrilled, and blown away by this one.
This book hit multiple bullseyes for me personally. I've always been obsessed and fascinated by that particular episode of history that deals with the formulation and creation of the atomic bomb and all the participants involved,......I've pounced on and devoured every book and film on the subject, both fiction and non-fiction.
And there's nothing I enjoy more than a behind-enemy-lines, suspense filled World War 2 spy thriller. Any novel that involves courageous, daring spies going into the heart of occupied Europe to thwart the Nazis becomes an automatic 'must read' for me.
"An Affair Of Spies" combines both those things together - American's desperate race to achieve an atomic bomb before Hitler''s Germany and a breathless, impossibly dangerous mission to to find out how far along the Nazis nuclear program has progressed, as well as help a German scientist escape to work on the Manhattan Project.
Nathan Silverman, a German refugee, whose parents arranged his own escape to the U.S. as a child is now a trained U.S. army soldier, preparing' for the eventual European invasion. But Silverman, the son of a brilliant physicist still trapped in Berlin with the rest of his family, is selected for a mission by no less than Gen. Leslie Groves, who's overseeing the race for an atomic bomb.
Silverman's 'mission impossible - penetrate occupied Europe, bring the defecting scientist back to the U..S., discover the current status of the Nazis atomic efforts and learn the fate of his father, mother and sister..
(I think the only thing missing from this mission was asking Nathan to cure cancer along the way...._)
Since Silverman has little or no knowledge of nuclear physics, he's accompanied by Dr. Allison Fisher, a young scientist who's been working within the Manhattan project and will know what vital data to collect and bring back with them.......if they can avoid relentless Gestapo agents who excel at hunting down and torturing spies.
I wouldn't dare spoil all of the non-stop excruciating suspenseful episodes that follow Nathan and Allison as they plunge into the lion's den of Berlin. Of course, nothing goes as planned and the surprises and sudden reversals-of-fortune thrown into their path really dial up the anxiety. As if there already wasn't enough nail-biting scenes packed into the book,, this dynamic duo's attempts to pull off an outrageous plan to gather the top secrets they've been tasked with stealing had me squirming in fear for them.
Unquestionably a stay-up-all-night thriller for me, one of the best 5 star page-turners I've lucked into this year so far.
September 6, 2022
I received this book as an ARC and this is my review. This is an amazing story set in WWII - I loved it! The “spies” are ordinary people forced to step up and make a difference, The characters are flawed and brave and unforgettable. This is a book I wanted to read in one reading marathon but that was not possible. I totally recommend this book to readers who enjoy twists that knock the characters off balance and pull the story in a different direction.
July 15, 2022
4.0. A WWII thriller relating to the extraction of a nuclear physicist from Germany written by Ronald Balson who wrote the award winning The Girl from Berlin and Once We Were Brothers. In this novel, Nathan Silverman, a German born Jewish US Army military spy with the help of a young woman physicist, Dr. Allison Fischer, travel to Germany under difficult circumstances in war torn Europe to assist in the defection of a German physicist who has been working on a nuclear bomb. Different plot twists, such as Nathan’s attempts to find his father who was also not surprisingly a physicist. Not an easy task and of course many twists and turns. The book weaves in many known events and individuals involved in the pursuit of a nuclear weapon which makes it more realistic. Good character development. An interesting and easy read but in my view, extremely predictable. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased and candid review.
September 28, 2022
I was very disappointed in this book. I have read all of Mr. Balson's other books, and even consider his Once We Were Brothers, one of my favorite WWII historical fiction novels. It is hard to believe that the same author wrote An Affair of Spies. Why? Because elements of the plot were so unbelievable and ridiculous that at times I thought of not finishing it. Nathan, a German Jew, moved to the US in the early 30's. He is now a soldier and he agrees to masquerade as a German officer to go back into German to bring out a nuclear scientist who wants to defect. He is accompanied by Allison, who is also a nuclear scientist. She is to verify the information provided by the defecting scientist before bringing him out of Germany. Allison is also to pretend to be Nathan's lover. All good so far. But then it is not. Allison does not speak German - only French and English. Nathan does not speak French - only German and English. So, based on their cover story, they cannot talk to each other. One of the German soldiers even questions this and Nathan gives a ridiculous answer about love. It was just unbelievable to me. The author also used modern slang and expressions throughout the book which were not in use during the 1940's. This was not my only problem with the book. Early on in the book, the Gestapo become suspicious of Nathan and start searching for him. In spite of that, Nathan goes roaming around Berlin looking for his father and sister. While in Berlin he happens to run into his old German girlfriend. Although she has betrayed him in the past, he enlists her help to find his family and gives her the location of the safe house where they are hiding so that she can bring him any information she discovers. Would a soldier really be that stupid? Jeopardize his mission and the lives of his partner and the resistance fighters helping them? I don't think so. There is more with the ex-girlfriend who winds up dead because she just has to go back to her home to get her clothes before she can flee from the Germans who she knows are looking for her. Finally Nathan and Allison put on disguises and get into the German Institute that is working on the A-bomb. The Nazi officer there believes that they are spies and tells them so. When the German officer cannot get immediate confirmation that they are not who they claim to be, he sends them home based on their promise that they will return to the institute the next day. Really? What Nazis officer would do that? And finally we have Nathan and Allison and a resistance fighter driving around Germany looking for his father and then his sister instead of getting out of the country. Then there was all the anguish expressed by the principals over the allies bombing and killing the innocent German people. The book did have a happy ending with Nathan asking Allison to marry him but there was no build up to the proposal, no romance just heh, will you marry me! Disappointed I am, but I will read the next Balson book hoping this one is written by the Balson who wrote Once We Were Brothers and his other excellent novels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2022
Pub day: September 13 - out now!
This book takes us behind the scenes of the nuclear arms race of WWII. This story was interesting and informative and even had some romance woven in. There were quite a few stressful moments as the characters, in a quest for answers, tried to get into Germany without being noticed, caught, and possibly tortured for information. I truly enjoyed feeling part of an espionage team and feeling the anxiety alongside them. What I most appreciated was that the strong and brilliant female scientist was one of our main POVs and her character was written really well.
The third-person narrative took a little getting used to, but overall it worked well in giving perspectives from the multitude of characters. While the espionage aspect of the story is fictional, many of the stories, locations, and people were inspired from facts. It’s a well researched book that I can see many historical fiction lovers enjoying.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the print arc and Macmillan Audio for the alc in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2022
Intriguing but incredible. I can’t imagine military personnel refusing to follow orders but surviving court marshal.
September 2, 2023
Oh dear, this was a disappointing read. Outlandish story and clunky writing. He did a lot of research on the atomic program - and that got in the way of what could have been a good novel.
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