Chanticleer Book Reviews

Tag: Chanticleer 5 Star Book Review

VITAL MISSION: Jake Fortina Series Book 4 by Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke – Military Thriller, Contemporary, War in Ukraine

Vital Mission, the fourth book in Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke’s Major Jake Fortina series, is a military thriller with exceptional heart. It goes beyond combat tactics to explore the traumatizing impact of war on those who wage it.

Vital Mission confronts the true cost of war, not in headlines, statistics, and maps, but in kitchens, schoolyards, and the private corners of people’s minds.

The story opens in February 2022 as Russia conducts a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Jake Fortina, a former US Army commander and military attaché living in Italy with his wife and small child, observes the invasion from a distance, Fortina is troubled by old instincts and a sense of helplessness.

In Mariupol, Ukrainian mother Olena tries to protect her sons from raining shells. When tragedy strikes, the boys are taken in by Russian soldiers participating in a disturbing child-relocation operation dressed up as a “rescue.” From there, readers follow the boys on a journey full of heartbreak and quiet bravery.

Margarita Romanova, a young Russian field medic with a difficult history, steps into this emotional scene when she’s assigned to care for the displaced children.

She develops an unexpected connection with Sergiy and Gleb. Through her eyes, readers face the moral conflict of a soldier choosing between duty and compassion. Meanwhile, Jake’s point of view provides a glimpse into the emotional toll of seeing a battle you can no longer fight, yet cannot ignore.

Vital Mission is brisk and cinematic with frequent shifts of perspective. Its tight pacing constantly engages readers with the narrative while still allowing room to bring in great emotional depth.

Steinke strikes a masterful mix between urgency and empathy, utilizing simple yet powerful words to draw each scene. Whether in a darkened gym where children whisper into their covers or along a frostbitten tree line where Ukrainian soldiers lie in wait, the language Steinke uses is visceral and immersive.

The story never feels bloated with complex politics or overly technical military jargon. This lets Steinke’s great strength in his character work shine. He quietly builds layers of emotion, especially around the two boys, without ever slipping into melodrama. There’s a haunting restraint to many of the scenes and a clarity that layers every moment with gravity through the author’s intense voice and emotional precision.

That deep level of emotional impact is felt most through the desperation the children experience in their captivity. Readers feel the weight of a child’s confusion, desperation, and growing awareness that the world around him might not make sense for a long time—if ever.

Vital Mission isn’t just a story about war alone. It is also a story about humanity.

Children are forced to grow up overnight, soldiers question their orders, and love shows up in the unlikeliest places. Readers who are drawn to stories with emotional insight, moral complexity, and real-world relevance will find Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke’s Vital Mission hard to put down—and harder still to forget.

August 6, 2025
A SIREN CALLED TRUTH: A Bone Wars Novel by Patricia Roberts Wright – Historical Fiction, Old West, Fossil Hunting

Patricia Roberts Wright’s A Siren Called Truth plunges into the fierce rivalry of the Bone Wars, a real-life scientific feud between paleontologists Edward Cope and O.C. Marsh. Blending history, ambition, and human drama, this gripping historical novel explores the cost of discovery and the lengths people will go to secure their legacy.

A Siren Called Truth is a character-driven exploration of rivalry. Edward Cope, a self-taught genius, is determined to unearth America’s prehistoric past, but O.C. Marsh stands in his way, a well-funded and politically savvy adversary. Their battle for dominance in paleontology is about reputation, power, and the relentless pursuit of truth.

A Siren Called Truth’s prose transports readers to the rugged landscapes where fossils lie buried beneath layers of time.

Vivid sunrises, dust storms, and excavation sites give the setting itself a sense of character. All the while, the pacing remains taut, balancing scientific intrigue with personal stakes.

One of Wright’s strengths is her ability to blend history with storytelling. She doesn’t just recount events—she resurrects a time period, bringing to life the personalities and conflicts that shaped paleontology.

Edward Cope is portrayed as a brilliant but flawed man, driven by a passion that often turns to recklessness in his pursuit of discovery. O.C. Marsh stands as his compelling contrast—calculating, strategic, and willing to bend ethical lines to secure his place in history. Their dynamic is electric, arcing between grudging respect and outright sabotage. The tension builds through meticulously researched details, creating a sense of immediacy and consequence for each discovery and betrayal.

Within its historical intrigue, A Siren Called Truth ponders ethical dilemmas, questioning the lengths scientists will go to for recognition and the moral cost of shaping history.

Wright doesn’t shy away from the intense personal stakes involved—Cope’s desperation, Marsh’s cunning maneuvering, and the collateral damage among the people caught between them. Scientists, journalists, and financiers all play roles in shaping the Bone Wars, adding layers to this story’s exploration of ambition and consequence.

Whether you’re drawn to scientific rivalries, richly textured historical settings, or high-stakes ambition, A Siren Called Truth delivers an unforgettable journey into the tumultuous world of 19th-century fossil-hunting, and it sets the stage for an exciting trilogy.

July 30, 2025
THE QUARRY: The Druid Chronicles Book 4 by A.M. Linden – Historical Fiction, Brittania, Druids

Druids struggle to evade Christian persecution in A.M. Linden’s The Quarry, Book Four in the Druid Chronicles, a fast-paced adventure through medieval Brittania.

Although dwindling in number and hunted by Christians who fear their pagan rituals, Druids still roam the land. Linden explores these oppressed people and their belief system, one that approaches life and conflict with reason and attempts to find a peaceful resolution—a novel idea during this historical time.

The High Priestess Feywn’s health is failing. Our hero, Druid priest Caelym, does everything in his power to save her so she can pass on her vital role in their religion.

The necessary ritual takes time and specific ingredients. As he hunts for those sacred herbs, he is captured by the local sheriff whose second in command, the fanatic Christian Matthew, only wants Caelym’s death.

Cyri, the young Druid woman who would become the next High Priestess, goes in search of Caelym but finds only his bag, weapon, and clothes. Fearing him kidnapped, Cyri journeys to save him in a hunt or be hunted Dark Age. Each step puts Cyri’s and Caelym’s survival into question.

Linden peoples this story with characters from across her series whose roles stand clear and meaningful—including the villains.

Stefan, the Saxon warrior recently appointed sheriff of the Shire of Codswallow, weighs two problems against one another. His wife’s uncle wants to marry her—over Stefan’s dead body. And Stefan has just run into a wanted Druid who might prove useful.

The different POVs create unpredictable and entertaining twists, as Stefen captures Caelym on his way to an inn where he hopes to receive a hearty lunch and a roll in the hay with Cyri, who he believes to be a barmaid. Little does Stefan know Cyri’s connection to Caelym’s mistress Feywn.

Stefan first wants Caelym simply for his value as a hostage, but recognizes his talent as a gifted musician and storyteller, and refuses to give in to Matthew’s murderous desire. When an attempt is made on Stefan’s life, his understanding of his place in the world is shaken to its core, and only Caelym can give him the perspective and advice he needs—both to save himself and plot revenge.

For lovers of historical fiction, Celtic and Druidic literature, and classic fantasy like Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, the story of Stefan, Caelym, and Cyri in The Quarry will cast an enrapturing spell, making them fall in love with Linden’s characters, both heroic and villainous, and appreciate these ancient pagan ways.

Linden’s masterful storytelling in The Quarry stands wonderfully on its own and as continuation of the Druid Chronicles, leaving new readers excited to finish the whole series.

July 28, 2025
VERMILION HARVEST: Playtime at the Bagh by Reenita M. Hora – Historical Romance, Indian Independence, Cultural Conflicts

Reenita M. Hora’s Vermilion Harvest weaves love and liberation into literary gold.

“Why do love and freedom have such a complicated relationship?” This haunting question pulses through every page of Vermilion Harvest, Hora’s breathtaking debut that creates, in one of history’s darkest moments, a luminous testament to the power of love in transcending boundaries.

A star-crossed romance sparks against the backdrop of empire.

Set in 1919 Amritsar, Vermilion Harvest introduces readers to Aruna Duggal, a nineteen-year-old Anglo-Indian schoolteacher caught between worlds—too brown for British acceptance, too white for Indian belonging. Born from violence, raised in the shadows between communities, Aruna navigates life’s margins until she meets Ayaz Peermohammed, a passionate Muslim law student from Lahore. Ayaz’s dreams of Indian independence ignite something revolutionary within Aruna’s heart.

Their love story blooms like a flower in defiance of winter—beautiful, tender, and heartbreakingly fragile. Hora captures the exquisite tension between personal desire and political reality as Aruna and Ayaz discover that in a country divided by religion, race, and colonial rule, love itself becomes an act of rebellion.

The masterful prose in Vermilion Harvest transforms historical tragedy into profound art

Hora’s literary craftsmanship elevates this novel far beyond typical historical romance. Her prose shimmers with intelligence and emotion, creating an intimate portrait of a young woman’s awakening consciousness against the violent fractures in her society. Through Aruna’s compelling voice, readers experience the complex interior landscape of someone perpetually displaced, seeking belonging in a world determined to categorize and divide.

Hora approaches the Jallianwala Bagh massacre with remarkable literary courage. She threads historical horror into a deeply personal narrative that honors both individual suffering and collective trauma. This nuanced exploration of identity, belonging, and resistance resonates powerfully in our contemporary moment.

The characters of Vermilion Harvest pull together in an urgent love story racing against a bloody turning point in history.

As political tensions escalate and Colonel Dyer’s military orders loom, Aruna faces an impossible choice between safety and love—the peripheral privilege of her Anglo-Indian status and the dangerous freedom Ayaz represents. The novel’s final act builds to a devastating emotional crescendo as love and liberation collide in the gardens of Jallianwala Bagh.

Vermilion Harvest succeeds brilliantly as both intimate love story and sweeping historical epic.

Hora has crafted a novel that makes the personal political and the historical immediate, creating characters so vivid and emotions so raw that readers will find themselves completely invested in Aruna and Ayaz’s fate.

For readers seeking high-caliber fiction with both gorgeous prose and compelling storytelling, Vermilion Harvest delivers an unforgettable reading experience. A new novel from an author of major literary talent, offering historical insight and timeless truths about love’s power to transform and transcend.

Vermilion Harvest by Reenita M. Hora won the 2024 CIBA Overall Grand Prize.

July 25, 2025
TIME-MARKED WARLOCK: The Chronos Chronicles Book 1 by Shami Stovall – Urban Fantasy, Murder Mystery, Supernatural Mystery

Shami Stovall’s Time-Marked Warlock rewinds urban fantasy with fresh magic.

Adair Finch is the world’s most powerful warlock – and he’s done with it all. In Time-Marked Warlock, Shami Stovall crafts a brilliant urban fantasy that feels like Groundhogs Day meets Harry Dresden, delivering a take on magical investigation that will leave readers spellbound from the first page.

A reluctant mentor meets his match in a twelve-year-old witch.

After losing his brother in a case gone wrong, Finch has sworn off the paranormal world entirely. But when young Bree Blackstone pounds on his door in the middle of the night – her mother murdered, her father kidnapped – Finch wades back into the magical chaos he’d tried to escape. What starts as a favor for an old friend becomes a twisting mystery that threatens everything he thought he knew about his world.

Stovall excels at creating an unlikely partnership, one crackling with energy and humor. Bree isn’t your typical helpless child in need of rescue – she’s a young witch with questions, opinions, and magical abilities that complement Finch’s considerable power. Their banter and growing mentor-student relationship provides both emotional depth and genuine laughs throughout the investigation.

Time magic creates a game-changing twist on fantastical investigation.

The real genius of Time-Marked Warlock lies in Finch’s unique ability to rewind time and witness events as they actually happened. When someone tries to kill both Finch and Bree, his ability to see the attack unfold adds layers of complexity that keep readers guessing right alongside the characters.

Stovall uses this temporal element not as a gimmick but as a sophisticated plot device that deepens the mystery while raising the stakes. Each revelation through time manipulation reveals another clue towards conspiracy, transforming what appears to be a straightforward murder case into something even more sinister and far-reaching.

A standout series launch that reinvents urban fantasy tropes.

Time-Marked Warlock succeeds because of the originality it infuses into familiar urban fantasy elements – powerful warlocks, magical investigations, supernatural threats. The world-building feels both lived-in and vivacious, populated with complex characters whose flaws make them more compelling than perfect heroes ever could be.

Stovall’s writing sparkles with wit and energy, moving at breakneck pace while never sacrificing character development. Finch’s journey from bitter retirement to reluctant heroism feels earned, while the emotional resonance of Bree’s evolution from terrified child to capable young witch elevates the entire narrative.

As the opening volume of The Chronos Chronicles trilogy, Time-Marked Warlock establishes a magical world readers will want to revisit again and again. Fans of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files and Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles will find their new favorite series in Stovall’s perfect combination of urban fantasy adventure and time-bending mystery.

Time-Marked Warlock by Shami Stovall won Grand Prize in the 2024 CIBA Shelley Awards for Supernatural Fiction.

July 23, 2025
THE THIRD ACT: A Spicy Lesbian Romance by Kathleen Brehony – Contemporary Romance, LGBTQ+ Fiction, Friendships & Relationships

The subtitle “A Spicy Lesbian Romance” belies the true emotional depth of Kathleen Brehony’s The Third Act. This story is a testament to the unbreakable connection between a “Tribe” of 60ish lesbian women, and the unexpected possibility of love appearing even in the darkest of times.

The story opens as Shannon, a member of the Tribe, witnesses her lifelong best friend, Linda, pass away after a decade-long battle with breast cancer.

Shannon has been by Linda’s side during the last part of her battle, and now she’s the friend who sends the rest of The Tribe the simple message “She’s gone.” They make a plan to come together on Labor Day weekend to celebrate Linda’s life at Shannon’s family’s beachside resort on the Jersey shore in the hopes that the closeness and comfort they’ve shared as friends all these years will help them begin to heal. When they arrive at the coastal cottage, they toast their friendship with a quote from Rumi, “Friend our closeness is this: anywhere you put your foot, you feel me in the firmness underneath you.”

It is here, with the gathered Tribe, that we begin to understand the long, complicated history between Shannon O’Connell and Elizabeth Mathews.

Many decades earlier, Elizabeth and Shannon shared a tequila-fueled night of passion while Elizabeth was going through a breakup. It was a night that neither Elizabeth nor Shannon have ever forgotten, but the complications of life kept that passion from growing further. Each became involved with different people over the years and never could find a time when they were both single to try out a deeper relationship. Now, they are together again, both free to honor their friend and reconnect with each other.

During the long weekend, Elizabeth shares Shannon’s bungalow on the beach and long-simmering emotions bubble to the surface.

Shannon hesitates, shaken by the end of her 27-year relationship with her girlfriend, Kim, who betrayed her with another woman. She is afraid to have her heart broken again. Even as Shannon and Elizabeth finally act on their sexual attraction, the combination of Linda’s death, her mother’s Alzheimer’s, and Kim’s betrayal may be just too much for Shannon to recover from.

For women of a certain age beginning their own ‘Third Act,’ who have lost a best friend after a valiant fight with metastatic cancer, or have had their heart torn apart by betrayal, this novel touches on many of life’s universal experiences and lessons about friendship, love, and loss.

A message from Linda, pre-recorded to play at her Celebration of Life ceremony, challenges the Tribe to live their lives to the fullest, doing all that they plan to do. As she stares directly into the camera, Linda smiles and tells her friends, “I’m talking to you.”

This “spicy lesbian romance” is lovely not just in its exploration of long-time friendships. It’s also a celebration of women “of a certain age.”

Still vibrant, creative and loving, Kathleen Brehony’s The Third Act portrays women who are worthy of relationships both supportive and sensual. There is something empowering about finally acknowledging the wisdom and authenticity—and sexiness—that comes from really knowing who we are as women. Shannon, Elizabeth, Linda, and the whole Tribe are a perfect illustration of how that sentiment opens welcoming doors to new experiences and the joy of living to your full potential.

July 16, 2025
SPRUCE HARBOR POSSIBILITIES: Spruce Harbor Series Book 2 by David A. Stone – Romance, Contemporary Romance, Small-Town Romance

Spruce Harbor Possibilities, the second book in David A. Stone’s Spruce Harbor series, pulls an independent bookstore owner and a savvy tech billionaire into an improbable whirlwind romance, but each with their own reasons to be guarded about love.

Romantic Maggie Bennett’s last breakup diminished her self-confidence, and she’s since put all her energy into running her cozy literary shop in the small community of Spruce Harbor, Washington. Her best friend and co-worker Bobby wants her to get back in the dating game, but for the moment Maggie contents herself with the solace of her bookstore and her Golden Retriever, Mr. Darcy.

That is until Jason Porter arrives in town.

Handsome and extremely wealthy, Jason was co-founder of the Lifestar Gaming Company, recently and unceremoniously sacked by the Board of Directors and his business partner.

Though they come from different worlds, there’s an undeniable attraction between Maggie and Jason.

Maggie has her suspicions about this enigmatic stranger. But as the emotional chemistry draws them closer, they each put aside their doubts to join forces and overcome the wrongs of big business takeovers, each relying on one another to overcome wounds of the past and find happiness in the future.

Spruce Harbor Possibilities gives readers an extremely well-rounded contemporary romance.

Though this novel is the second book in a four-book series, it can clearly stand on its own. Maggie’s small town quaintness contrasts Jason’s unrestrained lifestyle, and the mirrored themes of hard work and determination vs. corporate greed create a complex storyline. The joy found in emotional resilience and trusting your heart in pursuit of true love elevates the romance.

Stone weaves an engaging tale with two central characters who match each other’s intelligence despite their vastly different lives.

Maggie has always had the support and love of family and friends, while Jason struggles with an aloof set of parents whose only interests are money and status. While each has their own baggage, their compatibility in romance and business ignites a positive and heartwarming relationship—even if they didn’t expect it.

Maggie and Jason weather frequent outside dilemmas, giving their romance an active pace while showing their growing ability to work together.

Like most romances there are ups and downs that illuminate Maggie or Jason’s insecurities. But the comfort provided by those closest to them, whether family and friends, or in Jason’s case a caring assistant and a wise college professor, all help the two realize what really matters.

For those who enjoy an honest and comforting tale that taps into universal issues of trust, self-discovery, emotional growth, and the power of love, this second book in David Stone’s Spruce Harbor series should prove an ideal foray into romantic “Possibilities.”

July 14, 2025
ARES by Jayson Adams – Hard Science Fiction, Space Exploration, Sci-Fi Thrillers

Commander Kate Holman thought she understood the perils of leading humanity’s first manned mission to Mars. In Ares, Jayson Adams’ breathless science-fiction thriller, the Red Planet—and Holman’s own crew—confront her with threats she couldn’t possibly have expected.

A secret mission changes everything for the Ares crew.

As the spacecraft makes its final descent, a videotape from Earth delivers shocking news: Holman will be relieved of her command once they land. The expedition’s true mission remains classified even from her, and leadership transfers to Julian, the one fellow astronaut she detests most (a dislike the reader will almost certainly share).

When a catastrophic malfunction nearly destroys their landing attempt, Holman’s quick thinking saves the mission but leaves their situation precarious. What follows is a cascade of disasters that test every ounce of the crew’s training, ingenuity, and will to survive.

Ancient mysteries and modern perils collide at the face on Mars.

Adams masterfully weaves together hard science fiction with elements of archaeological mystery. When the crew’s mission leads them to the legendary “Face on Mars” and discoveries that suggest an ancient human presence on the Red Planet, the line between scientific discovery and supernatural threat begins to blur. The team faces not only the harsh realities of equipment failures and communication breakdowns but also the psychological toll of isolation in an unforgiving environment.

The novel’s strength lies in its relentless pacing and believable character development. Even as the situation grows increasingly desperate, readers never lose sight of these astronauts as real people struggling against overwhelming odds. Adams grounds the story in credible science while building tension through both external threats and internal crew dynamics.

A merciless environment tests human ingenuity and spirit.

Ares succeeds because it places recognizable human emotions and relationships within an extraordinary setting. Holman emerges as a compelling protagonist whose leadership skills face their ultimate test when conventional solutions fail and survival depends on improvisation and courage.

The Martian landscape becomes almost a character itself—beautiful, alien, and utterly hostile to human life. Adams captures both the wonder of being the first humans on another planet and the terror of being completely cut off from any possibility of rescue.

Ares by Jayson Adams is a gripping tale of survival and human determination will appeal to science fiction enthusiasts and general readers alike who enjoy stories of adventure, mystery, and the indomitable human spirit facing the unknown.

Ares by Jayson Adams won Grand Prize in the 2024 CIBA Cygnus Awards for Science Fiction.

July 9, 2025
THE PROBLEM With SCIENCE FAIRS, CICADAS, And SEWERS: Lorelei the Lorelei Book 2 by Kristen J. Anderson, Illustrated by Audrey Suau – Children’s Friendship Books, Picture Books, Children’s Self-Respect & Determination Books

Lorelei, the charismatic and outspoken seven-year-old, leaps at the chance to save her school’s science fair from disaster in Lorelei the Lorelei: The Problem with Science Fairs, Cicadas, and Sewers, second book in Kristen J Anderson’s Lorelei the Lorelei series.

Beyond excited for the science fair, Lorelei prepares a project with a mission. She hopes to change people’s perception about cicadas, which most consider a gross nuisance of a bug. On the day of the science fair, during a trip to the restroom, Lorelei encounters a plumbing catastrophe.

With the help of her family and friends, Lorelei put a plan in motion to protect the school fair, while learning valuable lessons about sportsmanship, classroom behavior, and empathy. She may be silly and likeable, but some of her quirks can get her into trouble too!

Even when she gets into trouble, Lorelei is always and unapologetically herself.

Readers see Lorelei express her emotions, usually with loud and sudden enthusiasm. In the lead up to the science fair, Lorelei feels excitement, nervousness, disappointment, and even a moment of frustration towards her class rival. The supportive adults in Lorelei’s life, from her grandma and grandpa “Bumpa” to her teachers and school administrators, help to steer Lorelei in the right directions whenever she responds inappropriately to a situation.

As Lorelei says herself, she is only a kid and learns about emotions and social skills every day.

Lorelei the Lorelei: The Problem with Science Fairs, Cicadas, and Sewers is a story that will get kids excited about science projects and will make older readers nostalgic for exciting days at school, whether a science fair, a special assembly, or even a short field trip.

Excellent for beginner chapter book readers, Kristen J Anderson’s Lorelei the Lorelei series is a must-read for young inquisitive minds.

July 7, 2025
THE JØSSING AFFAIR by J.L. Oakley, narrated by Chris Humphreys – Historical Fiction, WWII, Norway

In The Jøssing Affair, J.L. Oakley shifts the spotlight from the familiar battlefields of World War II to Norway’s brutal occupation, revealing the extraordinary courage of the jøssings—Norwegian resistance fighters who risked everything to oppose Nazi collaboration.

For every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction. In The Jøssing Affair by J.L. Oakley, opposition to the Nazi regime and all who collaborated with it is seen in the jøssings, those Norwegians who opposed Nazism and everything it stood for. Those beleaguered jøssings worked tirelessly in the shadows in whatever way they could, whether by organized resistance, by sabotage, through intelligence operations, providing an escape route for those in immediate danger, or simply, but just as dangerously, by distributing uncensored news from abroad and the contents of rare supply drops from Britain and America.

A master spy’s double life tests the limits of endurance.

Tore Haugland lives a precarious double existence as an undercover intelligence agent posing as a deaf fisherman in the coastal village of Fjellstad. As the final desperate year of German occupation unfolds after D-Day, Tore must maintain his cover while building resistance networks. Smuggling arms and protecting his operations from Nazis and Norwegian collaborators – the despised quislings who gave their name to treachery itself.

Oakley’s tight focus on Tore’s psychological journey creates remarkable intimacy within the vast canvas of war. Years of maintaining deadly secrets have worn down this stalwart operative, and when he finally allows himself to get close to someone in Fjellstad, the consequences threaten everything he’s worked to protect. The author masterfully captures the exhaustion of living perpetually on edge, where a single slip could doom not just Tore but everyone depending on him.

Chris Humphrey’s exceptional narration brings the Norwegian resistance to life.

The audiobook version of The Jøssing Affair showcases narrator Chris Humphreys at his absolute finest. Drawing on his Norwegian family heritage and considerable acting experience, Humphreys seamlessly blends his refined British accent with flawless Norwegian pronunciation, creating an authentically immersive listening experience. His nuanced performance captures both Tore’s outward calm as a simple fisherman and his inner turmoil as a resistance operative, while his smooth delivery of Norwegian names and phrases adds remarkable depth to the historical atmosphere.

Humphreys’ vocal range brings distinct life to each character, from German occupiers to Norwegian collaborators to the brave jøssings themselves. His ability to convey the mounting tension as the German net closes around Tore makes the audiobook version particularly compelling for listeners seeking full immersion in this gripping wartime thriller.

This vast and absorbing historical saga sets itself apart from other stories of World War II through its unique focus.

Focused not on Western theater or the British or American home fronts, but on the less explored occupation of Norway, Oakley zeros in on the final year of the brutal German occupation in the desperate months after D-Day when the Allies’ march on Paris gave hope to so many that the war would soon end, even as the German forces in Norway dug in for one last bloody stand.

By focusing this story on the Norwegian occupation and then tightening the focus to one single man’s experience of that war and the secret work needed to survive and win it, The Jøssing Affair creates an immediacy for the reader that is utterly compelling. WWII is a story that has been told many times over since 1945, and this setting makes all that history feel fresh and alive again.

This is just the start of an extraordinary story of resistance and bravery.

For historical fiction enthusiasts seeking fresh perspectives on World War II, The Jøssing Affair delivers compelling characters, meticulous research, and a story that honors the often-overlooked heroes of Norwegian resistance. And for listeners who have the time to invest in the audiobook of this work, the narrator’s flawless pronunciation and smooth inclusion of Norwegian names and simple phrases adds to the deep immersion in an already absorbing story.

Tore Haugland’s story continues in Oakley’s award-winning series with the prequel, The Brisling Code and the sequel, The Quisling Factor, promising readers more adventures with this unforgettable protagonist.

The Jøssing Affair by J.L. Oakley won Grand Prize in the 2016 CIBA Goethe Awards for Post-1750s Historical Fiction.

July 2, 2025