I loved it! It’s a story with the perfect amount of intrigue. Gives a different point of view to an all to difficult time in world history as it applied to America.

I first learned about the Jewish LA lawyer Leon Lewis and his work in infiltrating spies into groups that tried to take over Jewish-run organizations and replace their leaders with Nazis and Nazi sympathizers in Rachel Maddow's recent "Ultra" podcast.. Using Lewis's operation as a starting point, author Stephanie Landsem has created a fascinating piece of historical fiction that was hard to stop listening to. She brings the story to life through the eyes of German-American Leisl Weiss (code name Edelweiss) and through a narration about German American Wilhelm Otto (Agent 13) and their race to stop two simultaneously planned violent attacks on a synagogue and a major motion picture studio. Although some of the actions and details are improbable, and at times the novel is a bit preachy, it hardly matters as the listener is left breathless by all that occurs, heart-stricken by the attacks on individuals - including children, and admiring of the inherent good that permeates the decisions Leisl and Wilhelm make. Both narrators do an excellent job of bringing Lindsey's excellent prose to life.

Stop the Nazi's

Hollywood, the town of stars, movie producers, glitz and glamour. There is another side to Los Angeles, white supremacy groups, communists, and worst of all Nazi's. It's the ending of the depression era, the new anti-Semitic chancellor of Germany Adolph Hitler is just coming into power.

Liesl Weiss works for MGM the movie production company. When Liesl is let go due to budget cuts she goes to look for another job because she has children at home to take care of since the disappearance of her husband.

The Lawyer Leon Lewis has noticed the new insurgence of the Nazi activity and is very much alarmed by it. He is positive that the Nazi's are plotting to take over Hollywood. He is sure they have a diabolical plan in action and he wants to find out what it is and stop them.

Liesl needs a job and applies for a secretarial job with Leon Lewis the lawyer. She finds out that he does not want a secretary, but he wants to hire her to join a Nazi group to spy on her neighbors in German Town a section of Los Angeles where she lives with her children. She needs the money and jobs are hard to find with all the men returning from the war so she has no choice but to take the job.

This involves her working Lewis and with the mysterious agent Thirteen, who is also a spy for Lewis. She must keep it secret from her mother and her younger brother. Her younger brother Fritz is a member of the Silver shirts an anti-Semitic Nazi youth group in Los Angeles.

The book involves much action, danger to many. If you like action you will like this one. It is fast moving and it is a bit scary because it is based on a true story of how one lawyer and his network of amateur spies discovered and foiled Adolf Hitler's plan to take over Hollywood. It is a story of what could happen and almost did happen.

We must be vigilant and speak out when necessary to keep our country safe for all Americans. Anti-Semitism, Racism and other prejudices should never be allowed. We are a country of many, a melting pot of nationalities and every citizen is an American.

This was a very good book and I would recommend it.

Thanks to Stephanie Landsem for writing the story, to Cady Zuckerman and Neil Hellegers for Narrating it , to Dreamscape Media for publishing it and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.

I really loved this story! I felt like it was such a unique take on a WWII Fiction. The story is set in Los Angelos during the rise of Nazi, Germany, and follows the lives of characters who are navigating the Nazi beliefs in their own lives, neighborhoods and families. I found the book a bit difficult to follow at first, but I think that's because I listened to the audio book. All in all, I COULD NOT stop listening to this and there were LOTS of twists and turns I didn't see coming at all! I would absolutely recommend this book to my fellow historical fiction readers, and will definitely pick up books by this author again!

Liesl Weiss has been around the holiday studio's her entire life. We start the story with Liesl losing her job, and having no way to support her two young children in the wake of her husband leaving. Desperate she ends up taking a job spying for a lawyer. Meanwhile 13, another spy, is imbedded in a local nazi organization trying his best to get people out before they do something they regret.

Liesl's journey in this story was very well written, her struggles with her faith due to her husband leaving, her struggles learning how to stand up for people who she cares about, and her parenting struggles. I honestly enjoyed Liesl learning to stand up for the people that she cares for and having her eyes opened to the under current of anti-Semitism in her community. I liked 13, even though he did come across flat at point, and his mission to try and help vulnerable young people get out before they do something they will regret.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I truly appreciate any book that gives a new and unique perspective on life during WWII and this checked that box exactly.
Set in LA, and from two perspectives, of a German American woman, and a male operative both working to disassemble the secrets and plans the Nazi party in LA were hatching.

This wasn’t a fast-paced book but it was chalk full of historical moments that needed a light shined upon them. The main denial pov is strong and smart and gives a much needed perspective of someone who is both inside and outside what was thought of as being as “American.”

This is the second novel I’ve read that highlighted Leon Lewis, known as the “Spy Master” of L.A. during WWII. He really did make such a huge difference and I’m so glad writers are taking time to make sure his contribution is remembered!

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the #alc in exchange for an honest review!

An immersive spy story of a woman going undercover to spy on Nazis in Hollywood, California… and it is based on true events! So much history that I’d never heard about!

My favorite quote from the book, “…if good people did nothing, the evil around us would continue to grow and flourish” and “A story doesn’t have to be true to tell the truth” (the last one is in the authors note). This book provides a compelling reason to be the one to stand up for truth. “If not us, who? If not now, when?”

I highly recommend checking out the audiobook!

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book!

I received this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for a review. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel about two individuals who work undercover to spy on Nazi agents working to take control of Hollywood. It provided an insight into a part of history that I had not previously considered and I felt the characters’ (especially Liesl) arcs were a natural progression, as oftentimes, they can feel rushed and hurried. I highly recommend reading this book.

Code Name Edelweiss had so many twists and turns I couldn't wait to get to the next chapter. The view point of a German American in the lead up to WWII was something that I never thought I would be interested in, but this German is special in the fact that she fights for the underdog, the Jewish people. I was heartbroken at a few turns in this novel and my heart was left with Liesl at the end of the novel. To find out that this was based on a true story is even more intriguing. 10/10

One of my favorite historical fiction eras is WWII so I was excited to be approved for this book. Code Name Edelweiss pulled me in right from page one. It’s a story about how fascism ran rampant in Los Angeles, pre-WW2 when Hitler first gained power in Germany (yes in the US right in our own backyard). The New Friends of Germany claim to be friends of all Germans living in America, to protect them as the motherland would, but in reality they were driven by the same agenda Hitler pushed in Germany.
Code Name Edelweiss is based on a true story about the early spy network efforts of a Jewish lawyer, Leon Lewis. Liesl is the perfect-looking Aryan, who is struggling to get by. Fired from her job at MGM, she’s desperate to find something else and ends up at Leon’s office to apply for a job.
There’s a lot to like about this story – the characters, the setting, the detailed research that went into creating an accurate story reflective of the time. There’s intrigue, intense situations, joyful moments and everything in between.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this ARCC

It’s 1933 and Adolf Hitler is taking hold of Germany. In Los Angeles, Liesl Weiss, a German single mom, finds herself unemployed and desperate for a job. When she goes to her prior teacher for help finding employment she comes across an ad, and takes it with her. She meets Leon, a Jewish lawyer, who believes Nazi agents are working to seize control of Hollywood. He offers her a job, the downside is she needs to spy on members of her community. When the danger amplifies, Liesl questions everything and wonders if she will make it out alive.

This book was so interesting and powerful. I was so excited to find out that it was based on a true story. It’s one of those stories that you can read or listen to, and you just feel it’s real – and in this case it was!
I’d never read a story quite like this, and I have read a lot of WW2 historical fiction. This book was truly captivating, and I both want to devour it, and make it last forever.

I listened to this one, which was perfectly narrated by Cady Zucherman and Neil Hellegers. The narration was top notch and they perfectly matched the mood and intensity of the book. The annunciation and emphasis held my attention ensuring I was engaged throughout.

This book is going to stick with me a long time. It was truly an amazing read and I hope you check it out March 7th.

Thank you to the publisher MacMillian Audio, @Macmillianaudio, St Martin’s Press, @stmartinspress, and Netgalley @netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

I really enjoyed this historical fiction/thriller. Nazi, spy's, Hollywood. YES.

This is a must to add to your list of reads!!!

I expected this book to be different than it was. It was a dry spy read that didn't really grab me in a way that made me want to read more, and it didn't get me excited or entice me into wanting to know what happens next or what Edelweiss would do next. I tend to like books of this genre that keep me on the edge of my seat eager to keep reading to find out what is going to happen next and eager to find out more about a character or 2.

What a story. The subject may have been hard hitting amd revealing od a time gone by, but it doesn't make this book any less impacting.

Even from the first chapter I could feel injustice and it just grew stronger as more of the story unfolded.

The narrator did a fab job of telling the story and keeping me hooked and interested.

1933 Los Angeles

Liesl Weiss loses her job at MGM, when she does not take well to unwanted advances. She and several others are let go. She goes to get a secretarial job with Leon Lewis, but finds out the job is not what she thought. He tell hers “What I am looking for…what I desperately need, Mrs. Weiss-is a spy.” She is a single mother of two children trying to support her family. Her husband vanished.

Soon she is working with Agent Thirteen and is told to spy on her neighbors and friends in her community. She works under the code name of Edelweiss, which is based on a true story. I really was invested in this story of courage. Well done Landsem.