Code Name Edelweiss tells the story of a Jewish lawyer who defeated Hitler’s plan to take over Hollywood. I really wanted to enjoy this novel. However, I found the characters to be flat. They had very little development. Still, it was an eye-opening story that I did not know much about. I recommend this for fans of Susan Elias MacNeal and Susan Meissner!

Excellent read. If you like Historical novels you will love this book. The characters are intriguing and full of surprises. I enjoyed reading.

This book brings to life the glamour of the 1930s Hollywood.
But it’s set against the harrowing real life Nazi organisation in Los Angeles before the onset of WWII.
Liesl Weiss, a German living in America, is fired from her job at MGM Studios during The Great Depression.
Abandoned by her husband she is struggling to support her two children.
She receives a job offer from a Jewish Lawyer, Leon Lewis, asking her to infiltrate the Friends of the New Germany, a German-American community in Los Angeles.
An interesting read, tense and very thought-provoking.
Based on a true story, how a lone Jewish lawyer and a handful of amateur spies foiled Hitler’s plan to take over Hollywood.
Thanks @stephanielandsem, @tynedalehousepublishers & @netgalley for the eARC

Code Name Edelweiss is a page-turning spy story that doesn’t shy away from the disturbing realities that happened on American soil in 1933. Though the subject matter is surprising and not always pleasant, Landsem presented it in a way that is tastefully done.

The plot was so good and kept me engaged and turning pages. Landsem is a wonderful writer and I enjoyed her writing style. I’m looking forward to reading more from her.

Thank you to Tyndale house publishers and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I am always looking for people and situations in history that I know nothing or little about. Code Name Edelweiss fit that bill perfectly. I had no idea that Hitler had tried to take over Hollywood! In 1933, Adolf Hitler is the new and powerful anti-Semitic chancellor of Germany. In the U.S. anti-Semitism is growing quickly, especially in German neighborhoods. Liesl Weiss is a secretary at MGM and is worried about her family. With the depression getting worse she needs to be able to support her two children, an opinionated mother, and a troubled brother. Leon Lewis is a Jewish lawyer who has watched Adolf Hitler's rise to power, and the increase in anti-Semitism in America. He believes Nazi agents are working to seize control of Hollywood, the greatest propaganda machine in the world, but the authorities scoff at his dire warnings. Lewis recruits a handful of amateur spies to spy on their German neighbors and report back to him. When Liesl Weiss loses her job at MGM, she has no choice but to work for Leon Lewis to support her family. Code Name Edelweiss is based on a true story, unknown until recent years about how this group discovered and foiled Adolf Hitler's plan to take over Hollywood.

I read this story with a bit of fear in my heart. Propaganda is a huge business and is still used extensively today. I know how easily something like this could happen and millions of people follow or believe something that is not true. We always say that we need to learn about our past so we don't repeat it, but honestly, I can see this happening. This is different than reading about the Jewish people being gathered up in Europe by the terrible Nazi soldiers, this is about the Jewish people being are being oppressed by their neighbors in the U.S., or the behaviour being ignored which allows it to continue, hmmm, sounds familiar. This was a tense and gripping story. Would Liesl get caught? With great characters, vivid writing and situations, the story touched me and made me uncomfortable at the same time. Will we sit back and allow groups, using propaganda and rhetoric oppress specific groups of people or do even worse? I definitely recommend this book.

Code Name Edelweiss is a historical fiction novel set in Hollywood in 1933 amidst the rise of anti-Semitism. The story follows Liesl Weiss, a German-American who finds herself caught between her loyalty to her German heritage and her desire to fight against the oppression of the Jewish people. After losing her job at MGM, Liesl agrees to work with Leon Lewis, a Jewish lawyer intent on thwarting the rise of Nazism in America, and his operative, Agent Thirteen, to spy on her friends and neighbors and infiltrate the Friends of New Germany to uncover their plots.

I found Code Name Edelweiss to be a captivating and well-researched read that shed light on a little-known spy network in Hollywood before the start of WWII. The author, Stephanie Landsem, did an excellent job creating a compelling storyline full of suspense, action, and historical accuracy. I particularly enjoyed the split point of view between Liesl and Agent Thirteen, which added depth to their characters and allowed readers to understand their motivations and thought processes.

Although history records the devastating loss of six million Jews during the Holocaust, it is essential to remember that over 100,000 people risked their lives to save Jews. Liesl and Agent Thirteen's stories are a powerful reminder that we must not wait for change to happen before acting to stand up against injustice and oppression.

“If not us, who? If not now, when? It must be us, and it must be now. I would fight this war. I would not be silent!” ~ Stephanie Landsem

While there were some moments where the plot felt slow, overall, I found Code Name Edelweiss to be a fascinating and engaging novel that will appeal to anyone interested in WWII history, espionage, and suspense. However, be aware that the story does touch on some heavy themes related to anti-Semitism and racism. As someone who usually reads WWII novels from a Jewish point of view, I was taken aback by the number of anti-Semitic slurs at the beginning of the book. However, as the story progressed and I got to know Liesl and Agent Thirteen, I realized the importance of these elements in the storyline. They serve as a stark reminder of the hate and discrimination that the Jewish people faced during that time and highlight the bravery of those who worked to resist it.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.*

This was a really good book. I didn’t know that this was going on in America. I loved the characters and how they worked to stop a great wrong. I liked that this story was based on actual events. I thought the story was engaging and really well done. I felt the emotions that the characters felt as I read. I haven’t read anything else by this author but after reading this book I will look for other books by this author to read.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

Liesl Weiss is the sole supporter for her two young children, her mother and her brother. All of whom live together in a small house in Germantown in L.A. - it’s 1933 and the Great Depression is taking its hold. Liesl knows only too well, the struggle to support her family. When she is unceremoniously dismissed from her job as a typist at MGM Studios, she is desperate for a new job. It isn’t long before she stumbles across a role that is seemingly perfect for her, yet it comes with a price.

Adolf Hitler is on the other side of the world, yet his influence and ideas are being felt and represented in L.A. and within the small community where Liesl lives. Neighbours and friends pitted against one another due to the politics and ideals of New Germany. This is how Liesl finds herself ensconced in the Friends of New Germany. She is their new, volunteer secretary. However, she is being paid and paid well to be there. She is being paid by a Jewish lawyer to spy off the organization and to gather vital information. Information that could save lives, information that could help put a stop to the Nazi rising in America. It’s a dangerous role, a role which puts herself and her whole family at risk.

I struggled with this one. The first half I didn’t find very engaging, as the pace felt very slow and I plodded along. It wasn’t until about three quarters of the way through that I really felt invested in the story. I did find the history side of the story interesting, I hadn’t previously known too much about the reach of Hitler, and the Nazi agenda into L.A. and America in the 1930s. I did appreciate the internal struggles of Liesl as a mother, trying to do what is best for her family. I think is the pace was fast throughout the novel I would have enjoyed it more.

Thanks to NetGally and TyndaleHouse Publishers for my digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book captivated me from the first page. What a terrifying and yet fascinating story--I didn't know that Hitler and the Nazis tried to take over Hollywood in the early 30s, and might have succeeded if not for a tiny fledgling spy network run by a heroic Jewish man. The author does a superb job bringing this piece of history to life, combining the true story with a sympathetic fictitious heroine and hero, and giving them both a meaningful faith arc at the same time. There are so many frightening elements of the story that are being continued and repeated in society today, which added to the drama and horror.

The book was so well written that I felt I was there, living at that time. The suspense built with every page. I like that the heroine was a blue-eyed blonde of German descent, who had to go through a huge learning curve to wake up to the ugliness of the Nazi ideology that threatened America (and which readers know would soon become the Holocaust). The writing is beautiful, the characters are extremely well-drawn, and although the story is heartbreaking, we are left with hope for its main characters. The author challenges not just her hero and heroine but also her readers, reminding us that the time to speak and act against evil is now. If not me, then who? If not now, when?

I loved reading Code Name Edelweiss, a historical fiction spy novel set in Hollywood in 1933. Based on a true story, this fabulous book challenged me to think about the massive and horrifying potential implications of what was happening in 1933 around the globe, particularly in Europe and the United States, when Hitler gained control of Germany.

Being an Aussie, Hollywood and Germany are a long way from home. That said, Hollywood films in the 1930’s were played in cinemas around Australia. If the Friends of New Germany propaganda machine in Los Angeles had taken control of the Hollywood studios, who knows how many more people, especially Jewish people, would have perished as a consequence of Hitler’s indoctrination activities during his evil reign of terror.

The stakes are high, and Liesl is drawn into a dangerous world working undercover as a secretary in the heart of the Friends of New Germany organisation. Agent Thirteen is also spying for the Jewish lawyer who employed Liesl. He has infiltrated the organisation, and is unaware of Liesl’s true identity.

I read this book quickly, and couldn’t put it down. I was awake until 2am, close to the end, and I finished reading the book when I woke in the morning.

I enjoyed reading Stephanie Landsem’s debut novel, In a Far-Off Land, and Code Name Edelweiss exceeded my expectations. I recommend Code Name Edelweiss to historical fiction readers who like intriguing spy novels with romantic elements, suspense, and faith themes woven beautifully into a story set in 1930’s Hollywood.

Many thanks to Tyndale and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

Though my interest in this time period and overall subject is usually in the events in Europe, that may be because most books written about this time period are set in Europe. The premise of this book intrigued me, though, so I jumped at the chance to read it. Early on, I was uncertain how I would feel about the main characters—Liesl (code name Edelweiss) and her male counterpart, Agent Thirteen—due to the way they were both presented. Once I was certain of Agent Thirteen's real identity, it became a little weird to read of Edelweiss and Thirteen completely distrusting each other for so long. For some reason I can't explain, the big moment when they made the connection didn't hit home like I wanted it to. And though the book is not billed as romance, and I don't need romance in my books by any means, it does have some romance happening and in enough doses that the way it played out left me a little unsatisfied.

However, each of these characters individually were well developed and the story was interesting overall and at times thrilling. I was never concerned about the safety of the main characters, but some side characters' plights did give me a few moments of uncertainty. From the little bit of research I did out of curiosity after finishing the book, the history seems well researched and well represented. My favorite story arcs were about Liesl's husband and brother (separately). There was a sub-plot for Agent Thirteen that I don't really understand the purpose of, but overall, I would have just liked to see a little more of an ending for him. I don't think this is is a book I'm going to hurry to re-read, but I am very glad I read it and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction of this time period. It is Christian, but not super heavy on it, so keep that in mind as you consider.

Code Name Edelweiss is the first book that I have read by Stephanie Landsem and perhaps the first novel about Hitler in the USA. This is a true story of a group of amateur spies who discovered Hitler’s plans to take over Hollywood. I have not often read books on the pre years of WWII (Hilter), I think that Landsem did an excellent job in her research and historical accuracy.

Code Name Edelweiss has the right amount of suspense and intrigue. I loved the detailed descriptions of time, place, and characters, it had me reading all weekend. From the beautiful mansions of Hollywood’s elite, and backlots of MGM Studios, to the tents of Hooverville, Code Name Edelweiss has its readers cheering for a group of Americans that work together to stop the Nazis.

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy of this book for an honest review. (Published 07 Mar 2023)

The moment I laid eyes on the gorgeous cover of “Code Name Edelweiss,” I knew I had to know more about this book!

Based on a true story, Liesl Weiss suddenly loses her job at MGM in Los Angeles during the Great Depression and becomes desperate to find a job to support her young children – even if it means putting herself in danger as a spy. Her parents came to America from Germany, and everything about Liesl from her German accent to her Nazi supporting brother make her the perfect spy to help a Jewish spymaster and his secret agents attempt to stop Adolf Hitler’s plan of taking control of Hollywood.

I loved this book from the first chapter all the way to end! The writing was captivating, the characters were very relatable, and the story was fascinating. I also loved that the POV switched between outsider Liesl and insider Agent Thirteen to help fill in the missing pieces along the way. I was especially thrilled when they figured out they were both working for the same man and began working together as a team.

Liesl is a terrific heroine for this book. I really liked her in the beginning, but I grew to really love her as the story developed. She’s not just a pretty face. Liesl proved herself repeatedly to be clever, courageous, and creative. She wrestled with her relationship with God, as did Agent Thirteen, and it was nice to see how their relationships were mended without being in-your-face or over-the-top.

Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery with a female heroine based on a true story from the 1930s.

Code Name Edelweiss is an engrossing personal story based on fascinating history that works as a cautionary tale for 21st-century Americans. What happens when good people choose comfort and an insular way of life in the face of threats to life and liberty?

Liesel, a 1930s German-American woman with responsibility for her two young children, mother, and brother is forced to confront the evil in her midst when she loses her job at MGM Studios. She reluctantly comes under the employ of a Jewish spymaster and is tasked with infiltrating the Nazi efforts in Los Angeles.

The threads of this novel come together expertly in Stephanie Landsem's capable hands - Liesel's missing husband, her estrangement from her Jewish neighbors, her connection to another undercover agent who isn't what he seems, and a brother who's lost his way.

Highly recommended for pleasure reading, inspiration, and insight into a piece of American history that contemporary Americans would do well to learn from.

"What I am looking for--what I desperately need, Mrs. Weiss--is a spy." When Liesl Weiss meets with Leon Lewis for an interview she desperately needs, Adolf Hitler isn't anything more than a distant rumble on the horizon. Not many in the United States are taking him at all seriously, certainly not as a threat. But, Leon Lewis sees the potential for what he's doing in Germany to spread not just in Europe but all over the world. He sees how many of the German Americans are starting to take Hitler's philosophies to heart and act upon them. He believes that Nazi agents are at work to gain control of Hollywood, the greatest propaganda machine the world has ever known. Liesl is convinced that he's overreacting but she has a family at home to support so she takes the job to spy on the German American Community, along with another agent she only knows as Thirteen. It doesn't take her long to realize just how serious the situation is and is becoming and to realize that she, and her family, may be in very real danger.

Before reading Code Name Edelweiss, I'd never really thought about how Hollywood could be used as a tool for propaganda, for shaping the world and the opinions of people. This was an interesting concept and, since I love history, I began doing a little research as well. Imagine my surprise when I learned that Leon Lewis was a real man, who along with a handful of amateur spies, managed to discover and foil Adolf Hitler's scheme to take over Hollywood. In fact, the Nazis referred to Lewis as "the most dangerous Jew in Los Angeles". This was the first book I've read by Stephanie Landsem and it will not be the last. She managed to write the story in a way that really makes you feel like you're living it, along with her characters. There were so many twists and surprises. Told from the perspective of both Liesl and Thirteen, without revealing his identity until Landsem was good and ready for us to know who he was, she managed to tell the story in a way that engaged and kept you guessing from both perspectives as they work on the same problems from different angels, never guessing who the other was even when they interacted. I love the obvious amount of research that Landsem put into this story. It was engaging and informative. I really enjoyed every moment.

Thank you NetGalley and Stephanie Landsem for a chance to read the ARC for Code Name Edelweiss. This is my honest and unpaid review of the book.
Seems there’s been a lot of books in the past 5 years at least that have been set during WW2. This book was refreshing as it’s from a different aspect and was an enjoyable read! The main character was interesting and I enjoyed learning their story.

A thrilling mystery that kept me on my toes, and taught me about a part of history I didn't know! I adored the characters; Liesl is one of the best female protagonists I've read in awhile - brave and clever and deeply rooted in love for her family. Agent 13 was intriguing from the first, and I'll admit that even I fell a little in love with him by the time the story was done. The plot kept me turning the pages long into the night; I just had to know what happened next!

I don't reach for the spy thriller genre that often, but this is now one of my favorites. Five stars from me!

Code Name Edelweiss is a fascinating historical spy novel that takes place in the years before WWII. I didn't realize before reading the book that it is based on a true story, and that makes it all the more captivating! This band of unlikely spies are thrown together in the midst of a Nazi plot to take over the movie industry. The charming, quirky, and engaging characters will capture your heart, and the fast-paced plot will keep you turning pages late into the night! The growth in the characters, especially Liesel, was evident as they were confronted with the evil in the world and forced to decide what they were willing to do to defeat it. Fans of historical fiction with intrigue and mystery will love this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Code Name Edelweiss by Stephanie Landsem

It was a thrilling story that satisfied my interest in historical fiction WW2 ara. I couldn’t put this book down and blame my husband for not waking up and taking it. Code Name: Edelweiss. Stephanie Landsem tells an exciting story that acknowledges a little-known truth that are about all of us at some point. Some of us are on the brink of choices that we will repent of, and it was moving to see the changes in Liesl’s character as she understood what she really had to do, for herself, for her family, and for her country and the world. I enjoyed understanding Wilhelm and seeing his growth. Great characters and as i mentioned, a great read. I’m hoping that Stephanie is called to write a sequel!

Set in 1933 in Los Angeles, this fascinating, fast-paced novel is based on a true story about how a lone Jewish lawyer and a handful of amateur spies discovered and foiled Adolf Hitler’s plan to take over Hollywood. The main character, Liesl, is a secretary at MGM, but loses her job when she complains about sexist treatment from her boss. The sole supporter of her two children, mother and troubled brother, she is desperate to find work but struggles to do so. It is then that she hears of Leon Lewis and approaches him for what she thinks is straightforward secretarial work, but he asks her to become a spy. What follows is the courageous story of one woman and a small team of other spies who, unknown to each other, work hard to uncover Hitler’s plan. Those in authority do not believe there is any threat and so it is down to their individual heroics to blow open the lid on what is secretly being planned. I couldn’t put this down and there were moments when I actually exclaimed out loud. As I was reading a digital copy I hadn’t appreciated, until I had finished, that it was actually based on a true story – quite remarkable!