Thank you to. NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I just finished this book and I am still trying to gather my thoughts, this was probably one of the best WorldWar II historical books that I have ever read. This story about a young American, “ Teddy “ Hartigan working as a diplomat in Amsterdam in the early pre war days is a fascinating, interesting story that had me from the first page. I have read many historical fiction books that have focused on the people, this story did indeed have that, Teddy with his relationships with fellow workers and ultimately his relationship with Sara, but I really appreciated reading about the background of what was going on in the Netherlands in the early days of the war and the resiliency of the people and the hardships they faced.. I would highly recommend this book, especially for someone who wants to learn about the history of what was going on at the time

I have read all of Mr. Balsam's books and they never disappoint. Loved the story and the way it was told. Makes for a great weekend afternoon read that will keep you going till the end. Thanks for the opportunity to read.

Balson’s novels always take an ordinary person and place them in extraordinary circumstances to show the strength of the human resolve to make a difference in the lives of others.

In this case, he introduces readers to Theodore ‘Teddy’ Hartigan, an employee at the U.S. Consulate in Amsterdam. Hartigan is strong, determined and well-principled. He also processes visa applications for refugees who are desperate to secure safe passage to America. After meeting an orphaned girl, Katy, his heart is softened and he is encouraged to adopt her. This decision changes the trajectory of not only his life and that of his girlfriend, Sara, but also of Katy and fellow Jews with few options. What results from this choice sets the wheels in motion for heroic intervention and humanity. His actions ease the difficulty and remove a few formidable barriers that the Jewish people faced in wartime, giving them ‘a place to hide.’

Balson capably placed me back in time in wartime Holland under Nazi occupation and showed me the deprivation that coincided with lack of assistance in the midst of devastating events.

My takeaway? As a society, we should be encouraged not to turn our backs to those in need. Repressive societies and those in war-torn countries are relying on our humanity.

Don’t forget to read the author’s note to read more about wartime Holland and discover the inspiration for this novel! If you haven’t read a Balson book, might I also suggest An Affair of Spies and The Girl From Berlin.

I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Another fun Ron Balson story with rich characters and a historical plot that was engaging and educational.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was such a good book! I loved the characters, and their story. The dialogue was realistic and enjoyable. I was very surprised by the ending!