Genre: Thriller
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The first chapter in Maurice Sellar’s novel, The Front Man, caught my attention immediately. Taking place in the thirties, we meet Hitler’s niece and begin to suspect the unthinkable. Chapter two brings us into the present, and we are introduced to Dan Shears, a psychiatrist who is wooed by the CIA. Shears takes the position and works in their offices for several years before they ask him to go on a mission to Europe.
He is sent to attend a trade convention in the home of a Nazi sympathizer, where he is to keep an eye on a would-be Russian defector. Things get complicated and he is suddenly working with others on a trail to Hitler’s legacy. There are deaths, espionage and an illegitimate child to keep the reader on the edge of his/her seat, and I found this book difficult to put down.
With the climate in our country (and the world ) these days, it isn’t difficult to imagine that the Neo-Nazi’s have intentions to take over where the third Reich left off, and Sellar’s does a good job depicting characters that are just evil enough to succeed. Of course his good guys are also well fleshed out, and the reader is never bored as the tale unwinds.
I love stories that mix history and true historical characters into their fictional plot. As in many of those types of novels, I felt the need to Google further information. I looked up Hitler’s niece, Geli Raubal, and found that she did, indeed exist, and that she did, in fact, have a relationship with her uncle. Of course the author took liberties with his description of said relationship, but that only made it more intriguing.
I found the descriptions of locations in Europe interesting, and though there were several slower moments, in general the pace was good. This author definitely did his research and now you can enjoy the fruits of his labor.
- Beverly
Publisher - Endeavour Press
Date of Publication - October 4, 2016
He is sent to attend a trade convention in the home of a Nazi sympathizer, where he is to keep an eye on a would-be Russian defector. Things get complicated and he is suddenly working with others on a trail to Hitler’s legacy. There are deaths, espionage and an illegitimate child to keep the reader on the edge of his/her seat, and I found this book difficult to put down.
With the climate in our country (and the world ) these days, it isn’t difficult to imagine that the Neo-Nazi’s have intentions to take over where the third Reich left off, and Sellar’s does a good job depicting characters that are just evil enough to succeed. Of course his good guys are also well fleshed out, and the reader is never bored as the tale unwinds.
I love stories that mix history and true historical characters into their fictional plot. As in many of those types of novels, I felt the need to Google further information. I looked up Hitler’s niece, Geli Raubal, and found that she did, indeed exist, and that she did, in fact, have a relationship with her uncle. Of course the author took liberties with his description of said relationship, but that only made it more intriguing.
I found the descriptions of locations in Europe interesting, and though there were several slower moments, in general the pace was good. This author definitely did his research and now you can enjoy the fruits of his labor.
- Beverly
Publisher - Endeavour Press
Date of Publication - October 4, 2016
