SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY

Barnett debuts in hardcover with a historical romance set before and behind Nazi lines during WWII. The center of our attention is one Kitty Kincaid, the daughter of a renowned American scientist and an important figure in nuclear research herself. Traveling through Morocco in disguise, Kitty is recognized and kidnapped by Vichy police, who promptly turn her over to the German intelligence units that are trying just then to get a little help for some nuclear projects of their own. Her absence is quickly noticed, however, and wheels begin to turn in Washington, London, Libya, and Los Alamos. Although the full story is still rather hush-hush, there’s no harm in saying that the OSS involved itself in a big way, as did MI5. Naturally, the RAF and the US air forces had to be brought in, since Kitty was taken well behind enemy lines. This involved the services of a number of colorful characters—not the least of them being girl pilot Charlotte Morrison, who is authorized only to ferry only craft for the RAF but takes on a good deal more responsibility on her own authority. Also on hand are handsome Americans J.R. Cassidy and Red Walker. If all is fair in war, the same goes for love, right? Who will get to bring Kitty home?

Formulaic and unsurprising, but well-paced and briskly told.