JUST ONE MORE

Byrd’s World War II novel, based on true events, takes place in Austria during the final days of the conflict and culminates in a castle siege.

Maj. Josef Gangl is a disillusioned German soldier who joins the Austrian Resistance in April 1945. Although the war is nearly at an end, there are a number of key French hostages who are still imprisoned in Castle Itter, and one of the priorities of the Resistance is their rescue. The Nazis are panicking, the Americans are approaching, and the opportunity to save the men is slipping away. Byrd introduces an ensemble cast that includes many real-life historical figures—including SS captain Kurt-Siegfried Schrader, former French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud, and others—all of whom are thrown together in the siege that constitutes the book’s main action. Although the circumstances are dire, the way the heroes come together in common cause is both inspiring and ultimately uplifting. The novel switches perspectives in almost every chapter, and although this is an effective method of providing context and introducing key players, the frequent shifts don’t flow very well and may make it difficult for readers to connect with the characters. Additionally, Gangl narrates his section in the first person, but everyone else’s story is told from a third-person perspective, creating a somewhat disjointed effect. The novel works well when it focuses on the human cost of war, and the importance of not losing even one more person. However, the book’s emotional payoff is often lost in its heavy emphasis on ranks, strategy, and logistics, which make up the bulk of the narrative. The closing line, a callback to the novel’s title, aims for poignancy but lands closer to flippancy. More effective is a line several pages before, when a character reflects, “This is the day after the last day of the war”: Victory may be declared, but the fight isn’t over for those on the ground.

An earnest, if somewhat scattershot, war story that may appeal to genre enthusiasts.