MASSAWA

In Webber’s historical thriller, a novice female American spy is sent to northeastern Africa in 1942 to investigate the disappearance of millions of military dollars.

Kit Thomas, a confident young agent in the Office of Strategic Services—the precursor to the CIA—partners with British MI6 agent Mark Williams for a WWII espionage mission. Kit is the perfect fit for the job; as she boasts, “I can pick a lock, throw a knife, hit a bull’s-eye up close, and a target from a distance and on the run. And I can kill an enemy a dozen different ways.” While she regrets that her young boss, Jake, whom she’s crushing on, won’t accompany her, Kit accepts the assignment to go with Mark to Massawa, a strategic port city in Eritrea placed under British military administration the previous year. Massawa is essential to the Allied war effort, largely due to the American naval base that’s located there; the OSS has reason to believe millions of payroll dollars destined for the base are being diverted. In Massawa, Kit and Mark investigate a group of Nazi sympathizers called the Vichy, who are suspected of stealing the payroll funds in an effort to sabotage the American naval base and hinder the Allied war effort. The author masterfully blends fact and fiction, weaving rich veins of love, violence, danger, duty, bravery, and fear throughout the story. The descriptions are particularly vivid, including that of a woman who “started drinking [and]…couldn’t keep her mouth shut or her clothes on.” Mark enjoys keeping Kit “off-balance,” and she’s quick to notice his sandalwood aftershave and attractiveness, leaving readers to wonder which potential romantic interest, if either, she’ll choose. The espionage narrative is further enriched by a backstory detailing Eritrea’s strategic role in WWII. The novel keeps readers engaged with a heady mix of adventure, romance, and surprising revelations, all amplified by the high stakes of wartime espionage. Fans of WWII thrillers will be eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series.

A brilliant blend of historical facts and thrilling fiction.