by Alan Furst
Part of Night Soldiers, book 12
First published 2012
Fredric Stahl arrives in Paris in 1938 to star in a French film, but the American actor quickly discovers that his celebrity status makes him a target for Nazi operatives. As Europe teeters on the brink of war, Stahl finds himself drawn into a dangerous world of espionage and political manipulation. German agents attempt to recruit him as a propaganda tool, while French resistance contacts seek his help in their own operations. Stahl must navigate the treacherous waters of wartime Paris, where a wrong move could mean death and where his every action carries consequences far beyond the movie set. The actor faces an impossible choice between his career and his conscience as the Nazi threat grows ever closer.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, thriller, espionage
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, moral-dilemma
Setting: Paris, Europe
Period: 1938