FDR’s Ambassadors Watched Hitler’s Rise to Power

 

Roosevelt’s Inauguration coincided with Hitler’s rise to power in Germany. Roosevelt was committed to getting the economy back on track and trying to stay out of the coming storm in Europe. Hoping that international trade would help the struggling economy he appointed ambassadors to Europe who would be his eyes and ears.

The four most influential ambassadors were William Bullitt first stationed in the Soviet Union and later in France. Breckinridge Long, a long time friend, was sent to Italy where he came to admire Mussolini. William Dodd, professor of history, was sent to Germany. He became appalled at what he saw happening in the country. The fourth ambassador was Joseph P. Kennedy to whom FDR owed political favors. Kennedy would settle for nothing less than and ambassadorship and was sent to England. His sympathies were on the side of Hitler which made his reporting to Roosevelt rather biased.

The book relies on the papers of the four ambassadors as well as documents from members of the administration. The four men saw the world through their own eyes which often resulted in biased reporting to Roosevelt. This is an insightful look at what was happening in Europe during Hitler’s rise to power and the lead up to WWII. I found the book fascinating. It was easy to read and caught me up in the drama of that time.

I received the book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

Watson and Holmes Meet in Egypt

 

It’s 1911. Watson is taking his wife Juliet to Cairo for treatment of her recent bout of tuberculosis. Watson is happy to support his wife, but her treatment regimen is very strict, and he’s hardly able to see her. He wanders around Cairo becoming bored until he goes into a bar and sees a fellow who he is sure is wearing his regimental tie. He can tell by the spot.

Of course, the man turns out to be Holmes in disguise. He’s on the trail of the Duke of Uxbridge. He came Egypt to search for a missing tomb. His mistress hasn’t heard from him and believes that the circumstances of his disappearance are suspicious. Holmes has been tasked with the investigation and now that Watson has appeared he is a welcome addition to the team.

It’s an interesting time in Cairo. Not only are numerous adventurers looking for hidden tombs, but the international situation comes into play. The British, French and the Egyptians themselves want to control the country, not to mention the importance of the Suez Canal. It’s ripe for a good Holmes adventure with overtones of international intrigue.

Nicholas Meyer does a good job recreating the Holmes era. This book is reminiscent of his first novel, the Seven Percent Solution. I am not a fan of many recreations of the Holmes Watson partnership, but this is a good one.

The story starts slowly with Watson’s travel to Egypt and getting Juliet settled, but it quickly picks up when Holmes comes on the scene. The pace accelerates to that of a thriller. The history is accurate and the glimpses of the Nile and Egyptian archaeology are well done. If you’re a fan of Sherlock, this is a good one.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

A WWII Missing Pilot and a Jazz Age Mystery

 

At the end of WWII, Ellie Morgan is engaged and hoping to move up from the job as a secretary at the San Francisco Chronicle to become a journalist. Then she receives the news that her adored pilot father was shot down of the Adriatic Sea and may not be alive. Ellie is devastated. She keeps hoping her father will come home, but when his effects arrive a mystery surfaces.

In the pocket of his uniform jacket, Ellie finds a bundle of love letters, but the woman is not her mother and there is the possibility that a child is involved. Ellie’s mother is locked in her own world so Ellie goes to her aunt Iris and persuades her to go with her to New York to find out about this mysterious woman and her daughter.

Iris agrees to help her niece, but with trepidation. Her past will come out. She was a Zigfield showgirl and worse, she thinks she may have been involved in the murder of another showgirl.

This is an excellent historical novel. Ellie is a strong character. She’s at the cusp of doing things women before WWII only dreamed of, but she’s also tied to the patterns of behavior inculcated by her strict mother. Iris is also a good character. She obviously lived her life to the full and accepted the price at the end of her show career.

The historical content is accurate and based on an actual Jazz Age murder in 1920 in New York. Both time periods came to life in the narrative. If you enjoy historical fiction and a good mystery, this is a good choice.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.