This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Saifunnissa Hassam for Readers' Favorite
Kathryn Gauci's Midnight in Istanbul is a riveting historical novel, an espionage thriller set in WWII. The story is about wartime intelligence operations, set primarily in 1943 in Istanbul, Turkey. The plot is based on one of WWII's most important resistance groups, the Austrian-based Maier-Messner Network or the CASSIA Network. The network provided vital and timely information about critical Nazi military installations to America's Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Elliot Caldwell is English and fluent in Greek, Turkish, French, and German. He is a foreign and war news correspondent for the New York Times, a cover for his work as a secret agent for the Allies in Turkey. In 1943, he is given a dangerous assignment by the American OSS to work with the Austrian resistance CASSIA network. His espionage assignment turns more complex and risky when two men are murdered in Istanbul. Are the murders connected to the Austrian resistance? Elliot cannot rule out a very real and sinister threat of betrayal; a double agent.
I thoroughly enjoyed Midnight in Istanbul for its compelling characters and its gritty and immersive storyline. I particularly liked the character development of Elliot Caldwell and the masterful way his espionage activities in 1943 are interwoven with details about his background and personal life. The drama of intense emotional relationships in wartime reveals the vulnerabilities and strengths of the characters. The development of the other agents added great depth to the story, turning it into a riveting blend of espionage, chaos and danger, and personal sacrifices. I liked the rich details of scenarios and settings that vividly evoked Turkey during WWII. Elliot's character sprang vividly to life as he walked through Istanbul's winding streets, past minarets, cafes, and shops, along the piers and shores of the Bosphorus, in an atmosphere of intrigue and danger. The most poignant moments are when Elliot must accept the dangerous life of a spy and how betrayal and death can come in the most unexpected ways. I liked the ending because it brings into sharp focus the realities of war and postwar transitions for Elliot. Kathryn Gauci's Midnight in Istanbul is a remarkable wartime story of espionage, betrayal, courage, love, and sacrifice.
