Lt. Eli Evans, B-17 bomber pilot, is shot down over enemy-occupied France in 1944. Surrounded by Resistance fighters, a licensed-to-kill SOE British agent, and Marxist sympathizers, Evans and his navigator must evade a ruthless Nazi manhunt if they are to survive. Resistance sympathizer Aim e hates war but is forced to act with courage, risking her life for others. Engaged in ambush and sabotage, the combatants will debate broadcast talks by C. S. Lewis, heard as they listen to the BBC for coded messages from London. Full Review True to form, Douglas Bond delivers yet another historical novel sure to capture the hearts and imaginations of both the young and the old. Readers will thrill at the high-stakes, fast-paced cat and mouse game that ensues among downed Army Air Corps pilot Eli Evans, navigator Charlie Tucker, and the Waffen SS. The timing of events and diversity among the characters kept the tension hovering at or above an 8 on a 0-10 scale. From the moment the B-17 crashes, until the invasion of Normandy; time (and pages) seemed to fly by. I've read a number of books recounting the events leading up to D-Day, but this one provided a unique perspective. The cast of American aircrew, French Resistance, Communist sympathizers, along with the SOE operative, lent to a wide range of viewpoints on politics, religion, and the best plan of action for the team. One of the reasons that navigator Charlie "Chuckles" Tucker was my favorite character is because he could be counted on to break the tension of any given circumstance. Chock-full of historical facts, this novel will make another wonderful addition to our homeschool library. Not only this, but our son has already read War in the Wasteland, where he was introduced to a young atheist, Clive Staples Lewis. When he picks up this novel he will be able to recognize the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the life of C.S. Lewis through his BBC radio transmissions.
