Louise's Chance: A 1940s spy thriller set in wartime Washington

By Sarah R. Shaber

1940s, Washington DC. Government girl Louise gets her big chance, when she is tasked with recruiting German POWs for a secret mission inside Nazi Germany

Government girl Louise Pearlie has a new job inside the OSS – the Office of Strategic Services: recruiting German prisoners-of-war for a secret mission inside Nazi Germany. It’s a big chance for her, and Louise hopes she can finally escape her filing and typing duties. With the job comes two new colleagues: Alice Osborne, a propaganda expert, and Merle Ellison, a forger from Texas who just happens to speak fluent German.

But when the three arrive at Fort Meade camp, to interview the first German POWs to arrive there, their mission is beset by complications. Only one of the prisoners speaks English, the army officer in charge of the camp is an alcoholic and two prisoners disappeared on the ship bringing the Germans to the states. Were their deaths suicide? Officially, yes. But Louise can’t help but have her doubts . . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: Severn House Digital
• Release date: Dec 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781780107158

Sarah R. Shaber

Sarah R. Shaber won the St. Martin's Press Award for Best First Traditional Mystery for her first book, Simon Said. Three sequels have followed, the most recent of which is The Bug Funeral, and she is at work on the fourth. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Reviews for Louise's Chance

[kaulsu · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well what do you know. I only noticed one small issue, and without going back to the last book for verification, I’m not positive. The plot on this one was a bit boring, or perhaps I’ve just over-read the series. In any case, her treatment of the FBI agent didn’t quite match her previous disdain for him. imho.

[jetangen4571 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

WW2, spies, prisoners-of-war, amateur-sleuth, historical-novel, historical-research, historical-setting, friendship ***** Louise is a 30ish widow working in the OSS in a clerical capacity when she is tagged for a job within the agency as assistant to a propaganda expert. The pay is better but some parts are a bit scary, like her very first airplane ride and then staying close to a POW camp to take notes while prisoners are interviewed. Lots of things are very real, like the effects of rationing and attitudes towards women. There are a couple of subplots that add interesting aspects as well. Jenny Hoops is the perfect voice performance narrator as she really adds good things to the characters. I was very lucky to win the audio in a giveaway!