Charles McCarry, Christopher's Ghosts

Christopher's Ghosts

Charles McCarry

Overlook, May 2007, $25.00

ISBN 1585679143

In 1939, in Berlin, sixteen-year-old Paul Christopher struggles with the Nazi's control of much of society. However, his American novelist father and his German aristocratic mother warn Paul to be careful as the SS do not mind abducting and torturing intellects especially those who do not hide their disdain towards the Fatherland's mistreating the Jews. Paul learns this firsthand from vicious SS officer Major Stutzer who enjoys irritating the mixed-nationality teen. Paul falls in love with a Jew, which places him further in the abusive sphere of Stutzer. However, as war explodes on the continent, Stutzer personally deals with the Jew SS style leaving Paul with a bitter need to one day avenge his beloved though WWII and the Cold War prevented his opportunity.

In 1959, CIA operative Paul Christopher works an undercover sting in East Berlin to prevent a Soviet plot to gain leverage in the Middle East. Studying closely the Suez fiasco that alienated much of the Arab world, the Soviets see opportunity to gain footholds in the Middle East; they hire former SS Officer Stutzer to train their new allies. Christopher and Stutzer will soon meet with a two decade score to be settled that leaves the needs of both their countries on the back burner.

This is an exciting early entry in the Christopher Cold War espionage tales (see THE LAST SUPPER and TEARS OF AUTUMN). The storyline is action-packed as 1939 and 1959 Berlin come to life with both eras sharing the commonality of bleakly dangerous scenarios. That similarity adds a powerfully haunting feel of life at the center of two distinct yet related wars. Paul is fabulous while his lethal, sadistic adversary is somewhat a stereotype of the SS Officer, but also shows how well this group adapted in defeat. Charles McCarry is at his espionage best with this salad days thriller starring his long time protagonist, but Berlin steals the show.

Harriet Klausner