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Doppelgänger
Two men. Spies. An American. A German.
The year is 1942. The world is at war.
In New York City, the German spy is following Nazi orders, climbing the corporate ladder. He has it all. A loving wife. A good job. A tidy house on Long Island. Everything is perfect. Until one night when his wife discovers his shocking secret.
In Germany, one of the U.S. Army’s deadliest commandos parachutes to earth. His mission: wreaking havoc from behind enemy lines. But something goes terribly wrong during his jump, leaving him with a lethal injury and a crucial choice. It’s kill or be discovered. He makes the ruthless decision, killing two innocents without hesitation, knowing he’ll never be the same again.
Two years later, sufficiently chastened, the two men independently claw their way back to relevance. Through meticulous analysis, the American learns of the German’s existence. He’s a soldier now, wearing the American uniform, murdering senior officers under the cloak of battle.
As the parallel plots converge, the American doggedly stalks the German spy. First to Europe. Then to France. The killings intensify. A major. A colonel. A general.
The hunt narrows from division, to regiment, to company. It’s a hunt for a vicious killer.
It’s a hunt for the American’s doppelgänger.
The year is 1942. The world is at war.
In New York City, the German spy is following Nazi orders, climbing the corporate ladder. He has it all. A loving wife. A good job. A tidy house on Long Island. Everything is perfect. Until one night when his wife discovers his shocking secret.
In Germany, one of the U.S. Army’s deadliest commandos parachutes to earth. His mission: wreaking havoc from behind enemy lines. But something goes terribly wrong during his jump, leaving him with a lethal injury and a crucial choice. It’s kill or be discovered. He makes the ruthless decision, killing two innocents without hesitation, knowing he’ll never be the same again.
Two years later, sufficiently chastened, the two men independently claw their way back to relevance. Through meticulous analysis, the American learns of the German’s existence. He’s a soldier now, wearing the American uniform, murdering senior officers under the cloak of battle.
As the parallel plots converge, the American doggedly stalks the German spy. First to Europe. Then to France. The killings intensify. A major. A colonel. A general.
The hunt narrows from division, to regiment, to company. It’s a hunt for a vicious killer.
It’s a hunt for the American’s doppelgänger.
ebook
First published May 1, 2012
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135 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Driskell
19 books43 followersThe youngest of five children, Chuck’s initial love of fiction was borne out of a lack of money coupled with an overactive childhood imagination. On Sunday afternoons during his childhood, Chuck’s parents would take the entire family to the public library—it was pleasurable and, best of all, free. He credits The Shining, by Stephen King, as being the first novel he ever read.
Following high school, Chuck joined the Army after finding little inspiration (or money) for college. He was stationed stateside at Fort Sill and as a paratrooper at Fort Bragg; but it was Chuck’s two-and-a-half years stationed in Germany that forged many of the memories that fuel his interest today.
Following his honorable discharge from the Army, Chuck endured more schooling before embarking on a career in advertising. In 2001 he co-founded B2B Media, Inc., a company that would go on to be named the second fastest-growing company in South Carolina.
While his career was progressing nicely, an active skydiver, Chuck suffered an accident while BASE jumping from the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia. Although he’s since recovered, the accident took away his ability to compete in numerous sports. It was the accident, and his resulting physical limitations, that would later become the seed for his need to write.
As his career churned on, Chuck married his wife in 2003. Fulfilled personally and professionally, something began to tug at his mind. Before his accident he’d been able to satisfy his inner desires, first with the adrenaline of a soldier’s life, and later as a risk-taking skydiver. When he could no longer be either, he realized something was missing.
Searching for an answer, in 2005 and at the behest of one of his closest friends, Chuck began to write. Claiming he couldn’t write a decent sentence at the time, he started by penning his own experiences. After moving on to short stories for a period, he eventually began to write novel-length stories in earnest. Over time he learned to blend flawed characters with extraordinary situations, creating a hybrid of the classic spy/suspense novel. Chuck’s passion for travel—especially in Europe—helps lend genuine background and texture to his writing.
Now, every day, Chuck awakens before the dawn and writes. He claims his writing is at its best when his mind is a blank slate. Plus, by writing early, he doesn’t miss time with his wife, his daughter, or his son. They live in South Carolina.
Following high school, Chuck joined the Army after finding little inspiration (or money) for college. He was stationed stateside at Fort Sill and as a paratrooper at Fort Bragg; but it was Chuck’s two-and-a-half years stationed in Germany that forged many of the memories that fuel his interest today.
Following his honorable discharge from the Army, Chuck endured more schooling before embarking on a career in advertising. In 2001 he co-founded B2B Media, Inc., a company that would go on to be named the second fastest-growing company in South Carolina.
While his career was progressing nicely, an active skydiver, Chuck suffered an accident while BASE jumping from the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia. Although he’s since recovered, the accident took away his ability to compete in numerous sports. It was the accident, and his resulting physical limitations, that would later become the seed for his need to write.
As his career churned on, Chuck married his wife in 2003. Fulfilled personally and professionally, something began to tug at his mind. Before his accident he’d been able to satisfy his inner desires, first with the adrenaline of a soldier’s life, and later as a risk-taking skydiver. When he could no longer be either, he realized something was missing.
Searching for an answer, in 2005 and at the behest of one of his closest friends, Chuck began to write. Claiming he couldn’t write a decent sentence at the time, he started by penning his own experiences. After moving on to short stories for a period, he eventually began to write novel-length stories in earnest. Over time he learned to blend flawed characters with extraordinary situations, creating a hybrid of the classic spy/suspense novel. Chuck’s passion for travel—especially in Europe—helps lend genuine background and texture to his writing.
Now, every day, Chuck awakens before the dawn and writes. He claims his writing is at its best when his mind is a blank slate. Plus, by writing early, he doesn’t miss time with his wife, his daughter, or his son. They live in South Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 11, 2012
I absolutely loved this book..Chuck's 2nd novel was no disappointment. I am not generally a fan of the WWII spy genre but Driskell has turned me into a big proponent. This book had it all, Characters you could really believe in, a story that was spun as to see both sides not just one and a story that I could really see being believeable. This book is for the reader of the Spy/Spec Ops genre, but I would suggest that this book is not fluff and get your mind ready to digest a fast complex plot. I have become a Chuck Driskell fan and am now reading his third novel Lahn's Edge... So for all of my Goodreads friends that email me, I say read all of his books, you cant go wrong!
January 19, 2020
Too gruesome
This novel began with many possibilities . It could have been a good WWII story . However,( Spoiler alert ) it was difficult to believe that a highly trained American spy parachuted into Germany from a plane that was heading back due to bad weather conditions . But I continued to read .Then he is stabbed in the chest and the stick is lodged in his chest and his leg is broken from the fall from the plane . The American spy finds a farmhouse,asks for help,realised his mission is compromised and kills the German couples. Then he amputate s his leg and waits for help .. I am hesitant but I continue to read . The German spy in America has his cover blown . He escapes, and when I quit reading he was in the bathtub in a run down hotel performing plastic surgery on his face . This was just not plausible to me and I stopped reading . Good luck if you like this type of book . I do not recommend it
This novel began with many possibilities . It could have been a good WWII story . However,( Spoiler alert ) it was difficult to believe that a highly trained American spy parachuted into Germany from a plane that was heading back due to bad weather conditions . But I continued to read .Then he is stabbed in the chest and the stick is lodged in his chest and his leg is broken from the fall from the plane . The American spy finds a farmhouse,asks for help,realised his mission is compromised and kills the German couples. Then he amputate s his leg and waits for help .. I am hesitant but I continue to read . The German spy in America has his cover blown . He escapes, and when I quit reading he was in the bathtub in a run down hotel performing plastic surgery on his face . This was just not plausible to me and I stopped reading . Good luck if you like this type of book . I do not recommend it
January 17, 2017
As far as the plot goes, Good Reads has done a good job of explaining what this book is about, but I found the title to be misleading. The story goes on as is expected, but there are things that always go wrong, and this is the case with both the American and the German spies. I just felt like there were a couple of stories that didn’t quite get off the ground and then the author had to restart the whole process all over again and didn’t quite make it. Still keep on reading because there is a nice twist near the end, and while this book was entertaining enough, it wasn’t what I expected.
July 21, 2019
Doppelganger Chuck Driskell
Perfectly planted spies by the Germans. Extremely intelligent, in excellent physical condition. Perfect candidates for this type of assignment. Both love their homeland, Germany. One truly enjoys killing. The other will do his job, but has a conscious. He regrets some of his kills, but didn't didn't kill ones he should have because of an emotional attachment. He, will actually kill his counterpart, with no regrets, no emotional attachment at all. This is an excellent read. Enjoyed immensely.
Perfectly planted spies by the Germans. Extremely intelligent, in excellent physical condition. Perfect candidates for this type of assignment. Both love their homeland, Germany. One truly enjoys killing. The other will do his job, but has a conscious. He regrets some of his kills, but didn't didn't kill ones he should have because of an emotional attachment. He, will actually kill his counterpart, with no regrets, no emotional attachment at all. This is an excellent read. Enjoyed immensely.
July 22, 2018
It kept my interest. The twist was not all that surprising but getting there was worth the read. I would have changed the ending but I'm me and so I think most would say good ending.
I would have given it four stars if less focus on sex, but not so bad as it will stop me from reading another book by the author.
I would have given it four stars if less focus on sex, but not so bad as it will stop me from reading another book by the author.
November 24, 2020
Good, not great.
October 21, 2021
It kept my attention, but too many twists and unbelievable coincidences. Ending disappointing
February 6, 2023
I got lost from the very beginning
I really tried to get this book. I reread portions trying to determine what I had missed or misinterpreted. In the end I just gave up to read something I enjoyed.
I really tried to get this book. I reread portions trying to determine what I had missed or misinterpreted. In the end I just gave up to read something I enjoyed.
May 13, 2015
I picked up this book, not knowing what to expect. What I initially got was an authors fascination with women's rear ends and erections at the drop of a hat. There are two main characters in this book, and it seems that both of them want to become surgeons. The first one saws off his own injured leg, while the second one does facial reconstruction on himself. This was the first half of the book and I thought about giving up, but decided to plod along. I am glad that I did. The second half was continued excitement and I can use the phrase, "I didn't see that coming." It is well written and I recommend it.
June 25, 2014
When reading this genre I am looking for non stop thrills and action. This is not to say that I disliked the novel, which I actually liked but I felt the pacing was uneven at times. The story was interesting and, at various times engaging, especially as it moved between the 2 main antagonist.
March 9, 2016
Different
I truly believe that author is very good at developing a story line, character development, intensity and intrigue. What do not understand is the need as much sexual descriptions. I know that there is sex, I just do not feel a lot of description adds to the story.
I truly believe that author is very good at developing a story line, character development, intensity and intrigue. What do not understand is the need as much sexual descriptions. I know that there is sex, I just do not feel a lot of description adds to the story.
May 3, 2014
Kind of a stupid Captain America story rather than a true WWII story. If you're looking for a valid, WWII book, this isn't it.
May 3, 2014
Kind of a stupid Captain America story rather than a true WWII story. If you're looking for a valid, WWII book, this isn't it.
May 13, 2022
Keep reading. Unexpected twists.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews