Olive Branch

Modern Myth Trilogy #3

by David Schulze

Paris, 1941. William Gunnison, a British Private trying to keep a low profile in Nazi-occupied France, accidentally kills an old American man he mistakes for a German officer. The old man’s butler Jacques, now alone in Paris with a secret the Nazis could kill him for, begs William to help him safely escape Paris. All he has to do is deliver Jacques’s letter of instructions to a man named Victor hiding in New York City, a letter he will refuse unless William uses the password: “Olive Branch.”

Desperate to redeem himself for killing the old American — among other things — William agrees to desert the British army at the height of World War II and deliver the letter that saves Jacques’s life… but what William assumed to be a simple journey from Paris to New York proves to be anything but, forcing the young Private to outmanoeuvre not just the Nazis and Allied forces, but ghosts of his past as well.

Utilizing David Schulze’s trademark brand of complex characters, busted genre tropes, and mile-a-minute plot twists, OLIVE BRANCH is a unique wartime mystery combining suspense, contemplation and tragedy, exploring themes of messy ethics, the limitations of the human spirit, and mankind’s life-or-death need for companionship.

376 pages, Hardcover

First published November 26, 2024

About the author

David Schulze was born and raised in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. A lifelong admirer of movies, mythol­ogy, and classic lit­erature, David loves stories across all mediums.

In 2017, David graduated from Emerson College with a B.A. in Writing for Film and Television and a minor in Literature. He has written nine feature screenplays and four shorts, placing in a variety of screenplay competitions. His bestselling debut novel “The Sins of Jack Branson,” based on the screenplay of the same name, was published in 2021. His critically acclaimed second novel “Andrezj of Hollywood,” published in 2023, won the Bronze IPPY for West Pacific Fiction, and his novella “unplugged” was named one of the Best Indie Books of 2024 by Kirkus Reviews.

David lives in Marlton, New Jersey and Sarasota, Florida with his husband Howie.

Reviews

[Nicholas Passell · Rating 5 out of 5]

We now have the third book in David Schulze's "Modern Myth" trilogy, and I'm glad we do! It moves fast, pulls at heartstrings, and gives us countless twists and turns, with one hard-hitting revelation after another as we go through a tale filled with mystery and suspense as well as emotional triumph and tragedy. I reviewed both of the previous books in "Modern Myth" and spoke at length about them. With this one, however, I can only go so far. Since "Olive Branch" is a mystery, I cannot elaborate much on it lest I spoil anything. A British Private named William Gunnison shoots a man. A roller coaster of a story follows from there.

While my summary of the book was very vague, I can confirm that this book is the perfect ending to the trilogy in keeping with its themes. As I indicated in my reviews for the previous two books, "The Sins of Jack Branson" wants to ask you the question of what are you willing to risk in order to improve your life. "Andrezj of Hollywood" asks a far more sobering version of this question, asking how selfish are you willing to be and how willing are you to give up your moral principles in order to advance. "Olive Branch" asks the most uplifting question to wrap up the trilogy: the opposite of the "Andrezj" question. "Olive Branch" asks how far will you go to make things right. "Olive Branch" has many characters who have very guilty pasts, and each revelation shows that they have committed many harmful acts but also stop at nothing for redemption. This message is a fine refresher after "Andrezj." It is a great relief to hear that no matter what you have done in the past, you can always decide to pursue goodness instead. It may not erase the bad things you have done, but you should not be seeking your own reputation anyway. As Richie Hammond, a fictional playwright in the book, says, "we are not the heroes of our stories, but the heroes of others." When we find that we have done wrong and others need help as a result of our actions, we can always decide to help, regardless of if we fully succeed or if others, including the recipient of the help, interpret our actions. How far will we go? "Olive Branch" wants us to ask that.

The "Modern Myth" trilogy is a wonderful set of books that wants us to imagine the worst and the best that things can be and what are we willing to do in order to get there. It now must end here. That said, I cannot wait to see what David comes out with next!

[Joan Vermillion · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fast-paced, action-oriented story that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. The deeply developed characters are a highlight, each with compelling motivations and emotional depth that made me truly invest in their welfare. The narrative takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster, with moments of intense suspense, heartfelt connection, and unexpected twists.

Set against the intriguing backdrop of World War II, the plot weaves historical elements with a gripping story line that is both engaging and thought-provoking. The vivid descriptions and well-crafted scenes make the era come alive, immersing the reader in a world of courage and resilience.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a well-rounded story, dynamic characters, and a rich emotional spark. Whether you are a fan of wartime narratives or simply love a gripping, fully developed tale, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression!