MIDNIGHT PATRIOTS

Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin #2

by Paul Levine

While war raged in Europe, the battle for America’s soul was already underway.

Blending fact and fiction, MIDNIGHT PATRIOTS follows real-life friends Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin as they confront powerful enemies threatening the United States from within.

It’s 1940. Europe is in flames. Germany occupies much of the continent, and the Blitz rains terror on London. Fritz Duquesne, a German spy straight from the history books, plots to kidnap Einstein and steal America’s nuclear secrets. Enraged by Chaplin’s mockery in The Great Dictator, Adolf Hitler dispatches an SS assassin to silence the man who ridiculed him.

The story features Charles Lindbergh, Lena Horne, and J. Robert Oppenheimer—along with a dangerous German spy on a mission of her own. As Nazi agents and FBI operatives close in, all roads lead Einstein and Chaplin to a deadly showdown aboard the Santa Fe Super Chief as it races from Chicago to Los Angeles.

MIDNIGHT PATRIOTS is the second novel in the Einstein–Chaplin Series. The first entry, MIDNIGHT BURNING, was named Historical Thriller of the Year by Best Thrillers Book Review and one of Bookreporter’s Favorite Books of 2025. The novels stand alone and may be read in any order.

Genres: Historical Fiction

391 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 16, 2026

About the author

MIDNIGHT PATRIOTS
Germany wants Einstein alive. Chaplin dead. Spies, assassins, a femme fatale board the Super Chief. Destination: danger.

It's 1940. Europe is in flames. Germany occupies much of the continent, and the Blitz rains terror on London. Fritz Duquesne, a German spy straight from the history books, plots to kidnap Einstein and steal America's nuclear secrets. Enraged by Chaplin's mockery in The Great Dictator, Adolf Hitler dispatches an SS assassin to silence the man who ridiculed him. The story features Charles Lindbergh, Lena Horne, and J. Robert Oppenheimer—along with a beautiful German spy on a mission of her own. As Nazi agents and FBI operatives close in, all roads lead Einstein and Chaplin to a deadly showdown aboard the Santa Fe Super Chief as it races from Chicago to Los Angeles.

ORDER FROM AMAZON HERE

MIDNIGHT BURNING

Award-winning author Paul Levine weaves historical figures into a gripping, true-to-life plot to overthrow the U.S. government in this sizzling historical thriller.

Named "Historical Thriller of the Year" by Best Thrillers Book Review and one of the "Favorite Books of 2025" by Bookreporter.

“Ingeniously pairs real-life friends Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin on a roller coaster ride to save America from a fascist threat within its borders.” – Jacqueline Winspear, author of the Maisie Dobbs series.

It's 1937 and clouds of war gather over Europe, and American fascists march at home. While the FBI chases suspected communists, Nazi agents plot an armed insurrection. When the world’s two most famous men–Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin–uncover the scheme, which includes the assassination of Hollywood’s biggest stars, they fight back with nothing but their ingenuity, raw courage, and the fierce resolve of Georgia Ann Robinson, LAPD’s first Black female officer.

Levine—praised by The New York Times for his “realistic, gritty, and fun” novels—delivers a breathtaking thriller laced with humor and a larger-than-life cast, including Charles Lindbergh, Douglas Fairbanks, William Randolph Hearst, and Joseph Goebbels.

"This could be Levine's masterpiece." - Lee Goldberg, New York Times #1 Bestselling Author

ORDER FROM AMAZON HERE.

ORDER FROM BARNES & NOBLE HERE.

ORDER FROM BOOKSHOP HERE.

**********************************************;
Jake Lassiter tackles high school football and becomes the most hated man in Miami in EARLY GRAVE, Paul Levine's sizzling legal thriller.

Named PenCraft "Book of the Year" and the third best legal thriller of the 21st Century by Best Thrillers Book Review.

"An extraordinary hero stars in a legal tale as believable as it is riveting." - Kirkus Reviews

"Levine scores with this complex and witty legal thriller. This winner works even for those new to the series." - Publishers Weekly (★starred review★)

When his godson suffers a catastrophic injury in a high school football game, lawyer Jake Lassiter sues to abolish the sport and becomes Public Enemy Number One. The former NFL linebacker also battles CTE, the fatal brain disease caused by repetitive head injuries. His personal life, too, hits a rocky patch. He's in couple's therapy with fiancée Dr. Melissa Gold and vows to live long enough to fix his relationship and achieve justice for his godson.

Reviews

[J. F. "Thriller Ghost Writer"]

Paul Levine's "Confederacy of Geniuses", A Historical Fiction Gem!
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"Midnight Patriots", Einstein-Chaplin Thrillers #2 by Paul Levine (2026)
Review based on an advance review copy courtesy of Herald Square and NetGalley
Rating: ★★★★★ (4.5 Stars rounded up!)
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____Review Spotlight: Paul Levine's "Confederacy of Geniuses", A Historical Fiction Gem!

A play on words, but, in many ways, the antithesis of John Kennedy Toole's 1980 masterpiece, "A Confederacy of Dunces", an American classic which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1981.
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In Book 2, Paul Levine alludes to "Midnight Patriots", a sub-rosa "Dream Team" of generational theoretical physicists.

But first.
Flashback to Book 1.
"Midnight Burning", Einstein-Chaplin Thrillers #1 (2025)

In his first novel after the 2023 finale of his bestselling and award-winning "Jake Lassiter" series, "Early Grave", Book #14, Paul Levine masterfully blends historical facts to fit the fictional narrative centered on the unlikely but genuine (and non-fictional) friendship between two über-geniuses in their respective fields:

Albert Einstein, German-Jewish theoretical physicist who becomes a naturalized US citizen in 1940; and Charlie Chaplin, British, iconic filmmaker and comedian. Their shared values as pacifists, their deep appreciation for America, their publicly known disdain for unchecked capitalism, and the reluctance of Einstein to help the USA build a nuclear fission bomb.

Bookended by two of Mr. Chaplin's movies: — "City Lights" (1931), and "The Great Dictator" (1940), the novel covers a decade which sees the birth of the Third Reich (1933), the occupation of the Rhineland (1936), the Hindenburg disaster (1937) and the discovery of nuclear fission in 1938 by chemists Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann, inter alia.
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"City Lights" (1931).
The "Famous Exchange".
It is during the premiere of the silent movie, that the "Famous Exchange" happens between the two friends, one of history’s most celebrated conversations, perfectly contrasting Einstein’s complex scientific theories with Chaplin’s universal artistic appeal.
— Einstein: "What I admire most about your art is its universality. You do not say a word, and yet the world understands you."

— Chaplin: "True. But your fame is even greater! The whole world admires you, even though they don't understand a word of what you say".
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"The Great Dictator" (1940).
Book 1 ends with the futile attempt by Nazi sympathisers to thwart the production of Chaplin's first true sound movie, a stirring condemnation of the German and Italian dictatorships, of fascism, of antisemitism and of Nazism. In it, Chaplin satirically plays Adolf Hitler, with Jack Oakie as Benito Mussolini.

Listed as #9 on the Library of Congress' National Film Registry, the film is considered as a historically significant film, one of the greatest comedy films ever made. It was Chaplin's most commercially successful film.

The movie also sets the tone for Book 2.
Infuriated, Adolf Hitler personally dispatches an SS assassin to silence Charlie Chaplin.
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Book 2.
//____"Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." ━Bhagavad Gita. (Loosely translated from Sanskrit)

Quoted by J. Robert Oppenheimer, director of the Manhattan Project, often referred to as the "Father of the Atomic Bomb", citing the Gita, the Hindu scripture, after witnessing the first successful test of the atomic bomb.//
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━═"Midnight Patriots", Einstein-Chaplin Thrillers Book #2 by Paul Levine (2026)
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1940.
World War II rages.
The Battle of Britain has just been won.
Albert Einstein becomes a naturalized US citizen.
Hitler wants the genius scientist taken alive back to Germany and lead the Nazi weapons program.
He wants the Hollywood comedian dead, for that disgraceful movie.
The Manhattan Project is at its naissant stage.

These are the premises of the second Einstein-Chaplin thriller, even as Author Paul Levine once again masterfully blends historical facts to fit the fictional narrative.
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Halloween, October 31, 1940
Waldorf Astoria, 301 Park Ave,
Midtown Manhattan
In the Starlight Roof on the 19th floor of the hotel, German spy, Fritz Duquesne passes his wrist watch with seven frames of microfilm to a portly mole. He would be later commissioned to kidnap Albert Einstein. (The espionage exploits of the Nazi spy ring leader are depicted in the 1945 movie, "The House on 92nd Street".)

At the Norse Grill on Waldorf's ground floor, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, pontificates to his acolytes on a recent munitions plant sabotage, the same agents who'd come to the rescue of the duo.

In a ballroom, the Eagle Squadron parties on the British Charlie Chaplin's dime before leaving to join the RAF to fight the Luftwaffe. At an adjacent ballroom, the pro-Nazi Amerikadeutscher Bund (German American Bund) drain kegs of Dortmunder in between raucous "Sieg Heils" stiff arm salutes.

And walking around the lobby, gangster Mickey Cohen, chief enforcer of Bugsy Siegel, this particular time paid by William Randolph Hearst, is out to maim or do worse to one Charlies Chaplin for his indiscretions with Marion Davies, WRH's mistress of two decades. Cohen would in fact play a future role as enforcer for the safety of both Chaplin and Einstein, along with the FBI.

As for the two geniuses that Halloween night, both rumple the sheets, in separate Waldorf suites, one of them with the very Ms. Davies he'd get into trouble for. Chaplin would escape, hanging to a flagpole outside the hotel. It is a pattern of philandering that would repeat itself many times in the novel.

(Paul Levine bars no holds as he lays out the duo's proclivities accurately. Albert Einstein, the scientist, indeed had a turbulent romantic life characterized by multiple extramarital affairs and the emotional neglect of his wives. While Charlie Chaplin had a well-documented reputation as a philanderer.)

━━━━

The Pursuit.
Einstein is pursued by the Nazi spy and would-be abductor Duquesne; Chaplin, by a Nazi Schutzstaffel (SS) assassin. It all culminates on the Santa Fe Super Chief, the flagship luxury streamliner train of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.

Midnight Patriots, The Dream Team!
It is on the train that Einstein meets J. Robert Oppenheimer, who, aware of the former's avowed pacifist views, proposes:

— Oppenheimer: "You wouldn't be in the lab or anywhere near the nuclear plants. This would just be between us, borrowing your brain for answers. But nothing hands-on. Nothing that could leave fingerprints."

— Einstein: "I see. We work under the cover of darkness."

— Oppenheimer: "Midnight patriots, if you will."

— Einstein: "Intriguing. Any such discrete insights come to mind?"

— Oppenheimer: "Ernest Lawrence at Berkeley began using a cyclotron as a particle accelerator to produce radioactive isotopes...."

And thus the pair would secretly begin working as "Midnight Patriots", the "Father of Modern Physics" and the "Father of the Atomic Bomb".

━━━━

Albert Einstein would never set foot at Los Alamos, NM. A naturalized US citizen, he was denied security clearance in July 1940 for various reasons. His conversation with Oppenheimer on the Santa Fe Super Chief, sub-rosa, as noted above, is deemed fictional.

But What If!

Charlie Chaplin had a complex relationship with the Nazis, as narrated in "Charlie Chaplin and the Nazis" by Norbert Aping (English version 2023). There were no recorded attempts on his life.

In 1952, J. Edgar Hoover would cause the revocation of the British citizen's reentry permit back to the USA.
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tgw━━━━════════
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Recommendation: Both books, must-reads! Creative. Historical fiction to be relished.
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Rating: ★★★★★ (5.0 Stars!)
Book Details:
Title: Midnight Patriots
Author: Paul Levine
Series: Einstein-Chaplin Thrillers #2
Pages: 512 (Kindle)
ISBN-13: 979-8994263006
Publisher: Herald Square
Release Date: June 16, 2026
Order Now: https://amzn.to/4wO6mFD

[Jeff]

Midnight Patriots. Paul Levine. Nittany Valley Productions, Inc, 2026. 393 pages. Book 2 of 2 Einstein-Chaplin Thrillers.

Paul Levine is back with the second in a series of adventures of the greatest action-thriller duo that you never knew you needed: Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin. It's true, Einstein, probably the 20th century's most famous and accomplished scientist and one of the most well-known and respected people on the planet in his lifetime, and Chaplin, the greatest silent film star ever and still a Hollywood icon a century later, were best friends in real life. It's 1940, and war is raging in Europe. America is torn between those moved by the destruction and the impending collapse of the sole surviving bastion of democracy, the UK, and anticipating US intervention and those isolationists who are opposed to any US involvement. America is crawling with Nazi spies, saboteurs, and sympathizers, with fascist groups like the German-American Bund, the Silver Shirts, and the Black Legion, among others, swearing open allegiance to Hitler. As in the first book, Midnight Burning, Einstein and Chaplin find themselves enmeshed in an evil Nazi plot. Both men are targeted. The plan is to kidnap Einstein and force him to work on the German atomic bomb research project and to assassinate Chaplin in retaliation for "The Great Dictator" which skewered and humiliated Hitler and Mussolini. It's up to the pair, along with a couple of FBI agents, to thwart the plan. Besides Einstein and Hitler, the book is full of real historical figures like Lena Horne, Robert Oppenheimer, General Leslie Groves, gangsters Mickey Cohen and Bugsy Siegel, William Randolph Hearst, J. Edgar Hoover, and Charles Lindbergh. Even the book's lead villain, Frederick "Fritz" Duquesne, was a real life Nazi spy who created and directed a ring of 33 spies and saboteurs that collected sensitive military and industrial intelligence until it was busted up in July of 1941. I'm definitely looking forward to more books in the series. It's full of history, humor, and adventure.

[KylieAtkinson]

This one is for fans of historical novels with a touch of humour. Well-researched with the author's unique spin on real events, it’s a meandering ride through some of history’s biggest moments.

There are plenty of big names - Albert Einstein, Charlie Chaplin, Robert Oppenheimer, Charles Lindbergh, and Adolf Hitler - all running around trying to stay alive or pushing their own agendas. Throw in mid-level Jewish mob boss Mickey Cohen, some FBI agents, an SS assassin, and a femme fatale spy, and you've got another crazy race to stop evil from winning.

While this wasn't quite as witty as Book 1 and bogged me down a bit in places, it still had great moments. The scenes with Einstein teaching Mickey Cohen's girlfriend how to be smarter were my favourite parts, and Mickey's constant misuse of words always brought a giggle.

Overall, it was historically interesting, even if it didn't hold my attention like the first installment. Narrator Malcolm Hillgartner did an excellent job, handling the different accents and female voices beautifully.

[Barbara]

3.5 stars

This is the second book in the Einstein-Chaplin thriller series, featuring real-life friends Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin. The novels contain real historical characters and include actual historical occurrences. However, they're stories with author's discretion.


Charlie Chaplin (left) and Albert Einstein

In the first book, Midnight Burning, pro-fascist William Pelley plans 'Operation Hollywood' to kill the most influential Jews in Tinseltown, starting with Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin (Chaplin isn't Jewish but calls himself a son of Abraham).

In this follow-up novel, the Nazis again have nefarious plans for Chaplin and Einstein. The book can be read as a standalone, but why miss out on the fun; start with book one.

*****

It's November 1940, Germany occupies much of Europe and the Luftwaffe is bombing England to smithereens. Charlie Chaplin's movie, 'The Great Dictator', which portrays German Führer Adolf Hitler as a blustering buffoon with cowardly and effeminate mannerisms, is a smash success in America.



Not so much in Germany. Hitler is infuriated by Chaplin's mockery, and the Schutzstaffel (SS) dispatches an assassin called Schmidt to kill the movie maker.



At the same time, spy master Fritz Duquesne, who works for the the Abwehr (German counterintelligence agency), has an extensive spy network in the United States. Duquesne plans to kidnap Albert Einstein, take him to Germany, and force him to help the Nazis make an atomic bomb.



The SS and Abwehr are rival organizations, both trying to gain favor with the Führer, and the tension between Schmidt and Duquesne has unexpected repercussions.

In the meantime, General George Strong, a U.S army intelligence officer, is pursuing Nazi spies, protecting Charlie Chaplin and Albert Einstein, and trying to convince Einstein to advise the American effort to develop an atomic bomb. Einstein is on the horns of a dilemma. He warned President Roosevelt that Germany is making a bomb, and advised FDR that America better make one first. On the other hand, Einstein is a committed pacifist, and doesn't want to HELP make the bomb.



Jewish gangster Mickey Cohen, newly married to LaVonne Weaver, also takes it upon himself to protect Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin.



While he's at it, Cohen asks Einstein to make his newlywed bride LaVonne smart.



Mickey says, "[LaVonne] ain't had much schooling, unless you count the school of hard knocks. Maybe you can teach her some five-dollar words. Polish her to shine like my alligator wingtips." Cohen goes on, "Wouldn't hurt me none to learn a few fancy words, too, Professor."

Cohen's right, and his language problems provide some laughs. For instance:

🔴 Einstein tries to deflect Mickey from shooting someone who had a hard childhood, and Mickey says, "I know what you're doing, Professor. Psychotic warfare." [Psychological warfare.]

🔴 Mickey tells a police officer, "Ain't gonna say a word to no more Nazis. I'm going completely incom-avocado." [Incommunicado.]

🔴 A Princeton student who's a Nazi sympathizer brags, "I was a coxswain on our mixed pairs in the '36 Olympics. The German's love of country was invigorating." Cohen watches the smirky blond wiseacre. He doesn't know a coxswain from a cockroach, but if he runs into this punk, he'll slap him silly.



While the U.S. army and Mickey Cohen are working to protect Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover is suspicious of both men. He thinks Chaplin is morally questionable, and he believes Einstein is a communist sympathizer.



Thus Hoover dispatches two FBI agents - Brian Sullivan and Millie Vazquez - to follow Einstein, monitor his activities, and keep him away from the American nuclear program.



After much drama with guns, a cross-bow, surveillance operations, car chases, captured Nazi agents and more, the key characters find themselves on the Santa Fe Super Chief, a luxury train from Chicago to Los Angeles.



The people aboard include:

🔴 Albert Einstein: The physicist is traveling for scientific and public engagements; though Einstein's a pacifist, he knows America will have to go to war sooner or later.

🔴 Fritz Duquesne: The Abwehr spymaster is traveling undercover; he has an elaborate plan to kidnap Einstein along the way.

🔴 Brian Sullivan and Millie Vazquez: The FBI agents are undercover as well, posing as husband and wife; they're keeping an eye on Einstein, to see if he meets up with communists.

🔴 Charlie Chaplin: the movie mogul is returning to Hollywood after promoting The Great Dictator; he gets friendly with fellow passenger Lena Horne (a rising star at this time) along the way.



🔴 Mickey Cohen: the mobster is on his honeymoon trip with LaVonne; Mickey is determined to keep Einstein and Chaplin safe.

🔴 Charles Lindbergh: the aviator, an outspoken Nazi sympathizer, is traveling to give speeches and promote his 'America First' agenda. One of Lindbergh's many mistresses in on board also.



🔴 J. Robert Oppenheimer: the scientist is returning to Berkeley, where he's a professor involved in nuclear research; Oppenheimer's new wife Kitty, who was once a member of America's communist party, is on the train as well.



The train trip makes up a good portion of the book, and provides much of the novel's forward motion as people's motives and plans are exposed.

For me, this book doesn't have the pizzazz of Midnight Burning The story is more 'talk' than excitement: Einstein and Chaplin try to convince Lindbergh of the error of his isolationist/pro-Nazi stance; J. Edgar fumes about communists; military folk talk about making a bomb. Perhaps because the book is set in 1940, things are more in the planning than the doing stage.

Still, it's entertaining to see Charlie Chaplin climb out a 43rd floor window in his boxer shorts, to avoid being shot for canoodling with Marion Davies - the mistress of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst; and the spy vs. spy drama is rather exciting too.


Marion Davies and William Randolph Hearst

All in all, I'd recommend the book to fans of historical mysteries.

I had the digital book and the audiobook, narrated by Malcolm Hillgartner, who does a fine job.

Thanks to Netgalley, Paul Levine, Herald Square and Brilliance Audio for ARCs of the book.

You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com

[Mary Yarde]

Midnight Patriots” by Paul Levine is a fast-paced historical thriller that blends fact and fiction. With Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin positioned at the centre of a story involving spies, assassins, and a high-stakes journey across America, the novel establishes a strong sense of momentum from the outset. What unfolds is an expansive and intricately constructed narrative that draws together multiple perspectives and historical figures, creating a story that is both ambitious and richly textured.

With Europe at war and Hitler’s influence spreading across the continent, the novel follows Einstein and Chaplin as they become entangled in a web of intrigue involving Nazi agents, FBI surveillance, and organised crime. With Germany seeking access to nuclear research and intent on silencing outspoken critics such as Chaplin, the narrative moves across a range of settings as tensions steadily escalate.

Levine’s use of real historical figures lends the novel an immediate sense of authenticity. The inclusion of Einstein, Chaplin, J. Edgar Hoover, and others firmly anchors the story in its historical moment, while the wider context—America’s internal divisions, the rise of fascist sympathies, and the early development of atomic science—adds depth and relevance. I was particularly struck by how effectively the novel captures the uncertainty of this period, when the direction of global events remained unresolved.

The narrative moves between multiple plotlines—espionage, political investigation, personal relationships, and criminal activity—each contributing to a broader picture of a society under pressure. While this structural complexity occasionally requires careful attention, it also reflects the interconnected nature of the forces at work. As the story progresses, these strands are drawn together with increasing clarity, particularly in the latter stages, where the narrative gains a stronger sense of cohesion and momentum.

The interplay between historical fact and fictional invention is central to the novel’s appeal. While certain elements take creative liberties, they remain grounded in a convincingly realised historical framework. This blending of fact and imagination allows Levine to explore not only what happened, but what might have been, without losing sight of the period’s underlying realities.

Levine’s writing is energetic and frequently infused with wit, especially in the exchanges between Einstein and Chaplin. These moments of humour and insight provide a welcome contrast to the darker themes of espionage and political tension, adding warmth and humanity to the narrative.

As the novel builds towards its conclusion, the action shifts aboard the Santa Fe Super Chief, where the tension becomes more immediate and contained. The confined setting heightens the stakes, bringing the competing interests of spies, agents, and civilians into closer proximity.

I found “Midnight Patriots” to be an ambitious and engaging novel that offers a vivid and thought-provoking exploration of a pivotal historical moment. While its layered structure may occasionally demand closer attention, its scope, originality, and thematic depth make it a rewarding and memorable read.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde
The Coffee Pot Book Club

[Richard Jaffe]

Thank you NetGalley and Herald Square for this advance ARC in return for an honest review.

Midnight Patriots is the second installment of the Albert Einstein - Charlie Chaplin "Thrillers." Like the first installment, author Paul Levine throws in several well known real life characters to try to bring to life the otherwise lifeless plot.

Midnight Patriots focuses on Einstein's involvement, or lack thereof, with respect to the creation of the atomic bomb. As a sworn pacificist, he tried to limit his role to writing letters to FDR to encourage such a weapon, but wants no part of it himself. As such he turns to Robert Oppenheimer, whom he is touring the country with and debating about less dangerous ideas and more theoretical concepts like black holes. Given his background, J Edgar Hoover assigns 2 FBI Agents to ensure that Einstein doesn't help out the commies, whom he sees as a bigger threat than Hitler and the Nazis.

Meanwhile Chaplin has released the Great Dictator, to much fanfare in the US, but not so well received in Germany. A Nazi plot emerges to pacify the Fuhrer and eliminate Chaplin who mocked him in the film. When American Fascists, like the German American Bund and Silver Shirts (prominently discussed in the first book ), begin to threaten Chaplin, Bugsy Siegel gets newlywed Mickey Cohen to keep an eye on Chaplin, and ultimately Einstein, his traveling companion.

Fritz Duquesne, an aging Nazi Spy, begins to follow our intrepid heroes and hatches a plot to kidnap Einstein. The SS catches wind, and sends a sniper to tag along and "kill two birds with one stone." Fritz realizing he may be the second bird, takes matters into his own hands and foils the initial assassination attempt.

All of these "characters" converge on The Super Chief, often called the "Train of the Stars," from Chicago to LA. While on the train, Chaplin debates Charles Lindberg over his "America First" party and platform and finds out that he has a German spy for a mistress, and possibly a child out of wedlock.

All of these players are stuck on the train for several days and plots are hatched to kidnap Einstein before the train reaches its destination.

Although some of the historical references were fun, this "thriller" falls flat like Midnight Burning, Levine's first attempt. An easy read, and at times intriguing, but I think he does better with his Legal thrillers than the historical novels, especially involving these 2 unlikely heroes.

#MidnightPatriots #NetGalley

[Bookreporter.com Historical Fiction]

Edgar Allan Poe Award–nominated author Paul Levine, who is best known for his legal thrillers featuring linebacker-turned-lawyer Jake Lassiter, returns with MIDNIGHT PATRIOTS. This second installment in his new hit series follows MIDNIGHT BURNING, which BestThrillers.com named the “Best Historical Thriller of 2025.”

Levine impressively integrates Albert Einstein, Charlie Chaplin, spymaster Fritz Duquesne, and mobsters Mickey Cohen and Ben “Bugsy” Siegel, who earned his moniker by being “crazy as a bedbug,” into fact-based fiction. Millionaire Bugsy easily could afford a paltry dollar for a meal at Hollywood's Brown Derby. A million bucks in 1940 equals about $23 million today.

In November 1940, “America’s ill-preparedness for the all-but-inevitable war with Germany…a war for the survival of civilization” is evident to all except Franklin Roosevelt, who had won an unprecedented third term, and Charles Lindbergh, eight years after his son’s kidnapping. Chaplin’s five-time Oscar-nominated 1940 film, The Great Dictator, lampoons the “Philistine Führer,” who wants assassins to annihilate the filmmaker and kidnap Einstein for his nuclear physics knowledge.

Despite becoming a U.S. citizen and taking the oath of allegiance, the FBI director equated Einstein’s pacifism to communism by saying, “Mouthing a few words doesn’t change decades of his anti-nationalism and pro-pacifist rhetoric,” yet he condemned British-born Chaplin for not mouthing those words after beginning his Los Angeles film career in 1913. In September 1952, Chaplin was denied reentry to the States during the McCarthy era’s Red Scare, following the 1940 Smith Act. According to this book, but more accurately attributed to the son of Alexandre Dumas, Einstein quips, “The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.”

The Santa Fe flagship passenger train Super Chief, America’s version of the Orient Express, ferries the titular characters, assassins, FBI infiltrators, Third Reich spies, celebrities and de rigueur femme fatale to a shoot-’em-up at the last stop before Los Angeles.

MIDNIGHT PATRIOTS is a treasure trove of forgotten Americana from nearly a century ago. It is beneficial to read Levine’s eight-page Afterword first, which provides an excellent synopsis of fictional and true-life characters. The book takes readers on a metaphoric switchback railway ride through treacherous political terrain with the right amount of cotton-candy wit to assuage harsh realities.

Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy

[Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller]

Edgar Allan Poe Award–nominated author Paul Levine, who is best known for his legal thrillers featuring linebacker-turned-lawyer Jake Lassiter, returns with MIDNIGHT PATRIOTS. This second installment in his new hit series follows MIDNIGHT BURNING, which BestThrillers.com named the “Best Historical Thriller of 2025.”

Levine impressively integrates Albert Einstein, Charlie Chaplin, spymaster Fritz Duquesne, and mobsters Mickey Cohen and Ben “Bugsy” Siegel, who earned his moniker by being “crazy as a bedbug,” into fact-based fiction. Millionaire Bugsy easily could afford a paltry dollar for a meal at Hollywood's Brown Derby. A million bucks in 1940 equals about $23 million today.

In November 1940, “America’s ill-preparedness for the all-but-inevitable war with Germany…a war for the survival of civilization” is evident to all except Franklin Roosevelt, who had won an unprecedented third term, and Charles Lindbergh, eight years after his son’s kidnapping. Chaplin’s five-time Oscar-nominated 1940 film, The Great Dictator, lampoons the “Philistine Führer,” who wants assassins to annihilate the filmmaker and kidnap Einstein for his nuclear physics knowledge.

Despite becoming a U.S. citizen and taking the oath of allegiance, the FBI director equated Einstein’s pacifism to communism by saying, “Mouthing a few words doesn’t change decades of his anti-nationalism and pro-pacifist rhetoric,” yet he condemned British-born Chaplin for not mouthing those words after beginning his Los Angeles film career in 1913. In September 1952, Chaplin was denied reentry to the States during the McCarthy era’s Red Scare, following the 1940 Smith Act. According to this book, but more accurately attributed to the son of Alexandre Dumas, Einstein quips, “The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.”

The Santa Fe flagship passenger train Super Chief, America’s version of the Orient Express, ferries the titular characters, assassins, FBI infiltrators, Third Reich spies, celebrities and de rigueur femme fatale to a shoot-’em-up at the last stop before Los Angeles.

MIDNIGHT PATRIOTS is a treasure trove of forgotten Americana from nearly a century ago. It is beneficial to read Levine’s eight-page Afterword first, which provides an excellent synopsis of fictional and true-life characters. The book takes readers on a metaphoric switchback railway ride through treacherous political terrain with the right amount of cotton-candy wit to assuage harsh realities.

Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews]

Thanks to Herald Square, Brilliance Publishing for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

If you’d like to see my review of the first book in the series –> Midnight Burning by Paul Levine #BookReview #BrilliancePublishing #AmphoraePublishing #ARCReview #HistoricalFiction #Mystery

Even though Midnight Patriots takes place in 1940, there are so many parallels to what is happening today in the United States (and yesterday in Germany), it’s not funny. I love the Einstein-Chaplin chemistry as they have discussions throughout the book. I love how it seems like they are shaping culture and the political landscape. I loved the high-stakes conflict throughout the book, and I was thoroughly engaged.

What I really appreciate about historical fiction books like Midnight Patriots is that there are whole generations of people younger than me who didn’t pay attention in school and might not know who Albert Einstein was. And there are generations of people who wouldn’t know who Charlie Chaplin was because they don’t watch any movies from the last century (I actually know some young adults who have said this.)

There are also whole generations of people including my own who were not taught/did not realize/don’t care that there were pocket cells of fascism right here in the grand ole United States leading up to and including during WWII. I’ve been doing some reading on the subject and man, the school textbooks whitewashed a whole lot of stuff, didn’t they?

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The audiobook was narrated by Malcolm Hillgartner, who does a great job with accents. I would definitely listen to something narrated by him again,

[Stanley McShane]

Read his full review on Rosepoint Publishing.

Pre-WW II the United States was in turmoil. Lend Lease was providing England with tons of equipment and munitions to thwart the threat that Adolph Hitler posed.

Einstein had become a citizen six years earlier and loved his new country. Chaplin stirred the pot with a parody of Hitler as the little dictator. Hitler was incensed and sent hit squads to kill Chaplin and kidnap Einstein to bring him back to Germany to force him to work on their nuclear bomb.

Dr. Oppenheimer is working with the United States to help us win the nuclear arms race. Einstein resists any involvement in this madness and, turns out, is a real skirt chaser, as is Chaplin. Their exploits are legendary!

Edgar Hoover is portrayed as a megalomaniac who is very distrustful of President Roosevelt. The F.B.I. meanwhile is tasked with protecting Einstein while trying to kill Chaplin.

This book is fun to read and casts a whole new light on the nuclear arms race and the participants. I found the characters a shock in the way they might actually have been as opposed to the way we’ve always thought of them. Surprise, surprise! Characters in a way you’ve never envisioned them with a satisfying conclusion. 5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this ebook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

[Lata]

This is the second book in the Chaplin–Einstein series, built around several real-life characters sometime around WWII. While I enjoyed the first book quite a bit, largely for its novelty, this one didn’t land the same way for me.
With the earlier book, I found myself constantly looking up the historical figures and events, which added to the experience. Here, that curiosity just wasn’t there. Part of that is probably on me rather than the book. Historical fiction isn’t really my preferred genre, so the setting didn’t engage me as much this time. The writing itself, however, is still top class.
What I did miss was pace. I tend to prefer fast-paced thrillers, and here that element was almost non-existent. The story moves steadily, but without the urgency or tension I usually look for.
Some of the conversation also felt too clever for me to fully understand.
Overall, this is a well-written, well-researched novel that will likely appeal to readers who enjoy historically grounded stories. It just didn’t match my reading preferences, and I’m not particularly eager to pick up the next book in the series.

[Marcie Reads]

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗽𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝟭𝟵𝟯𝟬𝘀?

Paul Levine answers that question with an extraordinary cast and a thrilling adventure.

Einstein. Charlie Chaplin. FDR. H.G. Wells. Cary Grant. Marlene Dietrich. Spies. Gangsters. Bugattis and Phantoms.

I'm no history buff, so instead of trying to separate fact from fiction, I found myself constantly wondering, “Wait... was that person real?” That became part of the fun.

The audiobook was outstanding. Malcolm Hillgartner gave every character a distinct voice, and his Einstein was unforgettable. I never expected to finish a novel thinking, “𝗘𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹.”

The first half hooked me with its humour, atmosphere, and larger-than-life personalities. The final act brought everything together beautifully, delivering a thrilling finale.

The epilogue neatly explains where history ends and fiction begins, making the blend of fact and imagination even more satisfying.

Thank you to Paul Levine, Brilliance Publishing, and NetGalley for the advance listening copy. All opinions are my own.

[Jean]

Paul Levine is a creative genius in writing historical fiction particularly with his Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin thriller series. Taking place over November, 1940, on the Santa Fe Super Chief on the rails from Chicago to Los Angeles. Chaplin’s movie, “The Grreat Dictator”, had been released to the movie theaters and its mockery of Hitler enrages him so much that a plot to kill Chaplin ensues. Meanwhile, an older German spy decides to kidnap Einstein and return the new American citizen and return him to Germany. If these names aren’t enough to make you delve into this book, how about characters such as Lena Horne, William Randolph Hearst. Mickey Cohen, Robert Oppenheimer, and Charles Lindbergh with hints of scandal plus FBI agents, Nazi agents other interesting characters? Personally, I now have a great respect for Charlie Chaplin. The Afterword also has more information on the actual characters in the book. Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Herald Square Publishing for a digital ARC of this book; all comments opinioned are my own. Enjoy the ride on one of the best passenger trains in the history of rail travel in the US.

[Jess Hunter]

I’ve really been enjoying this series and it didn’t disappoint. The series follows the unlikely friendship between Golden Age Hollywood’s Charlie Chaplin and mathematician Albert Einstein.

In isolationist United States with the rise of Nazi Germany, Chaplin comes out with his movie “The Great Dictator” creating enemies in Germany. On top of this, Albert Einstein’s pacifist beliefs make him an impossible recruit for the United States’ desire to develop an atomic bomb. The story weaves together historical figures, the threat of Nazi Germany and 1930s world events, all with the fun of following these characters.

At times the story seemed a little slow, but I enjoyed the reparte between Chaplin and Einstein and their unlikely friendship. The inclusion of other historical figures such as Lindbergh and Oppenheimer really brought the story to light. I also loved that the story was told from the perspective of several characters. Overall, an enjoyable read.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #HeraldSquare for an ARC

[Howard Davis]

It is always fun reading a novel by Paul Levine —- especially one with characters such as Chaplin, Einstein, Hearst, Lindberg, Oppenheimer and others of note. Since the novel is centered in the period just before the United States enters World War II, a significant portion takes place on an exciting cross country rail trip wherein the major characters are dealing with creating the atomic bomb before their German counterparts, uncovering German spies, foiling a kidnapping attempt, etc. Despite the seriousness of several plot points, there is a tremendous amount of humor in the writing and respect in the manner in which Negroes are depicted. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication.

[Rebecca]

I enjoyed Midnight Patriots every bit as much as the first book in this series, Midnight Burning. Both are excellent historical fiction novels written by the most talented Mr. Levine. The phenomenal amount of research is evident, and the author has taken that research and written perhaps the most enjoyable historical fiction novel I have ever read. It's intriguing, heart-pounding, action-packed and beautifully written. And I learned so much, which I always appreciate in reading a book.

I have read all of Paul Levine's books over the decades, and he is truly one of those authors who never disappoints and continues to write fresh and riveting stories. I hope there will be a third book in the Midnight series.

[Eliza's Reading]

I did not expect to like this mystery as much as I did. Midnight Patriots is the second book in the Chaplin-Einstein series. I didn’t find it a hindrance not having read the first book In the series. This historical fiction mystery was quirky, engaging, and humorous. The book was very entertaining with a pretty balanced pace of the storyline and action. The Afterword section gave great insight into who all the characters you encounter int the book were and their place in history. This was my first novel by Paul Levine but I will be sure to pick up the first book in this series. 4/5

Thank you, Paul Levine and Herald Square for providing the eARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

[Vanessa]

Midnight Patriots by Paul Levine and narrated by Malcolm Hillgartner is the second book in the Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin series and I really enjoyed it especially as it was the first book I had listen/read. I enjoyed the way the author Paul Levive writes, it was is set in 1940 during WWII. I liked the way he place Charlie Chaplin in Germany and putting his life in danger, whilst he was travelling with his friend Albert Einstein - great twist and cleverly twist on WWII.

Now, I need to go back and listen to book 1!

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing, for my ALC and ARC.

[Cindy]

Midnight Patriots by Paul Levine, was another romp with the remarkable duo of Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin as they outwit the German spies that want to assassinate Chaplin and kidnap Einstein. It wasn't quite as much fun as the first entry in this series in part because most of the story takes place on a cross-country train, and because readers of the first book know a bit as to what to expect. Nonetheless, I learned more than I expected about Charles Lindbergh's fascist views and Einstein's reluctance about atomic weapons. The novel is a quick and enjoyable read which I am happy to recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read a digital ARC.

[FaithfulReviewer (Jacqueline)]

Thank you to Herald Square, the author and NetGalley for a DRC in return for an honest review.

I really tried to get into this book - the reviews were all glowing - but I really couldn't get to grips with it. I didn't like the prose, the plot or the characters. I usually love historical fiction but this just didn't do anything for me at all. I imagine if you loved the first in the series of these Einstein-Chaplin books, then you will relish this second instalment - as for me I will be giving them a wide berth.

#MidnightPatriots #NetGalley

[Denice Langley]

The second book in Paul Levine's Confederacy of Genius series brings readers back into the 1940s war efforts that are sweeping the US. Chaplin and Einstein are again encouraging patriots to battle against the Nazi sympathizers who would see the US become a German ally. Levine's unique storyline mixes historical facts with a wide streak of fiction to build an excellent story. The first book was so good, it was hard to wait for this one, but the wait was worth it. Levine again gets my vote for best mystery, especially with the celebrities and their contributions to the war effort.

[Literary Redhead]

My first by the author and definitely not my last! Loved the pairing of Chaplin and Einstein, the brilliant interweaving of historical fact and fiction, and the glorious wit and humor. Recommended!

[Neil Bernstein]

another great Paul Levine novel

5 stars! Read it in 2 nights. Couldn’t put it down. Read the first Einstein and Chaplin book by Paul Levine.

[Rob Cohen]

A perfect follow up to the first book. So much fun spending time with these characters. The author clearly enjoys the time, places, and people, he writes about them with such care and joy.

[Megan]

Lovely read

[Carrie]

Love it and all the famous names.

[Stephanie]

Midnight Patriots by Paul Levine is an imaginative, fast-paced historical thriller that blends documented fact with high-stakes fiction. Set in 1940 against the backdrop of a fractured America, this novel delivers a clever, paranoia-fueled ride that keeps you guessing at every turn. 🚂

The charm of this story is the partnership of Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin. Levine captures their real-life friendship beautifully, pitting their contrasting personalities and skill sets against lethal adversaries. Einstein’s brilliance counterbalances Chaplin’s wit making them an entertaining duo. The narrative is packed with cameos from historical figures like J. Robert Oppenheimer, Charles Lindbergh, and Lena Horne, making the reading experience feel grounded in history. The story’s twists and turns keep you engaged from start to finish. 🗺️🔍

Levine builds tension by trapping all the major characters together on the Santa Fe Super Chief streamliner racing from Chicago to Los Angeles. The locked-room atmosphere naturally accelerates the tension. The story confronts the issues of the 1940s including the threat of pre-war fascism. If you love a character-driven mystery that makes history feel alive, put this series on your radar immediately! 📖✨

A massive thank you to @heraldsquare and @netgalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. Midnight Patriots is out now!

[Rachel]

During the past decade, an increasing number of books – fact and fiction – have been published that offer information about the Nazi movement in the United States during the 1930s and early 1940s. Several discuss how Germany hoped these groups would sabotage the American military industry in preparation for a Nazi takeover of the U.S. government. The books also include lists of those their agents hoped to assassinate, many of whom were Jewish and, at least in California, part of the motion picture industry. Two recent works discuss this time period: “Hollywood vs. Nazis: How the Movie Studios Took on Nazis Infiltrating Los Angeles” (Citadel Press) is Michael Benson’s second nonfiction work focusing on Nazi activity in the U.S. (The Reporter review of his first work, “Gangsters vs. Nazis” can be found at www.thereportergroup.org/book-reviews....) “Midnight Patriots: An Einstein Chaplain Thriller” by Paul Levine (Herald Square Publishing) is the author’s second novel featuring real-life characters who sought to stop the Nazis. (The Reporter review of Levine’s first novel in the series can be found at www.thereportergroup.org/book-reviews....) What prompted me to review these works together is that they both contain fictional and nonfictional elements: Benson notes that he created some of the dialogue in his book, along with adjusting the chronology to make the work easier to read. Levine includes a section at the end of this work explaining which characters and events are real, and which are from the author’s imagination.
See the rest of my review at https://www.thereportergroup.org/feat...