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The Spy
February, 1943. Both the Allies and the Nazis are closing in on attempts to construct the decisive weapon of the war.Kurt Nordstrum, an engineer in Oslo, puts his life aside to take up arms against the Germans as part of the Norwegian resistance. After the loss of his fiancée, his outfit whittled to shreds, he commandeers a coastal steamer and escapes to England to transmit secret evidence of the Nazis’s progress towards an atomic bomb at an isolated factory in Norway. There, he joins a team of dedicated Norwegians in training in the Scottish Highlands for a mission to disrupt the Nazis’ plans before they advance any further.
Parachuted onto the most unforgiving terrain in Europe, braving the fiercest of mountain storms, Nordstrum and his team attempt the most daring raid of the war, targeting the heavily-guarded factory built on a shelf of rock thought to be impregnable, a mission even they know they likely will not survive. Months later, Nordstrum is called upon again to do the impossible, opposed by both elite Nazi soldiers and a long-standing enemy who is now a local collaborator—one man against overwhelming odds, with the fate of the war in the balance, but the choice to act means putting the one person he has a chance to love in peril.
Based on the stirring true story, The Saboteur is Andrew Gross’s follow-up to the riveting historical thriller, The One Man. A richly-woven story probing the limits of heroism, sacrifice and determination, The Saboteur portrays a hero who must weigh duty against his heart in order to singlehandedly end the one threat that could alter the course of the war.
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First published August 22, 2017
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About the author
Andrew Gross
96 books1,779 followersHoward Andrew Gross was an American author of thriller novels, including four New York Times bestsellers. He is best known for his collaborations with suspense writer James Patterson. Gross's books feature close family bonds, relationships characterized by loss or betrayal, and a large degree of emotional resonance which generally leads to wider crimes and cover-ups. The books have all been published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 563 reviews
September 4, 2017
When an author can entice one to read a book outside their usual genre likes, not only read but enjoy and appreciate the story, then I think he has definitely found his writing niche. I have read very little of what I call historical/spy thrillers, but loved his last one, so knew I had to read this one. So many books written about different facets of World War Ii, but the material out there is endless. This was another set in a place I have read little of previously. Norway and the Nazi occupation there, but more importantly set in the mountains at what they thought was an impregnable fortress. A fortress that was producing heavy water in large quantities, what the Germans needed to make a bomb and what the rest of the world feared. So a daring plan was set in place, with Norwegian expert skiers, Norwegians and one Yank, who would attempt the impossible.
Ordinary men who risked all. Loved the relationship, the closeness between these men, men who looked out for each other despite risk. The perilous terrain, the snow storms, the inhospitable conditions, treacherous. Their mission, so suspenseful, was often holding my breath, hoping they would make it through. Even after that more was expected from a few of them. These men, heroes, but wanted men, living in the shadows of the Nazi regime. Some their very own countrymen, Quislings they were called, considered traitors by most Norwegians.
Based on a true story, names were changed but some of the men were actual people who actually put their lives on hold, to fight in their own way against an invasion of their country and a regime that spawned terror. Of course as fiction, the story was enhanced, elements added, but it all fit together and I felt added additional suspense to the narrative. The open to interpretation ending I also appreciated though I know some readers prefer a solid, thought out one. An authors note is included and the real story can be found on Wiki and other sources. Very well done, tightly plotted, suspenseful and an amazing story about ordinary people who risked everything for something in which they believed.
My second read with the traveling sisters and enjoyed reading this with them. Thanks, ladies.
ARC from Netgalley.
Ordinary men who risked all. Loved the relationship, the closeness between these men, men who looked out for each other despite risk. The perilous terrain, the snow storms, the inhospitable conditions, treacherous. Their mission, so suspenseful, was often holding my breath, hoping they would make it through. Even after that more was expected from a few of them. These men, heroes, but wanted men, living in the shadows of the Nazi regime. Some their very own countrymen, Quislings they were called, considered traitors by most Norwegians.
Based on a true story, names were changed but some of the men were actual people who actually put their lives on hold, to fight in their own way against an invasion of their country and a regime that spawned terror. Of course as fiction, the story was enhanced, elements added, but it all fit together and I felt added additional suspense to the narrative. The open to interpretation ending I also appreciated though I know some readers prefer a solid, thought out one. An authors note is included and the real story can be found on Wiki and other sources. Very well done, tightly plotted, suspenseful and an amazing story about ordinary people who risked everything for something in which they believed.
My second read with the traveling sisters and enjoyed reading this with them. Thanks, ladies.
ARC from Netgalley.
January 6, 2019
I didn't love this as much as I did The One Man but it was still a pretty good and worthwhile read!
THE SABOTEUR by ANDREW GROSS was an interesting, engrossing, tense, and suspenseful Historical Thriller novel with an intriguing storyline that is based on true events of extraordinary bravery and survival from a team of Norwegian saboteurs on a mission to destroy the heavy water project of WWII.
This novel was filled with compelling characters and I really liked everything that each of them brought to this story throughout the novel. They each had their role to make this an extremely tense, enjoyable and thrilling read. ANDREW GROSS delivers a riveting story with a solid plot that was easy to follow along with the storyline and all the characters involved.
What makes this novel even more special and appreciative is that we learn from the Author's Note & from The Epilogue that the story is based on actual events and real-life men (names were changed) but there were a few things that the author changed or added to intensify this story.
To sum it all up it was action-packed, suspenseful, and a steady-paced read with an open to your own interpretation ending which I found to be totally satisfying. Would recommend!!!
It was a pleasure to read this along with my wonderful Traveling Sisters Brenda, Lindsay, Diane S., Susanne and JanB!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Andrew Gross for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
All of Brenda’s and my reviews can be found on our Sister Blog:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/
THE SABOTEUR by ANDREW GROSS was an interesting, engrossing, tense, and suspenseful Historical Thriller novel with an intriguing storyline that is based on true events of extraordinary bravery and survival from a team of Norwegian saboteurs on a mission to destroy the heavy water project of WWII.
This novel was filled with compelling characters and I really liked everything that each of them brought to this story throughout the novel. They each had their role to make this an extremely tense, enjoyable and thrilling read. ANDREW GROSS delivers a riveting story with a solid plot that was easy to follow along with the storyline and all the characters involved.
What makes this novel even more special and appreciative is that we learn from the Author's Note & from The Epilogue that the story is based on actual events and real-life men (names were changed) but there were a few things that the author changed or added to intensify this story.
To sum it all up it was action-packed, suspenseful, and a steady-paced read with an open to your own interpretation ending which I found to be totally satisfying. Would recommend!!!
It was a pleasure to read this along with my wonderful Traveling Sisters Brenda, Lindsay, Diane S., Susanne and JanB!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Andrew Gross for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
All of Brenda’s and my reviews can be found on our Sister Blog:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/
September 7, 2017
3 stars.
I liked this atmospheric WWII historical thriller, but didn’t love it. After reading Andrew Gross’ novel “The One Man” last year, I became a HUGE fan. “The One Man” is another WWII historical thriller and is one of my most favourite books! With that being said, I think I went into this novel with my expectations set a little too high and while reading I couldn’t help but compare the two books along the way (I hate when I do this to myself!). I felt that this one didn’t come close to the energy, action, suspense and addiction I felt while reading “The One Man”.
I really liked the main character Kurt Nordstrum, a brave and courageous man, who risked his life to lead an extremely high-risk sabotage during WWII. The odds were stacked against this heroic man who fearlessly lead his team to protect his country. His strength and leadership were something to admire. The fact that this story and Kurt’s character were based on real life events was one of the best things about this book for me. I love learning something new while reading!
With that being said, I felt there was a large disconnect for me throughout the book. I found myself confused between characters more than a couple times. While it was an interesting story and I highly admire these brave men, the story itself lacked the addictive quality I expected and it dragged at times. It was a very atmospheric novel but one that ended up feeling repetitive instead of engrossing. I found I really had to focus and pay attention to get through this book instead of sitting back and being able to simply enjoy it. I really had to work for this one and in the end the payoff just wasn’t fully there for me.
Overall, I felt that this book was more educational than enjoyable. I am happy that I read it, but would strongly recommend Gross’ previous novel “The One Man” over this one.
A big thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Andrew Gross for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
It was a pleasure to read this along with my amazing Traveling Sisters Brenda, Norma, Diane S., Susanne and JanB!!
To find this review, please visit Norma and Brenda's fabulous blog at:
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....
I liked this atmospheric WWII historical thriller, but didn’t love it. After reading Andrew Gross’ novel “The One Man” last year, I became a HUGE fan. “The One Man” is another WWII historical thriller and is one of my most favourite books! With that being said, I think I went into this novel with my expectations set a little too high and while reading I couldn’t help but compare the two books along the way (I hate when I do this to myself!). I felt that this one didn’t come close to the energy, action, suspense and addiction I felt while reading “The One Man”.
I really liked the main character Kurt Nordstrum, a brave and courageous man, who risked his life to lead an extremely high-risk sabotage during WWII. The odds were stacked against this heroic man who fearlessly lead his team to protect his country. His strength and leadership were something to admire. The fact that this story and Kurt’s character were based on real life events was one of the best things about this book for me. I love learning something new while reading!
With that being said, I felt there was a large disconnect for me throughout the book. I found myself confused between characters more than a couple times. While it was an interesting story and I highly admire these brave men, the story itself lacked the addictive quality I expected and it dragged at times. It was a very atmospheric novel but one that ended up feeling repetitive instead of engrossing. I found I really had to focus and pay attention to get through this book instead of sitting back and being able to simply enjoy it. I really had to work for this one and in the end the payoff just wasn’t fully there for me.
Overall, I felt that this book was more educational than enjoyable. I am happy that I read it, but would strongly recommend Gross’ previous novel “The One Man” over this one.
A big thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Andrew Gross for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
It was a pleasure to read this along with my amazing Traveling Sisters Brenda, Norma, Diane S., Susanne and JanB!!
To find this review, please visit Norma and Brenda's fabulous blog at:
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....
September 8, 2017
4 Stars.
A team of men sent on a death defying mission to destroy heavy water (the component that was produced by the Nazis’ in World War II to make an atomic bomb) in a impenetrable fortress. It seemed impossible. The first teams that were sent to Norway failed. And then a team of Norwegian men were sent, men who knew the terrain, who could survive the winters, the heavy snow and treacherous conditions. These men are successful. This team includes a man named Nordstrum. He is then sent on another mission, with the odds of success heavily favored against him. Nordstrum, the Saboteur, never gives up even during the most perilous of moments.
The Saboteur is an intensely gripping, multi-faceted and well written historical novel. There were many heart stopping, chilling, terrifying moments during which I was completely engrossed and worried for the teams survival. What struck me most about this novel, was the relationship between the characters, and especially that of Nordstrum and his childhood friend and team member Jens, in addition to Nordstrum’s relationship with other team members, Gutterson, Ox and Hella. Each relationship is deeply felt. Their friendships and their vulnerabilities. Though this novel is based on true events of one of the most difficult missions in history, the personal relationships of the men involved in this undertaking added to the story and made my appreciation of it that much better. In short, The Saboteur is a suspenseful novel with compelling characters, which I would highly recommend.
This was a Traveling Sister Group read and included Brenda, Norma, Lindsay, Jan B and Diane S. Thanks Ladies – I enjoyed our discussions very much.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Andrew Gross for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley, Goodreads and Amazon on 9.8.17.
A team of men sent on a death defying mission to destroy heavy water (the component that was produced by the Nazis’ in World War II to make an atomic bomb) in a impenetrable fortress. It seemed impossible. The first teams that were sent to Norway failed. And then a team of Norwegian men were sent, men who knew the terrain, who could survive the winters, the heavy snow and treacherous conditions. These men are successful. This team includes a man named Nordstrum. He is then sent on another mission, with the odds of success heavily favored against him. Nordstrum, the Saboteur, never gives up even during the most perilous of moments.
The Saboteur is an intensely gripping, multi-faceted and well written historical novel. There were many heart stopping, chilling, terrifying moments during which I was completely engrossed and worried for the teams survival. What struck me most about this novel, was the relationship between the characters, and especially that of Nordstrum and his childhood friend and team member Jens, in addition to Nordstrum’s relationship with other team members, Gutterson, Ox and Hella. Each relationship is deeply felt. Their friendships and their vulnerabilities. Though this novel is based on true events of one of the most difficult missions in history, the personal relationships of the men involved in this undertaking added to the story and made my appreciation of it that much better. In short, The Saboteur is a suspenseful novel with compelling characters, which I would highly recommend.
This was a Traveling Sister Group read and included Brenda, Norma, Lindsay, Jan B and Diane S. Thanks Ladies – I enjoyed our discussions very much.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Andrew Gross for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley, Goodreads and Amazon on 9.8.17.
September 7, 2017
Traveling Sister Group Read with Norma, Lindsay, Susanne, JanB and Diane.
The Saboteur was a heavy, interesting, and suspenseful historical thriller that I read and discussed along with my Traveling Sisters. I really enjoyed the discussion The Saboteur brought on for us. Some of us had read The One Man and others will be soon I am sure after reading this one.
Based on real-life events of a team of Norwegian Saboteurs on a mission to destroy the heavy water project of WWII, Andrew Gross does a fantastic job of weaving fact and fiction here with The Saboteur. The first half of the book seemed to read more like a heavy account of events and I had a hard time connecting to the story and the characters at first but soon came to see how cleverly Andrew Gross layered the story. The second half he kept me on the edge of my seat and the story at times read like purely fiction as our brave and skilled main character Nordstrum and his team of Saboteurs are up against the impossible with extraordinary danger and it all seemed unlikely to turn out okay.
Andrew Gross does a good job bringing the characters to life for me in the second half and I started to connect with them more. We start to see a personal side to them and I could see their skill, bravery, loyalty to each other and their causes along with their vulnerability and personal struggles making them more realistic characters.
The descriptions of the setting and harsh weather conditions added to the danger and tension to the story and it was easy to visualize the surroundings and danger.
I highly recommend engaging in this story of these brave and skilled Saboteurs as they take you on their very brave and important mission.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Andrew Gross for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
All of our Traveling Sisters Group Read Reviews along with Norma and Lindsay's review for this one can be found on Norma’s and my sister blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
The Saboteur was a heavy, interesting, and suspenseful historical thriller that I read and discussed along with my Traveling Sisters. I really enjoyed the discussion The Saboteur brought on for us. Some of us had read The One Man and others will be soon I am sure after reading this one.
Based on real-life events of a team of Norwegian Saboteurs on a mission to destroy the heavy water project of WWII, Andrew Gross does a fantastic job of weaving fact and fiction here with The Saboteur. The first half of the book seemed to read more like a heavy account of events and I had a hard time connecting to the story and the characters at first but soon came to see how cleverly Andrew Gross layered the story. The second half he kept me on the edge of my seat and the story at times read like purely fiction as our brave and skilled main character Nordstrum and his team of Saboteurs are up against the impossible with extraordinary danger and it all seemed unlikely to turn out okay.
Andrew Gross does a good job bringing the characters to life for me in the second half and I started to connect with them more. We start to see a personal side to them and I could see their skill, bravery, loyalty to each other and their causes along with their vulnerability and personal struggles making them more realistic characters.
The descriptions of the setting and harsh weather conditions added to the danger and tension to the story and it was easy to visualize the surroundings and danger.
I highly recommend engaging in this story of these brave and skilled Saboteurs as they take you on their very brave and important mission.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Andrew Gross for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
All of our Traveling Sisters Group Read Reviews along with Norma and Lindsay's review for this one can be found on Norma’s and my sister blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
November 28, 2018
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Thank You Minotaur Books and Andrew Gross.
This historical fiction novel retells the story of 2 actual events: First, the destruction of a supply of heavy water inside a Norsk Hydro plant in Vemork, Norway. Second the sinking of a ferry on a Norwegian lake with a new supply of heavy water, destined for Germany. The heavy water was a crucial component to the nuclear bomb that the Nazis were trying to build. Because they could not get a new supply of heavy water in time, the Germans were never able to build a nuclear bomb.
Several of the fictional characters are based on actual Norwegians involved in the destruction of the heavy water. The author has written a taut suspense filled story of this incredible feat. If you have seen the Kirk Douglas movie, "The Heroes of Telemark', then you are familiar with what happened.
I thought that the winter scenes were very realistic.
I recommend this book to historical fiction/spy fans.
This historical fiction novel retells the story of 2 actual events: First, the destruction of a supply of heavy water inside a Norsk Hydro plant in Vemork, Norway. Second the sinking of a ferry on a Norwegian lake with a new supply of heavy water, destined for Germany. The heavy water was a crucial component to the nuclear bomb that the Nazis were trying to build. Because they could not get a new supply of heavy water in time, the Germans were never able to build a nuclear bomb.
Several of the fictional characters are based on actual Norwegians involved in the destruction of the heavy water. The author has written a taut suspense filled story of this incredible feat. If you have seen the Kirk Douglas movie, "The Heroes of Telemark', then you are familiar with what happened.
I thought that the winter scenes were very realistic.
I recommend this book to historical fiction/spy fans.
September 26, 2017
"A true man is a man who goes on till he can go no farther, and then goes twice as far."
February 1943 - Norway - THE SABOTEUR is a novel based on true events. It is a story about heroic men putting their lives on the line to stop the Germans from producing a devastating weapon of mass destruction....from taking over their homeland.
Andrew Gross brings to life historic figures and recreates not one, but two actual military events of the time; one (OMGOSH) death defying raid on the Norsk Hydro Factory, and the second; sabotage of the Hydro Ferry.
With insurmountable odds, unpredictable snow storms and below freezing temperatures, a group of nine brave men first endure intensive training and practice drills, then pack suicide pills and skis and head off to do the impossible....at the cost of putting loved ones in harms way....to wipe out the threat....to save their country.
Filled with intensity and intrigue, traitors and revengeful, jealous foe, our protagonist, a dedicated and ruggedly handsome Norwegian man (great character) and true leader never stops....all the way to the explosive end! GREAT READ!
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 29, 2017
The One Man, by Andrew Gross, has to be one of the best WWII books I have read. The Saboteur is a tale of extraordinary bravery and survival and is a close second.
Kurt Nordstrum (based on the real-life figure of Kurt Haukelid) was a humble yet courageous man, whose irrepressible will and sense of duty helped pull off the most important and unbelievable sabotage of WWII. The two main military events in this story are the raid on the heavy water facility at the Norsk Hydro factory in Norway and the sabotage of the Hydro ferry.
I enjoyed reading Andrew Gross's version of events in history I was unaware of.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Kurt Nordstrum (based on the real-life figure of Kurt Haukelid) was a humble yet courageous man, whose irrepressible will and sense of duty helped pull off the most important and unbelievable sabotage of WWII. The two main military events in this story are the raid on the heavy water facility at the Norsk Hydro factory in Norway and the sabotage of the Hydro ferry.
I enjoyed reading Andrew Gross's version of events in history I was unaware of.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
October 10, 2017
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Tightly woven around true events, The Saboteur is the latest historical novel from bestselling author Andrew Gross and it is a thrill ride from start to finish. Gross places his hero, Kurt Nordstrum, who is based on the real-life figure of Kurt Haukelid, at the centre of this extremely risky mission to save Europe from the dangerous grand plan orchestrated by the Nazi regime. To bring down the Nazi’s most deadliest weapon yet, Kurt and his team must complete one of the most daring acts in World War II history. The Saboteur is an on the edge of your seat, high voltage thriller.
The Saboteur begins with the story of Kurt Nordstrum. Kurt is a widower from Oslo, who is seeking to distract himself from his loss when he decides to join the Allied troops. When he hears whispers of an undercover mission to thwart the Nazi’s atomic bomb plans, he is very quickly drawn to the cause. Kurt throws himself into the operation completely, but what he and the troops involved in this top secret mission do not realise is just how perilous the task will be to bring down the Nazis. The team must first bide their time, choosing exactly the right moment to strike. In order to save Europe from total annihilation, they must enter undetected and destroy the Nazi weapons held at both the Norsk Hydro factory and the Hydro ferry in Southern Norway. This is a gripping story based on one the most audacious acts of World II.
There are so many stories that continue to come out of the ashes of World War II. The Saboteur is a book that worked to draw my attention to an incredible and deeply heroic chapter in World II’s history. The real life events that this book is closely based on, is another great act of self sacrifice and courage in the face of a deadly war, which I have now have my attention drawn to. Andrew Gross has taken an admirable leaf out of the pages of the history books. Gross has successfully brought to life a brave tale of one man and his inspiring team’s remarkable efforts to bring down one of the most destructive plans in Nazi history.
The Saboteur is undeniably a book based on heavy research and fact. Gross manages to bring a great dose of realism to this fictionalised tale. There is no sense that the truth has been stretched in this novel. The pure sense of excitement in The Saboteur comes from the fact that these events did happen. Aided by Gross’ prose, it was easy to envisage this adventure tale playing out. The Saboteur is one of those fantastic historical fiction novels that provides the reader with a history lesson in an accessible way. Gross has obviously collated a vast amount of information both on the Norwegian resistance fighters involved in this cause and the events itself. Gross weaves this information carefully into a comprehensive tale.
There is a strong line of suspense underpinning The Saboteur. As we follow the dangerous traps that await lead character Kurt and his men, Gross puts the audience on high alert. It is a real nail biter, as the resistance fights off the advances of the relentless Nazi war machine. Readers will be quite taken with the steady build up in this novel. The first part of The Saboteur concentrates on the group’s plans and careful operation for the mission to be activated. While the second half delivers non-stop action. When Kurt and his dedicated men face off against the Germans, the fallout is spectacular but deadly. It is in these scenes that Gross is able to allow his characterisation to take full flight. The lead, Kurt is a finely drawn character and Gross has modelled him well against his real life inspiration. Kurt is a real hero, pitted against a great villain in Captain Lund. Lund fills the role of the bad guy in the novel fittingly. Overall, Gross presents the reader a great collection of fictionalised characters, drawn from real life figures involved in this historic event.
A big feature of The Saboteur and another force the resistance must contend with is the harsh landscape of where the water plant and ferry, the main subjects of this novel, are located. Gross vividly paints a picture of this isolated and inhospitable landscape that defines the setting of this novel. The treacherous landscape and winter weather is another battle the brave men featured in The Saboteur must contend with. The accompanying descriptions of the locale are incredibly vivid and sent more than one cold shiver down my spine while reading this novel.
There are some great themes incorporated in The Saboteur. Action, suspense, risk, devotion and putting your life on the line for a deadly cause, makes this a great historical thriller. It is a book where the tension level was set high and it kept me on my toes, delivering more than a few surprises. History buffs will be sure to enjoy this book and with the added bonus of The Saboteur being so closely linked to real life events makes it all the more compelling.
*I wish to thank Pan Macmillan for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Tightly woven around true events, The Saboteur is the latest historical novel from bestselling author Andrew Gross and it is a thrill ride from start to finish. Gross places his hero, Kurt Nordstrum, who is based on the real-life figure of Kurt Haukelid, at the centre of this extremely risky mission to save Europe from the dangerous grand plan orchestrated by the Nazi regime. To bring down the Nazi’s most deadliest weapon yet, Kurt and his team must complete one of the most daring acts in World War II history. The Saboteur is an on the edge of your seat, high voltage thriller.
The Saboteur begins with the story of Kurt Nordstrum. Kurt is a widower from Oslo, who is seeking to distract himself from his loss when he decides to join the Allied troops. When he hears whispers of an undercover mission to thwart the Nazi’s atomic bomb plans, he is very quickly drawn to the cause. Kurt throws himself into the operation completely, but what he and the troops involved in this top secret mission do not realise is just how perilous the task will be to bring down the Nazis. The team must first bide their time, choosing exactly the right moment to strike. In order to save Europe from total annihilation, they must enter undetected and destroy the Nazi weapons held at both the Norsk Hydro factory and the Hydro ferry in Southern Norway. This is a gripping story based on one the most audacious acts of World II.
There are so many stories that continue to come out of the ashes of World War II. The Saboteur is a book that worked to draw my attention to an incredible and deeply heroic chapter in World II’s history. The real life events that this book is closely based on, is another great act of self sacrifice and courage in the face of a deadly war, which I have now have my attention drawn to. Andrew Gross has taken an admirable leaf out of the pages of the history books. Gross has successfully brought to life a brave tale of one man and his inspiring team’s remarkable efforts to bring down one of the most destructive plans in Nazi history.
The Saboteur is undeniably a book based on heavy research and fact. Gross manages to bring a great dose of realism to this fictionalised tale. There is no sense that the truth has been stretched in this novel. The pure sense of excitement in The Saboteur comes from the fact that these events did happen. Aided by Gross’ prose, it was easy to envisage this adventure tale playing out. The Saboteur is one of those fantastic historical fiction novels that provides the reader with a history lesson in an accessible way. Gross has obviously collated a vast amount of information both on the Norwegian resistance fighters involved in this cause and the events itself. Gross weaves this information carefully into a comprehensive tale.
There is a strong line of suspense underpinning The Saboteur. As we follow the dangerous traps that await lead character Kurt and his men, Gross puts the audience on high alert. It is a real nail biter, as the resistance fights off the advances of the relentless Nazi war machine. Readers will be quite taken with the steady build up in this novel. The first part of The Saboteur concentrates on the group’s plans and careful operation for the mission to be activated. While the second half delivers non-stop action. When Kurt and his dedicated men face off against the Germans, the fallout is spectacular but deadly. It is in these scenes that Gross is able to allow his characterisation to take full flight. The lead, Kurt is a finely drawn character and Gross has modelled him well against his real life inspiration. Kurt is a real hero, pitted against a great villain in Captain Lund. Lund fills the role of the bad guy in the novel fittingly. Overall, Gross presents the reader a great collection of fictionalised characters, drawn from real life figures involved in this historic event.
A big feature of The Saboteur and another force the resistance must contend with is the harsh landscape of where the water plant and ferry, the main subjects of this novel, are located. Gross vividly paints a picture of this isolated and inhospitable landscape that defines the setting of this novel. The treacherous landscape and winter weather is another battle the brave men featured in The Saboteur must contend with. The accompanying descriptions of the locale are incredibly vivid and sent more than one cold shiver down my spine while reading this novel.
There are some great themes incorporated in The Saboteur. Action, suspense, risk, devotion and putting your life on the line for a deadly cause, makes this a great historical thriller. It is a book where the tension level was set high and it kept me on my toes, delivering more than a few surprises. History buffs will be sure to enjoy this book and with the added bonus of The Saboteur being so closely linked to real life events makes it all the more compelling.
*I wish to thank Pan Macmillan for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
September 9, 2017
Check out all of my reviews at: http://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
THE SABOTEUR by Andrew Gross is an intense historical fiction based on the true life stories of the Norwegian Freedom Fighters assigned the seemingly impossible task of destroying the Nazis’ supply of heavy water before it could be used to produce an atomic bomb.
Kurt Nordstrum was an engineering student in Oslo in 1940 when the Nazis invaded. His whole life changes as he fights with his friends in the Norwegian resistance. The friendships, bravery and strength of these men and women is highlighted in this story.
Dieter Lund is a Captain in the Quisling, which is an arm of the Gestapo made up of Norwegian collaborators. Kurt and Dieter attended school together in their small hometown. With the murder of another Quisling onboard a ferry, the long resentment and envy that Dieter feels towards Kurt manifests itself and the chase is on. Good versus evil, protagonist versus antagonist.
In 1943, Kurt and his highly trained fellow Norwegian teammates are parachuted back into Norway from England for the specific purpose of destroying a heavily fortified hydro plant’s capability of producing heavy water and destroying any already produced. They must also stop any from leaving Norway and making it to Germany.
Between the seemingly impossible missions that this team takes on and the continual chase of the Quisling it was hard to put this book down. The tragedies and triumphs of ordinary people during a horrific world war are highlighted in this book. As the author notes in the end, this story is based on real people, which makes it all the more amazing.
*(I want to make one personal comment on this book and other reviews I have read. I agree with everyone that this author’s previous book “The One Man” was an exceptional historical thriller. I feel that any comparisons to this book though short changes this book. This book is based on true people and is a historical fiction novel. Yes, it has thrills and suspense throughout, but there is a difference between the two types of books. I did not compare the two when I rated my review.)
Thank you very much to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC.
THE SABOTEUR by Andrew Gross is an intense historical fiction based on the true life stories of the Norwegian Freedom Fighters assigned the seemingly impossible task of destroying the Nazis’ supply of heavy water before it could be used to produce an atomic bomb.
Kurt Nordstrum was an engineering student in Oslo in 1940 when the Nazis invaded. His whole life changes as he fights with his friends in the Norwegian resistance. The friendships, bravery and strength of these men and women is highlighted in this story.
Dieter Lund is a Captain in the Quisling, which is an arm of the Gestapo made up of Norwegian collaborators. Kurt and Dieter attended school together in their small hometown. With the murder of another Quisling onboard a ferry, the long resentment and envy that Dieter feels towards Kurt manifests itself and the chase is on. Good versus evil, protagonist versus antagonist.
In 1943, Kurt and his highly trained fellow Norwegian teammates are parachuted back into Norway from England for the specific purpose of destroying a heavily fortified hydro plant’s capability of producing heavy water and destroying any already produced. They must also stop any from leaving Norway and making it to Germany.
Between the seemingly impossible missions that this team takes on and the continual chase of the Quisling it was hard to put this book down. The tragedies and triumphs of ordinary people during a horrific world war are highlighted in this book. As the author notes in the end, this story is based on real people, which makes it all the more amazing.
*(I want to make one personal comment on this book and other reviews I have read. I agree with everyone that this author’s previous book “The One Man” was an exceptional historical thriller. I feel that any comparisons to this book though short changes this book. This book is based on true people and is a historical fiction novel. Yes, it has thrills and suspense throughout, but there is a difference between the two types of books. I did not compare the two when I rated my review.)
Thank you very much to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC.
November 10, 2018
Aloha,
I love the book. It a sad topic. The book is good so far. I will finish this down the road.
Update- 11-10-18
If you love history, read this book. The research will leave you breathless. Plus how the story was woven. This is why I give it 5 stars. I plan to buy this book now.
I love the book. It a sad topic. The book is good so far. I will finish this down the road.
Update- 11-10-18
If you love history, read this book. The research will leave you breathless. Plus how the story was woven. This is why I give it 5 stars. I plan to buy this book now.
August 14, 2021
Stand alone WW 2 historical fiction published 2017
3.5 stars for an above average read.
A fictional account of true events, the destruction of Germany’s plan to build the Worlds first Atomic Bomb.
There is no doubt that this piece of sabotage was one of the most momentous moments in world history. Without the self sacrifice, courage and shear determination of the Norwegian resistance movement the world would be a very different place today.
Andrew Gross does a pretty good job in the telling of this tale but, for me, there was something missing.
Some of the fictional characters did things that were just silly beyond belief, which detracted from the importance of the story.
But for all that it’s a story worth the telling. Andrew Gross does an excellent job of recreating the deprivations these men had to endure from the severe weather conditions, to the months of not knowing where their next meal would come from. And last but not least, to knowing that what they were about to do would mean the death of some of their own countrymen.
Right from the start everything went wrong and wrong to such a degree that even their English overseers hopes were down to nothing more than crossed fingers.
These men were hero’s of the first order and the re-telling of their story is important.
Lest we forget.
July 29, 2017
A moving and thrilling tale of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in Norway to foil the Nazi’s efforts to produce a nuclear bomb. This is a fictionalized version of how a group of Norwegian patriots, with the help of the British special forces pulled off a commando raid that destroyed the heavy water and equipment at the Norsk Hydro’s Vemork plant in remote Rjukan and later, after the plant got into production again, sank a civilian ferry transporting a shipment of heavy water across a big lake en route to Germany. As a result of these implausible operations, Hitler and his nuclear scientists like Heisenberg did not succeed in this important arms race.
Two brief asides: 1) heavy water, which contains hydrogen with a neutron in its nuclei, can be used to slow down neutrons released in radioactive decay, making it more feasible to produce plutonium in a fission reactor; 2) in recent years technical analysis indicates that the Nazis were unlikely to produce a bomb even if shipments from Vemork succeeded. Regardless, the agents who performed these impossible missions at great risk were told nothing except that stopping the supply of the substance was highly important to the war outcome
The author claims close attention to known details for these two operations, but his efforts to render a realistic version of the life of one of the heroes and of his dedication to the resistance called for so much fiction that he changed their names. Thus, the main character is Kurt Nordstrum, based on the real Knut Haukelid, a civil engineer who joined the resistance (Kompani Linge) in 1941. Other loyal Norwegians and their king fled to England after the German army crushed the opposition and occupied the country, among them the scientist who developed heavy water production at the Rjukan plant, Leif Tronstad. He convinced the British command that the location of the facility in the basement of a massive building in a river cleft in some highland cliffs would be inaccessible to aerial bombing. Thus, the plan was born to infiltrate the factory and plant explosives.
The first step was to parachute in a set of nine Norwegian nationals intensively trained by the British SOE (Special Operations Executive) to hook up with the resistance and together prepare the way for a larger set of British special forces. The winter landing was far from the target on the barren, storm-swept plateau above Rjukan, so much survival skills were called upon (e.g. finding a hunter’s cabin and eating moss to survive). The attempt to bring in the larger force of men and supplies ended in disaster. The gliders released from tow planes crashed with the loss of about 25 skilled commandos, and the survivors were captured, interrogated, and executed. Kurt and the handful of Norwegians (including one young Norwegian-American) pressed on alone.
Picture our band of heroes, heavily loaded with arms and equipment, traveling miles by ski on the high plains to reach the region. Instead of taking the only road from town over a well-patrolled suspension bridge, they passed around and then down into a deep gorge, from which they scaled a 500-foot icy wall to the plant. At night in the middle of winter. Dodging the sentries, quietly subduing a worker to gain entrance, and then crawling through a ventilation tunnel to get into the locked basement facility. There they set plastic explosives on the many tanks, wired a short fuse, and made their exit, presumably to be caught and killed. But the explosions deep in the factory were muffled enough, they pulled off a successful escape with no lives lost. Despite thousands of army and Gestapo forces combing the area for the saboteurs, Kurt is able to help some set out to Sweden by ski, while others he fears are lost to capture or to winter hardship.
Kurt goes back to lonely rural living and more routine resistance activities undermining the regime of the opportunistic Nazi collaborators running the government. We get attached to his quiet, unassuming personality and his little ways to keeping his friends’ hopes alive with humor and generosity. He has trouble getting over the death of his wife and child from bombing earlier in the war. We see him get romantically interested in an elegant Austrian woman who is a violinist on a musical tour of the region. But he holds back, thinking it best for her safety to wait and pursue her after the war is over. He knows he made the right decision when word comes down that the Germans are soon going to move a last big shipment of heavy water out by rail. He and two locals he has recruited devise a plan for planting bombs with timers on the ferry to be used to get the rail cars across a lake. He regrets the loss of civilian lives the sinking will cause, so engineers the bomb placement to allow time for passengers to escape the ship. However, when he learns that his new violinist love interest will be on the ferry, he is faced with a special moral conundrum.
This read has some of the same pleasures of Alan Furst’s tales of ordinary people getting involved in the resistance activities against the Nazi occupation in France and other countries Europe. Here we extend the atmospherics of a society bucking outrageously unjust fate to a more rural setting and bring in the extra issues of surviving the challenges of winter and remote geographies. For those more interested in historical accuracy than inspiring entertainment, one could consider Haukelid’s memoir, “Skis Against the Atom,” or the recent history, “The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission To Sabotage Hitler’s Atomic Bomb”, by Neil Bascomb. As for me, I am looking for what other thriller by Gross to pursue, and “The One Man” is in hand.
This book was provided by the published for review through the Netgalley program.
Two brief asides: 1) heavy water, which contains hydrogen with a neutron in its nuclei, can be used to slow down neutrons released in radioactive decay, making it more feasible to produce plutonium in a fission reactor; 2) in recent years technical analysis indicates that the Nazis were unlikely to produce a bomb even if shipments from Vemork succeeded. Regardless, the agents who performed these impossible missions at great risk were told nothing except that stopping the supply of the substance was highly important to the war outcome
The author claims close attention to known details for these two operations, but his efforts to render a realistic version of the life of one of the heroes and of his dedication to the resistance called for so much fiction that he changed their names. Thus, the main character is Kurt Nordstrum, based on the real Knut Haukelid, a civil engineer who joined the resistance (Kompani Linge) in 1941. Other loyal Norwegians and their king fled to England after the German army crushed the opposition and occupied the country, among them the scientist who developed heavy water production at the Rjukan plant, Leif Tronstad. He convinced the British command that the location of the facility in the basement of a massive building in a river cleft in some highland cliffs would be inaccessible to aerial bombing. Thus, the plan was born to infiltrate the factory and plant explosives.
The first step was to parachute in a set of nine Norwegian nationals intensively trained by the British SOE (Special Operations Executive) to hook up with the resistance and together prepare the way for a larger set of British special forces. The winter landing was far from the target on the barren, storm-swept plateau above Rjukan, so much survival skills were called upon (e.g. finding a hunter’s cabin and eating moss to survive). The attempt to bring in the larger force of men and supplies ended in disaster. The gliders released from tow planes crashed with the loss of about 25 skilled commandos, and the survivors were captured, interrogated, and executed. Kurt and the handful of Norwegians (including one young Norwegian-American) pressed on alone.
Picture our band of heroes, heavily loaded with arms and equipment, traveling miles by ski on the high plains to reach the region. Instead of taking the only road from town over a well-patrolled suspension bridge, they passed around and then down into a deep gorge, from which they scaled a 500-foot icy wall to the plant. At night in the middle of winter. Dodging the sentries, quietly subduing a worker to gain entrance, and then crawling through a ventilation tunnel to get into the locked basement facility. There they set plastic explosives on the many tanks, wired a short fuse, and made their exit, presumably to be caught and killed. But the explosions deep in the factory were muffled enough, they pulled off a successful escape with no lives lost. Despite thousands of army and Gestapo forces combing the area for the saboteurs, Kurt is able to help some set out to Sweden by ski, while others he fears are lost to capture or to winter hardship.
Kurt goes back to lonely rural living and more routine resistance activities undermining the regime of the opportunistic Nazi collaborators running the government. We get attached to his quiet, unassuming personality and his little ways to keeping his friends’ hopes alive with humor and generosity. He has trouble getting over the death of his wife and child from bombing earlier in the war. We see him get romantically interested in an elegant Austrian woman who is a violinist on a musical tour of the region. But he holds back, thinking it best for her safety to wait and pursue her after the war is over. He knows he made the right decision when word comes down that the Germans are soon going to move a last big shipment of heavy water out by rail. He and two locals he has recruited devise a plan for planting bombs with timers on the ferry to be used to get the rail cars across a lake. He regrets the loss of civilian lives the sinking will cause, so engineers the bomb placement to allow time for passengers to escape the ship. However, when he learns that his new violinist love interest will be on the ferry, he is faced with a special moral conundrum.
This read has some of the same pleasures of Alan Furst’s tales of ordinary people getting involved in the resistance activities against the Nazi occupation in France and other countries Europe. Here we extend the atmospherics of a society bucking outrageously unjust fate to a more rural setting and bring in the extra issues of surviving the challenges of winter and remote geographies. For those more interested in historical accuracy than inspiring entertainment, one could consider Haukelid’s memoir, “Skis Against the Atom,” or the recent history, “The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission To Sabotage Hitler’s Atomic Bomb”, by Neil Bascomb. As for me, I am looking for what other thriller by Gross to pursue, and “The One Man” is in hand.
This book was provided by the published for review through the Netgalley program.
February 12, 2024
Actual rating is 3.5 stars.
This book is a historical fictional book based on true events. In this one we visit Norway during WWII and they are under German occupation. The Germans have taken over a factory and working on a product that could lead to them having the atomic bomb first. The English and a small group of Norwegians devise a plan to take out the factory.
I thought the author did a terrific job of interpreting the real life events into fiction. I immediately felt the sense of being under a German thumb while trying to lead a life. The overall setting just contributed to the atmosphere. It is a cold land that people are trying to survive and now throw being oppressed into the mix. I enjoyed the characters but this is a book that really relies on the main character. He carries all of the action and this is definitely his story. The highlight of this book is the mission. I loved everything about it. The planning, the subterfuge and the carrying out of the mission was excellent and I could not read fast enough to see how it would all play out. There is a minor flaw in this novel and that did affect my rating. There is a sub plot with a love story that I feel did not get enough attention. This sub plot intertwines with the finale. I feel like if it was given more attention the finale would have had a higher impact on me. If this impact landed with me this would have been an easy four star rating and possibly a five star rating.
Not a perfect book but more than enjoyable. It was a fascinating read as I knew that I was in a fictional setting but to ponder that this really happened. This just added to my enjoyment of this novel. I never was bored with this book. I was interested in the setting (although I would never visit. Minus thirty degrees centrigrade. No thank you) and the fate of the characters. Definitely enjoyed my time with this book and I learned about history in the process. A win-win.
This book is a historical fictional book based on true events. In this one we visit Norway during WWII and they are under German occupation. The Germans have taken over a factory and working on a product that could lead to them having the atomic bomb first. The English and a small group of Norwegians devise a plan to take out the factory.
I thought the author did a terrific job of interpreting the real life events into fiction. I immediately felt the sense of being under a German thumb while trying to lead a life. The overall setting just contributed to the atmosphere. It is a cold land that people are trying to survive and now throw being oppressed into the mix. I enjoyed the characters but this is a book that really relies on the main character. He carries all of the action and this is definitely his story. The highlight of this book is the mission. I loved everything about it. The planning, the subterfuge and the carrying out of the mission was excellent and I could not read fast enough to see how it would all play out. There is a minor flaw in this novel and that did affect my rating. There is a sub plot with a love story that I feel did not get enough attention. This sub plot intertwines with the finale. I feel like if it was given more attention the finale would have had a higher impact on me. If this impact landed with me this would have been an easy four star rating and possibly a five star rating.
Not a perfect book but more than enjoyable. It was a fascinating read as I knew that I was in a fictional setting but to ponder that this really happened. This just added to my enjoyment of this novel. I never was bored with this book. I was interested in the setting (although I would never visit. Minus thirty degrees centrigrade. No thank you) and the fate of the characters. Definitely enjoyed my time with this book and I learned about history in the process. A win-win.
November 13, 2017
Very engrossing!! This book schooled me on things I was not aware of, the educational aspect of it was great. The writing was on point. It is my second Andrew Gross book and I’m officially a fan!!!
November 17, 2024
Revised rating for this story penned here. 8 of 10 stars
October 26, 2017
I was looking forward to this book because I loved the author's prior World War II thriller, "The One Man", but unfortunately my expectations were too high. In large part, this is a suspenseful thriller (I assume very loosely) based on a true story about the resistance movement in Norway. Some Norwegians were recruited by the British to sabotage the production of heavy water to be used by the Nazis in the development of an atomic bomb. However this book didn't have the "heart" of the earlier book and I was unmoved by it. There were some exciting parts and also parts that dragged a lot. The protagonist was a former engineering student named Nordstrum. In order to carry out his mission he had to evade both the Nazis and an exceedingly persistent personal enemy. What finally caused me to lower my rating by one star was the unconvincing instalove at the end that led to Nordstum's risking his mission in a really stupid way. The narration of the audio book by Edoardo Ballerini was excellent.
September 5, 2017
In 1943, a team of Norwegian saboteurs carried out a dangerous mission that destroyed the Nazis' source of heavy water, a fluid needed to produce nuclear weapons. The race to develop the world's first atomic bomb was on, and it was a race that would alter the course of the war.
The heavy water plant was in a heavily guarded, remote mountainous area of Norway. The team knew it was likely to be a suicide mission, with little chance of success or getting out alive. I was struck by not only the physical feats and survival skills this mission required, but was impressed by the emotional grit and determination of the team through the harshest of conditions.
The first half of the book was the set-up leading up to the raid, but the second half was action-packed, tense, suspenseful and riveting. I enjoyed learning about this piece of WWII history I knew nothing about. I typically don't like fictionalized account of true stories and real people. However, Mr Gross does a fine job. He stayed true to the actual events with creating tension and intrigue while highlighting just how difficult this mission was. The epilogue where he gives an accounting of the real events was appreciated and I enjoyed further reading on the internet about these men and their bravery.
One of my favorite quotes in the book: "The funny thing about bravery, sometimes it was no more than people being afraid to shrink from doing the right thing." We owe such a debt to these brave men.
Amazingly, one of the members of the team is still alive today, and they recently have been getting the recognition they deserve in Norway.
* I received a copy of the book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
** I very much enjoyed reading this book with Lindsay, Norma, Brenda, Susanne, and Diane... the traveling sisters!
The heavy water plant was in a heavily guarded, remote mountainous area of Norway. The team knew it was likely to be a suicide mission, with little chance of success or getting out alive. I was struck by not only the physical feats and survival skills this mission required, but was impressed by the emotional grit and determination of the team through the harshest of conditions.
The first half of the book was the set-up leading up to the raid, but the second half was action-packed, tense, suspenseful and riveting. I enjoyed learning about this piece of WWII history I knew nothing about. I typically don't like fictionalized account of true stories and real people. However, Mr Gross does a fine job. He stayed true to the actual events with creating tension and intrigue while highlighting just how difficult this mission was. The epilogue where he gives an accounting of the real events was appreciated and I enjoyed further reading on the internet about these men and their bravery.
One of my favorite quotes in the book: "The funny thing about bravery, sometimes it was no more than people being afraid to shrink from doing the right thing." We owe such a debt to these brave men.
Amazingly, one of the members of the team is still alive today, and they recently have been getting the recognition they deserve in Norway.
* I received a copy of the book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
** I very much enjoyed reading this book with Lindsay, Norma, Brenda, Susanne, and Diane... the traveling sisters!
December 25, 2020
Fascinating and exhilarating read. Had no idea about the Nazi Heavy Water production in Norway before this book. The plot was fantastic as it was the primary focus. Character development did not appear to be the main aim as these where, for the majority, real people.
A great thriller and gripping. Excited to read more from this author as Andrew seems to focus on getting the story right with a good grasp on fiction.
A great thriller and gripping. Excited to read more from this author as Andrew seems to focus on getting the story right with a good grasp on fiction.
August 28, 2017
The Saboteur - Andrew Gross - 22 Aug
“If the Germans get there first, it will lead to some of the nastiest business that can ever be imagined. Not to mention it’ll win them the war.”
A spellbinding historical and educational story based on true events involving brave and selfless patriots and the Norwegian heavy water sabotage project of WWII. When I first started reading, I wasn’t sure my mind was in a place to keep up with the meticulous details, yet in short order, I was riveted, reading for hours at a time, finishing the book in a few days; evidence of how inspirational and fantastic it was. The author’s research on this critical mission is impressive, his merging of fact/fiction and his humanization of the characters so well done. I was in awe of the sacrifice, resilience, strength and humor amidst insurmountable odds.
It is a rare book that my husband and I can both agree on. I know without a doubt that he will enjoy this book as much as I did, so I plan on buying the audio version to listen to on an upcoming 16+ hour car ride.
“If the Germans get there first, it will lead to some of the nastiest business that can ever be imagined. Not to mention it’ll win them the war.”
A spellbinding historical and educational story based on true events involving brave and selfless patriots and the Norwegian heavy water sabotage project of WWII. When I first started reading, I wasn’t sure my mind was in a place to keep up with the meticulous details, yet in short order, I was riveted, reading for hours at a time, finishing the book in a few days; evidence of how inspirational and fantastic it was. The author’s research on this critical mission is impressive, his merging of fact/fiction and his humanization of the characters so well done. I was in awe of the sacrifice, resilience, strength and humor amidst insurmountable odds.
It is a rare book that my husband and I can both agree on. I know without a doubt that he will enjoy this book as much as I did, so I plan on buying the audio version to listen to on an upcoming 16+ hour car ride.
May 16, 2021
Another good historical fiction story by Andrew Gross that is again based on a true story. This one took a little longer to connect with me but by the end I didn’t want it to finish. As per usual with this author the story is well written with some excellent characters.
The story is based in 1943 during WW11 and follows Kurt Nordstrum and a group of Norwegian resistance soldiers whose mission is to infiltrate the Norsk Hydro Plant and to destroy the heavy water supply. Hitler wants the heavy water to create powerful weapons that would give him a big advantage in his fight for world power. The heavy water is secretly produced in the Norsk Hydro plant located in southern Norway and it is key to his master plan. The plant is heavily guarded and previous missions by the allies have ended in failure and loss of lives. Due to the heavy weather Nordstrum believes his group have a better chance of surviving and achieving their aim in destroying the supply.
Like I said it took me a while to connect with this story but having given it time to win me over I was hooked and loved it. Some very good characters and well paced plot that will have you looking up more information after you have finished to see what is actually true.
Andrew Gross is an excellent storyteller and well worth reading.
The story is based in 1943 during WW11 and follows Kurt Nordstrum and a group of Norwegian resistance soldiers whose mission is to infiltrate the Norsk Hydro Plant and to destroy the heavy water supply. Hitler wants the heavy water to create powerful weapons that would give him a big advantage in his fight for world power. The heavy water is secretly produced in the Norsk Hydro plant located in southern Norway and it is key to his master plan. The plant is heavily guarded and previous missions by the allies have ended in failure and loss of lives. Due to the heavy weather Nordstrum believes his group have a better chance of surviving and achieving their aim in destroying the supply.
Like I said it took me a while to connect with this story but having given it time to win me over I was hooked and loved it. Some very good characters and well paced plot that will have you looking up more information after you have finished to see what is actually true.
Andrew Gross is an excellent storyteller and well worth reading.
May 18, 2018
This review is for the audio version of “The Saboteur” by Andrew Gross, read by Edoardo Ballerini, published by Macmillan Audio.
Audio: 5 stars Ballerini’s voice is strong yet calm, has a steady and consistent pace with perfect enunciation and projection. His range of accents is quite impressive, as this novel required Norwegian, German and American, to name a few, which he seemed to do with ease. Ballerini was a great choice for this novel, and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to his even tempo and deep baritone.
Story: 3 stars
During World War 2, a group of Norwegian resistance fighters take up arms against the Nazis, the leader of which is Kurt Nordstrom. Kurt and his comrades endure intense training, and then are parachuted into the freezing cold environment of Norway, with the intention of blowing up the German’s supply of “heavy water” (a liquid that can be used to create horrifically treacherous explosives). Kurt commandeers a ship, puts his father in danger, and crosses countries in order to complete his goal. When he meets the cellist’s granddaughter however, he must decide if he is willing to risk her life in order to achieve his task.
I thoroughly enjoyed Gross’ “The One Man”. I found the novel to be poetic and desperately sad, but still unique and powerful. “The Saboteur” did not have the same effect for me, sadly.
The historical accuracy of this novel speaks to Gross’ intense research and determination, and I can honestly say I learned something. Based on true events, “The Saboteur” detailed a brave group of renegades willing to risk their lives for what they thought was the “greater good”.
Outside of this, I found the novel to be far too long. There were parts of the novel that were spectacular, that drew me in and held my attention, but then there was also long, drawn out, detailed parts that were difficult to stay engaged with.
The settings of the story were fabulous and descriptive, and I loved traveling through Europe with Kurt and his friends, on snowshoes and on the water, and (most especially) in the Scottish highlands. However, at the beginning of the novel the cast of characters were too long, and the foreign sounding names (although accurate and appropriate) made it exceptionally difficult for me to keep track of who was doing what.
Although the ending was unpredictable, it was also unbelievable. Kurt Nordstrom should buy a lottery ticket, the number of times his life was in danger and he did not die. Perhaps he has some kind of superpower that was not revealed. I enjoyed the romantic component of the novel, and understand its importance to the ending of the novel in particular, but I found that to be unbelievable too, as a strong, powerful and brave Kurt quickly became flighty and even debated sacrificing his cause.
Overall, the historical accuracy of Gross’ novel is fascinating and educational, and the settings are beautiful and descriptive. I enjoyed Kurt Nordstrom as a character, and the initial expedition of the team. I just think this novel would have been better if it had been shorter.
Audio: 5 stars Ballerini’s voice is strong yet calm, has a steady and consistent pace with perfect enunciation and projection. His range of accents is quite impressive, as this novel required Norwegian, German and American, to name a few, which he seemed to do with ease. Ballerini was a great choice for this novel, and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to his even tempo and deep baritone.
Story: 3 stars
During World War 2, a group of Norwegian resistance fighters take up arms against the Nazis, the leader of which is Kurt Nordstrom. Kurt and his comrades endure intense training, and then are parachuted into the freezing cold environment of Norway, with the intention of blowing up the German’s supply of “heavy water” (a liquid that can be used to create horrifically treacherous explosives). Kurt commandeers a ship, puts his father in danger, and crosses countries in order to complete his goal. When he meets the cellist’s granddaughter however, he must decide if he is willing to risk her life in order to achieve his task.
I thoroughly enjoyed Gross’ “The One Man”. I found the novel to be poetic and desperately sad, but still unique and powerful. “The Saboteur” did not have the same effect for me, sadly.
The historical accuracy of this novel speaks to Gross’ intense research and determination, and I can honestly say I learned something. Based on true events, “The Saboteur” detailed a brave group of renegades willing to risk their lives for what they thought was the “greater good”.
Outside of this, I found the novel to be far too long. There were parts of the novel that were spectacular, that drew me in and held my attention, but then there was also long, drawn out, detailed parts that were difficult to stay engaged with.
The settings of the story were fabulous and descriptive, and I loved traveling through Europe with Kurt and his friends, on snowshoes and on the water, and (most especially) in the Scottish highlands. However, at the beginning of the novel the cast of characters were too long, and the foreign sounding names (although accurate and appropriate) made it exceptionally difficult for me to keep track of who was doing what.
Although the ending was unpredictable, it was also unbelievable. Kurt Nordstrom should buy a lottery ticket, the number of times his life was in danger and he did not die. Perhaps he has some kind of superpower that was not revealed. I enjoyed the romantic component of the novel, and understand its importance to the ending of the novel in particular, but I found that to be unbelievable too, as a strong, powerful and brave Kurt quickly became flighty and even debated sacrificing his cause.
Overall, the historical accuracy of Gross’ novel is fascinating and educational, and the settings are beautiful and descriptive. I enjoyed Kurt Nordstrom as a character, and the initial expedition of the team. I just think this novel would have been better if it had been shorter.
January 31, 2019
7 de 10*
Andrew Gross foi uma excelente surpresa para mim, em 2017, quando li o seu livro “72 Horas”. Por isso, tinha as expectativas bastante elevadas para o seu novo livro “O Sabotador”, expectativas essas que saíram um pouco defraudadas com esta obra.
Na minha opinião, o livro divide-se em duas partes totalmente distintas, uma primeira bastante linear, que não me despertou o interesse pela leitura e uma segunda parte que recupera toda a qualidade de escrita do autor que conheci no livro anterior. Esta diferença tão acentuada entre duas partes deixou-me uma sensação agridoce, porque não me fez adorar o livro. Por outro lado, a partir do momento em que os heróis desta história entram na fábrica, não consegui largar mais a leitura, e foi fantástica…
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Andrew Gross foi uma excelente surpresa para mim, em 2017, quando li o seu livro “72 Horas”. Por isso, tinha as expectativas bastante elevadas para o seu novo livro “O Sabotador”, expectativas essas que saíram um pouco defraudadas com esta obra.
Na minha opinião, o livro divide-se em duas partes totalmente distintas, uma primeira bastante linear, que não me despertou o interesse pela leitura e uma segunda parte que recupera toda a qualidade de escrita do autor que conheci no livro anterior. Esta diferença tão acentuada entre duas partes deixou-me uma sensação agridoce, porque não me fez adorar o livro. Por outro lado, a partir do momento em que os heróis desta história entram na fábrica, não consegui largar mais a leitura, e foi fantástica…
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February 17, 2019
O nosso protagonista é Kurt Nordstrum, um norueguês que faz parte da resistência e que acaba por fazer parte de um grupo de homens encarregues de destruir uma fábrica, que se encontra controlada pelos nazis, e onde estão a trabalhar para criar uma arma nuclear.
Inicialmente senti muitas dificuldades com o livro. Primeiro, com o nomes nórdicos que, para mim, não foram nada fáceis de assimilar, e depois com o ritmo da acção, muito lento e onde parece que não acontece nada de muito interessante. No entanto, o ritmo muda com o ataque à fábrica e sentia que a leitura fluiu melhor e fiquei mais interessada na história.
Um ponto positivo é a história e o nosso herói serem baseadas em factos verídicos, o que despertou ainda mais a minha curiosidade.
Apesar de um início custoso, foi uma leitura que me agradou muito e fiquei com muita vontade de ler o outro livro do autor - 72 Horas - também passado durante a 2ª Guerra Mundial.
Vejam a minha opinião mais detalhada em vídeo, AQUI.
Inicialmente senti muitas dificuldades com o livro. Primeiro, com o nomes nórdicos que, para mim, não foram nada fáceis de assimilar, e depois com o ritmo da acção, muito lento e onde parece que não acontece nada de muito interessante. No entanto, o ritmo muda com o ataque à fábrica e sentia que a leitura fluiu melhor e fiquei mais interessada na história.
Um ponto positivo é a história e o nosso herói serem baseadas em factos verídicos, o que despertou ainda mais a minha curiosidade.
Apesar de um início custoso, foi uma leitura que me agradou muito e fiquei com muita vontade de ler o outro livro do autor - 72 Horas - também passado durante a 2ª Guerra Mundial.
Vejam a minha opinião mais detalhada em vídeo, AQUI.
September 30, 2019
Andrew Gross,once again hits a home run with "The Saboteur." His main protagonist is a lonely man, however accomplished in his professional life, but his personal life has always been wanting. One cannot help but feel a certain empathy for the man. The book was well written; and I highly recommend it.
September 12, 2017
The Saboteur
I really enjoyed this novel and I was ready to give it four stars until I realized that this was written about true events that took place during WWII. What a wonderful retelling of events during the war. Andrew Gross is a great storyteller.
I really enjoyed this novel and I was ready to give it four stars until I realized that this was written about true events that took place during WWII. What a wonderful retelling of events during the war. Andrew Gross is a great storyteller.
February 2, 2018
After reading The One Man, I looked forward to The Saboteur. Both are based on actual events during WWII. I loved The Saboteur as much as I did the earlier book. Working with the English, Kurt Nordstrum and his fellow Norwegians took on a secret mission to destroy the heavy water being developed in the Norsk Hydro Factory. Their mission seemed an impossibility that no group of men, no matter how conditioned to the cold, the mountains, and the perilous conditions, could possibly hope to accomplish. The plant was impenetrable...or so the Germans thought. The story would seem totally unrealistic were it not based on reality. Because Nordstrum seemed such a super hero, I did have a bit of a problem with his reckless abandon over a woman near the end. As in The One Man, the ending had an unexpected twist which I found satisfying. I enjoyed meeting the author, Andrew Gross, last month at a book reading/discussion. I'm anxious to find out the title of his next book.
December 24, 2017
Another excellent WWII historical fiction book by Andrew Gross. Based on real events, the describes a plot by Norweigan nationals to destroy a well-guarded plant, converted by the Nazis to manufacture "hard water" for use in building an atomic bomb. The plant's destruction is deemed essential to the Allies efforts to win the war. Kurt Nordstrum is a true patriot, putting the mission ahead of his own life, creating a unforgettable story: his brains, nerve, guile and moral compass were central to the mission's success, despite several set-backs. A true story of valor, bravery, and betrayal. 4.5 stars.
July 27, 2024
I enjoyed this fast moving audio-book. This tracked the true story of the sabotage of the German's heavy water supply in Norway during WWII. Add some dialogue and some minor love-interest and you have excellent historical fiction.
They didn't talk about the physics of 'heavy water' beyond it is crucial to starting a chain reaction for a nuclear generator. My own physics knowledge: you take something like Uranium that has lots of protons and neutrons in its nucleus in a precarious stability. (Uranium, #92 on the periodic table, is the heaviest stable element found in nature on Earth - all elements heavier than #92 are man-made and decay quickly into other elements). So if you stuff an extra neutron or two into Uranium, you can make the nucleus unstable 'on command' and get fission/split to occur. To slow down the neutrons being shot into the nucleus, you can't use simple H2O. You need D2O. This is water with and extra neutron in the Hydrogen atom. Thus "Heavy Water". It is drinkable and seems like normal water, except it is hard/expensive to make.
Norway had a production facility the Nazi's took over. This was tucked into mountains that naturally protected it. After a couple failed missions by British troops, the Norwegian home-team got the sabotage job done.
A great/recent non-fiction account of this can be read:
The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler’s Atomic Bomb by Neal Bascomb
There is also the 1965 movie w Kirk Douglas "The Heroes of Telemark".
I respected/liked how there were some tragic deaths that occurred along the many months it took to organize and carry out these mission pieces. The reality of war is here in this book. I never felt any dragging in the story. Even when delays in the mission occurred, it was due because some other excitement derailed the current plans.
4.5* from me.
They didn't talk about the physics of 'heavy water' beyond it is crucial to starting a chain reaction for a nuclear generator. My own physics knowledge: you take something like Uranium that has lots of protons and neutrons in its nucleus in a precarious stability. (Uranium, #92 on the periodic table, is the heaviest stable element found in nature on Earth - all elements heavier than #92 are man-made and decay quickly into other elements). So if you stuff an extra neutron or two into Uranium, you can make the nucleus unstable 'on command' and get fission/split to occur. To slow down the neutrons being shot into the nucleus, you can't use simple H2O. You need D2O. This is water with and extra neutron in the Hydrogen atom. Thus "Heavy Water". It is drinkable and seems like normal water, except it is hard/expensive to make.
Norway had a production facility the Nazi's took over. This was tucked into mountains that naturally protected it. After a couple failed missions by British troops, the Norwegian home-team got the sabotage job done.
A great/recent non-fiction account of this can be read:
The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler’s Atomic Bomb by Neal Bascomb
There is also the 1965 movie w Kirk Douglas "The Heroes of Telemark".
I respected/liked how there were some tragic deaths that occurred along the many months it took to organize and carry out these mission pieces. The reality of war is here in this book. I never felt any dragging in the story. Even when delays in the mission occurred, it was due because some other excitement derailed the current plans.
4.5* from me.
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