Auslander

by Lewis Kelley

It is 1944 and war rages throughout the world. After a harrowing voyage across the Atlantic in which he battles both doubting countrymen and the vaunted German Luftwaffe, Army lieutenant Vince LaSalle reaches England. Reunited with his unit, the combat veteran settles into moving supplies until he is assigned a top-secret delivery. In London, Vince meets Jan Holling, an adjutant to the code breakers, and the first of the international cast with which he becomes inexorably connected. Through her he is introduced to a side of war that rivals combat in its sheer brutality. Recruited for a special mission, he is rejected because of the color of his skin and then asked to do the impossible when his team is captured in France and then shipped to the heart of the enemy camp Berlin, where they face torture and ultimately execution. His mission: rescue Jan and the other captured agents or insure what secrets they hold in their minds cannot be revealed.Vince drops into Poland where he links up with the resistance and begins the deadly journey toward Berlin. When they connect with Charles Petrie, the mysterious Brit who recruited Vince, the black soldiers find themselves involved in deception so twisted that they begin to doubt the very people they are attempting to help. When Vince reaches Berlin the Germans are waiting, but he has unexpected allies. With their help he will attempt the impossible. Incredibly, he has made it into the city but will he and the others make it out alive Auslander was written to educate, entertain and to bear witness to what is often termed African-American history but what is truly and simply American history. The characters live their convictions despite extreme circumstances and ultimately display the common thread of the human struggle.

399 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Darryle B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book many years ago and what a great read it was. Author Lewis Kelley is a friend and colleague of mine who I worked with as a fellow recruiter for the Denver Department of Safety. With Auslander, I still remember the riveting action, suspense and plot about an African-American Army Lieutenant Vince LaSalle not only heroically fought against the Nazis in World War II, but recognized and dealt with the racial prejudices, injustice, discrimination and so forth being an "Auslander" (meaning foreigner in German).

When I read a story like this, it's reminds me of my grandfather's story, who was also an World War II Army veteran who shared challenges, struggles, stereotypes and even hatred because of his skin color. What Vince LaSalle faced during the great war on so many levels are captured very well, were vivid and a chilling reality of what nearly all African-Americans faced during that time. I think about the time period in which they served in World War II only to come home to a Jim Crow/Segregated America that doesn't love them. If I lived and served during that time, would I have come back to America after the end of the war and leaving the service? Probably not. I commend those who did and my grandfather was one of those unsung heroes who in spite of a Jim Crow/Segregated America did everything he could to provide a good life for my mother. That is what I find inspiring about this book because Lt. Vince LaSalle's story is like my grandfather's story who I never had to privilege to meet but wished I had.

Lewis Kelley did his homework capturing that essence of the time period, using research and perhaps stories handed down from those who were there to make this relevant period piece tangible. Mr. Kelley's storytelling puts the reader on each scene, the action is high octane and the character development of LaSalle and the supporting characters, their interactions and chemistry pulls the story together and hits the right chord to drive the story. Even as a work of fiction, the realities of what Lt. LaSalle faced in this story is not. For Auslander to be Lewis Kelley's first book is amazing because I would've thought he has been writing for years. He captures all the elements of good storytelling that keep pulling you in until the very end with a cliffhanger that teases a sequel. This book is highly recommended and if he finally gets that sequel done, I'm here for it.

Update: I just found out from Lewis that he had completed the sequel called "Flight" and I just downloaded it. It'll be among my books in my reading challenge for 2024.