Captives

by Reiner Prochaska

Frederick County, Maryland, September 1944. Florian Schneider, a code breaker for the German Army, is interned at POW Branch Camp 6. Many of his fellow inmates most of them seasoned Afrika Korps veterans mistrust the taciturn soldier, whose rank belies his education and his excellent command of the English language. He is assigned to work on the farm of Vivian Klein, whose daughter, Mary, has moved back home for the remainder of the war while her husband is fighting in the Pacific. An unlikely, complicated romance ensues between Mary and Schneider. Once Schneider earns the trust of his peers by saving the life of Bernd Wagner, he dares to propose to them the impossible a plan for escape: After a performance of Coriolanus by the German soldiers for their American captors on New Year's Eve, a group of German soldiers will steal a car and head for the New Jersey coast. Schneider knows that two spies enlisted to sabotage the Manhattan Project are scheduled to be delivered via submarine to the coast off Maine around New Years Day 1945. Schneider believes in the slight chance that he and his fellow escapees may be able to radio the sub to pick them up off the East Coast. On New Years Eve, everything starts out as planned, but shortly after midnight, as the men are stealing a truck on Vivian Klein's Farm, Mary surprises them. Unwilling to harm Mary or jeopardize the escape, Schneider tells the men to leave without him. Without Schneider's language skills, they are captured trying to cross the Susquehanna Bridge, and Wagner is killed. Blaming Schneider for the failed escape, the men convene a Court of Honor to decide his fate.

254 pages, Hardcover

Published October 31, 2019

Reviews

[Thomas Scholtes · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting read filled with spies, murder, escape plans, and a lot of finding oneself amidst the trials of World War II.

I wanted my first sentence to say the book is captivating, but I didn’t want the review to sound corny, because the book is so good! And captivating! Once you start really getting into the fray, you’re turning pages so fast and getting so much information from different perspectives, and all of it is so interesting you can’t wait to see what everything is thinking individually and how they’ll eventually decide each other’s fate. You’re not sure who might live or die from one page to the next, whose lies or secrets might be discovered, or who might finally open up to the right (or wrong) person. But amidst a raging war and being prisoners of war, these men are still trying to figure out the personal aspects of themselves, so the book has action and intrigue but also introspection and ultimate multiple love stories, while not being any sort of romance novel. These soldiers are doing desperate things to help their country get ahead in the war, but also desperate things just to feel human again.

Just really well written and the continually changing perspectives adds so much to how different people and types of people were viewing the war, while also giving such interesting background for each character, just barely touching on so many stunning things that were happening in World War II.

[Katarina Sandström · Rating 5 out of 5]

One moment that really stayed with me is how Schneider keeps pushing forward during the escape even when everything around him is telling him to stop. The detail of him gripping the pliers, feeling the metal dig into his hands, and still forcing himself to focus while the dogs close in shows a level of discipline that feels almost inhuman. It’s not bravery in a loud sense, it’s controlled survival. That scene made me understand that his strength is not physical, it’s mental endurance under pressure.

[My Olofsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What stayed with me most is how the book opens inside Schneider’s mind during that escape attempt in Texas. The way he focuses on cutting the fence wire while hearing the dogs getting closer, with Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto faintly playing in the background, creates a strange mix of panic and control. That moment alone shows who he is: precise, disciplined, and constantly balancing fear with calculation. It pulled me in immediately because it didn’t feel like fiction, it felt lived.

[Kerstin Blomqvist · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciated the shift from the intensity of the Texas escape to the earlier Cambridge scenes with Nigel Hargreave. The contrast between quiet academic life and what Schneider later becomes adds depth to the story. The dinner setting, the small social observations, even the irritation Nigel feels about the gathering all build a world that feels real before everything starts to fracture. It made the later tension more meaningful.

[Judith Sandström · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona’s perspective stood out to me more than I expected. Her voice feels personal and unfiltered, especially when she reflects on her upbringing and her thoughts about relationships and control. The way she describes her emotions, including that mix of curiosity and rebellion, gives her character weight. She’s not just part of the story, she carries her own internal conflict that adds another layer to the narrative.

[Maryam Holmberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I also noticed how the quieter character moments carry just as much weight as the action. For example, the way Fiona reflects on her own thoughts and desires, especially in contrast to the expectations placed on her, adds a subtle tension that builds beneath the surface. It’s not dramatic on the outside, but internally it feels intense. That balance between external events and internal reflection is what gives the story depth and makes the characters feel real rather than just part of a plot.

[David Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I keep going back to the opening scene in Texas because it didn’t feel like a typical escape. It was quiet, tense, and very controlled. Schneider cutting through the fence while hearing the dogs getting closer wasn’t written in a dramatic way, but that’s exactly why it worked. The detail of him forcing his hands to stay steady even when everything around him is closing in showed the kind of character he is without needing explanation.

[Celine Eklund · Rating 5 out of 5]

One detail I found powerful was how Schneider is introduced socially before we fully understand him. His calm presence, the way he interacts at the gathering, and the subtle tension he brings into the room make him feel unpredictable. He doesn’t need dramatic actions to feel dangerous. That quiet control makes him more compelling than a typical war character.

[Iza Svensson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing during the escape sequence is incredibly physical. You feel the sweat, the strain in his hands as he cuts the wire, the pressure building with every second. Even the small detail of wiping his face with his drenched sleeve adds to that realism. It’s not just about what’s happening, it’s about how it feels in the body, and that made the scene stand out for me.

[Hiba Persson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the use of music, especially Bach, to be a subtle but powerful choice. It creates a strange calm within chaos, almost like Schneider is holding onto something intellectual or structured while everything around him is falling apart. That contrast between order and disorder reflects his character in a way that isn’t directly explained but clearly felt.

[Jacqueline Holmgren · Rating 5 out of 5]

The early Cambridge scenes also highlight something important about identity. Characters are defined by intellect, status, and social behavior, but once the story shifts into the war setting, those same identities are stripped down to survival and loyalty. That transition feels very intentional and adds weight to everything that follows.

[Amelie Gunnarsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a strong sense of underlying danger even in calm scenes. Whether it’s the way Schneider enters a room or how characters observe each other, there’s always a feeling that something is about to shift. That quiet tension builds gradually and keeps you engaged without relying on constant action.

[Shirin Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The structure of moving between timelines and perspectives works well because each shift adds context instead of confusion. The earlier timeline doesn’t feel like filler, it feels necessary. It helps you understand how these characters became who they are, which makes their later decisions more impactful.

[Hilma Bengtsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I respect most about this book is that it doesn’t rush. It takes time to build characters, relationships, and atmosphere. The result is a story that feels layered and intentional rather than rushed for effect. By the time the stakes rise, you already understand the emotional and psychological cost behind every action.

[Merritt Kane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The prologue in Texas stayed with me more than I expected. The way Schneider is crawling toward the fence, cutting through the wire while hearing the dogs closing in, felt intense but also very controlled. Even the detail of his hands aching from the pliers and wiping sweat with his sleeve made the scene feel real, not exaggerated. It wasn’t just action, it felt like survival in its rawest form.

[Cressida Harlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing I appreciated was how you introduced Schneider not as a hero but as someone constantly being watched and judged. His education and his command of English set him apart, but instead of giving him an advantage, it makes others suspicious of him. That tension within his own group added more weight than any external conflict.

[Elowen Tate · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cambridge section with Nigel Hargreave felt surprisingly vivid. The party scene with the cucumber sandwiches, the awkward conversations, and his internal irritation about being there made it feel grounded. It didn’t feel like filler at all, it showed the contrast between normal life and what’s quietly building underneath.

[Ruby P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Abwehr training details really stood out to me. The instructions about never giving a direct address, getting out of taxis early, checking reflections in windows, and limiting Morse code transmissions to just a few minutes were very specific. It didn’t feel like guesswork, it felt like something researched and carefully placed.

[Ethelbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

What caught my attention early was how physical the writing feels. In the opening escape, when Schneider is forcing the pliers through the chain link and his fingers are digging into the metal, you can almost feel the strain. The sound of the dogs getting closer while he keeps working without panic shows how disciplined he is under pressure.

[Alice Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I found interesting is how you introduced Schneider in a social setting before fully revealing him. That Cambridge gathering with Nigel felt almost uncomfortable in a subtle way. The food, the music, the polite conversations all felt normal, but when Schneider enters, the tone shifts slightly. It made me pay closer attention to him because he stands out without trying to.

[Anita Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Abwehr training section really stood out to me because of how specific it was. The instructions about not going directly to a destination, checking reflections in windows, and limiting Morse transmissions made it feel grounded in reality. It didn’t feel like something added for effect, it felt like part of a real system.

[Jane Brind · Rating 5 out of 5]

What stood out to me was how much of the tension comes from what Schneider doesn’t say. In several scenes, especially early on, he’s surrounded by people but never fully present with them. Even when he’s part of a conversation, it feels like he’s slightly removed, observing more than participating. That distance builds slowly and makes you question what he’s really thinking at any moment.

[Jack Hassard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found myself paying attention to how movement is handled in the book. Whether it’s getting out of a taxi early, choosing where to walk, or even how Schneider positions himself in a room, nothing feels random. Every movement seems deliberate, which reinforces the idea that he’s always operating under rules that others don’t see.

[Elin Fransson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked how the dialogue feels natural and not overworked. Conversations at the gathering, especially around food, small talk, and subtle tension between characters, felt authentic. It doesn’t try too hard to impress, which actually makes it more believable and immersive.

[Cassian Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked how Schneider’s interaction at the party was written. When he walks in confidently, recognizes Nigel, and grips his hand while holding the bottle in the other, there’s something slightly unsettling about it. It’s subtle, but you can already sense he’s more than what he appears to be.

[Alaric Whitmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fiona section added another layer I didn’t expect. Her thoughts about relationships, her frustration with expectations, and even the way she talks about past experiences felt very personal. It made the story feel broader than just war and espionage.

[Renji Kato · Rating 5 out of 5]

The invisible ink explanation using a toothpick and cotton wool, then revealing it with heat, was a small detail but very effective. It’s one of those things that makes you pause and realize how much of this world operates quietly and unseen.

[Juniper Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The relationship between Schneider and Gudrun felt intentionally distant. The line where he describes them as two trains traveling on parallel tracks really captures it. They are connected but never truly meeting, and that emotional gap adds to the overall tone of isolation.

[Amy B. Greenblatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the cultural tension interesting, especially when Schneider reflects on living in America but still feeling tied to Germany. The contrast between comfort in the present and loyalty to the past is handled in a very calm but effective way.

[Marlowe Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way Gudrun is written also stood out. Her drinking, her attempt to adapt, and the way she tries to convince herself she’s fine all point to something deeper going on beneath the surface. It doesn’t feel over-explained, but you can sense the weight she’s carrying.