Red Rain

by Tim Wendel

As the B-29 bombers began to pound Tokyo and most of the other major Japanese cities to rubble, the Japanese military became desperate to find a way to once again instill fear in its enemies. Out of such efforts was born the greatest secret of WWII the fire balloon. One woman, Yoshi, camouflaging her identity, is sent to uncover these delicate but deadly creations.
Assembled from paper by schoolchildren and women in the waning years of the war, the Japanese fire balloons were launched from fields near Tokyo and Kyoto. They often reached the U.S. mainland in just three days and two nights. Armed with incendiary bombs, the balloons original goal was to ignite forest fires throughout the western states, which they did at an alarming rate. Wendel s research at the National Archives and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., reveals that the balloons touched down in the U.S. more than 300 times from 1944 to 1945.
The balloons proved to be a better weapon than the Imperial Army ever knew. One sailed as far east as Michigan. At one point, the Japanese high command considered replacing the incendiary bombs with nerve and gas warfare. But it never came to that largely because of the U.S. military s ability to keep a secret.

270 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

About the author

Tim Wendel is an award-winning novelist and journalist. He is the author of 16 books, including Rebel Falls: A Novel, Summer of '68: The Season When Baseball, and America, Changed Forever, and Castro's Curveball. His stories have appeared in Gargoyle and The Potomac Review, and his articles in The New York Times, Esquire, GQ, Washingtonian and USA Today. A longtime writer-in-residence at Johns Hopkins University, Tim teaches fiction and nonfiction writing. Tim has worked has worked on both coasts, covering everything from the Olympics to the America's Cup. More information and his blog can be found at www.timwendel.com."

Reviews

[E.J. Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

A passionate tale of military espionage, loyalty, and love.

Red Rain delves into the secrets of the fire balloons deployed by Japan towards the end of WWII, the news blackout that blanketed these events in secrecy, and the reality of internment camps where Japanese Americans were forced to live like criminals behind barbed wire. Red Rain is an intriguing, suspenseful read filled with engaging characters. Against the backdrop of war torn Japan, the US internment camps, and tinder-dry US countryside Tim Wendel weaves an intricate story of one woman, motivated by the love of her family, willing to go behind enemy lines to discover the secrets that may help her country win the war. But in the end, who is family, where is home, and who should she remain loyal to? A wonderful new work of historical fiction.


I would recommend Red Rain to readers who enjoy historical fiction, romance, and suspense thrillers. Due to some of the adult content I would not recommend this book to young readers.

** This review posted on my blog: www.FromTheShadows.info **

Tomorrow I will be hosting an international giveaway for Red Rain and interview with author Tim Wendel. Giveaway ends July 10th.

[Mystee · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review, along with an interview and giveaway is available here: http://amomentwithmystee.blogspot.com...

[Beth Slucher · Rating 4 out of 5]

who knew the Japanese had paper balloons with incendiary devices that floated to the US on the jetstream?