A Thousand Suns

by Alex Scarrow

On 29 April 1945 the Allies secretly surrendered unconditionally to Nazi Germany. Four hours later, that surrender was withdrawn. The world never knew - until now...

It is early April of 1945. The Nazi regime is being slowly throttled by the oncoming Russian and Allied armies and Hitler rages uselessly in his Berlin bunker. But the high command have one more throw of the dice to make...

An audacious plan is hatched to save the Fatherland and beat off the approaching apocalypse. All it will take is a hodge-podge squadron of escort fighters, a captured US bomber and one suicidally brave pilot to fly it over the Atlantic into the beating heart of America.

Half a century later, a rusting plane is discovered, sunk with its crew, off the coast of New York - a relic from a bygone age. Chris Roland, a brilliant young photographer, is sent to take photos of this time capsule. But it is only when he discovers the fragments of Nazi uniforms on the decaying corpses that he realises he has come across a secret so terrible that even fifty years later it could still kill him...

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Historical Fiction, Historical, War, Adventure, Mystery

496 pages, Paperback

First published May 3, 2006

About the author

I live a nomadic existence with my wife Frances, and son Jacob. For now we're living in Norwich. I spent the first 10 years out of college in the music business chasing record deals and the next 12 years in the computer games business as a graphic artist and eventually a games designer. For those of you who like their computer games, here's some of the titles I've worked on:
Waterworld, Evolva, The Thing, Spartan, Gates of Troy, Legion Arena
Since signing up as an author with Orion, I seem to spend most of my time hunched over my laptop in various cafes and coffee bars sipping lattes, tapping keys and watching the ebb and flow of shoppers outside on the street. As I write this, I'm awaiting the launch of my next book - the sequel to , LAST LIGHT, and getting ready to find a publisher for the first book in a separate series, ELLIE QUIN. Ahead of me, lies research work for my next thriller, and also some screenplays I'm looking forward to writing. Although I'm glad to be where I am now, I do occasionally kick myself for not having succumbed to the writing bug much earlier. But then we all just muddle along through life, don't we? There's rarely a plan.
-Source: http://www.scarrow.co.uk/page9.html

Reviews

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written and crafted book, the first for me by the author, this book was fast paced for so many pages and there were not many dull moments. He covers a lot of angles in this book and we are introduced to many characters throughout the book, but that being said, though the characters are good, they are not well developed and one yearns for more about them. The story line is great and the author almost makes you believe that these events were possible. In the end the twist really got me, but I was personally a little bit disappointed by the eventual ending. Still a good story and recommended for a quick page turner.

[Robin Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Thousand Suns: Alex Scarrow
This book is a fantastic debut Novel for Alex, I myself am a fan of many genre, and in the world of War time exploits one of My favourite authors is Jack Higgins, some one I consider the master of this genre. I would put this book up there with his best, against the likes of Cold Harbour and The Eagle Has landed.
The Story Is a great testament to the courage or the men who fought in those times, alot of people forget or don't know that the Germans had many Brave men who were not Nazis and hated the Nazi ideal, but at the same time were committed to Germany and her people. They fought under the same appalling conditions with a great deal of courage and conviction...there are 2 side to every tale and this Story Shows the courage of the men from both sides and the hard decisions they might have had to make.
The story has a nice pace to the action, flitting between past and present without confusing the reader, and embroils you in web of secrecy that might have surrounded such an event if it had truly happened with its excellent easy to like characters.
Its a shame that this book is clearly a 1 off as I would really have like to meet some of these characters again.
Keep up the good work Alex, and I hope you write another wartime novel soon as you have a great flair for it.
(Parm)

[Hayley · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of this book is interesting – in the dying days of World War II, Hitler authorises a desperate mission to turn the tide of the war by dropping an atom bomb on Manhattan. By demonstrating the Germans' might at this last minute, the US would have no choice but to surrender and join them in turning back the Russians, who are rapidly advancing on Berlin.

We see the ill-fated mission unfold from a number of different, and mostly German, perspectives. In fact, in this long-winded and padded novel, there are probably a few too many perspectives, as I occasionally had trouble keeping track of who was who.

But the thing that really killed it for me was the structure. Not content to simply have an interesting story with remarkably complex and likeable German characters, Scarrow felt the need to intertwine a bit of a hokey present day mystery, as a British photo-journalist living in the US stumbles onto the doomed plane, now resting at the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean. The problem is that by doing so, he’s completely sucked the suspense out the story, as its clear the mission failed.

Add in a covert government department tasked with covering up the entire event at any cost, and it’s all a bit much, really. I kind of just wanted Scarrow to pick one aspect of the story and go with it – he’d have been on to a winner, I reckon.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another one of those Tesco bargains and another surprisingly good little book.

Historical military fiction again... also with the possibility of alternate historical outcomes too. This book is not complex, yet has sufficient in it to satisfy thriller fans as well as military fiction fans.

[Tufty McTavish · Rating 4 out of 5]

An alt.history WW2 story that I quite enjoyed a smidge more than an average 3 stars I reckon. Straightforward enough, it's a little like the "5 hours earlier" plot device in movies and television shows; you know where things end up but not exactly how. And that forms the meat of the story as a few characters push this onward.

Not brilliant, not essential, a little different from my norm, but pulpy and enjoyable enough. 4 stars seems generous, so call it 3.5/5.

[David Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sub Clive Cussler fodder. Not his best. Annoying little things like Germans talking about distance in miles and .303 mm bullets. Oh dear. The sort of book you picked up in a hurry at the airport - and regretted it before getting out of the departure lounge. The worlds most predictable plot, given away by the end of the first chapter...

[Sg Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real fast paced thriller in the style of Dan Brown, set during the final days of WW2. A great read, not too heavy, violent or deep.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not certain where I picked this book up now, but it's been sitting on my bookshelf for a while, waiting to be read. I have to admit that it's a book I'd be unlikely to pick up now because of its veritable dearth of female characters. Other than 2 historical ones, there is exactly 1 named female character who has less than a chapter's worth of a role, and 3 other women who are mentioned (1 named, 2 unnamed) and 2 of those are just there to be victims.

While I understand that a lot of the characters had to be male given a large portion of the book is set during WWII and the roles involved were only done by men, there was absolutely no reason why the modern day photojournalist couldn't have been female. Or the diving instructor. Or the captain of the boat they hired. So, yes, it's a book I'd not buy anymore now as there are tons of excellent books out there that don't spend 500 pages ignoring the existence of women.

As for the tale itself, it was interesting and had a few twists I didn't see coming. It did, however, suffer from the same issue a lot of these books that have stories set both during the war and the present: predictability of ending. I mean, if the Nazis have an evil plot to win the war, you already know that it fails. Rather than attempting to make up for that, Alex made it worse by telling us what happened to the crew of the Medusa early on. This added another level of predictability to the whole tale and bled the suspense out of some of the fight scenes as you knew the main outcome.

The basic premise was okay, but I felt the middle and end of the book was too weighted towards the past. While Max's storyline and that of his crew was interesting, the bits in the present were all finished and tied up far too quickly and neatly. It just felt rushed and as if it was a pesky detail the author couldn't be bothered to deal with.

Also, the first part of the tagline on the cover gave away a major element of the plot that only comes up around page 400, while the second part is flat-out wrong, given the ending of the book. So misleading to false advertising.

Therefore, entertaining and interesting, but not a book I will be keeping or recommending to anyone. Nor would I pick up another book by this author without a pretty glowing recommendation by a friend.

[Leighton · Rating 3 out of 5]

1 star - binned it before half way, please don't write anymore!!!
2 stars - finally binned it after really trying, I mean really trying and I hate to not finishing someth....
3 stars - finished it but boy was that hard work on times, it just about hooked me back in as I was about to dump it
4 stars - great book but it lacked something, something, can't put my finger on it but.... something
5 stars - want more, more books, more movies about the books, more movies about the authors and the making of the movie, just more!!!(less)

[FetterKlovn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dont really know why this book got me. OK, it is thrash, and the fiction is a little far off to be believed, and the current-time part of the book didnt catch in (hence only 4 stars) but the WWII part of the story, especially the look-and-feel for the time, and those characters, they really got me. Oftentimes I dont value a book for the contents but for the aftertaste, like good or cheap wine - this book, despite all its flaws, left me off with a very satisfied aftertaste.

I have read a lot worse books and maybe, in 20 years time, I will read it again.

[Naomi Styles · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got halfway through the book and realised that I didn't actually need to read any more. The ending was clear because it's one of those books that is set in two dates, so I knew what was going to happen. A quick flick to the end and I realised that I was right; nothing unexpected did happen; so i saved myself a few hours then. It's a fun setting, and has some research which did like. But dramatic irony does nothing for me; so that was that really.

[Simon Fenwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting premise ruined by the fact that the final result is known by the end of the first chapter. If you're going to write a 'what if' novel then you will probably know that real life produced a different result but there might be a good 'what if' story to it. All well and good if the plot isn't given away in the first few pages. Also, it's at least 100 pages too long for the story.

[SmarkDent · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like Alex Scarrow, but this is possibly not one of his best. It falls somewhere between spy thriller and WWII epic, but achieves neither particularly well. The absolute spoiler on the front cover of the book doesn't help either! Still it's a enjoyable tale, but tragically ironic in light of later events.

[Jane Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well crafted and convincing story. There's a clever interchange between past and present and tension builds making it an intriguing read. The characters are believable and you can't help but identify with them and care what happens. A very clever "What if?" scenario.

[Paul Holden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lot better than I thought it would be. Meticulously researched and plausible true, I was initially thrown by the almost permanent shift to the past, but I soon calmed down when I realised that was were the majority of the story was. Highly recommended.

[Michael Lasco · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been a great book. It wasn’t. Very sad too. All it would have taken was the publisher helping the author make better storytelling decisions (and polishing the writing along the way).

[Louwrens Wiese · Rating 3 out of 5]

The reason I was drawn to this book is probably that I've just finished Christopher Priests's mind boggling 'The Separation' which is an alternative history of the Second World War and after. Like this one, except that this book is less weird. It is also perhaps slightly less well researched, but then not everyone keeps Wikipedia handy while they're reading, like I do. Most of the action is fairly well described, but not entirely convincing. The modern day hero is a professional photographer and newshound, and works for a magazine similar to 'National Geo...' but I'm not sure that I would let him loose in my darkroom, or lend him my Nikon. He might just drop it, like he does in the book.

I think Alex Scarrow had a lot of fun writing this book, and many people will enjoy reading it. But for me it's just a tiny tad lightweight. I almost got halfway, and I might peek and see if anything unexpected happens. That's about it.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

They put the major plot twist in the tagline. WTF cover designers?

I read it because I didn't know that would be the final twist. I figure there were be more to uncover but, nope, that's it. I also wasn't sure where this would go: if it would launch into apocalyptic or science fiction scenarios or just stick with technical thriller. It seemed to touch on the former but was more of the latter.

Other than that, a good examination of the politics and military strategies in WWII (as far as I know, as I wasn't personally there.). In depth descriptions and suppositions. Not the fastest read unless this is your usual genre: even then it's not as breezy as Clive Cussler.

[Robert Ronsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for a lighter read preferably with a bit of WW2 history and turned to this debut by an author I hadn't heard of based on the back cover blurb about Hitler's 'last throw of the dice'. It's a preposterous premise that, despite some naff writing, the author makes just about plausible. The tension builds well in both time periods and kept me turning the pages. At one stage I was irrationally hoping that the madcap Nazi plan to win the war at the eleventh hour would come off such was the characterisation of the Luftwaffe protagonists. A nicely delivered twist at the end made for a satisfactory and undemanding read. Exactly what I wanted.

[Iona · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an exciting read that kept going right to the very end. It kept jumping from the present day to the past to tell the story but spent more time in the past. Maybe just a little too long. Some of the fine detail could have been cut without harming the overall story. Enjoyable but not worthy of a second read!

I think Alex Scarrow is an author who writes good stories. I have enjoyed other stories written by him.

[Vidar · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ending is just *too* implausible, totally destroying the narrative.

Nazi Germany developing nuclear weapons? Sure.
Delivering them to NYC in a stolen B17? Yes... sure?
Americans hiding the fact? Sure.
Americans killing civillians who merely saw the plane? Nope, no fucking way.

[CadyCan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third kindle book on NZ trip. Didn’t think I would necessarily enjoy this book but I do enjoy historical fictions so there was half a chance. I was just worried it would be more violent than it was. Plenty of senseless killing but in the madness of the war started by Hitler it’s just the way it was and isn’t embellished to be more gruesome which was a relief. I particularly appreciated the many views the various characters had on the war, on all sides. I do struggle with books that bounce between the past and the present as I usually get lost. Not so this time, maybe having more time to read while away meant I could follow things better or perhaps it was the excellent separation between the two time lines. Not sure. The end seemed a bit rushed and all too convenient but the story overall was thought provoking and sensitively told. And of course we’ll never know if it’s really just a fiction…

[Jarek Finkielman · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant story

A brilliant story that really goes into details about the last days of the Second World War and then alternate version of what could’ve happened. I enjoyed the characterisation and the story moved fast paced and kept me interested at all times.

[Tore Knudsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good alternative fiction, It might have happen but we will never know.

[Puddle Jumper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gripped by this despite knowing what happens to some of the characters.

[Paschalis]

elibrary

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Improbable but entertaining account of Nazi attempt to nuke New York and end the Second World War in Hitler's favor.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent story, unique premise. Ending a touch disappointing

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like thousand suns. As such, in my view, shines this war novel from Alex Scarrow. The book has two story-lines; first from the end of the war in 1945, which tells the story of the bomber's crew; the second from the present, where a journalist with his friend a diving instructor head off to explore the found wreck. Some might be put off for from the very beginning it's clear how the crew ends. However, it's not so. Within a while the book will devour you and won't go until the end.

As was said the story is highly addictive. Even thou it's clear how the crew ends, it doesn't mean that there is no surprise for you between the beginning and end. And of course there is the story of our journalist. What else is important here is that the jumps between the past and present do not confuse the reader. Everything is given so that sooner or later we get the answer to everything.

Another important is the characters. There're quite a few here, but it's impossible to get lost in them. What else deserves praise is how they have been drawn out. Especially the main characters so you think you know them personally. And I must say I quite pitied the crew. The right will to fight for their country a people, however, not exactly with the right means. And of course there is still the other side from the present, which for 60 years has been trying to maintain the secret a secret, but again with not the best means. Everyone will find here someone whom he'll like or hate.

Also what I liked is that even thou the books should be a thriller, it's not exaggerated, over-combined and mainly because it won't full of senseless action, since there wasn't so much of some conspiracy. The story mainly concentrates on the fate of the bomber's crew, which can be a bit misleading. One might await a story about a new-age hero, who uncovered a shocking secret, thanks to whit his life is in jeopardy, but he refuses to give up and fights so the truth sees the light of day. It really isn't so and it's so much better so. I was just a little bit sad when I finished it. :-)

Anyway, this book's really something to recommend. And I think that this book can surprise you nicely, even thou you're not a big fan of war. I’ve to prise the author and I surely will try some of his other books.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

blijedi pokusaj da se kopira den braun, ni izbliza dramticno,dosadno,jedino je kraj donekle ok...