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Kaspar Brothers #1
The Losing Role
A German actor conscripted into WWII will play the role of his life as he makes a daring escape in this espionage thriller inspired by true events.
When the SS orders banned entertainer Max Kaspar to impersonate a US officer during the Battle of the Bulge, Max devises his own secret mission to escape the war and flee to America. With his career in Germany over, this plan is his big break--and his last chance.
But Max's mission is doomed from the start. Trapped between the lines in the freezing Ardennes Forest, he must summon all of his acting talents and newfound courage to evade perilous traps laid by both sides. Inspired by a real-life 1944 operation, this gripping wartime thriller is the first book in the Kaspar Brothers series.
When the SS orders banned entertainer Max Kaspar to impersonate a US officer during the Battle of the Bulge, Max devises his own secret mission to escape the war and flee to America. With his career in Germany over, this plan is his big break--and his last chance.
But Max's mission is doomed from the start. Trapped between the lines in the freezing Ardennes Forest, he must summon all of his acting talents and newfound courage to evade perilous traps laid by both sides. Inspired by a real-life 1944 operation, this gripping wartime thriller is the first book in the Kaspar Brothers series.
249 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 19, 2010
133 people are currently reading
2227 people want to read
About the author
Steve Anderson
15 books267 followersSteve Anderson writes the Kaspar Brothers historical thrillers and other novels. His latest novels are Show Game and Lines of Deception. Anderson was a Fulbright Fellow and has translated bestselling German fiction. He lives in Portland, Oregon.
More about Steve Anderson:
Years ago, Steve Anderson planned to become a history professor. He even landed a Fulbright Fellowship in Munich. Then he discovered fiction writing — he could make stuff up, he realized, using actual events and characters to serve the story. Now he writes novels that often introduce a little-known aspect of history, mixing in overlooked crimes, true accounts, and gutsy underdogs.
Steve has also written narrative nonfiction, short stories, and screenplays. His day jobs have included busy waiter, Associated Press rookie, language instructor, and copywriter. As a freelancer, he translates bestselling German fiction and edits novels.
He lives in his hometown of Portland, Oregon with his wife René. He’s loved and played soccer since he was a kid and still follows Portland Timbers FC.
More about Steve Anderson:
Years ago, Steve Anderson planned to become a history professor. He even landed a Fulbright Fellowship in Munich. Then he discovered fiction writing — he could make stuff up, he realized, using actual events and characters to serve the story. Now he writes novels that often introduce a little-known aspect of history, mixing in overlooked crimes, true accounts, and gutsy underdogs.
Steve has also written narrative nonfiction, short stories, and screenplays. His day jobs have included busy waiter, Associated Press rookie, language instructor, and copywriter. As a freelancer, he translates bestselling German fiction and edits novels.
He lives in his hometown of Portland, Oregon with his wife René. He’s loved and played soccer since he was a kid and still follows Portland Timbers FC.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
February 25, 2011
World War II and the German false flag operation are historical facts, but Anderson takes poetic license with the details, introducing us to an imaginary German soldier known as Max Kaspar. His geniality and optimism seem out of place in the middle of a battlefield, and yet the author depicts him with just enough hardness to make his persona believable. When an impossible mission is set before him, it is easy to wish for his personal success and to cheer him on anxiously, even with an ever-present awareness of how the war finally ends.
The characters in this novel are well-drawn. While some personalities may touch upon stereotypes, the author adds enough minor detail and emotional range to make his creations human and accessible. Flashbacks into Max's past help the reader to understand his present mindset, and subtle nuances in the dialogue reveal more about motives and suspicions than the conversations appear to discuss. The author's attention to speech and word choice creates consistency and clearly distinguishes each character from the next. Even as Max slowly loses himself in his role, the reader never loses his handle on Max.
More often than not, The Losing Role plays fast and loose with the basic rules of grammar — and it works. The sentences, much like Max's thoughts, alternate between well-structured and half-formed, complex and simple. Sections of stream-of-consciousness writing allow us to access the protagonist's mind, while more formally written passages convince us that the author is in full command of his pen. The sprinkling of German adds authenticity, and the combination of Anderson's writing style and well-chosen descriptions gives us the sense that we are actually present in POW camps, icy woods, or an old, abandoned theater.
As an espionage thriller, The Losing Role succeeds in capturing and maintaining a reader's attention; the constant, underlying tension practically demands it. The pacing is outstanding, as are the explanations of "tells" that give the German spies away. War novels are not usually my genre of choice. Even so, Anderson's book renders that preference wholly irrelevant through wit, charm, and a well-crafted plot. I look forward to the next installment in this innovative series.
The characters in this novel are well-drawn. While some personalities may touch upon stereotypes, the author adds enough minor detail and emotional range to make his creations human and accessible. Flashbacks into Max's past help the reader to understand his present mindset, and subtle nuances in the dialogue reveal more about motives and suspicions than the conversations appear to discuss. The author's attention to speech and word choice creates consistency and clearly distinguishes each character from the next. Even as Max slowly loses himself in his role, the reader never loses his handle on Max.
More often than not, The Losing Role plays fast and loose with the basic rules of grammar — and it works. The sentences, much like Max's thoughts, alternate between well-structured and half-formed, complex and simple. Sections of stream-of-consciousness writing allow us to access the protagonist's mind, while more formally written passages convince us that the author is in full command of his pen. The sprinkling of German adds authenticity, and the combination of Anderson's writing style and well-chosen descriptions gives us the sense that we are actually present in POW camps, icy woods, or an old, abandoned theater.
As an espionage thriller, The Losing Role succeeds in capturing and maintaining a reader's attention; the constant, underlying tension practically demands it. The pacing is outstanding, as are the explanations of "tells" that give the German spies away. War novels are not usually my genre of choice. Even so, Anderson's book renders that preference wholly irrelevant through wit, charm, and a well-crafted plot. I look forward to the next installment in this innovative series.
May 28, 2011
Full of vibrant, engaging characters and with an original plot that sidesteps the overplayed tropes of many World War II novels, "The Losing Role" is highly readable and very enjoyable as a light espionage novel where theatrical performance can almost always fool someone. Anderson's is a book that elevates the promise of self-published novels, and is certainly of high enough quality to stand on its own, surpassing many titles that have found larger audiences and even a few film adaptations. Recommended for a entertaining read, and as the start of what should be an excellent series. I'm glad I took a chance on Anderson's work -- it was well worth it.
May 28, 2020
Late in 1944, the German Army pressed westward along the western front in a desperate attempt to break the Allied advance. The offensive would later come to be known as the Battle of the Bulge. While plenty of novels and movies have portrayed the American side of the struggle in Belgium's Ardennes forest that winter, Steve Anderson's The Losing Role examines the story of a German soldier caught up in a cause he knows is lost.
Max Kaspar is an out-of-work actor drafted into the German Army to fight a war he doesn't have the stomach for. A former emigrant to America, Max's English speaking skills, not to mention his acting ability, lands him a part in Operation Greif, the brainchild of SS Colonel Otto Skorzeny. The plan is for English-speaking soldiers to sneak behind American lines and wreak as much havoc as possible to better the odds of Panzer divisions breaking through American lines. Max, however, has plans of his own.
Max has seen enough of the horrors of war to know that Germany is fooling itself if it can think it can win. The Russians are fueled by revenge on the Eastern Front and the Americans, well, there's no end to the resources at their disposal. It's Max's hope to use the cover of the operation to desert the Army and find passage back to America, where he can rejoin his family and renew his career. But any soldier can tell you that nothing ever goes as planned in war.
Anderson doesn't offer much hope for Max. It seems as if everyone has an ulterior motive and Max isn't sure who to trust, or for how long. Each encounter he faces could be the one where he gets caught or killed. Anderson deftly elevates the tension when Max stumbles over words, phrases or elements of American culture that any American would know. The story is told entirely from Max’s point of view but Anderson skillfully hints to the reader what other characters are up to through well placed conversational and body language clues that Max doesn’t always pick up on.
While it would be easy to root against Max simply because he’s a German soldier (our enemy at the time), Anderson sculpts Max as a likable guy, a victim of circumstance rather than a hero for Deutschland. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn of Max's struggle to fit in as an immigrant actor in America, forced to play German stereotypes. Disgruntled, he returns to a rejuvenated Germany where he finds success and love, at least until the bombs start to fall.
I would’ve liked to have seen more interaction with Max and his pre-war girlfriends on both sides of the Atlantic. While we got a good start with Lucy, Liselotte comes across as an ideal placed on a pedestal. We never really get to know her.
It's always refreshing to see a portrayal of a German soldier as something other than a mindless stormtrooper perpetuating Hitler's bloodlust for world domination. Max isn't a Nazi and he has no stomach for war. He's an actor who just wants to entertain his audience, but he's smart enough to know that those that speak out against the war effort disappear.
The setting is thoroughly researched, but Anderson uses it to bolster the credibility of the story rather than rehashing historical trivia. His masterful use of dialogue builds suspense every step of the way. The Losing Role is an excellent WW II espionage thriller that transcends the genre, making it a story that you don't have to be a history buff to enjoy.
Max Kaspar is an out-of-work actor drafted into the German Army to fight a war he doesn't have the stomach for. A former emigrant to America, Max's English speaking skills, not to mention his acting ability, lands him a part in Operation Greif, the brainchild of SS Colonel Otto Skorzeny. The plan is for English-speaking soldiers to sneak behind American lines and wreak as much havoc as possible to better the odds of Panzer divisions breaking through American lines. Max, however, has plans of his own.
Max has seen enough of the horrors of war to know that Germany is fooling itself if it can think it can win. The Russians are fueled by revenge on the Eastern Front and the Americans, well, there's no end to the resources at their disposal. It's Max's hope to use the cover of the operation to desert the Army and find passage back to America, where he can rejoin his family and renew his career. But any soldier can tell you that nothing ever goes as planned in war.
Anderson doesn't offer much hope for Max. It seems as if everyone has an ulterior motive and Max isn't sure who to trust, or for how long. Each encounter he faces could be the one where he gets caught or killed. Anderson deftly elevates the tension when Max stumbles over words, phrases or elements of American culture that any American would know. The story is told entirely from Max’s point of view but Anderson skillfully hints to the reader what other characters are up to through well placed conversational and body language clues that Max doesn’t always pick up on.
While it would be easy to root against Max simply because he’s a German soldier (our enemy at the time), Anderson sculpts Max as a likable guy, a victim of circumstance rather than a hero for Deutschland. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn of Max's struggle to fit in as an immigrant actor in America, forced to play German stereotypes. Disgruntled, he returns to a rejuvenated Germany where he finds success and love, at least until the bombs start to fall.
I would’ve liked to have seen more interaction with Max and his pre-war girlfriends on both sides of the Atlantic. While we got a good start with Lucy, Liselotte comes across as an ideal placed on a pedestal. We never really get to know her.
It's always refreshing to see a portrayal of a German soldier as something other than a mindless stormtrooper perpetuating Hitler's bloodlust for world domination. Max isn't a Nazi and he has no stomach for war. He's an actor who just wants to entertain his audience, but he's smart enough to know that those that speak out against the war effort disappear.
The setting is thoroughly researched, but Anderson uses it to bolster the credibility of the story rather than rehashing historical trivia. His masterful use of dialogue builds suspense every step of the way. The Losing Role is an excellent WW II espionage thriller that transcends the genre, making it a story that you don't have to be a history buff to enjoy.
January 1, 2011
This was a good historical fiction novel set in WW2 told from a German perspective about a real blackflag (i.e., counter-intelligence) operation.
I liked how the author takes you into the mind of Max Kaspar, who is an anti-hero. He struggles with his feelings for Germany and for America, since we find out he lived in both countries.
There is some foul language as the German soldiers attempt to impersonate the cussing that was common to American soldiers. There was also a non-graphic reference to homosexual and heterosexual relationships, but thankfully they were in passing, and not a central element of the story.
I liked how the author takes you into the mind of Max Kaspar, who is an anti-hero. He struggles with his feelings for Germany and for America, since we find out he lived in both countries.
There is some foul language as the German soldiers attempt to impersonate the cussing that was common to American soldiers. There was also a non-graphic reference to homosexual and heterosexual relationships, but thankfully they were in passing, and not a central element of the story.
January 2, 2011
“The Losing Role” by Steve Anderson is a historical fiction book which takes place during World War II. The story follows a failed German actor who is drafted to infiltrate American lines posing as an American officer.
Max Kaspar, a.k.a. failed German-American actor Maximilian von Kaspar, is fighting on the Eastern front when he is drafted by the SS for an unknown mission. Soon Max discovers that he has been recruited to impersonate American officers and cause havoc behind enemy lines.
Realizing the absurdity of the plan, Max devises his own plan which ultimately, he hopes, will bring him back to America and to his true love, the theater.
I'm a sucker for espionage thrillers especially if they take place in WWII.
“The Losing Role” is an interesting book with a refreshing twist, it is told from the view point of a German solider – and a likable one at that. Max has been disillusioned by the promises of America, he has been grinded by the rough life of an immigrant and an actor and has decided to go back and protect the Fatherland.
As an immigrant I can certainly understand Max’s disappointment. Many immigrants come to America with a promise of “streets lined with gold” only to realize that the only thing guaranteed is hard work and that there is no such thing as “easy money”.
No matter what everyone else say.
Mr. Anderson made Max an affable character, an actor wearing a uniform due to his naïveté. We meet Max on the brutal Eastern front, fighting the Russians, but learn about his life in America through flashbacks.
This is a well researched and fascinating book. Mr. Anderson’s description of Operation Greif (Germans posing as Americans) comes across very vividly as a part of the last attempt for the Germans to turn over the war, even though it seems that the men in the field realize that it is in vain. However the confusion that Operation Greif caused among the Americans is well documented and Mr. Anderson does a wonderful job bringing that to life.
Some historical characters, such as the colorful German Lt. Colonel Otto Skorzeny, make a cameo which is always a pleasure. Skorzeny was the leader of Operation Greif and lived to see the end of the war (and then some), he was a formidable commando.
For more book reviews please visit http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
Max Kaspar, a.k.a. failed German-American actor Maximilian von Kaspar, is fighting on the Eastern front when he is drafted by the SS for an unknown mission. Soon Max discovers that he has been recruited to impersonate American officers and cause havoc behind enemy lines.
Realizing the absurdity of the plan, Max devises his own plan which ultimately, he hopes, will bring him back to America and to his true love, the theater.
I'm a sucker for espionage thrillers especially if they take place in WWII.
“The Losing Role” is an interesting book with a refreshing twist, it is told from the view point of a German solider – and a likable one at that. Max has been disillusioned by the promises of America, he has been grinded by the rough life of an immigrant and an actor and has decided to go back and protect the Fatherland.
As an immigrant I can certainly understand Max’s disappointment. Many immigrants come to America with a promise of “streets lined with gold” only to realize that the only thing guaranteed is hard work and that there is no such thing as “easy money”.
No matter what everyone else say.
Mr. Anderson made Max an affable character, an actor wearing a uniform due to his naïveté. We meet Max on the brutal Eastern front, fighting the Russians, but learn about his life in America through flashbacks.
This is a well researched and fascinating book. Mr. Anderson’s description of Operation Greif (Germans posing as Americans) comes across very vividly as a part of the last attempt for the Germans to turn over the war, even though it seems that the men in the field realize that it is in vain. However the confusion that Operation Greif caused among the Americans is well documented and Mr. Anderson does a wonderful job bringing that to life.
Some historical characters, such as the colorful German Lt. Colonel Otto Skorzeny, make a cameo which is always a pleasure. Skorzeny was the leader of Operation Greif and lived to see the end of the war (and then some), he was a formidable commando.
For more book reviews please visit http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
January 2, 2011
It's winter 1944 and Max Kaspar is pulled from the Eastern Front for a role in a secret mission. Before the war Max was an actor and having lived and worked in New York, and as an English speaker, he is considered ideal for the task at hand. The role - masquerading as an enemy US officer, his aim - to use the opportunity to escape the war and return to the States. Having been trained and put into a team Max finds himself caught up in the Battle of the Bulge, and his plan goes far from smoothly.
This book is based on the true story of German false flag operations but the characters are largely fictional. I'm not very knowledgeable about WWII and what happened where and when but from the authors note at the end of the book and what I do know it seems very rooted in fact.
I thought this book was amazing, the author's descriptions are so evocative I could almost feel the chill in the air and really imagine the discomfort the soldiers were enduring. I haven't read many war books, but particularly few written from a German perspective. In the end it didn't really matter as one of the things that comes strongly across is that it doesn't matter which side you are fighting for, the soldiers are people and the casualties are all human.
I'd hate to include any spoilers so had best not say too much more, other than that I will now be hunting down other work by the author, it was a fantastic, well written read and I'll be highly recommending it to family and friends.
This book is based on the true story of German false flag operations but the characters are largely fictional. I'm not very knowledgeable about WWII and what happened where and when but from the authors note at the end of the book and what I do know it seems very rooted in fact.
I thought this book was amazing, the author's descriptions are so evocative I could almost feel the chill in the air and really imagine the discomfort the soldiers were enduring. I haven't read many war books, but particularly few written from a German perspective. In the end it didn't really matter as one of the things that comes strongly across is that it doesn't matter which side you are fighting for, the soldiers are people and the casualties are all human.
I'd hate to include any spoilers so had best not say too much more, other than that I will now be hunting down other work by the author, it was a fantastic, well written read and I'll be highly recommending it to family and friends.
February 3, 2011
I was looking for a historical novel on Smashwords and took a chance on The Losing Role. I didn't expect much. Many of the self-published novels on Smashwords are barely readable. But after reading the sample of The Losing Role, I was hooked. I found that I really cared what happened to Max, the main character.
Max is German, spent some time in the U.S., returned to Germany just before WWII. He's an actor, not terribly political. He just wants to act. When the war starts, his roles dry up. He's drafted and sent to the Russian front. His only way out of miserable (and futile) duty in the infantry is a dangerous mission that involves disguising himself as an American soldier and sneaking behind enemy lines to do intelligence work. He decides to use the opportunity to try try to find his way back to the U.S. Max is a likable "every man." He uses the one skill he's confident of, his acting ability, to try to regain control of a life that's gone way out of control.
The book is not fine literature, but it's a good read.
Max is German, spent some time in the U.S., returned to Germany just before WWII. He's an actor, not terribly political. He just wants to act. When the war starts, his roles dry up. He's drafted and sent to the Russian front. His only way out of miserable (and futile) duty in the infantry is a dangerous mission that involves disguising himself as an American soldier and sneaking behind enemy lines to do intelligence work. He decides to use the opportunity to try try to find his way back to the U.S. Max is a likable "every man." He uses the one skill he's confident of, his acting ability, to try to regain control of a life that's gone way out of control.
The book is not fine literature, but it's a good read.
May 12, 2011
I enjoyed this very much. I've found myself drawn more and more to history and historical fiction and Steve Anderson did a great job with both in The Losing Role. His attention to detail in the locations and events surrounding the storyline are much appreciated, yet those details are used to bring life to the story rather than merely rehashed trivia.
It is also refreshing to see a portrayal of a German soldier as something other a buffoon or a soldier mindlessly following in Hitler's quest for world domination. Max is simply a German actor who gets drafted into service during wartime, yet all he wants to do is to entertain his audience, wherever that may be.
The Losing Role is an excellent story that you don't have to be a history buff to enjoy.
This was a First-Reads selection.
It is also refreshing to see a portrayal of a German soldier as something other a buffoon or a soldier mindlessly following in Hitler's quest for world domination. Max is simply a German actor who gets drafted into service during wartime, yet all he wants to do is to entertain his audience, wherever that may be.
The Losing Role is an excellent story that you don't have to be a history buff to enjoy.
This was a First-Reads selection.
April 8, 2013
Max was born in Germany; his family emigrated leaving him in German to finish a baker's apprenticeship. Which, to say the least and the most, didn't work for Max in any way. His father was totally intolerant of that, so he went on from a New England town to NYC where he could pursue his theatrical abilities which were rather obvious. He decided to go back to Germany, not really a good decision. Any how he and few others are set up to do their thing for the government, a spying of sorts and turn in the info, but the equipment and quite a few other things are lacking. So he's stuck using his wits which he does. The author does a good job of presenting this character and this type of character and whom they meet and sort of hang out with, and how they try to work with life as it is, keep goals flexible but in mind, and staying alive.
July 25, 2014
This is the first First Reads book I won, and I'm glad I did! I would start reading and would look up hours later and realize I had read half the book. I already have a several people I will be recommending this book to.
I've always been interested in the civilian side of WWII, but the soldier side never seemed to interest me. This book has changed that. It was very captivating and interesting read. There wasn't any war scenes that I had expected, which was a plus.
The main character, Max, is a curiosity. His attitude towards the war, Germany, and America are fascinating. The characters he meets held their own presence without overwhelming the main character.
Gut gemacht, Steve Anderson!
I've always been interested in the civilian side of WWII, but the soldier side never seemed to interest me. This book has changed that. It was very captivating and interesting read. There wasn't any war scenes that I had expected, which was a plus.
The main character, Max, is a curiosity. His attitude towards the war, Germany, and America are fascinating. The characters he meets held their own presence without overwhelming the main character.
Gut gemacht, Steve Anderson!
July 15, 2011
An interesting story, well written, with some surprises. The author has very obviously done his research, not just about the operation that Max Kasper (the main character) is involved in, but about everything the book touches on.
I started by reading the sample, not knowing what to expect. I soon found that I was hooked, and bought the full copy. Max is a character that it is easy to empathise with, and he's put into an interesting situation.
This was the first self-published book I read, and I started it with some trepidation. I needn't have worried. It's a good, interesting story, well written. Highly recommended.
I started by reading the sample, not knowing what to expect. I soon found that I was hooked, and bought the full copy. Max is a character that it is easy to empathise with, and he's put into an interesting situation.
This was the first self-published book I read, and I started it with some trepidation. I needn't have worried. It's a good, interesting story, well written. Highly recommended.
July 26, 2011
This novel is written from an interesting point of view, that of a German soldier who had lived in the U.S. for many years before returning to Germany on the brink of World War II. This could have been a terrific novel, but just misses. This held my interest and was a good "summer read", if a war novel can be a good read. I do however, expect to see a film made from this novel and will be first in line to buy a ticket.
August 5, 2015
Very thought provoking novel of the effects of war on the dreams and hopes of those who fight. These are not soldiers who search to be heroes or famous. They want to live through this hell and move on, perhaps better than before. Max Kaspar takes an undercover assignment, hoping to be able to defect to the Allies and return to New York. Based on a hurried and half-baked Nazi plan. Max, a struggling actor on both sides of the Atlantic, ends up playing many roles to survive.
May 18, 2011
I enjoyed this book alot. I find myself being drawn to history and historical fiction. The Losing Role
is a terrific book that is exciting and funny, and it keeps you thinking long after the action is over.
I look forward to the next installment of this series. Also, I thought this book was very good in
describing a different aspect of WW2. A good read.
is a terrific book that is exciting and funny, and it keeps you thinking long after the action is over.
I look forward to the next installment of this series. Also, I thought this book was very good in
describing a different aspect of WW2. A good read.
May 16, 2018
This novel, set during the Battle of the Bulge 1944, is fast paced has interesting characters and a compelling plot. I recommend it to anyone wanting to read an historical thriller. Here is a quote:
"Then Max heard gurgling sounds. Boilers had burst, leaving steaming bubbling
pools in which flesh and bone cooked, bobbing at the surface like
noodles and dumplings. Was he really seeing this? This was the war
the party fat cats wanted? Goebbels would later proclaim this
madness “Total War”? Apartments fire-bombed, the children boiled in
their own bath water?"
"Then Max heard gurgling sounds. Boilers had burst, leaving steaming bubbling
pools in which flesh and bone cooked, bobbing at the surface like
noodles and dumplings. Was he really seeing this? This was the war
the party fat cats wanted? Goebbels would later proclaim this
madness “Total War”? Apartments fire-bombed, the children boiled in
their own bath water?"
August 20, 2021
Awesome Indies Book Awards is pleased to include THE LOSING ROLE (Kaspar Brothers #1) by STEVE ANDERSON in the library of Awesome Indies'
Badge of Approval
recipients.
Original Awesome Indies' Assessment (4 stars):
The Losing Role by Steve Anderson is a touching yet painful story set in late 1944 that explores the evolution of an individual throughout a life fraught with inequity.
As the novel opens, the reader is immediately dropped into the middle of a firefight on the Eastern front of World War II. The protagonist, Max Kaspar, runs to take cover in an abandoned building with other German soldiers and local Axis aligned civilians. Here we learn that Max has a performance background as his compatriots request songs and impersonations. A German officer finds Kaspar at this locale and informs him he is being taken back to where he belongs. Max travels across Bavaria to meet with Captain Pielau and is informed that he is to be a part of Operation Greif, a plot to infiltrate American occupied territory by pretending to be American soldiers. As Max is an actor with excellent English speaking skills, he is to be a predominant player.
After a dubious practice run at a POW camp, Max and his compatriots are sent to the Western front donning American uniforms and driving American jeeps. Getting through enemy lines is rather easy, but as Operation Greif is quickly compromised, escaping back into Axis territory becomes exceedingly difficult. Max is separated from his three team members and finds shelter at a villa. He is forced to keep up his pretense while two American soldiers and three Belgian civilians occupy the villa. The five spend many days together in a seemingly peaceful commune including a beautiful Christmas Eve, but Christmas Day brings conflict and the war. History buffs will recognize several of the names used. Steve Anderson was very clever in weaving historical figures into his fictional interactions.
The immediate action at the start of the novel was a bit confusing at first. The initial scenes pushed forward very quickly and I had to reread the first two chapters to convince myself that I hadn’t missed anything. The author introduces Max through many quick conversations with a myriad of soldiers during his travels across Germany. This character exploration continues to be a trend throughout the book. Max’s personality is slowly revealed as he interacts with officers, soldiers, civilians, and American soldiers. We also learn about his past during his silent reflections; how he came to be a part of the war. It becomes clear the soldier’s uniform he wears is only one more costume the actor has worn.
This was a fictional tale set within the confines of a real-life event and the author had to write using boundaries set by history. Knowing from history that Operation Greif was a failure, it was captivating to watch how the protagonist dealt with being assigned to the campaign and then managing the fall out. Max’s personal reflections throughout the novel gave credence to his decisions. The flow of the novel played out very similarly to war. Some scenes, such as arguments and combat scenes, were fast paced and unexpected, while other scenes showed the lulls that soldiers experience. Every interaction with another character was suspenseful as predictability is not a luxury during war.
At first, the dialogue seemed clipped and put upon. However, as I continued to read and became more immersed in the wartime culture, the brevity between and lack of connection among characters made sense. Anderson used the dialogue as another method of having the reader experience the heightened emotion and wariness that accompanies a community under siege. The “put upon” feeling came from the fact that the majority of the characters speaking were not native English speakers. The conversations are sometimes hokey, but we learn later that this is how the German soldiers think Americans should talk. Once native speakers are introduced into the scene it becomes clear that the Germans chosen for Operation Greif are not as fluent as they imagine. Props to the author for writing dialogue that is so precise that it helps set the scene.
Easily my favorite part of the novel, mostly because it plucks at one’s heartstrings, was the Christmas Eve scene. The reader has spent the whole novel reading about Max Kapsar’s unfortunate lot in life prior to the war and the horrible events of war itself. On Christmas Eve disparity is forgotten as the strangers put aside all differences and celebrate. Their interaction is visibly strained, but still full of warmth.
The reader watches Max learn about himself, his choices, and how he will make his next step. He is not a hero, nor does he ever pretend to be. He is a survivalist. And though I wanted him to do the noble thing, as I have been taught to view soldiers as always doing the noble act in the face of hardship, he never does. He is human in the face of hardship and choses to continue living, but on his own terms.
I look forward to reading Steve Anderson’s other novels.
I received this book free of charge from the author in return for an honest review.
Original Awesome Indies' Assessment (4 stars):
The Losing Role by Steve Anderson is a touching yet painful story set in late 1944 that explores the evolution of an individual throughout a life fraught with inequity.
As the novel opens, the reader is immediately dropped into the middle of a firefight on the Eastern front of World War II. The protagonist, Max Kaspar, runs to take cover in an abandoned building with other German soldiers and local Axis aligned civilians. Here we learn that Max has a performance background as his compatriots request songs and impersonations. A German officer finds Kaspar at this locale and informs him he is being taken back to where he belongs. Max travels across Bavaria to meet with Captain Pielau and is informed that he is to be a part of Operation Greif, a plot to infiltrate American occupied territory by pretending to be American soldiers. As Max is an actor with excellent English speaking skills, he is to be a predominant player.
After a dubious practice run at a POW camp, Max and his compatriots are sent to the Western front donning American uniforms and driving American jeeps. Getting through enemy lines is rather easy, but as Operation Greif is quickly compromised, escaping back into Axis territory becomes exceedingly difficult. Max is separated from his three team members and finds shelter at a villa. He is forced to keep up his pretense while two American soldiers and three Belgian civilians occupy the villa. The five spend many days together in a seemingly peaceful commune including a beautiful Christmas Eve, but Christmas Day brings conflict and the war. History buffs will recognize several of the names used. Steve Anderson was very clever in weaving historical figures into his fictional interactions.
The immediate action at the start of the novel was a bit confusing at first. The initial scenes pushed forward very quickly and I had to reread the first two chapters to convince myself that I hadn’t missed anything. The author introduces Max through many quick conversations with a myriad of soldiers during his travels across Germany. This character exploration continues to be a trend throughout the book. Max’s personality is slowly revealed as he interacts with officers, soldiers, civilians, and American soldiers. We also learn about his past during his silent reflections; how he came to be a part of the war. It becomes clear the soldier’s uniform he wears is only one more costume the actor has worn.
This was a fictional tale set within the confines of a real-life event and the author had to write using boundaries set by history. Knowing from history that Operation Greif was a failure, it was captivating to watch how the protagonist dealt with being assigned to the campaign and then managing the fall out. Max’s personal reflections throughout the novel gave credence to his decisions. The flow of the novel played out very similarly to war. Some scenes, such as arguments and combat scenes, were fast paced and unexpected, while other scenes showed the lulls that soldiers experience. Every interaction with another character was suspenseful as predictability is not a luxury during war.
At first, the dialogue seemed clipped and put upon. However, as I continued to read and became more immersed in the wartime culture, the brevity between and lack of connection among characters made sense. Anderson used the dialogue as another method of having the reader experience the heightened emotion and wariness that accompanies a community under siege. The “put upon” feeling came from the fact that the majority of the characters speaking were not native English speakers. The conversations are sometimes hokey, but we learn later that this is how the German soldiers think Americans should talk. Once native speakers are introduced into the scene it becomes clear that the Germans chosen for Operation Greif are not as fluent as they imagine. Props to the author for writing dialogue that is so precise that it helps set the scene.
Easily my favorite part of the novel, mostly because it plucks at one’s heartstrings, was the Christmas Eve scene. The reader has spent the whole novel reading about Max Kapsar’s unfortunate lot in life prior to the war and the horrible events of war itself. On Christmas Eve disparity is forgotten as the strangers put aside all differences and celebrate. Their interaction is visibly strained, but still full of warmth.
The reader watches Max learn about himself, his choices, and how he will make his next step. He is not a hero, nor does he ever pretend to be. He is a survivalist. And though I wanted him to do the noble thing, as I have been taught to view soldiers as always doing the noble act in the face of hardship, he never does. He is human in the face of hardship and choses to continue living, but on his own terms.
I look forward to reading Steve Anderson’s other novels.
I received this book free of charge from the author in return for an honest review.
March 16, 2018
An excellent book, very well written. An easy read, I enjoyed it from beginning to end. Good writing.
June 8, 2022
well-written
Story kept my attention. The more we get to know Max, the less I understand him. I didn’t think it had a great ending, but few war tales do?
Story kept my attention. The more we get to know Max, the less I understand him. I didn’t think it had a great ending, but few war tales do?
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July 12, 2024This book kept me guessing! I enjoyed main character Max's perspective as a German actor who had tried to make it in America and returned to Germany. Anderson gives the reader some things to chew on, too. Fascinating to consider what the German perception of Americans was at the time. He also includes some great descriptions of the landscape of war.
June 4, 2015
WWII Through a Different Lens
I am not usually a reader of wartime stories, but Steve Anderson's tale of a disillusioned actor slogging through the hellish final gasp of the Nazi Army in Europe is not your average wartime story. It describes a desperate attempt by the losing side to infiltrate US military units in hopes of causing confusion during what would become The Battle of the Bulge. A ragtag group of artists, writers, academics, and just regular guys are assembled for the task simply because they know American English, some more than others. They are not soldiers and are given no military training, just GI "costumes" and a lick and a prayer.
Seeing the action through the eyes of a failed German-born actor who spent some less than stellar time in New York City looking for his big break offers a unique perspective on the horrors of war, the lengths to which one will go to survive at all costs, as well as the lies we tell ourselves to make it through another day.
Based on fact and well researched by Anderson, the book is fast paced, humorous in a black comedy way, and thoroughly enjoyable.
I am not usually a reader of wartime stories, but Steve Anderson's tale of a disillusioned actor slogging through the hellish final gasp of the Nazi Army in Europe is not your average wartime story. It describes a desperate attempt by the losing side to infiltrate US military units in hopes of causing confusion during what would become The Battle of the Bulge. A ragtag group of artists, writers, academics, and just regular guys are assembled for the task simply because they know American English, some more than others. They are not soldiers and are given no military training, just GI "costumes" and a lick and a prayer.
Seeing the action through the eyes of a failed German-born actor who spent some less than stellar time in New York City looking for his big break offers a unique perspective on the horrors of war, the lengths to which one will go to survive at all costs, as well as the lies we tell ourselves to make it through another day.
Based on fact and well researched by Anderson, the book is fast paced, humorous in a black comedy way, and thoroughly enjoyable.
April 17, 2016
Wow, what a great story. This is definitely a hard book to put down once you get started. Steve Anderson really knows how to write a historical thriller that is both entertaining and captivating. The standout in this Authors books are his characters, and the background and attention to detail he puts into each one of them. You can understand that Max Kasper would rather be an Actor than go to war (who wouldn’t). It’s probably only his acting skills which get him through some of the situations he has to face. In reading each one of Steve Anderson’s books I’ve learnt a bit more of WWII history, but more so because of his in depth descriptions I could visualise the horrors of war, and the aftermath. If you haven’t read one of his books, then I would highly recommend you do.
February 27, 2016
A great historical novel covering events during the "Battle of the Bulge" that many of us have some idea about, but don't know well. I found the characters very believable; neither heroes nor villains for the most part. I found myself wanting them to survive a messy situation that so many on both sides did not.
February 4, 2019
An odd World War II story based on an actual occurrence. An easy quick read. A group of German soldiers, all of whom speak English to some degree are given US uniforms and jeeps and attached to the German counter attack that results in the Battle of Bastogne. Both funny, sad and a bit scary...it seems impossible to believe but...
March 15, 2011
Written by Sönke's good friend who lives down the street - Steve! Interesting perspective on a NAZI attempt to infultrate the American army during WWII using Germans who had lived in America. Steve also incorporates the cultural differences between Germans and Americans in a fun way.
June 23, 2011
This is a book that was given to me to review on BookRooster and it wasn't something I would normally have chosen to read, but very glad I did. It was well written and I learned alot about The Battle of the Bulge and WWII without realizing I was learning.
August 31, 2015
I'm big into WW2 and this book is great historical fiction. The author definitely did his research to take a historical event and blend it with fictional characters.
October 2, 2015
Interesting..
October 13, 2015
well done
May 2, 2024
A good WWII story. Pretty abrupt end, though.
August 13, 2020
I received this as a First Reads give-away.
I wanted to like it more than I did. I tend to read a lot of historical fiction. Max Kaspar, a German soldier in WWII, had lived in the US and spoke passable English; thus he was selected for a special mission- pretend to be a US soldier and infiltrate the US army. Woefully under prepared and poorly equipped, the mission was doomed from the start. However, Max is hoping to use this opportunity to escape the German army & return to America.
Parts are amusing, parts horrifying, but few characters are sympathetic or very likable.
I wanted to like it more than I did. I tend to read a lot of historical fiction. Max Kaspar, a German soldier in WWII, had lived in the US and spoke passable English; thus he was selected for a special mission- pretend to be a US soldier and infiltrate the US army. Woefully under prepared and poorly equipped, the mission was doomed from the start. However, Max is hoping to use this opportunity to escape the German army & return to America.
Parts are amusing, parts horrifying, but few characters are sympathetic or very likable.
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