CODE NAME EDELWEISS by STEPHANIE LANDSEM is based on what happened in 1933 in San Fransisco when the Nazis tried to take over the Hollywood studios in order to advertise anti Semitism and literally take over America for Hitler. Most Americans at the time were more worried about survival and the effects of the Great Depression than what was going on in Europe, and many chose to look the other way.
Leon Mayer was a Jewish lawyer who chose to do something about the situation. His motto was adopted from the sayings of a Jewish rabbi, “If not me, who? If not now, when?” He and his group of spies infiltrated Nazi strongholds such as the Friends of New Germany, showing extraordinary courage.
The story starts with Liesl Weiss, who literally grew up at the MGM studios, losing her job as a secretary there. She is desperate to find employment and accepts a job spying for Leon Lewis, working as a secretary at the Friends of New Germany, where she works for the lecherous Hermann Schwinn, his wife Thekla, Hans Winterhalder and the enigmatical Wilhelm Otto, whose military bearing really scares her. Her code name is Edelweiss and it is her job to look for evidence of treason whilst keeping up a facade of loyalty to the cause. We also follow another spy who goes by the code name Thirteen…….
Liesl is ashamed of her treatment of her best friend Miriam Stahr and her family, and hates being alienated from them. She is lonely and feels abandoned by her husband Tomas who disappeared without a trace, leaving her to support their two children, her mother and rebellious younger brother Fritz. I like to see her growing faith as she cries out to the Lord, and how she chooses to put others before herself.
This story about the incredible courage shown by a small group of people really touched me, and I cannot recommend this excitng and inspirational book highly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Tyndale House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.
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