A novel of love, loyalty and intrigue set in the early days of World War II from the author of
Soul Catcher and currently a professor in residence for the MFA writing program at Fairfield University. Mr. White introduces us to Tat'yana Levchenko, a fetching Russian sniper, who has killed 300 Germans since the war began in Europe. When her prowess with a rifle reaches Washington, President Roosevelt and Eleanor wish to meet this formidable woman. Little does she know that Russian plans for her include spying on the First Couple and garnering support for the opening of much needed second front in Europe. As the novel moves forward, Tat'yana realizes that she has become a pawn in a battle for information and she is forced to question the motivations of everyone she knows and trusts, including the American captain assigned to her as her translator. But as she quickly rises to fame, Tat'yana vanishes. Defection? Assassination? Only decades later is the truth revealed. Michael White has written a powerful tale that readers will not soon forget.
Submitted by Peter Ciparelli, Killingly Public Library
Villager Papers, December 10, 2010