This historical fiction tells the story of two men—one German and one British—who in 1938 try to stop Hitler from invading Czechoslovakia and starting World War II. The book’s historical elements come across as well-researched and authentic, the tension is palpable, and the characters are responsibly drawn. Perhaps most intriguing, Neville Chamberlain is depicted as principled and sympathetic—not the Hitler-appeasing pushover that history recalls. Informed readers will of course know the ending before they start reading, but the story is still worth enjoying. You’re likely to come away feeling as if you’ve learned a thing or two.