The Hidden Soldier by Eoin Dempsey
“The Hidden Soldier” seems to be an engrossing historical thriller spanning decades and continents. Here are my thoughts as a potential reader:
The setup immediately hooks me with the high-stakes premise of Peter and his young daughter Sara fleeing war-torn Poland after WWII and settling in Pennsylvania, only for tragedy and dark secrets from the past to resurface decades later. I’m drawn to multi-generational stories that explore how the reverberations of major historical events echo through families over time.
I am intrigued by the 1942 Poland storyline following Peter’s deadly undercover mission for the resistance and his relationship with the resilient fighter Natalia. I enjoy stories that depict the grittier human experiences and moral complexities of wartime beyond the battlefield.
The mystery and conspiracy elements with the 1966 bombing, deaths, and Sara teaming up with FBI agent Tom Kirby to uncover truths about her family’s past pique my interest. I’m a sucker for historical thrillers centered around uncovering long-buried secrets.
The possibility of revelations tying back to the horrors of the Holocaust in Poland adds gravitas to the central mystery. I appreciate stories confronting historical atrocities head-on while delivering an entertaining narrative.
As someone who enjoys character-driven tales, I’m compelled by the personal journeys Sara and Peter seem to go on – Sara is forced to grapple with harsh truths that upend her worldview, and his wartime choices and actions haunt Peter. Meaty character arcs are a must for me.
Overall, the sweeping, decades-spanning storyline blending WWII historical fiction with a modern-day conspiracy thriller intrigued me based on the description. With richly developed characters, high personal stakes, and an exploration of weighty themes like confronting the past’s darkest chapters, “The Hidden Soldier” appears to check many of the boxes I look for in compelling historical fiction. I’d be interested in reading this one.
