The Fifth Column A Novel

The book is a thriller set in New York City during World War II, centering on protagonist Charles Mossman. In February 1939, reeling from the loss of his job and a failing marriage, Charles makes a disastrous mistake after confronting Nazi sympathizers during a rally in Hell's Kitchen, which lands him in prison. Two years later, following his release, Charles attempts to reunite with his estranged wife and daughter, Emma, who are living in the German-speaking neighborhood of Yorkville. As the threat of war looms, fears of a 'Fifth Column'—German spies embedded in everyday life—are pervasive. Charles's anxieties are heightened when his daughter befriends a seemingly amiable Swiss couple, Trudi and Willi Bauer, who live across the hall. When America enters the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the conspiracy Charles fears turns into a deadly threat, with Emma as an innocent pawn. Charles must find a way to redeem himself as a husband and father, even if it means risking his life to protect his family and his country.

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