Sara F

We know from the start that this story involves two ex-lovers, colleagues in espionage reconnecting after a few years and there is an agenda. The tale is dished out through the alternating voices of Henry and Celia. The first third of the book I just didn't care much because there were so many background characters, places and events to catch up on. Henry and Celia know all this stuff but we don't. Suddenly the puzzle pieces fell into place and I didn't put the book down until it was done. A good rainy day read..

I have a memory of, as a child in the early 50's, going with my family to our local airport because Eddie Rickenbacker was coming to town on Eastern Airlines business and we might get to see him. Well, we did see him stepping down from the plane. He did not make remarks for the crowd as we had hoped but we got to see a true hero for that is what he was to my parents. In this biography I learned in stunning detail why my parents and millions of others revered this man. In well sourced, fast paced style we are told of Eddie's assuming the role of man of the house at age 14, his death-defying racing of primitive automobiles, his becoming ace of aces in the WW 1 air war and his survival decades later during another war being ditched in the Pacific. If you like history dished up as entertainment and appreciate life lessons in a true story, read this book.

I wanted to love this book but I just didn't. Historical fiction is my favorite genre so I stuck with it but it is not a page turner or a thriller. Well, not until the last 60 pages or so, anyway. I'm glad to learn more about that place and time from someone with a keen personal interest and would be happy to hear more from Juliana Maio if she could speak less like a reporter and more like a yarn spinner. I hope she tries again.