The Losing Role got a favorable and well-written review from
Red Adept Reviews. Reviewer Jim Chambers gave the historical espionage thriller a rare five stars — his average rating in four standardized categories.
Chambers has in-depth knowledge of the volatile and brutal time that was the bitter last months of World War II, and the novel passed his scrutiny there too. As for the story, he sums up: "
The Losing Role was a perfect combination of plot-driven action and character study." Here's the full link:
http://redadeptreviews.com/the-losin...teve-anderson/
The review also includes an interview, which I'm posting here:
How did you come up with the title?
The main character, Max Kaspar, is a German actor who tried making it in America but made the tragic choice of returning to Germany in the late 1930s. By the time the book begins, late in WWII, Max has been drafted and forced to go on a senseless secret mission in which he has to play an enemy American officer. So there you have it — not a great situation to be in.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing fiction for almost fifteen years, but much of the early writing was just learning how to do it. I thought I was going to become a history professor, so I had to un-learn a lot of what I was doing.
What authors have inspired you?
It varies. I’d say anyone from John Steinbeck to Patricia Highsmith, Graham Greene to John Le Carré. Martin Cruz Smith. Alan Furst for the historical detail. Charles McCarry for the craft. Elmore Leonard for the humor. I admire James Lee Burke for his writing but also because I read once that he went nine years without finding a publisher, and just kept on writing and perfecting his storytelling. There are more, of course.
Where did you get the idea for the novel?
I read an article that gave the real story behind a so-called infamous secret mission the Germans’ devised for the Battle of the Bulge in late 1944, whereby English-speaking German soldiers impersonated American units behind the lines and were supposed to wreak havoc. In legend it was a frightening and deadly ploy. But the reality was totally different. Many could barely speak English and the few who could well had been waiters, dancers, writers, and students and were far from ideal soldiers let alone crack terrorists. The whole operation was pretty much a disaster. Something about the absurdity of it all appealed to me. It’s definitely not a war or military novel in the traditional sense, but more of a character-driven noir thriller.
Who is your favorite character?
Max Kaspar, definitely. I’m always drawn to characters who are stuck between two worlds and in over their heads with a plan that’s doomed to fail, but they stick with it anyway. That would be Max, for sure.