The Losing Role | WWII Espionage Thriller

Steve Anderson · 05-11-2010, 02:47 PM

In the last winter of WWII a failed German actor, Max Kaspar, is forced to join an absurdly desperate secret mission in which he must impersonate an enemy American officer. So Max cooks up his own fanatical plan — he'll use his false identity to escape tyranny and war and flee to the America he'd once abandoned.

The Losing Role is based on an actual false flag operation during 1944's Battle of the Bulge that's been made infamous in legend but in reality was a doomed farce. In all the tragic details and with some dark humor, this is the story of an aspiring talent who got in over his head and tried to break free.

"Excellent dialogue, well-crafted characters, and enough dramatic tension to saw a Panzer in half." — Independent Novel Award, Best of 2010 (The New Podler Review of Books)

"Author Steve Anderson constructs a historical thriller in The Losing Role that should prove quite difficult to put down." — Midwest Book Review

"An excellent WWII espionage thriller that transcends the genre, making it a story that you don't have to be a history buff to enjoy." — The New Podler Review of Books

"This is a well-researched and fascinating book ... with a refreshing twist; it is told from the view point of a German soldier — and a likable one at that." — Man of la Book: Review

"The book does a marvelous job of showing the ‘fog of war’ wherein no one truly understands what is going on once the attack has begun. Finally, the book is fun." — Historical Novel Review

Indie 500 Booklist 2011
Indie eBook Hall of Fame
Independent Novel Award, Best of 2010
(The New Podler Review of Books)

Thanks! I hope you'll give it a look.

Happy reading,
Steve

About the Author
Steve Anderson is the author of The Losing Role, False Refuge and Besserwisser: A Novel. Anderson's novels mix crime, history, mystery, noir and humor, usually involving a determined underdog stuck between two worlds. Anderson has also written short stories and screenplays, and was a Fulbright Fellow in Munich, Germany. He's a big soccer fan and lives in Portland, Ore.

brendanl79 · 05-12-2010, 12:22 PM

Snagged! Thanks Steve

Steve Anderson · 05-12-2010, 12:32 PM

Thank you, Brendan!

Steve Anderson · 05-28-2010, 12:21 PM

Hi all,

Just a quick reminder that there's less than four days left to get The Losing Role for 99 cents on Kindle and FREE on Smashwords (coupon code CJ27G). Offer expires May 31.

After which it will probably creep back up to normal (though still cheap) indie ebook prices. This hustling stuff is wearing me out ; )

Thanks!
Steve

GraceKrispy · 05-28-2010, 04:55 PM

thanks Steve, it looks interesting! I have a summer trip coming up and my sony's going to get a lot of use as I read all the exciting books I've selected

(you have the same name as my cousin! popular name, i'm sure...)

Steve Anderson · 05-29-2010, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraceKrispy

thanks Steve, it looks interesting! I have a summer trip coming up and my sony's going to get a lot of use as I read all the exciting books I've selected

(you have the same name as my cousin! popular name, i'm sure...)

Thanks much for the interest, GraceKrispy!

I hope you enjoy the read.

Yeah, there's definitely a lot of us Steve Andersons -- it's a big club.

Steve

DixieGal · 05-29-2010, 10:03 PM

Thank you for the free download. I hope to be the first to review it!

daveconifer · 05-29-2010, 11:08 PM

I've read two Steve Anderson books and they were both awesome. I'm guessing he goes three for three...

redhead231 · 05-30-2010, 03:35 AM

Thnaks for that, I have downloaded it & look forward to reading it.

Steve Anderson · 05-30-2010, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Thank you for the free download. I hope to be the first to review it!

You're welcome, DixieGal. Of course I'd love a review if you're game and hope you're the first, too

I like your signature too

Steve Anderson · 05-30-2010, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveconifer

I've read two Steve Anderson books and they were both awesome. I'm guessing he goes three for three...

Thanks, Dave!

I've read one of yours and can say the same -- I'm hoping to read more, including Man of Steel.

Steve Anderson · 05-30-2010, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redhead231

Thnaks for that, I have downloaded it & look forward to reading it.

I appreciate it, Redhead231, and hope you enjoy it.

Steve Anderson · 06-02-2010, 12:32 AM

I just wanted to say a quick thanks to all you readers who took me up on my May promo for Kindle and Smashwords.

You helped push The Losing Role into Smashwords' Top 10 Fiction Bestsellers.

You really made my May! I appreciate it and hope you enjoy the read.

Steve

Trebro · 07-10-2010, 10:02 AM

Just wanted to put up a quick note to say that I really enjoyed this book, and that I probably wouldn't have tried it without getting a shot at a freebie, since I didn't know the author.

Now that I do...I'm going to read his other books, and pay for them.

Losing Role is a very good character study, and those who like that type of book will enjoy this one a lot.

Anyone got a recommendation on which of Anderson's books to read next?

Quake1028 · 07-10-2010, 10:58 AM

I'll pick this up for $1.50 through Smashwords. I will read it next after I finish my Kindle book I'm reading now.

05-11-2010, 02:47 PM	#1
Steve Anderson Addict Posts: 226 Karma: 260821 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon USA Device: iPhone, laptop, more	The Losing Role \| WWII Espionage Thriller In the last winter of WWII a failed German actor, Max Kaspar, is forced to join an absurdly desperate secret mission in which he must impersonate an enemy American officer. So Max cooks up his own fanatical plan — he'll use his false identity to escape tyranny and war and flee to the America he'd once abandoned. The Losing Role is based on an actual false flag operation during 1944's Battle of the Bulge that's been made infamous in legend but in reality was a doomed farce. In all the tragic details and with some dark humor, this is the story of an aspiring talent who got in over his head and tried to break free. "Excellent dialogue, well-crafted characters, and enough dramatic tension to saw a Panzer in half." — Independent Novel Award, Best of 2010 (The New Podler Review of Books) "Author Steve Anderson constructs a historical thriller in The Losing Role that should prove quite difficult to put down." — Midwest Book Review "An excellent WWII espionage thriller that transcends the genre, making it a story that you don't have to be a history buff to enjoy." — The New Podler Review of Books "This is a well-researched and fascinating book ... with a refreshing twist; it is told from the view point of a German soldier — and a likable one at that." — Man of la Book: Review "The book does a marvelous job of showing the ‘fog of war’ wherein no one truly understands what is going on once the attack has begun. Finally, the book is fun." — Historical Novel Review Indie 500 Booklist 2011 Indie eBook Hall of Fame Independent Novel Award, Best of 2010 (The New Podler Review of Books) Thanks! I hope you'll give it a look. Happy reading, Steve About the Author Steve Anderson is the author of The Losing Role, False Refuge and Besserwisser: A Novel. Anderson's novels mix crime, history, mystery, noir and humor, usually involving a determined underdog stuck between two worlds. Anderson has also written short stories and screenplays, and was a Fulbright Fellow in Munich, Germany. He's a big soccer fan and lives in Portland, Ore. Last edited by Steve Anderson; 04-11-2011 at 11:00 PM. Reason: Updated information

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05-12-2010, 12:22 PM	#2
brendanl79 Member Posts: 19 Karma: 14 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Massachusetts, USA Device: Many Kindles, Onyx BOOX Note3 & Page, Kobo Libra Colour	Snagged! Thanks Steve

05-12-2010, 12:32 PM	#3
Steve Anderson Addict Posts: 226 Karma: 260821 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon USA Device: iPhone, laptop, more	Thank you, Brendan!

05-28-2010, 12:21 PM	#4
Steve Anderson Addict Posts: 226 Karma: 260821 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon USA Device: iPhone, laptop, more	Hi all, Just a quick reminder that there's less than four days left to get The Losing Role for 99 cents on Kindle and FREE on Smashwords (coupon code CJ27G). Offer expires May 31. After which it will probably creep back up to normal (though still cheap) indie ebook prices. This hustling stuff is wearing me out ; ) Thanks! Steve

05-28-2010, 04:55 PM	#5
GraceKrispy It's Dr. Penguin now! Posts: 3,909 Karma: 4705733 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: (USA) Device: iPad mini, Samsung Note 3, Sony PRS-650 (rarely used now)	thanks Steve, it looks interesting! I have a summer trip coming up and my sony's going to get a lot of use as I read all the exciting books I've selected (you have the same name as my cousin! popular name, i'm sure...)

05-29-2010, 10:03 PM	#7
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Thank you for the free download. I hope to be the first to review it!

05-29-2010, 11:08 PM	#8
daveconifer Zealot Posts: 109 Karma: 100001 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle	I've read two Steve Anderson books and they were both awesome. I'm guessing he goes three for three...

05-30-2010, 03:35 AM	#9
redhead231 Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 102 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cambridgeshire UK Device: PRS 505	Thnaks for that, I have downloaded it & look forward to reading it.

06-02-2010, 12:32 AM	#13
Steve Anderson Addict Posts: 226 Karma: 260821 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon USA Device: iPhone, laptop, more	I just wanted to say a quick thanks to all you readers who took me up on my May promo for Kindle and Smashwords. You helped push The Losing Role into Smashwords' Top 10 Fiction Bestsellers. You really made my May! I appreciate it and hope you enjoy the read. Steve

07-10-2010, 10:02 AM	#14
Trebro Connoisseur Posts: 84 Karma: 14 Join Date: May 2010 Device: nook	Just wanted to put up a quick note to say that I really enjoyed this book, and that I probably wouldn't have tried it without getting a shot at a freebie, since I didn't know the author. Now that I do...I'm going to read his other books, and pay for them. Losing Role is a very good character study, and those who like that type of book will enjoy this one a lot. Anyone got a recommendation on which of Anderson's books to read next?

07-10-2010, 10:58 AM	#15
Quake1028 Guru Posts: 917 Karma: 9155462 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Tampa, FL Device: See signature	I'll pick this up for $1.50 through Smashwords. I will read it next after I finish my Kindle book I'm reading now.