April, 1945 -- a time in history when the Nazis' reign of terror is all but over. However, Colonel Hans Gruber of Nazi intelligence has a daring plan, which, if it succeeds, will give the Reich a toehold on world supremacy. His plan is to regain contact with "Die Wespe," a very special spy whom he describes as "a fat little German scientist who works for the Americans." The Wasp has access to all of the data and plans compiled on a certain promising venture -- The Manhattan Project. However, with the Reich's only contact dead, there is no way to get to The Wasp and his lucrative research -- until now. Colonel Gruber has a secret ace in one Captain Alexander Braun, the American-born, Harvard-educated Reich assassin. Having been recalled by his father to fight with the Germans in the war, Alex hasn't seen his homeland for over five years. Now, his new mission leads him back to his native land, as well as into the arms of his ex-lover, Lydia Cole.

Lydia Cole Murray has lived her life as a meek songbird in her rich father's gilded cage. After Alex left to join his father overseas, she allowed her father to marry her off when all communication stopped. Now five years later, she opens the doors to her home and her heart when Alex returns. But he's not the man she thought she fell in love with -- he's a soulless spy killing everything in his way. When Alex escapes, Lydia finds an inner strength she never knew she had and sets out to stop him any way she can.

Lydia travels with Major Michael Thatcher, a military investigator with British MI-19, who's been brought in by the British Military Intelligence after uncovering Nazi plans to steal the American weapon research. When the Americans fail to put any credence into the information uncovered, Thatcher heads for Harvard and a trail of stale breadcrumbs long gone cold. Soon the deadly race is on between Alex, Lydia and Michael. A race that leads them from Rhode Island to New Mexico and even further to Guam. If Alex wins, it could be the end of the world.

Ward Larsen has created a riveting, suspenseful thriller filled with the soul of humanity. His experience as a former US Air Force fighter pilot lends itself like a brush of colorful reality to a black and white sketch without being blatant. His characters are comprised of a delightful richness, full of hidden strengths and not so hidden faults and circumstances. Meanwhile, the plot zings along at Mach 3, never slowing down until the book is finished. It is a highly recommended tribute to action- lovers and history buffs alike; a fitting tribute to the fine men who lost their lives when the USS Indianapolis sank beneath the waves of war.