Based on the true story of Operation Gunnerside–the Britain-sponsored mission that sent Norwegian commandos into the Nazi-occupied Telemark region of their country to destroy the enemy’s nuclear weapons program–New York Times bestselling author Andrew Gross’s The Saboteur is a riveting World War II thriller of espionage and action. February, 1943. Both the Allies and the Nazis are closing in on … Allies and the Nazis are closing in on attempts to construct the decisive weapon of the war.
Kurt Nordstrum, an engineer in Oslo, puts his life aside to take up arms against the Germans as part of the Norwegian resistance. After the loss of his fiancée, and with his outfit whittled to shreds, he commandeers a coastal steamer and escapes to England to transmit secret evidence of the Nazis’s progress towards an atomic bomb at an isolated factory in Norway. There, he joins a team of dedicated Norwegians in training in the Scottish Highlands for a mission to disrupt the Nazis’ plans before they advance any further.
Parachuted onto the most unforgiving terrain in Europe, braving the fiercest of mountain storms, Nordstrum and his team attempt the most daring raid of the war, targeting the heavily-guarded factory built on a shelf of rock thought to be impregnable, a mission even they know they likely will not survive. Months later, Nordstrum is called upon again to do the impossible, opposed by both elite Nazi soldiers and a long-standing enemy who is now a local collaborator–one man against overwhelming odds, with the fate of the war in the balance, but the choice to act means putting the one person he has a chance to love in peril.
more
This novel told the story of a group of patriots (Norwegian, British, American) who volunteered for a mission to destroy the product being produced by the Nazis in Occupied Norway. If the mission had not been successful the Nazis would have produced a sufficient amount of “heavy water” to enable them to develop an atomic bomb. What made the story more exciting was the fact that it took place in winter in Norway with it’s high winds, frigid temperatures and unrelenting snow and ice.
I had the pleasure of enjoying the cd version of this novel. It felt like I was immersed in an action-packed war film. A story filled with exhilarating tense moments.
An endearing protagonist that performs a soldier’s duty, while experiencing gut wrenching raw emotions barely held in check during intervals of extreme conflict. There are copious gripping dilemmas. Narrated masterfully, engrossing the audience thoroughly into this historic piece of literature.
A page turning adventure that keeps you riveted from beginning to the very end.
A small band of Norwegian resistors are critical to stopping the Nazis’ progress on atomic weapon materials being produced at a nearly impregnable facility outside of Oslo. The sabotage mission portrayed is based on underappreciated actual WW2 events in Norway. Master Spy Nordstrum leads his small band through harsh Scandinavian weather conditions and terrain to outwit both Nazis and local collaborators, and gets the girl! The build-up to the mission is quite well done, though by staying true to the historical outcome the mission itself seems to progress almost too smoothly. Penned by an author who has co-written five books with James Patterson, the story features short chapters and non-stop, page-turning action, making an inevitable trade-off to give up some character depth for pacing.
Was this review helpful? I am an avid world war based fiction reader and author. You can read more of my takes at https://brodiecurtis.com/curtis-takes/.
One of Gross’s best. Even better than The One Man. A real page turner that keeps you routing for the good guys. Based on a true life story. it is just a wonderful read while adding a slice of history from WWII.
Interesting story based on a true event. The ordeals that the protagonists endured will haunt me!
Brave Norwegian resistance fighting against the Nazis in their own country and ultimately to save the world.
This book along with One Man by Andrew Gross provided great insight into World War II and the heroic adventure of very brave men. Thank goodness these men accomplished their missions.
Compelling !
The Saboteur is based on a true story which took place in Norway in 1943 during World War II. Kurt Nordstrum leaves school where he is studying to be an engineer to join Norway’s resistance against the Germans. Kurt having lost his fiancée and many of his fellow fighters while with the resistance returns to his hometown in Norway with his friend Jens after he receives a message from his childhood friend. After meeting with his friend, Einar Skinnarland, Kurt and Jens are entrusted to deliver a message to the English from an engineer inside the town’s factory. Kurt, Jens and others commandeer a Norwegian steamer and sail to England to deliver the message about the German’s work at the factory. This begins the story of how a group of Norwegians and one American successfully complete not one but two operations which dismantled Germany’s Atomic Weapon Program. The pace is quick with the story introducing you to the other Norwegians and one American who return to Norway and destroy the heavy water which would be part of Germany’s atomic bomb program. This fictionalized version of an actual World War II event is brilliantly written and realistic.
THE SABOTEUR by Andrew Gross is an intense historical fiction based on the true life stories of the Norwegian Freedom Fighters assigned the seemingly impossible task of destroying the Nazis’ supply of heavy water before it could be used to produce an atomic bomb.
Kurt Nordstrum was an engineering student in Oslo in 1940 when the Nazis invaded. His whole life changes as he fights with his friends in the Norwegian resistance. The friendships, bravery and strength of these men and women is highlighted in this story.
Dieter Lund is a Captain in the Quisling, which is an arm of the Gestapo made up of Norwegian collaborators. Kurt and Dieter attended school together in their small hometown. With the murder of another Quisling onboard a ferry, the long resentment and envy that Dieter feels towards Kurt manifests itself and the chase is on. Good versus evil, protagonist versus antagonist.
In 1943, Kurt and his highly trained fellow Norwegian teammates are parachuted back into Norway from England for the specific purpose of destroying a heavily fortified hydro plant’s capability of producing heavy water and destroying any already produced. They must also stop any from leaving Norway and making it to Germany.
Between the seemingly impossible missions that this team takes on and the continual chase of the Quisling it was hard to put this book down. The tragedies and triumphs of ordinary people during a horrific world war are highlighted in this book. As the author notes in the end, this story is based on real people, which makes it all the more amazing.
*(I want to make one personal comment on this book and other reviews I have read. I agree with everyone that this author’s previous book “The One Man” was an exceptional historical thriller. I feel that any comparisons to this book though short changes this book. This book is based on true people and is a historical fiction novel. Yes, it has thrills and suspense throughout, but there is a difference between the two types of books. I did not compare the two when I rated my review.)
A great WWII story about the allies sabotage missions on the Norway heavy water plant. Hugely critical mission to derail Hitler’s atom bomb production. Fictional characters but based on historical events.