The Bookworm: A Novel

Belgium, 1940: Posing as a friar, a British operative talks his way into the monastery at Villers-devant-Orval just before the Nazis plan to sweep through the area and whisk everything of value back to Berlin. That night, he adds an old leather Bible to the monastery’s library and then escapes. London, 2017: A construction worker makes a grisly discovery—a skeletal arm-bone with a rusty handcuff attached to the wrist. The woman who will put these two disparate events together—and understand the looming tragedy she must hurry to prevent—is Russian historian and former Soviet chess champion Larissa Mendelovg Klimt, “Lara the Bookworm,” to her friends.In the course of this riveting thriller, Lara will learn the significance of six musty Dictaphone cylinders recorded after D-Day by Noel Coward—actor, playwright and, secretly, a British agent reporting directly to Winston Churchill. She will understand precisely why that leather Bible, scooped up by the Nazis and deposited on the desk of Adolf Hitler days before he planned to attack Britain, played such a pivotal role in turning his guns to the East. And she will discover the new secret pact negotiated by the nefarious Russian president and his newly elected American counterpart—maverick and dealmaker—and the evil it portends.

About the Author :
Mitch Silver was born in Brooklyn and grew up on Long Island. He attended Yale (B.A. in History) and Harvard Law School (“I lasted three days. I know the law through Wednesday, but after that…”). He was an advertising writer for several of the big New York agencies, living in Paris for a year with his wife, Ellen Highsmith Silver, while he was European Creative Director on the Colgate-Palmolive account. A previously published novelist (In Secret Service—S&S/Touchstone), Mitch and his wife Ellen live in Greenwich, Connecticut and have two children: Sloane is a nurse at Wake Forest Medical Center and Perry is an actor and the drummer for Sky Pony, a band in New York. Mitch also won the American Song Festival Lyric Grand Prize for "Sleeping Single in a Double Bed.” His blood type is O positive, and he always writes his biography in the third person. For more info, please go to mitchsilverauthor.com.  

Review :
“The Bookworm is that very rare, almost extinct thriller: well plotted, intelligent as hell, with a truly memorable main character—'Lara The Bookworm.’ This is definitely sterling Silver!” “The historical frame, including an alternate view of why Germany turned its wartime focus from England to the USSR, proves fascinating; the pace is agreeably fast; and the intelligent, capable Klimt makes an engaging lead character.” “It is a masterpiece of speculative revisionism and in this aspect a captivating read, a romp.” “This is fast and fun, with one of the best McGuffins I’ve ever seen. An exciting tale and very nearly as bizarre as some of the things Allied Intelligence did try during the war.” “I devoured it. It combines elements of a political thriller and a historical novel. A thrill-filled surprise, which keeps you in awe of developments.” “A fascinating read for both conspiracy theorists and thriller fans.” “Phenomenal. Seizing my attention from the very first page, The Bookworm kept me captivated and swiftly turning pages in nail-biting anticipation of the final resolution. The Bookworm is one of the best political thrillers I have had the pleasure to read, and I recommend it highly to fans of this exciting genre.” “High-speed chases, explosions, gunfights, murders and questionable romantic encounters add to the book’s action. An intriguing ‘what if’ adventure about Hitler and WWII.” “This is fast and fun, with one of the best McGuffins I’ve ever seen...it’s an exciting tale...” “Hold on to your seats, readers, because this is a thrill ride of a story, made even more exciting because it’s all so current and feels very real. I really liked the character of Dr. Larissa Klimt...she’s as complex as the story she is telling. It will definitely satisfy the appetite of the conspiracy theorists out there, and it’s a good mystery too.” “A lively, fun diversion that will appeal to fans of The DaVinci Code and the like.” “The Bookworm packs a punch similar to that of a Dan Brown novel. It uses a quasi-historical fiction plot mixed with thriller that sees our heroine attempt to solve a mystery by using her mind more than her actions. Combine that with the back-and-forth between the 1940’s and present day and The Bookworm has all ingredients in the recipe for my favorite kind of books.” “Silver romps through history dropping names like so many crumbs...it is a highly entertaining, tongue-in-cheek tale.” “The Bookworm by Mitch Silver is a gripping thriller....” “This was a well-written story. Silver has quite the imagination, which made the book interesting and fun to read. Silver’s storytelling skills are strong...the character development is solid and the building of the suspenseful atmosphere is great.” “This novel has ties to certain political figures that we currently have in office...It also has ties to the Russian and American relationship that is currently unfolding. Silver does an excellent job with keeping mysteries and intrigue going throughout the novel and interweaving interesting bits so that the reader is continuously engaged. I was captivated the entire time...” “Mitch Silver does a fantastic job of blurring fiction and reality in his global espionage thriller. The Bookworm is an intriguing tale that constantly has the reader wondering where the line between fiction and fact lies.  It will keep you engaged from cover to cover. If you are the type to enjoy a great ‘spy novel’ you will find it especially hard to put down.” “The build-up of tension was steady throughout, with excellent pacing for the reveals of the historical and modern conspiracies. The writing was engaging and kept me hooked. The characters were well crafted and suited to their respective roles in the story.” “Silver’s novel flows smoothly...A very well done novel indeed.”