A former professor descends into darkness in this provocative story of a Nazi soldier torn between duty and conscience. East Prussia, Nazi Germany, 1939. History professor Erik Mueller is a model citizen and a family man. He's also a decorated sergeant in the Gestapo. Proving his courage on the battlefields of Poland and the Soviet Union, and proud of the German army's victories across Europe, he embraces what he thinks is the righteousness of the Third Reich's cause. But his loyalties are soon tested when he crosses paths with his old university friend Trude Bensheim. Forced into unemployment for being Jewish, Trude and her husband start a secret organization to help Jews escape Germany. But when they are betrayed by someone they thought they could trust, their lives hang in the balance. Erik feels responsible for Trude's capture, and he knows he's in a position to help them. But when everything he holds dear is at stake, will he save his friends-or himself?

About the Author
James D. Shipman is the bestselling author of three historical novels, Constantinopolis, Going Home, and It Is Well. He was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and began publishing short stories and poems while earning a degree in history from the University of Washington and a law degree from Gonzaga University. He opened his own law firm in 2004 and remains a practicing attorney. An avid reader, especially of historical nonfiction, Shipman also enjoys traveling and spending time with his family.

Reviews
"A Bitter Rain is the best kind of WWII novel, action-packed, populated by complex characters facing deep moral dilemmas, and historically accurate. I loved it." -Mark Sullivan, author of #1 Amazon Charts bestseller Beneath a Scarlet Sky "Harrowing, intense, and oh so real, this story plunges the reader into the nightmare world of Nazi Germany where good and decent people struggle to survive." -Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of The Royal Spyness Series and In Farleigh Field "The writing is clear and sharp, and I was immediately immersed in the time and the tale. I found myself alternately panting and holding my breath as I read. It is exceedingly well executed. Erik, specifically, was very well drawn, and so real and relatable. I loved his humanity and his inner voice, and his plight gave flesh to a German caricature." -Amy Harmon, New York Times bestselling author of From Sand and Ash "An intense and captivating account of WWII through the eyes of a Nazi soldier. I thoroughly enjoyed this highly moving story, and particularly liked the way the two plotlines were interwoven. Expect to be staying up late at night to find out the fates of heroic Erik and his old friend, Trude." -Soraya M. Lane, #1 bestselling author of Wives of War "Fast-paced and poignant with a timely message, Shipman's latest novel is a complex portrait of a community torn by war." -Libbie Hawker, author of Mercer Girls and The Ragged Edge of Night "A harrowing novel of a Nazi soldier fighting for his soul as well as his own survival. The poignant stories of Erik and Trude will resonate with every reader even today." ?Colin Falconer, author of Isabella and The Unkillable Kitty O'Kane "James Shipman's A Bitter Rain tells a gripping and vital story of what happens when a government turns any expectation of decency in human behavior on its head. Alternating between the perspectives of Trude, a Jewish woman who, along with her daughter, is simply trying to survive, and Erik, an SS officer who battles with conscience, family and government, the novel shines with insight and haunting reminders of the terrifying implications of war." -Ella Carey, international bestselling author of The House by the Lake



Book Information
ISBN 9781477819807
Author James D. Shipman
Format Paperback
Page Count 396
Imprint Lake Union Publishing
Publisher Amazon Publishing