The Losing Role: A Novel

A struggling German actor attempts to escape a top-secret WWII operation against the Americans. When the SS orders banned entertainer Max Kaspar to impersonate a US officer during the bloody Battle of the Bulge, Max devises his own secret mission to escape the war and flee to America. It’s both his one big break and a deadly last chance on a journey that’s taken him from a once-promising career to brutal front-line combat as a German Army corporal. Max has lost more than one true love, yet he still clings to what’s left of his hope and his good humor. But his mission is doomed from the start. Trapped between the lines in the freezing Ardennes Forest, he must summon all his acting talents and newfound courage to evade perilous traps laid by both sides … Inspired by a real-life 1944 operation, this gripping wartime espionage thriller is perfect for readers of Alan Furst and Len Deighton. Includes an excerpt of Liberated: A Novel of Germany, 1945 (Kaspar Brothers #2). Max is the estranged older brother of German-American US Army captain Harry Kaspar in Liberated. The Kaspar brothers reunite in the third book, Lost Kin. “The book’s pacing and dialogue are sharply turned ... Anderson skillfully portrays transformation in all of his characters.” —Historical Novels Review, Historical Novel Society “A touching yet painful story ... [Max] is human in the face of hardship and chooses to continue living, but on his own terms.” —Awesome Indies “A terrific book that deserves a wide audience. It is exciting and funny and keeps you thinking long after the action is over.” —Rose City Reader “Excellent dialogue, well-crafted characters, and enough dramatic tension to saw a Panzer in half.” —The New Podler Review of Books “A riveting novel inspired by a real World War II operation!” —BookBub Featured Deal Awesome Indies Approved B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree Independent Novel Best of 2010, The New Podler Review of Books