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This book takes us back to pre-WWII era and the times during the war. Young, bright and daring graduates of the elite doctoral program devise a plan to bring down financial moguls of Nazi Germany and cripple the war machine.
Overall, this was an exciting and enjoyable read. The international cast of six main characters was fun and diverse! The ladies, especially, were my heroes! Cecelia and Claudine are so bad a**. The story was fast-paced and the action span over two continents. It was fun to get a glimpse of London, Swiss Alps, New York and San Francisco, all in one novel. If you're looking for action-packed historical fiction read with a financial spin, this may be your next pick! Unique concept and more to come since this is book one in the series!
~ Karine Bulut (Goodreads)
Six friends set out to change the world and stop the Nazi's while they do it.
When this group of friends discover the corruption of those financing the Third Reich they have to use every bit of know-how and every connection they have to put into action their daring plan that if exposed could get them all killed.
I really enjoyed this action-packed WWII story of political intrigue with cat and mouse chases, high drama and romance. I found this to be a very quick read as the tension built and the plot thickened. The plan that the six sentinels have drawn up is intelligent and thought-provoking. Did the author use actual events as his guide? This story makes it seem very plausible and it is an angle I haven't seen used before. Either way, it's captivating and very well crafted. If WWII novels interest you, I highly recommend this thrilling story. It's the beginning of a trilogy and I look forward to what The Sentinels do next.
~ David Morgan (Goodreads)
âIn 1938, the Sentinels, a group of six economics doctoral students at the University of California, Berkeley, claim to have discovered a pattern that explains and can even predict repeating cycles of the rise and fall of world powers. In particular, the Sentinels assert that German industrialists are pushing Europe into war. They propose a watchdog organization to eradicate these cancers when lower-level means can still be used effectively. Of course, it's too late for anyone to stop WWII.â ~ Publishers Weekly
âI enjoyed all of the characters and once attached to them I found myself wanting to read on and on... fun with plenty of facts and cool scenes from our World War II History, left me wanting to know what happened to the characters after the war ended.â
âGreat story and characters, set back in WWII. Very enjoyableâŠâ
âGordon develops a character and writes as if talking with him in a conversational style, which is easy to read. There is a San Francisco bias and locals can identify with his descriptions. He paints a good picture with words and itâs easy to imagine the various locations.â
âGordon brings years of experience and expertise to his subjects and presents them in an extremely original and compelling way.â
âGordon cleverly uses historical context and characterization to make the once unthinkable and unimaginable come to life as real-world possibilities in the transparent and no holds barred world in which we live today. I was engrossed from start to finish and left wondering âWhat next?ââ
âWe have lived in the Washington DC area for almost 50 years. As a result, we believe the situations described in the Sentinels activities could certainly exist. America could certainly use a group of people such as the Sentinels in todayâs world. The author has brought in some new characters in this book that make the story all the more believable for the time frame of the book. I could not put it down once I started reading it. I think that any adult can relate to the story and will thoroughly enjoy it.â
âZuckerman authors an exciting narrative that weaves between fiction and truth. A gifted conspiracy theorist.â
Fortunes of War is one of those âwhat-ifâ books that will make the reader wish its premise really could happen. What if it were possible to identify a âpower cycleâ pattern that can accurately predict when a countryâs political corruption is close to reaching the point where regional or world war will become inevitable? What if a new watchdog organization could recognize those responsible for this level of corruption soon enough to disrupt it all before another war breaks out?
Fortunately, six Berkley students have done just that. Unfortunately, by the time they announce their findings to the world in June 1938, it is too late to stop the group of greedy German industrialists that is making Adolph Hitlerâs aggression possible. The students, however, might still have time to do the next best thing because, now that the war is going poorly for the Germans, these same amoral businessmen want desperately to move their fortunes out of Germany and into Swiss banks. Recognizing their opportunity, the Six Sentinels step in with a plan to make sure that these fortunes will never lead the world to war again.
The Sentinels are a varied group, but they have more in common than just their graduate studies at Berkley. Each of them comes from one of the worldâs most powerful and influential families: Mike Stoneâs father is head of a huge New York bank; Cecelia Chang is the daughter of one of Hong Kongâs most influential traders; Jacques Roth is heir to the fabulous Roth banking fortune; Claudine Demauraux is the daughter of a powerful Swiss banker; Tony Garibaldi springs from one of Italyâs major wine producing families; and Ian Meyer is the son of the founder of one of Londonâs major auction houses. A group like this one brings major weapons to any battle, but whether or not the six are a match for the Germans who are so determined to kill them is another question.
Like most thrillers, Fortunes of War requires the reader to cut its author a little slack. There are moments when the close calls and near misses begin to get a little predictable but, if one is willing to suspend disbelief for its duration, Fortunes of War can be great fun. Throw in a little romance (some might say, a lot of romance) along the way, and this one has something for everyone.
The Sentinels: Fortunes of War by Gordon Zuckerman begins with a flashback to a meeting of group of German industrialists who decide to back a new fellow on the scene, Hitler for financial reason. They are concerned about their own pockets, not what is best for the country. Jump forward and it appears that World War II is about to end and these same industrialists want to get their money out of the country safely without Hitler knowing. The want to be able to use their money once the Reich is no more.
Getting in their way are the Sentinels, a group of six very intelligent young people who attended grad school together and were quite a think tank. They have since stayed in touch but each has been involved in their own way changing the world. They realize that if these men get their money out of Germany they will again back someone else and it will only be a matter of time before the cycle begins again. Thus, they develop a plot to stop these men from profiting further. They have financial and business connections and develop a plan to take the industrialistsâ money and use it in a more positive manner. They are a likeable group of four young men and two women. As they put their plan into effect it soon becomes clear their lives are in danger. They are hunted down, some kidnapped but they are determined to carry through with their plans despite the danger.
I could not put the book down as there are many plot twists and turns, there is political intrigue, conspiracy, and romance. As I finished reading it I realized I really didnât want to leave the Sentinels and then I read that more books were forthcoming and I was excited. Gordon Zuckerman is in the same class as other thriller writers including Robert Ludlum and David Baldacci. He has a clear understanding of history, creates an interesting page turner and develops likable characters. I am looking forward to the next one in The Sentinel series.