Book Jacket

 

rank 1808
word count 126904
date submitted 26.10.2010
date updated 21.11.2011
genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction
classification: adult
incomplete

The Jossing Affair

J.L Oakley

A man left in the snow for dead, betrayed by innocent love. Norwegian fishermen, agents. In wartime, love and trust are not always compatible.

 

British-trained Norwegian intelligence agent Tore Haugland has enough worries when he is sent to a tiny fishing hamlet on the west coast of Norway to set up a line to receive arms and agents from England via the “Shetland Bus.” Posing as a deaf fisherman, his mission is complicated when he falls in love with Anna Fromme, the German widow of an old family friend. Accused of betraying her husband, she has a small daughter and secrets of her own. Though the Allies have liberated France and the Netherlands, the most zealous of the Nazis hang on in Norway, sending out agents of their own to disembowel local resistance groups. If Haugland fails it could not only cost him his life, but those of the fishermen who have joined him. When Haugland is betrayed and left for dead, he will not only have to find the one who betrayed him and destroyed his network, but also prove that the one he loved was not the informer.

 
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tags

love, mi iv, norwegian fishing villages, occupied norway, resistence, shetland bus, soe norway, trust in time of war, war crimes, ww ii

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12 comments

 

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Spilota wrote 356 days ago

I've only read the prologue but like this a lot.
Keeping it on my WL and will read more.

Betty K wrote 709 days ago

Fantastic opening, Janet. That's all I had time for today, but this definitely looks like a story I would want to read. Top marks, my friend.

Betty K "The Silk Weaver's Daughter"

Joanna Stephen-Ward wrote 884 days ago

Had to promote it to my shelf. Comments below.

Joanna Stephen-Ward wrote 884 days ago

Tense prose and plot. Finding the man alive was a surprise.

My only crit would be that you have used unnecessary words. EG. His hands were cold. (Yes, of course they would be it was snowing)

This will have a space on my bookshelf as soon as I can make one. On my watch list till then.

Joanna.

Raydad wrote 884 days ago

Hello J.L. I read chapters 1, 2 and 10 to get a feel for this. I always try to read anything about the war. I believe the time is late '44 when the Nazis were on the wane, having lost Paris to the allies. The setting is quite different from the usual war story. Although I am not familiar with Norwegian culture or language I appreciated the localization of the story. There's plenty of intrigue and trust/betrayal going on here, enough to provide a microcosm within the grand scope of the war. Little details, like how the Sten guns were produced so fast and delivered so quickly that often the barrels weren't completely honed out, so when firing them they might explode. And how the triggers were very touchy, firing if he weapon was dropped. These kinds of details give the story credence and believability. Fine work. I'll find room on the old shelf.

Randy
Buttermilk Moon

Pollux wrote 906 days ago

Great topic for a novel. Many may be familiar with the exploits of the Norwegian underground regarding the heavy water sabotage, but the fishing village locale gives a realistic view of how Norwegians endured the occupation. I think the writing is solid enough to hold interest and deliver a credible story. The use of Norwegian and German words can be distracting if no translation is provided. Nacht-und-Nebel, for example, needs to be explained to the readers. I also think you might want to do an edit without a spell-checker; following are some of the items I came across:

All for a car door (But for a car door?)
'failing her hands' (flailing her hands?)
swam back to towards
his first and only counter with her (encounter?)
I fine. Where girls.... (needs quotation marks)

Nevertheless, intriguing story, well told.

All the best,

Pollux

lawdog wrote 913 days ago

I read chapters one and two and will star this and keep it on the list for a turn on the shelf in soon order. While I consider myself a history buff, I make no promises to know much about your subject matter. But you tell it with such authority I believe it to be true or based in truth, either way it's good fiction.

Some readability issues such as some unnecessary 'thats' and 'hads,' and I was a little bit confused which body was the one still alive. Obviously later it was the one who was just beaten and not shot, but you might want to take a look to make sure every reader could take the leap or I just missed something. Nice job keeping the suspense going.

Telegraph wrote 926 days ago

Well crafted with intriguing charcters and diolouge. Tarrant

SusieGulick wrote 933 days ago

Dear J.L., Well, here I am reading & commenting on your 2nd book :) - it is just as well written & lots of intrigue as your 1st book. :) Your pitch was concise in preparing me for Tore's misadventures & love of Anna, but at the end of chapter 8, I'll have to write in my mind that they get married & live happily ever after as your book isn't completed yet. :) I've now read, backed, & commented on both of your books :) - could you please take just a moment to back my memoirs book. :) Thank you from the bottom of my heart :) - I'm 19 from the editor's desk & every backing moves me closer. :) Love, Susie :)

Andrew Burans wrote 934 days ago

This is every bit as good as The Tree Soldier. Backed with pleasure.

Andrew Burans
The Reluctant Warrior: The Beginning

Widget wrote 935 days ago

Well written and an intriguing tale that flows smoothly. You'll do well with this as you've written it in the style suitable for the period. Well done and all the best. Backed. Katherine - The Quizzical Wizards of Id.

SusieGulick wrote 935 days ago

:) comment to follow - read & commented on 1 day later :)

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