Catching the Wind

Starred review from March 13, 2017
Dobson (Chateau of Secrets) creates a labyrinth of intrigue, expertly weaving a World War II drama with a present-day mystery to create an unforgettable story. Thirteen-year-old Dietmar, returning home one day from playing with his friend in a tree house, stumbles upon his parents being interrogated and beaten by Nazi soldiers. Signaled to by his mother to run, he grabs his best friend, nine-year-old Brigitte, and the two flee to her house. There they discover the same soldiers have already ransacked her parents’ house, beating them badly. Faced with little choice, the vulnerable children take off, stealthily moving for months through the countryside to avoid being caught. A deep bond forms and, although Dietmar promises to never leave Brigette, as soon as they cross the English Channel they are separated. For seventy years following the separation, Dietmar searches for Brigette without success. After many futile investigations, Dietmar, by a stroke of luck, meets Quenby Vaughn, an in-depth reporter, and hires her to work with his lawyer on finding Brigette. Dobson takes readers on an amazing journey through the British-German underground alliances of World War II. Melding past and present in unpredictable ways, this is a must-read for fans of historical time slip fiction.

Nancy Peterson gives an outstanding narration of this heartbreaking yet uplifting story. During WWII, Daniel Knight and 10-year-old Brigitte narrowly escape the Nazis after the arrest of their families. Upon journeying to England, the two are separated. More than 70 years later, the memory of Brigitte still haunts Daniel. Finding her becomes a priority as he ages, and he hires Quenby Vaughn, an American journalist living in London who specializes in finding missing people. Dobson's wartime novel runs the gamut of emotions, expertly expressed by Peterson. Her emotionally connected reading and distinctly voiced characters will engross listeners. C.L.S. 2018 Audies Finalist � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine