Hideaways have long been part of history, from priest holes to secret closets. Here, Lucien Bernard, a French architect working for the Nazis, agrees to create clandestine spaces when approached by a man offering a hefty sum. But eventually the job becomes more than a job and Lucien slowly evolves from a man who cared not a whit for the Jews into a hero ready to risk his life. Charles Belfoure makes just a few mistakes with this intriguing debut novel, most notably leaving minor story lines incomplete. Mark Bramhall’s delivery – giving German and French speakers unique inflections, but reading straight narration sans accent – lets characters stand out. Grade: A–
(Read by Mark Bramhall, Random House Audio, 9 CDs, 11 hours)
