This book came so highly recommended that I expected it to be the next Unbroken, so perhaps I'm unfair in giving it 3.5 stars instead of 4 -- the bar was really high.

It is an incredible story of resistance based on real people and events. It's a bit Forest Gump-esque in that the protagonist kept accidentally finding himself in crazy situations that required him to act like a hero. I like that it was set in Italy, since most of the books I've read about WWII are set in Germany, France or the UK. And I found myself wondering: if you're a spy, how do you convince people that you weren't actually a Nazi when the war is over.

If you enjoy WWII books, this is certainly a worthy addition to your bedside table. Unlike Unbroken, however, I probably won't be foisting it on everyone I meet for the next six months.