So Shall We Stand

Written by Elyse Larson
Review by Lisa Sweeney

After her husband is killed in the London blitz, Nella Killian returns to her hometown in Wales with her young daughter. The horrors of war have shaken Nella’s faith in God. She accidentally discovers a letter implying that the recent death of a young serviceman was not a suicide but rather a murder connected to an espionage plot. The disappearance of the letter and subsequent attempts on Nella’s life convince her that she has become a target, but provide her with no proof she can take to the authorities. With the help of her best friend Peggy, Nella must make tough decisions that affect the safety of her family to uncover the spies in their midst.

Whereas the espionage plot is fairly elementary (experienced mystery readers will have no difficulty in predicting what happens next or in identifying the spies), the main characters of Nella and Peggy are well drawn and believable. After the tragic events of September 11th, readers of inspirational fiction may find this book a particularly relevant read as the heroine deals with the issue of maintaining her faith in God despite the evil abroad in her world.

Lisa Sweeney