Book Review: The Discovery by Dan Walsh

The Discovery
By Dan Walsh
Contemporary romance
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group
April 2012
ISBN: 9780800719814
$14.99

The best of contemporary and historical blend

Michael Warner’s family history goes no further back than famous author grandfather Gerard Warner. That fact never bothered Michael until his sister, Marilyn, makes a scene at the reading of Gramps’ will.

Then he was exasperated. When Gramps’ literary agent offers a ghost-written book deal for an exclusive biography, Michael gets nervous. He’d grown up both loving and in awe of Gramps, and it seems disrespectful trying to pry information out of the grave. Marilyn says their grandfather promised the secret of their family tree would come out after his death. But do they really want to know?

Michael’s bride, Jenn, suggests he use their inherited wealth and new home in Charleston, Gramps’ estate, to look around, see if there isn’t something he can find about the family while she’s away packing up their Florida apartment. Michael doesn’t need much encouragement and not long after he discovers Gramps’ typewriter case is more than what it appears. Gerard Warner’s life and reputation is left in Michael’s hands. Will he do the right thing?

The Discovery reveals a little-discussed, little-known case of espionage and terrorism in the United States during World War II. Mind-control, loyalty, fear, espionage and collusion would win Hitler new territory, or fail the Third Reich. But which part did Gerard Warner take? Hero to the Reich, or Hero to the US? And why?

An Impossible Love, Gramps’ last unpublished manuscript, can either bond the family or ruin the beloved image of long-time internationally-best-selling author, along with Michael’s dreams and desires to follow in his beloved Grandfather’s writing footsteps.

This is my favorite book of Dan Walsh’s. His style has matured to the point where he can wrap his readers in a soft old comforter and set us in front of a fire and weave a mesmerizing tale of the love of a good woman able to turn the world on an edge. Walsh has become comfortable in his ability to let his characters speak for themselves, even when they’re telling someone else’s story. “Say you’re going to make something of your life. Do something meaningful. Cure some disease. Break some work record. But don’t do it as Ben Coleman or Gerhard…whatever your last name is.”

Good advice for anyone in any age. Walsh is always spot-on with research and life during the era. This book felt less like a report and let us live his characters and their discoveries. Both a contemporary love story and historical, Walsh blends today and yesterday in luscious southern charm.