Red Gold

Red Gold, by Alan Furst, is a cinematic-style story set in wartime France in 1941-42. The protagonist, a film producer by the name of Jean Casson, finds himself sucked by circumstances into a French resistance against the occupying German forces, becoming involved in a risky arms deal to supply the French Communist Party with guns and ammunition. Hardly the sort of thing that a non-partisan film producer would do, but these are difficult times when the police can come knocking on your door, and you are never heard of again. One after another, the author writes about French comrades who fall in the line of duty - assasination, sabotage, espionage - many of them young men and women, barely into their teens, losing their lives in their fight for freedom for France. Viva la France! At the same time, there is also the suffering of the Jews who are being persecuted, some of them choosing to flee the occupied terrority. Throw in the Gestapo, double-crossing agents and mysterious lovers to raise the level of suspense. Plus a detailed and descriptive familiarity of Paris, which lends a sense of authenticity to the tale. This book is a gripping read indeed. Though the final line of the book just leaves one big question unanswered...

3/5 for this book.