In the vast tapestry of war, outcomes are never certain. Its demands are endless, its sacrifices countless. Yet for one couple who will share war's burdens and dangers-a daring American OSS agent and a French Resistance leader-its conclusion will transform both lives forever.
From the opening line, author Arthur McMaster, a retired foreign intelligence officer, makes clear: "No families escape the devastation of war." What follows is storytelling you won't be able to set aside. Amid the apple orchards and farmlands of war-ravaged Western Europe in the final years of World War II, we follow thirty-five-year-old OSS operative Claire Skiffington and French Resistance leader Jacques Berlangier through perilous clandestine operations. Eluding Vichy collaborators and Wehrmacht checkpoints, Claire's cover is that of a simple pastry girl, but this emissary is far more than she appears.
Years after the Nazi menace has passed, in the small Breton village of Combourg, Claire and Jacques are in love and determined to build a life together. Their days and nights in Paris work to make it all magical. But someone wants Jacques dead. Why? And how will one estranged family member unlock the source of danger?
Brimming with suspense and rich in character development, In the Orchards of Shadow and Light features beautiful imagery and finely drawn characters. Written by former DIA-CIA analyst and award-winning writer Arthur McMaster, In the Orchards of Shadow and Light is the first in a trilogy based on espionage, romance, and suspense. Combines elements of "The Rose Code," "The Nightingale," and "All the Light We Cannot See" to create a rich atmosphere, original characters embroiled in real historical events, dangerous romance and compelling drama. This story represents one man and one woman's perilous commitment to service in the face of danger: one couple's commitment to overcoming treachery and blazing a future together.
Poet, playwright and novelist Arthur McMaster's first career was that of a foreign intelligence officer, with military intelligence and the CIA. Retiring from government service, Arthur earned an MFA degree in Poetry at University of Florida (Pushcart Prize nominations) and taught as a visiting Associate Professor of English at Converse College in Spartanburg, SC. He now teaches in the Continuing Education Department for Furman University (fiction and poetry). His books include: In the Orchards of Shadow and Light (historical fiction novel and part of the Shadow series); The Whole Picture Show (poetry); Musical Muse (academic); Birdies Never Die (golf); Givings & Misgivings (poetry); The Spy Who Came Down with a Cold (poetry); and Need to Know (memoir). Arthur and his family live in Greenville, South Carolina.
