Operation Texas is a novel set in 1938 that tells of Rosalind, whose skills in German and Slavic languages are perfect for the job of undertaking a hazardous trip to Poland to smooth her Congressman’s friend’s journey.
On the trip to Poland Rosalind encounters German spies returning from New York with secret documents, a British undercover agent, and those who are trapped in Poland and seeking a way out.
She expected support in her duties from the Embassy, which seems the logical force to assist her in tackling evolving dilemmas outside her job description – but instead she finds herself operating on her own as everything shifts around her.
Rosalind’s original mandate to observe and assist turns into a mission to not just survive, but confront social and political issues engulfing not just Poland, but the world.
Thriller components of tension, fast-paced action, and international intrigue compliment the novel’s historical foundations and its strong female protagonist. Anita Lampel builds a tale replete with thought-provoking moments of discovery, revealing pre-World War II insights about the clandestine effort to secure US visas for Polish Jews before the Nazi invasion.
As Rosalind finds her assignment shifting in radical ways, she steps up to an invitation to not only gain further information, but participate a developing romance:
“Why don’t we pretend I’ve taken a shine to you and vice versa? Happens between crew and tourist-class passengers all the time. Then I can seek you outside and even slip in here. I also need to emphasize that you are just to observe carefully and report to me. Same at the embassy—observe, report. You’re not—under any circumstances—to play Nancy Drew, girl detective, sneaking around everywhere and following your own hunches.”
Operation Texas marries a historical novel with a thriller overtone via the rich insights of a proactive female who finds her special skills put to the test in a dangerous, unfamiliar environment.
Librarians and readers seeking a different kind of action story that has its roots in World War II events, its attraction in a female protagonist who is well equipped to handle the foreign demands of a changing world, and a mission that turns into something dangerously challenging will find Operation Texas enlightening and captivating. It’s highly recommendable to readers who enjoy superior characterization and compelling World War II stories.