A Chance To Kill by Paul Letters: A Book Review

A Chance to Kill
Author: Paul Letters
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Silverwood Books
Release Date: 2015
Pages: 300
Source: Historical Fiction Virtual Book tours in exchange for an honest review
Synopsis: Based upon real events, seventeen-year-old Polish catholic Dyta Zając finds herself forced away from wartime Warsaw due to her family’s shadowy connections. Dyta’s time on the run sets her on a path towards confronting the ultimate Nazi.

     Half a continent away, an RAF bomber crew embarks upon Britain’s little-known first offensive of the war. In a story of fear versus hope, the unspoken limits of loyalty are exposed and the value of a compromised life is contested. Courtship edges Dyta’s destiny closer to that of members of the RAF crew – and toward the Allies’ most brazen covert operation to strike at the Nazi elite.

     Even more dangerous than the enemy, however, is the assumption that your enemy’s enemy is your friend...

     My review: A Chance to Kill is an action historical novel set in World War II. Dyta, a Polish Catholic, seeks refuge across Europe. She agrees to spy on Hitler’s regime to help end the war and defeat her enemies. On the way to England, she meets Tom, a member of Britain’s Royal Air Force, and they fall in love. Both of them are amidst the danger of the war. In the fight against the war, Dyta is often confronted with the question, would she kill if she had the chance?

     Dyta is a strong heroine. She is very spirited and feisty. She is not afraid to fight back. She is also very independent for she knows how to take care of herself. She is also very intelligent and makes smart choices. However, the course of the novel Dyta is often conflicted about killing her enemy if she had the chance. This question is brought to her by other characters in the novel. That is the last thing she wants to do because she wants to respect all life. Her only light in darkness is Tom. Their love is realistic and pure. It is Tom’s image that helps her get through her suffering and her hardships.

     Overall, this novel explores the dark reality of human nature in terms of war. The story is full of fast-packed action and an epic love story. At first, I found the novel to be confusing and hard to get into. This is because of the alternating points of view between Dyta and Tom. Tom was not mentioned in the synopsis, and when the second chapter switched to him, I did not really know what his role was. It did not make sense until almost a hundred pages later, he and Dyta meet. Also, the author’s writing style took a lot of getting used to. It was a usual World War II novel that is filled with military action scenes. After finally adjusting myself to his writing style, I found myself immersed in the story. The writer had clearly done his research, and I found swept alongside Tom and Dyta. The tone of the book is dark and gritty. I recommend this story to fans of World War II novels.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars