The Alphabet House / Jussi Adler-Olsen / 465 pages / Twentieth Century Fiction Challenge

"This book is not a war novel.  The Alphabet House is an elementary story about breaches that can arise in all types of relationships, from daily life in marriage or at the workplace to extreme settings like the Korean War...or in this case, the Second World War," explains the Author's Note.  It took eight years to write and features two objects of the author's fascination - the possibly mentally ill and World War II.  It recounts the story of two British airmen whose plane was shot down while on a special reconnaissance mission; their harrowing tale of escape; their horrifying subterfuge; and their ultimate reunification.  Although I certainly agree that this novel deals with emotional breaches, I would most definitely consider it to be a war novel...an excellent period piece, and a spine-tingling tale of absolute heroism.  I did, however, find it a bit difficult to accept one love affair and one man's ability to survive....Truth is often stranger than fiction...