Yeah for the Good Guys

Reviewed by Phee Paradise
The Swiss Courier by Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey

Adventure, intrigue, romance, faith, evil men…The Swiss Courier has them all. Near the end of World War II, a group of German resisters and a group of Swiss supporters of the Allies pull off a coup that will change the course of the war. Young Gabi is in the middle of the action. Her native Switzerland is neutral in the war, but her father is American and she is horrified by the German atrocities, so she volunteers for some undercover missions.

Her story is so good, I’m afraid to spoil it for you, so I’m not going to say much more. But it’s not just Gabi’s story and Goyer and Yorkey construct it like an ancient stone castle. Each stone is placed on the next, building to a solid finish. Throughout the story we see different characters, in both Germany and Switzerland; some with allegiances to the Fatherland and some to God the Father. They clash in expected ways, but we also see God intervene through the bravery of His people. There is one big surprise at the end that I loved, but didn’t anticipate.

The book doesn’t have a lot of layers or deep themes, just Good triumphing over Evil. The authors give us a glimpse of the horrors of the Gestapo and the complicity of the people. Even though I was sure Good would triumph, knowing the reality of Nazi Germany made the suspense stronger. If the resisters were caught, they would face torture and death. There is some necessary violence, but it is not graphic, and, well, the bad guys are Nazis. They deserve what they get.

What I loved most about the book is that it’s a great story. Some of it had me on the edge of my seat, whicle other parts had me cheering for the good guys. When I finished, I just wanted sit for a while and savor it.

Pros: Well told historical spy novel, with great characters, good suspense and action, and a satisfying ending.


Cons: Uses a lot of German words that slow the story down a bit.