The Quest for Anna Klein

Book excerpt: On the eve of WWII, a wealthy young New Yorker is drawn into an international plot by an alluring and dangerous woman: “Captivating.” —Kirkus Reviews It’s 1939 and the world is on the brink of war, but Thomas Danforth is in New York City living a charmed life. The well-traveled son of a wealthy importer, he’s in his twenties and running the family business, looking forward to a bright future. Then, during a dark, snowy walk along Gramercy Park, a friend makes a fateful request—and involves Thomas in a dangerous plot that could change the fates of millions. Thomas is asked to open up his secluded Connecticut mansion to a mysterious woman who will receive training in firearms and explosives. Thus begins an international scheme carried out by the captivating Anna Klein which will ensnare Thomas in more ways than one. When it all goes wrong and Anna disappears, he will travel far from home once again, but this time, into a war-torn world that is much more dangerous, in this story by an Edgar Award–winning author known for his “piercing thrillers” (Daily News, New York). “No other suspense writer takes readers as deeply into the heart of darkness as Thomas H. Cook.” —Chicago Tribune “Laced with dozens of intriguing historical anecdotes.” —Kirkus Reviews “Cook’s work is elegant, philosophical, and literary. This book is to be treasured, and is bound to earn him new readers. Grade A.” —The Plain Dealer