When H.G. Wells published his novella The Time Machine in 1836, time travel was still in the realms of fantasy. With the development of nuclear and quantum physics over the past one hundred and eighty years, the idea of travelling back and forward in time is perceived to be closer than ever. If, it hasn’t already been achieved in some small aspect, by a government or corporation.

In literature we’ve certainly seen authors grasp the theory and run with it, considering the likes of Michael Crichton’s 1999 time travel adventure Timeline and more recently Audrey Niffeneggers’s 2003 book, the Time Traveler’s Wife. As with most things, there are good and bad uses for scientific advances; take Crichton’s other big literary and film success Jurassic Park and it’s print sequel Jurassic World. This month’s book explores the idea of what would happen if a group of Hitler’s most trusted military leaders got their hands on time travel. Its America Uber Alles by Jack Fernley and is published by Unbound (www.unbound.com)  on the 3^rd May 2018.

Its 1945 in Berlin and the Allies and Russians are closing in on the city. Hitler and his  generals are facing defeat. General Robert Ritter Von Griem and Flying Ace, Hanna Reitsch are summoned to Hitler’s bunker. There, they are ordered to proceed to a facility on the outskirts of the city where a group of highly skilled Stormtroopers, Historians and Engineers are waiting. Their mission is to travel back in time and change history by making one of the allies a German state, founded on the beliefs of the Third Reich. In December 1776, George Washington and his army are struggling to overcome mounting losses, low morale  and defeat  at the hands of the British in the American War of Independence, aided by a large force of German mercenaries, led by the mysterious Baron Von Steuben aka Ritter Von Griem and Hanna Reitsch. When one of Washington’s most trusted lieutenants Edward Hand, an Irish Doctor is kidnapped, he is asked by Von Steuben to introduce him to Washington and through their knowledge of American history Von Stuben and his troops start  to turn the tide of the war against the British. But as the German influence over the Americans becomes all encompassing, Edward Hand witnesses first hand their barbarity and has grave doubts about the Germans. Can he convince the fledgling congress and his own leaders and friends of the danger they are in? Or will Von Stueben and Reitsch and their ever growing support achieve their sole objective of changing the future?

When I first heard the title of this book, I thought it was about Uber and modern America. What a surprise I got when I read the blurb and it dawned on me what a coincidence its publication was, considering the  social and political change sweeping America at this time under Trump.

Jack Fernley (AKA Wayne Garvie)

What Fernley gives us in this book is a historical conspiracy thriller that will have readers chomping at the bit from the first page to find the answer to the huge “Will they won’t they” conundrum at the heart of this book. The main thing we take from reading  this book, is the vast amount historical research that Fernley has put into this work. When you add his edgy and engrossing story telling, you realize how on the mark he is. As a result the reader is drawn into a parallel world where modern ideals and warfare clash with old world thinking and technologies.

I did like this book and found it a real page turner, but there are a couple things that are a big let down. For one there is no apparent protagonist in the book, it’s only midway through it that I started to get a feeling I should be rooting for Edward Hand, but he disappears for a good bit of the book and really only comes to the fore at the end. So in a sense, its like watching a big Premiership football match  with a lot of well constructed characters up against each other.

The second and biggest problem lies in the fact that there’s no ending. From page one you are on a vehicle which moves at speed to one of two conclusions, either the Germans succeed or Edward Hand and the few friends he has left, thwart their mission. But after three hundred and forty nine pages the whole thing falls off a cliff and stops dead. There is no outcome and the reader is left wondering what happens next.

The last chapter sees George Washington, Edward Hand and Thomas Jefferson meeting a group of Native Americans to try raise a new American army, but nothing is mentioned of whether they succeed or if Von Stueben and the Nazi’s do. I can only assume Fernely is planning a second book, with a conclusion where a new America under German rule is formed and the outcome of World War Two is altered or maybe he’ll introduce another group of time travelers from the future lead by the allies. These I would look forward to, but if there is no such thing then I’m very disappointed.

This is English Author Jack Fernley’s (@thejackfernely) second historical thriller, his first was, The Babylon Revelation published in 2013. Jack Fernley is actually the pen name of Wayne Garvie a leading British television executive whose worked on such programes as Strictly Come Dancing, Top Gear and The Crown.

So, if you are looking for a great read with the plotting and pace of any of Robert Harris or Bernard Cornwell’s books then jump in your Delorean and drive to your local bookshop or download a copy, but be warned the ending is a big let down and needs the reader to decide the outcome.