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Sarah R. Shaber

Government girl Louise Pearlie is thrilled to be posted to London, but her journey across the Atlantic proves to be anything but plain sailing…

February, 1944. Washington D.C. With the war entering its most dangerous phase, Louise Pearlie is thrilled to be reassigned to the London office of the OSS. But in order to take up her new post, she must make a perilous crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in the SS Amelia Earhart.

 Accompanying her on the voyage to Liverpool are an eclectic group of passengers, including the aloof Blanche Bryant, whose husband, Eddie, died in mysterious circumstances on the ship’s voyage out to New York three months before. Most of the same crew and passengers are on the return voyage, and one question remains: was it really suicide? 

 When the body of one of the passengers is found on deck, it’s clear that German bombs and raging storms aren’t the only threats to Louise’s safety. Can she expose a brutal killer before the ship docks in England?

Severn House

The Louise Pearlie World War II Novels of Suspense

Louise's Crossing

The first book in the Louise Pearlie Mysteries is “Sarah Shaber’s best novel yet” (Margaret Maron).

It’s 1942. Louise Pearlie, a young widow, has come to Washington, DC to work for the legendary Office of Strategic Services, the precursor to the CIA. When she discovers a document concerning the husband of her college friend Rachel Bloch—a young French Jewish woman she is desperately worried about—Louise realizes she may be able to help Rachel escape from Vichy France. But then a colleague whose help Louise has enlisted is murdered, and she realizes she is on her own, unable to trust anyone …

“A satisfying puzzle as well as a vivid picture of Washington during WWII. ” —Publishers Weekly

“An auspicious debut. ” —Library Journal

Louise's War

Young widow Louise Pearlie becomes embroiled in a perilous game of mafia bosses, Nazi spies, and banished royalty in this wartime novel of suspense.

It’s 1942 in Washington, DC. Louise Pearlie is now a chief file clerk at the legendary Office of Strategic Services, the precursor to the CIA, and enjoying being an independent, working woman despite wartime privations. But a casual friendship struck up with Alessa di Luca, a secretive war refugee, sucks Louise into a dangerous game of mafia bosses, Nazi spies, banished royalty, and Sicilian aristocracy—placing not only her job, but her life, in jeopardy …

“Shaber brews a delightful mix of feminine wiles and real-life history that will keep readers turning the pages. ” —Publishers Weekly

“Shaber has created a wonderful cast of characters … A wonderfully entertaining read. ” —Historical Novel Society

Louise's Gamble

The third book in the Louise Pearlie Mysteries is “an entertaining combination of mystery, adventure, and romance, with a great sense of place and time” (Historical Novel Society).

Young widow Louise Pearlie seizes a chance to escape the typewriters and files of the Office of Strategic Services, the United States’ World War II spy agency, when she’s asked to investigate a puzzling postcard referred to OSS by the US Censor. She and FBI agent Gray Williams head off to St. Leonard, Maryland, to talk to the postcard’s recipient, one Leroy Martin. But what seemed like a straightforward mission to Louise soon becomes complicated. Leroy and his wife, Anne, refuse to talk, but as Louise and Williams investigate, it soon becomes clear that Leroy is mixed up in something that looks a lot like treason. But what? Louise is determined to find out the truth, whatever the cost …

“A very good entry in this new and promising series. ” —Booklist

Louise's Dilemma

Government girl Louise is blackmailed into investigating the suspicious death of a missing co-worker, with sinister consequences.
 
 1940s Washington, DC, government girl Louise Pearlie is asked to review the file usage of a missing analyst from the Office of Strategic Services—the US wartime intelligence agency—only to learn he’d drowned in the Tidal Basin days before. OSS confirm it was an accident, and Louise is sent back to her regular job in the file rooms.
 
 Her time spent investigating Paul Hughes at least has one positive outcome, though: Louise meets a young woman in the OSS Reading Room, who asks her to join her “salon,” where she is encouraged to talk about controversial issues like racial segregation and equal pay for women. Socializing with the women helps her cope with her beau Joe Prager’s transfer to New York City.
 
 But Louise’s life soon takes a dangerous and sinister turn, and she can’t help but worry if she’ll wind up floating in the Tidal Basin herself . . .
 
 “A solid and suspenseful story . . . This series keeps getting better.” —Booklist

Louise's Blunder

Government girl Louise gets her big chance, when she is tasked with recruiting German POWs for a secret mission inside Nazi Germany.
 
 1940s Washington, DC, government girl Louise Pearlie has a new job inside the OSS—the Office of Strategic Services: recruiting German prisoners-of-war for a secret mission inside Nazi Germany. It’s a big chance for her, and Louise hopes she can finally escape her filing and typing duties. With the job comes two new colleagues: Alice Osborne, a propaganda expert, and Merle Ellison, a forger from Texas who just happens to speak fluent German.
 
 But when the three arrive at Fort Meade camp, to interview the first German POWs to arrive there, their mission is beset by complications. Only one of the prisoners speaks English, the army officer in charge of the camp is an alcoholic and two prisoners disappeared on the ship bringing the Germans to the states. Were their deaths suicide? Officially, yes. But Louise can’t help but have her doubts . . .
 
 “A fine example of the historical mystery . . . The whodunit is well-crafted, with enough red herrings to keep readers guessing.” —Star News Online
 
 “As usual, Shaber provides interesting period details” —Publishers Weekly

Louise's Chance

“Shaber’s winning sixth WWII mystery is her best yet”—from the award-winning author of Louise’s Chance and Louise’s Crossing (Publishers Weekly, starred review).
 
When a body is discovered in a Washington bar, government girl Louise Pearlie is forced into a role of lies and deception.

 On a bitterly cold night in December 1943, Louise Pearlie and her friend Joe Prager are enjoying a quiet drink in the Baron Steuben Inn when a bloodstained body is discovered behind the bar. Although the victim had been a regular customer, no one seems to know anything about him.

 When it turns out there is a link to Louise’s top-secret work at the OSS, she is ordered to find out as much as possible about the murder while keeping the connection secret from those involved, including the investigating police detective. Although Louise has been trained to keep secrets, the constant deception is taking its toll—especially when she discovers that she’s not the only customer at the Steuben that night with something to hide. Will Louise’s silence result in an innocent man being arrested for murder?
 
 “[Louise’s] sixth adventure is a worthy addition to the franchise.”—Kirkus Reviews

 “Shaber does a fine job portraying the plight of alien residents in wartime Washington, besides conveying the hectic atmosphere of a city whose resources are stretched to the limit by an influx of new workers.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)