White Flag Down

S witzerland during WWII proves an unexpectedly rich setting in Ross's suspenseful second thriller (after 2005's Double Cross Blind ). In September 1942, a U.S. Army Air Force pilot, Lieutenant Grant, crash-lands his photo reconnaissance plane in Swiss territory after catching a glimpse of a previously unknown Nazi secret weapon, a jet aircraft. The Swiss authorities imprison Grant, along with his navigator. Grant escapes and is soon enmeshed in a complicated plot that centers on Swiss collaboration, a Russian commander fresh from the Battle of Stalingrad, the Russian's ex-wife and secret negotiations that may result in a truce between Germany and Russia—thus freeing Hitler's forces from fighting the war on two fronts. Much time and energy is spent on the search for an obscure economic document, but there's plenty of action as Grant rips through one seemingly impossible mission after another. Thriller readers who enjoy looking at WWII from a fresh perspective will be particularly rewarded. (July)