About the Book

Book: The Escape Game

Author: Marilyn Turk

Genre: Historical Christian Fiction

Release date: March, 2023

A Board Game Holds Keys to Prisoners’ Escape

Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.

After the Nazis started the bombing blitz of England, Beryl Clarke puts her college on hold to return to Leeds, care for her mother, and work as a secretary at the Waddington game company. While she endures the war at home, her brother James fights the enemy in the air. When he is shot down, injured, and captured, James meets American POW Kenneth Anderson, and they plan to escape the Nazi prison camp. Beryl knows there is a board game with escape plans being delivered to POWs by the Red Cross. But how will the men discover the game’s secret?

 

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About the Author

Award-winning author Marilyn Turk writes historical fiction flavored with suspense and romance. Marilyn also writes devotions for Daily Guideposts. She and her husband are lighthouse enthusiasts, have visited over one hundred lighthouses, and also served as volunteer lighthouse caretakers at Little River Light off the coast of Maine.

When not writing or visiting lighthouses, Marilyn enjoys boating, fishing, gardening, tennis, playing with grandkids, and her golden retriever Dolly.

When not writing or visiting lighthouses, Marilyn enjoys boating, fishing, gardening, tennis, playing with grandkids, and her golden retriever Dolly. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers; Faith, Hope and Love; Advanced Writers and Speakers Association; and Word Weavers International.

 

More from Marilyn

The Story behind The Escape Game

In the process of writing my books, I’ve become fascinated by the real stories that happened during World War II. I’ve discovered information I didn’t know before and am finding out that many people I know, even those older than myself, didn’t know either. Every time I come across an interesting tidbit, I want to write about it. Since my husband knows I look for such things, when he came across a story about how the Monopoly game was used during the war, he shared it with me.

The true story was kept top-secret for over fifty years after the war, so few had heard about it, especially outside the United Kingdom. Of course, my writer’s mind set off asking “What If?” So the story developed about a woman who works for the company that makes the game and what happened after she found out about the secret. What if she had a close relative who had been captured before the British informed their soldiers about the game and he needed to know the information? How could she convey that to him?

I wish I could have gone to the UK for research, but that was not a possibility. Maybe someday. However, the people I contacted there were very helpful, and I was thrilled to make contact with the great granddaughter of the president of Waddintons, the company which manufactured the game. She was able to fill in a few details about the company, although when she was a child, her grandfather ran the company.

One thing many people find hard to believe, based on the horrible treatment the Nazi army inflicted on people they thought inferior, is that the treatment of POW’s was somewhat better, especially for pilots. Thanks to the rules of the Geneva Convention after WWI, the Germans abided by them for the most part. That involved treatment of prisoners who escaped. Most of them were caught and returned to the camp from which they escaped. And normally, the punishment was solitary confinement. The biggest hardship of the POWs besides lack of freedom was the meager food they were given, especially as the war continued, since the Germans themselves were facing food shortages.

The challenge for me as a writer was to accurately describe life in both England and the POW camp. The other big challenge was writing a love story when the two characters were apart for so long. But it’s true that many soldiers fell in love with women they corresponded with back home. That fact is verified in the many letters on record, including the ones my father-in-law wrote to a fellow soldier’s fiancé after the soldier was killed in action. Their relationship grew into love, and after the war, the two met in person at the train station for the first time and married the same day.

MY REVIEW 

The book takes us to WWII and the devastation people endured. It is hard to read about the bombs going off in neighborhoods and the horrific loss that happened everyday. Can yo imagine hearing sirens going  off  where you need to go to a bomb shelter for safety? The women who are left behind must find ways to support the  family. They were given rations that were barely enough for a family. The author paints a realistic look by her vivid details. I could hear the  sirens, bombs and screams as families ran for safety. 

Beryl is a very good character and tries to do her part to help out. She left college to take care of her mum and I loved how compassionate she was. Her heart is full with wanting to help others and takes in an elderly lady after her home was destroyed. 

James and Kenneth find themselves at the same POW camp. I’m sure is was a comfort for them to be together since they are friends. They seem to be treated better than  other POW’s because they are airmen . It was nice that they were able to receive packages from home as well as from the Red Cross. Their determination to escape was intriguing. There were many attempts and I wondered if they would succeed. Their bravery is one that I hope we all recognize. They represent those who fought for our freedom. 

The most fascinating thing  for me was how the game Monopoly was used  as an escape plan. Hidden within the game were useful tools and information which could help the men escape. I had never heard of this and was very interested in learning more about a very clever way  to help POW’s escape by the use of a game. 

I loved how James never gave up telling Kenneth about God. At one point Kenneth realizes that God is watching over him. He now knows that without God he would not be safe. The relationship between Beryl and Kenneth were nice but it seemed to develop very fast. I liked how the past and present are brought together in this beautiful illustration of hope. 

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

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Cover Lover Book Review, April 3

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Stories By Gina, April 6 (Author Interview)

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Remembrancy, April 8

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Holly’s Book Corner, April 9

Lily’s Book Reviews, April 10

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, April 10

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A Good Book and Cup of Tea, April 11

Lights in a Dark World, April 12

Blossoms and Blessings, April 12

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Marilyn is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon eGift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/25256/the-escape-game-celebration-tour-giveaway