Land of Hidden Fires

Kjeldsen tells a small-scale tale about Norwegian resistance to the Nazis in this work that should appeal to historical thriller fans. It’s March 1943 in the Stjørdalen Valley of Norway when 15-year-old Kari Dahlstrøm looks up from her farm chores to see a P-47 falling from the sky. That night she disobeys her father, Erling, and goes in search of the downed pilot, fantasizing about rescuing a dashing American flyer. She does find Major Lance Mahurin and, after gathering some meager supplies from her farm while her father sleeps, the pair begins a perilous trek through the late winter mountains of Norway toward Sweden and safety. Erling soon discovers Kari’s absence and follows her. Also on their trail are the local Wehrmacht Oberleutnant and Sverre Hattestad, a Norwegian would-be collaborator. Kari’s actions are somewhat foolhardy and of little consequence to the war, but she and her taciturn father are heroic, nonetheless. Kjeldsen’s pacing is steady and intriguing, with viewpoint changes adding to the tension. His descriptive prose does a fine job of conveying the breathtaking scenery of the wintry Norwegian mountains. (BookLife)