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Village Books
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In The Brisling Code, a fast-paced first installment of her historical thriller series, Oakley weaves a brilliant portrayal of the perils met by the Norwegian Resistance during WWII.
Layered perspectives—from resistance workers, traitors, and even an SS Officer—create a rich world through which readers can understand the sacrifices that were made to free our world from the tyranny of Nazi Germany.
Immersed in volatile Nazi-occupied Bergen, Norway, fearless young intelligence agent Tore Haugland and his team of organizers work tirelessly to protect the essential work of the Norwegian resistance.
Haugland’s task is to uncover the plans for the expansion of the German Uboat base with inside help at a shipyard. Also charged in unveiling the meaning behind a mysterious message sent by his murdered predecessor, Haugland navigates the treacherous waters of Norway—a mere haunting of the beautiful city it once was before Nazi occupation. Readers can “almost taste the danger” as our hero moves from one treacherous predicament to the next. Haugland’s mission risks not only his own life, but the lives of every friend and connection he makes.
The Brisling Code is a multi-faceted novel, interspersing the harsh and secretive political climate of Nazi occupation with the deaf community’s resistance work in Norway and a 1919 Norwegian program called the Wienerbarnkomitten, in which Norwegian families took in and raised German children whose families were impacted by WWI.
These overlapping communities create a heart of tenderness and relational love at the center of the novel, despite the violence and treachery that constantly threatens to break through.
For example, seemingly cold-hearted SS officer Hans Becker—on the hunt to capture Haugland and responsible for torturing and murdering many resistance workers— experiences a deep tenderness for his Norwegian foster mother, admitting that “She is my mamma. Not of my blood, but my heart.” As a result, he is forced to reconsider the motives behind his actions and stand up for her well-being, risking both his position as an officer and his life.
The Brisling Code is filled with these small, deeply sensitivity moments that bring characters to life.
People show warmth in a freezing world with actions like a cup of hot coffee, an embrace, and a smile of welcome. Despite the constant threat of violent death, life goes on in Norway, creating a web of intricate characters whose lives are rich with hopes, fears, and longings. Similarly, characters often reveal their true selves under their heavily-curated exteriors through actions and allegiances. These complicated moments and relationships refuse cut-and-dry judgements, allowing readers to find humanity in unexpected places.
Undercurrents of political tension in The Brisling Code create a rich historical context that puts readers in the shoes of Norwegians in their occupied homeland.
With descriptions of everyday life, readers soon understand the paranoia and surveillance in Norway— the constant fear of separation and harm among families and friends.
An expertly researched and executed novel, The Brisling Code invites readers to see that unexpected tender moments can always be found, opening up the possibilities for resistance in the face of violence.
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