The novel "Fantaisie" takes place in 1946 post-war Europe, following Jan Orlinski, a former Polish RAF pilot, and his lover Sophie Gordon. Jan takes a job flying cargo missions from Paris to the Belgian Congo for a mysterious employer named Gerston, transporting what he believes is cobalt ore. Meanwhile, Sophie, who was previously exiled from Britain for unwittingly helping her Nazi-sympathizing father during WWII, is recruited by British Intelligence officer Herrington to feed disinformation to Soviet agents in Paris. She agrees, hoping to earn back her British citizenship and create a better life for her and Jan's young daughter, Maria. The story takes a dramatic turn when Sophie disappears, taken by Soviet agents to Sachsenhausen prison in East Germany. Jan embarks on a dangerous rescue mission into Soviet-controlled territory, making unlikely allies along the way. These include a resistance member named Klaus, a tavern owner named Carla whose father Henrik is also imprisoned in Sachsenhausen, and a group of former German Luftwaffe pilots who want to escape the Soviet zone. Through determination, ingenuity, and help from his newfound allies, Jan manages to orchestrate a daring rescue of Sophie and Henrik. The story explores themes of redemption, trust, and the moral complexities of the immediate post-war period. It weaves together historical elements like Operation Bernhard (the Nazi counterfeiting operation), the Soviet atomic program, and the exploitation of African resources during the colonial period. The novel concludes months later in England, where Jan, now working for British European Airways, conducts one final covert mission to help those who aided in Sophie's rescue. The story ends with Jan, Sophie, and Maria reunited in London, having left behind the dangerous world of espionage for a quieter life. Through Jan and Sophie's journey, the novel examines how ordinary people become caught up in extraordinary circumstances, and how love and loyalty can provide the courage to face seemingly impossible odds. Their story reflects the broader struggles of a continent trying to rebuild itself in the aftermath of World War II, even as new tensions between East and West begin to emerge. Author Michael Kenneth Smith takes us on a post-World War 2 adventure far from The City of Light in his concise but epic novel Fantaisie. Smith's ability to empathize with and develop the varied characters is impressive and shows in this flawless historical story. I found his intricate weaving of Jan's and Sophie's parallel crises interesting and complex. However, what kept me immersed was the rapid-fire suspense! Whether it be a tumultuous flight through a rainstorm or an ominous meeting over martinis in a French restaurant, Smith is a master at building tension. Clandestine meetings, domestic and international injustices, secret agents, and suspicious 'frenemies' of the worst type are all part of this real world to which you will want to escape. (Reviewed by Inga Buccella for Reader's Favorite)