“Of the countless books I've read about bravery in espionage
and war, few moved me as much did Patrick K. O’Donnell’s
They Dared Return….O’Donnell painstakingly details
the OSS tradecraft….O’Donnell has proved himself
a wizard at finding untold stories in the archives…a first-rate
read.”
—Washington Times
[They Dared Return] is a tale
of awe-inspiring daring and heroism.....O'Donnell, who has
become an important channel for collating the personal histories
of a dwindling band of Second World War veterans. This is a story
that should belong in the realms of fiction ... the fact that
it is true is both breath-taking and humbling.”
—Scott
Acton, WNTI
“It’s truly difficult to believe that this amazing
story isn’t better known…It’s a must-read.”
—Operation Homefront Online (“Best Military Reads
of 2009”)
“This chronicle of Jewish warriors returning to Germany
to defend their adopted country and to extract revenge for the
murders of their families is a story of courage, fortitude, and
high adventure. O’Donnell, the author of We
Were One, one
of the very best Iraq War books, tells this tale with verve,
clarity, and insight.”
—America in WWII
“O’Donnell’s treatment of this story is detailed,
rich and oriented to understanding the complexities of the times…Reads
like a well-orchestrated novel.”
—Augusta Metro Spirit
“They Dared Return cries
out to be made into a movie. It has everything that makes a
Hollywood blockbuster—unforgettable
heroes, a dastardly enemy, lots of action, and even a little
romance. Most important, it is a true story that you'll remember
for the rest of your life! Even if it is never made into a movie,
this book is a must read for anyone with an interest in Jewish
history, World War II, or espionage….O'Donnell writes
with the skill of a novelist, and his narrative style of writing
draws you into the story and never lets you go, while at the
same time authenticating his information to the satisfaction
of scholars and general readers alike who demand historical accuracy…”
—History in Review
“Tells one of the great untold stories of World War II…As
exciting and exotic as any Hollywood movie, but They
Dared Return is solidly rooted in the facts of history….”
—Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles
“O’Donnell explores one of the most intriguing stories
out of World War II…A gripping story…Well-researched
and supported by materials from the National Archives, confidential
documents, and personal interviews. The book is a fine tribute
to a group of men and women who risked their lives to stop
one of the cruelest regimes in modern history.”
—Collected Miscellany
“This book is a testament to these men who, after escaping
Germany, went right back in to fight for their new adopted country,
with no regard for their own safety. O’Donnell once again
has taken real history and made it so much readable than most
fiction. They Dared Return makes a great companion
piece to his The Brenner Assignment, and hopefully
should get as many accolades.”
—Bookgasm.com
“A true-life companion to Quentin Tarantino’s recent
pulp-grade wish-fulfillment WWII movie Inglorious Basterds…Quick-paced
and immediate, with many satisfying moments.”
—PublishersWeekly.com
“The book reads like a terrific spy novel, but it is all
fact.”
—WWII History
“That book will be not only fascinating, but an important
contribution to our understanding of World War II.”
—“The Book Studio,” WETA.org
“These were no “inglourious basterds” whose
stories O’Donnell tells, no avengers focused on sanguinary
retribution…The agents’ courage, skill, persistence,
modesty and devotion soar…An important story, thoroughly…told.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Compelling…A wonderful addition to the recent
burst of scholarship surrounding Southern Europe during World
War II…Any reader of O’Donnell’s cannot
help but feel that all of his histories are ready to be made
into films, and readers can only hope that Hollywood pays heed
to that call. They Dared Return will
engage novice and expert students of World War II alike. It
is a fine book.”
—World War II Forums
“[O’Donnell] fleshes out the tale of sacrifice,
spies, courage and betrayal organized by the American Office
of Strategic Services to take on Gestapo troops in a heavily
fortified district, Alpine Redoubt…Armed with research
in the National Archives, confidential documents and personal
interviews, O'Donnell tells a heart-stopping tale of sabotage
by men and women who placed everything on the line against
a seemingly unstoppable tyranny.”
—Publishers Weekly
“This book is yet another side of WWII,
and a segment of the war that has not been fully explored heretofore.”
—Veterans Reporter
“Readers, especially Jewish readers, will
derive great satisfaction from the feats of the Jewish soldiers.”
—Washington Jewish Week
“[A] riveting history of the planning
and the execution of the behind-enemy-lines covert action codenamed Operation
Greenup. One of the striking things about They Dared Return is
that reads like so much like a thriller…History's
twists and turns come alive thanks to O'Donnell's feel for
the dramatic…They
Dared Return is first-rate reading that captures
the action and the drama of war in the shadows. Unlike film
and spy novel fantasies, this is the real deal, popular history
at its best.”
—Blogcritics.org
“O’Donnell has done a great service in writing
this intriguing book.”
—Bookviews blog
