While Mortals Sleep by Jack Cavanaugh

Man, that Jack Cavanaugh is one talented author.  I've enjoyed every book I've read by him so far, and I've read a lot now!  This book takes place during World War II, and is about a pastor who has to decide if he will follow the new leader of Germany and abandon some of what he believes is right, or endanger his own life as well as that of his young wife and unborn child to stand up for what he believes in.

There's also some horrendous descriptions of things that went on, not including concentration camps.  This was just at the beginning of Hitler's reign of terror, and to read what was happening to Jews on the streets (since they weren't all rounded up and sent off yet), the medical experiments performed on live humans, the 'cleansing' of those deemed less than human, especially babies (handicapped or disabled in some way), and how Hitler preyed on young boys and basically brainwashed them into joining his forces and believing everything he was doing was right and good, raising up a nearly unstoppable army with the vigor and passion of youth.  Those things are hard to read and I even cried in some parts, but I like that I learn things or see with greater clarity when those stories are made personal, even through fictitious characters.

It's another great page-turner, one that I read far into the night, not wanting to stop at the end of each chapter.  There's twists and turns you'd never expect, and also some insight into why so many pastors in Germany during that time did choose to follow Hitler, especially at the beginning.  All in all, a great historical fiction.