Read of the Month: “Massawa” by Pam Webber

In a gripping World War II thriller based on true events, Massawa: A Tale of Espionage, Love and Illusion (She Writes Press 2026) by Pam Webber will keep readers turning pages to discover what happens next to a young American spy. Fans of The Alice Network, The Rose Code, A Woman of No Importance, The Nightingale, and Wolves at the Door will find much to love here. Not only does the novel feature a brilliant young woman, it also transports readers to a little-known but strategically vital location in the Allied war effort: Massawa, Eritrea. Webber does a masterful job of bringing this overlooked region to life.

Jake Morgan captures novice agent Kit Thomas’s heart as he trains her for her first dangerous assignment. Although Jake appears in person only at the beginning and end of the novel, his presence lingers in Kit’s thoughts, and the two remain sporadically connected through clandestine radio communications.

Once in Eritrea, Kit is paired with the capable—and undeniably attractive—British MI6 agent Mark Williams. (Might he begin to rival Jake in Kit’s affections?) Their mission is to investigate the theft of millions in military payroll funds. Meanwhile, American Commander Ellsberg has achieved the seemingly impossible by restoring a naval base the British had declared beyond repair. But that miracle is under threat. If civilian workers at the only American naval base on the Red Sea are not paid, they will walk off the job, potentially allowing Rommel to advance toward the Suez unopposed.

Kit’s cover is that of a courier, transporting messages between Massawa and Ellsberg’s base. A courier is necessary because the single telephone line to the base is unreliable—raising suspicions about whether those assigned to repair it may be part of the network of traitors.

Trust becomes elusive. The culprits could be anyone. Thousands of Italian POWs, released after the British victory, remain in the region—some possibly still loyal to Mussolini, others identifying more with Eritrea than Italy. Members of the Eritrean Resistance, including Nomi, the hotel clerk; Issac, the bartender; and even Kit’s driver, fall under suspicion. The Vichy French—nominally “Free French” but often sympathetic to the Nazis—have also infiltrated local institutions, known for sabotaging Allied efforts.

Even the British are not above suspicion. While some welcome American involvement, others resent the delay. From the outset, Kit distrusts Dumas, the womanizing British official who spends his evenings lounging in white suits at the hotel bar with tumblers of Macallan. Mrs. Higgins, the hostile clerk who handles Kit’s messages, also raises red flags.

As if espionage were not perilous enough, Kit must also contend with the brutal desert heat and the treacherous mountain roads she travels daily to deliver messages critical to the war effort.

Webber sustains taut tension throughout, guiding readers across Eritrea’s rugged landscapes as Kit and Mark work to unravel the mystery of the stolen millions. Along the way, they encounter both hidden allies and dangerous enemies, creating a rollicking adventure—made all the more compelling by its basis in true events.

Massawa is the first in a planned series centered on brave women spies in North Africa and the Mediterranean. We at SLR will eagerly anticipate the next installment.

Pam Webber

Pam Webber is the author of the award-winning historical novels The Wiregrass, Moon Water, and Life Dust. An internal medicine nurse practitioner, avid traveler, and nature lover, she lives in Northern Virginia. Learn more at www.pamwebber.com.