THE JØSSING AFFAIR by J.L. Oakley, narrated by Chris Humphreys – Historical Fiction, WWII, Norway

In The Jøssing Affair, J.L. Oakley shifts the spotlight from the familiar battlefields of World War II to Norway’s brutal occupation, revealing the extraordinary courage of the jøssings—Norwegian resistance fighters who risked everything to oppose Nazi collaboration.

For every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction. In The Jøssing Affair by J.L. Oakley, opposition to the Nazi regime and all who collaborated with it is seen in the jøssings, those Norwegians who opposed Nazism and everything it stood for.  Those beleaguered jøssings worked tirelessly in the shadows in whatever way they could, whether by organized resistance, by sabotage, through intelligence operations, providing an escape route for those in immediate danger, or simply, but just as dangerously, by distributing uncensored news from abroad and the contents of rare supply drops from Britain and America.

A master spy’s double life tests the limits of endurance.

Tore Haugland lives a precarious double existence as an undercover intelligence agent posing as a deaf fisherman in the coastal village of Fjellstad. As the final desperate year of German occupation unfolds after D-Day, Tore must maintain his cover while building resistance networks. Smuggling arms and protecting his operations from Nazis and Norwegian collaborators – the despised quislings who gave their name to treachery itself.

Oakley’s tight focus on Tore’s psychological journey creates remarkable intimacy within the vast canvas of war. Years of maintaining deadly secrets have worn down this stalwart operative, and when he finally allows himself to get close to someone in Fjellstad, the consequences threaten everything he’s worked to protect. The author masterfully captures the exhaustion of living perpetually on edge, where a single slip could doom not just Tore but everyone depending on him.

Chris Humphrey’s exceptional narration brings the Norwegian resistance to life.

The audiobook version of The Jøssing Affair showcases narrator Chris Humphreys at his absolute finest. Drawing on his Norwegian family heritage and considerable acting experience, Humphreys seamlessly blends his refined British accent with flawless Norwegian pronunciation, creating an authentically immersive listening experience. His nuanced performance captures both Tore’s outward calm as a simple fisherman and his inner turmoil as a resistance operative, while his smooth delivery of Norwegian names and phrases adds remarkable depth to the historical atmosphere.

Humphreys’ vocal range brings distinct life to each character, from German occupiers to Norwegian collaborators to the brave jøssings themselves. His ability to convey the mounting tension as the German net closes around Tore makes the audiobook version particularly compelling for listeners seeking full immersion in this gripping wartime thriller.

This vast and absorbing historical saga sets itself apart from other stories of World War II through its unique focus.

Focused not on Western theater or the British or American home fronts, but on the less explored occupation of Norway, Oakley zeros in on the final year of the brutal German occupation in the desperate months after D-Day when the Allies’ march on Paris gave hope to so many that the war would soon end, even as the German forces in Norway dug in for one last bloody stand.

By focusing this story on the Norwegian occupation and then tightening the focus to one single man’s experience of that war and the secret work needed to survive and win it, The Jøssing Affair creates an immediacy for the reader that is utterly compelling. WWII is a story that has been told many times over since 1945, and this setting makes all that history feel fresh and alive again.

This is just the start of an extraordinary story of resistance and bravery.

For historical fiction enthusiasts seeking fresh perspectives on World War II, The Jøssing Affair delivers compelling characters, meticulous research, and a story that honors the often-overlooked heroes of Norwegian resistance. And for listeners who have the time to invest in the audiobook of this work, the narrator’s flawless pronunciation and smooth inclusion of Norwegian names and simple phrases adds to the deep immersion in an already absorbing story.

Tore Haugland’s story continues in Oakley’s award-winning series with the prequel, The Brisling Code and the sequel, The Quisling Factor, promising readers more adventures with this unforgettable protagonist.

The Jøssing Affair by J.L. Oakley won Grand Prize in the 2016 CIBA Goethe Awards for Post-1750s Historical Fiction.