Patriots, A Novel

Praise for Bill Issel’s

PATRIOTS, A NOVEL*

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“World War II San Francisco, with its diverse population, political intrigues, racial strife, and ethnic rivalries, comes alive with vivid and compelling immediacy in this third cinematic novel by master storyteller and historian William Issel.”
Marjorie Penn Lasky, author of Off Camera: A History of the Screen Actors Guild

"What a delight! I read the novel both as a historian with an interest in the wartime city and as a reader who likes a gripping, well-paced story. I was captivated by the vivid depictions of wartime San Francisco, and surrounding areas. The author does a fantastic job of building the plot around the complex racial dynamics and tensions of a city undergoing change. And what a dramatic conclusion!" 

Eric Fure-Slocum, author of Contesting the Postwar City

“Patriots, like Bill Issel's two previous novels, is filled with the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of San Francisco during World War II. This time, the atmosphere of wartime patriotism is fouled by a racist murder. Tony Bosco's team must find the murderer and prevent further racist outrages. To do so, Bosco adds a new, Black team member to assist their undercover work, all of which must remain deeply secret.”
Robert W. Cherny, author of Harry Bridges: Labor Radical, Labor Legend

“William Issel’s Patriots is not only a fast-paced thriller situated in World War II-era San Francisco, but also an observant, lively and disturbing commentary on race relations, policing, and racial justice in the city by the Bay. Those readers who have an idyllic view of San Francisco’s wartime relations will find some of this material disturbing, but Issel has brought to life an eclectic cast of characters from both the white and the black communities with equal skill. Patriots is an excellent work of fiction, and Issel’s knowledge of San Francisco’s black community and its key leaders is exceptional.”
Albert S. Broussard, author of Black San Francisco: The Struggle for Racial Equality in the West, 1900-1954

“May, 1942. The United States is fighting fascism and imperialism in Europe, Africa, and the Pacific. But in San Francisco a domestic threat is unfolding as white supremacists wage war against Black workers and white sympathizers. A group of special agents assembled by the mayor is working to identify and root out the home-grown terrorists. This is the setting of Bill Issel's most recent novel Patriots. An imaginative mix of politics and intrigue, set in the framework of a police procedural, Patriots is as good as it gets, a narrative set in the last century with a timely message for today.”
Rodger C. Birt, author of Envisioning the City: Photography in the History of San Francisco

“Patriots is an absorbing and moving story of democratic grit, civic ideals, and the commonweal in a time of war. William Issel deftly transports us to World War II-era San Francisco and poignantly immerses us in a social world confronting demographic change and formidable political challenges. Part mystery and part political drama, the novel elicits contemplation, rage, empathy, and a bit of humor -- all markings of great literature. It will captivate history aficionados, high school and college students, activists, and anyone committed to a truly democratic society. Crafted by one of the country's most eminent historians, Patriots is an impressive work of historical fiction.”
Eduardo Contreras, author of Latinos and the Liberal City: Politics and Protest in San Francisco

“Thought-provoking, entertaining, and memorable, author William Issel’s Patriots: A Novel is a must-read historical fiction meets crime thriller novel. The twists and turns in the plot, blended with realistic and gripping character development, a rich setting, and engaging themes make this a thrilling and mesmerizing novel readers won’t be able to put down until the book’s climactic end.”
Pacific Book Review