A Higher Call

An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II

By: Adam Makos

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

Length: 13 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER: “Beautifully told.”—CNN • “A remarkable story…worth retelling and celebrating.”—USA Today • “Oh, it’s a good one!”—Fox News

A beautiful story of a brotherhood between enemies emerges from the horrors of World War II in this New York Times bestseller by the author of Devotion, now a Major Motion Picture.

Four days before Christmas in 1943, a badly damaged American bomber struggled to fly over wartime Germany. At its controls was a twenty-one-year-old pilot. Half his crew lay wounded or dead. It was their first mission. Suddenly a sleek, dark shape pulled up on the bomber’s tail—a German Messerschmitt fighter. Worse, the German pilot was an ace, a man able to destroy the American bomber with the squeeze of a trigger. What happened next would defy imagination and later be called the most incredible encounter between enemies in World War II.

This is the true story of the two pilots whose lives collided in the skies that day—the American—Second Lieutenant Charlie Brown, a former farm boy from West Virginia who came to captain a B-17—and the German—Second Lieutenant Franz Stigler, a former airline pilot from Bavaria who sought to avoid fighting in World War II.

A Higher Call follows both Charlie and Franz’s harrowing missions. Charlie would face takeoffs in English fog over the flaming wreckage of his buddies’ planes, flak bursts so close they would light his cockpit, and packs of enemy fighters that would circle his plane like sharks. Franz would face sandstorms in the desert, a crash alone at sea, and the spectacle of one thousand bombers, each with eleven guns, waiting for his attack.

Ultimately, Charlie and Franz would stare across the frozen skies at one another. What happened between them, the American Eighth Air Force would later classify as top secret. It was an act that Franz could never mention without facing a firing squad. It was the encounter that would haunt both Charlie and Franz for forty years until, as old men, they would search for one another, a last mission that could change their lives forever.

©2012 Adam Makos (P)2013 Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Critic reviews

“This book grips you like a movie. It’s part Top Gun, part Valkyrie, and more!”(Marcus Brotherton, New York Times best-selling author

“It is often said that ‘war is hell’ - and it is - however, this story reveals how the human spirit can shine in the darkest hours. A Higher Call is an eye-opener.” (Col. Charles McGee, Tuskegee Airman, WWII)

“‘Can good men be found on both sides of a bad war?’ The author asks the question and delivers the answer. A powerful, haunting read.” (Chuck Tatum, author of Red Blood, Black Sand)

This book ROCKS!

Where does A Higher Call rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is by far the absolute best book that I have ever listened to so far.....(I am a long time member with over 100 books in my library.....

Who was your favorite character and why?

Toss up between Frans and Charlie - but more Frans

Which character – as performed by Robertson Dean – was your favorite?

Frans

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Several parts during the air battle with Frans and Charlie - but the ending moved me to tears.. I listen while driving and I just about had to pull over it was becoming difficult to see the road...

Any additional comments?

The historical facts opened my eyes to the fact there is a big difference between German soldiers and the Party members.... I'm from Dutch descent and up until now I had not realized how much Germany suffered under Hitler's reign.

Speechless!!

loved it so much, I read listend to this in almost 1 sitting. Pure Amazement

Amazing true story.

Would you listen to A Higher Call again? Why?

I definitely plan to listen to A Higher Call again! The first listen was to find out the stories of the pilots. The second time will be to absorb the surrounding circumstances. I've never read a book that contained the German (please note - not Nazi) viewpoint of the war and I found it fascinating.

What did you like best about this story?

I am a WWII history buff and that is what first attracted me to the book. But the flight knowledge and background of the individual situations kept me rapt with attention.

Which character – as performed by Robertson Dean – was your favorite?

All characters were well performed.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Seeing or even just reading about the aircraft of this period always brings me to tears. The B-17 in particular is such a beautiful machine. Combine that with thoughts of the lives they took...and the lives they saved is just tumultuous for me. The stories of the men and how a moment's decision affected so many lives is so moving.

Any additional comments?

If Hollywood were to ever make a movie of A Higher Call I don't know if I would want to go see it or not. I don't think any script could do justice to the book.

A great story, ok writing and cheesy accents.

An amazing story, decently written and a narrator with a pleasant, natural voice.

The German accents are awful, and the American accents aren't much better. But I got over it a few chapters in.

Kudos to the author for writing down a great story, though I'm not sure he'll be in contention for a Pulitzer any time soon.

Still, minor imperfections aside, it's an excellent story and a fascinating look into the Luftwaffe.

A great feel good novel, humanity in war

If you could sum up A Higher Call in three words, what would they be?

Look for good even in your enemies

What other book might you compare A Higher Call to and why?

Unbroken

What about Robertson Dean’s performance did you like?

He's good

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

sure, I think it would make a great movie

Any additional comments?

It's an unbelievable story where you can see God's hand involved with many lives

Honorable Combat Pilots WW II - Highly Recommended

This story of faithful honorable pilots from WW II whose generous service and willing self-sacrifice lead to their famous noble knightly encounter and eventually becoming friends although they were on opposing sides.

AMAZING TRUE STORY IN WW II

If you could sum up A Higher Call in three words, what would they be?

INCREDIBLE ODDS OF HAPPENING!

Who was your favorite character and why?

I CAN'T PICK ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER. FRANZ STIGLE AND CHARLIE BROWN

Which character – as performed by Robertson Dean – was your favorite?

BOTH THE MAIN CHARACTERS

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

IN THE END IT WAS JOYOUS.

Any additional comments?

WAR IS ALWAYS TRAGIC BUT THIS TRUE STORY IS HEARTWARMING.

Best Read In A Long Time

This is one of the best WWII books I have ever read. Actually, best book of any type in a long time. This should be a movie. I'm going to get it in hardback so I can also read it. Don't miss this one.

surprised

This book sat in my library for a long time before listening. Originally chosen due to long length and WWll subject , I thought it had to be boring airplane talk.. I was wrong , Balanced and carefully crafted the human story of wartime foes and a few who fought, their pain and duty colliding throughout.,
In the end the reader's are actually feeling the men's emotions in real time.

Riveting!

Such a great story. Bonus clip on author's website was very moving. Highly recommend this read for anyone who is interested in WWII.