Midnight Burning
(An Einstein-Chaplin Thriller)
By Paul Levine
Publication Date: 16th September 2025
Publisher: Blank Slate Press
Page Length: 407
Genre: Historical Thriller
The Genius and the Tramp Fight Fascists in 1930s Hollywood.
It's 1937 and clouds of war gather over Europe, and American fascists march at home. While the FBI chases suspected communists, Nazi agents plot an armed insurrection. When the world's two most famous men—Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin—uncover the scheme, which includes the assassination of Hollywood's biggest stars, they fight back with nothing but their ingenuity, raw courage, and the fierce resolve of Georgia Ann Robinson, LAPD's first Black female officer.
A dangerous chase takes our heroes into the heart of darkness, a fascist encampment in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles where a militia armed with machine guns plans its attack. Batten the hatches: it's brains versus brawn in an explosive, unforgettable finale.
Chaplin considered the arithmetic. Machine guns plus fascists equals massacre. The code name ‘Operation Hollywood’ likely revealed the location of the attack. They didn’t call the mission “Moon over Miami” or “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans.”
The attack will be right here.
When the two most famous men in the world come together, what can’t they achieve if they put their minds to it? Science meets comedy, with Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin becoming fast friends, but in a period of unease, how long can the serenity of simply enjoying the company of one’s friend last?
As the Silver Legion of America begins to enlist more members into their ranks, events start unfolding that are wholly unpredictable. A Jewish temple is infiltrated and burned to the ground. A car narrowly misses hitting and killing Einstein and Chaplin, the emblem of an eagle clutching a swastika proudly displayed on the front of the car. As whispers of plots emerged, it became increasingly likely that Einstein and Chaplin were in danger, so they decided to take matters into their own hands.
Just like Charlie Chaplin’s renowned silent films, which convey powerful stories without uttering a single word, “Midnight Burning: Einstein-Chaplin Thrillers” by Paul Levine immerses readers in its narrative, making the experience feel like watching a movie unfold. This novel skilfully brings its tale to life, capturing the imagination in a way that is both engaging and unforgettable.
Everyone knows the names Charlie Chaplin and Albert Einstein, but knowing them merely by their names and accomplishments does not provide a true understanding of who they were. This novel allows its readers to get to know the great men who put so much of themselves out into the world, on a personal basis. Although Einstein is a renowned figure, he is depicted as a rather comical character in this novel. At times, he appears naïve when he fails to understand others’ jokes and can be impatient with his good friend, Chaplin. The sprightly back-and-forth banter between the two men provides a light-hearted narrative within the dark plots and conspiracies. Chaplin also presents as an incredibly down-to-earth character who does not hold his wealth over anyone around him, but rather works to share what he can and help out those who need it. Both characters are exceptionally well-developed, and their personalities come alive throughout the novel. Their backgrounds and thought processes are thoughtfully explained, allowing them to leap off the page as if the story is unfolding in real time.
The danger of this period of history is not glossed over, but brought up consistently, reminding readers just who they are reading about, and what is happening in the world around Chaplin and Einstein. On multiple occasions, Chaplin asks Einstein about his reluctance to work in nuclear fission, as Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann were doing in their attempts to build nuclear weaponry. True to his character, Einstein is portrayed as a pacifist, unwilling to help create something that could cause unspeakable damage and loss of life. The topic lingers in the reader’s mind throughout the entire novel, as they understand that such scientific discoveries were inevitable. With the advantage of hindsight, the reader is fully aware of the dangers posed by an atomic bomb. Einstein and Chaplin speak of the atom bomb as simply a theory, a nuclear device that has unknown properties and power. They have no way of knowing the true potential for such a scientific breakthrough, yet their casual discussions of something that history has proven to be catastrophically deadly truly put into perspective the discoveries and massive changes that occurred during this period of history.
Although some creative licence has been taken to create a realistic fast-paced thriller involving both Charlie Chaplin and Albert Einstein, such as the fictionalisation of events and creation of characters to aid in the story, this novel reads very much like a true account of historical fact. The narrative is not wholly led by Einstein and Chaplin, but also by men such as William Dudley Pelley, the leader of the Silver Legion, and men within the Legion itself. This allows the reader a much deeper understanding of how these men considered the world around them, as well as their thought processes when arranging and committing heinous acts against others. While it is somewhat concerning to read about the brutality and lack of compassion, the inclusion of narration from people within the Silver Legion provides a complete account of the story, and gives the reader an understanding of the fictional events, but also the true accounts of different organisations that emerged during the events of Hitler’s rise to power, and the lead up to the Second World War.
Operation Hollywood is one of the main focuses of this novel, a plot of dark censorship, but the control the Nazi party held over the world is highlighted in the censoring of a wide expanse of media. In particular, for this novel, as Charlie Chaplin is among the leading protagonists, the censorship of film is portrayed in great detail. For new films to be played in Germany, they faced extreme changes under the watchful eye of Georg Gyssling. Gyssling is depicted in this novel to be a conflicted character, for although he follows orders and twists new media into subtle forms of propaganda for the Nazi agenda, he does not necessarily agree with what he is doing, nor does he care a great deal for the agenda itself. He provides an interesting insight into the Nazi party, for although he is affiliated with them, that does not necessarily make him one of them.
This novel may be historical fiction, but it is most certainly also a thriller deserving of the greatest merit. Threats that lurk in the shadows, plots that are heard in hushed whispers down restricted corridors, and a police force that would rather look the other way culminate in a climactic series of events that keep the reader hooked. Tension certainly runs riot throughout the story. Levine will make you care for the characters, and then immediately put them in immense danger, keeping you perched on the edge of your seat throughout.
For those in search of a gripping historical thriller that will keep you enthralled, look no further than “Midnight Burning: Einstein-Chaplin Thrillers” by Paul Levine. The novel immerses readers in a captivating narrative filled with richly developed characters who evoke powerful emotions, whether it’s intense love or profound hatred. This compelling story, set against a backdrop of intrigue and suspense, is truly unforgettable and promises to linger in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page.
Review by Ellie Yarde
The Coffee Pot Book Club
Paul Levine
The author of twenty-four novels, Paul Levine won the John D. MacDonald Fiction Award and has been nominated for the Edgar, Macavity, International Thriller, Shamus, and James Thurber prizes. His novels have been translated into 23 languages. A former trial lawyer, he also wrote twenty episodes of the CBS military drama JAG and co-created the Supreme Court drama First Monday starring James Garner and Joe Mantegna. The international bestseller To Speak for the Dead introduced readers to linebacker-turned-lawyer Jake Lassiter and was named one of the best mysteries of the year by the Los Angeles Times. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed Solomon vs. Lord series of legal capers. His newest novel is Midnight Burning, first of the Einstein-Chaplin thrillers. He is a member of Penn State’s Society of Distinguished Alumni and graduated, with honors, from the University of Miami School of Law. He lives in Santa Barbara, CA.
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