Publication Date: November 25, 2025
Print Length: 272 pages
New York Times bestseller
USA Today bestseller
New York Times Editor’s Choice
SYNOPSIS
Fifty years after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, investigative journalist, Christine Kuehn, was caught by surprise when she discovered her father’s German family were convicted by the American judicial system for spying for the Japanese military as the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor was being planned.
Since her father never talked about his family, Kuehn began a thirty-year search to investigate her family’s criminal history. Through WW2 files maintained by the FBI. she uncovered her grandparents’ connection to Nazi officials in Germany as well as the role they played in enabling the Pearl Harbor attack.
Her search led her to connect with relatives in Germany she had not previously known as well as to develop a newfound respect for her father who as a young teenager decided to disown his parents as well has his German heritage while enlisting to fight on the side of the Americans during WW2.
REVIEWS AND AUTHOR INFORMATION
Brownrigg, Sylvia, “A Secret Defined her Life. She had No Idea.” The New York Times, November 24, 2025. Book Review: ‘Family of Spies,’ by Sylvia Brownrigg – The New York Times
Taylor, David, “Family of Spies: A World War II Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal and the Secret History Behind Pearl Harbor.” Washington Independent Review of Books, December 22, 2025. Family of Spies: A World War II Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal, and the Secret History Behind Pearl Harbor | Washington Independent Review of Books
Martin, David, “Family of Spies”: Christine Kuehn discovers her grandfather’s Nazi past.” CBS News, “Family of Spies”: Christine Kuehn discovers her grandfather’s Nazi past – CBS News
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What did Kuehn’s research reveal about life in Hawaii before the American military was caught off guard by the Japanese attack?
As spies, did the Kuehn family’s pattern of lavish parties succeed? In retrospect, should the FBI have become more suspicious of Kuehn’s grandparents and her Aunt Ruth?
In what ways was Kuehn’s father, Eberhard, an innocent victim of his family’s crimes when as a young teenager he made the difficult decision to disown his family while he fought for the Americans?
What is our connection to our family’s past, in particular when our ancestors have an infamous history?
