The Orinoco Gambit

Love, Loyalty, and Espionage in WWII - the Untold Story of OSS Agents in South America

By: J.K. Barclay

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

In the shadow of World War II, Alexis Hart Barclay—beautiful, brilliant, and fiercely independent—is not just a missionary’s wife. Beneath her genteel New England upbringing and Christian devotion lies a trained OSS (the precursor to the CIA) agent, fluent in four languages and deadly with a knife, pistol, and rifle. Alongside her husband Jim, a devout preacher and covert operative, Alexis is thrust into the heart of South America’s geopolitical battleground, where Nazi U-boats lurk offshore and rubber, oil, and gold fuel the Axis war machine.

As the war intensifies, Alexis finds herself torn between duty and desire, faith and betrayal. Her clandestine affair with Major Jonathan Speer, a charismatic German officer, threatens everything—her marriage, her mission, and her soul. When Jonathan’s sister is murdered under Hitler’s secret euthanasia program, he defects, joining Jim and Alexis in a desperate jungle mission to sabotage a Nazi rubber shipment that could turn the tide of the war.

From the steamy streets of Maracaibo to the perilous depths of the Orinoco and Amazon jungles, The Orinoco Gambit is a sweeping tale of espionage, sacrifice, and moral reckoning. Based on true events and family journals, this novel explores the hidden roles of men and women in wartime intelligence, the spiritual cost of sanctioned violence, and the enduring legacy of love and justice.

What Other Readers Think

Fascinating twist on a spy story, with a focus on clandestine relationships and secret operations. […] Also poses intriguing theories about how rubber was used to thwart sonar, and possible locations of Nazi stolen art.
S. K. Wilcoxon

We have all seen and read many stories about spies during WWII. But this one is fascinating as it [takes place] in Venezuela, not Europe. This part of the world’s importance during the war was so interesting to read about. And the ‘cover’ as missionary was brilliant and intriguing to read.
A Reader

This book was riveting. I read it in a couple days. It deals with personal and ethical challenges of people who were called to serve God and their country.
CWD

Great story! People forget it was a WORLD WAR - not just Europe, North Africa and the Pacific. Wonderful read adding South America to the mix.
Mim

This story takes you on a journey through time, and through the gauntlet of emotions. There are heroes and heroines, fighting for their version of what was right against the evils of the time. It is piled high with mystery, romance, and beautiful photography. At times it feels like you should be hiding while you read it, so the bad guys won't know that you know.
Loriab