Paul Levine Newsletter
September 16, 2025

MIDNIGHT BURNING

On Sale Now

Dear Readers,

It’s here. Midnight Burning — my 24th novel and first historical thriller — is out today. Took me long enough, right?

Logline: When American Nazis plot to assassinate twenty celebrities and spark an insurrection, the world’s two most famous men — Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin — fight back with brains, raw courage, and the iron will of the LAPD’s first Black female officer. Inspired by a true story.

Backstory: Two decades ago, I stumbled across a photo of the two icons, tuxedoed and mobbed by fans, at the premiere of Chaplin’s City Lights. To my surprise, they weren’t just fellow celebrities; they were friends.

The research: I dug into their lives — the brilliant scientist who fled Hitler’s Germany, the legendary filmmaker with a passion for justice — set against a Hollywood glittering with stars but shadowed by fascists marching in the streets and sending their children to Nazi summer camps.

The sign reads: “German Boy, German Girl. You, too, belong to us.” Nazi propaganda — not Berlin, but a youth camp in Andover, New Jersey, 1937.

Startling but true: A homegrown militia plotted to kill Chaplin and other Hollywood figures and ignite an insurrection. J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI, too busy chasing communists, looked the other way.

The story takes shape: In Hollywood terms, it’s a buddy picture — two unlikely pals fighting a battle they were never meant to win. They needed help, so I recruited Sergeant Georgia Ann Robinson, LAPD’s first Black female officer, a real-life hero.

Fact and fiction: Midnight Burning imagines the genius, the tramp, and the trailblazing cop leading a desperate fight against the fascist conspiracy. Einstein and Chaplin’s banter echoes through the pages, while historical figures — Charles Lindbergh, William Randolph Hearst, Douglas Fairbanks, Joseph Goebbels — stalk the stage. It’s a thriller laced with humor, history, and a reminder that the struggle between freedom and tyranny never ends.
 

EARLY PRAISE FOR "MIDNIGHT BURNING"

“Inspired by historical events and the real-life friendship between Chaplin and Einstein, award-winning mystery writer Paul Levine, author of the Jake Lassiter series, has carefully crafted an intriguing and in many ways timely historical thriller that immerses readers in the world of 1930s Los Angeles.” — Booklist

“Levine's latest will appeal to fans of historical mysteries, especially ones with real-life protagonists. Levine does an excellent job capturing the atmosphere of Golden Age Hollywood as well as the spirits of two of the most important figures of the era.” —Library Journal

“Readers will readily see parallels with white-nationalism today, making this a timely and ire-provoking read...This series promises to mix fun capers with serious societal commentary and is one to watch out for.” —First Clue Reviews  (Book of the Week) 

“Though the 1930s may seem peaceful in hindsight, Midnight Burning reminds readers that even in calm times, darkness can lurk beneath the surface. Einstein and Chaplin put everything on the line — not just for survival, but for the American ideals of justice and freedom. Takeaway: Gripping, cinematic ride through one of Hollywood’s most turbulent chapters. —Booklife (Editor’s Pick)

“Paul Levine brings the snappy humor of his terrific Jake Lassiter series to the ingenious pairing of real-life friends Charlie Chaplin and Albert Einstein on a roller coaster ride to save America from a fascist threat within its borders.” —Jacqueline Winspear, New York Times bestselling author of the Maisie Dobbs series

“Despite the fun, the story is eerily and frighteningly relevant today. This may be Levine’s masterpiece.” —Lee Goldberg, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Only Paul Levine can turn Hollywood’s Golden Age into an imaginative twisting tale of sharp wit and stunning suspense. His richest novel, a brilliant piece of fiction.” —Deepak Sethi, screenwriter and film director

I like to think that my heroes would have enjoyed the book.

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Keep on reading....

Paul Levine

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