This is a novel about twin boys who are separated after the divorce of their parents, a German mother, and an English father. One son joins the German army at the outbreak of World War 2 and the other joins the British army. Their paths finally meet at the end of the war. In a desperate search to find his brother before the Americans and Russians find him, Albert is sent to Germany to bring his brother, Alfred, home to England to stand trial for war crimes and to prevent Alfred from receiving the death sentence.