The Only Three People on Earth Who Can Stop Hitler - an Editorial Review of "Thomas Edison and the Magi Solution"

Book Blurb:

Spring, 1945. As World War II comes to an end, John Dawkins, Thomas Edison’s intrepid former assistant, is summoned by an ailing President Roosevelt to investigate a terrifying secret report that Adolph Hitler, faced with certain defeat, has made an unholy deal with the Devil to annihilate the world. Along with his wife, Sophie, an ace newspaper reporter, and their ten-year-old son, Joshua, John journeys to war-ravaged London to join forces with theatrical playboy (and undercover agent) Noel Coward and is reunited with the reincarnated spirit of Thomas Edison. Together, they embark on a final, death-defying adventure that propels them from the ruins of Dresden to the bizarre mysteries of the Fuhrer’s bunker, to the bowels of Hell itself; all in a quest to find ‘the Magi’ – the only three souls left on earth who can stop Hitler’s satanic endgame.

Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/PxwjgmB

Author Bio:

David Church is the author of the award-winning novels, “Thomas Edison and the Purgatory Equation” and “Thomas Edison and the Lazarus Vessel,” the first two installments in ‘The Edison Trilogy.’ A former advertising executive, he previously authored an environmental children’s book, “Larue and the Brown Sky” (illustrations by Toby Bluth), co-authored the cult-musical, “Judy’s Scary Little Christmas” (with Jim Webber and Joe Patrick Ward) and has developed a variety of films for United Artists, CBS and NBC, including “Psychic Housewife” and “Saving Grace.” David is a member of the Dramatists Guild and the Writers Guild of America West. He lives and works in Southern California.

Editorial Review:

David Church’s “Thomas Edison and the Magi Solution” is a fast-moving, genre-blending novel that fuses real historical events with bold fantasy, all centered on the question of what if Thomas Edison, long after his death, held the key to defeating Hitler? Wild, right? But Church leans into that concept with energy, imagination, and a surprisingly deep emotional core. This isn’t just historical fiction but rather part alternate history, part spiritual sci-fi, and part action thriller, told with a wink and a whole lot of heart.

The story opens with a cinematic bang: Rudolf Hess, Hitler’s deputy, flees Nazi Germany by plane in a desperate solo mission to warn Churchill of the Reich’s darkest secrets. In the process, we’re introduced to Church’s flair for dramatic scene-setting and stylized prose. In this first major excerpt, Hess escapes in a modified fighter plane, evading Nazi pilots:

“Hess dropped the nose of his plane into a deadfall… Fritz chose pursuit and saluted Reichen as the hapless pilot abandoned his cockpit… Hess aimed his plane straight up, curled into a backwards loop and returned… directly above Fritz… There are all sorts of weapons. Any object… can be lethal when applied with nefarious intent. Hess possessed just such an unconventional weapon… the auxiliary fuel tanks… The drum of fuel smashed through the glass canopy of Fritz’s cockpit… and submerged the doomed pilot in gallons of gasoline, marking him as the first and only aerial combatant of the war to drown while still in flight.”

This excerpt shows Church’s writing at full throttle: dramatic, visual, and darkly funny. He’s not just interested in telling you what happened—he wants to stage it for you, like a film. His voice is bold, a little cheeky, but never careless with tone.

Once we move to the heart of the novel, the pace shifts, and Church shows he can also write warm, nostalgic domestic scenes. John Dawkins—Edison’s old protégé—is now a farmer with a family, trying to stay out of the war. Church slows down here, layering emotional depth and history into the story. In this second excerpt, we learn how John and his wife Sophie built their life in a small Pennsylvania town:

“Dawn replaced midnight, liniment beat highballs, and the symphony of city life gave way to the dulcet hush of the countryside… Sophie… said goodbye to the world of first edition deadlines… and committed herself to John, the only man who’d ever treated her as an equal… The effect was jarring in its wholesomeness but, in time, they fell into the steady, simple rhythm of their new life.”

This passage is gentle, nostalgic, and beautifully written. It’s not just filler between action scenes but rather it builds character and emotional stakes. Church uses warm, specific language to paint a portrait of peace that’s about to be shattered. The structure of the book reflects this rhythm: explosive action followed by quiet moments that allows the reader to breathe and invest in the characters.

But Church doesn’t let things stay quiet for long. Soon, the past catches up with John in a terrifying sequence where his young son Josh is kidnapped by Nazi agents in disguise. What follows is part chase scene, part superhero origin story, and all pulpy fun. Church writes with cinematic clarity and an old-school adventure vibe. In this final excerpt, John, riding a horse, rescues his son from a speeding getaway car:

“Peter stood in the middle of the barn… a dart shot into the flank of a cow… From his hiding place in the hayloft, Josh struggled in fear… Miss Holley signaled Peter, who… fired again. Josh blocked it with a milk pail… ‘Dad!’ he hollered. John charged hard, whirling his lasso. The coil of rope snagged the rifle… then snared Peter around the neck… John tugged the reins and Tarnation came to a full stop. Peter shot off the back of the car and landed on the dirt road… Miss Holley slammed the pedal to the metal. She had a train to catch.”

It’s over-the-top in the best way, and Church knows it. This sequence is part of what makes the book work. It doesn’t try to be gritty realism but instead, it embraces its pulp roots while layering in real emotional risk. Owing to his brilliance, readers will appreciate that the stakes aren’t just global but rather feel personal.

“Thomas Edison and the Magi Solution” is inventive, heartfelt, and full of surprises. Church’s style is vivid and theatrical, with a strong sense of character and an eye for story rhythm. The book combines emotional moments with mythic scale, reimagining history with flair. It’s perfect for readers who love historical fiction but aren’t afraid of ghosts, gadgets, and a little bit of magic. It’s a great pick for fans of alternate history, old-school adventure, and stories where the fate of the world hinges on forgotten inventors, Nazi spies, and one very brave family.

Five stars from the Historical Fiction Company and the "Highly Recommended" award of excellence

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