Jewish women born to immigrant parents in the Bronx in 1944 do not get romantically involved with men who are cops, have German accents and look like Hitler youth leaders. But reporter Sarah Stern is drawn to Karl Schmidt and intrigued by his tangled family history. Stumbling Stone chronicles their journey across two continents and the discovery of sinister secrets they never could have imagined. This is a compelling work of fiction inspired by the remarkable histories of the authors.

Julie Freestone was born in the Bronx, N.Y., to immigrant Jewish parents in 1944. Rudi Raab was born in Germany six days after World War II ended in Europe. His father was a high-ranking Nazi. They met when Julie, a reporter, was doing a story and interviewed Rudi, a cop. They both lived in Hamburg, Germany in 1950 eight miles apart from each other. They live in Richmond, California.