Gutwrenching, heartfelt, and well-researched, this novel was truly unputdownable. The usual themes of a plot set during WWII are all here, but there were a few new perspectives that had me thinking on a deeper level.
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I found the early chapters of Felix’s life to be particularly interesting. When it comes to the Nazis and their ultimate goal, the details are often lost in the horror of the overall plan. I appreciated that the author took the time to describe the different ways that the SS identified people and how there was a hierarchy to which groups had “preferential” treatment.
What really struck me is the way people made excuses along the way. I am a history buff and have been to the camp at Dachau and am familiar with the way townspeople in the surrounding areas “ignored” the situation. I understand the power the Nazis had and how speaking out could bring their wrath down on a family.
However, the author laid it even barer: people knew even after the war was over and still chose to ignore the atrocities. The scenes surrounding the trials were exceptionally well-done. Kitty’s observation that people were not as concerned about what Germany did as they were about what Russia might do was especially thought-provoking.
The attitude of “let’s forget the past and focus on the future” disallowed justice for the millions who died. While the world was correct to worry about Russia, the Germans should not have been let off the hook so easily.
The author illustrated this with Felix’s determination to find the particular person he held responsible for his family’s situation. I won’t say any more than this, but I liked how the book elaborated on those officers who got away and what they did when they escaped. That’s also something that isn’t often covered in novels set during this time.
I also thought it was interesting how Inge and Felix’s lives paralleled each other (in a manner of speaking) and how they both were in untenable situations that caused them both to do what they had to keep going. Those small moments and little steps within a journey that propel a person forward are well-described for both characters.
There are a lot of lessons that can be learned from WWII, and this book does a fantastic job of enumerating several of them. The author vividly illustrates the many different types of losses suffered by the people of Germany. She also allows the reader to feel the determination to survive experienced by people who were caught in the Nazi trap, regardless of which “side” they were on.
I highly recommend this book, as it is a stark reminder of a period in history that should never be repeated.
Author Bio
I seem to have followed a rather meandering career, including marketing and teaching and politics (don’t try and join the dots), to get where I have always wanted to be, which is writing historical fiction. I am a story lover as well as a story writer and nothing fascinates me more than a strong female protagonist and a quest. Hopefully those are what you will encounter when you pick up my books.
I am from the North of England but now live very happily in Glasgow with my American husband. Both my children have left home (one to London and one to Berlin) which may explain why I am finally writing. If I’m not at my desk you’ll most probably find me in the cinema, or just follow the sound of very loud music.
I’d love to hear from you and there are lots of ways you can find me, so jump in via my website https://www.catherinehokin.com/ or on my Cat Hokin FB page or on twitter @cathokin
