Rating: 5 out of 5

I bought this after a search for a Berlin related novel to read during my recent visit to Berlin. I read the first half in Berlin, and the second half back in the UK and the setting of me made little difference to this excellent book. It is sad, upsetting, even harrowing in places but it feels like all the harsh, and tough stuff is necessary and in keeping with the era. It is set around the time of the Second World War, a time when the Gestapo were busy with objectors and dissidents. The main characters in the story and well defined with depth and warmth and I was engaged with them, wanting to find out what happened next (in fact I almost failed to get off the train I was so desperate to continue reading). Not for the faint hearted but definitely worth taking the time to read.

Originally posted to my Goodreads account