Series: Prisoner of Night and Fog #1
Author: Anne Blankman
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Release Date: April 22, 2014
Pages: 416
Source: ARC, ALA
Summary from Goodreads:
In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her "uncle" Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.
Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler.
And Gretchen follows his every command.
Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen. Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can't stop herself from listening to his story: that her father, the adored Nazi martyr, was actually murdered by an unknown comrade. She also can't help the fierce attraction brewing between them, despite everything she's been taught to believe about Jews.
As Gretchen investigates the very people she's always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling, or will she dare to dig up the truth—even if it could get her and Daniel killed?
In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her "uncle" Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.
Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler.
And Gretchen follows his every command.
Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen. Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can't stop herself from listening to his story: that her father, the adored Nazi martyr, was actually murdered by an unknown comrade. She also can't help the fierce attraction brewing between them, despite everything she's been taught to believe about Jews.
As Gretchen investigates the very people she's always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling, or will she dare to dig up the truth—even if it could get her and Daniel killed?
Review
Prisoner of Night & Fog isn't your typical WWII story. It takes place in the early 1930s during Hitler's rise to power and is told from the POV of a girl who grew up with "Uncle Dolf" as a loving father figure. Moreover, a fictitious murder is weaved around real events in history, and the primary plot focus. Although I wouldn't know any better, having only a basic knowledge of WWII, Blankman's story felt authentic and well-researched.
It was really interesting, while also discomforting, to read from the POV of "Hitler's pet". In the beginning of the book, Gretchen shares Hitler's negative opinions of the Jews and her these thoughts and her habit to defend Uncle Dolf are not easy to shed. But while investigating her father's murder Gretchen learns that the Jews are not the enemy she was raised to believe they were and the people she thought she could count on are perhaps the real monsters. She experienced tremendous growth over the course of this book.
Being fascinated with History as I am, Historical Fiction novels always pull me in for the history lesson alone. But I further enjoyed the unique perspective Blankman provides through Gretchen, the mystery surrounding her father's murder, and the focus on the early days of Nazi Germany. However, I felt a little lukewarm over the characters and the romance. The plot and setting was what carried this for me, it was well-paced and transfixing.
If you are a fan of Historical Fiction, murder mysteries and a unique perspective, I'd definitely recommend you give this one a try.
