Clare M.

A truly amazing book!
It is one of those books when you read the first paragraph you just know you will never be able to put it down until you read the last word!! I wouldn’t dare give the… story line away as I couldn’t spoil this for other readers. It’s like peeling away the layers of an onion …. you know as you peel a layer, you are getting closer and closer to the most wonderful part of all. Obviously, the story begins with the Holocaust but very quickly we move on to the later part of the life of the main character Johann Kraus who is now living in America under an assumed name, having escaped the destruction of Berlin, capture and certain death as a war criminal.

The book then centers on his new life, and the love and emotion surrounding this story is worthy of at least one box of tissues!! All of the characters are very believable and I warmed to them quickly and grew to love them. I have no wish to give the whole story away as it would spoil it for others, but by the end of the book I was saddened to say goodbye to them. It has been beautifully written and the author has a deep empathy with all of his characters. He has created them having a true understanding of human nature and emotion and a heart of compassion and sensitivity. I have just read this book for a second time …. and was able to go even deeper into the personalities of all involved in this amazing story. My only regret?? I wish there had been more!!