Starred review from March 13, 2017
Dobson (Chateau of Secrets) creates a labyrinth of intrigue, expertly weaving a World War II drama with a present-day mystery to create an unforgettable story. Thirteen-year-old Dietmar, returning home one day from playing with his friend in a tree house, stumbles upon his parents being interrogated and beaten by Nazi soldiers. Signaled to by his mother to run, he grabs his best friend, nine-year-old Brigitte, and the two flee to her house. There they discover the same soldiers have already ransacked her parents’ house, beating them badly. Faced with little choice, the vulnerable children take off, stealthily moving for months through the countryside to avoid being caught. A deep bond forms and, although Dietmar promises to never leave Brigette, as soon as they cross the English Channel they are separated. For seventy years following the separation, Dietmar searches for Brigette without success. After many futile investigations, Dietmar, by a stroke of luck, meets Quenby Vaughn, an in-depth reporter, and hires her to work with his lawyer on finding Brigette. Dobson takes readers on an amazing journey through the British-German underground alliances of World War II. Melding past and present in unpredictable ways, this is a must-read for fans of historical time slip fiction.
June 1, 2017
During World War II, childhood friends Brigitte Berthold and Dietmar Roth make a harrowing escape from Germany to England after the Gestapo arrests their parents. Placed in an orphanage, the two are separated when Brigitte is taken in by a family. Seventy years later, a wealthy Daniel Knight (aka Dietmar) hires investigative journalist Quenby Vaughn to find Brigitte. His story tugs at Quenby's heart, and she accepts the case without thinking through her reasons for doing so. However, the more she investigates, the closer she comes to finding answers that link her own past to that of her employer's. VERDICT Carol Award-winning author Dobson (Chateau of Secrets) skillfully interweaves three separate lives as she joins the past and present in an uplifting tale of courage, love, and enduring hope. A strong choice for historical fiction fans who appreciate well-developed characters and settings.
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