The German Wife

Evil Isn't Born. It Is Created. Of all the WWII historical fiction books I've read over the years - and at this point, it is a decent number - this is the first to highlight one particular scenario that I'm almost positive has impacted my own life. Specifically, Rimmer does a phenomenal job with one of her characters fighting in WWII and having a particular experience that I'm nearly positive (as much as I can be, given the dearth of records) my own grandfather had a very similar one. She shows how, particularly if the soldier perhaps had already endured some level of trauma, this particular experience (and I'm being intentionally vague to avoid spoilers) could truly push them off the deep end and take them from troubled-yet-manageable to outright evil. But even there, Rimmer takes care to show that there is still hope that the person can be redeemed. Similarly, she also uses another character in a similar mold, but at a much different age and on the opposite side of the war. Rimmer does a great job with making the story hit notes not always seen in this genre, and in the process manages to humanize many types of people that are all too often dehumanized by various groups today. Truly an astounding work, and very much recommended.

I just finished reading The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer and here is my review!

Two very different women from two very different worlds find themselves both having to live in a post WWII world in small town Alabama. Sofie the wife of a Scientist who wasn't given the choice not to join the nazi's and Lizzie, the sister of a war vet who came back not right after the war.

Sofie and her family have been giving the chance at a fresh start after the nazi's fell, something they wanted so badly. Her best friend is a Jew and she wholeheartedly does not believe in the Reich but Germany isn't the place it was before. Even expressing a view is punishable by death and Sofie and her husband have to tread carefully or else end up like the Jews themselves.
Lizzie's brother henry comes back from that war a different person and she cannot help feeling that the people of Germany were all nazi murderers.

Two very different women but have one thing in common, they would go to the ends of the earth for their families.

What I loved most about this book was the different perspectives we got and how the war affected people differently. It was nice to see all the different points of view on this one to really get a feel for how people felt on different sides and in different countries. I wished that Lizzie had learned about Sofie and what they had to endure. You can see that Sofie lived in an impossible situation and Lizzie can be as self righteous as she likes not having been there, she was prejudiced to people with no idea what they went through. Everyone was tarnished with the same brush.

Operation Paperclip was a massive risk for the government and I do see Lizzies perspective that criminals got away with atrocities because the USA had a need for their skills. What a horrific time in history but Lizzies view that all Germans must have been nazis is very naive and rather cold. She makes huge assumptions and there is no room for anyone to tell her differently. After the loss of her parents and her brother not coming back the same, you can tell she isn't the woman she should be.

I felt the whole book was really well written and the author must have worked for months doing the research. It kept a pretty good pace and I don't usually enjoy multiple POV over 2 time frames but this worked very well for this book. I felt it gave the whole book a well rounded finish.

I thought the end was very well done and tied up all the loose ends for me.

A really solid 4.5 stars for me. If you are a historical fiction fan with a real passion for WW2 books then this needs to be on your list!

Due out June 28th 2022

Thank you netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.