“Meticulously researched and plotted like a noir thriller, The German Heiress tells a different story of WWII— of characters grappling with their own guilt and driven by the question of what they could have done to change the past.” —Jessica Shattuck, New York Times bestselling author of The Women in the CastleFor readers of The Alice Network and The Lost Girls of Paris, an immersive, … The Alice Network and The Lost Girls of Paris, an immersive, heart-pounding debut about a German heiress on the run in post-World War II Germany.
Clara Falkenberg, once Germany’s most eligible and lauded heiress, earned the nickname “the Iron Fräulein” during World War II for her role operating her family’s ironworks empire. It’s been nearly two years since the war ended and she’s left with nothing but a false identification card and a series of burning questions about her family’s past. With nowhere else to run to, she decides to return home and take refuge with her dear friend, Elisa.
Narrowly escaping a near-disastrous interrogation by a British officer who’s hell-bent on arresting her for war crimes, she arrives home to discover the city in ruins, and Elisa missing. As Clara begins tracking down Elisa, she encounters Jakob, a charismatic young man working on the black market, who, for his own reasons, is also searching for Elisa. Clara and Jakob soon discover how they might help each other—if only they can stay ahead of the officer determined to make Clara answer for her actions during the war.
Propulsive, meticulously researched, and action-fueled, The German Heiress is a mesmerizing page-turner that questions the meaning of justice and morality, deftly shining the spotlight on the often-overlooked perspective of Germans who were caught in the crossfire of the Nazi regime and had nowhere to turn.
more
Anika Scott’s epic novel offers a captivating tour through the reckoning years that followed WWII when clarifying identities, unearthing truths, and facing judgements was the only way to rebuild a life. The novel’s heroine, Clara, marches along the razor’s edge between the leviathan of the past and a future full of mine shafts. I will never forget her unending struggle to rise above the dark lineage thrust upon her and her battle to stay connected to the deep binds of love, responsibility, and compassion.
Anika Scott’s riveting novel, The German Heiress, compellingly explores the nature of innocence and guilt, and the human desire for redemption. A terrific book with historical detail skillfully woven into the fabric of the story. An absolute must-read for all fans of World War II fiction!
Who to trust
The German Heiress takes place at the very end of WWII. The British are hunting and arresting the Nazis’ and those German’s closely associated with them.
One British captain “captain Fenshaw” was especially focused on finding “Clara Falkenberg” , once a famous heiress to the German steel factory empire and the daughter of a known Nazi sympathizer.
This is the story of Clara, her memories of happy times before the war, during and after. It is also the story of her best friend Elisa, her mother Anna, her ex boyfriend Max, Elsa’s son Willy and his canary Gertrude, and Clara’s new friend Jakob.
It is not only the struggle to survive the war, or Clara’s many escapes from Captain Fenshaw, but a struggle within minds as to how they allowed the atrocities of the war to take place around them without doing something to stop them. It’s about choosing family or country. It’s about guilt and remorse for their own part in the war. It’s hard to know how one will react when faced with impossible choices.
This book focuses on the feelings of the characters. They search for truth and honesty, but feel they can trust no one. It is in an atmosphere where you could be betrayed for a loaf of bread. Buildings are shells with people living in cellars, food is scarce and people are desperate.
There are sad parts, exciting parts, tragic parts and some smidgen of human kindness. It was a good read and I would recommend it.
Thanks to Anika Scott, Harper Collins Publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of the book.
Living two lives – one during the war and one after.
During the war she was Clara Falkenberg who was in charge of her family’s iron works and was cruel to the workers.
After the war, she assumed another name, Margarete Mueller, lived in a boarding house, and worked as a secretary.
Could she hide her identity forever? She thought so, but the British had been following her for years and had extensive records of her war crimes.
They found her on a train back to her hometown to find a friend, was pulled off, interrogated, and the search was over. Or was it over?
Clara denied everything, but she knew they had enough evidence to charge her with war crimes. When being transported to another area, she escaped.
She hid for a few days, and then found the house she was looking for. It was the house of her friend Elisa. It definitely was NOT the house it used to be. It was rubble.
Clara did find something through it all. She found a family living in the basement and a family that had known Elisa.
The search for Elisa began, but where to begin was the question. Just as Clara was digging through the rubble, another person came along who was looking for Elisa too. It was Jakob who needed Elise to tell her some news.
Could they work together to find Elisa?
And….could Clara remain hidden from the British officer looking for her?
THE GERMAN HEIRESS has family secrets and is very well written and researched. The descriptions are detailed and vivid.
The story line is captivating with authentic characters.
Historical fiction fans will be extremely pleased with THE GERMAN HEIRESS. 4/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book! It’s a historical fiction but reads like a mystery as you discover secrets and find answers with Claire, the main character. The author provides a different perspective of a German citizen during WWII that’s caught in the middle between her family’s views and of her own. It’s beautifully written and emotional. Thank you to Harper Collins for the opportunity to read an early copy.
If you are a WWII book lover you’re going to want to read The German Heiress! Clara Falkenberg runs and operates her family’s ironwork business, despite not believing in industrialism or the Nazi cause. She arrives back home after the war is over to find the city destroyed and her friend missing, all while dodging the officer trying to charge her with war crimes. The German Heiress is a story about overcoming odds, all while learning and making changes for the better. This book will keep you turning the pages until the very end, and just wait for the surprise ending. I loved it!
The German Heiress by Anika Scott is a gripping post WWII historical fiction centered in Germany 1946. While the country lay in ruins and chaos, many were trying to create a sense of order and justice against the mayhem. This book centers around 31 year old Clara Falkenberg, the only daughter of an aristocratic and wealthy family that rose to high ranks through industrialism, slave labor, and important connections with the Fascists during WWII. While Clara herself did not believe in “the cause” and, in her own way, tried to help the suffering of her workers as much as she thought that she could, was still thrust into the evil workings of her corrupt parents until the war ended, and not in their favor.
After fleeing, a cascade of incidents and consequences occur that alters many lives forever.
This is a story about finding oneself, about acceptance, forgiveness, justice, redemption, love, family, and loyalty. It is a story about overcoming odds and changing oneself for the better.
I liked Clara. I liked the positive changes that she went through despite the adversity and blows handed to her throughout the story. I also liked the chemistry of Jakob and Clara and how by being together, each one brought out the best in each other. I also enjoyed the surprise ending. It was the best part of all.
Excellent book. 5/5 stars