I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, so much so that I went right after this second installment. Once again I was taken on a remarkable, often chilling journey into the dark underpinnings of Nazi Germany, as seen through the eyes of the story’s beautiful and courageous heroine, Annalise. Together with her husband, Heinrich, a Nazi officer working undercover for American intelligence, Annalise continues her quest to help save as many of her Jewish brethren as possible from certain death. This requires her to operate under the very noses of high-ranking Gestapo, a circumstance that calls for supreme dedication and steel nerves. Annalise’s written voice sparkles with passion and intensity, drawing the reader right into the action, such that each cat-and-mouse encounter bristles with realism. I found Annalise’s dry wit and humorous observations in the face of desperate predicaments refreshing, as this renders her character all the more genuine and likeable.

Determined to avenge the death of her brother, Annalise seeks assistance from Ernst Kaltenbrunner, chief of the Austrian SS, to assassinate the Nazi officer responsible for her loss. At first stunned by Annalise’s request, Kaltenbrunner eventually agrees to do her bidding. But before long Annalise discovers she may have solicited more than she bargained for, as Kaltenbrunner begins to affect her in ways both physical and emotional, testing the bounds of her morality. The author’s portrayal of Kaltenbrunner is especially eerie, in that he can be gentle and compassionate one moment, completely devoid of human feeling the next. Yet this multi-faceted man holds a dark attraction for Annalise, compelling her to open her heart to a force that could ultimately consume her.

The plot is fast-paced, the relationships between the characters excitingly complex, the intrigue so tangible and nerve-racking that my Kindle could barely keep up with my page turning. As for the climactic ending, suffice it to say the suspense is killing me. I can’t wait to begin book three!

I highly recommend this novel for fans of historical fiction, especially those interested in World War II Germany. The author’s knowledge of the time period impresses, as she weaves a treasure trove of historical details into the fabric of a series destined to be dubbed “classic.”