L'angelo di Hitler

by Kris Rusch

In Hitler's Angel, author Kris Rusch gathers the usual there's Eva Braun and Rudolf Hess and of course the future führer himself. But rather than put them at the center of her novel, Rusch relegates them to cameo appearances only and hands the starring role to the fictional Fritz Stecher, a cop investigating the death of Hitler's beloved niece, Geli Raubal. The relationship between uncle and niece has been the subject of speculation for decades—everything from incest to murder has been suggested, but the facts are Hitler and the 23-year-old Geli lived together in a house in Munich, and in 1931, she died, the apparent victim of a suicide. Historians may debate the circumstances; novelists have the freedom to imagine answers. Rusch's solution to the riddle of young Geli Raubal's death is at the heart of this dark novel, encompassing both Hitler's tangled personal relationships and his cutthroat political rivalries. Told from the perspective of a now-elderly Stecher, Rusch's tale not only speculates on what might have happened, but also hints at what might have been if Hitler's career had been derailed early on by scandal.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Crime, Fiction, World War II, Historical, Germany

221 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1998

About the author

The author also publishes under the names: Kathryn Kristine Rusch; Kristine Grayson; Kris Nelscott; Sandy Schofield

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kris Rusch is really Kristine Katryn Rusch who has written several sci-fi and fantasy novels as well as some really good mystery short stories.

What ifs are always interesting in a spooky way. They are endless. What Rusch does in this book is focus on a small and usually mentioned in passing event - the death of Hitler's niece. The ending of the novel, at least in terms of the big historical event, is no surprise, so wisely Rusch keeps her focus on her invented characters - a former German detective, Fritz; and the women interviewing him, the American Annie. The story takes place just prior to the Munich Olympics as well as in pre-WW II Weimer Republic.

The mystery isn't so much whether or not Hitler killed his niece, but who extactly Fritz is, what is motivations are, and why is he telling this to Annie. The answers are revealed in fits and starts, but are fully revealed by the end of the novel. Rusch does a good job in writing about a time that feel American history books focus on.

[Lian Tanner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected to like this book - it's a period of history I'm interested in, and the subject matter looked good. But I found myself being irritated by it more than anything. I think my main problem was with the framing device, which was the story set in 1972, where the young American student comes to Germany to interview the detective. This part of the book was very repetitive, and for ages I couldn't see the point of it. The point became clear at the very end, but I still didn't enjoy it. The American student, Annie, is naive and irritating, and the constant jumping back and forth between 1931 and 1972 dragged me away from what should have been a gripping story in the older time period.

[Russ Crossley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was Hitler a murderer before he started murdering millions? Was his involvement in the murder of his niece covered up? Did he do it?

These questions are answered in this spell binding mystery by Kris Rusch. A well researched story using actual facts from the early 1930's to jump off from to tell this incredible tale.

Imagine what the world would be like if Hitler had been convicted of murder before he became Chancellor of Germany.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short (compared to my recent reading of Peter Hamilton's monumental SF novels) novel, entertaining, well researched, but not quiet there. The mystery could have been more complex and the bleakness of the Nazi's (the Germany, 1930s Nazis) darker. Overall, the story would have been better as a longer novel. I enjoyed the book, but I do not suspect I will ever reread.

[Tittirossa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mi ha attratto la trama: una giovane ricercatrice americana si trova a Monaco per le Olimpiadi del 1972 (questo particolare non ha alcuna rilevanza per la stori!) e va a trovare Fritz, un famosissimo investigatore tedesco che negli anni '30 aveva risolto un caso difficile con nuove tecniche investigative che poi hanno fatto storia. Dall'incontro scaturisce la narrazione dell'ultimo caso affrontato dall'uomo, la morte violenta della nipote (Angela, Geli, l'angelo del titolo presumo) di Hitler.
La storia è ben narrata con un'altalenare continuo tra il passato ed il presente, anche la tensione narrativa (pur sapendo noi come andrà a finire alla FINE) non viene mai meno, ma sarebbe un banale romanzo giallo storico se non fosse per le ultime due pagine. Dove si capisce che il suicidio-presunto-omicidio di Geli ha una risonanza ben più cupa, profonda e lacerante per Fritz di quanto non sia trapelato in tutte le pagine precedenti.
Questo per quanto attiene la storia; per il resto, la scrittura è debole, l'editing sciatto, la traduzione a volte mi ha lasciata decisamente perplessa.

[Luca Cresta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grazie ad una visita nel vecchio archivio di Delos, ho potuto avere questo testo e devo ringraziare Silvio Sosio, perchè la lettura è stata emozionante ed interessante. Una K.K.Rusch molto distante dai temi degli altri suoi libri che ho letto, ma altrettanto capace di costruire caratteri e stori di incredibile spessore e sensibilità. Ottima anche la ricostruzione storica di un periodo a me quasi ignoto. Una lettura assolutamente consigliata per gli amanti del giallo storico.

[Karen Jaeckels · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on a true incident, the author delves into the psychological impact for a young detective who has to live with the fact that he may have been able to stop Hillter before he came to power. It's an interesting premise as the detective tells his story to a young grad school journalist. Be forewarned that some information can be disturbing.

[Geoff Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well paced, plausible and engaging historical fiction, with an opportunity to explore the complexities of life.

[Elena C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written, made me sad. You know, all that. Then again I am literally 14 so yeah

[Luca Pelorosso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Il libro viaggia su due linee temporali: una nel presente narrativo e uno dove vengono raccontati i fatti della storia. Ottimo mystery psicologico intracciato con la storia raccontato dall'autrice.

[Deedee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author, Kris Rusch, is a prolific fantasy writer, who usually publishes under the name Kristine Kathryn Kusch. This novel is a quick read.

The story is framed as this: in 1972, a young American woman who is writing a dissertation travels to Munich, Germany, to interview an older German. He was a Detective-Inspector in Munich in 1932; she is interested in a case at the time. The case: the death of 23-year-old Angela Maria Raubal, who is the daughter of Adolf Hitler's half-sister. Ms. Raubal's death is ruled a suicide, but our Detective-Inspector has suspicions that she was murdered. The novel proceeds from there --- lengthy flashbacks interspersed with scenes with the young American woman. There is alot of dialog, combined with relatively brief descriptions of the physical world. Recommended.

[Wilde Sky · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1972 a criminology student travels to Munich to interview an elderly detective about the death of Hitler’s niece in 1931. Was it suicide or murder?

Well written with a believable and interesting plot – even though it was clearly a mixture of fact and fiction (the book states that the detective is fictional). But the end left me cold, the two themes (Hitler could have been stopped and to understand a criminal you must be one) seemed very lazy / predictable.

Worth reading if you are fan of this author or of historical mysteries.

[Christoph Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Hitler's Angel" by Kris Rusch is a powerful and compelling read with a great story. A journalist visits a retired Detective in Munich to interview him about a high profile case of 1929 but instead the man talks about a different investigation concerning Hitler's niece and the cover up that followed her death.
The story lines of then and now were a bit much for me at times although it added to the great suspense the author created.
A good read.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is based on a truth of which I was unaware. I already found Hitler to be the worst of the worst, but this is beyond disturbing! I finished the book so I would know the ending, but I didn't like the story at all. It was well written though.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good mystery novel. It makes you wonder how the world would have developed had Hitler been imprisoned for murder in the early '30s, rather than rising to political power.

[Lynn Escamillo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea was interesting, but there was some blocking me from becoming completely involved in it.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly super alternate history.

[J.F. Penn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hitlers niece was murdered in his flat before he came to power. That part is true. This excellent mystery explores who killed her and why.

[Angela Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Novel surrounding the death of Adolf's niece, Geli Raubal . Fictional detective, Fritz Stecher investigates the 'suicide' and in retirement dictates his story to a student.

[Phil Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good, enjoyed it a lot interesting to see WW2 from another point of view