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The Last Innocent Hour
Amid the decadence of pre-World War II Berlin, the daughter of the American ambassador falls in love with a handsome German, and when he becomes a Nazi officer she is forced to choose between love and country. Reprint.
553 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1991
38 people are currently reading
1575 people want to read
About the author
Margot Abbott
3 books31 followersMargot Abbott’s “The Last Innocent Hour” was first published as a hardback in 1991 by St. Martin's Press and as a soft back in 1995. It was translated into several languages. She has been a newspaper columnist, a social studies teacher and a library worker. For the past sixteen years, she has worked as a county clerk in Children Family Services.
Margot was born in Saudi Arabia where her father worked for the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO). She got to travel with her parents all over the world, especially to Italy.
One of her most vivid memories is of visiting the divided city of Berlin the year after the Wall went up. On a tour of East Berlin, her father was especially careful to show her the square where the Nazi's burned books. A book lover himself, her father knew she'd be deeply impressed by this historical reality.
Margot lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and is working on her next novel.
Margot was born in Saudi Arabia where her father worked for the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO). She got to travel with her parents all over the world, especially to Italy.
One of her most vivid memories is of visiting the divided city of Berlin the year after the Wall went up. On a tour of East Berlin, her father was especially careful to show her the square where the Nazi's burned books. A book lover himself, her father knew she'd be deeply impressed by this historical reality.
Margot lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and is working on her next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
June 28, 2017
Apparently Margot Abbott never wrote another book, and it seems very few people read this one. That's a shame, because it is a very well told story with important implications.
In Abbott's story, a young German boy is pulled into the Nazi orbit, the worst part of the Nazis, Heydrich's SS. He was childhood friends with an American girl, who returns to Berlin with her father in 1933, when he is appointed Ambassador. This of course is based on Martha Dodd, but not too closely, and it was published long before "In the Garden of Beasts."
One reviewer called the story naive and predictable; I don't agree. I thought it was a well-structured plot with interesting characters and a powerful emotional pull. Too bad she didn't write more.
In Abbott's story, a young German boy is pulled into the Nazi orbit, the worst part of the Nazis, Heydrich's SS. He was childhood friends with an American girl, who returns to Berlin with her father in 1933, when he is appointed Ambassador. This of course is based on Martha Dodd, but not too closely, and it was published long before "In the Garden of Beasts."
One reviewer called the story naive and predictable; I don't agree. I thought it was a well-structured plot with interesting characters and a powerful emotional pull. Too bad she didn't write more.
September 22, 2022
Please for the love of God & Jeff Bezos & everything that is holy let me buy books 2 & 3 of The Last Innocent Hour, which is, apparently, a series.
From Margot's amazon page:
"St. Martin's Press published TLIH in 1991 and as I remember a good number of copies sold. But I'm really pleased that it's getting another chance. I did write a 2nd and a 3rd novel but they were rejected. I started a 4th and had to get a job. Meanwhile, well...we'll see. Hopefully, the 2nd book will get a chance."
An excellent and interesting read, for unexpected reasons.
When learning about WWII in school (in Germany, where I come from, Nazi Germany is a huge part of general education, so as to prevent faschism from rising in Germany ever again), a question inevitably arises is "why?" and maybe even "how?". How was it possible for "normal" people to not only tolerate but actively participate in, even celebrate crimes against humanity so severe they are shocking even now, 70 years after. Why would a normal person, a nirmal country, become so evil? And how did no one notice? How could all the "normal" people ignore the atrocities, and pretend they never happened?
While this book is marketed as a historical romance (in the widest sense of the word) or bodice-ripper, I was surprised at one of the main themes, the nazi awakening, not the romance part.
The Last Innocent Hour deals with a young woman experiencing and being initially impressed with Nazi Germany in the early 1930s - long before the real atrocities began.
The interesting part of this book was neither the story - which was entertaining - or the characers - who had some bright moments - but instead the way a normal person who wasn't German would have experienced the rise of the Nazis. While the first look might have been impressive, the dread that permeats the book is what caught my eye. The shining sufface of the bright eyed youths soon shattered and left the protagonist with a different, monstrous image of a country that had forgotten its humanity.
The inhuman aspect of the Waffen-SS and their actions, and how a person could be swayed and ripped into the Nazi orbit was extremely well executed. I also noticed that other, German characters, reacged very differently, negating anything strange or awful, and playing blind sheep.
While the romance was entertaining, the book remains memorable for its intelligent reflection of a young Germany's transformation into a monstrous state and the outside world not seeing it before it is already too late.
From Margot's amazon page:
"St. Martin's Press published TLIH in 1991 and as I remember a good number of copies sold. But I'm really pleased that it's getting another chance. I did write a 2nd and a 3rd novel but they were rejected. I started a 4th and had to get a job. Meanwhile, well...we'll see. Hopefully, the 2nd book will get a chance."
An excellent and interesting read, for unexpected reasons.
When learning about WWII in school (in Germany, where I come from, Nazi Germany is a huge part of general education, so as to prevent faschism from rising in Germany ever again), a question inevitably arises is "why?" and maybe even "how?". How was it possible for "normal" people to not only tolerate but actively participate in, even celebrate crimes against humanity so severe they are shocking even now, 70 years after. Why would a normal person, a nirmal country, become so evil? And how did no one notice? How could all the "normal" people ignore the atrocities, and pretend they never happened?
While this book is marketed as a historical romance (in the widest sense of the word) or bodice-ripper, I was surprised at one of the main themes, the nazi awakening, not the romance part.
The Last Innocent Hour deals with a young woman experiencing and being initially impressed with Nazi Germany in the early 1930s - long before the real atrocities began.
The interesting part of this book was neither the story - which was entertaining - or the characers - who had some bright moments - but instead the way a normal person who wasn't German would have experienced the rise of the Nazis. While the first look might have been impressive, the dread that permeats the book is what caught my eye. The shining sufface of the bright eyed youths soon shattered and left the protagonist with a different, monstrous image of a country that had forgotten its humanity.
The inhuman aspect of the Waffen-SS and their actions, and how a person could be swayed and ripped into the Nazi orbit was extremely well executed. I also noticed that other, German characters, reacged very differently, negating anything strange or awful, and playing blind sheep.
While the romance was entertaining, the book remains memorable for its intelligent reflection of a young Germany's transformation into a monstrous state and the outside world not seeing it before it is already too late.
November 25, 2024
This has great reviews overall, but I felt like I was reading a different book from everyone else. *sigh* The prose itself was fine (aside from overusing names in dialogue), & I really like the idea behind it—i.e. addressing modern incredulity towards ordinary people of the past, aka “How could German citizens (& others) be so ignorant of these atrocities?!”—because the slowly unfolding banality of evil is a real thing. So for those reasons I give the book 2 stars.
But…(huge caveats to follow)…
The nonlinear timeline really hurts this story, because we-the-reader (plus the characters themselves) already know how this tragedy will unspool, or at least enough to fill in the blanks. So beginning with a long, tedious prologue in 1946 before flashing back to the early ‘30s (+ then back to ‘46 for the finale) doesn’t build from springtime innocence to a heart-hurting microcosmic tragedy—instead it ensures a 300-pg death march of depressing progression to an even more depressing closure. Not only that, but Sally is an incredibly annoying narrator/heroine (seriously, nobody is THAT naïve—what a twee, giggly, not-like-other-girls chicken nugget brain) who gives us NO good reason for her obsession with creepy Christian—instead she goes on & on about how hot he is & how she wanted him since they were kids. That’s it? The guy had asshole tendencies even in the beginning, which makes for a supremely unlikable fulcrum.
Also: using Heydrich as such a prominent character really didn’t sit well with me. I wouldn’t have minded him as a peripheral looming presence, but to use this RL genocidal rapey douchebag as the third side to a fictional love triangle with an insipid heroine? NOPE. That’s just icky. The author should’ve at least created an OC in Heydrich’s vein, not used the actual dude. This isn’t a Civil War story where the heroine flirts with Jefferson Davis, or a Russian Revolution story where she’s randomly assaulted by Rasputin. This guy was evil personified in reality. I’m not saying novels shouldn’t explore RL players in uncomfortable topics, but there’s a line between sociological discussion vs cheap villain fodder in a shallow romantic triangle.
…Then again, perhaps if Sally + Christian hadn’t made me 🙄😑😒 on an endless loop, maybe I’d have been more forgiving. (Or maybe not. Who knows. 😶)
{Note: This book is part of my ongoing quest to pluck tomes I’ve had unread for 7+ years & either love-and-keep or DNF-and-donate.}
But…(huge caveats to follow)…
The nonlinear timeline really hurts this story, because we-the-reader (plus the characters themselves) already know how this tragedy will unspool, or at least enough to fill in the blanks. So beginning with a long, tedious prologue in 1946 before flashing back to the early ‘30s (+ then back to ‘46 for the finale) doesn’t build from springtime innocence to a heart-hurting microcosmic tragedy—instead it ensures a 300-pg death march of depressing progression to an even more depressing closure. Not only that, but Sally is an incredibly annoying narrator/heroine (seriously, nobody is THAT naïve—what a twee, giggly, not-like-other-girls chicken nugget brain) who gives us NO good reason for her obsession with creepy Christian—instead she goes on & on about how hot he is & how she wanted him since they were kids. That’s it? The guy had asshole tendencies even in the beginning, which makes for a supremely unlikable fulcrum.
Also: using Heydrich as such a prominent character really didn’t sit well with me. I wouldn’t have minded him as a peripheral looming presence, but to use this RL genocidal rapey douchebag as the third side to a fictional love triangle with an insipid heroine? NOPE. That’s just icky. The author should’ve at least created an OC in Heydrich’s vein, not used the actual dude. This isn’t a Civil War story where the heroine flirts with Jefferson Davis, or a Russian Revolution story where she’s randomly assaulted by Rasputin. This guy was evil personified in reality. I’m not saying novels shouldn’t explore RL players in uncomfortable topics, but there’s a line between sociological discussion vs cheap villain fodder in a shallow romantic triangle.
…Then again, perhaps if Sally + Christian hadn’t made me 🙄😑😒 on an endless loop, maybe I’d have been more forgiving. (Or maybe not. Who knows. 😶)
{Note: This book is part of my ongoing quest to pluck tomes I’ve had unread for 7+ years & either love-and-keep or DNF-and-donate.}
February 24, 2024
Solid 4 stars
It took me awhile to decide how I felt about this book. When I read Nenia's review where she mentioned that this was similar to Outlander and The Bronze Horseman I was expecting a deep and angsty historical romance, which this book has elements of, but where those books have semi-happy endings for the couples, this one does not. This book does have a lot of the same elements as those books, star crossed lovers, love while at war or at the brink of war, and young love. However, the ending had me feeling like I emotionally hit a brick wall.
I do have to say this is one of the best WWII books that I have ever read, but it reads more like a thriller than a true romance. If you are looking for a pay-off at the end between the h and the H look elsewhere. This book is more so about the insane obsession that the villain Reinhard Heidrich (Nazi SS General) has for the h Sally Jackson. I mean their sword fight at the end of the book is EPIC. Tbh I could have cared less about Sally's two romantic interests in the book. They are more or less weak background characters compared the complete insanity that is RH.
I think someone else mentioned in their review that this was supposed to be apart of an interconnected series that Margot Abbot was going to write, but I don't know how this series would have carried on without RH. This was one of those books where the antagonist/villain carried the book. Like I know this guy was a real evil person in real life, and he was in the book too. However, his villain arc and Sally fighting for Christian against him made this book.
This book is broken down into 3 parts, Sally arriving in post WW2 Berlin, the main flashback to pre-WW2 Berlin, and back to post WW2 Berlin. Part 1 (first 100 pgs.) felt a little scattered with the multiple flashbacks and all of the characters getting introduced, I almost dnf'd because I was getting confused and it was a little boring. Part 2 (about 300 pgs.), which is the main part of the book, was the best part. Part 3 (last 90 pgs.) felt very rushed, and I didn't like the fact the main villain was killed off page, especially since the main part was alllll about Sally and him. I also didn't like that there wasn't much of a resolution with the H, Christian. Also I didn't like that the other main love interest didn't get much page time, I didn't see how Sally "loved" him by the end. I feel like if Margot Abbot wrote another book it would have been about them or about Sally's brother, but I don't how it would have been as engaging as this book was since RH wouldn't have been in it.
Highly recommend for anyone looking for a great WW2 thriller, but again, be warned this is not a romance.
It took me awhile to decide how I felt about this book. When I read Nenia's review where she mentioned that this was similar to Outlander and The Bronze Horseman I was expecting a deep and angsty historical romance, which this book has elements of, but where those books have semi-happy endings for the couples, this one does not. This book does have a lot of the same elements as those books, star crossed lovers, love while at war or at the brink of war, and young love. However, the ending had me feeling like I emotionally hit a brick wall.
I do have to say this is one of the best WWII books that I have ever read, but it reads more like a thriller than a true romance. If you are looking for a pay-off at the end between the h and the H look elsewhere. This book is more so about the insane obsession that the villain Reinhard Heidrich (Nazi SS General) has for the h Sally Jackson. I mean their sword fight at the end of the book is EPIC. Tbh I could have cared less about Sally's two romantic interests in the book. They are more or less weak background characters compared the complete insanity that is RH.
I think someone else mentioned in their review that this was supposed to be apart of an interconnected series that Margot Abbot was going to write, but I don't know how this series would have carried on without RH. This was one of those books where the antagonist/villain carried the book. Like I know this guy was a real evil person in real life, and he was in the book too. However, his villain arc and Sally fighting for Christian against him made this book.
This book is broken down into 3 parts, Sally arriving in post WW2 Berlin, the main flashback to pre-WW2 Berlin, and back to post WW2 Berlin. Part 1 (first 100 pgs.) felt a little scattered with the multiple flashbacks and all of the characters getting introduced, I almost dnf'd because I was getting confused and it was a little boring. Part 2 (about 300 pgs.), which is the main part of the book, was the best part. Part 3 (last 90 pgs.) felt very rushed, and I didn't like the fact the main villain was killed off page, especially since the main part was alllll about Sally and him. I also didn't like that there wasn't much of a resolution with the H, Christian. Also I didn't like that the other main love interest didn't get much page time, I didn't see how Sally "loved" him by the end. I feel like if Margot Abbot wrote another book it would have been about them or about Sally's brother, but I don't how it would have been as engaging as this book was since RH wouldn't have been in it.
Highly recommend for anyone looking for a great WW2 thriller, but again, be warned this is not a romance.
September 6, 2021
What Karla said, plus a few of my rambles...
... turgid, trashy little potboiler...
It's all those elements, yes. But for a novel that wanders into the trashy a few times, the sense of time and place is so well conveyed that it's impressive. At no moment ever did I feel the history was just wallpaper decoration for the plot, nor did I feel any sense of anachronistic mentality, behaviour or events that take place. No characters that behave like postwar goodie-two-shoes who know all about the Nazis and the concentration camps in amounts that no average citizen of the time would have, unless they were working for the likes of the Gestapo or had access to info that wasn't public domain. This is much appreciated, because finding characters in WWII-era books that have a "with hindsight" behaviour is tiresome as well as shows sloppy research, not to mention this is one of those periods with controversial topics that, if not deftly handled, can ruin the best of stories.
This vast middle section of the book is where the plotting and characters kept me the most interested.
Same for me. I'd liken that to the "meat" amidst the two slices of bread in a sandwich. Maybe the upper slice (last part of the book) was thicker and more delicious than the lower slice...
According to his friend, Walter Schellenberg, "Heydrich's only weakness was his ungovernable sexual appetite. To this he would surrender himself without inhibition or caution and the calculated control which characterised him in everything he did left him completely."
Whether Abbott had read this observation, who knows, but it is basically what propels the narrative.
It's entirely likely that Margot Abbott knew of what Schellenberg said or that she reached the same conclusion from her own research. Why? In the Author's Note at the end, she reveals she read the Dodd diaries, and in it there's info on how Martha Dodd (the real-life loose basis for Sally Jackson) met Heydrich amongst other top-brass Nazis. Also, it wasn't so unknown that Heydrich was a skirt-chaser, that's been mentioned in biographies and history books old and recent.
All in all, what's known of Himmler's Brain makes it believable that he'd go from a "restrained, mysterious energy to outsized villainy" as Karla said, and it doesn't read like out of character for him to do what he did in this book. It reads very in-character for the man that Abbott describes, and fitting for the real Heydrich at the same time even if he personally didn't do all that.
Sally herself was more of a mixed bag. Her naive nature was irritating because, you know, surrounded by Nazis and giggling like an idiot at things...
Yes, and that's probably the only frustrating part of the novel for me, the reason I don't rate it higher. I do agree with Karla over why it had to be like that and how the genre conventions saved the female protagonist from borderline TSTL moments that'd have had more dire consequences otherwise. But, on the other hand, I'd have appreciated a bit of explaining about why Sally is so incredibly naïve. Age? No, she's not that young; that'd apply to a younger girl. Sheltering? Not entirely, she's a "travelled person" and though not very worldly, it's not like she grew up mollycoddled in the middle of Nowhereville with maids and butlers and chauffeurs to tend to every need and nothing to worry about but a broken nail. Ostrich syndrome? That sounds the most probable cause, her nature and wilful desire to bury her head in the sand despite what her father knows, ignoring the warning signs she does see and those that she is told by older and wiser people.
Still, I can't but think this character is improbably naïve at times. When sheep-to-the slaughter behaviour is borne out of stupidity rather than ignorance and meekness, it's less sympathetic, I think.
... turgid, trashy little potboiler...
It's all those elements, yes. But for a novel that wanders into the trashy a few times, the sense of time and place is so well conveyed that it's impressive. At no moment ever did I feel the history was just wallpaper decoration for the plot, nor did I feel any sense of anachronistic mentality, behaviour or events that take place. No characters that behave like postwar goodie-two-shoes who know all about the Nazis and the concentration camps in amounts that no average citizen of the time would have, unless they were working for the likes of the Gestapo or had access to info that wasn't public domain. This is much appreciated, because finding characters in WWII-era books that have a "with hindsight" behaviour is tiresome as well as shows sloppy research, not to mention this is one of those periods with controversial topics that, if not deftly handled, can ruin the best of stories.
This vast middle section of the book is where the plotting and characters kept me the most interested.
Same for me. I'd liken that to the "meat" amidst the two slices of bread in a sandwich. Maybe the upper slice (last part of the book) was thicker and more delicious than the lower slice...
According to his friend, Walter Schellenberg, "Heydrich's only weakness was his ungovernable sexual appetite. To this he would surrender himself without inhibition or caution and the calculated control which characterised him in everything he did left him completely."
Whether Abbott had read this observation, who knows, but it is basically what propels the narrative.
It's entirely likely that Margot Abbott knew of what Schellenberg said or that she reached the same conclusion from her own research. Why? In the Author's Note at the end, she reveals she read the Dodd diaries, and in it there's info on how Martha Dodd (the real-life loose basis for Sally Jackson) met Heydrich amongst other top-brass Nazis. Also, it wasn't so unknown that Heydrich was a skirt-chaser, that's been mentioned in biographies and history books old and recent.
All in all, what's known of Himmler's Brain makes it believable that he'd go from a "restrained, mysterious energy to outsized villainy" as Karla said, and it doesn't read like out of character for him to do what he did in this book. It reads very in-character for the man that Abbott describes, and fitting for the real Heydrich at the same time even if he personally didn't do all that.
Sally herself was more of a mixed bag. Her naive nature was irritating because, you know, surrounded by Nazis and giggling like an idiot at things...
Yes, and that's probably the only frustrating part of the novel for me, the reason I don't rate it higher. I do agree with Karla over why it had to be like that and how the genre conventions saved the female protagonist from borderline TSTL moments that'd have had more dire consequences otherwise. But, on the other hand, I'd have appreciated a bit of explaining about why Sally is so incredibly naïve. Age? No, she's not that young; that'd apply to a younger girl. Sheltering? Not entirely, she's a "travelled person" and though not very worldly, it's not like she grew up mollycoddled in the middle of Nowhereville with maids and butlers and chauffeurs to tend to every need and nothing to worry about but a broken nail. Ostrich syndrome? That sounds the most probable cause, her nature and wilful desire to bury her head in the sand despite what her father knows, ignoring the warning signs she does see and those that she is told by older and wiser people.
Still, I can't but think this character is improbably naïve at times. When sheep-to-the slaughter behaviour is borne out of stupidity rather than ignorance and meekness, it's less sympathetic, I think.
December 17, 2020
This book, I have no words. After finishing it, I'm stunned, I just want to curl up and cry.
It was haunting, some scenes will chill you to the bone, but you will not be able to put it down.
The book is quite long, and I'm a slow reader, but still I finished this rather quickly, because the flow of the story is amazing, the author so cleverly builds up suspense, you just want to reach the ending to finally have all the pieces of the story.
It starts out slow, so you need to be patient, we meet Sally, who comes to Berlin in 1946, we don't know much about her, and I felt lost with all the names, but soon, she starts narrating the story of her youth in Berlin 1933/34 and that is the main story of the novel, the story that will break your heart. But it is also story of how Nazis came to power in pre-war Germany, and I have to say it served as an amazing backdrop for this story.
The characters are so complex, I loved them, because they were incredibly well-written, but I also hated them, because of who they were. There is no hero of the story, they're guilty. And the ending, as much as it's painful, I still loved it.
The Last Innocent Hour (and oh, how I love the title!) portrays pure evil, but also love; hope, but also destruction.
After finishing it, I'm left here thinking how some people are so gifted, to use words to evoke such strong emotions in us, Margot Abbott sure is one of those authors. Grief, sadness are parts of our lives as much as anything else, and if you want a compelling story that will tug at your heartstrings, read this!
It was haunting, some scenes will chill you to the bone, but you will not be able to put it down.
The book is quite long, and I'm a slow reader, but still I finished this rather quickly, because the flow of the story is amazing, the author so cleverly builds up suspense, you just want to reach the ending to finally have all the pieces of the story.
It starts out slow, so you need to be patient, we meet Sally, who comes to Berlin in 1946, we don't know much about her, and I felt lost with all the names, but soon, she starts narrating the story of her youth in Berlin 1933/34 and that is the main story of the novel, the story that will break your heart. But it is also story of how Nazis came to power in pre-war Germany, and I have to say it served as an amazing backdrop for this story.
The characters are so complex, I loved them, because they were incredibly well-written, but I also hated them, because of who they were. There is no hero of the story, they're guilty. And the ending, as much as it's painful, I still loved it.
The Last Innocent Hour (and oh, how I love the title!) portrays pure evil, but also love; hope, but also destruction.
After finishing it, I'm left here thinking how some people are so gifted, to use words to evoke such strong emotions in us, Margot Abbott sure is one of those authors. Grief, sadness are parts of our lives as much as anything else, and if you want a compelling story that will tug at your heartstrings, read this!
August 6, 2025
The Last Innocent Hour has come to my attention a few times as one of the "most underappreciated books ever" and “best books you’ve never heard of”, so I was very curious. While I always love reading a good book, there’s something especially thrilling about discovering a hidden gem.
But, sorry, I just don't get it.
After the first couple of chapters that engage only because they mention Nazi atrocities, it moves very slowly through the present of the novel—1946 Berlin. I think this was a strange choice on the author's part. A lot of tension is lost by having the book start years after the main events, so we already know how much of it played out. It also drags on forever before we finally flashback to Sally's youth and her romance with Christian.
Another major issue I have is with the romance, and Sally herself. The love story is a big part of this book, to the point that the reader's emotional investment pretty much rests on it, but I wasn't sold. And I think the main reason was Sally. She is such a naive, insipid, wet mop of a character. She reminds me of YA heroines circa 2010 who would see a "beautiful" guy and go brain dead. Her love for Christian seems to entirely consist of an obsession with his beautiful blonde head.
I really wanted to like it and, truthfully, I thought I would. I enjoy historical fiction. Doomed romance is pretty much the only kind of romance that does it for me. And I am very interested in how fascism can seduce innocent individuals with powerful messages, especially as I think this is still very relevant today. But I couldn't get past these characters.
But, sorry, I just don't get it.
After the first couple of chapters that engage only because they mention Nazi atrocities, it moves very slowly through the present of the novel—1946 Berlin. I think this was a strange choice on the author's part. A lot of tension is lost by having the book start years after the main events, so we already know how much of it played out. It also drags on forever before we finally flashback to Sally's youth and her romance with Christian.
Another major issue I have is with the romance, and Sally herself. The love story is a big part of this book, to the point that the reader's emotional investment pretty much rests on it, but I wasn't sold. And I think the main reason was Sally. She is such a naive, insipid, wet mop of a character. She reminds me of YA heroines circa 2010 who would see a "beautiful" guy and go brain dead. Her love for Christian seems to entirely consist of an obsession with his beautiful blonde head.
I really wanted to like it and, truthfully, I thought I would. I enjoy historical fiction. Doomed romance is pretty much the only kind of romance that does it for me. And I am very interested in how fascism can seduce innocent individuals with powerful messages, especially as I think this is still very relevant today. But I couldn't get past these characters.
January 12, 2014
Warning: this book WILL make you want to kill yourself. I just finished it, and I've been sitting here for the past half hour shaking. It's a beautiful novel, with a beautiful romance....until it isn't. It doesn't end AT ALL how you want it to. I'm just..a bit disappointed, or VERY disappointed, because I was invested in the main love affair only to have it end so badly. It's heartbreaking and not completely in a good way.
EDIT: Ok, now that I've reread it through again, knowing what was going to happen, I enjoyed it more, even though I was still such a wreck afterwards that I missed my class. I understand why it had to end like it did...but still. Abbott is an evil genius. She knew exactly how to pull at our heartstrings. But in my deluded mind, it all ended happily. Yup. Happy, happy.
EDIT: Ok, now that I've reread it through again, knowing what was going to happen, I enjoyed it more, even though I was still such a wreck afterwards that I missed my class. I understand why it had to end like it did...but still. Abbott is an evil genius. She knew exactly how to pull at our heartstrings. But in my deluded mind, it all ended happily. Yup. Happy, happy.
March 23, 2016
This is surely one of the best WWII novels I have read. I was sad to see that it was all this author has written.
The story centers around Sally Jackson , who returns to Germany in 1946, and begins to reminisce about her past in Germany and her romance with Christian Mayr, a neighbor boy. Happy summers spent in Bavaria lead to a childhood romance which Sally, can't forget, and when she returns to Germany with her father, now the American Ambassador, she tries to locate her childhood love. But behind the scenes lurks Reinhard Heydrich, as evil a man as could ever be imagined, but he lived. He becomes interested in Sally and she manipulates him into finding out if Christian is still alive. But the sinister Heydrich is playing with her, and when he "Finds" Christian, she does not realize that he is already a pawn of Heydrich, a golden Aryan boy now in the SS. Loving music and also fencing, she is drawn into Heydrich's circle, becomes friends with his wife, Lina, and marries Christian. But Christian is not the same boy she remembered in her youth. Soon she finds herself trapped in the spider's web of Heydrich's evil, playing duets with him and taking fencing lessons from his fencing master. When she realizes what is happening she entreats Christian to leave Germany with her. But the sinister Heydrich has other plans for naïve Sally.
I could go on, but I do not want to spoil the book for anyone else. I was able to find a hardback copy at Amazon for 1 cent-$4.00 with shipping and it was well worth the expense. It turns out that my copy is in excellent condition with jacket and is a first edition. Maybe in 100 years it will be a collector's item-LOL!
The story centers around Sally Jackson , who returns to Germany in 1946, and begins to reminisce about her past in Germany and her romance with Christian Mayr, a neighbor boy. Happy summers spent in Bavaria lead to a childhood romance which Sally, can't forget, and when she returns to Germany with her father, now the American Ambassador, she tries to locate her childhood love. But behind the scenes lurks Reinhard Heydrich, as evil a man as could ever be imagined, but he lived. He becomes interested in Sally and she manipulates him into finding out if Christian is still alive. But the sinister Heydrich is playing with her, and when he "Finds" Christian, she does not realize that he is already a pawn of Heydrich, a golden Aryan boy now in the SS. Loving music and also fencing, she is drawn into Heydrich's circle, becomes friends with his wife, Lina, and marries Christian. But Christian is not the same boy she remembered in her youth. Soon she finds herself trapped in the spider's web of Heydrich's evil, playing duets with him and taking fencing lessons from his fencing master. When she realizes what is happening she entreats Christian to leave Germany with her. But the sinister Heydrich has other plans for naïve Sally.
I could go on, but I do not want to spoil the book for anyone else. I was able to find a hardback copy at Amazon for 1 cent-$4.00 with shipping and it was well worth the expense. It turns out that my copy is in excellent condition with jacket and is a first edition. Maybe in 100 years it will be a collector's item-LOL!
August 5, 2020
Sally Jackson is an American ambassador’s daughter who returns to Germany after the Nazi takeover. She finds out that Christian Mayr, her childhood best friend and first love, has become an officer in Hitler’s SS. First and foremost, my biggest problem with The Last Innocent Hour was Sally’s character. She’s so incredibly naïve it’s downright irritating. Unfortunately, many German civilians- and foreigners- willingly turned a blind eye to the Nazis’ evils, apathetic toward Jews and other so-called enemies of the state. However, I doubt anyone could be as incredibly dense and obtuse as Sally is. That really strained believability for me.
For instance: She seems to think it’s a perfectly good idea to flirt and entangle herself with Reinhard Heydrich, one of the most dangerous and powerful men in Nazi Germany. Who, on top of everything else, is married. I mean, really? I would be much more lenient on Sally’s character if only she grew and changed throughout the story, but this isn’t the case. She’s pretty much a static character and changes little from the beginning of the story to the end.
Also, Sally goes through much of the novel convinced Christian is the love of her life, and desperately searches for him in postwar Germany. After , however, Sally seems to forget him pretty quickly and moves on to her next designated love interest. If this doesn’t sum up what an incredibly airheaded character she is, I don’t know what does.
On a more positive note, Ms. Abbott is pretty competent as far as writing style goes. The prose flows very nicely, and the descriptions are evocative without being excessive. The descriptions of pre and postwar Berlin all felt authentic. I really liked the dialogue, which felt very true to the period as well. My only complaint is that she made Christian use a lot of American slang in his speech, which was odd. The historical details were nicely woven into the story without being irrelevant or overwhelming. I always appreciate that in historical fiction. On one hand, I do think there was a bit too much telling and not showing. I will give Abbott a bit of leeway, though, since it’s in the first-person and Sally is supposed to be telling this story in the future.
My favorite character in this book, hands-down, was David Wohl. I absolutely loved David! He deserved his own book. It’s a shame he disappeared halfway into the story. For some reason, the side characters are always the most interesting and likable ones in underwhelming books. We never do find out what happens to him after that, and if he was still in France when the nazis invaded. Also...For no explicable reason, there's a scene where David rapes Sally while she's drunk. It's never brought up again, and makes this otherwise charming and likable character look like a douche.
Christian's character arc was actually very well-done. It was really, extremely tragic. He starts out as a sympathetic and even vulnerable character, and gets seduced by an incomprehensible evil. When Sally catches up with him after the war he's long past the point of no return. It was difficult, seeing this character I'd grown to like become a heartless monster. All things considered, it was realistic for him to commit suicide. I just wish his death had been handled in a less melodramatic way.
I would give The Last Innocent Hour 2.5 stars. I gave it a chance, but I just couldn’t love it. It was disappointing and definitely could have been better. There are hints of a truly amazing book here, and there were some aspects I really enjoyed. But the negatives outweigh the positives. I could almost enjoy it as a melodramatic, over-the-top gothic thriller, but Sally's annoying character weakened the whole experience. I know I'm in the minority here. It seems like the majority of people on Goodreads LOVED this book, and I'm glad they did. But for some reason, I just didn't have the same experience.
For instance: She seems to think it’s a perfectly good idea to flirt and entangle herself with Reinhard Heydrich, one of the most dangerous and powerful men in Nazi Germany. Who, on top of everything else, is married. I mean, really? I would be much more lenient on Sally’s character if only she grew and changed throughout the story, but this isn’t the case. She’s pretty much a static character and changes little from the beginning of the story to the end.
Also, Sally goes through much of the novel convinced Christian is the love of her life, and desperately searches for him in postwar Germany. After , however, Sally seems to forget him pretty quickly and moves on to her next designated love interest. If this doesn’t sum up what an incredibly airheaded character she is, I don’t know what does.
On a more positive note, Ms. Abbott is pretty competent as far as writing style goes. The prose flows very nicely, and the descriptions are evocative without being excessive. The descriptions of pre and postwar Berlin all felt authentic. I really liked the dialogue, which felt very true to the period as well. My only complaint is that she made Christian use a lot of American slang in his speech, which was odd. The historical details were nicely woven into the story without being irrelevant or overwhelming. I always appreciate that in historical fiction. On one hand, I do think there was a bit too much telling and not showing. I will give Abbott a bit of leeway, though, since it’s in the first-person and Sally is supposed to be telling this story in the future.
My favorite character in this book, hands-down, was David Wohl. I absolutely loved David! He deserved his own book. It’s a shame he disappeared halfway into the story. For some reason, the side characters are always the most interesting and likable ones in underwhelming books. We never do find out what happens to him after that, and if he was still in France when the nazis invaded. Also...For no explicable reason, there's a scene where David rapes Sally while she's drunk. It's never brought up again, and makes this otherwise charming and likable character look like a douche.
Christian's character arc was actually very well-done. It was really, extremely tragic. He starts out as a sympathetic and even vulnerable character, and gets seduced by an incomprehensible evil. When Sally catches up with him after the war he's long past the point of no return. It was difficult, seeing this character I'd grown to like become a heartless monster. All things considered, it was realistic for him to commit suicide. I just wish his death had been handled in a less melodramatic way.
I would give The Last Innocent Hour 2.5 stars. I gave it a chance, but I just couldn’t love it. It was disappointing and definitely could have been better. There are hints of a truly amazing book here, and there were some aspects I really enjoyed. But the negatives outweigh the positives. I could almost enjoy it as a melodramatic, over-the-top gothic thriller, but Sally's annoying character weakened the whole experience. I know I'm in the minority here. It seems like the majority of people on Goodreads LOVED this book, and I'm glad they did. But for some reason, I just didn't have the same experience.
July 7, 2021
Добро начало - американка с униформа през 1946 г. в Берлин е в екипа, който пресява снимковия материал, доказващ зверствата на СС. Това, което малцина знаят, е че за кратко преди повече от десетилетие е била омъжена за офицер от СС. И го разпознава на една от снимките.
Но героите не са добре развити. Особено немците - личи си американския изцяло черно-бял поглед; добрите са доста добри и пълни с клиширани реплики (и са американци), лошите са пълни изроди, да се чуди човек как сами не са си видели сметката с толкова неуправляема лошотия, а за останалите нищо особено не се споменава и не разбираме какви са. Да не говорим за липсата на логика в действията на главната героиня в ранната и младост, че и после - не че са невъзможни, но изобщо не са представени убедително - чак такава липса на мозък и последователност у дъщеря на посланик? За края пък нямам думи - то бива претупване и изсмукано от пръстите, но тук направо е прекалено: излишна мелодрама и сюжетни нишки от нищото.
Опитът не се е получил, тъй като тук има опит за по-сериозно четиво, а не просто за трилър. Иначе е занимателно написано, а описанията на следвоенен Берлин и задачите на победителите, копаещи из доказателствата за ужасите от лагерите и айнзацкомандите са реалистични и добре поднесени.
Но героите не са добре развити. Особено немците - личи си американския изцяло черно-бял поглед; добрите са доста добри и пълни с клиширани реплики (и са американци), лошите са пълни изроди, да се чуди човек как сами не са си видели сметката с толкова неуправляема лошотия, а за останалите нищо особено не се споменава и не разбираме какви са. Да не говорим за липсата на логика в действията на главната героиня в ранната и младост, че и после - не че са невъзможни, но изобщо не са представени убедително - чак такава липса на мозък и последователност у дъщеря на посланик? За края пък нямам думи - то бива претупване и изсмукано от пръстите, но тук направо е прекалено: излишна мелодрама и сюжетни нишки от нищото.
Опитът не се е получил, тъй като тук има опит за по-сериозно четиво, а не просто за трилър. Иначе е занимателно написано, а описанията на следвоенен Берлин и задачите на победителите, копаещи из доказателствата за ужасите от лагерите и айнзацкомандите са реалистични и добре поднесени.
January 8, 2012
I LOVED this book! Margot Abbott has just the right amount of romance and drama in her first and only novel. From the moment I picked this book up, I couldn't put it down. I put my entire life on hold for this book. Abbott does a wonderful job of bringing every character to life. You are able to understand the tough choices Sally must make, how painful it is for Christian to love Sally and keep her safe, and you can feel how scared they are whenever Heydrich, head of the police, enters the room, always willing make their lives terrible.Highly recommended. Warning! Ending may surprise you!
January 5, 2017
OMG THIS BOOK. I saw the recommendation on Goodreads and was able to get a copy on eBay. I planned to read a few pages and then stop. 5 hours later and I've finished. They don't write them like this anymore...
November 10, 2016
I've read this book twice, and enjoyed it just as much the second time as I did the first time. It's gripping, at times creepy, and details a grand passion in disturbing times. It's a great read.
July 30, 2015
Oh snap! What a book… I was shocked where it went and at some of the content explored. From reading other reviews, I kinda had an inkling about where the book would go. But that still doesn’t fully prepare you for the entire work.
This book was a surprising blend of many genres, all merged together for one very satisfying whole. There’s romance, an in-depth examination of the early Nazi years and post-WWII Germany, a mystery/war crimes story, politics, and character examinations.
Yet, where this really shines is in its psychological thriller aspects. This book takes its characters on a mind-warping journey of deception, betrayal, and brain washing that keeps the reader spellbound. Abbott gives us a rare glimpse into really how powerful the psychological power of the Nazis were in their influencing the German masses to their beliefs. This is especially evident in Christian’s journey. His change from beginning to end is so drastic and so scarily believable that I was just stunned.
For the most part, I really liked Sally. She’s a pleasant balance of trusting innocent and spunky idealist that really jives with the reader. Her standing up for the oppressed Jews against the SA and the format her final showdown in the end took made me want to cheer her on. I mean, how many characters could do that in her condition as easily and well as she does?
However, there were times where her innocence was stressed too much. Even towards the end, after all the times her trust had been dinged, she still seemed to give people the benefit of the doubt and her trust far too easily. I don’t know if the author was just trying to stress her innocence in the face of Nazi brutality and mind-manipulation or she was just a somewhat empty-headed bimbo at times. But I wanted to slap some sense into her more than once.
The emotional journey this book will take you on defies description. From the banger of an opening all the way through the mind-twisting journey to the end, this book kept me on the edge of my toes and my emotions firmly held in the driver’s seat. I felt every deception, every triumph, and every urge to believe that Sally felt so strongly.
This is a winner overall. A blend of many genres, it balances out all the aspects of the story splendidly. A special focus on the psychological and emotional make for an even stronger story. The characters shine, even though there is an emphasis on certain character aspects that set my teeth on edge. I highly recommend this book to reads of WWII fiction as it’s a journey that won’t soon leave your mind or heart.
This book was a surprising blend of many genres, all merged together for one very satisfying whole. There’s romance, an in-depth examination of the early Nazi years and post-WWII Germany, a mystery/war crimes story, politics, and character examinations.
Yet, where this really shines is in its psychological thriller aspects. This book takes its characters on a mind-warping journey of deception, betrayal, and brain washing that keeps the reader spellbound. Abbott gives us a rare glimpse into really how powerful the psychological power of the Nazis were in their influencing the German masses to their beliefs. This is especially evident in Christian’s journey. His change from beginning to end is so drastic and so scarily believable that I was just stunned.
For the most part, I really liked Sally. She’s a pleasant balance of trusting innocent and spunky idealist that really jives with the reader. Her standing up for the oppressed Jews against the SA and the format her final showdown in the end took made me want to cheer her on. I mean, how many characters could do that in her condition as easily and well as she does?
However, there were times where her innocence was stressed too much. Even towards the end, after all the times her trust had been dinged, she still seemed to give people the benefit of the doubt and her trust far too easily. I don’t know if the author was just trying to stress her innocence in the face of Nazi brutality and mind-manipulation or she was just a somewhat empty-headed bimbo at times. But I wanted to slap some sense into her more than once.
The emotional journey this book will take you on defies description. From the banger of an opening all the way through the mind-twisting journey to the end, this book kept me on the edge of my toes and my emotions firmly held in the driver’s seat. I felt every deception, every triumph, and every urge to believe that Sally felt so strongly.
This is a winner overall. A blend of many genres, it balances out all the aspects of the story splendidly. A special focus on the psychological and emotional make for an even stronger story. The characters shine, even though there is an emphasis on certain character aspects that set my teeth on edge. I highly recommend this book to reads of WWII fiction as it’s a journey that won’t soon leave your mind or heart.
July 23, 2017
I read In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson a couple of years ago. As I began this book and was introduced to our heroine, Sally Jackson, and her father who was the American ambassador to Germany in the mid 1930s I thought to myself, "this sounds a lot like the protagonists in the Garden. When I read Ms. Abbotts' acknowledgments I found she had, in fact, drawn her characters loosely around the real ambassador and his daughter. Sally falls in love with a childhood friend who becomes a Nazi SS officer and things get dicey after that. I enjoyed this book thanks to my Goodreads friend, Lewis, who gave it a sterling review.
June 9, 2008
A friend's family knows the author and this book came up in conversation recently so I decided to give it a read.
I liked this book. It was intriguing and dark and a different perspective on WWII-related activites.
I liked this book. It was intriguing and dark and a different perspective on WWII-related activites.
October 30, 2014
Well, this was a fun book to begin reading and rather light and much detail to historical events and then it grew heavier and complicated
and I couldn't stop reading it. Then the last third of the book took a turn for more subterfuge and angst and well, Margot Abbott knows how
to reel her readers in for sure - especially this particular era and the events of this time. Couldn't stop reading it wherever I took it - it was the main focus the story/subject so strong. Her characters are very real, I just wish the evil ones were so real. They were frightening. She managed to combine love and war, or the extreme passion of love and the true evils of war very effectively.
The ending was not what I had expected. As many other reviewers have attested. The scenes in this novel will stay with me for a very long time.
I'll keep the book in my library. But not sure I can read it a 2nd time.
and I couldn't stop reading it. Then the last third of the book took a turn for more subterfuge and angst and well, Margot Abbott knows how
to reel her readers in for sure - especially this particular era and the events of this time. Couldn't stop reading it wherever I took it - it was the main focus the story/subject so strong. Her characters are very real, I just wish the evil ones were so real. They were frightening. She managed to combine love and war, or the extreme passion of love and the true evils of war very effectively.
The ending was not what I had expected. As many other reviewers have attested. The scenes in this novel will stay with me for a very long time.
I'll keep the book in my library. But not sure I can read it a 2nd time.
April 22, 2014
I read this years and years ago but have never forgotten it. I borrowed it from a friend and said she couldn't have it back ! (since lent it out and didn't get it back so re-bought it)
Everyone is amazed at the ending but the whole book was interesting. It stirred an interest in the SS and Heydrich who was actually Hitler's architect I believe.
Everyone is amazed at the ending but the whole book was interesting. It stirred an interest in the SS and Heydrich who was actually Hitler's architect I believe.
October 13, 2017
This book was just okay. Actually, kind of disappointing. I don't know exactly what I expected, but it wasn't really up to par - especially since it has an average of a 4 star rating here on Goodreads.
The story begins in 1946 with the main character American Sally Jackson arriving in Berlin as part of a team that looks at old photographs from WWII in order to analyze them. She comes across a photograph that has a man in it who looks like her old husband Christian Mayr, who originally was a childhood friend.
We do hear the story of their life together in pre-war Berlin, which is actually the more interesting of the story lines. This is told as she pours out her heart to her friend (and psychiatrist) Tim Hastings, whom she meets on her way to Berlin.
Sally is the daughter of the American Ambassador to Germany, who is sent to Berlin, which is similar to Martha Dodd, who was sent to Berlin to live with her real-life Ambassador father.
The story begins in 1946 with the main character American Sally Jackson arriving in Berlin as part of a team that looks at old photographs from WWII in order to analyze them. She comes across a photograph that has a man in it who looks like her old husband Christian Mayr, who originally was a childhood friend.
We do hear the story of their life together in pre-war Berlin, which is actually the more interesting of the story lines. This is told as she pours out her heart to her friend (and psychiatrist) Tim Hastings, whom she meets on her way to Berlin.
Sally is the daughter of the American Ambassador to Germany, who is sent to Berlin, which is similar to Martha Dodd, who was sent to Berlin to live with her real-life Ambassador father.
April 3, 2019
It’s been over a week since I finished this book, and even though I’ve moved on and read two other books since, I can’t get Sally and her tale out of my head. The characters and their story gripped me and would not turn me loose for the four days it took me to read this amazing story.
Sally Jackson is the daughter of an American diplomat to Germany. Sally’s story begins as she returns to Berlin following WWII. She’s been recruited by Army Intelligence to help identify Nazis in incriminating photographs so that they may be found, arrested and held accountable for the damnable actions during the conflict. The ghosts of her past haunt her at every turn. She’d grown up spending her summers in Germany with her brother Eddie and the neighboring family, the Mayr’s. Christian Mayr is the perfect German youth, handsome, strong, and strong willed. Sally loves him desperately her whole life.
Once in Berlin, she tries not to, but she begins to wonder what’s happened to Christian. But her work keeps her busy, and her undeniable attraction to her associate, Tim Hastings, makes her try even harder to bury what’s done and gone.
One day, it happens, what she’d feared the most. She spots Christian in a photograph. Finally opening up, we learn the truth.
Sally and Christian were married, but not for long, and it came to a tragic end. Christian was the perfect Aryan man, an asset to the Party and Sally nabbed the attention of high ranking Nazi officials. In some cases it was quite unwanted.
Things move fast between Sally and Christian. Too much too fast, and things end in disaster.
This book won’t let me go. I know I will be rereading and rereading this story multiple times, and I know nothing will compare to the initial first reading, but I simply will not be left alone by the haunting memories of Sally and Christian and their dramatic love story, Sally’s struggle to accept and meet her past head on, Tim’s steadfastness and the drama that weaves their lives together.
Margot Abbot has never been published again, and I find that to be a shame. She is truly gifted, and I write my review in support of her, in hopes that she may find success again with subsequent novels.
Sally Jackson is the daughter of an American diplomat to Germany. Sally’s story begins as she returns to Berlin following WWII. She’s been recruited by Army Intelligence to help identify Nazis in incriminating photographs so that they may be found, arrested and held accountable for the damnable actions during the conflict. The ghosts of her past haunt her at every turn. She’d grown up spending her summers in Germany with her brother Eddie and the neighboring family, the Mayr’s. Christian Mayr is the perfect German youth, handsome, strong, and strong willed. Sally loves him desperately her whole life.
Once in Berlin, she tries not to, but she begins to wonder what’s happened to Christian. But her work keeps her busy, and her undeniable attraction to her associate, Tim Hastings, makes her try even harder to bury what’s done and gone.
One day, it happens, what she’d feared the most. She spots Christian in a photograph. Finally opening up, we learn the truth.
Sally and Christian were married, but not for long, and it came to a tragic end. Christian was the perfect Aryan man, an asset to the Party and Sally nabbed the attention of high ranking Nazi officials. In some cases it was quite unwanted.
Things move fast between Sally and Christian. Too much too fast, and things end in disaster.
This book won’t let me go. I know I will be rereading and rereading this story multiple times, and I know nothing will compare to the initial first reading, but I simply will not be left alone by the haunting memories of Sally and Christian and their dramatic love story, Sally’s struggle to accept and meet her past head on, Tim’s steadfastness and the drama that weaves their lives together.
Margot Abbot has never been published again, and I find that to be a shame. She is truly gifted, and I write my review in support of her, in hopes that she may find success again with subsequent novels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2021
I would give this a million out of 5 stars if I could. I'm an emotional wreck. Reading this made me feel like I was Sally herself, in her shoes, in her world, in that time period. I've never read anything so beautifully written and expressive. I still rooted for Sally and Christian until the very end and even though I knew it would never work out, I still had a small feeling of hope. I don't know whether the ending satisfied me or not. It is a mixture of both and I am upset at the way Christian turned out. This was the first book that made me sob and I will remember it for the rest of my life. I felt what Sally felt, rage to confusion. Gahhh I cant. The fact I finished this in 2-3 days tells you enough. I was so into the book I made a literal playlist for it to which I cried to. The writer was always ahead of the reader and I was left as blinded and confused as Sally was. I'm so sad for so many reasons, Im so sad about the relationship that could have been, the person Christian had become (why???) and the potential he had. To see someone grow up from a normal boy to a remorseless killer even to those he loved really shook me to my core.
This needs to be made into a movie. I hope the author writes more about this time period, she did it beautifully
This needs to be made into a movie. I hope the author writes more about this time period, she did it beautifully
November 14, 2025
Re-read: yeah hurts just as bad as last time. Alexa, play Dust Bowl by Ethel Cain.
This book will leave you absolutely heartbroken. It’s a gripping story filled with so much history and romance. Would certainly recommend.
This book will leave you absolutely heartbroken. It’s a gripping story filled with so much history and romance. Would certainly recommend.
December 28, 2013
I read it years ago and was stunned at the ending. I'm reading it again and don't remember much of it BUT the ending. Still a good book.
May 20, 2024
5/5 ⭐️ EDIT: more time has passed since reading this book and 1) this book hasn’t left my mind and 2) despite the characters very flawed naïveté, the author structured the story and historically accurate world building and nailed Reinhard Heydrich’s characterization so well I’m still speechless.
Been wanting to read this for almost 10 years. One of the most enthralling WWII historical fiction novels I’ve ever read. The author laid out the world - the summers at the lake, Nazi Germany before the war, the seasons, post-war ravaged Berlin, everything while being well-versed in the politics and historical references. She did her research and that’s what made this book so enjoyable for me.
Critiques: There were some frilly and cheesy aspects regarding romances that I didn’t quite like personally, and there was some “joking” about innocent people dying in the post war that really rubbed me the wrong way. However, romance frills aside, these are personal taste things. There were some aspects of SA that I think were downplayed, particularly by the protagonist when it should not have been at all.
Some of the things did seem dramatic, and unbelievable but that’s the thing…. The Nazis did things that were so horrifying they initially seem unbelievable. Hence, this was why I could not put this book down. The style and culture of the time periods were so well-described, even down to the fashion of the elite, military uniforms on both sides, like all of these little Easter eggs, as well as the German titles of things. The author did an impeccable job telling the story well and immersing the reader in the nuances of the rise of the Nazi party from all different perspectives - German, Nazis, Foreigners, Jewish people, the list goes on and on. While the MC was an American, we saw all sides.
Additionally, the trauma and mental health topics were so well-done to the point where this book was truly before its time, especially for the 1990s. The MC went through hell and back, and her response to these things and coping with them were realistic and done in a way that was not stigmatizing and showed the realities of what the war did to people.
I think the nuances of “good and bad” were addressed here, particularly loving people despite the darkness and love blinding what’s right in front of you. The ending wrapped up nicely. I cannot believe this was the author’s first and only novel, would have loved to read her other work if she had more works.
Been wanting to read this for almost 10 years. One of the most enthralling WWII historical fiction novels I’ve ever read. The author laid out the world - the summers at the lake, Nazi Germany before the war, the seasons, post-war ravaged Berlin, everything while being well-versed in the politics and historical references. She did her research and that’s what made this book so enjoyable for me.
Critiques: There were some frilly and cheesy aspects regarding romances that I didn’t quite like personally, and there was some “joking” about innocent people dying in the post war that really rubbed me the wrong way. However, romance frills aside, these are personal taste things. There were some aspects of SA that I think were downplayed, particularly by the protagonist when it should not have been at all.
Some of the things did seem dramatic, and unbelievable but that’s the thing…. The Nazis did things that were so horrifying they initially seem unbelievable. Hence, this was why I could not put this book down. The style and culture of the time periods were so well-described, even down to the fashion of the elite, military uniforms on both sides, like all of these little Easter eggs, as well as the German titles of things. The author did an impeccable job telling the story well and immersing the reader in the nuances of the rise of the Nazi party from all different perspectives - German, Nazis, Foreigners, Jewish people, the list goes on and on. While the MC was an American, we saw all sides.
Additionally, the trauma and mental health topics were so well-done to the point where this book was truly before its time, especially for the 1990s. The MC went through hell and back, and her response to these things and coping with them were realistic and done in a way that was not stigmatizing and showed the realities of what the war did to people.
I think the nuances of “good and bad” were addressed here, particularly loving people despite the darkness and love blinding what’s right in front of you. The ending wrapped up nicely. I cannot believe this was the author’s first and only novel, would have loved to read her other work if she had more works.
March 2, 2020
I found this novel to be poignant, sadly beautiful, and very well written.
This was a fairly detailed depiction centered around the Second World War, and the devastation, and destruction thereof.
The historical aspect was very well done, I could almost picture it as a black and white film, and felt as though I was carried back to another time.
The descriptions of the tragic hardships experienced by the characters, as well as the damage inflicted upon them was masterful.
This dramatically, and effectively embodied the loss of what should, or, could have been.
How in hindsight, things are made so much more clear.
This was a fairly detailed depiction centered around the Second World War, and the devastation, and destruction thereof.
The historical aspect was very well done, I could almost picture it as a black and white film, and felt as though I was carried back to another time.
The descriptions of the tragic hardships experienced by the characters, as well as the damage inflicted upon them was masterful.
This dramatically, and effectively embodied the loss of what should, or, could have been.
How in hindsight, things are made so much more clear.
April 24, 2023
A long, but very absorbing novel of a young woman, daughter of the U.S. Ambassador to Germany before the war, caught up in the horror of Nazi Germany as it changed her whole life. She returned to Germany after the war to help with the post-war efforts, but instead was forced to re-live the terrible years that she had spent in Germany previously, as she searched for knowledge of her German husband who had been swallowed up in the war. This is an intriguing novel that shows how innocent people got caught up in terrible things that they did not understand.
August 31, 2018
Review to come. Beatrix as always has an excellent choice. You my dear are going to make wonders one day :)
January 2, 2018
Margot Abbott in her remarkable novel, The Last Innocent Hour, has the courage to show us that the evil of the Nazis was fundamentally about sanctioning and enabling the criminally insane to run the country, abusing their power in their thirst for blood, sexual deviance, and ever greater power. A lesson to be learned today, when our leadership in Washington may or may not be criminally insane, but they are getting away with acts that in any other time and place, in a “democracy,” would not be tolerated. Abbott depicts characters masterfully—and several key players were real people. The plot largely takes place in 1934-35, while Hitler was on the rise and preparing his country for the future glories and gories. This book is so many things: historical, romance, and character drama, with complex fictional characters that pop off the page just as historical figures do. Warning: depictions are vivid and brutal. This is the personal story of how one truly insane man, climbing to power under the Third Reich, was free to imprison, torture, rape and murder his own citizens and a 19-year-old American girl, with impunity. Most readers know about the egregious torment suffered during the war, but Abbot’s novel helps us understand the acts which preceded and facilitated the war.
June 9, 2018
This was by far the most painful story I’ve read in 2018. I know that during World War 2 was always the most painful and torturous period in history but the way the story was written left me reeling. Reading this book was like sticking your head down into the Pensieve. You find that there are all sorts of nasties in there, the horrors committed against mankind, the brutal acts by soldiers carried out without a second thought. But you can’t seem to pull yourself out.
In the middle of it all was the innocent love between a young American girl, daughter of an American ambassador, and her childhood friend turned SS officer. The way the story was written made it look like the young American was naive and gullible, trusting everyone and everything she saw and heard. At first, I wondered how silly could she be. Eventually though I began to ask the same questions myself. I began to doubt her lover’s words and that of the SS general. I got equally confused as she was. Did he really love her as he claimed to have?
The book was great! So enthralling and captivating. It hooked me in right from the start and it only took me 4 days to read 1,251 pages. Margot Abbott is a truly remarkable author. Her writing style made me feel as if I was in the book with all the other characters. It made me feel the way the girl felt. I’m done with the book but now it’s making me wonder if I’m still in the book or back in reality. I should pinch myself.
In the middle of it all was the innocent love between a young American girl, daughter of an American ambassador, and her childhood friend turned SS officer. The way the story was written made it look like the young American was naive and gullible, trusting everyone and everything she saw and heard. At first, I wondered how silly could she be. Eventually though I began to ask the same questions myself. I began to doubt her lover’s words and that of the SS general. I got equally confused as she was. Did he really love her as he claimed to have?
The book was great! So enthralling and captivating. It hooked me in right from the start and it only took me 4 days to read 1,251 pages. Margot Abbott is a truly remarkable author. Her writing style made me feel as if I was in the book with all the other characters. It made me feel the way the girl felt. I’m done with the book but now it’s making me wonder if I’m still in the book or back in reality. I should pinch myself.
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