Flight From Berlin

by David John, D.B. John

A cynical English reporter and a beautiful, headstrong, American Olympic hopeful are caught in a lethal game of international espionage during the 1936 Berlin Olympics in Flight from Berlin, a riveting debut thriller from breakout novelist David John. Combining the suspense and atmosphere of Alan Furst’s spy novels with the exciting narrative drive of Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon adventures, John delivers an unforgettable masterwork of thrilling suspense set against the backdrop of one of the most monumental summers in history—a contest of champions, including the remarkable Jesse Owens, that captivated the world as the shadow of Nazi Germany continued to spread across the globe.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Thriller, World War II, Mystery, Germany, Historical

372 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2012

Reviews

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting look at pre World War II. An historical novel that goes behind the scenes. Many of the characters are based on the real people of the era.

An inside look at what made Adolph Hitler tick and many interesting facts about him that were unknown to me.

Combine this with the history of the Hindenburg, and the 1936 Olympics in Germany and you have quite a story. Well written and thought provoking. Truth or fiction? We’ll never be sure.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book deserves 3.5 stars, and for the purposes of Goodreads, I’ll round down my overall rating to 3 stars, since it’s hard for me to say I really liked this book. I should also point out that I have a mixed reaction to historical fiction. History was one of my least favorite subjects throughout school, so I’ve never been a big history buff, by any stretch of the imagination. But I did enjoy this book enough to say that I’m a little above a like with my rating, so I tip my fedora at David John for his ability to spin a tale and interweave historical fact with fiction to create a more entertaining read.

I liked the characters I was supposed to like—Eleanor Emerson and Richard Denham—and I didn’t like the ones I wasn’t supposed to like—the Germans. The author did a good job with story, but there were a few times where it seemed to jump, like there was a blip on the TV set, or in the VHS age, an overused videocassette. But this is a debut novel, and the author is still developing his talent. So I took it all in stride, and I hope David continues to advance his writing ability. Because there is talent there, even if it does need a bit of polish around the edges.

FLIGHT FROM BERLIN proved a relatively quick read for me. Little bits of detail sprinkled throughout increased the pace of the story. If you love historical fiction, and you love this time period, then you’ll probably enjoy this story. If not, then you’ll probably have a more mixed reaction to this tale.

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

[Maurice J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

Another book with the 1936 Berlin Olympics as the backdrop, it was a quick and fun read.

The protagonist is a socialite woman athlete who enjoys her champagne and partying so much she gets thrown off the team before the ship upon which the U.S. team is traveling even lands in Europe and gets to Berlin.

Through a friend she gets reporter accreditation and covers the games.

The title reflects the efforts of a great female German Jewish athlete to escape with her family--with the help of the American.

As well, the book brings out as do so many other books the wretched despicable Avery Brundage (at the time the head of the US olympic committee who parades around as a human being but long-time Olympics followers know that he was a rabid Hitler-lover, anti-semite, and racist. It was impossible for him to keep African-Americans off of the U.S. team in 1936--Hitler called Jesse Owens and his fellow black men, America's African auxiliaries and avoided the Fuhrer's box when the black men won an event to avoid having to present them their medals--but Brundage conspired with the track coach to keep Marty Glickman and Sam Stoller from running in the relay with Owens and another black man. They had qualified and won those two spots, but at the last second they were told that their would be substitutes for them. This is a famous story in part because Glickman became a major sports announcer in New York City who wasn't ashamed to retell the story.

Incidentally Brundage didn't want to stop the Olympics in 1972 after the Israeli athletes were murdered (see the movie Munich for more on that) because it would have spoiled the non-political nature of the "games". His successor, a Spaniard named Samaranch, refused a moment of silence for the Israelis because the games were not about politics.

The author shows a lot of the real goings on in Nazi Germany, notwithstanding the statements of such Hitler appeasers as Ambassador to England, Joe Kennedy (father of Jack, Bobby, Ted and many others that we know about), Charles Lindbergh, Avery Brundage, the King of England (prior to his renunciation of the throne and his marriage to his fascist-leaning wife to be, Wally Simpson, and many others.

Getting back to Flight from India, it's a page turner and fun. Martha, the daughter of the U.S. ambassador from In the Garden of the Beasts has a major supporting role.

Even though some of the action may be a little far-fetched, I enjoyed the book immensely and can't wait for Mr. John's next one.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was chosen to receive this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. Thank You!

(Notification received 05/20/2012; Book received 05/31/2012)



Sometimes commenting on books is difficult. I really liked this story. However, this book loses one star for content. After a few days of thought, I have decided to give this a 3-star rating.

Let me start with what I enjoyed. The author did a good job of keeping me engaged. There were moments I asked, “How in the world is the author going to reconcile this with history?” I loved how the story was bookended by actual events, even though the dossier is fictitious. The usage of actual events cleverly authenticated the storyline. Additionally, I was totally surprised to learn the identity of the true villain. I was completely satisfied with how this book ended. This is how I like my historical fiction.

Now I need to share what I didn’t enjoy. First, I absolutely detest unnecessary swearing. Under these circumstances some swearing would have been natural. However, the use of the F-word and the profane references to Deity are absolutely uncalled for. Honestly, if I had checked this book out from the library I would not have finished it. Because this is an uncorrected proof, I felt that I should give constructive criticism.

I want authors to understand that you can swear, and you can express emotional distress by your word choice without using the F-word or profane references to Deity. Believe it or not, there are many of us in the world who find such usage like an acid bath. Your books will appeal to a much broader audience without the unnecessary use of profanity, vulgarity, gory violence, and explicit sex.

That brings me to my second issue with the story. Why, oh why, do we have to have a relationship with a person who is already married? Historically, in the time period the story is set, divorce is not a-dime-a-dozen as it is today. Even if the spouse is a philandering toad, and refuses the divorce, the individual is still married. Why even go there? It doesn’t add to the story line.

As I said at the onset, I really liked this story; I would have loved it if the language had been different and it wouldn’t have included an adulterous relationship.

[Gram · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast paced fact/fiction thriller set in post-war Germany at the time of the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. British journalist Richard Denham who lives and works in Germany is accidentally drawn into a plot to discredit Adolf Hitler in the eyes of the world. Denham is decidedly anti-Nazi and his articles in various newspaper and magazines are decidedly frowned upon by the authorities. He meets up with Olympic swimmer Eleanor Emerson who has been thrown out of the USA team for her outrageous (in the eyes of Avery Brundage the domineering head of the American Olympic Committee) behaviour. Eleanor stays on in Berlin as a celebrity newspaper columnist covering the Games. She is drawn to Denham and the two end up trying to retrieve a secret dossier while simultaneously endeavouring to free a family of Jews, including a female Olympic fencer, from the clutches of the Nazis.
Denham is enlisted by the British secret service to aid their campaign against Hitler and their campaign against the pro-Nazi elite in Great Britain. With Eleanor he embarks on an exciting chase to find the secret dossier and free their Jewish friends. This chase involves hot pursuits on foot and in speeding cars in London and Berlin & other parts of Germany with the denouement aboard the ill-fated Hindenburg. Almost all the characters in this well-researched book are based on real people - athletes, journalists, diplomats, politicians and various men in the Nazi heirarchy. The latter desperately trying to protect their leader from an incredible secret which could damage or even completely destroy his hold over the German people.

[Patrick SG · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read another book last year set in the 1936 Olympics and felt this might be a similar tale, yet I was wrong. The author fills his story with a host of real and almost real characters from that pre-war event. There are, of course, the famous ones like Hitler and Jesse Owens (whose role is very small in the book), as well as those not so famous. Among these are Paul Gallico, newspaperman and sportswriter, who would later be known as the author of "The Poseidon Adventure," and Martha Dodd, daughter of the U.S. Ambassador, who readers will know from the recent bestseller, "In the Gardens of Beasts." (In fact, having read that book before will provide an opportunity to see how carefully drawn her character is in this book).

The airship Hindenburg also makes an appearance, not once, but twice; and it won't come as a surprise - nor is it a spoiler - that it figures in the climax of the novel.

This book is well-written and you can tell the author had lived in Germany as he paints word images of the locales that ring true. Readers of David Downing's series of thrillers set in pre-war Germany will find close similarities to "Flight From Berlin," including an older, divorced British journalist with a young son involved with a younger acclaimed woman (this time an athlete instead of Downing's film star). Yet this story and the characterizations stand well on their own.

Those interested in fiction related to the pre-war era will enjoy this novel, and I look forward to reading more by this author.

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating WWII book, with major points for being unique and standing out as far as characters/plot in a genre in which most everything has been done to death.

I was sucked in asap by the tidbits and sideline story involving the Hindenburg. I had to Google it and look at pictures. The drama behind the 1936 Olympic games was equally fascinating. And then...oh, my goodness, we've got Richard, a British reporter, getting imprisoned and assaulted for a dossier that he doesn't have.

When his hands do get on it, what shall he do with it? He and Eleanor, the former Olympic hopeful, can either use it to save many or use it to save three. Or can they pull off both?

The story involving Hannah...just wow. It wasn't till I read the author notes in the back that I realized it wasn't true. It's a great look at what could have been going on though. Also, the things the dossier reveal. Hm.. I can't say much, but I'll say it was an excellent idea.

Loved the beginning, middle, starting growing bored toward the last half when the dossier entries started. They were interesting but too long, I think. That's actually when the action scenes get really heated though. The romance was a tad weak, but I actually liked that. Women who like steam will be disappointed, however.

Overall: this book was intriguing. I recommend it.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the first one I picked up based on a Goodreads recommendation. I am a fan of historical fiction, especially WWII and the German influence (I was a German major in college and studied abroad for 6 months). I felt like the book was set up well and had 3 distinct parts. The main characters, Eleanor and Richard, were likeable and engaging. I found myself reading when I could throughout the day today just to finish it as part 3 (including the ending) really built up well and had a lot of twists and turns to keep me guessing. The ending made me feel like the author would write another book with these characters again; this is his first novel. I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys historical fiction, or just a good spy novel. The other great thing about this book is that it is set during the 1936 Berlin Olympics and I read it during the current Olympics. I think the author was wise to set his release date for July 2012 to correspond to the Olympics.

[Candace · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed reading Flight from Berlin, there were a few issues that nagged at me for the duration. The 1936 Berlin Olympics is a rich and intriquing set piece for a novel that rightly reminds us of the horrors of Nazi Germany. While I believe David John treated the topic with respect, there are too many elements of plot and character that mimic that British "boys own adventure stories" kind of writing popular in the mid-1900's. I found myself wanting an edgier, cleaner story with a more believable resolution. Also, I think the author's editor could have helped him out with a bit more attention to eliminating cliched phrases and too many adjectives, especially in the first third of the novel. That said, I hope Richard Denham will appear again, having matured a bit as a character and with a more grounded sense of how to get out of compromising predicaments.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads giveaway. This book was really interesting, it starts with the Olympics in Berlin in 1936 and turns into a story of intrigue. Spies, reporters and double agents. A fantastic read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Ixachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berlin, 1936. The Olympics are underway and all eyes are on Hitler’s Germany. The Nazi propaganda machine has hidden its brutality from view, but there are those who still recognise the veiled terror. Eleanor Emerson, expelled from the US swim team, meets up with Richard Denham, a British journalist. Together, they learn that Berlin is center stage for more than just the Olympics. They find themselves in the middle of a very different kind of game, this one between the Gestapo and The British Secret Intelligence Service. There is a secret document that threatens to bring down the Third Reich, and Hitler's men want to get it before it is handed over to the SIS... by any means necessary.

Eleanor is a feisty young woman with a rebellious streak. Being quite the socialite, she gets herself kicked off the Olympic team en route to Berlin for partying a bit too hard. Her lines are fantastic and full of wit. She is a strong, likeable character. The same can be said for Denham, the cynical journalist determined to report the truth. He, too, is very well drawn. We get a great sense of how he values both his profession and his fellow man. All of the good guys stand out in their own way, in fact. For that bad guys, though, I was more likely to get them confused. They get a bit muddled, but I got them straightened out in the end.

The historical backdrop is phenomenal! So many real people and events are wonderfully woven into the story. The Olympics is the obvious, but the Hindenburg is also written in. Even the Wallis Simpson scandal gets a mention. Berlin itself comes to life. It’s easy to imagine what things were like back then, with the city being cleaned up to show a “nice” face to the world.

My main criticism, and the thing that really knocked the rating down a star, is the ending. I saw it coming pretty early on and spent the rest of the book hoping I was wrong. It’s just pretty predictable and...safe. It wraps the story up neatly and reconciles the book with actual events, but after such an exciting story I found myself wanting something radically different. Something that rewrote history entirely. Still, Flight From Berlin is a well written historical thriller. A must-read for anyone interested in this time in history, and great for fans of thrillers as well!

[Full Disclosure: I won this book through Goodreads First Reads.]

[nomadreader (Carrie D-L) · Rating 3 out of 5]

(review from http://nomadreader.blogspot.com)

My thoughts: I'm a huge fan of the Olympics, and reading about the stories 1936 Olympics was quite intriguing. The opening pages of the novel were fascinating. I was instantly drawn to Eleanor and her feistiness. Granted, her dialogue was sometimes heavy-handed, but it worked for her:

"The fastest man on earth is on board this ship,’ she said, interrupting Helen, ‘and he’s a Negro. He’s going to win gold in Berlin in front of the whole world. Don’t you think that’ll be one in the eye for stupid, hokey race theories? I think it’s damned right that we’re going to these Games.’"

The early chapters are told in alternating stories, and Denham's story took me longer to get into. He was less dynamic as a character.

Despite initially enjoying this novel, the stories never really took off for me. While I hoped the Olympics would provide a fascinating backdrop, it was more of an ordinary Hitler-era espionage story, and I found the pacing to be somewhat off kilter. At times this novel suffered from too much telling and not enough showing:

"Spies and journalists alike were in the information game, courting contacts, mining for secrets. In times like these the jobs were almost identical."

After that quote, it seemed clear Denham would find his to espionage, yet the actual journey took awhile. What seemed most off about this novel were its expectations of the reader's knowledge. At times I grew bored because it seemed John assumed the readers knew nothing about the time, but at other times, he name dropped for seemingly little reason other than to emphasize what the reader does know about the time.

The verdict: While this novel didn't click for me, it will likely appeal to fans of World War II fiction and those who haven't read too much about this period. John combines real people from history with fictional characters well, but overall, it failed to impress.

[Ronald Roseborough · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating story set in Germany during the years leading up to World War II. Bounded by the spectacle of the 1936 Olympic games, the beauty and grandeur of the Hindenburg zeppelin, and the horror of the plight of the Jewish people trapped in Germany. Hitler and the Nazi regime intended to use the Olympics for propaganda purposes. They hoped to show the supposed superiority of the Germans, while hiding from the world the truth about the the regime's atrocities. The author mixes into this the story of Eleanor Emerson, a wealthy socialite who wins a place on the U. S. Olympic swim team. She had already won a gold medal at the previous Olympic games. Her cavalier attitude, smoking, and drinking combined with a marriage on the rocks all are leading her to lose her chance to compete again. Even if she can't compete, she is determined to go to the Olympics and secures a job as a news correspondent covering the games. Richard Denham is a seasoned British journalist who sells his stories to both British and American papers. A veteran of World War I, he has seen his share of war and suffering. When Eleanor and Richard first meet at a publicity function in Berlin, there is an instant attraction. Their relationship is intertwined with intrigue as Richard becomes involved with the British Secret Intelligence Service agents. They want to recruit him to secure a dossier from inside Germany, which contains papers that could have a devastating effect on Hitler's regime if they come to light. Suspense and intrigue are the driving forces behind this exciting tale. Eleanor and Richard's love story is played against the backdrop of a world on the brink of war. A very captivating first novel by an author we hope to hear more from soon. Book provided for review by Amazon Vine.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a book I won through Goodreads.

Author David John produces a worthy first novel. This action-thriller is set in pre-war Nazi Germany spanning two historic events of the era. Even though primary character, Richard Denham, is fictitious there other characters in the story are real people fictitiously portrayed. Flight from Berlin is a story about a fallen American swimmer, Eleanor, and a jaded British journalist brought together by the Berlin Olympics. Both learn how brutal the Nazi regime is and in doing so come across a Jewish athlete and her family which possesses information that could be very damaging to Hitler and the Nazi movement. The two develop a bold plan to use this dossier to save the family from the Nazis. In the fast paced action that ensues Eleanor and Richard manage the difficult plan and escape Germany on the fateful Hindenburg.
The history is accurately portrayed and the characters come across as everyday normal people thrust into a world of intrigue and espionage they are not prepared to tackle. For me this gave the story a feeling of credibility. It sort of reminds me of Jack Finney’s Time and Again. The book easily gets 3.5 stars the other half star is because I won it through Goodreads, and it is a book I would recommend to those that like thrilling historical fiction.

[Karen Gail Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I won, and it is excellent. Many of the characters are introduced on the ship Manhattan that is taking the Olympic participants to Berlin. One of the participants gets expelled from competing because of her behavior, but stays on as a columnist covering the games. She (Eleanor)and another reporter (Denham) become involved in aiding and reporting the cruelty of the Nazi regime toward the Jewish athletes and most particularly Hannah, a German fencer. Hannah is the only Jew on the German Olympic team. The Germans have discovered that her parents own a very unflattering dossier about Hitler.

This is really a page turner and so well written. I will read this book again.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

intriguing enough for me not to want the book to end

[Rob Kitchin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flight from Berlin is set around the 1936 Olympics and follows the escapade of American athlete and socialite, Eleanor Emerson, and British journalist, Richard Denham, as they tangle with the Nazi regime. Emerson is loosely based on Eleanor Holm, the US swimmer who was thrown off the US team for partying on the journey to the games. Another central character, Hannah Liebermann, is based on Helene Mayer, who was the only ‘non-Aryan’ to compete for Germany. Numerous other real-life characters populate the story, as do some real-world events, along with a couple of rumours surrounding Hitler’s medical notes from the First World War. John weaves a fictional narrative around these centring on a plot to discredit Hitler and the Nazi regime and to undermine the propaganda surrounding the games. The characters of Emerson and Denham are well-penned and for much of the story the plot is engaging and intriguing. In fact, I was thoroughly hooked up to the initial flight from Berlin. At that point, the story becomes increasingly ridiculous, progressing through an endless succession of clunky and unbelievable plot devices designed to create a series of dramatic moments leading to a climatic denouement. This was a real shame as it was all going so well before it spiralled into a series of staged chases. Overall, an interesting story with strong characters that became more-and-more implausible.

[Molly Duncan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved loved LOVED DB John's Star of the North, so I've been meaning to get around to this earlier book forever. Sadly, I didn't like it nearly as much. I think a lot of it was down to not being invested in the characters. Eleanor started the book seeming reckless and petulant, and then suddenly switched to being a bland, passive prop for pretty much the rest of the book. Denham was pretty much a bland, passive prop throughout the entire book. I couldn't get interested in their romance, either. For one thing, Eleanor was still married, but seemed to have completely forgotten about it except for an occasional passing reference, but also there just didn't seem to be anything drawing Eleanor and Denham together. And then every time they made an actual choice, as opposed to just being drawn along by things that were happening to them, I thought the choice was a stupid one. Why use the dossier to save a few Jewish friends instead of passing it along to someone who could use it to save millions? Why take the list dossier into Germany after someone tries to steal it from you? And anyway, who was trying to steal it outside the bank, and why didn't Eleanor realize that someone in Germany knew the real dossier wasn't headed to Basel? Although this book ended up being a disappointment, I'll still be looking out for John's next novel.

[Kaye McSpadden · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love a really good work of historical fiction, one that reveals and explores history through a lens of imagination, filling in the blanks and edges around the historical record. In the case of "Flight from Berlin," however, we have a story that weaves an imaginative tale we all know could NOT have happened, a tale that involves both fictional AND non-fictional characters. It's written in a somewhat fast-paced, manipulative style, obviously designed to keep the reader turning the page rather than exploring or revealing any depth of character or universal truths. Its chapters are short, especially in the second half, with most chapters ending with a sometimes contrived "hook" at the end. Also, much of the dialogue and character descriptions seemed somewhat stereotypical to me -- as if I could be watching a B&W movie that was made in the 1940s or 1950s. I did enjoy learning a little bit about the 1936 Berlin Olympics, however, and also I enjoyed the detailed descriptions of the Hindenberg, especially its interior. Overall, however, I found the book to be overwrought and lightweight.

[Alyssa Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out promising, and then kind of petered off in Part II. My biggest beef is that they left Germany halfway through, albeit they did return. The middle where they just hung out in England was slow and felt like their discoveries would've been MUCH more exciting in Berlin or Germany.
It ended with a bang - heh - but it was still a but, like, the author needed to make sure the book took place during this historical event and tried to form the plot around that. Anyway, it was fine.

[Rachel Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flight From Berlin is a gripping historical thriller that had me tense from the first page. Every moment pulsed with anxiety and dread as the characters navigated a world teetering on the edge of war. The shocking revelations within the dossier left me stunned, and I was especially fascinated by the unexpected role airships played in Nazi Germany’s propaganda machine. A riveting and eye-opening read.

[Glenn Short · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to read this book after reading the author's collaboration with a North Korean defector in the telling of her story. I enjoyed that book for the same reason I enjoyed this one. The action is consistent enough to keep me engaged. The historical figures keep the story real. I do love history.

[Lauren Little · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good WWII thriller, but make sure to suspend your disbelief. There are aspects of the story that seem really outlandish to happen in just the way described by the book, but the book was still fun to read. It had great visual descriptions of the 1936 Olympics and riding in the Hindenberg Zeppelin.

[Julie Connelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book kept me extremely entertained and amused. The storyline was complex and good so it kept me very entertained and guessing the whole time, but I do think the writing style was a bit childish? Like it felt like I was reading a YA novel, and then there were sex scenes, so it made me feel weird. But overall I enjoyed it enough and it provided me hours of entertainment

[Duane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Promising but such pedestrian writing. This books sounded great. Nazis! Olympic athletes! Zeppelins! But the writing is so amateurish and terrible that I couldn't push through more than a couple of chapters. I honestly don't understand how this book was published or how my library decided to purchase it. DNF at 5%.

[Margaret Goodlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book, not good enough to rate 5 stars, though. Set just prior to the time of WWII, set in Germany and involving reporters, spies, and a very convoluted plot. I enjoyed reading it but it's not the best thing I ever read by any means.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic historic fiction...

This is a fast-paced, suspenseful book that weaves historic figures and circumstances cleverly to make a very enjoyable story. I really enjoy this author and can't wait for his next book!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an outstanding and suspenseful read. What I expected the end of the book to be was actually only the end of part I. This was followed by 2 amazing and realistic additional sections. And the end was genius!!!

If you love this time period, read this book.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

When an unlikely duo becomes entangled in the agenda of Adolf Hitler during the 1936 Olympics, they are faced with unexpected challenges. And at the heart of it all, is one Hannah Lieberman, a Jewish champion fencer forced to compete for the Furher at the behest of the propaganda machine.

[Vida · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rating
Start with the Olympic Games, add in the Gestapo and SS,
some intrigue and mystery, a love interest and end with a flight for one(s) life. There are real and factual characters and events and the plot interesting.