What do you think?
Rate this book
Berlin Duet
UNITED BY WAR. DIVIDED BY A SECRET.
From silent era Hollywood and the nightclubs of pre-war Vienna to the ruins of Soviet Berlin, discover a moving, ambitious story of an enduring love amidst the devastation of war . . .
In 1938, English spy Harry Taverner and Jewish photographer Anna Cantrell spend the night dancing at Berlin's most elegant hotel. Anna is married to another man, the Nazi shadow is rising over Europe and neither expects to ever meet again.
But once peace is declared, they reunite in the ruins of Berlin, where Anna is searching for her missing children. With the blockade tightening and the Soviets set on conquest, Harry and Anna walk a treacherous line between love and duty, integrity and survival, loyalty and betrayal. And as the Cold War dawns, they are bound together by a secret that will only be revealed decades later, when Berlin finds itself on the cusp of another transformation...
Berlin Duet is a sweeping, unforgettable historical epic from the Kindle-bestselling author of The Angel's Mark. Perfect for fans of Sebastian Faulks and William Boyd.
PRAISE FOR S. W.
'A gorgeous book - rich, intelligent and dark in equal measure. This is historical fiction at its most sumptuous' Rory Clements
'Wonderful! Beautiful writing' Giles Kristian
'Dramatic and colourful' Sunday Times
'The writing is of such a quality, the characters so engaging and the setting so persuasive . . . my favourite historical crime series' S. G. MacLean
'No-one is better than S. W. Perry at leading us through the squalid streets of London in the sixteenth century' Andrew Swanston
'A rattling good read' William Ryan
From silent era Hollywood and the nightclubs of pre-war Vienna to the ruins of Soviet Berlin, discover a moving, ambitious story of an enduring love amidst the devastation of war . . .
In 1938, English spy Harry Taverner and Jewish photographer Anna Cantrell spend the night dancing at Berlin's most elegant hotel. Anna is married to another man, the Nazi shadow is rising over Europe and neither expects to ever meet again.
But once peace is declared, they reunite in the ruins of Berlin, where Anna is searching for her missing children. With the blockade tightening and the Soviets set on conquest, Harry and Anna walk a treacherous line between love and duty, integrity and survival, loyalty and betrayal. And as the Cold War dawns, they are bound together by a secret that will only be revealed decades later, when Berlin finds itself on the cusp of another transformation...
Berlin Duet is a sweeping, unforgettable historical epic from the Kindle-bestselling author of The Angel's Mark. Perfect for fans of Sebastian Faulks and William Boyd.
PRAISE FOR S. W.
'A gorgeous book - rich, intelligent and dark in equal measure. This is historical fiction at its most sumptuous' Rory Clements
'Wonderful! Beautiful writing' Giles Kristian
'Dramatic and colourful' Sunday Times
'The writing is of such a quality, the characters so engaging and the setting so persuasive . . . my favourite historical crime series' S. G. MacLean
'No-one is better than S. W. Perry at leading us through the squalid streets of London in the sixteenth century' Andrew Swanston
'A rattling good read' William Ryan
448 pages, Hardcover
Published August 1, 2024
395 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
S.W. Perry
11 books134 followersS. W. Perry was a journalist and broadcaster before retraining as an airline pilot. He lives in Worcestershire, England with his wife.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 16, 2024
For me, the book is not so much a duet as a concerto with Anna the soloist and Harry providing the essential accompaniment or taking over when she hesitates or doubts. Anna is a character who really leaps off the page. I loved her resilience and feistiness but also felt for her as she grapples with the challenges events throw at her. Harry is the epitome of a good man trying to do the right thing who comes to Anna’s rescue on more than one occasion.
The opening scene of the book in which Harry is surrounded by ghosts of the past is intensely moving. Realising that his memory is fading, he is determined to tell his daughter the story of Anna’s life and the events they witnessed together. Prompted by photographs taken by Anna, he describes how she was exposed to the magic of film through her father Rex who worked as a cameraman in Hollywood. It was he who gave her her first camera, a treasured Leica.
When her parents split up, Anna moves to Vienna with her wayward mother, Marion. Thanks to her mother she has an American passport but, less fortunately, Jewish blood. As the malign influence of Nazism spreads beyond Germany, Anna finds herself in a vulnerable position, married to a man, Ivo Wolff, who has become increasingly in thrall to Nazi ideology. Anna’s burgeoning career as a photojournalist brings her close to influential figures in the Nazi regime. However she struggles with the fact that in trying to capture truthfully the realities of war she is documenting the suffering of others, and possibly risking her photographs being used as Nazi propaganda. She finds comfort in the fact that her privileged access enables her to provide valuable intelligence to Britain. And of course there is the reassuring presence of the steadfast Harry.
But it turns out that privileged access doesn’t protect Anna from losing what is most precious to her, her two children by Ivo. And, even once the war is over, how do you find two people in a Europe that is in ruins and where hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced or disappeared?
It’s only in the final chapters that the whole picture is revealed and we learn just why it is so important to Harry to pass on the story to his daughter.
Berlin Duet is a dramatic story of wartime espionage with a moving love story at its heart.
The opening scene of the book in which Harry is surrounded by ghosts of the past is intensely moving. Realising that his memory is fading, he is determined to tell his daughter the story of Anna’s life and the events they witnessed together. Prompted by photographs taken by Anna, he describes how she was exposed to the magic of film through her father Rex who worked as a cameraman in Hollywood. It was he who gave her her first camera, a treasured Leica.
When her parents split up, Anna moves to Vienna with her wayward mother, Marion. Thanks to her mother she has an American passport but, less fortunately, Jewish blood. As the malign influence of Nazism spreads beyond Germany, Anna finds herself in a vulnerable position, married to a man, Ivo Wolff, who has become increasingly in thrall to Nazi ideology. Anna’s burgeoning career as a photojournalist brings her close to influential figures in the Nazi regime. However she struggles with the fact that in trying to capture truthfully the realities of war she is documenting the suffering of others, and possibly risking her photographs being used as Nazi propaganda. She finds comfort in the fact that her privileged access enables her to provide valuable intelligence to Britain. And of course there is the reassuring presence of the steadfast Harry.
But it turns out that privileged access doesn’t protect Anna from losing what is most precious to her, her two children by Ivo. And, even once the war is over, how do you find two people in a Europe that is in ruins and where hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced or disappeared?
It’s only in the final chapters that the whole picture is revealed and we learn just why it is so important to Harry to pass on the story to his daughter.
Berlin Duet is a dramatic story of wartime espionage with a moving love story at its heart.
January 31, 2025
The novel is set in the 1930s between USA, Austria and Germany. Its central character is Anna, a privileged child, who grows up to be a photographer charting the rise of Nazism and her undercover work for the allies in the pre war years. It is full of well defined characters and the story has good pace and momentum. Its narrator is Anna’s British handler and subsequently her lover as he relates her story to his daughter. The time now is 1980s and the Berlin Wall is coming down and as the wall falls other things start to fall into place. Great book , didn’t want it to end.
September 17, 2025
Stunningly haunting, romantic, or tragic - I loved this.
June 11, 2024
A moving and dramatic story of wartime lovers and spies.
"Berlin Duet" opens in Vichy France in 1942. A couple rendezvous outside a quiet village. The man tells the woman they need to relocate her and her family to Spain before the Nazis arrive. But before they conclude their business, a car arrives and they witness a kidnapping and murder. Her children have been taken and her mother killed.
Fast forward to 1989 Berlin, and the same man, Harry, now old and clearly confused, is rescued by his daughter when he tries to visit a hotel, long demolished. She takes him back to his apartment, where he retrieves an old suitcase, and asks his daughter to sit with him, while he reveals to her, an old story.
And so the reader is drawn into a story, the life of a young girl, Anna Cantrell. Born to an English father and an American mother, she grows up surrounded by the magic of early twentieth-century Hollywood. Her father is a cameraman, and she soon learns to view the world through a lens. We learn how her mother and father came together, how they grew apart, and how Anna ended up in Vienna, Later, as she develops her love of photography, she witnesses the growth of Nazism, and is eventually drawn into the shadowy world of espionage. As we reach the events of the opening chapter, then move beyond, Anna searches for her children, while recording the lives of WW2 Berlin and its people.
Fans of SW Perry will be familiar with his historical series of "Jackdaw" mysteries, so this wartime spy thriller might come as a surprise. And it is a surprise - a good one. The story takes place against the bleak background of the years leading up to WW2, and the war itself, with vivid depictions of people making choices, and places devastated by events. The growth of Nazism and the persecution of Jews and other minorities are observed by the way those involved are changed. There's a cast of memorable characters, brave, cowardly, avaricious and opportunistic, and those simply caught up in events over which they have no control. Anna Cantrell shines, as she undergoes any number of highs and lows, but always moving forward in her life, emerging as a three-dimensional person - so much so, I had to check if she really existed. Not a lot of time is spent on the actual war years, except where they affect the characters. But Austria and Germany are vividly portrayed, as they weather the storms of the war.
This was a rewarding read, full of characters the reader will love, hate, despise and weep for in turn. The final chapters may not come as a huge revelation, but that's not important. The journey to get there is the true pleasure. In telling his story, Harry slowly reveals to his daughter, photographs and letters marking key events in his life. There's a few annoying time-jumps, and a few loose ends not resolved, but overall, Anna's story is worthy of a 1940's Noir film.
Recommended for fans of Chris Lloyd, Alex Gerlis and Rory Clements.
"Berlin Duet" opens in Vichy France in 1942. A couple rendezvous outside a quiet village. The man tells the woman they need to relocate her and her family to Spain before the Nazis arrive. But before they conclude their business, a car arrives and they witness a kidnapping and murder. Her children have been taken and her mother killed.
Fast forward to 1989 Berlin, and the same man, Harry, now old and clearly confused, is rescued by his daughter when he tries to visit a hotel, long demolished. She takes him back to his apartment, where he retrieves an old suitcase, and asks his daughter to sit with him, while he reveals to her, an old story.
And so the reader is drawn into a story, the life of a young girl, Anna Cantrell. Born to an English father and an American mother, she grows up surrounded by the magic of early twentieth-century Hollywood. Her father is a cameraman, and she soon learns to view the world through a lens. We learn how her mother and father came together, how they grew apart, and how Anna ended up in Vienna, Later, as she develops her love of photography, she witnesses the growth of Nazism, and is eventually drawn into the shadowy world of espionage. As we reach the events of the opening chapter, then move beyond, Anna searches for her children, while recording the lives of WW2 Berlin and its people.
Fans of SW Perry will be familiar with his historical series of "Jackdaw" mysteries, so this wartime spy thriller might come as a surprise. And it is a surprise - a good one. The story takes place against the bleak background of the years leading up to WW2, and the war itself, with vivid depictions of people making choices, and places devastated by events. The growth of Nazism and the persecution of Jews and other minorities are observed by the way those involved are changed. There's a cast of memorable characters, brave, cowardly, avaricious and opportunistic, and those simply caught up in events over which they have no control. Anna Cantrell shines, as she undergoes any number of highs and lows, but always moving forward in her life, emerging as a three-dimensional person - so much so, I had to check if she really existed. Not a lot of time is spent on the actual war years, except where they affect the characters. But Austria and Germany are vividly portrayed, as they weather the storms of the war.
This was a rewarding read, full of characters the reader will love, hate, despise and weep for in turn. The final chapters may not come as a huge revelation, but that's not important. The journey to get there is the true pleasure. In telling his story, Harry slowly reveals to his daughter, photographs and letters marking key events in his life. There's a few annoying time-jumps, and a few loose ends not resolved, but overall, Anna's story is worthy of a 1940's Noir film.
Recommended for fans of Chris Lloyd, Alex Gerlis and Rory Clements.
September 1, 2024
Berlin Duet by S W Perry
The book opens during the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 but much of the action is set in pre and post war Germany. We meet Harry Taverner as an old man whose memory is fading and who wants to pass on an important story to his daughter. As his daughter sits with him through a long night he tells story of Anna, a photographer. He is aided by copies of the photographs Anna had taken and the memories they conjure up.
He begins with Anna’s childhood and the events which led her mother to leave America with her escaping from the father who had instilled in her a love of photography. Anna is a vivid and interesting character and her story is one which engages the reader. We are inspired by her resilience and wonder at how she copes with all that life throws at her.
Anna finds herself, the child of a Jewish mother, caught up in the horrors which occurred in Vienna and Germany prior to the outbreak of war. We then follow Anna as she navigates her way through the difficulties which life throws at her aided by Harry, who works for the English “passport office”. She marries a man who becomes increasingly embroiled in the Nazi ideology and finds her it increasingly difficult to just record how others are suffering under Nazi rule.
The book is very well researched and is also a gripping read. We want to know what happens to Anna and how she negotiates the devastation which she encounters in a post war Germany where the Russian vie for power with the Allies. I have read and enjoyed other books by the author set in the Tudor period and this is an interesting departure for him.
Many thanks to the author, the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.
The book opens during the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 but much of the action is set in pre and post war Germany. We meet Harry Taverner as an old man whose memory is fading and who wants to pass on an important story to his daughter. As his daughter sits with him through a long night he tells story of Anna, a photographer. He is aided by copies of the photographs Anna had taken and the memories they conjure up.
He begins with Anna’s childhood and the events which led her mother to leave America with her escaping from the father who had instilled in her a love of photography. Anna is a vivid and interesting character and her story is one which engages the reader. We are inspired by her resilience and wonder at how she copes with all that life throws at her.
Anna finds herself, the child of a Jewish mother, caught up in the horrors which occurred in Vienna and Germany prior to the outbreak of war. We then follow Anna as she navigates her way through the difficulties which life throws at her aided by Harry, who works for the English “passport office”. She marries a man who becomes increasingly embroiled in the Nazi ideology and finds her it increasingly difficult to just record how others are suffering under Nazi rule.
The book is very well researched and is also a gripping read. We want to know what happens to Anna and how she negotiates the devastation which she encounters in a post war Germany where the Russian vie for power with the Allies. I have read and enjoyed other books by the author set in the Tudor period and this is an interesting departure for him.
Many thanks to the author, the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.
January 21, 2025
I really enjoyed this. I loved the way we hear it from Harry, one of the two main characters, as he tells Anna’s story to his daughter. It’s a story that starts in the US in Hollywood amongst the film studios and art scene and then moves to Vienna in the years leading up to WW2. Anna is British/American so that gives her some protection and freedom in the increasingly volatile political atmosphere but not that much because she is also Jewish. We follow her story through becoming a journalistic photographer, a marriage which soon becomes a dangerous one, spying for the British, fleeing to France and then returning to Germany and Berlin after the war is over.
Although this is set around the war years it’s not so much a story about war but a story of how Anna, her family and friends navigate the things that come with a rapidly changing political situation, subsequent war and the aftermath. A story of people being torn apart but also of them coming back together.
This one will be on the reread pile! Loved it.
August 2, 2024
Although the city of Berlin, with its volatile past, has already proved a rich font for post-war writers, there still seems to be space for new novels on twentieth-century German history, as Berlin Duet admirably demonstrates. It’s an epic tale, reminiscent of work by William Boyd or Sebastian Faulks, focussing on the pre-war, war-time and post-war exploits of Anna, a British/American Jewish war photographer recruited by the British Secret Service to spy on Goebbel’s inner circle.
Although perhaps a little knowing (and benefitting from authorial hindsight) in her 1930s assessment of the danger of the National Socialists, Anna is a rounded character with an in-depth backstory that extends to her eccentric parents and cruel husband. She is determined, compassionate and gifted with humour. (Her actions during a delousing at a Displaced Persons’ camp are notable for displaying these qualities.) But she is also manipulative and opportunist with an inconsistent attitude to parenting. Her personal experiences are vividly described against the backdrop of actual historic events.
The other storyteller and partner in this duet is retired British intelligence officer, Harry, who was Anna’s young, inexperienced handler during the war. His narrative opens in 1989 in Berlin, where he still lives. The night of the fall of the Wall triggers his memories and he recounts to his daughter his wartime involvement with Anna.
This is not a story with a twist – we all know how it ends on the macro level (Berlin falls, remains divided for 40 years etc etc). However, I think most readers will be unsurprised by what happens to our protagonist duo at the micro level either. But this is about the journey not the destination – a richly described voyage into the lives of ordinary people during times of great change, danger and suffering. The post-war portrayal of Berlin and its population in ruins is particularly profound.
Berlin is one of my favourite cities. I lived there briefly in the 1980s. My in-laws were stationed there in the late 1940s and my daughter lives there now. I have returned many times to soak up its cosmopolitan atmosphere, culture and language(s) and to visit countless museums dedicated to its history. I’m confident in saying Berlin Duet is authentic, meticulously researched and fluently written. I will be recommending it widely to those with an interest in twentieth-century history.
Definitely, one of my most absorbing reads of the year so far.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
Although perhaps a little knowing (and benefitting from authorial hindsight) in her 1930s assessment of the danger of the National Socialists, Anna is a rounded character with an in-depth backstory that extends to her eccentric parents and cruel husband. She is determined, compassionate and gifted with humour. (Her actions during a delousing at a Displaced Persons’ camp are notable for displaying these qualities.) But she is also manipulative and opportunist with an inconsistent attitude to parenting. Her personal experiences are vividly described against the backdrop of actual historic events.
The other storyteller and partner in this duet is retired British intelligence officer, Harry, who was Anna’s young, inexperienced handler during the war. His narrative opens in 1989 in Berlin, where he still lives. The night of the fall of the Wall triggers his memories and he recounts to his daughter his wartime involvement with Anna.
This is not a story with a twist – we all know how it ends on the macro level (Berlin falls, remains divided for 40 years etc etc). However, I think most readers will be unsurprised by what happens to our protagonist duo at the micro level either. But this is about the journey not the destination – a richly described voyage into the lives of ordinary people during times of great change, danger and suffering. The post-war portrayal of Berlin and its population in ruins is particularly profound.
Berlin is one of my favourite cities. I lived there briefly in the 1980s. My in-laws were stationed there in the late 1940s and my daughter lives there now. I have returned many times to soak up its cosmopolitan atmosphere, culture and language(s) and to visit countless museums dedicated to its history. I’m confident in saying Berlin Duet is authentic, meticulously researched and fluently written. I will be recommending it widely to those with an interest in twentieth-century history.
Definitely, one of my most absorbing reads of the year so far.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
November 29, 2024
WWII has a devastating effect on two families, leaving pain and unspoken secrets
1938 English spy Harry Taverner spends the night dancing with a married woman, Jewish photographer Anna Cantrell. He is her case officer. Love doesn’t enter the picture; there is a war on.
1942 Anna is hiding from her Austrian Nazi husband. Harry wants her to come in from the cold and escape with her recovering cocaine-addict mother and her two children.
After the war they reunite. Anna is searching the ruins of Berlin for her missing children.
1989 The elderly Harry witnesses the fall of the Berlin Wall, when he ‘has a turn’. His daughter Elly comes to look after him. In a lucid moment, he looks at one of Anna’s old photographs. He and Anna are bound together by a secret. ‘It’s time you knew,’ he says to Elly.
Anna and her parents are artists, but her life is haunted by the toxicity of their relationship. And she enters into another one herself with Ivo. The couple lives with Marion, witnessing her dysfunction.
The narrative jumps around in time from chapter to chapter, which serves to open up to us, bit by bit, building to a crescendo, the pain in people’s pasts. The night Anna ‘finds out’ about her father Rex, forced to see things by a drunken Marion, is burned into her heart.
As Hitler goes from bad to worse, we feel the fear. The conflict between Ivo’s Naziism and Anna’s Jewishness heats up. The rift logs one injury, then another. The ways in which the Nazi terror plays out within Anna’s family are horrifying. We see it through Anna’s eyes, then Elly, hearing the story.
It is beautifully written, encapsulating the most painful of human emotions and the devastating effect world events can have on families. I've read many novels about families torn apart by WWII and fascism. This one is something special.
This review appeared first in Historical Novels Review.
1938 English spy Harry Taverner spends the night dancing with a married woman, Jewish photographer Anna Cantrell. He is her case officer. Love doesn’t enter the picture; there is a war on.
1942 Anna is hiding from her Austrian Nazi husband. Harry wants her to come in from the cold and escape with her recovering cocaine-addict mother and her two children.
After the war they reunite. Anna is searching the ruins of Berlin for her missing children.
1989 The elderly Harry witnesses the fall of the Berlin Wall, when he ‘has a turn’. His daughter Elly comes to look after him. In a lucid moment, he looks at one of Anna’s old photographs. He and Anna are bound together by a secret. ‘It’s time you knew,’ he says to Elly.
Anna and her parents are artists, but her life is haunted by the toxicity of their relationship. And she enters into another one herself with Ivo. The couple lives with Marion, witnessing her dysfunction.
The narrative jumps around in time from chapter to chapter, which serves to open up to us, bit by bit, building to a crescendo, the pain in people’s pasts. The night Anna ‘finds out’ about her father Rex, forced to see things by a drunken Marion, is burned into her heart.
As Hitler goes from bad to worse, we feel the fear. The conflict between Ivo’s Naziism and Anna’s Jewishness heats up. The rift logs one injury, then another. The ways in which the Nazi terror plays out within Anna’s family are horrifying. We see it through Anna’s eyes, then Elly, hearing the story.
It is beautifully written, encapsulating the most painful of human emotions and the devastating effect world events can have on families. I've read many novels about families torn apart by WWII and fascism. This one is something special.
This review appeared first in Historical Novels Review.
January 15, 2025
Very good novel of its kind (WW2 Historical Fiction).
Involves the story of a British Spy and his 'asset' - opens in November 1942 when the 'assets' Nazi husband (from whom she is separated) finds her home in Vichy, France; 'steals' her children and kills her Mother (his Mother-In-Law).
The remainder of the story is told through a series of flashbacks - with the 'new present' at the time of the fall of the Berlin wall (~1989) - when the British Spy is suffering from Dementia and wishes to tell his daughter the tale.
Narrative really begins in Vienna, Austria in the 1930's - follows the heroine as she observes the 'Nazification' of Austria into Germany; the rise of Fascism and the impacts of war. A great deal of the novel is placed in Pre-War Europe - detailing the change in attitudes of the populace - the rise of Hitler.
The heroine, after November 1942 - without her children escapes to Spain, Lisbon and to the U.K. - gets herself accredited as a Photo Journalist (think of Margaret White) - and reenters Europe after D-Day in 1944. She accompanies the troops - WW2 in Europe ends - she attempts to find her children - a large portion of the novel details what the German citizens endured - and their resentment toward the Allies (resentment over Bombing - Dresden and etc.).
Characters and situations well drawn - I wasn't particularly 'happy' with the resolution - but don't have a better idea.....
A good read; different perspective from 'usual-usual' WW2 Historical Fiction - better understanding of the motivation of some of the characters. Doesn't show the Allies in a 'great light' all the time....
Should be of interest to those who follow WW2 Historical Fiction - rise of the Nazi's and etc.
Carl Gallozzi
Cgallozzi@comcast.net
Involves the story of a British Spy and his 'asset' - opens in November 1942 when the 'assets' Nazi husband (from whom she is separated) finds her home in Vichy, France; 'steals' her children and kills her Mother (his Mother-In-Law).
The remainder of the story is told through a series of flashbacks - with the 'new present' at the time of the fall of the Berlin wall (~1989) - when the British Spy is suffering from Dementia and wishes to tell his daughter the tale.
Narrative really begins in Vienna, Austria in the 1930's - follows the heroine as she observes the 'Nazification' of Austria into Germany; the rise of Fascism and the impacts of war. A great deal of the novel is placed in Pre-War Europe - detailing the change in attitudes of the populace - the rise of Hitler.
The heroine, after November 1942 - without her children escapes to Spain, Lisbon and to the U.K. - gets herself accredited as a Photo Journalist (think of Margaret White) - and reenters Europe after D-Day in 1944. She accompanies the troops - WW2 in Europe ends - she attempts to find her children - a large portion of the novel details what the German citizens endured - and their resentment toward the Allies (resentment over Bombing - Dresden and etc.).
Characters and situations well drawn - I wasn't particularly 'happy' with the resolution - but don't have a better idea.....
A good read; different perspective from 'usual-usual' WW2 Historical Fiction - better understanding of the motivation of some of the characters. Doesn't show the Allies in a 'great light' all the time....
Should be of interest to those who follow WW2 Historical Fiction - rise of the Nazi's and etc.
Carl Gallozzi
Cgallozzi@comcast.net
February 25, 2025
A thoroughly enjoyable and engrossing read. It starts in Berlin with the fall of the wall and retired spy Harry telling his daughter about his exploits before, during and after World War 2. The real hero of the story though is Anna, a Jewish-American photographer, who as a child moved to Vienna with her mother following the break-up of her marriage. Here all is well until Nazism starts to flex its muscles across the continent. Before anyone realises what terrors lay ahead, Anna falls for Ivo, an ambitious young man who is both attracted by and sees opportunity within the new politics. Now married, Anna and her husband move to Berlin where Anna is engaged by Goebbels to photograph the successes of the new Germany. As Anna’s husband becomes ever more deeply engaged in the work of the state, Anna realises Berlin and Germany are no longer safe for her or her children and she must leave – but how?
Anna is a feisty and compelling character and Harry a brave and decent man. After the war, Anna returns to Berlin to seek what is most precious to her.
A tremendous book. Very highly recommended.
Anna is a feisty and compelling character and Harry a brave and decent man. After the war, Anna returns to Berlin to seek what is most precious to her.
A tremendous book. Very highly recommended.
June 2, 2025
This is a engrossing story about love, integrity and courage with characters that are beautifully written. Anna is a strong, complex, beautiful, brave woman who bears witness to the rise and fall of the third Reich through her photojournalism. Anna belongs nowhere and so can see with a clarity and perspicacity. Born in Hollywood, she has learned her silent film maker, English father's knack for bravado and sharp wits and has her American mother's chutzpah and refusal to be controlled. Harry is an amazing man and an English spy. He charms everyone and makes Anna feel safe. Ivo Wolff is Anna's handsome, Nazi husband, who asks her to pretend not to be Jewish and is father of her 2 children. Moving between 1989 Berlin and 1920s and 30s Hollywood, then Vienna and Berlin, author SW Perry's gripping and absorbing story evokes place and politics, music, sexuality, hatred and divided loyalty in a moving, sensitive way. I enjoyed the layers to this book, relishing the way Perry describes his characters as both brilliant and flawed and very human.
May 26, 2025
A well crafted WW2 historic novel, with a main character in Anna who keeps you captivated by being an imperfect yet brilliant woman, and a supporting cast of characters with their own worlds and thoughts woven into the fabric of the story.
I really enjoyed the various times that this book took place in - jumping from early Hollywood, to Vienna during the great depression, to Berlin during the rise of the Nazis really kept the plot moving. Sometimes a book can lose the thread of the story by jumping around too much, but the location changes and flash forward/backs were well thought out and kept the book flowing well.
I also enjoyed that not all the sub-plots were wrapped up at the end, it meant that the book has lingered with me for a fair few days after I have finished it.
All in all, an enjoyable 20th century historical novel that touches on some elements that I haven't read previously in a WW2 focused book.
I really enjoyed the various times that this book took place in - jumping from early Hollywood, to Vienna during the great depression, to Berlin during the rise of the Nazis really kept the plot moving. Sometimes a book can lose the thread of the story by jumping around too much, but the location changes and flash forward/backs were well thought out and kept the book flowing well.
I also enjoyed that not all the sub-plots were wrapped up at the end, it meant that the book has lingered with me for a fair few days after I have finished it.
All in all, an enjoyable 20th century historical novel that touches on some elements that I haven't read previously in a WW2 focused book.
October 1, 2025
Utterly enthralling from start to finish!
I quickly realised it wasn’t a book I could easily put down. What struck me most was how vividly the author brings Berlin to life — not just as a backdrop, but as a living, breathing presence in the story. The mix of history, atmosphere, and human drama made me feel completely immersed.
The characters felt real, with all their flaws, hopes, and struggles, and I became deeply invested in their journeys. I loved the way the story balances the personal and the historical, showing how ordinary lives are shaped by bigger events. It made me think and feel in equal measure.
For me, this was one of those rare books that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page. Moving, beautifully written, and unforgettable.
I quickly realised it wasn’t a book I could easily put down. What struck me most was how vividly the author brings Berlin to life — not just as a backdrop, but as a living, breathing presence in the story. The mix of history, atmosphere, and human drama made me feel completely immersed.
The characters felt real, with all their flaws, hopes, and struggles, and I became deeply invested in their journeys. I loved the way the story balances the personal and the historical, showing how ordinary lives are shaped by bigger events. It made me think and feel in equal measure.
For me, this was one of those rare books that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page. Moving, beautifully written, and unforgettable.
October 19, 2024
Amazing story which feels true although it is fiction
What can I say! This book is amazing written with such attention to detail.everything described with such artistry like an everlasting painting of the war. The characters are so real I can see them before me. I was shocked when Ellys identity was revealed but happy that Anna Cantrell livedon.
The 2 lost children hopefully had a secure life in East Berlin and would eventually have learnt about their mother.
The story explores evil and goodness love and hate with the backdrop of Berlin Vienna and the United States so.movingly portrayed.
What can I say! This book is amazing written with such attention to detail.everything described with such artistry like an everlasting painting of the war. The characters are so real I can see them before me. I was shocked when Ellys identity was revealed but happy that Anna Cantrell livedon.
The 2 lost children hopefully had a secure life in East Berlin and would eventually have learnt about their mother.
The story explores evil and goodness love and hate with the backdrop of Berlin Vienna and the United States so.movingly portrayed.
August 29, 2024
Absolutely brilliant!
This has to be one of the best and most moving books I have read in a long time. From the beginning in my mind the main character Harry Taverner, in later life whilst narrating the story to Elly, looked like the actor,Tom Courtney and this image of him remained throughout in my head! I find it hard to describe how beautifully this book is written without spoiling it for others but I urge you to read it,you will not be disappointed. Have a tissue at hand towards the end!
This has to be one of the best and most moving books I have read in a long time. From the beginning in my mind the main character Harry Taverner, in later life whilst narrating the story to Elly, looked like the actor,Tom Courtney and this image of him remained throughout in my head! I find it hard to describe how beautifully this book is written without spoiling it for others but I urge you to read it,you will not be disappointed. Have a tissue at hand towards the end!
August 26, 2025
Not my usual kind of book, not keen on love stories. However, the historical content was excellent with easy to imagine characters. Mr. Perry has done his research well, which gave the reader a feeling of actually being in the time zone.
Parts of the book were what I call waffly i.e. what people thought, why they thought it etc. this seemed to increase towards the end as thought Mr. Perry was getting tired of writing which might explain the somewhat predictable ending.
Overall an enjoyable read.
Parts of the book were what I call waffly i.e. what people thought, why they thought it etc. this seemed to increase towards the end as thought Mr. Perry was getting tired of writing which might explain the somewhat predictable ending.
Overall an enjoyable read.
April 28, 2025
Standard historical romance book. It covered a wide period of German history, from the fall of the Weimar Republic to the Berlin Blockade, all of which were rendered well. It annoyed me that the main character (I assume intended to be strong and independent) spent the majority of the novel either reacting to something that a man did, or running to one for help. I saw the final twist coming, but overall it was still enjoyable.
November 19, 2025
I feel bereft that the jacket/blurb/selling point doesn’t match what a varied and adventurous book this. It’s somewhat billed as historical romance but it’s so much more. It was captivating because there was always a piece of action, the story was very cleverly written and I always felt surprised but still within realms of possibility. This was an off chance kindle daily deals find, and what a find!
January 3, 2026
I stopped reading this book well before my usual 100-page minimum because I found it too dull to keep going. It leans too heavily on major historical events to create interest, such as WWI, WWII and the fall of the Berlin Wall. This might work for readers interested in 20th century history who prefer fiction over non-fiction. To me, however, none of the narratives introduced early on felt compelling or interesting.
July 8, 2025
Superb story set predominantly but not entirely in Berlin. An epic tale which follows the tragedies and happy moments over two decades. Beautifully drawn characters and exceptionally well written. A must read.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Two Families at War, Liberating Belsen, The Summer of '39 (all published by Sacristy Press) and Ordinary Heroes (published by IM Books)
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Two Families at War, Liberating Belsen, The Summer of '39 (all published by Sacristy Press) and Ordinary Heroes (published by IM Books)
August 16, 2025
If it were possible to give more than 5 stars l would gladly do so. This is one of the most captivating reads l have had in a long time. The characters and story are superbly crafted, l didn't want it to end but couldn't wait to see what happened. Utterly believable and credible, it will stay with me for some time.
June 30, 2024
This was a great story based in Berlin in the later stages og the second world War.Lots of action and the two spies were very realistic. Lots of tragedy and clearly shows the devastation that occured in Berlin itself. Unfortunately it is the innocent that suffer the most. Fascinating story.
October 10, 2024
I’ve read a lot of SW Perrys books but this is the first by him that I’ve read which was set in the 20th Century and it does not disappoint. As always, the characters feel very real and he paints a vivid picture of the life of Anna.
March 11, 2025
It was a slow start but it turned out an excellent read
It was a very emotional book for me enduring love amidst the devastating effects of war
Set in Berlin pre war and after the war .. Anna was the main character and Harry Taverner
Ana was married to another man
4.5*
It was a very emotional book for me enduring love amidst the devastating effects of war
Set in Berlin pre war and after the war .. Anna was the main character and Harry Taverner
Ana was married to another man
4.5*
July 3, 2025
A good solid historical drama/love story set in a period I enjoy. Real life people and events snuck in but I didn't find that too intrusive and in Donald Macleans case it was integral to the plot. Character's that came to life and who I cared about too.
August 16, 2025
A superb historical novel with utterly compelling and believable characters an odyssey through the early 20th century Vienna by way of California, Berlin in Nazi times, world war 2 and post war Berlin.This story was brilliant with the historical accuracy expected from SW Perry.
Definitely recommend
Definitely recommend
December 28, 2025
great read
This is a wonderful tale set in Germany and France during World War 2 with the characters of Harry Taverner, Anna Cantrell and the chilling Ivo Wolff beautifully portrayed. Loved it, a real page turner.
This is a wonderful tale set in Germany and France during World War 2 with the characters of Harry Taverner, Anna Cantrell and the chilling Ivo Wolff beautifully portrayed. Loved it, a real page turner.
October 27, 2024
Brilliant book - didn’t want to finish it
November 4, 2024
3.5. Nothing special, but an enjoyable WWII novel, from a different perspective. The characters were believable, and the story realistic.
February 7, 2025
masterpiece of a novel. Took me a while to really get into the story, but loved the uniqueness and the style of capturing the time in an unique way.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews