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The Violinist’s Secret: The World War 2 spy historical fiction novel for 2026
The brand-new World War 2 historical novel from the bestselling author of The German Messenger
Charlotte Weber is against the Nazi regime and what it stands for, but as she attends Hamburg University, she struggles to make sense of the war she finds herself a part of. Practising her violin for the university orchestra with her friend, Greta, gets her through the days, until Greta fails to meet her one day, and Charlotte goes to her friend’s apartment to find her body inside. The police declare it a suicide, but Charlotte knows it is murder.
Desperate to discover who killed her friend, but not knowing where to turn, Charlotte is approached by Nazi spies, who recruit her, believing she is Greta. Caught right in the middle of the regime’s web, Charlotte determines to use her position to subvert the regime from the inside, and find out the truth about Greta once and for all. As the war atrocities heighten, and she witnesses the brutality of the Gestapo, Charlotte begins to discover hidden truths of her closest circle of friends, all of whom have something to hide that would make them targets for the Nazis…
Readers are LOVING M.J. Hollows
'I loved this book' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Would recommend it’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I finished it in one sitting’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Charlotte Weber is against the Nazi regime and what it stands for, but as she attends Hamburg University, she struggles to make sense of the war she finds herself a part of. Practising her violin for the university orchestra with her friend, Greta, gets her through the days, until Greta fails to meet her one day, and Charlotte goes to her friend’s apartment to find her body inside. The police declare it a suicide, but Charlotte knows it is murder.
Desperate to discover who killed her friend, but not knowing where to turn, Charlotte is approached by Nazi spies, who recruit her, believing she is Greta. Caught right in the middle of the regime’s web, Charlotte determines to use her position to subvert the regime from the inside, and find out the truth about Greta once and for all. As the war atrocities heighten, and she witnesses the brutality of the Gestapo, Charlotte begins to discover hidden truths of her closest circle of friends, all of whom have something to hide that would make them targets for the Nazis…
Readers are LOVING M.J. Hollows
'I loved this book' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Would recommend it’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I finished it in one sitting’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- GenresHistorical Fiction
403 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 16, 2025
97 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
M.J. Hollows
4 books81 followersM.J. Hollows, the author of four historical fiction novels, was born in London in 1986, and moved to Liverpool in 2010 to lecture in Audio Engineering. With a keen interest in history, music, and science, he has told stories since he was little. Goodbye for Now was his debut novel, which he started as part of his MA in Writing from Liverpool John Moores University, graduating in 2015. Michael has also writen for Black Library and other tie-in fiction publishers. He gained his PhD in Creative Writing in 2014. www.michaelhollows.com
His new novel The Violinist's Secret has just been published by HarperCollins worldwide!
His new novel The Violinist's Secret has just been published by HarperCollins worldwide!
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 20, 2025
I’d previously enjoyed The German Nurse and The German Messenger, so I was looking forward to another book by this author.
Known for his stellar historical fiction research, author M.J. Hollows returns to World War Two Germany and centers his story in Hamburg at the university. I enjoyed the exploration and eye-opening realization of the capabilities of oppressive governments.
Charlotte Weber is pulled into the secret world of Nazi spies when her friend dies under rather suspicious circumstances. Rather than fight against the powerful force, she pivots to see if she can unearth secrets leading to her friend’s death. As you can imagine, in the Nazi’s inner circle she sees things that outrage her and it drives her to protect those she cares for at all costs.
I was gifted this copy by HQ Digital and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Known for his stellar historical fiction research, author M.J. Hollows returns to World War Two Germany and centers his story in Hamburg at the university. I enjoyed the exploration and eye-opening realization of the capabilities of oppressive governments.
Charlotte Weber is pulled into the secret world of Nazi spies when her friend dies under rather suspicious circumstances. Rather than fight against the powerful force, she pivots to see if she can unearth secrets leading to her friend’s death. As you can imagine, in the Nazi’s inner circle she sees things that outrage her and it drives her to protect those she cares for at all costs.
I was gifted this copy by HQ Digital and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
December 25, 2024
My thanks to Net Galley, HQ, and the personal invitation I received to review this excellent book.
What happened to Greta the musician? Was it suicide or was it murder? That's what her friend and fellow musician Charlotte Weber tends to find out when she is mistaken for Greta and to come work for the Reich while working for the other side.
Excellent book. Nice to see a strong woman character like Charlotte wanting to pursue a degree. Highly recommend this book.
What happened to Greta the musician? Was it suicide or was it murder? That's what her friend and fellow musician Charlotte Weber tends to find out when she is mistaken for Greta and to come work for the Reich while working for the other side.
Excellent book. Nice to see a strong woman character like Charlotte wanting to pursue a degree. Highly recommend this book.
February 7, 2025
This new novel by MJ Hollows is another good read.
It follows the story of Charlotte ,a dual national student living in Germany when the war broke out. She ends up working as a spy for the Germans but then realises they have all been lied to and turns to the British to spy for them.
It's a good read with a real twist at the end .
Recommend this read
It follows the story of Charlotte ,a dual national student living in Germany when the war broke out. She ends up working as a spy for the Germans but then realises they have all been lied to and turns to the British to spy for them.
It's a good read with a real twist at the end .
Recommend this read
May 26, 2025
really enjoyed this - the ending felt a little rushed to me though.
August 2, 2025
A story set at the very beginning of World War II in Hamburg, Germany, The Violinist’s Secret captured the city setting in great detail, from the cafes to the university, set against the fear growing and unease that grew even for Germans as the days progressed closer to 1939 and through to 1943. The connection between music and warfare was explored, from boosting morale and providing entertainment to distract from the evils of war, as a protest response, and a reflection on the human experience of conflict. Charlotte, the protagonist was a violinist, and was caught up in the mess of war, and her love of music.
I was a little confused about Charlotte. She seemed to live a very sheltered life, with her boyfriend Kurt trying to marry her so she could be protected if he was called to war. She was also studying at Hamburg University, and seemed a little oblivious at the possibilities of lecturers and friends being involved in and against the war movement in Germany. Her friendship with Greta was almost fleeting; they had not known each other long, and no one seemed to have a good word about her, yet Charlotte pursued the truth about her death. Was this story more about how blind she was to the horrific advances of war in Germany, or her unfolding role as a spy for everyone? It was in the last third of this book where things started to make much more sense about Charlotte's hatred for the regime as well as her role that she was playing to try and have an impact on ending the wall as well as finding out about why Greta really died.
I would have loved to see more in the story about how Charlotte used her orchestra membership status to do the bidding of the Germans and infiltrate their own plans, and the whole premise of carrying a violin case would have been perfect to exploit further. Thank you to #harpercollins for the #gifted copy.
I was a little confused about Charlotte. She seemed to live a very sheltered life, with her boyfriend Kurt trying to marry her so she could be protected if he was called to war. She was also studying at Hamburg University, and seemed a little oblivious at the possibilities of lecturers and friends being involved in and against the war movement in Germany. Her friendship with Greta was almost fleeting; they had not known each other long, and no one seemed to have a good word about her, yet Charlotte pursued the truth about her death. Was this story more about how blind she was to the horrific advances of war in Germany, or her unfolding role as a spy for everyone? It was in the last third of this book where things started to make much more sense about Charlotte's hatred for the regime as well as her role that she was playing to try and have an impact on ending the wall as well as finding out about why Greta really died.
I would have loved to see more in the story about how Charlotte used her orchestra membership status to do the bidding of the Germans and infiltrate their own plans, and the whole premise of carrying a violin case would have been perfect to exploit further. Thank you to #harpercollins for the #gifted copy.
August 11, 2025
Charlotte Weber is an accomplished violin player who attends Hamburg University as WW2 is in full swing. Originally from Sweden, she hides her roots but misses home, especially her father.
Her circle of friends share a spectrum of feelings about the rise of the Reich and the Nazis; most want to 'make Germany great again' (sound familiar?). Some have secrets of their own which would put them all in danger if they were discovered. Charlotte relies on her childhood friend and sweetheart Kurt, but when he is called up to fight she finds herself drawn towards on of the lecturers at the university.
When Charlotte finds her new friend, Greta, with whom she has played and practised violin, dead in her apartment she is horrified and convinced that it is not a suicide. Meanwhile, she is recruited as a spy by the Gestapo who mistake her for Greta. Can she successfully play both parts as she tries to track down a murderer, carry messages but sabotage the regime that is closing in on her friends and her chosen country?
This sounded like a promising novel but I never really bought into it. Charlotte didn't seem that bright to me and the whole thing was unconvincing despite clearly being well researched. I stumbled on the frequent use of the phrase, 'Even still' rather than 'Even so'. Pedantic, perhaps, but it broke the flow of narrative far too often for me, while repetition suggested that the manuscript had been left and come back to without fully remembering where things were up to, which was frustrating. Consequently, it took me longer to read than other novels of this length. All rather disappointing with a very hurried ending.
Her circle of friends share a spectrum of feelings about the rise of the Reich and the Nazis; most want to 'make Germany great again' (sound familiar?). Some have secrets of their own which would put them all in danger if they were discovered. Charlotte relies on her childhood friend and sweetheart Kurt, but when he is called up to fight she finds herself drawn towards on of the lecturers at the university.
When Charlotte finds her new friend, Greta, with whom she has played and practised violin, dead in her apartment she is horrified and convinced that it is not a suicide. Meanwhile, she is recruited as a spy by the Gestapo who mistake her for Greta. Can she successfully play both parts as she tries to track down a murderer, carry messages but sabotage the regime that is closing in on her friends and her chosen country?
This sounded like a promising novel but I never really bought into it. Charlotte didn't seem that bright to me and the whole thing was unconvincing despite clearly being well researched. I stumbled on the frequent use of the phrase, 'Even still' rather than 'Even so'. Pedantic, perhaps, but it broke the flow of narrative far too often for me, while repetition suggested that the manuscript had been left and come back to without fully remembering where things were up to, which was frustrating. Consequently, it took me longer to read than other novels of this length. All rather disappointing with a very hurried ending.
January 25, 2025
I found myself transported to World War 2 Hamburg with the heroine of the story, German born Charlotte Weber, who is of Swedish-Prussian descent. A university philosophy student, Charlotte through her music finds release from the worries of the war and the problematic feelings she has as she tries to navigate it.
The smell of bomb raids, the tragedy of the Nazi regime, the grief, the confusion, the terror and constant fear of 'being on an anti-Nazi list' with the added touch of romance blend together to make this a poignant, thought provoking read.
Charlotte's character as a young woman hopeful of a life beyond the expectations of being a wife and mother, is relentless in her quest to unravel the complexities of a war and a regime which she increasingly disagrees with. The murder of her friend leads her to lead a double life which troubles her and this beautifully plotted story narrates Charlotte's journey, mistakes, hopes and fears beautifully leading to a climatic ending I didn't see coming.
Absolutely loved this and devoured it over 2 sittings.
The smell of bomb raids, the tragedy of the Nazi regime, the grief, the confusion, the terror and constant fear of 'being on an anti-Nazi list' with the added touch of romance blend together to make this a poignant, thought provoking read.
Charlotte's character as a young woman hopeful of a life beyond the expectations of being a wife and mother, is relentless in her quest to unravel the complexities of a war and a regime which she increasingly disagrees with. The murder of her friend leads her to lead a double life which troubles her and this beautifully plotted story narrates Charlotte's journey, mistakes, hopes and fears beautifully leading to a climatic ending I didn't see coming.
Absolutely loved this and devoured it over 2 sittings.
December 31, 2024
Great WW2 historical fiction giving a peak into a world most of us will never understand. Charlotte is living in hamburg before the war. She is lucky enough to be able to attend university. Making her interesting is her that she plays the violin.
She soon finds herself deep in the Abwher after her friend, Greta, is murdered. Although the police are saying it was a suicide. Charlotte knows better. It just doesn't make sense. The things she had to do had me on edge. As things get more complicated, I feared for her life and that of her friends.
The reader exeperiences the life of those under Nazi rule. The dicovery of truths keep the story very intriguing. The story is filled with drama as Charlotte does what she feels is right. Love how she proved better than those that thought they controlled her. The ending was very satisfying when justice is served.
She soon finds herself deep in the Abwher after her friend, Greta, is murdered. Although the police are saying it was a suicide. Charlotte knows better. It just doesn't make sense. The things she had to do had me on edge. As things get more complicated, I feared for her life and that of her friends.
The reader exeperiences the life of those under Nazi rule. The dicovery of truths keep the story very intriguing. The story is filled with drama as Charlotte does what she feels is right. Love how she proved better than those that thought they controlled her. The ending was very satisfying when justice is served.
July 9, 2025
Not my favourite book. It felt a bit disjointed. Didn't really get the ending....maybe a bit rushed. Having said that, I did read to the end and wanted to find out what happened.
Charlotte Weber is against the Nazi regime and what it stands for, but as she attends Hamburg University, she struggles to make sense of the war she finds herself a part of. Practising her violin for the university orchestra with her friend, Greta, gets her through the days, until Greta fails to meet her one day, and Charlotte goes to her friend’s apartment to find her body inside. The police declare it a suicide, but Charlotte knows it is murder.
Desperate to discover who killed her friend, but not knowing where to turn, Charlotte is approached by Nazi spies, who recruit her, believing she is Greta. Caught right in the middle of the regime’s web, Charlotte determines to use her position to subvert the regime from the inside, and find out the truth about Greta once and for all. As the war atrocities heighten, and she witnesses the brutality of the Gestapo, Charlotte begins to discover hidden truths of her closest circle of friends, all of whom have something to hide that would make them targets for the Nazis…
Charlotte Weber is against the Nazi regime and what it stands for, but as she attends Hamburg University, she struggles to make sense of the war she finds herself a part of. Practising her violin for the university orchestra with her friend, Greta, gets her through the days, until Greta fails to meet her one day, and Charlotte goes to her friend’s apartment to find her body inside. The police declare it a suicide, but Charlotte knows it is murder.
Desperate to discover who killed her friend, but not knowing where to turn, Charlotte is approached by Nazi spies, who recruit her, believing she is Greta. Caught right in the middle of the regime’s web, Charlotte determines to use her position to subvert the regime from the inside, and find out the truth about Greta once and for all. As the war atrocities heighten, and she witnesses the brutality of the Gestapo, Charlotte begins to discover hidden truths of her closest circle of friends, all of whom have something to hide that would make them targets for the Nazis…
January 2, 2025
My goodness what a fantastic book of intrigue and romance and certainly is a wonderful written story.
Charlotte lives with Hilda in Hamburg in which she is at the University. Her boyfriend Kurt who she has known since a he was a boy wants to marry her but she does not know how he feels about Germany if he agrees with what is happening. Charlotte makes friends with Greta who she finds dead, she does not believe she killed herself will she find out who did it. Charlotte gets recruited by the Nazi spies to help them.
I really liked the book it was interesting to read this book it kept you guessing and wondering if anyone else would die. The book ebbed and flowed and the I liked all the cat and mouse games that were played to try and evade the Nazi’s.
Would recommend the book.
Charlotte lives with Hilda in Hamburg in which she is at the University. Her boyfriend Kurt who she has known since a he was a boy wants to marry her but she does not know how he feels about Germany if he agrees with what is happening. Charlotte makes friends with Greta who she finds dead, she does not believe she killed herself will she find out who did it. Charlotte gets recruited by the Nazi spies to help them.
I really liked the book it was interesting to read this book it kept you guessing and wondering if anyone else would die. The book ebbed and flowed and the I liked all the cat and mouse games that were played to try and evade the Nazi’s.
Would recommend the book.
May 28, 2025
There are many things that I didn't like about the book and some bloopers I guess I would call them.
Greta listen to the stairs and they creaked as the man walked up. When Charlotte went back to her Greta apartment it was on the 1st floor because she could easily go in without people noticing or hearing here. Then later on when she went back to fulfill her plan she heard the same stair creaked as Greta did.
For a book about finding out about Greta and a Violinist's. It really didn't go into too much detail and took to long finding out about Great's murderer. The beginning she played her but then it faded.
I just think it was meshed together and nothing really jelled together for me.
Greta listen to the stairs and they creaked as the man walked up. When Charlotte went back to her Greta apartment it was on the 1st floor because she could easily go in without people noticing or hearing here. Then later on when she went back to fulfill her plan she heard the same stair creaked as Greta did.
For a book about finding out about Greta and a Violinist's. It really didn't go into too much detail and took to long finding out about Great's murderer. The beginning she played her but then it faded.
I just think it was meshed together and nothing really jelled together for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2025
DNF, I guess this writing style is not for me, I don’t like the stunted sentences, lacking flow. The front cover while beautiful is not very realistic… the woman in heels looking like she’s about to fall down the spiral stairs. I feel like it could be an intentionally deceptive choice to list the author on the cover as M. J. - female readers may guess this stands for Mary Jane or some other female name, as I did, only to start reading and see that this is a male author by the name of Michael or Mike. If he is known as Michael and Mike on his website and socials then it does seem to me to be intentionally deceptive to be calling himself M. J. on this particular book to appeal to a female audience. I don’t mind who it’s written by, male or otherwise, but I can do without the deception.
May 15, 2025
A tale of life in Hamburg during WWII, the suffering the food , the persecution of those who did not “fit in” with the Nazi plan to have a pure Aryan population
The book starts off very slowly for almost 100 pages before getting interesting, then moves very fast and complicated for a couple of years in the life of the main protagonist. The much anticipated finale goes so fast the an awful lot of detail is omitted in a rush to get it finished. Quite a lot of typos and miscellaneous errors in the text.
The book starts off very slowly for almost 100 pages before getting interesting, then moves very fast and complicated for a couple of years in the life of the main protagonist. The much anticipated finale goes so fast the an awful lot of detail is omitted in a rush to get it finished. Quite a lot of typos and miscellaneous errors in the text.
May 26, 2025
This didn’t make sense to me - Charlotte risks her life and her relationship with her longtime boyfriend and her friends to work for the Nazi’s in order to find out what happened to a woman she met just a few times? Maybe I missed another reason but 🤷♀️. I’m only halfway through so perhaps another reason will crop up.
100 pages left but I’m finished.
100 pages left but I’m finished.
March 21, 2025
The difficulty is in seeing the truth
Surviving the oppression of the Reich wss extremely difficult often requiring cooperation in ways unimaginable beforehand. The object was simply to come out the other side if you could.
Surviving the oppression of the Reich wss extremely difficult often requiring cooperation in ways unimaginable beforehand. The object was simply to come out the other side if you could.
July 24, 2025
Trying to write a review on the paperback version and it keeps reverting to the kindle edition. Not sure why it says not yet published (expected Nov 2025) as I've just finished a copy picked up at my local library. It was an interesting story but I'm not led to read anymore by this author.
July 30, 2025
I'm almost done and while I enjoy the concept, the character of Charlotte is so benign and frankly a bit dim. Considering she is in her early 20s and had 'training', her reactions and decision making us that of a young teen.
March 8, 2025
Really enjoyed this
December 5, 2025
One of several on a trending theme of one woman's efforts in the war. good enough story though.
January 26, 2026
This was ok.
Many errors found in the book.
Book from Library and previous reader penned in corrections
Many errors found in the book.
Book from Library and previous reader penned in corrections
December 23, 2025
3.5
I did find the ending to be quite rushed and some moments were a bit slow to have it all be built up in the last couple pages. However it was still a good read that I picked up and finished the same day which I hadn’t planned.
I did find the ending to be quite rushed and some moments were a bit slow to have it all be built up in the last couple pages. However it was still a good read that I picked up and finished the same day which I hadn’t planned.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews