Eva Schmidt

by Jill Morningstar

BASTARD. A JEW . . .

With these three words, Eva Schmidt is abandoned to the arms of Bertha Pappenheim, the director of an orphanage for Jewish girls in Frankfurt. It is 1913 and Frau Pappenheim raises Eva among her ‘spiritual daughters.’ Despite being highly educated, Eva can’t escape the shame of her birth. At 17, she trades the orphanage’s shelter for the dream of freedom in Weimar Berlin.

When Hitler and his Nazi brownshirts rise to power, Eva is working as a dive bar fortune teller and seamstress. Her Jewish past is her most fiercely protected secret. She is in love with Thad Cartwright, an ambitious American spy, who introduces her to Berlin’s West End, a place Eva has only dreamed about and to which she struggles to belong.

After a chance encounter at the bar, Magda Goebbels, wife of Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels, hires Eva as her spiritual advisor. Between Magda’s charisma and the persistent courtship of Hans Lorenz, Joseph’s top aide, Eva is lured deep into elite Nazi circles. Thad presses Eva to spy on ‘her Nazis,’ and her double life quickly turns into a treacherous maze built on lies, guilt and fear. Ultimately, Eva is forced to confront her hidden past and risk everything she has to save her life.

Eva Schmidt is an important and magnificent novel. Eva is a fabulous protagonist. I found myself worrying about her in the middle of the night. I kept telling myself to stop because she’s a character in a novel, but for me, she is real.

–Elaine Petrocelli, President, Book Passage

406 pages, Paperback

Published September 17, 2024

Reviews

[Mary Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED the structure, the style, the story. This book rapidly became a gift to open and reopen at the beginning and end of the day. Like any treasured gift, it was really hard to put down. The writing is engaging, vivid, and substantive. It's now my 'go-to' gift for friends.

[Nick Scharlatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never read historical fiction, so turned the first page with trepidation. Wow, was I in for a treat! I was captivated by the characters from the get-go. Morningstar completely transported me to the cafes of Berlin and the inner sanctums of Germany's political class. The story and the details and the character development got stronger as the book went on. I smirked to myself about 3/4 of the way through the book that I wouldn't be doing much of anything else until I saw how the story concluded. I devoured it in two consecutive plane rides. Can't recommend it highly enough. Kudos and thank you.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Anyone who knows me knows that I take my goodreads very, very seriously. I wouldn't dare to disgrace it with flattery. So, with that in mind, everything I say now it completely honest and from the heart. This book was fantastic. Fucking spectacular. It is so exciting when a book reaches out from the pages, grabs you head first, and pulls you into the words, and this book did exactly that. I would get so invested in this book that I would forget completely where I was, what time it was, and who I was. And when I finally came back up for air, I would immediately dive back in. The characters in this book were incredibly written. They were so human, and I loved them, and I hated them. I don't think I could have imagined just how much this book was going to affect me, but wow. Jill Morningstar, you are an artist.

[Alison L · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this for book group, and it was a thought-provoking book. The characters were so well developed (which happened over the entirety of the book) and the technique of changing narrator voice was very effective. The author seems to have done quite a bit of research about the Weimer period in Germany which provides a great deal of background for the story. As the story unwinds, the tension increases although the main character, Eva, spends the entire book trying to conceal her secret while relaying any "secrets" she might overhear in her interactions with Joseph and Magda Goebbles to Thad. One scene in the book was particularly striking which was when a brownshirt tries to give Eva a flyer on "How To Spot a Jew". This is just one example of the underlying tension throughout the story. I highly recommend this book which is so well-written.

[Alastair Fitzpayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t recommend this book more highly. The story of Eva Schmidt and her double-life is compelling and page-turning. The writing and historical research is superb. The descriptions of Berlin in the 1930s and the rise of the Nazi Party is folded In brilliantly to the plot of the book which features characters that are unforgettable and a grinding tension around Eva and how she navigates being an orphan and a Jew in a city where those facts put her at increasing risk. Hopefully, someone turns this into a movie!!!

[Heather Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant on every level! From the weaving of historical characters and details to the authentic voice of our protagonist, Morningstar is a masterful storyteller. Suspenseful and heart-rending, the parallels of early 1930’s Berlin and Hitler’s rise to power with today’s political landscape are uncanny. The intimate way the author weaves together the threads of Eva’s story from two unique perspectives gives the reader an unsettling reply to, “why didn’t more people do something to stop the Reich?” Highly recommend- it sparked an ongoing conversation in our book club!

[Debbie O'Brien Krackeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This exceptionally well written, fascinating historical drama had me transfixed from the first page. Each character is well-drawn out and richly nuanced. The author's narrative descriptions made Berlin in the early 30s come alive - and the parallels to the events of the day are chilling. I can't wait for her next book!

[David Ludmar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tore through Eva Schmidt this week. Once I got going, it was hard to put down this impressively written story about a world of which I was wholly unfamiliar. It's lessons are frighteningly relevant to our current world, and the prose kept me hooked. Grateful there was an an epilogue... but I still wish there was more, to keep reading. Highly recommend.

[Eric Kessler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect summer read. Flawless writing and character development. The unexpected plot twists kept me on my toes and engaged in the book. And follow the author on the Gram…she posts insightful book commentary!

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling page-turner, unique plot, and haunting depiction of 1930’s Germany. Highly recommend!!

[Miles Huh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner with a satisfying ending. It was really difficult to put down for extended periods of time and I blame having to move into college for it taking me more than a few days to finish.

[Leah Fitzpayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed my life. So well written- couldn’t put it down. An especially important read in today’s climate. Excellent and well worth the commitment.

[Richard MORNINGSTAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant work of historical fiction. Terrific character development. Should not be missed!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The sentences are beautifully crafted, strong characters, and I learned so much history. I’ve already recommended it to a number of friends.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exceptional book. It’s a page turner, a survival story, a thriller, a spy story, and an historical novel. It’s set between the wars in Germany. I loved the accuracy of the history. I didn’t see the twists & turns coming. I found myself wanting to get home to keep reading the novel. It’s amazing. Read it! Jill Morningstar is a rising star.