The Secret Midwife of Berlin

by Suzanne Fortin

Inspired by true events across Europe, The Secret Midwife of Berlin is a moving, powerful and gripping WWII story of one woman's immense courage, bravery and sacrifice in the face of fear and tragedy, and whose determination to hold on to hope in a world ripped apart by war proves that love can prevail even in the darkest of days. Perfect for fans of Soraya M. Lane, Mandy Robotham and Anna Stuart.

**Available to pre-order now!**

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II

384 pages, Paperback

Published April 28, 2026

Reviews

[Georgina · Rating 4 out of 5]

'I'm scared,' confessed Clara. I'm afraid of what's coming.'
'
So am I.' His arms tightened around her. 'But Clara... I'm more afraid of who we'd become if we did nothing.'

That quote completely captures the heart of The Midwife of Berlin for me — the fear, the love, and the need to help others more than yourself.

I’m a huge fan of WW2 fiction and I’ve read a lot in this genre, but this was my first time reading anything by this author, but it definitely won’t be my last! I was completely drawn into Clara’s story from the start - I’ve never stopped to think how British nationals living abroad would have felt during the war, so to me this was a very unique read as it was a perspective I’ve not experienced before.

I loved the exploration of that impossible choice between protecting yourself and the people you love, or risking everything to stand up for what’s right. It felt especially timely given everything happening in the world right now — that question of “who do we become if we do nothing?” really hit home.

If I had one small criticism, it would be that the ending felt a little rushed and unemotional compared to the rest of the book - but honestly, that’s a minor issue for me in what was otherwise such a powerful and moving read.

*** Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review ***

[Trudy Dowling · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Midwife of Berlin was a magnificent World War Two historical fiction read. The story definitely got me thinking about foreigners that were married to German citizens before and during the war. Any historical fiction that gets me thinks is always appreciated but this book has gone above and beyond. Kudos to the author for writing such a compelling addictive story.

Clara is a British subject working as a midwife in Berlin. She is married to Frederick, a German citizen working for the government. Their life has been happy but it is about to change. Hitler is in charge. Clara is about to become persona non grata. Her mother-in-law will break ties. She will loose her job, but through it all her husband's love will not diminish. If you need an example of true devotion, you can't go wrong with this story.

Clara witnessed the cruelty toward the Jewish people first hand when a woman begging for help at the hospital is turned away, forced to leave. Even knowing the risks, Clara cannot standby. Clara won't let the injustice stand. She is soon risking everything to deliver the next Jewish generation. The dangers had me jumping. The suffering brought me to tears. Her bravery is an inspiration and a reminder that we can all do something to better the world. She soon finds herself deeper within the resistance warning of upcoming removals the story gets more interesting, more intense.

She is frequently in danger, but it would have been so much worse if it hadn't been for her husband. SWOON!!!! Frederick may be in the government but he is not a Nazi. He loves his country. He loves his wife with everything he has. She would not have been able to do what she did without him.

I loved how I didn't know what to expect while reading the story. I enjoyed how kind people could be even during the worst of times. I didn't expect a romance story, but I got a beautiful love story that kept me going when the story got extremely intense. Thank you Suzanne Fortin for writing a story I don't want to forget.

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berlin, 1939. Seven years ago Clara Hartwell left England to work in Berlin as a midwife, here she meets Captain Friedrich Bergmann, and they fall in love and marry. Times have changed, her mother-in-law has started cancelling their catch-ups, her fellow nurses at the hospital are hostile towards her and she’s sacked. The same day a pregnant Jewish woman is turned away and not given any medical assistance and this makes Clara mad, and she can’t stand by and watch women and babies be denied treatment and secretly visits the lady at her home.

The only thing that hasn’t altered is the love between Clara and Friedrich, she classed as an enemy of the state and has to report once a week to the police station. Clara finds work in a private clinic, in the afternoons she does her rounds and becomes involved in the resistance. Pregnant Jewish women and ones who have recently given birth start disappearing, and Clara will do everything she can to stop this, but it’s very dangerous and she’s putting herself and Friedrich at risk and all she needs it one person to think she’s the Angel of Life and report her.

I received a copy of The Secret Midwife of Berlin from Embla Books and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. I can’t believe it had been almost ten years since I read The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger by Suzanne Fortin and she continues to write books that make you think what you would do if you were in the main characters position and I’m not sure if I could have been as brave as Clara.

A narrative about being stuck in a country that once was home and now isn’t, taking huge risks and selflessness, courage and sacrifice, and innocent women and children shouldn’t suffer due to a war and four and a half stars from me.

I feel like this could be the first novel in a potential series, as Clara has two younger sisters Rose and Evie and I would like to know what happens to them and at the time mail is stopped between England and Germany.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts in Berlin in 1939 during the war.

Clara is married to a German officer, Friedrich, and they have been together for a few years.  As the war worsens pregnant Jews are turned away from the German hospitals and told they are not welcome and to find somewhere else to go. Clara finds this action by the hospital hard to understand as she works there as a midwife.  Next thing she knows just because she is English suddenly her services are no longer at the local hospital.

Thankfully Friedrich finds her a job at another hospital who don't mind that she is English and she settles in.

Clara finds that she can't turn a blind eye to the Jewish families in need of a midwife and finds herself working for the resistance helping these women in their hour of need. Slowly word spreads about "The Angel of Light" what the Jews have come to call her and the Germans want to find her and put a stop to it.

This book draws you in from the first page and you really feel connected to the characters.

I am looking forward to reading more books by this author!

Thank you to Embla Books, NetGalley and Suzanne Fortin for the eARC of this book which I received for free in exchange for my review.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this book because I enjoy both the topics of WWII and midwifery.
I really liked the relationship between the main character and her husband. She was British born and married to a German officer. So being based Germany right before the start of WWII, there was a lot that could go wrong in that marriage. I definitely always caught myself thinking when she would mention food or coffee that not only did this start at the beginning of the war, but that being married to an officer gave them some perks.
While being in the heartbreak of war and racism, I thought this book had a slightly more uplifting feel due to the fact that a majority of the pregnant women that she helped had successful deliveries. At times I was expecting less, especially given that she had to do without facilities or equipment sometimes. There was definitely a lot of high stress moments, fear and death in this book though too.
I was hoping this was based on a real person, but I didn't see that mentioned anywhere and didn't find her name when doing a search for WWII midwife. I really hope there were midwifes and nurses who chose to help others despite German restrictions not to aid Jews.
I would definitely recommend this read if you enjoy WWII historical fiction. I thought it was appropriate for mature teen or older.
Cautionary content: medical themes, war themes, racial themes, birthing, miscarriages, rape, a couple instances of swearing, marital intimacy.
I received a complimentary e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was captivated by this historical novel about a British woman, Clara, who lives and works in Berlin in 1939. Clara is married to a German soldier, Frederick, and they have a perfect, love-filled life until the tide of Nazi horror reaches into their lives. Clara works as a midwife at the best hospital in Berlin, the Charité, and she loves her work. When someone asks her to help a Jewish woman who is rejected for treatment, Clara's life changes drastically and dramatically. Clara is generally shunned as a British national, and as her life changes, the story becomes urgent, realistic, and often surprising.

I admire Suzanne Fortin's work in illuminating women's contributions in historical fiction. We need much more of this type of literature. I highly recommend this new novel to everyone!

Thank you to Embla Books, via NetGalley, for this eARC. The book will be published on April 28, 2026.

[Fiction Fellowship · Rating 4 out of 5]

British midwife Clara has arrived in Berlin to work at a prestigious hospital. She meets a captain and they marry the following year. Seven years later, Germany is about to attack Poland and the country is limiting Jews on where they can receive medical care. Clara has a determination to secretly help pregnant Jewish women who aren’t able to seek medical care in hospitals and soon finds herself in danger. She is now the enemy and must fight for survival while still vowing to help those in need.

This book is inspired by true events across Europe. These midwives had such immense courage to vow to help the pregnant women in times of danger. I was really drawn into Clara’s story with how people hated her because she was a foreigner married to a German and yet she still sacrificed everything to help pregnant women who needed her. She wasn’t afraid of the consequences. This was my first book by Suzanne Fortin and I loved it. I definitely will be reading her others.

[ROSEMARY DE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clara, British midwife, marries Friedrich, a German and they have a good life in Berlin, until Clara loses her job at the hospital she works at, due to her being British. She also has to present herself at the police station every Thursday. Clara is a caring and good midwife, who before she got fired, saw how they refused to treat a Jewish pregnant woman, she steals the paper that reflects her name and address and secretly goes to her and offers her help. Other Jews learn about this and she becomes known as the Angel of Life and wanted by the Gestapo. She endangers her life in many ways to save them. Her husband and her hated what Hitler was doing and the uncaring attitude of the German people.
This story is excellent with lots of suspenseful and nerve wracking moments. I highly recommend it.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Midwife of Berlin was an incredible and well-written novel that I found hard to put down. I was completely invested in the main characters, Clara and her husband Frederick, a German officer, and their mission to help save lives during WWII-era Germany.

Suzanne Fortin did an amazing job portraying the emotions of this time period. The tension, heartbreak, and courage demonstrated throughout the story made it a moving read.

My only real complaint is that I wanted to know what happened to certain characters at the end. However, that curiosity did not take away from my rating of this book. I highly recommend that you read this novel when it is released! 📚

Thank you @netgalley & @emblabooks for this Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Heather Howarth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story, based on real events, of a couple - she British and a midwife and he a German, working in logistics - who work together to support the local Jewish community. She helps pregnant mothers denied medical help and he provides the intelligence to allow them to be moved before their relocation orders arrive.

Clara is forced to leave her post as a midwife in the local public hospital is taken on by a local private hospital and allowed to undertake home visits. She is co-opted by the local resistance to find the lists of Jewish women to be relocated at the home of one of her home visits. She builds a friendship with this lady which leaves her conflicted.

The couple work together until Clara is exposed and has to flee back to Britain. Her escape is facilitated by the husband and her sister who is working undercover in France.

A story of incredible bravery and sacrifice.

[Katherine Tricker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carla is a British born midwife living in Berlin with her German Officer husband when war is declared. Her home of seven years becomes a completely different place, and her own values and ethics mean she cannot turn away from the Jewish mothers and babies that are being turned away from medical centres.

I spent almost the entirety of this book feeling like I was holding my breath with each and every risk that was taken by Carla and those that were a part of it all.

This is a great reminder of those who never lost their humanity and risked their own lives to save thousands of others.

The only thing missing for me was something I love with historical fiction, and that was any historical notes or references at the end of the book that may have been used to inspire the story.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fantastic and I stayed up late too many nights reading it, unable to put it down until I was falling asleep mid word! Clara is a British woman who is living in Berlin in 1940, and she was such an interesting person to read about because I’d never read about a character who was a foreign “enemy” before. Despite her having lived there for seven years and being married to a German officer and holding an esteemed profession, she is treated very poorly.

I didn’t like that she essentially got blackmailed into working for the resistance though, that didn’t paint the other resistance characters into a very good light. And it was sad that her friendship with Ursula had to be a casualty of the times as well.

I’d definitely read more from this author!

[Jessica Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secret Midwife of Berlin by Suzanne Fortin was a really good and emotional read. This story pulled me in with its powerful look at courage and compassion during such a difficult time.

I especially loved Clara and the sacrifices she made to help mothers and babies—her strength and selflessness really stood out. And Friedrich! Their marriage was so beautiful to read about. Even in the middle of fear and uncertainty, their love and support for each other never wavered, which added such a heartfelt layer to the story.

This was a touching and meaningful read that I really enjoyed.

[Fran Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secret Midwife of Berlin by Suzanne Fortin is a gripping WWII historical fiction novel about Clara, a British midwife married to a German officer who risks everything to help Jewish families in Berlin

I really enjoyed this story. I hope she continues this as a series so I can hear about her other two sisters,

I got very attached to Clara and her patients.

Highly recommend

Thank you to @netgalley , @sue_fortin_author , and @emblabooks for the gifted ebook.

This was published April 28, 2026.

[Jessie Hass · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I wanted a quick WWII read that I could escape into. The Secret Midwife of Berlin was exactly was I was looking for. I appreciated the setting of Berlin in the early years of the war. While the novel didn't necessarily stand above the works in it's genre, I would come back to finish the series. I would recommend this as a beach read or for anyone whose wheelhouse includes midwives or WWII fiction.

[Kate McCullough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a compelling and moving story about a British midwife working in Berlin under Nazi rule. I was quickly drawn into Clara’s world and found myself thinking about the book throughout the day, even when I wasn’t reading it. It was at times tense, emotional, and inspiring. I would highly recommend this book to fans of WWII historical fiction.

[Lisa A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will stay with you long after you turn the last page. Informative and emotional, this book was so hard to put down. I can't recommend this book enough!

Starting in 1939 Berlin, this story is inspired by true events and is a great example of how previously accepted foreigners were shunned as the war progressed, the mistrust and the risk of staying in a country that now considers them an enemy. Clara is an English midwife living in Berlin with her German husband, Captain Friedrich Bergmann. Clara can't stand by and ignore the Jewish women who need her help, and she risks everything to help save as many women and babies as she can. A moving story of courage in the face of adversity, unlikely friendships, betrayal and sacrifice. I was on the edge of my seat at times and felt as if I was right there with the characters. Clara's relationship with her husband is all that one could hope for, sweet, tender and supportive, they have such a beautiful connection. I hope this is the first book in a series. Clara's story is wrapped up nicely, but I'd love to read about her sisters and their experiences.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.

[kathy McNulty]

Wonderfully written story of love and true sacrifice in WWII. Suzanne knows how to write a compelling story with character development that leaves you saddened, worried.anxious, aghast and happy all in the same story. We know in our soul that this could easily have been a true story in that most tragic time period in our world history.
I have read many such books with female heroines of WWII, but this is easily one of the best.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was such a pleasure to read about Clara, Fredreich, and all the others this story includes. Reading about what Clara did for so many pregnant women and babies was touching and heartbreaking. She was a strong, caring woman who put so many others first. I was happy to read how things turned out for her although it was terribly sad to read about the losses of so many others.

[Sarah Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel tells us the story of Clara a British midwife who is married to a German officer and Living in Berlin as wall breaks out. She’s working in a maternity hospital and when a Jewish woman arrives one day in labour but it turned away because of religion Clara feels that she cannot ignore this and becomes involved in providing underground midwifery Care to Jewish women
It’s a familiar story this sadly but somehow all the more horrific because of it . I have a background in Hospital medicine and particularly the nematology and I found the descriptions of childbirth and the complications of pregnancy and childbirth were accurate and well described.
The image early on on the book of a Jewish family being forcibly “relocated “ is utterly chilling
I really started to care for the characters. The romance was beautiful. I was fully invested in the outcome of the story
The author has a clear flowing very easy to read writing style. This is a non-taxing enjoyable read.

This author has written a number of other novels. I have not read any of them.
I read a copy of the novel on NetGalley UK in return for an honest review. The book is published in the UK on the 28th of April 2026 by Embla books
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, StoryGraph, and my book blog bionicSarahSbooks.wordpress.com.It will also appear on Amazon and Waterstones online.

[Carole Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I struggled to put this novel down. Suzanne’s style of writing is very descriptive, mesmerising and captivating.

The share determination of this midwife to save life’s at her own risk, the emotional impact was the driver to survive and be loved by others. Sacrifices were made along the way.

Excellent read

Thank you Suzanne

[Angelynn23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible and beautiful historical fiction based on a true story. This book pulled me through Clara’s courage and compassion during the war. It was just a great read that also breaks your heart into pieces. With so much thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher Embla Books for the ARC.

[Sherralynne Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible story

I really loved this incredible story. Beautifully written and captivating from beginning to end.

Highly recommended.

Thanks Suzanne, from a New Zealand fan

[Jo Fouracre · Rating 5 out of 5]

heart wrenching

This book had me addicted from page one. I’ve not been able to put it down. It’s been full of suspense drama love and heartbreak. It’s absolutely left me so devastated. It was so good

[Leah Freedom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic (I think true) story about a British midwife who was married to a German when the war started.

It’s always so inspiring to see what people really did during this time, up against unbelievable cruelty and organization—and she and her husband were right in the eye of the storm in Berlin.

[Christine Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read but such an unlikely story. So far fetched tbh. Especially Ursula colluding wth her
Clara does escape but i doubt Freidreich could survive until Hitler plot in 44 as people would wonder where she had gone.
Anyway a good read for a weekend relax

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As WWII is starting, a midwife and her German officer husband are torn in the war. Well researched, loving characters. Again we are able to feel how the war treated innocent people. Highly recommend.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 ⭐️
Another fantastic book! Loved it and was very gripping, however didn’t completely like the ending even if it was realistic.

[Tamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Midwife Of Berlin by Suzanne Fortin is about a Midwife during WW2 secretly helping pregnant Jewish mothers who have been shunned from the hospitals. She faces danger the more she helps.
This was such an exciting and informative book I finished the book feeling inspired by the courage the characters had to stand up and help . I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys ww2 historical fiction, books about midwives or even a good story.