The Hotel Dancer

by Ellie Midwood

She checks the ties on her dancing shoes under the spotlight at the Germans’ favorite hotel. She moves automatically, her body remembering the steps, even though her mind is screaming at the danger she is in. The soldiers must never know she is Jewish. And that she is helping her fellow Jews escape…



Warsaw, 1943: Every night, Franceska dances at the most dangerous hotel in Poland. She knows which floorboards creak on the stage, which waiters are clumsy, and which officers like to be smiled at.

After her performance, one strap of her black silk dress sliding off her shoulder, she sips champagne with the terrifying SS commander who is determined to rid the streets of Jewish people. She charms him in the soft candlelight, hoping he might lead her to her missing sister. And she prays he misses the glances she exchanges with the man in the corner of the dining room, who is helping her smuggle Jewish people into the hotel and to safety.

The war has stolen so much from Franceska. She has almost nobody left in the world, and little to lose. But as she bewitches the soldiers with her dancing and flattery, extracting details that will help her in her quest, will she pay with the ultimate sacrifice? For as she fights the dark, she can no longer hide in the dark…

Fans of The Midwife of Auschwitz and The Orphan Train will fall in love with this heartbreakingly beautiful book about the terrible choices women needed to make to survive. The Hotel Dancer is an account of incredible bravery in the face of fear, inspired by a true story.

Genres: Historical Fiction

263 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 4, 2026

About the author

Ellie Midwood is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning historical fiction author, whose works have been translated into 20 languages. She owes her interest in the history of the Second World War to her grandfather, Junior Sergeant in the 2nd Guards Tank Army of the First Belorussian Front, who began telling her about his experiences on the frontline when she was a young girl. Growing up, her interest in history only deepened and transformed from reading about the war to writing about it. After obtaining her BA in Linguistics, Ellie decided to make writing her full-time career and began working on her first full-length historical novel, "The Girl from Berlin." Ellie is continuously enriching her library with new research material and feeds her passion for WWII and Holocaust history by collecting rare memorabilia and documents.

In her free time, Ellie is a health-obsessed yoga enthusiast, neat freak, adventurer, Nazi Germany history expert, polyglot, philosopher, a proud Jew, and a doggie mama. Ellie lives in New York with her husband and their three dogs.

Reviews

[Sharon]

4.5★

Review to follow.

[Sarah]

It was a good read and I would recommend. I read the digital advanced readers copy which I received for free and leave this review voluntarily. It took me longer to read than I expected but my life was busy. Franceska escapes the burning ghetto through the sewers but her sister was pulled up and away from her. She ran to her friend who harboured her in plain sight.
Lena and Franceska knew each other from happier times when they danced together. Now they reunite to dance at the Hotel Polski entertaining the German soldiers occupying Warsaw Poland.

After seeing a village square execution, Franceska wants to make a difference. And she has an idea which she knows will work. It involves other sympathizers and bribery.

In more present day a “writer” is interviewing the people who were left from those days to piece together what really happened since there are many rumours. It was a well woven tale.

[Kimberly]

*Spoiler Alert *

**Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley**

A fabulous, emotional, story that took place during World War II in Poland. This story has both dual timelines, POVs, and takes place in multiple cities around the world. This book brought out almost every feeling in me: anger, tears, betrayal, etc. I didn't know that the book was based on a true story, that made everything hit me even harder.

Warsaw, Poland 1943. Franceska Manheim-Rosenberg, aka Franceska Mann, aka Ewa Kowalska wanted two things: to find her sister Zofia and to be free. But she was Jewish, that was impossible at the time. She was a trained ballerina and she used that skill to provide food for herself and her sister, Zofia. She danced whenever and wherever she could. When she got a job at an officers club, she was terrified. Her best friend/roommate, Lena, got her a forged passport and she became Ewa. She was invisible until she found hope again. She then became more secretive in helping other Jews in hiding to help with food and money, eventually leading to getting passports. While dancing, she accidentally attracted the attention of a high ranking Gestapo official. With the help of three other hotel employees it was possible to get Jews out. With the help of her Gestapo friend, things got a little easier for her, food, money, and protection. She actually fell in love with him. That is, until someone betrays Franceska.

In 1973, a Writer, is trying to find out her origins. So she researches the paper trail of her birth certificate. The only way to get her questions answered, is by interviewing all the main players involved in the Hotel Polski Affair. As the Writer interviews each person, whether they were a friend of Ewa's, a Holocaust survivor, or a descendant of the Gestapo's that was alive back then, only pieces of their stories match up.

Will the Writer ever get the real truth?

A must read!!

**I received this ARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

[Camilla Liberatore]

The Hotel Dancer by Ellie Midwood is a deeply intense, emotional WWII historical novel that grabs you from the very first page, pulling you directly into a heartbreaking story where you feel right alongside the characters.

Set in Warsaw during the 1943 German occupation, protagonist Franceska Mann is a Jewish ballerina hiding under a false identity, Ewa Kowalska, inside the luxurious Hotel Polski—a high-society establishment frequented by the Gestapo and Nazi elite.

Performing nightly, Franceska uses her charm, elegance, and closeness to high-ranking SS commanders to gather vital intelligence and secretly fund forged travel documents to help fleeing Jews escape Holocaust atrocities, all while searching for her much loved missing sister, Zofia.

The storyline is driven by compelling character contrasts: a terrifying SS commander who pursues Franceska relentlessly, and her quiet co-conspirator Lena, who coordinates an underground escape network from the shadows. Together they provide forged documents to help save the lives of many fleeing Jewish people.

Furthermore, a 1974 dual timeline featuring an investigative writer piecing together the true facts behind Franceska and Hotel Polski adds historical depth, offering a brief breather from the story's relentless emotional tension.

Written with fast-paced suspense and detailed historical accuracy, this powerful story is an inspiring homage to human courage, risk, and compassion. It is ideal for fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and readers are drawn into dark, gripping wartime drama.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced reader copy and opportunity to read and review this emotional rollercoaster of a book. 5 Stars.

[Melissa * bookedwithmel]

I never pass up an Ellie Midwood book. I’m always fascinated by stories of how women survived German occupation. Franceska is one heck of a woman. She’s a Jewish woman surrounded by the worst of German commanders thanks to her job. She forms an alliance with an unlikely partner. Not only that, her fellows employees at the hotel are working the underground to get Jewish people to safety, and she doesn’t hesitate to join them.

I like seeing that there’s more to people than meets the eye. Sturmbannfuhrer Ritter is more than just the viscous man that others see. Franceska is more than just a dancer. Miriam is more than just a maid. Ellie makes it easy to connect with her characters.

This was technically dual timeline, but the 70’s timeline is minimal. The majority of this story was set in the early 40’s. I really wanted more of the 70’s timeline. I felt like the Writer POV could have been more developed. It was almost like it was unnecessary.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy of this book.

[Cathy]

Warsaw 1943. Every night Franceska dances at a hotel where the core audience are German officers. She is a talented dancer and gains attention from a certain officer, Ritter that her friend warns her against. But she doesn't listen.

This is a dual timeline novel as it also mentions other places in 1976 when 'a writer' interviews survivors of the Holocaust.

I found the story addictive, I wanted to know how each chapter unfolded as Franceska got deeper and deeper into the underworld trying to save herself. It certainly didn't help her that another German soldier thought she was his, so there's definitely an element of jealousy. This is briefly hinted at by the other dancers. Although it seems that Franceska is in a different league (being classically trained).

[Chantelle]

Such a gripping and emotional read. Franceska’s bravery and determination as she risks everything to help others escape made this such a tense story, especially knowing that one wrong move could cost her everything.

A powerful story of courage, sacrifice and hope during one of history’s darkest times. Definitely one that pulled at my heartstrings. 🥹❤️

[Aisha Faisal]

An unforgettable story of courage, sacrifice, and defiance in the darkest chapter of history.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with an advance review copy of The Hotel Dancer by Ellie Midwood. As always, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

There are historical fiction authors who tell stories, and then there are authors who transport you so completely into another time that you forget you're reading at all. Ellie Midwood has firmly established herself as one of those writers. Every novel she releases somehow surpasses the last, and The Hotel Dancer is no exception. It is a breathtaking, emotionally devastating, and ultimately inspiring story that deserves to stand alongside the very best World War II historical fiction.

Inspired by the remarkable true story of Franceska Mann, Midwood brings to life one of the Holocaust's lesser-known acts of resistance. Franceska is a gifted Jewish dancer whose beauty and talent become both her greatest strength and greatest danger. Working inside Warsaw's luxurious Hotel Polskia, a place offering false hope to desperate Jews promised safe passage out of Nazi-occupied Poland, she secretly risks everything by helping members of the resistance while desperately trying to save lives.

Alongside her is Miriam, her fiercely loyal friend whose unwavering faith in Franceska provides some of the novel's most emotional moments. We also meet Chava, a young new mother whose vulnerability represents the countless innocent lives caught in history's cruelest machinery. Opposing them are the chilling Nazi officers, particularly Schenck, whose manipulative intelligence makes every encounter feel like walking a tightrope. Every character, whether based on history or woven into the narrative, feels vividly real, making each victory, betrayal, and heartbreak land with incredible emotional weight.

I'll admit something before I begin reading. When I realised the novel followed a dual timeline, I hesitated. It's a storytelling style that doesn't always work for me because I often find myself becoming deeply invested in one storyline only to be pulled away. But Ellie Midwood completely changed my mind. Rather than interrupting the momentum, the contemporary timeline beautifully complements Franceska's story, uncovering long-buried truths and connecting past and present in a way that feels meaningful instead of forced. Every return to the modern day adds another emotional layer, making the overall story even richer.

From the very first chapter, Midwood immerses readers in occupied Warsaw. Her descriptions are astonishingly vivid without ever feeling excessive. She captures both unimaginable horror and extraordinary humanity, reminding us that even amid war, ordinary life continued in stolen moments of laughter, friendship, music, and hope. The contrast makes the tragedy even more heartbreaking.

The opening chapters immediately establish the terrifying uncertainty surrounding the Hotel Polski operation. Families cling to forged passports, believing they are finally escaping to safety, while Franceska's instincts tell her something is terribly wrong. The growing sense of dread is almost unbearable because readers understand the horrifying truth long before many of the characters do.

One sequence in particular completely took my breath away. Franceska's arrival at Auschwitz and the events inside the undressing room are some of the most powerful pages I have ever read in historical fiction. Knowing that the famous act of resistance where Franceska strikes an SS guard with the heel of her shoe before leading a revolt is rooted in history made those chapters even more unforgettable. Midwood writes the scene with extraordinary tension, courage, and heartbreaking humanity. It isn't simply an action sequence; it's a reclaiming of dignity in a place specifically designed to strip people of it. I found myself reading with tears in my eyes, my heart racing until the very last page of the chapter.

What makes Ellie Midwood stand out is her ability to balance meticulous historical research with compelling storytelling. The facts never overwhelm the narrative, and the fiction never diminishes the history. Instead, she seamlessly blends documented events with imagined conversations and relationships that make history feel immediate and deeply personal. Her extensive research is evident on every page, yet it never reads as a history lessonit reads like life unfolding before your eyes.

Franceska herself is an extraordinary protagonist. She is courageous without ever seeming fearless, compassionate without becoming naïve, and determined even when every ounce of hope has been stripped away. Her intelligence, resilience, and refusal to surrender make her impossible not to admire. Watching her use not only her courage but also her wit, performance, and humanity as weapons against unimaginable evil was one of the most inspiring character journeys I've read in a long time.

Emotionally, this novel is relentless. It explores survival, sacrifice, identity, friendship, love, resilience, and the extraordinary strength ordinary people can find when confronted with impossible choices. There are moments of unbearable sadness, but also moments of astonishing bravery that remind us why these stories continue to matter.

Ellie Midwood remains one of my favourite historical fiction authors because she consistently uncovers stories that deserve to be remembered. The Hotel Dancer isn't simply another World War II novel; it is a tribute to a remarkable woman whose courage refused to be erased by history. It's immersive, meticulously researched, emotionally powerful, and impossible to forget.

If you enjoy historical fiction that combines authentic history, unforgettable characters, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and deeply moving emotion, this is an absolute must-read.

My Final Verdict:
The Hotel Dancer is historical fiction at its absolute finest. Ellie Midwood once again proves why she is one of the strongest voices writing in this genre today. Beautifully researched, emotionally devastating, and profoundly inspiring. Highly recommended.

[Emma Crowley]

It’s been some time since I have read a book by Ellie Midwood and after a run of only mediocre historical fiction reads, I was looking for something that had a bit of meat to it with a good solid storyline, well developed characters, decent pacing and some twists and turns. That’s certainly what I got with The Hotel Dancer. Right from the prologue, I was gripped and it’s not often that I can say that. The tension and suspense from the opening pages remained throughout as the reader never knew what each turn of the page would bring. Danger, anxiety, suspicion, threats, hazards and risks all abound. The prologue sets us up nicely for what is to come. It takes place in Poland in October 1943. I won’t give away any details of it but the reader is left with numerous questions. Most pressing how did the characters get themselves into the situation that is presented and is there any hope that they can make their way out of it? To discover the answers we must make our way back in time to Warsaw earlier in 1943 and what follows is an incredible story based on a real life young dancer at the time whose acts of bravery only highlighted what tremendous sacrifices and daring acts so many people put themselves through during the war.

Franceska Mann (although she will go by the name Ewa throughout the book which is her new identity) has escaped the Warsaw ghetto following its liquidisation. She is traumatised by what she has witnessed but at the same time there is a hardness and steeliness to her persona that only grows the further she sinks into the world of the Nazi’s who have overtaken and rule her beloved city. Her time in the ghetto meant she saw horrific things and was forced into horrendous situations in order to just to survive. Her friend Lena, takes her in and offers refuge and sanctuary as Franceska tries to navigate life without her parents and beloved sister Zofia. As she is Jewish she has to remain in hiding but when soldiers come to Lena’s apartment a new Franceska is born with a new story and life which must be kept secret at all costs. Instead of hiding away and willing the time to pass until the war is hopefully over, Franceska jumps straight into the lion’s den and is employed at the Hotel Polski as a dancer. Prior to the war she was beginning to become well known as a ballerina and these talents will be put to good use.

The descriptions of the Hotel Polski were fantastic. I could just imagine it as the central social site where high ranking Nazi’s and soldiers of the Wehrmacht gathered nightly and indulged in all manner of things. Lena and Franceska perform there and thanks to the soldiers lead a fairly good life as they provide them with food and other necessities. But I always felt Franceska was playing an incredible risky game. For if her heritage was discovered it would have meant instant death. Yet as she dances under the spotlight she shows how astute and courageous she is as she watches every little movement and gathers as much information and detail as she can. For all Franceska wants is freedom and happiness and for life under oppression to come to an end .A simple dignified existence is what she craves and she will not lay down or be beaten in trying to achieve this. My heart was constantly in my mouth that with each new chapter she would be discovered but she played the game well although as the story developed I really felt that she was far too close for comfort and that surely the Germans could not fail to notice what was going on under their noses?

Franceska is a strong, brave and determined woman. She knows what is at stake but becomes adept at manipulating situations to her advantage. But isn’t every player in the game also doing the same? As the layers that enshroud the Hotel Polski are peeled back it becomes evident that there is far more going on than just entertaining soldiers and officials. A new web is exposed and one which Franceska wants to cling to. She becomes involved in helping those who have remained in hiding since the ghetto was raided. She earned my respect for this because she could have just continued dancing and counting down the days until freedom if that was ever to materalise. Instead, she placed herself front and centre in order to conceal a much bigger operation at work the finer details of which I won’t divulge so as not to ruin the story for readers. She is resilient alongside the group that she ingratiates herself into. Resistance and determination are what fuel her but as the links in the chain start to become apparent I did think how can she not see that a certain character may not be as they seem. That they couldn’t possibly be as helpful or turning a blind eye for given their ethnicity and status they couldn’t do what the author wished us to believe.

A strong female character needs a strong male to bounce off but little did I think it would come in the form of Ritter, the head of the local criminal police. It all seemed to be good to be true with him and I thought Franceska was just falling right into the exact spot that the Germans wished her to be in before they pounced. The author developed the plot in such a way that you were sure that one thing was happening as the evidence presented backed this up and the characters were saying and doing specific things would have also suggested this. I just didn’t know who or what to believe and even as I neared the final chapters and once again as I read through an astounding and powerful epilogue I had my fingers crossed for an alternative outcome. How brave the author was to do this but as the story is rooted in historical accuracy she had to go in a certain direction. But what one would it be I had no idea given I had never heard of Franceska Mann prior to reading this book.

The Hotel Dancer is a powerful read packed full of tension and emotion and Franceska becomes a character that you grow to admire for she never wavered from her quest of doing what she firmly believed was right and just. Both heartbreaking and atmospheric, despite the harrowing and at times difficult subject matter this story really packs a punch but all the characters who put themselves forward and did incredible things at the most distressing and challenging of times deserve to be given a voice and not become forgotten people in history. Ellie Midwood gave Franceska a voice and showed what a courageous and remarkable woman she was. One who was a fighter until the very last. Without doubt this is one of the better historical fiction books with World War Two at its focus that I have recently read and I look forward to what the author brings us next.

[Carla]

The Hotel Dancer is set in Poland right after the liquidation of the Warsaw Ghetto. Franceska Mannheim/Mann is escaping with her sister Zofia, when they are ripped away from one another. Franceska is a dancer, and escapes to her friend, Lena's apartment. Lena lets her stay with her and she becomes Ewa Kowalska, Lena's cousin. She begins dancing with Lena at the Hotel Polski, for the Nazis to stay alive. Everyday, she is in fear that they will find out that she is Jewish. After a tragic event, she decides that she is going to help the resistance and smuggle Jewish Poles out of the country. It is a detailed plan with rescuing the Jewish people, getting funds to pay for South American passports, getting a train car to get them to Switzerland, and doing it all under the eyes of the German's who frequent the hotel. There is a dual-timeline, but the majority of the story is told in 1943. The 1974 timeline has an unnamed writer conducting high-stakes investigative interviews with employees from the hotel who are still alive, children of high ranking officers and Lena Kowalska, trying to find out what really happened in what had become dubbed, The Polski Hotel Affair.

When I read historical fiction based on real people and events, I get invested in the story. In the prologue, you find out how the story ends, but them you learn what led to that event. the story is heartbreaking, but most of WW2 stories are. Franceska is an upbeat character, never giving up and always looking for the best in others. At one point she says that she just wants to live free and be happy, don't we all. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the book, wanting to know what was going to happen next. I was pulled into the story by the characters and their actions. It is interesting to note that the 1943 storyline happens in one way, and the characters we meet make decisions and take actions that are not the same as those widely believed in 1974. I can imagine that happened a lot in real life, and it wasn't easy to find out the truth. Franceska is a strong woman, one who won't go easily. She does fall in love with an SS agent, but he isn't supportive of what is happening. He knows all about Franceska, including that she is Jewish, but he tries to protect her from other lecherous, selfish Nazi agents. I'm not going to say anymore, but trust me when I say that this is an emotional story, that will pull you in to Franceska's life and all that she is doing to try and save as many Polish Jews that she can. If you enjoy Historical Fiction, then I recommend The Hotel Dancer. Of course, I was out on Google seeing what I could find out about the real Franceska Mann. From what I was able to find, it seems the Ellie Midwood did a lot of research to bring this character to light and out of the darkness.

[Melanie]

4.5 stars
A heart wrenching tale, The Hotel Dancer is another well told story of WWII from author Ellie Midwood. It begins in October, 1943 a while after the uprising and liquidation of the Warsaw Ghetto in Poland. A train car of Jewish citizens from Warsaw believe they are traveling to South America by way of Switzerland. However, something is horribly wrong.
The story continues by going back in time to June of the same year. It shares the story of a Jewish dancer, Franceska, who is hoping to find her older sister, Zofia, after the two become separated during the Warsaw liquidation. She comes to stay at the Aryan home of a fellow dancer friend, Lena and soon starts work with her at the Hotel Polski, a place where Nazis come to fraternize. Franceska continues to live amongst danger and is forced to make some very difficult decisions in order to stay alive during this horrific period in time. She must decide who to trust and who is the enemy.
The chapters also include flash forwards to the mid 1970’s when a writer is interviewing several people between the US and Europe to try to find out exactly what happened in October 1943.
The story eventually ends as we come full circle to where we started, finding out what happens to the group.
I enjoyed the way the author chose to tell the story. It provides us with the ability to see it through several different points of view. I have read several books by Ellie Midwood, and she is skillful at creating imagery of events and situations. It really paints a perfect picture of what happening. She’s also a master at making stories quite emotional, allowing readers to feel sad, happy, angry, frustrated, like the characters in her books. Thank you, Ellie, for continuing to share true pieces of history in your historical fiction and educating us on the importance of the past.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Genevieve Montcombroux]

My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read and review this novel.
When I selected The Hotel Dancer to read and review, I hadn’t noticed it was a dual timeline plot – likely because any novel by Ellie Midwood is almost an automatic buy for me. The dual timeline format may be popular, but I personally find such novels disjointed and I feel like I’m being pushed out of the story when it becomes someone else’s. I was about to return it but decided to give it a try
My initial reservations proved groundless. Ms. Midwood kept me enthralled. The contemporary storyline, based on interviews with survivors and descendants, was focused on the events in the main story and the two were closely intertwined, each part immediately becoming an indispensable adjunct to the other. I was hooked and couldn’t put the book down.
Whilst Ms. Midwood paints a vivid picture of the horrors of war and the endless fight for survival of the Jewish population in occupied Warsaw, she also injects a thread of normalcy, with such details as as the sunlit scenes and the sounds and scents of a lively street providing a counterpoint to remind the reader that no matter what, life continues.
Ellie Midwood masterfully blends the life of the real-life dancer Franceska Mann with the fictional elements needed to make the narrative come alive. Every twist and turn of the plot fits with Franceska’s vibrant personality. She actually did batter the Auschwitz guard with her dance shoe and did lead the revolt of the women. In doing so, she reclaimed her dignity and restored it to those women. A final twist ends the story with a satisfying conclusion.
Another five stars to Ellie Midwood for taking the reader on an emotional roller-coaster suffused with suspense.

[Lorraine]

The Hotel Dancer by Ellie Midwood is an unforgettable dual-timeline historical fiction novel based on real events. It is a powerful story of survival, courage, and determination during one of the darkest periods in Poland’s history. It shows how the fierce will to survive can be matched by the belief that one person can make a difference and help others, even in the face of unimaginable circumstances.

In 1943, in occupied Poland, Francesca, a young Jewish woman living in disguise, flirts with Nazi SS officers in an attempt to save herself and other Jewish people who are hiding. Dancing under the noses of the Nazis becomes part of her desperate fight for survival.

As the story unfolds, we witness the complicated and growing relationship between Francesca and a high-ranking Nazi officer. But is their relationship real, or has Francesca been deceived? Can he be trusted, or is he setting her—and the people she is desperately trying to rescue—up for betrayal? Midwood creates an atmosphere filled with fear and tension, where lives are balanced on a knife’s edge and can be snuffed out in an instant.

This is a heartbreaking story, but it is also incredibly inspiring. Ellie Midwood has brought these characters to life and once again given readers a story that highlights resilience, courage, and hope amid unimaginable tragedy and atrocities.

If you enjoy historical fiction that introduces you to remarkable real people whose stories deserve to be remembered, The Hotel Dancer is definitely a book to add to your list. I really enjoyed reading this powerful and emotional story, and I will be thinking about Francesca’s courage long after finishing it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.

[Jessica Emery]

The Hotel Dancer by Ellie Midwood is such an unforgettable and utterly heartbreaking story -it was 5 stars for me. It's about survival and courage during one of the most terrible times in history.

The FMC, Franceska, is a Jewish ballet dancer performing at a hotel in Warsaw that is frequented by German officers. Every night she dances, she has to hide who she actually is from the people who would kill her if they discovered her identity. While she is dancing for them at night, by day she is risking everything to help other Jewish people escape and is looking for her missing sister.

Franceska was such an interesting FMC. Her courage was incredible, but Ellie Midwood also showed us her vulnerability, fear, and grief. Franceska pushing through all those emotions to help others is what makes this book so compelling.

The tension throughout this book was almost unbearable at times. I was constantly worried for her and that she would be found out.

Knowing this book was inspired by a true story definitely made it even more emotional. Ellie Midwood writes about the Holocaust with such sensitivity while making sure that the bravery and humanity of those who resisted is never forgotten -which is especially relevant today.

The Hotel Dancer broke my heart, kept me completely absorbed, and continues to stay with me. This is historical fiction at its most powerful -beautifully written, moving, and unforgettable.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Brenda]

Warsaw 1943, and the Ghetto had just been liquidated by the Germans. Few had escaped, Franceska was one, but her older sister, Zofia, was missing. Franceska was desperate to find her, but first she had to find a way to keep herself safe. Joining best friend Lena, in her apartment, the story was that she was Lena's cousin. Both Lena & Franceska were dancers, so heading to the Hotel that housed most of the Germans, was probably a risky idea, but getting Franceska a job in the dance troupe, was genius. Hide in plain sight.

Taking the eye of the SS Commander who visited the hotel once a week wasn't the plan. But she did. So when he requested she join him, with heart thumping, she did. And so, with Franceska helping get Jews out of Warsaw, she had to be careful what she said or did. The stress was high, but her determination was strong...

The Hotel Dancer is based on a true story, and shows, once again, the horrors of the war. This one focuses on women, and what they were prepared to do in the face of adversity. Author Ellie Midwood always writes an intense, gripping historical novel, and this one is no different. The characters are exceptional, playing their part to perfection. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.

[Julia]

The Hotel Dancer by Ellie Midwood is a powerful historical novel that I just could not put down.
The action is set in Warsaw during 1943. Chapters are interspersed with ones from ‘the writer’ in 1974. As the action unfolds in the past, the writer interviews a different person in 1974, giving their perspective on actions past. Who is the writer? My jaw fell as the penny dropped. I was reminded of the Jewish saying that whoever saves a life, it is as if he saved the whole world.
This is a book about bravery at a time of great evil. Characters could choose to go out with a whimper, but they go out with a bang.
Dancing under the noses of the Nazis, a young Jewish girl does what she does in order to survive – but surviving is not enough, she wants to rescue as many as she can from the Nazis reign of terror.
The reader witnesses the growing relationship of love – is it real? Or has a woman been duped? Read the novel, and make up your own mind.
Ellie Midwood has created an atmosphere of terror. Lives were balanced on a knife edge as they could be snuffed out in an instant.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Hotel Dancer. It was a powerful book that must be read in memory of the six million innocents who perished, and of those who tried to save them.
I received a free copy from the publishers for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

[Brenda]

The Hotel Dancer is a dual timeline Historical Fiction inspired by a true World War II story capturing the utter desperation of the war in Poland. In 1943 in occupied Poland, Francesca flirts with extreme danger in the form of Nazi SS officers. She is a beautiful and graceful dancer who is disgusted by resorting to entertaining to earn their favour but it is the means to an end of helping Jews escape evil and certain death. Her friend Lena believes there is too much at stake. The two women, along with others, become involved in the underground movement. The story is also about friendship, sorrow, extortion, courage, deception, and hope.

The prologue was harrowing and moving and captured raw emotions, confusion, and horrors of arriving at Auschwitz, believing their destination to be Switzerland. Incomprehensible. The second timeline took place in the 1970s and was beautifully written as well, giving snippets of hope.

Several characters were very likeable and my personal favourites were Ewa and Miriam for their perseverance and bravery. Conversely, despicable characters abound and infuriated me to no end. All caused me to feel emotions whether it was rooting for them on or loathing them. When I read WWII stories my heart breaks and my stomach drops to my toes knowing how so many were brutalized in every way imaginable for just being who they were...and weren't.

[Fiction Fellowship]

Poland 1943-
Franceska is a ballet dancer and is invited to dance at Hotel Polski where her friend Lena dances. Franceska is one of the last few surviving Polish Jews who escaped the Warsaw Ghetto and must hide her true identity at her new job since it’s a watering hole for the Germans. Ignoring Lena’s warnings, she starts accepting gifts and money from officers in order to pay for foreign passports for herself and other Jewish people to escape when things start to get dangerous.

Various cities 1974-
A writer is traveling around interviewing people who knew Franceska and the other people who were at Hotel Polski in hopes to clear up conflicting accounts as to what really went on there. What she learns shocks her.

This is my first book by the author and now I can’t wait to read more! I was totally transformed into 1943 because of her compelling storytellling. This is a heartbreakingly beautiful story that had me tearing up but also had me raising my arm in the air and shouting “yes!” It is inspired by the true story of Franceska Mann who danced for the enemy and fought for freedom. She had incredible bravery in the face of fear and died as a fighter, not a passive victim. I highly recommend this to all of my WWII book lover friends!

Contains some language but no sexually explicit scenes

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

[Rachel]

This was my first book by this author and I will definitely read more of her books.
This book is mostly based during WWII, but there are some chapters where 'The Writer' who is doing research and interviewing people related to the people who we read about during WWII part of the story which is based in the 1970s.
We read about Franceska who managed to escape the Nazis takeover in her area and turns up on her friends doorstep in Poland (which is just as dangerous). Lena takes her in and as the guy she is seeing is a Nazi she introduces Franceska as her cousin Ewa who is also a dancer. He suggests she comes and dance at the Hotel with Lena.
Lena agrees that this would be the best cover - hiding in plain sight, all they need to do is get 'Ewa' some papers sorted.
When dancing with Lena at the hotel Ewa catches the eye of one of the Nazi bigwigs and needs to keep her wits about her at all time. Lena tells her to try and stay away from him.
Even though Ewa is already in danger by dancing for the Nazis, she decides she wants to help Jews escape the area by getting them new passports. Will she be discovered??
Thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley and Ellie Midwood for the eARC of this book which I received for free in exchange for my review.

[Trina Dixon]

A heart-wrenching prologue gives an insight to the traumas faced by Jews during WW2.
Francesca Mann is a renowned ballerina ousted from her Warsaw home, seeking refuge with a friend Lena she takes on the persona of Ewa, Lena's cousin to escape being sent to a concentration camp. Working as a dancer at Hotel Polski, she attracts the attention of SS officers as well as local commander of the police.
Attuned to the plight of fellow Jews, she, along with others, embark on a plan to get as many as possible out of the country and into safer countries.
Set mostly during the war with snippets from the 1970's where we meet a mystery writer this book is inspired by the bravery and courage of Franscesca.
It's a heart breaking novel but also inspirational, Ellie Midwood has brought the characters to life and given us yet another novel that showcases resilience amongst the tragedy and atrocities. My heart was in my mouth at the end. A worthy heroine

[DianeLikesToRead]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Sometimes you have to dance with the devil to survive.
Franceska, a Polish Jew, now known as Ewa, had to do what she needed to do to survive in Warsaw 1943. “Ewa” dances for the Gestapo and starts to fall for a high ranking officer. She is also working to help other Jews escape Poland. This is one of those books that I wanted to finish but I didn’t know if I could bear the ending.
The other POV is the Writer, in 1974, who was trying to find out what REALLY happened to Franceska. I liked the back and forth that kept filling in more of the story. It showed what women did to survive. I would give this book more than five stars if I could! Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#TheHotelDancer #EllieMidwoodBookTour #NetGalley #Bookouture #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BookLove #Bookstagram

[Nicole]

This story takes place in Warsaw, Poland, during WW2 and the German occupation. Franceska is a Polish dancer and she is Jewish. She escaped a raid on the Jewish ghetto, but lost her sister and is relying on the kindness of her friend Lena to provide shelter and cover that they are cousins.
Franceska starts working at a hotel as a dancer, the German soldiers are the customers.
There's an underground operation to get passports for the Polish Jews hiding out and Franceska is determined to get them to safety outside of Europe.
There is a lot of deceit and ultimately she is betrayed by the one person she thought she could trust - though she never should have trusted him.
This is very emotional and pulled me in from the start.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

[R Evans]

This is a fabulous book delving into the life of Francesca Mann, a ballet dancer who died in Birkenau in extraordinary circumstances. Having escaped from the Warsaw ghetto uprising, an harrowing indecent in itself, Francesca attempts to hide in plain sight from the Nazis who are intent on rounding up all Jewish people from the ghetto. She walks a tightrope as she dances at hotel Polska, a haunt of nazi officers. Is she a collaborator? Will she succeed in helping Jewish people escape Warsaw? Add into this an attraction to an Ss officer to that blurs our moral certainties. Not everyone we want to demonise deserves it. This novel pulls at the heartstrings yet is a reminder of the bravery and refusal to comply quietly so many exhibited ibybthose facing the holocaust. So many stories from that event deserve to be told, and this is one of them.

[Inspiredbypmdd Fiona]

This book is told in differing timelines and is quite immersive.

What people will do to survive and help others survive when there are little options available is well rooted within the characters.

Poland really suffered during the 2nd World War and Ellie really puts this into perspective in telling the story of Franceska / Ava and those around her.

Having lost contact with her sister during one of those horrific Nazi raids, she ends up dancing at Hotel Polska. The entertainment hub for the local Nazis.

After witnessing the public hanging of a resistance fighter changes something in Fransceska and her purpose becomes clear. Lives must be saved at any cost.

Fake passports, murders, escape plans, safe houses, the story is  intense, risky and a must read for those who enjoy story’s of survival and its costs, peppered with confusion and determination.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Melissa]

The Hotel Dancer is a powerful and beautifully researched novel inspired by the true story of Franceska Mann, a woman whose courage and defiance echoes through history. Ellie Midwood captures the impossible choices women had to make to survive, weaving a story filled with bravery, hidden identities and the fierce determination to hold on to hope even when humanity is tested. This book is a moving tribute to strong women, their resilience, their friendships and the love that kept them going in the darkest moments. The ending is both heartbreaking and courageous, a reminder of the strength it takes to survive when everything is stripped away. A gripping, emotional and unforgettable read. 5 stars.
I would like to thank the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy of this novel, in exchange for my honest review.
#TheHotelDancer #NetGalley

[Dawn Lawrence Read_with_Lola]

I really enjoyed The Hotel Dancer, it was a story of courage and determination. Franceska is a dancer in the Hotel Poleski, she is working with the resistance to get as many Jewish people to safety before the Nazis ship them all off to prison camps or kill them. It was a very emotional read, they are risking taking a very hard journey to get to Switzerland, will they make it before the Nazis get to them? Ellie Midwood has never written a bad book in my opinion and this is no exception, it was so full of fear, but also love and courage, it’s so well written she captured the emotions perfectly. Highly recommend this book, it’s totally worth 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC. Publication date 4 September 2026.

[Charlotte]

Another heartbreaking Holocaust fiction from Ellie Midwood, she really is one of the best writers in this genre. I think what makes her stories so great is that they are based on real people and real events. Of course that means that they often dont have a happy ending, or in fact a happy beginning or middle. And yet they are incredibly readable.

Despite being a real person, I have never heard of Franceska, although in true me style I'll be looking for as much information on her as possible. Im really intrigued by her and her story. Was she a collaborator, or was she tricked. I suppose we will never know for certain. But the story that was portrayed in this book was one of naïvety and trust which is a beautiful thing in my mind.

[Maree Gray]

This is my fifth book by Ellie Midwood. I'm slowly working my way through her back catalogue, when I can find the books!

As the blurb said, this is a heartbreakingly beautiful book.
I love the dual timelines, reading about what was happening back then, and then switching to the present and hearing someone else's memories.

What wonderful characters Ellie has created. They are so real and I was totally invested in their stories. I laughed along with them, cried tears of sorrow along with them and held my breath waiting to see what happened next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Bookbug_40]

It is a very interesting historical fiction based on a true story about Franceska Mann. She was a Jewish dancer who very bravely not only survived in the Nazi-occupied Polland but tried her best to help as many people as she could from the brutality of the German soldiers.
Very well described and thoroughly defined characters. The book balances between past events and present-day timelines. It makes it more intriguing. The hardships and sufferings faced by many were heartbreaking to read. The determination and courage of Franceska never wavered throughout the book until the very end. I recommend this to all the historical readers.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

[Sally]

I always enjoy Ellie Midwood’s stuff and this did not disappoint, although I kind of wish it hadn’t started with the end - I feel like the end would have made more impact had we not know what was going to happen!

Engrossing and tense story, and I liked how there were a few chapters set 30 years past the war which helped put some bits and pieces together. It left me wanting more but also felt very realistic in that some people never knew the full truth, or were made to believe lies which they held onto for all those years.