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The War Widow
John Petersen is a war-weary Army lieutenant assigned to guard the highest ranking survivors of Hitler's Third Reich at the Nuremberg trials. Petersen has two primary first to keep Hermann Goering, Hitler's number 2 man, alive until he can be tried and hanged; and second, to keep his mercurial commanding officer, Douglas Gaffner, happy. These tasks don't always go hand-in-hand.
A combat veteran, Petersen has a lot to learn about post-war life. He never imagines that his friendship with Robert Simmons, an unrepentant trader on Nuremburg’s black market, will lead to tragedy. He never guesses that his affair with housekeeper Lisbeth Bichler will end in betrayal and heartbreak. He never imagines his wary friendship with Goering will jeopardize his standing with Gaffner. He doesn’t realize until too late the lengths to which Goering will go to cheat the hangman and deny the Allies their final revenge.
Set at the International Military Tribunal in Nuremburg, Germany, the story follows Petersen from the battlefields of World War II to the clandestine conflicts of the Cold War and into a shadowy, new world where intrigue, romance and a thriving Black Market intersect with the ripening conflict between East and West.
A combat veteran, Petersen has a lot to learn about post-war life. He never imagines that his friendship with Robert Simmons, an unrepentant trader on Nuremburg’s black market, will lead to tragedy. He never guesses that his affair with housekeeper Lisbeth Bichler will end in betrayal and heartbreak. He never imagines his wary friendship with Goering will jeopardize his standing with Gaffner. He doesn’t realize until too late the lengths to which Goering will go to cheat the hangman and deny the Allies their final revenge.
Set at the International Military Tribunal in Nuremburg, Germany, the story follows Petersen from the battlefields of World War II to the clandestine conflicts of the Cold War and into a shadowy, new world where intrigue, romance and a thriving Black Market intersect with the ripening conflict between East and West.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 8, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 5, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. Saw the movie the Nuremberg Trials with Spencer Tracy and really enjoyed it. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and I found myself looking up info regarding the Nuremberg Trials.
May 30, 2017
Good WWII book referencing the Nuremberg trials.
January 9, 2020
Excellent. I enjoy books set during WWI and WWII, but I don't enjoy the fighting and maneuvers. This was a pleasant surprise. I will listen to more of this author's books.
March 14, 2017
Kelly Durham crafts a fine book. He's created engaging characters and even throws a little twist in the end. In the end, he's pique my curiosity in the Nuremberg Trials. I wonder how much of his historical novel is factual. If you enjoy books about World War II, I think you'll find Durham's novel entertaining.
May 31, 2012
This novel is set around the Neuremberg trials, seen from the viewpoint of Lieutenant John Petersen, who is assigned to guard the highest ranking survivors of Hitler's Reich. These include Goering, Hess, Keitel, Jodl and Speer, among others, although it is Goering who is the main focus in this book. Petersen's job is to make sure the prisoners get, "a fair trial before they're hanged" and the outcome is never in question.
Petersen is a rather naive young man and the book gives flashbacks of his life, as well as looking at the present. One of his greatest problems is the rather stereotypical Colonel Gaffner, who seems to swing between benevolence and outright hostility towards the young Lieutenant. There is also the issue of prisoners not being granted military courtesy, which the likeable Petersen seems to ignore virtually from the first; becoming compromised in treating Goering as the "likeable rogue" he sees, rather than the man on trial for war crimes.
Some of the most interesting parts of the book take place outside the prison, with Petersen's room mate Lt Robert Simmons, who is heavily involved in the black market and the young woman, Lisbeth, who cooks and cleans for them. Over the whole book though is the sinister and sly presence of Goering, determined not to be hung like the common criminal he does not believe himself to be. This is a good debut, although it was a shame the storyline with Simmons petered out and our main character was just a little too trusting to be wholely believable. However, there is a lot to commend it and it is an interesting view of a historical event seen from a personal perspective.
Petersen is a rather naive young man and the book gives flashbacks of his life, as well as looking at the present. One of his greatest problems is the rather stereotypical Colonel Gaffner, who seems to swing between benevolence and outright hostility towards the young Lieutenant. There is also the issue of prisoners not being granted military courtesy, which the likeable Petersen seems to ignore virtually from the first; becoming compromised in treating Goering as the "likeable rogue" he sees, rather than the man on trial for war crimes.
Some of the most interesting parts of the book take place outside the prison, with Petersen's room mate Lt Robert Simmons, who is heavily involved in the black market and the young woman, Lisbeth, who cooks and cleans for them. Over the whole book though is the sinister and sly presence of Goering, determined not to be hung like the common criminal he does not believe himself to be. This is a good debut, although it was a shame the storyline with Simmons petered out and our main character was just a little too trusting to be wholely believable. However, there is a lot to commend it and it is an interesting view of a historical event seen from a personal perspective.
February 7, 2017
Difficult to believe, it is not a true story.
A must read. The author has done himself proud. A courageous effort. To understand peace you need to understand the end of war. I look forward to his next novel.
A must read. The author has done himself proud. A courageous effort. To understand peace you need to understand the end of war. I look forward to his next novel.
November 23, 2012
A masterful piece of work!
The War Widow is the story of the Nuremburg trails so one wouldn't expect the ending to be a surprise, but it is. Mr. Durham has woven multiple threads of intrigue into his finely executed version of a familiar piece of history. His knowledge and expression of military life propels the reader right into the scene and the character development is top notch from his handling of Herrmann Goering to the despicable Colonel Gaffner. The reader feels as though he's known these people all his life. The prose is compelling, the pace brisk and, as I said, the ending jerks the rug out from under you.
The War Widow is the story of the Nuremburg trails so one wouldn't expect the ending to be a surprise, but it is. Mr. Durham has woven multiple threads of intrigue into his finely executed version of a familiar piece of history. His knowledge and expression of military life propels the reader right into the scene and the character development is top notch from his handling of Herrmann Goering to the despicable Colonel Gaffner. The reader feels as though he's known these people all his life. The prose is compelling, the pace brisk and, as I said, the ending jerks the rug out from under you.
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November 23, 2012A masterful piece of work!
The War Widow is the story of the Nuremburg trails so one wouldn't expect the ending to be a surprise, but it is. Mr. Durham has woven multiple threads of intrigue into his finely executed version of a familiar piece of history. His knowledge and expression of military life propels the reader right into the scene and the character development is top notch from his handling of Herrmann Goering to the despicable Colonel Gaffner. The reader feels as though he's known these people all his life. The prose is compelling, the pace brisk and, as I said, the ending jerks the rug out from under you.
The War Widow is the story of the Nuremburg trails so one wouldn't expect the ending to be a surprise, but it is. Mr. Durham has woven multiple threads of intrigue into his finely executed version of a familiar piece of history. His knowledge and expression of military life propels the reader right into the scene and the character development is top notch from his handling of Herrmann Goering to the despicable Colonel Gaffner. The reader feels as though he's known these people all his life. The prose is compelling, the pace brisk and, as I said, the ending jerks the rug out from under you.
July 9, 2012
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Not because it was good, but because of the unique subject. I've read many a WWII book, but precious few exist about the post-war period, and none that deal with a prison guard's interactions with the leaders of the Third Reich. It was a quick read that kept me enthralled--and taught me a few things.
August 27, 2013
Durham's first book. Competent but not the caliber of his second book, The Berlin Deception.
May 13, 2014
Great read
I have read before that there were suspicions roof someone aiding goering in his suicide..this story was as close to it as possible.great story.
I have read before that there were suspicions roof someone aiding goering in his suicide..this story was as close to it as possible.great story.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews