What Is Forgiven

The Anna Klein Trilogy #2

by C.F. Yetmen

What is Forgiven follows Anna Klein, who has been working with the Monuments Men for a few months and continues to struggle to put her life back together. In this book, she confronts the Holocaust and her complicity, as a German citizen, in the atrocities the Nazis committed. Because the Nazis stole the property of Jewish collectors, the art now under the Americans' control must be restituted. But she learns that when the stakes are this high, people rationalize their greed and crimes to protect themselves, their reputations, and their loved ones.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical, Audiobook, Ebooks, Amazon

408 pages, Paperback

Published August 5, 2017

About the author

C.F. YETMEN is author of the Anna Klein Trilogy: The Roses Underneath (2014), What is Forgiven (2017) and That Which Remains (2021). Her first two books have received the IPPY Award for historical fiction, and been named finalists for the INDIEFAB Book of the Year. The third will be published in May 2021.

An avowed history nerd and political junkie, she lives and works in Austin, Texas.

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second Anna Klein novel. I noticed Goodreads called this a trilogy. I happily will read the next.

Many mysteries have a strong sense of place. This has a strong sense of time and place. Anna is a young mother working for an American Captain cataloging and trying to return stolen art. She tries to restore the art world during the day and her whole world in her free time. She has help from an 'Aunt' (her mom's best friend) her young daughter and a war orphan. Finding lodging and food and good clothes is not easy. All necessities are a challenge.

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to go through a time when the world turned upside down this novel will help you live it.

[Debra Schoenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a sequel to The Roses Underneath where we continue to follow the activities of Anna Klein and Captain Cooper as they become unwittingly become embroiled in conspiracies involving a huge cache of stolen artwork they recently discovered in an abandoned farmhouse.

Anna's life has taken on another element as she "adopts" a streetwise orphan boy.  Her home with her mother's friend has been requisitioned by the army and she has two days to find somewhere to place her family.  Captain Cooper, not an army man per se, has "bucked the system" a few times too many and now the army has them both under surveillance.  Anna is beginning to feel the pressure and has doubts who she can really trust - the army - her new roommate - even Captain Cooper.  Her husband has been branded a "Commie" and is not welcome in Wiesbaden.  Anna is unwilling to return to the Russian held part of Germany.  Her love for her husband but her respect and admiration for Captain Cooper pull her in two directions.

An excellent follow through of Anna's story and I can't wait to read the third segment.  Kudos to a wonderfully talented debut writer!

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if it is because I knew the characters but I enjoyed this book better than the first in the trilogy. This one kept me turning the pages and really caring what happened to the characters. I am look forward to the third book in the trilogy. Definitely recommended

[Elizabeth Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed this even more than the first one. However...having glanced at the description of Book Three, I knew a romance between Anna and Cooper was forthcoming. I found it totally unconvincing. Suddenly she looks at him and she's physically attracted. Later, their intimacy is closed-door. Wholly unsatisfying.

While I don't speak German, narrator Gryphon Corpus's accent and pronunciations did totally convince me and I'm going to assume they're spot-on!

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picking up off of the tail of Anna's last adventure she finds the atmosphere of her workplace, and a work partnership she held maybe too dear, to be completely shredded when new orders and coworkers come into play. On top of this she struggles to settle on what she should do with her impossible marriage, has her small family uprooted and unmoored by two drastic events, and now finds herself with a puzzle she just can't shake after a painting is temporarily displaced. After all that's happened to her, though, this will not cripple her even as hopeless as she sometimes feels. If for no other reason that some people, some values, are worth standing up for.

What this novel did so very well in the first in flushing out the time period, the attitudes, personal and professional situations of citizens beyond the main characters, and the nods to art lovers it continued. There is also a very strong heart and character driven element focused on family and friendships that feels genuine enough for the reader to truly care about them.

This mystery, however, felt weaker than the first. It wasn't all to difficult to work out the broader part and I'm not sure how I feel about some of the leads into it. I also could have done with a little less of the romantic pining and jealousy. However that note I think ended better than it started in the first half of the novel. I truly respect it did not go in the same rushed and more problematic directions that I find in many mysteries and thrillers.

While I found the last more intricate, I loved how there were echoes of events even in these times. I still loved the characters. In fact, some I found even more endearing. I look forward to the final entry.

[Heather Kidd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing in how poorly executed this mystery was.

There was a number of irritants in this book for me. One was the relationship between Cooper and Anna. It was so annoying. He treats her like dirt. If ever there was an instance of an author telling you one thing about a character but showing the complete opposite by his actions…this is it. The author tells you Cooper is one of the good guys but all his actions show him to be a real jerk. He treats her with no respect. And if a guy has to keep saying “Trust me.” But does nothing actually trustworthy… Well I just cringed every time they interacted. Bender is a far better guy. She should dump go for him instead.

Two: From the get go Anna doesn’t like or trust Eva until suddenly near the end she’s a friend? Yeah, no they were never friends, so that made the whole ending suck

Three: Anna flip flops. First she says she doesn’t trust anybody, but then when stuff happens she whines that she can’t trust anybody these days… uhhh you just went through a war in which you knew you could trust nobody, why does this surprise you now?

Basically the whole plot felt contrived and dumb, which is too bad because it could have been good. The setting was interesting… it’s the only good thing going for this book.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful historical fiction

The author is adept at voicing the aftermath of the war, its toll on Germany's survivors, the guilt and shame. I stopped often to refresh my history lessons about the Nuremberg trials, the Monuments Men and the Wiesbaden Manifesto. I cannot attest to the ability of Book 2 to stand alone; I personally had to take a breather from the intensity of man's inhumanity. This is an excerpt:

"You know things will never be the same. The thugs are in charge, with their ignorant niceties, their false patriots. Now it’s all flags waving and hateful speech. You wish you could leave too, but it’s too late. You feel like a fool for not having seen it coming. The borders are closed. And the people salute, and the books burn, and any thinking man can see it’s a travesty, that the lunatics are in charge. But thinking is not allowed any more. And then, you are an old man, and the land you love has been utterly destroyed.”

Read, remember, respect the lessons of the past.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the plot of book 2 in this Anna Klein Trilogy, but not the execution. Book 1 was better.

Book 2 was so drawn out and much longer than it needed to be. Book 1 in the trilogy was long because so much was being established and discovered. Book 2 was already established, so to bulk up the mystery the reader is stuck in Anna’s anxiety ridden head as she thinks thinks out over and over and over.

It’s predictable as the reader is spoon fed, and at times, beaten over the head with the clues. By the time the “big reveal” comes around, it’s extremely overdue and then painstakingly re-explained. And more of Anna’s inner turmoil to further extend the conclusion of this book.

Maybe it would have been better to not have read these books back to back.

I don’t care for the romance of the story which is where it seems headed. The mysteries in this plot are strong enough to stand alone. And the romance feels pushed.
I’m not as drawn to the 3rd book now, but maybe after a break I’ll check it out.

[Debbie Trammell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

If you like a mystery it is part of this book as well as many other things."O when we practise to deceive" and there is certainly alot of that. The feelings of these characters are very emotional. They were lucky to be in the American sector but, still every day was a hardship and so many things lacking to live with and on top of that life had to go on. It only took a few hours for the area to be destroyed with bombs but, it was gonna take years to rebuild. It was all so overwhelming plus living with guilt about the camps. If you are interested in post war Germany this is a good series. I liok forward to reading book 3.

[Jim Bean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complex romantic war story

German confiscated Jewish artwork might be the center of this story but the author did an excellent job of providing essential stories supporting both the greed and also the love of those treasured artworks.

The author provided painstaking character development between the Victor's and the defeated culture of the German people.just at the end of WWII.

I enjoyed the story because there was no harshness or resentfulness evident in the suspenseful narrative. The story was very entertaining. The author never used violence, foul language or sexual overtones to tell this story.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could have used better editing. The premise was good but the writing inconsistent, the plot progression was mainly through the characters’ conversations which often contradicted earlier conversations between the same characters and timelines of daily events would be inconsistent. For instance, Cooper being surprised by something Anna said but it was something she had already mentioned in a previous conversation between the two. The characters themselves were interesting but didn’t always act in ways consistent with previously defined attitudes.
Also, I would note that it is more of a romance novel with a bit of mystery thrown in.

[Stepan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sequel to "The Roses Underneath" picks up a couple of weeks later. Just as soon as Anna thinks that her life has settled down, things get more complicated.

We get to meet new characters, some admirable and some despicable, and get to join Anna trying to solve another mystery.

I really enjoyed how Anna's letter to her husband is used to provide insight into her thinking. And her evolving relationship makes me look forward to the final book.

[Kathleen Mospan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Errors

Good story of post war challenges for all involved. chapter 9 has a factual error; author describes Anna twirling a Lucky Strike by the filter in her fingers; Lucky Strikes had no filters. Also, author describes forged paintings as having paint stuck to bhai the frames and notes that the forged had not time to allow them to dry. However, later in the story we learn that the forgery had occurred over some length of time.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The quote at the beginning of the description of the book "danger, mystery and intrigue wrapped around a love story" is pretty accurate. I also found what it told of the Momuments Men work to give art stolen by the Nazis very interesting. There was certainly some opposition among some army officers and politicians who felt that the United States should keep the art since many of the owners were dead. There was also an effort to return stolen Polish children. The story goes into these issues along with the fictional story of the main characters.

[Hank Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book such an excellent book. The characters remain realistic throughout. The understanding of the work and effort to find and document the art work was instructive. The examination of the suffering the harsh realities of life after the end of the war was evident. The deprivation, the outrage and shame felt by the Germans and the ways that politics pulled families apart were all exposed

[Samuel Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book such an excellent book. The characters remain realistic throughout. The understanding of the work and effort to find and document the art work was instructive. The examination of the suffering the harsh realities of life after the end of the war was evident. The deprivation, the outrage and shame felt by the Germans and the ways that politics pulled families apart were all exposed

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this second novel in the Anna Klein trilogy as mush as the first. The characters, historical detail and mystery are just what I look for in historical fiction. I am finding these books very hard to put down, neglecting my family, my work and my sleep to keep reading. When I was unable to locate the third in the series through the library, I didn’t hesitate to purchase the final volume. Each is a story in and of itself, but I’d recommend reading them in order for maximal enjoyment!

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked learning more WW II history . I was unaware that the Nazi's took children from Poland away from parents. Did their evil know no bound?
Anna represents a very strong woman, I wonder how many women then were as tough as her character.
I like how the author created believable character in the story.
The children were living in some of the most difficult times, yet were able to survive with skills they learned on the fly.

[Carmen Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than Book 1

It is so rare when an author writes a series without using at least 25 percent of the book repeating portions of previous books in the series.

This was an excellent mystery that takes us back to Anna and Cooper working with WWII stolen art. New characters are introduced for this mystery.

It's a bit of WWII history, post war attitudes and life, and of course relationships among family and friends.

[Marjorie Barlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The lives of the characters were so interesting and the stories they told held my attention. I saw the big war of my childhood through a different lens.

I hope we never forget the lessons of this time. Told through the voice of a female hero, my attention was as captured and held.

[Becky Hanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

what is forgiven- book 2

This was such an inspiring book. There was a lot of historical context along with the story. I could see and feel what the characters felt. It was very emotional. Even though it is part of a trilogy, I think you could read each one as a standalone. This book makes me want to read more about the Monument Men.

[Mary Van Camp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought proving

There are a lot of moving parts (people) in this book. It's thought provoking. Has the need to reread parts of this book. The need for proof when all some people who where forced from their homes with the clothes on their backs is unbelievable. To think of all the people who where involved in the scheme.

[Emmers S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes the second book in a series is not as good as the first. That is not the case with this one. I love the second book in the Anna Klein trilogy almost more than the first and the first got 5 starts from me. CF Yetman, your writing is elegant, thrilling, and beautiful. Gryphon Corpus, your narration is EXEMPLARY!

[Helen VanDien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Good Read

I can't imagine what it must have been like to be a woman trying to support her family in Germany just after WWII. This book gives us a pretty good idea. A little of the mundane (food shortages and child care) and a little adventure (art thefts and false identities). I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Joseph Lutgen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal values count for everything.

I wish that teenagers would read and discuss this book among themselves and with others of older generations and nationalities. I found the book quite excellent due to the reflections about my life that arose while absorbing the story.

[ann betts · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is Forgiven

Once again an interesting read about the recovery of stolen art after the end of World war two and the ends some people would go to in order to get their hands on valuable items.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was an interesting read, entertaining. Worth the price. Already bought 3rd and started reading it, anticipating another look back in times that were so much more horrible than what we are going through today even as our governments continue screwing up people's lives.

[ReneE · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I liked this book even more than the first one. It was just as engrossing and well written, and the story line kept me reading past my bedtime! ;-) I will certainly pick up the next (last) one -- "That Which Remains". I highly recommend this series.

[Carol Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only 85% kindle is this story !!!

Enjoying book but got to 85% and book ended, rest excerpt of next installment. America shipped a large number of masterpieces to the U S A but was forced to repatriate them later.

[Elaina Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful

I could not put this book down! What a great suspenseful book. I can't wait to read the next book. Anna Eva Amelia Oskar and Cooper Madeleine Bender Karla Corporal Long. Great people working together for the greater good.