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Jack Bailey #3
A Letter from Munich
Two distinct voices emerge: one, a jaded ex-cop, the other, an aging, but spirited German lady, telling her story of love, war, ethics, and redemption.
Germany, 1930s. In the peaceful village of Dachau, Ariana lives with her family, ordinary German citizens, during the Third Reich. Ariana and her sister, Renate, come of age amidst the growing horrors.
Munich, 2012. Hard-nosed ex-cop, Jack Bailey, is determined to locate Ariana Schröder, who wrote a WWII wartime love letter to his father decades ago. Jack and his brother think the letter may hold the key to his past drunken abusiveness.
Jack's friend, Sherk, invites him to visit his native Munich, where Jack learns more than he bargained for, including a shocking disclosure. Back in Chicago, should he reveal family secrets and put his father to rest?
From the Dachau death train to the camp's liberation by the Americans, a tale unfolds, connecting two people in an unforgettable, ever-changing story.
Germany, 1930s. In the peaceful village of Dachau, Ariana lives with her family, ordinary German citizens, during the Third Reich. Ariana and her sister, Renate, come of age amidst the growing horrors.
Munich, 2012. Hard-nosed ex-cop, Jack Bailey, is determined to locate Ariana Schröder, who wrote a WWII wartime love letter to his father decades ago. Jack and his brother think the letter may hold the key to his past drunken abusiveness.
Jack's friend, Sherk, invites him to visit his native Munich, where Jack learns more than he bargained for, including a shocking disclosure. Back in Chicago, should he reveal family secrets and put his father to rest?
From the Dachau death train to the camp's liberation by the Americans, a tale unfolds, connecting two people in an unforgettable, ever-changing story.
171 pages, Paperback
First published April 9, 2020
709 people are currently reading
1220 people want to read
About the author
Meg Lelvis
8 books70 followersMeg Lelvis grew up in northern Minnesota and taught English and psychology in Houston and Dallas. Her fiction and poetry have won awards from Houston Writers Guild and Houston Writers House. Her first novel, Bailey's Law, won the 2017 Maxy Award for best mystery. Her short story featuring Bailey's Law character, Jack Bailey, was published in Houston Writers Guild mystery anthology, Waves of Suspense. Meg's second Bailey novel, Blind Eye, was released in April, 2018. It won Maxy Award's runner-up for best mystery in 2018.
Her third novel, A Letter from Munich, was released in April, 2020. Thisl also features previous protagonist, Jack Bailey. Book four, Back of the Yard, is due for release in June, 2021.
Her third novel, A Letter from Munich, was released in April, 2020. Thisl also features previous protagonist, Jack Bailey. Book four, Back of the Yard, is due for release in June, 2021.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
May 27, 2022
Jack Bailey is a former Chicago police officer, his friend Sherk is visiting family in Germany and asks Jack if he would like to go with him? Jack accepts as he and his brother recently found a letter in their deceased father’s belongings and it was written by a mysterious German woman over six decades ago. Jack and Tommy didn’t have a great relationship with their father, he drank too much and was a mean drunk. Jack knows his father fought in WW II, he was stationed in Germany and Jack wants to discover what happened to him during the war.
When Jack and Sherk arrive in Germany, they stay with Sherk’s grandparents in Munich and Jack finds it hard to believe that Karl Sherkenbach was once a Wehrmacht soldier. Jack and Sherk spend time being tourists looking at the beautiful old buildings, drinking beer and sampling the food. Jack and Shrek also try to track down what happened to a lady called Ariana Schroder and they believe she might be the person who wrote the letter to Jack's father.
The dual timeline story goes between the present time in 2012 and the 1930’s.
Ariana Schroder and her three siblings live with their parents in Dachau, Germany and her father is a dentist. Ariana might be a child, she’s notices the changes going on around her, her friend Judith has moved and her parents are worried about her disabled brother Fritz. Ariana and her sister Renate manage survive the hard war years by working as Red Cross nurses.
Sherk uses his investigative skills, he finds a Ariana Gunther, and she’s eighty seven and living in a nursing home. Her sister Renate is staying in the same home, she explains that Ariana has dementia and over a couple of days she tells them what happened to them during the war. Jack discovers his father John’s battalion liberated the concentration camp at Dachau, he witnessed first hand the horrible and barbaric acts committed against the Jewish people. Jack doesn’t know if he should tell his younger siblings what he’s uncovered, should the past stay buried and along with his father’s secret?
I received a copy of A Letter From Munich by Meg Lelvis from NetGalley and Black Rose Writing in exchange for an honest review. It’s a story about the town of Dachau and liberation of the concentration camp and two people meeting during a traumatic time in history, how it changed them and their children lives. Three stars from me, reading about the war from a German perspective was interesting and unfortunately I found it hard to connect with Jack's brash character.
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When Jack and Sherk arrive in Germany, they stay with Sherk’s grandparents in Munich and Jack finds it hard to believe that Karl Sherkenbach was once a Wehrmacht soldier. Jack and Sherk spend time being tourists looking at the beautiful old buildings, drinking beer and sampling the food. Jack and Shrek also try to track down what happened to a lady called Ariana Schroder and they believe she might be the person who wrote the letter to Jack's father.
The dual timeline story goes between the present time in 2012 and the 1930’s.
Ariana Schroder and her three siblings live with their parents in Dachau, Germany and her father is a dentist. Ariana might be a child, she’s notices the changes going on around her, her friend Judith has moved and her parents are worried about her disabled brother Fritz. Ariana and her sister Renate manage survive the hard war years by working as Red Cross nurses.
Sherk uses his investigative skills, he finds a Ariana Gunther, and she’s eighty seven and living in a nursing home. Her sister Renate is staying in the same home, she explains that Ariana has dementia and over a couple of days she tells them what happened to them during the war. Jack discovers his father John’s battalion liberated the concentration camp at Dachau, he witnessed first hand the horrible and barbaric acts committed against the Jewish people. Jack doesn’t know if he should tell his younger siblings what he’s uncovered, should the past stay buried and along with his father’s secret?
I received a copy of A Letter From Munich by Meg Lelvis from NetGalley and Black Rose Writing in exchange for an honest review. It’s a story about the town of Dachau and liberation of the concentration camp and two people meeting during a traumatic time in history, how it changed them and their children lives. Three stars from me, reading about the war from a German perspective was interesting and unfortunately I found it hard to connect with Jack's brash character.
https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/KarrenReadsH...
August 9, 2021
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the type of book I love. But I had a very hard time with it for several reasons. The top two:
An overwhelming amount of unnecessary detail. It doesn’t add anything and it often confuses and bogs down the story line.
It suffers from an identity crisis. In several parts it reads like an educational piece for middle schoolers. Describing Hitler’s rise to power, how ordinary Germans did/didn’t know the Holocaust was going on, etc.
The premise has a lot of promise but it didn’t do it for me.
This is the type of book I love. But I had a very hard time with it for several reasons. The top two:
An overwhelming amount of unnecessary detail. It doesn’t add anything and it often confuses and bogs down the story line.
It suffers from an identity crisis. In several parts it reads like an educational piece for middle schoolers. Describing Hitler’s rise to power, how ordinary Germans did/didn’t know the Holocaust was going on, etc.
The premise has a lot of promise but it didn’t do it for me.
May 18, 2020
Jack finds a letter written to his deceased, abusive father that raises a mystery and sends him on a journey to Germany. Jack is trying to find an answer as to why his father was so abusive. What he finds is a woman with a secret and a story.
This book dragged on at times but had some brilliant moments such as the well done description of the horrors of a concentration camp. There is a surprise in the book which is pretty predictable. Overall it’s a good story.
If you like World War II fiction and stories of family strife and struggles, you will enjoy this book.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley. My review is voluntary
This book dragged on at times but had some brilliant moments such as the well done description of the horrors of a concentration camp. There is a surprise in the book which is pretty predictable. Overall it’s a good story.
If you like World War II fiction and stories of family strife and struggles, you will enjoy this book.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley. My review is voluntary
April 6, 2020
184 pages
4 stars
This story is told in two timelines: 1930's Germany and the present.
At the beginning of this book the character Jack has a 'tude. Although to be fair the ex-cop has plenty to about which to have a chip on his shoulder.
He and his former partner and now friend Sherk travel to Germany to visit Sherk's family. Jack has another motive for going, however, and waits until they get there to spring it on Sherk. He has found a letter in his now deceased father's things and Jack and his brother Tommy want to know who sent it. Written in a feminine hand, and partly in English and partly in German, it is an intriguing find.
Sherk and Jack set out to find the woman named Ariana. Who they discover is her sister Renate. Renate is a spry, energetic woman who takes them to visit her sister. Sadly, she is suffering from dementia.
Over several days, Renate tells Ariana and Jack's father's story. She gives Jack a journal written by his father at Ariana's insistence. Jack reads about their discovery of the Dachau concentration camp in 1945. His father describes the horrors he saw and experienced.
Jack begins to understand why perhaps his father was a mean drunk.
But there is more to the diary. There is also a post script written by Ariana.
Well written and plotted, as are all of Ms. Lelvis' books, this novel is entrancing and fascinating. I didn't like Jack at first. I though he was rude to his friend and couldn't understand why Sherk would put up with his behavior. Ms. Lelvis has a talent for writing and I hope she keeps it up. She tells a very good story.
I want to thank NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review.
4 stars
This story is told in two timelines: 1930's Germany and the present.
At the beginning of this book the character Jack has a 'tude. Although to be fair the ex-cop has plenty to about which to have a chip on his shoulder.
He and his former partner and now friend Sherk travel to Germany to visit Sherk's family. Jack has another motive for going, however, and waits until they get there to spring it on Sherk. He has found a letter in his now deceased father's things and Jack and his brother Tommy want to know who sent it. Written in a feminine hand, and partly in English and partly in German, it is an intriguing find.
Sherk and Jack set out to find the woman named Ariana. Who they discover is her sister Renate. Renate is a spry, energetic woman who takes them to visit her sister. Sadly, she is suffering from dementia.
Over several days, Renate tells Ariana and Jack's father's story. She gives Jack a journal written by his father at Ariana's insistence. Jack reads about their discovery of the Dachau concentration camp in 1945. His father describes the horrors he saw and experienced.
Jack begins to understand why perhaps his father was a mean drunk.
But there is more to the diary. There is also a post script written by Ariana.
Well written and plotted, as are all of Ms. Lelvis' books, this novel is entrancing and fascinating. I didn't like Jack at first. I though he was rude to his friend and couldn't understand why Sherk would put up with his behavior. Ms. Lelvis has a talent for writing and I hope she keeps it up. She tells a very good story.
I want to thank NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review.
April 13, 2020
Can a letter change your life?
Jack and Tommy were going through their late father's possessions when they found a letter to him from a German woman. It was sent to him just after the war ended.
Jack decides to go to Germany and find the lady that had written the letter in hopes he would find out about his father's time in the war.
What he finds not only changes how he thinks about his father, but how he thinks of the war and the German people. He finds the woman that wrote the letter, although she now has lost most of her memory. He also meets her sister who has a journal his father wrote during the war. She tells him her sister's story during the war and gives him his father's journal.
He finds out information which will change his life. It opens his eyes to what his father saw during the war that caused him to become a drunk and to have nightmares. He understands his father as he never did before.
He goes home to his brother Tommy and his sister Jennifer and shares what he learned and shared the journal with them.
It is a tragic story of a German family during the war, and a young soldier sent to liberate Dachau the Nazi concentration camp. The sites he saw would haunt the soldier the rest of his life. In his nightmares he remembers the young German girl he once knew. He could never explain to his family and never talked to them of the war. He became a bitter drunk and took it out on his sons. They never understood him until they read his journal.
The book was interesting to read, a page turner for me. I enjoyed the description of the German cities Dachau and Munich. The story that was told was interesting to read in a historical sense, but the feelings and the communications with the characters involved made the story.
I would recommend this book, it was a good read.
Thanks to Meg Lelvis, Black Rose Writing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of the book for an honest review.
Jack and Tommy were going through their late father's possessions when they found a letter to him from a German woman. It was sent to him just after the war ended.
Jack decides to go to Germany and find the lady that had written the letter in hopes he would find out about his father's time in the war.
What he finds not only changes how he thinks about his father, but how he thinks of the war and the German people. He finds the woman that wrote the letter, although she now has lost most of her memory. He also meets her sister who has a journal his father wrote during the war. She tells him her sister's story during the war and gives him his father's journal.
He finds out information which will change his life. It opens his eyes to what his father saw during the war that caused him to become a drunk and to have nightmares. He understands his father as he never did before.
He goes home to his brother Tommy and his sister Jennifer and shares what he learned and shared the journal with them.
It is a tragic story of a German family during the war, and a young soldier sent to liberate Dachau the Nazi concentration camp. The sites he saw would haunt the soldier the rest of his life. In his nightmares he remembers the young German girl he once knew. He could never explain to his family and never talked to them of the war. He became a bitter drunk and took it out on his sons. They never understood him until they read his journal.
The book was interesting to read, a page turner for me. I enjoyed the description of the German cities Dachau and Munich. The story that was told was interesting to read in a historical sense, but the feelings and the communications with the characters involved made the story.
I would recommend this book, it was a good read.
Thanks to Meg Lelvis, Black Rose Writing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of the book for an honest review.
June 3, 2020
"What do I know about memory? When you become old and used up like me, it’s easy to allow the past to take over."
This is my first time reading Meg Lelvis, and I'm jumping in by having read her third instalment of the Jack Bailey series.
I was immediately drawn to this book and it's dual timeline, 1930's Germany and present day. As the book begins, Jack, a determined ex-cop, is looking to uncover the mystery surrounding a love letter from WWII sent to his now deceased father many years ago. This leads Jack to Munich in search of a women as he looks further into the mysterious love letter.
The other timeline of the story tells the tragic tale of Ariana and her family as Hitler and his brutes claim their hold on Germany and eventually Europe. We discover that Ariana holds a deep connection to Jack's father during his time in Germany and liberating Dachau during WWII.
As Jack begins to uncover the mystery, he discovers new truths about his unloving father and what he endured during the war. Jack eventually does find the woman that wrote the letter along with her sister, Renate. Renate begins to weave the tale of the past and gives Jack his father's journal from during the war..
Both stories pulled me right into the mystery as I found myself connected and drawn into the lives and tragedies of the characters. I have to be honest, that in the beginning I truly did not like Jack Bailey's character at all. He is rude, deceitful and flat out awful to his friend in the beginning of the story. I'm guessing that Jack is going through a dark period in his life at this point of the series. However, he does later endear himself as his character evolves.
Lelvis uses wonderful descriptive language and excellent research to create this moving tale. This is a wonderful series to start, and now I plan on going back and starting the series from the beginning.
This is my first time reading Meg Lelvis, and I'm jumping in by having read her third instalment of the Jack Bailey series.
I was immediately drawn to this book and it's dual timeline, 1930's Germany and present day. As the book begins, Jack, a determined ex-cop, is looking to uncover the mystery surrounding a love letter from WWII sent to his now deceased father many years ago. This leads Jack to Munich in search of a women as he looks further into the mysterious love letter.
The other timeline of the story tells the tragic tale of Ariana and her family as Hitler and his brutes claim their hold on Germany and eventually Europe. We discover that Ariana holds a deep connection to Jack's father during his time in Germany and liberating Dachau during WWII.
As Jack begins to uncover the mystery, he discovers new truths about his unloving father and what he endured during the war. Jack eventually does find the woman that wrote the letter along with her sister, Renate. Renate begins to weave the tale of the past and gives Jack his father's journal from during the war..
Both stories pulled me right into the mystery as I found myself connected and drawn into the lives and tragedies of the characters. I have to be honest, that in the beginning I truly did not like Jack Bailey's character at all. He is rude, deceitful and flat out awful to his friend in the beginning of the story. I'm guessing that Jack is going through a dark period in his life at this point of the series. However, he does later endear himself as his character evolves.
Lelvis uses wonderful descriptive language and excellent research to create this moving tale. This is a wonderful series to start, and now I plan on going back and starting the series from the beginning.
April 14, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley, Black Rose Writing and Meg Lelvis for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
4 / 5 Stars
Told in two timelines - Modern Day Munich, Germany and World War II Dachau.
We meet up with Jack Bailey following his departure from Police as he embarked on an adventure with now friend Sherk to Germany to visit Sherk’s family. His motive to join the trip sits on a letter of his deceased fathers. Jack and his brother, Tommy wish to find out who sent the letter which balances English and German and is written in a female hand as well as the context surrounding it. It might be a key to understanding how and why their father became a drunk.
Her identity is uncovered through her sister - Renate. Ariana is her name, and she suffers from dementia. Renate tells the story of Ariana and Jack’s father over the course of a few days. The story pivotes between timelines as the past is described in dialogue. Renate begins by explaining her experiences during the war in order to bring war time Germany alive. Renate’s experiences run parallel with Jack’s own back story.
After obtaining a diary written by his father in order to please Ariana, Jack begins to understand his father’s psyche. They discovered Dachau Concentration Camp in 1945, and the horrors seen and experienced are detailed in his father’s writing. The diary also has a postscript written by Ariana. But the question becomes, what can Jack tell his brother ,sister and mother? Where does a boundary lie in regards to a deceased person’s secrets?
Lelvis’ uses great word choice in the experiences depicting Trauma and Horrors.
The themes highlight the importance of family and friendship and the importance of remembering/never forgetting what happened in Europe during World War II.
This was my first Jack Bailey novel, and I picked this up due to the historical fiction told. I am interested in going back and reading #1 and #2 now.
Highly recommend this book and author!
4 / 5 Stars
Told in two timelines - Modern Day Munich, Germany and World War II Dachau.
We meet up with Jack Bailey following his departure from Police as he embarked on an adventure with now friend Sherk to Germany to visit Sherk’s family. His motive to join the trip sits on a letter of his deceased fathers. Jack and his brother, Tommy wish to find out who sent the letter which balances English and German and is written in a female hand as well as the context surrounding it. It might be a key to understanding how and why their father became a drunk.
Her identity is uncovered through her sister - Renate. Ariana is her name, and she suffers from dementia. Renate tells the story of Ariana and Jack’s father over the course of a few days. The story pivotes between timelines as the past is described in dialogue. Renate begins by explaining her experiences during the war in order to bring war time Germany alive. Renate’s experiences run parallel with Jack’s own back story.
After obtaining a diary written by his father in order to please Ariana, Jack begins to understand his father’s psyche. They discovered Dachau Concentration Camp in 1945, and the horrors seen and experienced are detailed in his father’s writing. The diary also has a postscript written by Ariana. But the question becomes, what can Jack tell his brother ,sister and mother? Where does a boundary lie in regards to a deceased person’s secrets?
Lelvis’ uses great word choice in the experiences depicting Trauma and Horrors.
The themes highlight the importance of family and friendship and the importance of remembering/never forgetting what happened in Europe during World War II.
This was my first Jack Bailey novel, and I picked this up due to the historical fiction told. I am interested in going back and reading #1 and #2 now.
Highly recommend this book and author!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2020
I really enjoyed this read. It was full of hope for what might have been, and heartbreak for what happened, the suffering that was endured and the routes some took to try blot out the past, unsuccessfully at times, and try to move on as best they can. The truths that Jack Bailey uncovered during his trip to Munich were horrific but the author built in Bailey, a strong and credible led protagonist who undoubtedly contributed considerably to this novel. While so many books about the holocaust have been released in recent years this one is written from a different, and gripping angle. I highly recommend it!
April 9, 2020
In this fine book, Jack Bailey takes a physical, temporal and emotional journey. Through this journey, he learns not only about his family’s past but he uncovers some truths about himself. This well-written and thoughtful book, which can be tough reading at times because of the subject matter, is a poignant character study. It highlights the importance of family and friends and the relationships we all have with the people we know and love. It also presents a believable study of how people react in times of intense strife and conflict. It is well-researched by an author who is obviously versed in history. I recommend this book.
March 11, 2023
Testament to History and the human Heart.
This story fleshed out the survival of my Munich grand parents family, torn as half had migrated to America and half left in Munich during WWII.
And brought to mind my own visit to the evil Dachau crematorium yet sleepy beauty of the Dachau township and the duped country folk who watched helpless as ash fell. Who chronicled their nightmares?
Thank you!
This story fleshed out the survival of my Munich grand parents family, torn as half had migrated to America and half left in Munich during WWII.
And brought to mind my own visit to the evil Dachau crematorium yet sleepy beauty of the Dachau township and the duped country folk who watched helpless as ash fell. Who chronicled their nightmares?
Thank you!
October 6, 2023
One never knows why our parents are like they are…
Their pasts are quite revealing
Their pasts are quite revealing
September 16, 2022
Yikes, what a mess. First of all, I’m not sure how there are there three books about this narrator, Jack Bailey, as he was the most one-dimensional, insufferable jerk. The only personality trait the author gave him was “a**hole” and boy did she take that seriously. Somehow I’m supposed to believe Jack had a friend who liked him enough to take him to Germany, even though Jack never let this friend finish a sentence, and told him repeatedly “I don’t care about your historical crap.” Yeah, right.
Second, the whole love story was repulsive. Love at first sight between someone hiding in a closet, so scared of the soldiers entering her home, and one of those very soldiers? A love so powerful that learning about it causes Jack to forgive that they were literally Nazis?
Finally, the “feel good ending” was so predictable and bland. It took a trip to Germany for the family to realize “oh, dad saw dead people in the war, that’s why he was a raging alcoholic who beat us?” Like yeah, no duh. Guess all it takes is one trip to heal all family wounds. Gross and unrealistic.
Second, the whole love story was repulsive. Love at first sight between someone hiding in a closet, so scared of the soldiers entering her home, and one of those very soldiers? A love so powerful that learning about it causes Jack to forgive that they were literally Nazis?
Finally, the “feel good ending” was so predictable and bland. It took a trip to Germany for the family to realize “oh, dad saw dead people in the war, that’s why he was a raging alcoholic who beat us?” Like yeah, no duh. Guess all it takes is one trip to heal all family wounds. Gross and unrealistic.
June 27, 2020
A Letter from Munich is the third book in the Jack Bailey series. If I knew that before I came across it on Netgalley I wouldn't have requested it. Mainly because I prefer to read a series in order. I thought it could be one of those stand alone cases but it wasn't and for that reason I believe my review is bias on those grounds so please take it with a grain of salt.
This novel had incredible potential. I really enjoyed the flashback into the past but the present days were rough. I did not like Jack at all. I get he had issues of child abuse growing up because his dad had PTSD due to the war and was a drunk and, his wife and daughter passed away. But, give readers some more character background, I should have looked at his character and felt sympathy and understanding. The pace was so fast there was so much detail missing. Then, there were times when there was a lot of unnecessary detail. The epilogue I felt was pointless and is an example of unnecessary detail when I could think of other things that could have concluded the story better.
One thing I did appreciate and will be taking away from this novel is the new perspective I have on Germans. "The criminals were individuals. Not a whole country". I don't think I would ever forget that line. A letter from Munich was a huge eye opener for me in that aspect. It is encouraging me to read more historical fiction in the perspectives of Germans so I can get a well rounded view and insight on the war. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be quick to recommend this read.
Triggers: Rape, child abuse and intense gore.
Thank you Black Rose Writing for approving my request through Netgalley to read A Letter from Munich in exchange for an honest review.
This novel had incredible potential. I really enjoyed the flashback into the past but the present days were rough. I did not like Jack at all. I get he had issues of child abuse growing up because his dad had PTSD due to the war and was a drunk and, his wife and daughter passed away. But, give readers some more character background, I should have looked at his character and felt sympathy and understanding. The pace was so fast there was so much detail missing. Then, there were times when there was a lot of unnecessary detail. The epilogue I felt was pointless and is an example of unnecessary detail when I could think of other things that could have concluded the story better.
One thing I did appreciate and will be taking away from this novel is the new perspective I have on Germans. "The criminals were individuals. Not a whole country". I don't think I would ever forget that line. A letter from Munich was a huge eye opener for me in that aspect. It is encouraging me to read more historical fiction in the perspectives of Germans so I can get a well rounded view and insight on the war. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be quick to recommend this read.
Triggers: Rape, child abuse and intense gore.
Thank you Black Rose Writing for approving my request through Netgalley to read A Letter from Munich in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2020
Overall Rating = 4.08
Storyline & Concept = 3.75
Writing & Delivery = 4
Editorial = 4.5
A Letter from Munich, set mostly in Germany, both in present time and during World War II, tells the story of a love affair between an American soldier and a young German woman during the war. Instigated by the discovery of a decades-old letter, the main character, Jack Bailey, a hardened ex-cop, searches for the source of the letter and an understanding of his father’s cruel nature.
Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, and the author did extensive research into the atrocities of WWII Germany. The mindset, culture, and historical sites of both modern-day and wartime Germany are deftly woven into the plot. Jack, the main character, is rude and unlikable, which can be off-putting at times, but the author explains his attitude by hinting at the damage he had suffered from past experiences, which are detailed in previous novels. The writing is very well done, and the historical sections, as related by an aging German woman, are captivating and are the highlights of this novel.
Sublime Line: “A Letter from Munich takes a fascinating plunge into World War II Germany as Jack Bailey returns in this novel to search for the writer of a decades-old love letter.”
Storyline & Concept = 3.75
Writing & Delivery = 4
Editorial = 4.5
A Letter from Munich, set mostly in Germany, both in present time and during World War II, tells the story of a love affair between an American soldier and a young German woman during the war. Instigated by the discovery of a decades-old letter, the main character, Jack Bailey, a hardened ex-cop, searches for the source of the letter and an understanding of his father’s cruel nature.
Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, and the author did extensive research into the atrocities of WWII Germany. The mindset, culture, and historical sites of both modern-day and wartime Germany are deftly woven into the plot. Jack, the main character, is rude and unlikable, which can be off-putting at times, but the author explains his attitude by hinting at the damage he had suffered from past experiences, which are detailed in previous novels. The writing is very well done, and the historical sections, as related by an aging German woman, are captivating and are the highlights of this novel.
Sublime Line: “A Letter from Munich takes a fascinating plunge into World War II Germany as Jack Bailey returns in this novel to search for the writer of a decades-old love letter.”
November 13, 2020
If you found a letter after a loved one passed away, would you attempt to find the sender?
Munich was one of the favorite places I traveled to during my trip across Germany and thus, this book sucked me in from the beginning. The author does a fabulous job at weaving the two timelines together - the present and the past. The characters are deep and relatable and I found myself wanting to know more about the letter as much as Jack does.
While there weren't any surprises, I genuinely enjoyed solving the "mystery" and had difficulty putting it down. I recommend this to anyone enjoying historical fiction or books regarding Germany!
Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this and give my honest opinion.
Munich was one of the favorite places I traveled to during my trip across Germany and thus, this book sucked me in from the beginning. The author does a fabulous job at weaving the two timelines together - the present and the past. The characters are deep and relatable and I found myself wanting to know more about the letter as much as Jack does.
While there weren't any surprises, I genuinely enjoyed solving the "mystery" and had difficulty putting it down. I recommend this to anyone enjoying historical fiction or books regarding Germany!
Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this and give my honest opinion.
May 15, 2020
What do I know about memory? When you become old and used up like me, it’s easy to allow the past to take over. Some memories are sharp as teeth, others like gauzy clouds floating in your brain. Others flutter around like a trapped moth; others are right on the edge of remembrance. Like a familiar melody you can’t identify.
In 1945 John Bailey was one of the American soldiers sent to liberate Dachau after Germany surrendered. The horrors he witnessed there: the mass graves, the dead people and others who were not so lucky didn’t deter him from falling in love with Fräulein Ariana, whom he found hiding in a closet after he went to inspect her house. The two fell deeply in love despite the circumstances and the language barrier.
In 2012, John’s son, Jack, a jaded ex-cop convinces his friend Sherk to help him figure out the mystery behind the love letter Ariana had written to his father.
From the very start, Jack is an unlikeable character. He expects that the knowledge of his father’s past affair will bring light as to why he abused his children. There is never an excuse for abusing children. He calls Sherk’s positive views of Germany’s national healthcare as “socialist leanings.” Is this some sort of American joke that I’m too European to understand? In a passionate outburst, Jack calls Sherk “Führer”, who talks about his “frickin’ superior race.” Only after visiting Germany and reading his father’s diary, Jack is ready to accept that the criminals behind the terrors that happened during the war were individuals, not the whole country. And at the end of it all, Jack thinks himself more culturally aware. How very American, to be in your sixties and finally realize other countries function differently than the US. The whole ending with the birthday was unnecessary. Absolutely nothing of interest happened. The writing was stilted and unnatural, choosing to skip over interesting bits (like how Sherk managed to get in touch with Ariana’s sister) and instead giving us miniscule details of actions such as an old woman setting a tray of coffee and strudel.
The bits of history and horrors that happened were detailed and well-written. The description of holocaust deniers who lived right next to concentration camps and still refused to accept what happened was chilling. Sherk is an energetic character, with a vast knowledge of the past events that gets info-dumpy at times and a collection of quotes he recites at most inconvenient times (which, according to Jack, is always). He was the only interesting character, his history knowledge adding to the narrative.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 17, 2022
"But I don't have the negative view I once had of the Germans. The criminals were individuals. Not a whole country."
Why would I bother to read a book that is marked by pedestrian prose and a trite plot? Two reasons: (1) It was free on my Kindle (via Bookbub.com). (2) It provided an opportunity to write a snarky review.
Jack Bailey, a retired Chicago cop, has recently discovered a box of his abusive father's World War II memorabilia. Included in the collection is a letter written by a German woman whose identity is not familiar. As it happens, Jack's former colleague Karl Scherkenbach ("Sherk"), a native German, is about to make his annual trip back to his homeland, and since his wife is unable to accompany him due to ovarian cancer treatments, he invites Jack in her place. At first Jack does not reveal the reason for his wanting to go, but he eventually confesses his desire to explore the origins of the mysterious letter. Once in Munich, Sherk undertakes some research, and tracks down the whereabouts of the woman -- Ariana. It turns out that she is living with dementia in an assisted-living facility, but Jack and Sherk are referred to her sister Renate who lives independently in the same place. Renate welcomes them, and over time she tells them Ariana's story.
Given the predictability of the plot, no spoiler alert seems necessary. Arianna, the letter-writer, was Jack's father's lover, and Dad's fling -- unknown to Jack -- produced a daughter whom Jack meets prior to learning her identity (he fantasizes about a romantic encounter, but is, fortunately, dissuaded by Sherk). Jack's father was also among the troops that liberated Dachau near the end of the War, and the novel contains some graphic descriptions of the death camps that were located there -- camps that, according to Jack, were unknown to ordinary Germans (whom he seems overly eager to exonerate, despite the existence of historical documents that argue otherwise).
Returning home, Jack relates his findings to his brother and sister, but not to his mother, who must be kept ignorant of her husband's overseas affair. The two boys, formerly hostile to their father's memory, are miraculously turned into forgiving individuals, despite the ill treatment that they suffered from their abusive dad, whose sins are now to be excused by the trauma of the war.
The final chapters, describing a birthday cookout for Jack's mother, are entirely gratuitous, and add nothing at all to the story. Finally, the author decides to end the novel on what feels like a self conscious attempt to be clever, utilizing a sappy motif that has been recurrent.
Overall, the novel's language presumably attempts to capture the sexist banter and mentality of ex-Chicago cops in the 2000s, but even for those characters it doesn't ring very true. This novel is a time-waster.
April 18, 2025
A Letter from Munich by Meg Lelvis is a historical fiction that takes the reader into the horror of 1930s Munich, Germany. A story that begins with the Schroder family and their two little daughters’ peaceful life in the village of Dachau.
Another timeline in the story takes the reader to a trip to Munich, Germany in 2012 and an opportunity for a retired Chicago cop, Jack Bailey to uncover the mystery of a wartime love letter he found written to his father decades ago. Who is this woman from Munich who attempted to connect with his father? Why did his father keep the delicate vellum letter hidden with his war relics, and what key does it hold to his father’s life?
Lelvis keeps the reader’s attention with shocking details of an American soldier’s encounter with the war in Germany - that soldier being John Bailey, father of Jack Bailey. There’s a great measure of suspense in the life of John Bailey and how war impacted his life as a young soldier, husband, and later the kind of father he would become through the years. There are always secrets in love and war. John Bailey carried those secrets and scars.
The atrocities of war will not alarm one if you are learned in Nazi Germany history. “Good people do bad things and bad people do good things.” Another quote, “The strong become weak and the weak become strong” are transparent in the novel. John Bailey did his part of being weak and strong. Truly he never wanted to let go of the good things, and his mind was shattered by the bad things. The hauntings of his heart followed him in ways he never imagined.
Sadly, another generation lived to tell his story and find truth. The connection in the story resonates that in love and war, there is often one woman who loves deeply and loses something, and there is another woman who is secure and survives but knows nothing!
Delve into the history of Germany, its unforgettable transformation in war to its people and those imprisoned to leadership and mere hatred of the Jews. This is a short read, somewhat predictable, but I do enjoy a story that unfolds an inspiring journal or a love letter, and the novel is rich in historical military information.
I rated it only 3-stars because the writer’s style went from historical depth to a few words splattered on a page just to finish a chapter … all the while inching the reader to a family setting of how to deal with discovered secrets of John Bailey’s life.
And it all began with a letter …
Another timeline in the story takes the reader to a trip to Munich, Germany in 2012 and an opportunity for a retired Chicago cop, Jack Bailey to uncover the mystery of a wartime love letter he found written to his father decades ago. Who is this woman from Munich who attempted to connect with his father? Why did his father keep the delicate vellum letter hidden with his war relics, and what key does it hold to his father’s life?
Lelvis keeps the reader’s attention with shocking details of an American soldier’s encounter with the war in Germany - that soldier being John Bailey, father of Jack Bailey. There’s a great measure of suspense in the life of John Bailey and how war impacted his life as a young soldier, husband, and later the kind of father he would become through the years. There are always secrets in love and war. John Bailey carried those secrets and scars.
The atrocities of war will not alarm one if you are learned in Nazi Germany history. “Good people do bad things and bad people do good things.” Another quote, “The strong become weak and the weak become strong” are transparent in the novel. John Bailey did his part of being weak and strong. Truly he never wanted to let go of the good things, and his mind was shattered by the bad things. The hauntings of his heart followed him in ways he never imagined.
Sadly, another generation lived to tell his story and find truth. The connection in the story resonates that in love and war, there is often one woman who loves deeply and loses something, and there is another woman who is secure and survives but knows nothing!
Delve into the history of Germany, its unforgettable transformation in war to its people and those imprisoned to leadership and mere hatred of the Jews. This is a short read, somewhat predictable, but I do enjoy a story that unfolds an inspiring journal or a love letter, and the novel is rich in historical military information.
I rated it only 3-stars because the writer’s style went from historical depth to a few words splattered on a page just to finish a chapter … all the while inching the reader to a family setting of how to deal with discovered secrets of John Bailey’s life.
And it all began with a letter …
May 20, 2020
A wartime romance. Forbidden love. Buried secrets.
Retired Chicago detective Jack Bailey has a “missing persons” case that’s a doozie. It’s also intensely personal. Stretching back to World War II, the case involves a cryptic one-page letter to his late father. The family finds it when sorting through Dad's belongings after his death. Can it shed any light on who Dad was and why?
When Jack's former partner’s ailing wife is unable to travel, “Sherk” invites Jack to join him for a visit to the old family homestead in Germany. Can they find his father’s “wartime fraulein?
Arriving in Germany, Jack wonders what the elderly sister of his dad’s German sweetheart can reveal about his “old man”? Renate has been sworn to secrecy about her growing up years in the village of Dachau. But what’s her big secret? Why does it still matter? Are some family skeletons best kept in the closet?
Skillfully navigating between past and present, this gripping, engaging story takes off in Chapter 10. It’s set near Munich, in the 1930s. Looking back, Renate narrates how they “missed the signs.” Untermensch. Silence and secrets. Vaguely becoming “aware of doom around the edges of our lives.” The Dachau Death Train. How knowing the difference between facts and opinions can get you killed. The power of propaganda.
Superlative writing undergirds a riveting story revealing the effects of war on ordinary Germans and how criminals are individuals, not a whole country.
The POV/narration volleys back and forth between Jack and Renate, younger sister of his dad’s German sweetheart. This might be confusing in the hands of a lesser talent. But this author blends both perspectives into a seamless tapestry of sights, sounds, tastes, color, history, reminiscence, and a poignant loss of innocence.
There’s also Belfast. And an IRA car bombing.
A Letter to Munich is a graphic reminder of the terrible price war extracts from both soldiers and civilians. It’s a powerful testament to the will to survive and love, and how hope shines bright even in the midst of indescribable evil. It also raises the ultimate question:
“What is the boundary between a person’s right to the truth and the right to keep painful secrets?”
This well-crafted, briskly paced story draws readers in quickly and keeps them guessing until the final page. Anyone who enjoys a fascinating blend of historical fiction, mystery, and romance will enjoy this book.
#ALetterFromMunich
#NetGalley
@brwpublisher
Retired Chicago detective Jack Bailey has a “missing persons” case that’s a doozie. It’s also intensely personal. Stretching back to World War II, the case involves a cryptic one-page letter to his late father. The family finds it when sorting through Dad's belongings after his death. Can it shed any light on who Dad was and why?
When Jack's former partner’s ailing wife is unable to travel, “Sherk” invites Jack to join him for a visit to the old family homestead in Germany. Can they find his father’s “wartime fraulein?
Arriving in Germany, Jack wonders what the elderly sister of his dad’s German sweetheart can reveal about his “old man”? Renate has been sworn to secrecy about her growing up years in the village of Dachau. But what’s her big secret? Why does it still matter? Are some family skeletons best kept in the closet?
Skillfully navigating between past and present, this gripping, engaging story takes off in Chapter 10. It’s set near Munich, in the 1930s. Looking back, Renate narrates how they “missed the signs.” Untermensch. Silence and secrets. Vaguely becoming “aware of doom around the edges of our lives.” The Dachau Death Train. How knowing the difference between facts and opinions can get you killed. The power of propaganda.
Superlative writing undergirds a riveting story revealing the effects of war on ordinary Germans and how criminals are individuals, not a whole country.
The POV/narration volleys back and forth between Jack and Renate, younger sister of his dad’s German sweetheart. This might be confusing in the hands of a lesser talent. But this author blends both perspectives into a seamless tapestry of sights, sounds, tastes, color, history, reminiscence, and a poignant loss of innocence.
There’s also Belfast. And an IRA car bombing.
A Letter to Munich is a graphic reminder of the terrible price war extracts from both soldiers and civilians. It’s a powerful testament to the will to survive and love, and how hope shines bright even in the midst of indescribable evil. It also raises the ultimate question:
“What is the boundary between a person’s right to the truth and the right to keep painful secrets?”
This well-crafted, briskly paced story draws readers in quickly and keeps them guessing until the final page. Anyone who enjoys a fascinating blend of historical fiction, mystery, and romance will enjoy this book.
#ALetterFromMunich
#NetGalley
@brwpublisher
March 14, 2021
Two brothers in Chicago come across a letter buried in their late alcoholic, abusive fathers’ WWII memorabilia. The romantically-worded letter from 1946 points to him having had an affair with the female author of the letter while in Germany. One brother goes to Germany to try and find her and get the whole story. He manages to do that, and could finally attribute his father’s behavior to having been one of the first to walk through the doors of Dachau in the liberation. He finds another ghost from his father’s past while talking to the woman’s sister. He wrestles with whether to tell other family members or not: “What is the boundary between a person’s right to the truth and the right to keep painful secrets?”
At any rate, I really didn’t like the man at all, and having an unlikeable protagonist is not especially pleasant reading. At a restaurant in Germany, a child is making a fuss at a nearby table. He says. “Last thing I want to put up with are brats yakking…“Jeez, sounds like a wounded hyena, and he ain’t laughing,” Besides frequent uses of “ain’t”, he also speaks with words like dunno, grub, wanna, nah, and gotta, and says things like, “You’re fulla’ shit, man.” (This is a 50’s something former Chicago cop of Irish heritage). On top of his ignorant and rude speech, he shows little appreciation for his German-speaking former partner who had no idea this trip to see his extended family in Germany was going to turn him seeing little of his family and doing a lot of grunt work to help out this obnoxious “friend.”
It was an OK read, but just OK. The book is copyrighted 2020, and the lead character notes, ““I read where a good many citizens said [the Holocaust] didn’t happen. Even with photos of bodies, it wasn’t proof. They claimed that Hitler had nothing to do with it. The violence was done by thugs, not him. One guy said that it was wrong, if it happened, but he wasn’t convinced it happened.” The man ponders, “Could something like the Third Reich happen again? In America?” A nice reflection on the dangers we face from the likes of Q-Anon!
At any rate, I really didn’t like the man at all, and having an unlikeable protagonist is not especially pleasant reading. At a restaurant in Germany, a child is making a fuss at a nearby table. He says. “Last thing I want to put up with are brats yakking…“Jeez, sounds like a wounded hyena, and he ain’t laughing,” Besides frequent uses of “ain’t”, he also speaks with words like dunno, grub, wanna, nah, and gotta, and says things like, “You’re fulla’ shit, man.” (This is a 50’s something former Chicago cop of Irish heritage). On top of his ignorant and rude speech, he shows little appreciation for his German-speaking former partner who had no idea this trip to see his extended family in Germany was going to turn him seeing little of his family and doing a lot of grunt work to help out this obnoxious “friend.”
It was an OK read, but just OK. The book is copyrighted 2020, and the lead character notes, ““I read where a good many citizens said [the Holocaust] didn’t happen. Even with photos of bodies, it wasn’t proof. They claimed that Hitler had nothing to do with it. The violence was done by thugs, not him. One guy said that it was wrong, if it happened, but he wasn’t convinced it happened.” The man ponders, “Could something like the Third Reich happen again? In America?” A nice reflection on the dangers we face from the likes of Q-Anon!
June 2, 2020
I love a mystery, I love a historical connection and I love a dual timeline story. The blurb for Meg Lelvis’s A Letter from Munich ticked all of those boxes and, while I did enjoy it, it somehow failed to deliver.
The book is the story of ex-Chicago cop Jack Bailey, who travels to Munich to seek out the story behind a letter written to his father at the end of the Second Word War. Jack has a back story of violent bereavement, in the loss of his wife and daughter 12 years earlier, and he’s travelling with his mate Sherk (of German extraction) whose wife is going through cancer treatment. With Sherk’s help, Jack tracks down the woman who wrote the letter, Ariana, and discovers the truth about his father. And that’s it.
This is the problem I had with the book. The plot was very slender indeed. There was one twist, which was hardly difficult to spot, and too much of the rest of it was Sherk repeating back in English a conversation he’d just heard in German (Jack, as the running joke goes, doesn’t speak any other language than his own) or Renate, Ariana’a sister, narrating the story (rather than the reader being taken back, as it were, live). Of course, if a reader doesn’t know anything about the liberation of the concentration camps that might be a help in pushing the story on, but if you do, then it feels like padding. I felt very much removed from the story, rather than involved in it.
The book is filed under historical fiction and women’s fiction, though it doesn’t fit neatly into either of those categories — especially given the dominance of the male leading characters. It felt more like a mystery but not much of one. I enjoyed the banter between Jack and Sherk, I liked the almost travelogue-like descriptions of their German trip, and some of the historical background was fine, though I thought there was too much of it.
But, as I say, I expected more plot, and even in the end it petered out.
Thanks to Netgalley and Black Rose Writing for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
The book is the story of ex-Chicago cop Jack Bailey, who travels to Munich to seek out the story behind a letter written to his father at the end of the Second Word War. Jack has a back story of violent bereavement, in the loss of his wife and daughter 12 years earlier, and he’s travelling with his mate Sherk (of German extraction) whose wife is going through cancer treatment. With Sherk’s help, Jack tracks down the woman who wrote the letter, Ariana, and discovers the truth about his father. And that’s it.
This is the problem I had with the book. The plot was very slender indeed. There was one twist, which was hardly difficult to spot, and too much of the rest of it was Sherk repeating back in English a conversation he’d just heard in German (Jack, as the running joke goes, doesn’t speak any other language than his own) or Renate, Ariana’a sister, narrating the story (rather than the reader being taken back, as it were, live). Of course, if a reader doesn’t know anything about the liberation of the concentration camps that might be a help in pushing the story on, but if you do, then it feels like padding. I felt very much removed from the story, rather than involved in it.
The book is filed under historical fiction and women’s fiction, though it doesn’t fit neatly into either of those categories — especially given the dominance of the male leading characters. It felt more like a mystery but not much of one. I enjoyed the banter between Jack and Sherk, I liked the almost travelogue-like descriptions of their German trip, and some of the historical background was fine, though I thought there was too much of it.
But, as I say, I expected more plot, and even in the end it petered out.
Thanks to Netgalley and Black Rose Writing for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
May 21, 2020
Jack Bailey is an ex-cop. His father has died. Jack and Tommy, his younger brother have gone through their dad’s possessions finding a letter written and sent from Munich. Though they can’t read German, there is a thought that perhaps it would lend them some understanding off their father’s brutality. Jack’s friend and ex-partner, Sherk invites him on his yearly trip to Munich where he visits his family. Jack accepts as he wants to see if he can find he woman that wrote his dad’s letter. Sherk is unhappy at instant that Jack is using him fo this but ends up helping him find the woman. Her name is Aranina. She and her sister grew up in the village of Dachau during the horrors of the Third Reich. When both parents are gone, the girls decide to live on their own. They volunteer at the hospital where so many people are along with soldiers. When Ariana meets Jack’s dad, they get together and fall in love. She has Jack’s dad go back to the United States as he has a family there. When Sherk and Jack find that Ariana is in a rest home, they go to see her. Unfortunately they are not allowed to visit her — only family can. They do find that her younger sister Renate is alive and visit her. Sherk acts as the go between as Jack does not know German. She explains that she must tell them about their life growing up so to understand their love for each other. Will Jack find out what he needs to know?
This novel is told by two different viewpoints — one from Renate and one from Jack. It is a compelling story that is engaging and sad at times. The plot grabbed my attention and didn’t let go of me. It is a touching and revealing story. There are family skeletons and secrets. It is a powerful novel.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from NetGalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
This novel is told by two different viewpoints — one from Renate and one from Jack. It is a compelling story that is engaging and sad at times. The plot grabbed my attention and didn’t let go of me. It is a touching and revealing story. There are family skeletons and secrets. It is a powerful novel.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from NetGalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
May 7, 2020
A Letter from Munich, as the title suggests, is about a "forgotten" letter, that resurfaces when John Bailey's family sorts through his belongings, after his death. The forgotten letter was from a woman, and since their Dad kept it for 66 years, John's sons Jack and Tommy, (the ones who found it), thought, that maybe, there could be a story behind the letter. Jack, one of John's 5 children, was actually planning a trip to Munich with his German and now X-partner from the police force (Jack is retired). Jack and his brother Tommy decide that this will probably be their last chance to possibly find the woman Ariane, who wrote the letter. So with the letter in toe, Jack heads to Munich, to look into his father's war time story.
A Letter From Munich is a WW2, #hstoricalfiction, that moves along at a very swift pace, The book kept me interested from the very beginning. It is a little different in that, it is not a story of an unyet, undiscovered or unrecognized female heroine. It is about 2 male "buddies", trying to help and support each other. I really found this a pleasant change. It also spoke not only about the atrocities in the concentration camps, but also equally about the effect of the war on the German people. This was really a great read, especially, if you may be planning a trip to Munich (post #covid19). Author Meg Lelvis brings Munich to life in the pages of her book! I have visited Frankfurt, but now I would really like to see Munich as well. Thank you #netgalley for the e-ARC in return for my honest review, #5stars.
A Letter From Munich is a WW2, #hstoricalfiction, that moves along at a very swift pace, The book kept me interested from the very beginning. It is a little different in that, it is not a story of an unyet, undiscovered or unrecognized female heroine. It is about 2 male "buddies", trying to help and support each other. I really found this a pleasant change. It also spoke not only about the atrocities in the concentration camps, but also equally about the effect of the war on the German people. This was really a great read, especially, if you may be planning a trip to Munich (post #covid19). Author Meg Lelvis brings Munich to life in the pages of her book! I have visited Frankfurt, but now I would really like to see Munich as well. Thank you #netgalley for the e-ARC in return for my honest review, #5stars.
February 11, 2021
The title intrigued me to read this book.
I am not familiar with any of Me L.'s previous books. Since I have a vivid imagination and am familiar with the setting in Germany, I had no problems getting 'deeply' involved in the story. I didn't like Jack at the beginning since he seemed a bit rude and not always nice to his friend Sherk, who invited him to come along to visit Germany. Jack did not tell his friend that he had a special reason to accompany him. After I learned of the tragic loss of his wife and daughter through a bombing in Ireland, I understood him.
It seemed a little far fetched to find a lady who sent a letter from Munich to Jack's father about sixty years earlier without an address. But, familiar with German perfectionism, I accepted that it happened. I had to smile at how the author, Meg Lelvis, found a way to lead the reader deftly into the holocaust, the horror that happened in Dachau, one location of the concentration camps where undesirables and Jews were terminated. Some people might not read the book if they knew in advance...
Meg is a psychologist and knows how to create 'characters' that make you love or hate them. The feelings I experienced were one aspect I kept on reading - even if at times I would have given up. Despite a couple of anticipated surprises, the ending does not completely satisfy - unless it is book 3 of a series and another book is coming. Kudos to Meg for one message we can learn: A whole country was held captive and criminals did the horrible deeds we cannot forget.
I am not familiar with any of Me L.'s previous books. Since I have a vivid imagination and am familiar with the setting in Germany, I had no problems getting 'deeply' involved in the story. I didn't like Jack at the beginning since he seemed a bit rude and not always nice to his friend Sherk, who invited him to come along to visit Germany. Jack did not tell his friend that he had a special reason to accompany him. After I learned of the tragic loss of his wife and daughter through a bombing in Ireland, I understood him.
It seemed a little far fetched to find a lady who sent a letter from Munich to Jack's father about sixty years earlier without an address. But, familiar with German perfectionism, I accepted that it happened. I had to smile at how the author, Meg Lelvis, found a way to lead the reader deftly into the holocaust, the horror that happened in Dachau, one location of the concentration camps where undesirables and Jews were terminated. Some people might not read the book if they knew in advance...
Meg is a psychologist and knows how to create 'characters' that make you love or hate them. The feelings I experienced were one aspect I kept on reading - even if at times I would have given up. Despite a couple of anticipated surprises, the ending does not completely satisfy - unless it is book 3 of a series and another book is coming. Kudos to Meg for one message we can learn: A whole country was held captive and criminals did the horrible deeds we cannot forget.
August 2, 2025
Did Not Finish. Do Not Recommend.
Had this on my kindle for a while and decided to read it after visiting Munich. Did not realize this was the third book in a series until I already started it. I don't usually read books out of order. I found that there were references to Jack's life prior to "now" but was unsure if #1 and #2 had provided more details.
When Jack Bailey's father died, his family found a letter written to him from a woman in Munich that he must have known in 1945. The contents of the letter aren't revealed but Jack, his brother, and mother are interested in finding her to see if they could learn more about his life during that time period.
Jack's former partner knows German and has relatives in that area, so they decide to go over there on vacation. Jack doesn't tell his friend about the letter until they get there, and the friend's wife is undergoing cancer treatments. I found these considerations not conducive to taking a trip, but I guess it is supposed to add to the drama of the situation.
The letter writer has dementia, but her younger sister proves helpful. Jack looks enough like his father that Renata is eager to help them and gives Jack a journal that his father wrote at the behest of her sister. About two chapters into the journal, I was over this book. The description of what Jack's father discovered at the concentration camps was too graphic for me. I completely lost interest in discovering anything about his possible romantic relationship with this woman or anything more about his experience.
Had this on my kindle for a while and decided to read it after visiting Munich. Did not realize this was the third book in a series until I already started it. I don't usually read books out of order. I found that there were references to Jack's life prior to "now" but was unsure if #1 and #2 had provided more details.
When Jack Bailey's father died, his family found a letter written to him from a woman in Munich that he must have known in 1945. The contents of the letter aren't revealed but Jack, his brother, and mother are interested in finding her to see if they could learn more about his life during that time period.
Jack's former partner knows German and has relatives in that area, so they decide to go over there on vacation. Jack doesn't tell his friend about the letter until they get there, and the friend's wife is undergoing cancer treatments. I found these considerations not conducive to taking a trip, but I guess it is supposed to add to the drama of the situation.
The letter writer has dementia, but her younger sister proves helpful. Jack looks enough like his father that Renata is eager to help them and gives Jack a journal that his father wrote at the behest of her sister. About two chapters into the journal, I was over this book. The description of what Jack's father discovered at the concentration camps was too graphic for me. I completely lost interest in discovering anything about his possible romantic relationship with this woman or anything more about his experience.
April 23, 2021
Jack and his brother find an old letter among their father’s military possessions after his death. It’s written in German and from a woman he must have met during the time he served in WWII. Curiosity compels Jack to go with his friend Sherk, whose family is from Munich, to explore the area and search for the mystery woman of his father’s letter. With the help of his friend, they uncover the truth behind the letter and the reason behind is father’s quick temper and harsh treatment of them growing up. Part of the story is told in present day and part is told during the beginning of the war.
The plot of this story intrigued me, but the characters lacked depth. The main character was grouchy and rude even to the friend who was helping him. I realize it was done to show how his attitude changed from the beginning of the story to the end, but it wasn’t done well. Mostly it just made me dislike the main character. Also, while the end of the story plays out like it probably would in real life, it didn’t leave the reader with closure and I finished feeling like I was left wanting. The writing was just okay, but I didn’t get lost in any of it. It was written too superficially and could have been longer to include more details with more of the character’s thoughts in order to draw the reader in. I probably wouldn’t recommend this as there are so many other WWII stories to choose from that are a solid five stars.
The plot of this story intrigued me, but the characters lacked depth. The main character was grouchy and rude even to the friend who was helping him. I realize it was done to show how his attitude changed from the beginning of the story to the end, but it wasn’t done well. Mostly it just made me dislike the main character. Also, while the end of the story plays out like it probably would in real life, it didn’t leave the reader with closure and I finished feeling like I was left wanting. The writing was just okay, but I didn’t get lost in any of it. It was written too superficially and could have been longer to include more details with more of the character’s thoughts in order to draw the reader in. I probably wouldn’t recommend this as there are so many other WWII stories to choose from that are a solid five stars.
April 20, 2020
Historians debate how much ordinary German citizens knew of the existence of Hitler's,s death camps. Lelvis does not give a verdict, but instead presents an objective depiction of thr daily life of a Munich family, their everyday routines and pedestrian concerns. As if Dachau were not down the road. Through the eyes of the characters we see the unspoken phenomenon of wide spread social denial. Then lelvis shows us denial at the individual level-jack baily.s reluctance to delve into his father,s actions when he was an American soldier in WW11.
Thtoughout the narrative, the writing is poignant and powerful. Using letters and shifts of viewpoint, Lelvis skirts the headache of historical fiction writers, authenticating the diction of an earlier era. We hear the victim, we hear jack,s thoughts as he imagines the liberation of the camps. We also
Agonize with him as he comes to grips with his dad.s relationship with the beautiful German national. The author clearly knows her territory, the monuments and streets of Munich as they reflect the interior lives of the characters. Lelvis is too practised a writer to judge the German,s awareness of the holocaust. Instead she brilliantly conveys the.universality of an important truth-how so many of us cannot acknowledge a horror that we cannot accept.
Thtoughout the narrative, the writing is poignant and powerful. Using letters and shifts of viewpoint, Lelvis skirts the headache of historical fiction writers, authenticating the diction of an earlier era. We hear the victim, we hear jack,s thoughts as he imagines the liberation of the camps. We also
Agonize with him as he comes to grips with his dad.s relationship with the beautiful German national. The author clearly knows her territory, the monuments and streets of Munich as they reflect the interior lives of the characters. Lelvis is too practised a writer to judge the German,s awareness of the holocaust. Instead she brilliantly conveys the.universality of an important truth-how so many of us cannot acknowledge a horror that we cannot accept.
April 26, 2020
A Sharp Departure from Police Procedurals
Although this is a part of the Jack Bailey mystery series, it is a sharp departure from the two other books in that series, which are police procedurals. Jack does have a mystery to solve, but this time it's personal. He finds a letter in his late father's belongings from a German woman just after World War II. He and his partner and friend, Sherk, go to Germany to visit Sherk's family and also to dig into the mystery. Jack comes away with not only a greater understanding of that war and its effect on a German family but also possibly an explanation, though not an excuse, for his father's behavior towards him and others in the family. I thought the author did a good job of showing the impact of war on several levels. I also thought she described the cities of Dachau and Munich so well, particularly Dachau. History has made it so that we only associated with the concentration camp that was there, but what of its people during that horrific time? If you enjoy fiction that explores history and its personal ramifications, you will most likely enjoy this book.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
Although this is a part of the Jack Bailey mystery series, it is a sharp departure from the two other books in that series, which are police procedurals. Jack does have a mystery to solve, but this time it's personal. He finds a letter in his late father's belongings from a German woman just after World War II. He and his partner and friend, Sherk, go to Germany to visit Sherk's family and also to dig into the mystery. Jack comes away with not only a greater understanding of that war and its effect on a German family but also possibly an explanation, though not an excuse, for his father's behavior towards him and others in the family. I thought the author did a good job of showing the impact of war on several levels. I also thought she described the cities of Dachau and Munich so well, particularly Dachau. History has made it so that we only associated with the concentration camp that was there, but what of its people during that horrific time? If you enjoy fiction that explores history and its personal ramifications, you will most likely enjoy this book.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
May 29, 2020
Wow. I really enjoyed this book. I read it in one night. Jack and his brother find an old letter in their Dad's stuff for WWII with a woman's name. Jack heads to German with his friend, Sherk, to see if he can uncover who the woman is. As the two search we learn about their relationship and why they are friends. The two take us around Munich and the German country side. The author gives good descriptions of historic places. It made me feel as if I was there. I really enjoyed this. love Jack's character, he is impatient, grouchy, a man with a lots of issues. Through out the book you come to understand why he is this way and see him work through some of those issues. Renate is my favorite character, an older lady who retells her and her sisters story to Jack. She makes Jack take the time to listen and see the truth. The author does a really good job of telling us Jack's fathers story while he was in Germany. It is hard to read but it helps Jack to understand his Dad. After all the questions are answered Jack heads home with a new understanding of WWII and his Dad's time in Germany and a surprise!
August 16, 2020
I feel that I need to start this review with the comment that I haven’t read the first two ‘Jack Bailey’ books in the series. That being said, I was able to slip into this book without any problems.
Jack Bailey discovers a letter among his late father’s possessions. Jack’s father was a hard man, and Jack wasn’t particularly close to him, but the old letter reveals a whole different man, and Jack seems puled to discover this side of his father. When his friend Shrek offers him the opportunity to join his family on their family vacation to Germany, Jack decides to use some of his time there to dig into his father’s World War II experiences and just maybe learn about the man his father once was.
With flash backs between 1930’s and 1940’s Berlin and modern-day Munich, author Meg Lelvis reveals a world fraught with danger, love, and secrets kept.
I’ve lived in Germany, so this book offered me the opportunity to see this country in a new light. The way little bits of the back story were revealed, kept pulling me deeper and deeper into the story. It was a fascinating read and one I would recommend to others.
Jack Bailey discovers a letter among his late father’s possessions. Jack’s father was a hard man, and Jack wasn’t particularly close to him, but the old letter reveals a whole different man, and Jack seems puled to discover this side of his father. When his friend Shrek offers him the opportunity to join his family on their family vacation to Germany, Jack decides to use some of his time there to dig into his father’s World War II experiences and just maybe learn about the man his father once was.
With flash backs between 1930’s and 1940’s Berlin and modern-day Munich, author Meg Lelvis reveals a world fraught with danger, love, and secrets kept.
I’ve lived in Germany, so this book offered me the opportunity to see this country in a new light. The way little bits of the back story were revealed, kept pulling me deeper and deeper into the story. It was a fascinating read and one I would recommend to others.
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