For Those Who Dare

by John Anthony Miller

East Berlin, 1961. Kirstin Beck is determined to escape to the West. She watches from her townhouse window as the border with West Berlin is closed, and a barbed wire fence strung through the cemetery behind her house. With a grandmother in West Berlin that needs her, Kirstin knows she has to go. Tony Marino is an American writer living in West Berlin. As he watches the nearby construction progress, he sees a beautiful woman looking from her townhouse window. Kirstin holds up a sign for Tony to see. HELP ME. The two hatch a plan for Kirstin to get over the border, but the mission is not easy. With the Stasi closing in on them, Kirstin and Tony enter a kaleidoscope of deceit and danger, determined to attain freedom at any cost. But in a country torn between communism and capitalism, can Kirstin escape the world she can't endure?

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical

368 pages, Hardcover

First published December 9, 2019

About the author

John Anthony Miller writes all things historical—thrillers, mysteries, and romance. He sets his novels in exotic locations spanning all eras of space and time, with complex characters forced to face inner conflicts—fighting demons both real and imagined. Each of his novels is unique: a Medieval epic, five historical mysteries, two Cold-War thrillers, two 1970’s cozy mysteries, a Revolutionary War spy novel, seven WWII thrillers, and The Castle on the Cliff. He lives in southern New Jersey.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an experience this story was! I started the book yesterday and finished it today!!! From the very first page the reader is gripped with the tension that will not let down till the last page!! Can inhabitants escape from East Berlin to West Berlin? Who can they trust? Who betrays them? The story is realistically written and reflects the terror, fear and hope encountered in these perilous times. Great read!

[Mary Yarde · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I think once you’ve tasted freedom, it’s very hard to lose it.”

The border between East and West Berlin had been closed before, but as Kirstin Beck watched as the barbed wire was rolled out, she feared that this time the East German Communist Government had something very different in mind for its citizens. They said they wanted to stop the evil plague that is capitalism from creeping inside their country and corrupting the populous, but everyone knew the real reason. The wall was built to keep the East Germans in.

How Kirstin wished she had left the day before the border had closed, but there had been no hint, no warning. Kirstin had a grandmother in West Berlin, and she was desperate to meet her daughter that had been so cruelly snatched away from her years ago. Kirstin had to escape this imposed isolation, somehow. However, who could she turn to for help? The Stasi were everywhere. They could be anyone. Her husband could be one for all she knew. If Kirstin were to escape, then she had to be careful — her very life depended on it.

American citizen, Tony Marino, had been commissioned to write a History of Nations series. He had been in Germany for the past two months visiting historical sites, taking notes. His editor had wanted him to compose a History of Germany, but what Tony had not expected was to be watching and participating in history as it happened. Nor had he expected to be communicating, via a small handheld chalkboard to a woman across the street in East Berlin, who was asking him for help. Tony had always shied away from commitment, but there was something about this woman and her plight, which tugged at his heart-strings.

With Tony’s help then maybe, just maybe, Kirstin would be able to flee across the border and make a new life for herself, in West Berlin. However, Kirstin has roused the suspicion of Karl Hofer, the Minister of State Security, and he is not a man to be crossed.

If it is a new life in West Berlin that Kirstin wants, then she must prepare for the consequences if her escape attempt fails.

For Those Who Dare by John Anthony Miller is a compelling account of one woman’s desperate longing for the freedom that those who live on the other side of the wall from her have. It is unashamedly moving, and I found myself close to tears on more than one occasion as this despairing fog of fear descends upon, not only the heroine but the populous of East Berlin. Kirstin, like others, is willing to risk everything for a chance to be free and to live the life that is being denied to her. Through this story, we see the devastating impact that the Berlin Wall created for those living in East Berlin as well as the daring escapes and acts of heroism from ordinary people who just wanted a better life for themselves and their families.

With an eye for the historical detail, Miller has penned a compelling account about life in East Germany during the German Democratic Republic’s rule. I thought the contrast between East and West Berlin was depicted with great skill and diligence. Miller describes a city that is cut cruelly in half because of opposing principles and political beliefs. West Berlin is a land of plenty, whereas East Berlin is a land of mistrust, fear, and relentlessly long queues for necessary provisions. The contrast could not be more apparent.

The sheer scale of the operation in creating what was to become known as the Berlin Wall has been meticulously described within the pages of this book. As has the confusion that the citizens felt as their lives were irrevocably changed forever by barbed wire, armed guards and a 3.6 metre high concrete wall. I thought Miller has captured the very essences of what it must have been like to live in East Berlin during this time of change and uncertainty. The despairing knowledge that those from the East were cut off from family, friends, jobs and places of education is harrowing, as is the brutality of the treatment of those who spoke out against the State, or who dared to try and escape. Miller has brought this recent past very vividly back to life.

I adored the characterisation of Kirstin Beck. Unlike conventional heroines, Kirstin isn’t a strong woman, but she is driven by desperation. She cannot live the way the government wants her to, and she risks everything, including her life to cross the border. I thought Kirstin’s portrayal was really rather wonderful. Kirstin’s determination to not give up, and to achieve her goal made her a highly desirable heroine for modern readers, but also a very realistic one for the time this book is set in.

On the other side of the wall is the hero of this story, Tony Marino. Like Kirstin, Tony is an unlikely hero. He is a writer, the idea of commitment leaves him running for the hills, but there is almost a sense of destiny in Tony when he strikes up this friendship with the woman across the street. He is determined to help her, despite what that could mean for himself. For the majority of this book, Tony has no idea what he is doing, and he is in completely over his head, but he promised Kirstin he would do everything that he could to help her, and he is not willing to go back on that promise. I thought Tony’s portrayal was fabulous, and it drove this story forward. It also made me stop and think about what I would have done if I were in his shoes. It is a very thought-provoking story as well as being a really entertaining one.

There are several antagonists in this book, most noticeably, Karl Hofer, the Minister of State Security. Hofer seems to take delight in frightening and threatening the citizens of East Berlin. His character brings a great deal of menace to this story, and he always seems to be one step ahead of the protagonists. He is a formidable opponent to put against our brave protagonists.

Another antagonist, which I think I may well have loathed even more than Hofer, is Kirstin’s husband, Professor Steiner Beck. Steiner is thoroughly indoctrinated with communism principles, and he seems to relish spying and reporting people — sometimes, for things they have not even done. He basks in the power that he thinks he has. I found his character incredibly disturbing.

Miller has not only penned some remarkably charismatic protagonist that makes a reader root for, but he also has a visceral understanding of what makes history worth reading. Miller’s fast-paced narrative and his non-stop action make this book highly desirable. For Those Who Dare is a novel that is full to the brim of cliff-hanger action and nail-biting suspense. And if you like a good plot-twist, then this book is definitely for you.

For Those Who Dare by John Anthony Miller has a lot to recommend it. It has everything fans of quality Historical Fiction look for in a novel.

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.

[Divya Mahajan · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Those Who Dare by John Anthony Miller is a fantastic account of the events around the construction of the Berlin Wall. The wall was constructed to keep the west out or was it to keep the east in is a big question here.
There are are group of people who need to escape to the west at any cost which becomes nearly impossible with the construction of the wall overnight. The rest story is how they plan and manage it and whether they are successful in an atmosphere of distrust where you are not sure who you can trust and betrayals becomes the norm and survival becomes a necessity When loved ones betray they receive help from unexpected sources.
The story is never dull and very realistic as if the author was part of the its unfolding and it is hard to put down book I read it from start to finish. A fantastic story with very good characters.
Thanks Readers House for the chance to read and review this book for free.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would have been a 5-star read, but lost a star due to ridiculous grammatical errors which pulled me from the tension of the story. And it is a tense reading experience.

For Those Who Dare begins on the night of the creation of the Berlin Wall, which causes the planned escape of Kirsten Beck to be aborted that very night. From then on, we learn of more people who wish to escape to the freedom of the West, more failed escape plans, the fear of who can be trusted and who cannot, the terror of the Stasi police and their informants, and the goodness and ingenuity of others who help them.

Although not based on a real event, it is based on the reality of those caught in East Berlin at the time. I highly recommend it.

[C Foerster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each chapter a nail biter

This story had me on the edge of my seat all the way through! Great read for historical novel fans.

[Charlotte Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very suspenseful and compelling read. Sympathetic characters subjected to life-changing and dangerous challenges when the East German wall goes up. Their attempts to escape will keep you reading far into the night.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Those Who Dare, by John Anthony Miller, is a riveting, fictional account of a young woman’s desperate plea for help to escape being trapped in East Berlin after the government erects a wall to keep it citizens in. Eloquently told by an author adept at developing characters who draws you into the story he has created.

Kirstin Beck has been thinking for months about escaping to West Berlin were her grandmother lives and a daughter she was forced to give up years ago. On the night she plans on escaping, the East German government unspool razor wire and erect the first barrier to separate East from West. She barely manages to escape the clutches of the police.

From her apartment she can see into West Berlin. So close and so unobtainable. She just has to find a new way to get out. Then one evening she see a young man in a window across the wall in West Germany. She holds up a sign with two words, “Help Me”. Can she depend on this stranger to assist her? There is Stasi in West Berlin. What if he is one of them?

On the West side of the wall Tony Marino is a young American writer working on a series of books called a History of Nations. He is currently conducting research for his book on Germany when he reads the plea of Kristin. Something about her and the plea moves him. With funding and the blessings of his editor he devises a plan to dig a tunnel into the East. It will be dangerous and there will be plenty of opportunities to get caught. Yet he feels compelled to help.

This is one of those books that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. The plan is daring and so very dangerous. There is only one way for it to go right and a thousand ways for it to go wrong. This made for a story with lots of tension, which resulted in me reading well beyond my bedtime. Then the ending, fabulous is the only word I can think of describe it. It totally took me by surprise. So well done!

In addition, I loved the characters especially Kirstin. She went through so much in her young life but was still so brave. I also appreciated how the author used the minor characters to help round out the story.

At this point, I need to mention that the story is loosely based on a real tunnel escape from East Berlin. I remembered watching a documentary some years ago about it and I did a little research. It was interesting to learn a little bit about the inspiration for this book. The author used the basic facts to weave an imaginative and fictional story that will be sure to delight readers.

I highly recommend this book, especially to people that love historical stories that are grounded in fact. I received a free copy in exchange for me honest review. For more of my reviews, and author interviews, see my blog at www.thespineview.com.

[BooksCoffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miller portrays trauma experienced by multitudes before, during, and immediately after the construction of Berlin Wall by the Russian-controlled communist government in this vivid and highly suspenseful narrative.

It was an hour after midnight on 13 August 1961, when a barbed wire was rolled out in the first step of building the historical monument that would divide a city for more than a quarter of a century. Determined to escape to the West, Kristin Beck seeks help of Tony Marino, an American writer living in West Berlin. They are joined by more people, but their plan to get over the border becomes dangerous with the presence of a mole within the group.

Miller not only has a good feel for the period but he is also excellent at delivering atmosphere, multi-dimensional characters, and plenty of suspense. He portrays Kristin as a strong woman whose failures only make her more determined to achieve her goal.

The book’s pace is fast, especially after the first forty pages and readers will have a hard time putting it away. Miller’s extensive research and vivid prose beautifully capture the political intricacies of the time and trauma of the people who woke up one morning to find the family, friends, and neighbors a world away.

The novel with its enthralling storyline combined with immaculate research and its deep human interest not only makes for a dramatically gripping thriller but also provides a better understanding of the immense damage caused by construction of the wall to humankind's irrationality.

A must read!

[Denise -Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Intrigue & Horrors of escaping the Berlin Wall; a heart pounding true to the time period unraveling of history with plot twists that lead to a surprise ending. A story that highlights the stark differences between the East & West play out with everyday characters that grip your heart and ensure you'll read this novel more than once.

[Alison Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story

Often grammatical errors and sloppy editing spoil a good story. Also the author seems to think we need constantly reminding of facts he has set out earlier. Repetition is not necessary but is either padding or he thinks his readers are dumb

[Paul Sabine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berlin Wall birth

A nice book, very light. Easy to read and an appealing cast of characters. Set in Berlin in the 1960s against the backdrop of the sinister and paranoid East German state and its decision to close its border and build the Berlin Wall.

[Eva Lazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is set in the Berlin Wall-era. What makes it interesting, is that it focuses on the beginning of this period in time, rather than the end of it. This unlocks many different viewpoints by the various characters, some believing the wall is temporary and others adjusting their lives entirely based on the expected permanency of the wall.

Of course, the central theme of the book was escaping to the other side of the wall. The motives for each escapee were different, and the reader is allowed to follow some characters more closely to see that escape is not necessarily about freedom.

As much as I dislike killing characters for the sake of killing characters, I feel the same can be said about happy endings. For some of the people in the book the arc felt quite forced. I also want to note that the women in the book are virtually only described physically, with “not-like-other-girls” as their main personality feature. That does not mean that they were unimportant in the book, it just made them feel a little emptily written.

Altogether I found the story to make for a good reading experience, and some of the twists really had me going!

[Christine Ottaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book about the Berlin Wall going up in 1946. The wall started as just barbed wire and then was reinforced till it was the high, solid structure that we all recognised.

The story was about a young woman who tried to flee to the West just as the wall was going up and how her first attempts to flee failed. She was assisted in her efforts by an American who lived just over the wall in West Berlin. The sense of fear living in the East, constantly watched by the Stasi and their informers came across well.

The story was firmly based in history though the story was a fictionalised account of escape attempts. I couldn't help thinking that the story would have been better based on actual attempts especially the last one. There is a nice little twist in the tale at the end but I found it a little strange that the epilogue tells the ongoing story of the characters as if they were real people. This didn't work for me.

The weakness in the book is that is not very well written with every thought and action unnecessarily explained. It's the classic telling not showing. It's a pity because the story was good.

[Maria Beltrami · Rating 5 out of 5]

And one bad day the borders were closed. Kirstin, who decided to leave her husband for good to go live with her grandmother who raised her and concentrate on finding her daughter, born from a rape and given up for adoption at birth, finds herself trapped in East Berlin, under the watchful eye of the almighty STASI. Helped by an American journalist who happens to live right next to the wall, but in the western part of the city, the woman tries to come up with new escape plans until the last, most spectacular, succeeds, not without unexpected help.
An excellent story about the suffocating life in East Germany, where anyone could have been a STASI informant: a husband, a neighbour, a girlfriend and even a child; a fitting tribute to all those who did all that was possible and impossible to reunite their sky, divided by an inhuman policy.

[Studebhawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Those Who Dare
For people of a certain age, the Berlin Wall closing and the international crisis that followed were all too real for so many of us.
This story skillfully recreated the terror and the tension of the Berlin Wall crisis. The author creates vivid pictures of the people and the politics of the time. This story of the people in East Berlin that were denied their freedom drives this story and propels an exciting conclusion. Although a work of fiction, I do not doubt that the story of the “people who dare” highlights the heroism of the East German people who risked everything for freedom.

[Donna Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

1961 and overnight a wall is being built between East and West Berlin. Families are separated by this wall and freedom is lost to those on the East side. This is an exciting and well researched book on the struggle to survive and to escape to West Berlin. Who can you trust when anyone on either side of the wall could be an informant, even a family member?

[Captain Dady Mody · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good, believable but frightening story. In my young days had travelled by train through East Berlin to meet my Pen-pal in West Berlin & it was quite intimidating. I can believe what it must be like to live there under the restrictions & not knowing who to trust or distrust & which of your friends were actually your foe.

[Cristie Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great piece of historical fiction that focuses on the building of the Berlin Wall and of Kirsten's desperate desire to get to the other side of it to her grandmother. She gets the assistance of Tony after holding up a Help Me sign from her window. These two strangers embark on an unforgettable journey and the author's writing makes you want to go along for it!

[Susan M. Slicker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Could hardly put this one down. Having lived in Germany when the wall came down, I was familiar with the border. In real life it was even scarier than the book. The author did a great job showing the stark differences between East and West, between tyranny & freedom. Read this book!

[Natalia Maria Donattela Wakelin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't put this both k down

Very good novel. A must read to understand what transpired in the history of the world. Young generation should read this for them to appreciate what freedom means

[David McCracken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, informative, moving. I wish i could get more info on travel from East Germany before the wall went up. I don't think it was entirely free, and had to assume that for a small part of my novel, Fly Twice Backward.

[rubie j smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on true events

I was in Germany when the wall was built. I can relate to the desperate and dangerous events. Although I realize that this is fiction, it is real enough to evoke suspense and tension! A good read.

[Deseree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book

I really got into this book. The characterizations were vivid and the history very real. I was familiar with some of this part of the world- had gone through checkpoint Charlie in 1969. I will read another book by this author.

[Rdr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book puts you in the middle of the action. The characters are all regular people whose actions are shaped by the events they live through. It’s a must read!

[saràh c. farmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absorbing story

This book made history that was made in my lifetime very much alive and let us never forget that these things can happen

[Mai Arafa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miller’s style is sooooo perfect. Absolutely one of the best ihave ever read. 💜💜

[jan mudd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

I enjoyed every sentence, was wrong about the informate,thought it was Katz. Great ending and so many were able to escape.

[Natalie Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the second book by this authorI have read. HE is really able to make you feel his characters emotions - I will read more of his!

[Dorothy Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escape From Cage

This is a very engaging story. Escape from East Berlin to the west. Many twist and plots. Very good read.

[Clazzzer C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting piece of historical fiction. I love history pertaining to World War 2 and spent quite some time in Germany after the wall came down. This story relates to a fictional quest to get a young woman, Kirstin, across the East West divide just as the border is being closed. She lives on the east but her grandmother on the west and her grandmother needs her. As she watches the border being constructed out her apartment window she is spotted by an American writer called Tony. He makes it his mission to help her as they conceive a plan to deceive the authorities and ensure that she is not constricted by this divide. This storyline leads to a take of deception and intrigue as we envision the hardships that those who lived behind the wall endured. The characters weren't explored in much detail but the story was an entertaining one. I enjoyed it al lot.