What do you think?
Rate this book
Sins of the Fathers: A Novel
In the tradition of Herman Wouk, author of Winds of War and War and Remembrance , the novel Sins of the Fathers is the thoroughly researched historical sequel to Wolf.
History hinged on a call as the German high command waited for Hitler’s order to invade Czechoslovakia. That was the signal that would launch their revolt to bring down the Reich.
Every detail of the coup was in place. Access roads to Berlin would be blocked. The city sealed. Communication centers taken. A commando squad―sixty hand-picked men―were ready to storm the Chancellery and seize Hitler. The only open to try Hitler as a traitor or execute him on the spot.
Sins of the Fathers is the eye-opening novel―based on historical facts―of the efforts of German military leaders, career civil servants, and clergy to solicit England’s assistance to bring down the tyrant in 1938. When Prime Minster Neville Chamberlain refused to meet with them, they turned to Winston Churchill, who secretly supported their cause. Armed with a strongly worded letter from the future prime minister, they waited for Hitler’s telephone call ordering German troops to invade Czechoslovakia―the signal for their uprising. But the call did not come. Instead, Prime Minister Chamberlain went to Hitler’s apartment in Munich only to bow to the dictator’s will. The invasion was over before it began―and with that, so was the coup. Flying home, Chamberlain announced he had obtained “peace for our times.”
Sins of the Fathers ―the sequel to Wolf about Hitler’s rise to power―tells the dramatic true story of the foolish prime minister that undermined the coup to topple the regime, delivered Czechoslovakia to Hitler, saved the Führer’s life, and paved the road to World War II.
History hinged on a call as the German high command waited for Hitler’s order to invade Czechoslovakia. That was the signal that would launch their revolt to bring down the Reich.
Every detail of the coup was in place. Access roads to Berlin would be blocked. The city sealed. Communication centers taken. A commando squad―sixty hand-picked men―were ready to storm the Chancellery and seize Hitler. The only open to try Hitler as a traitor or execute him on the spot.
Sins of the Fathers is the eye-opening novel―based on historical facts―of the efforts of German military leaders, career civil servants, and clergy to solicit England’s assistance to bring down the tyrant in 1938. When Prime Minster Neville Chamberlain refused to meet with them, they turned to Winston Churchill, who secretly supported their cause. Armed with a strongly worded letter from the future prime minister, they waited for Hitler’s telephone call ordering German troops to invade Czechoslovakia―the signal for their uprising. But the call did not come. Instead, Prime Minister Chamberlain went to Hitler’s apartment in Munich only to bow to the dictator’s will. The invasion was over before it began―and with that, so was the coup. Flying home, Chamberlain announced he had obtained “peace for our times.”
Sins of the Fathers ―the sequel to Wolf about Hitler’s rise to power―tells the dramatic true story of the foolish prime minister that undermined the coup to topple the regime, delivered Czechoslovakia to Hitler, saved the Führer’s life, and paved the road to World War II.
432 pages, Hardcover
Published February 22, 2022
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 27, 2022
Sins of the Fathers is an absolutely riveting novel. It is evidently a continuation of an earlier novel, Wolf, that tells the story of how the main character, Friedrich Richard, and Adolf Hitler met and came to be friends.
The backstory is something like this: the character we come to know as Friedrich Richard was injured in an explosion during the Battle of the Marne in World War I and lost all memory of his former life. After having his physical ailments treated in a regular hospital, he was sent to a psychiatric hospital in the hope that they could help him recover his memories. Nothing seemed to help, and eventually, the hospital director had him assigned the documentation for another patient who had died. This is how he acquired the name, Friedrich Richard. Also, while he was in this hospital, he met the patient in the next bed who was suffering from what was then termed hysterical blindness. That is, there was nothing physically wrong with him, but he couldn’t see. The doctor managed to cure this condition with hypnosis. This patient was Adolph Hitler.
The two of them have kept in touch, and Hitler has brought Friedrich Richard along on the trail of his political rise to power. I gather that Richard has been less than enthusiastic about some of this, but he seems to have learned over the years that it is best not to let his feelings about it be known.
At the start of the current book, Hitler is the head of the Nazi party and is Chancellor of Germany. He is working hard to orchestrate the launch of World War II, but it hasn’t quite started yet.
Richard now has the rank of Obergruppenführer (some sort of general) and appears to be serving as something resembling a personal assistant to Hitler. In this position, he serves as a kind of fly on the wall inside Hitler’s inner circle for us. His close association with Hitler is a sort of protection for him, but it is also dangerous, as Heydrich, Himmler, Goebbels, and the rest of Hitler’s other close associates find him too close to the Führer for their own purposes and are constantly looking for ways to discredit him.
Friedrich Richard is close enough to Hitler to see how dangerous he is becoming. At about this time, he becomes involved in the plot to remove Hitler from power and serves us as a fly on the wall within that group as well. This is the same group of people who in 1944 finally succeeded in planting a bomb in one of Hitler’s high-level meetings – an act that killed a lot of them but unfortunately failed to kill Hitler. That incident is now common knowledge, but their planning to remove Hitler before the beginning of the war – a plan that was blocked by Chamberlain’s meeting with Hitler that allowed him to invade Czechoslovakia – is much less well known. This book explains all the intricate details of how all these moving pieces came together – or didn’t.
The incidents of Friedrich Richard’s private life are equally interesting (although these are the fictional parts of the book) and are something of a relief from the encroaching terror of the impending war. His new girlfriend, intrigued by the story of his amnesia keeps trying to find ways to jog his memory of who he really is.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance readers’ copy of this book, and to Nicole Maher of Meryl Moss Media Group for notifying me that it was available.
The backstory is something like this: the character we come to know as Friedrich Richard was injured in an explosion during the Battle of the Marne in World War I and lost all memory of his former life. After having his physical ailments treated in a regular hospital, he was sent to a psychiatric hospital in the hope that they could help him recover his memories. Nothing seemed to help, and eventually, the hospital director had him assigned the documentation for another patient who had died. This is how he acquired the name, Friedrich Richard. Also, while he was in this hospital, he met the patient in the next bed who was suffering from what was then termed hysterical blindness. That is, there was nothing physically wrong with him, but he couldn’t see. The doctor managed to cure this condition with hypnosis. This patient was Adolph Hitler.
The two of them have kept in touch, and Hitler has brought Friedrich Richard along on the trail of his political rise to power. I gather that Richard has been less than enthusiastic about some of this, but he seems to have learned over the years that it is best not to let his feelings about it be known.
At the start of the current book, Hitler is the head of the Nazi party and is Chancellor of Germany. He is working hard to orchestrate the launch of World War II, but it hasn’t quite started yet.
Richard now has the rank of Obergruppenführer (some sort of general) and appears to be serving as something resembling a personal assistant to Hitler. In this position, he serves as a kind of fly on the wall inside Hitler’s inner circle for us. His close association with Hitler is a sort of protection for him, but it is also dangerous, as Heydrich, Himmler, Goebbels, and the rest of Hitler’s other close associates find him too close to the Führer for their own purposes and are constantly looking for ways to discredit him.
Friedrich Richard is close enough to Hitler to see how dangerous he is becoming. At about this time, he becomes involved in the plot to remove Hitler from power and serves us as a fly on the wall within that group as well. This is the same group of people who in 1944 finally succeeded in planting a bomb in one of Hitler’s high-level meetings – an act that killed a lot of them but unfortunately failed to kill Hitler. That incident is now common knowledge, but their planning to remove Hitler before the beginning of the war – a plan that was blocked by Chamberlain’s meeting with Hitler that allowed him to invade Czechoslovakia – is much less well known. This book explains all the intricate details of how all these moving pieces came together – or didn’t.
The incidents of Friedrich Richard’s private life are equally interesting (although these are the fictional parts of the book) and are something of a relief from the encroaching terror of the impending war. His new girlfriend, intrigued by the story of his amnesia keeps trying to find ways to jog his memory of who he really is.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance readers’ copy of this book, and to Nicole Maher of Meryl Moss Media Group for notifying me that it was available.
July 11, 2022
This second book details a failed assassination plot by military leaders in 1938 and how the plan was foiled by Neville Chamberlain bowing to Hitler's will.
This is the sequel to "Wolf" and it continues its detailed narrative of Adolf Hitler's 3rd Reich. This story is told in bold, livid, grim detail and should be on every student of WWII history's reading list.
Thank you to Skyhorse publishing and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.
This is the sequel to "Wolf" and it continues its detailed narrative of Adolf Hitler's 3rd Reich. This story is told in bold, livid, grim detail and should be on every student of WWII history's reading list.
Thank you to Skyhorse publishing and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.
February 24, 2022
Sins of the Fathers, Herbert Stern and Alan R. Winter, authors
This is the second collaborative book about Hitler written by these two authors, one who is a lawyer and author of non-fiction, and one who is an educator and author of novels. In the first book they wrote, “Wolf” (Hitler’s nickname), Adolph Hitler’s life from 1918-1934 is imagined in detail. In this novel, his rise to power, as he gained complete control over the German people, and mesmerized a good deal of the world as well, is envisioned further. With an exhaustive amount of research and investigation, uncovering information hitherto unknown or not widely published, the authors have woven fact and fiction together to create a picture of Hitler’s mental state as he rose to power, and it is very plausible. The book exposes the efforts of those who both supported and tried to thwart him, those unsung heroes who originally supported Hitler, but then were ultimately forced to continue to support him and to participate in the barbarism of this man whose sanity was most likely teetering on the edge of madness. This book is dedicated to those very real characters who sacrificed themselves in order to try to stop Hitler from bringing the world to the edge of catastrophe, and when that failed, to try to ultimately destroy him as his growing diabolical plans took shape and World War II began.
Blending the real and the imagined expertly, the authors have illustrated and documented Hitler’s efforts to create the Third Reich, his thousand-year dream which was the embodiment of evil. He imagined and planned it down to the smallest detail. He surrounded himself with men who were brutal and without a moral compass. They were savages, criminals, sadists and haters of everything decent people respected. They were arrogant, and they were cruel and violent. They were infected with Hitler’s virulent need to Aryanize so much of the world. While some of the characters will not be easily recognizable to the reader, many of the characters in the book wiill be widely known, even to those who are not students of history. FDR, Mussolini, Himmler, Chamberlain, Churchill, Goebbels, Eva Braun and Pastor Niemoller, to name a few, will ring a bell, although many of those remembered will have become negative household names, so much so, that as one reads the book, it will be hard not to wish it was pure fiction. However, because it is based on reality, the reader cannot suspend disbelief. This book is dedicated to those men who saw through Hitler’s charade, recognized his madness and the country’s doomed future and sacrificed themselves trying to stop Hitler’s barbaric plans from reaching fruition. Hitler’s Final Solution, his violence and total disregard and dislike of certain segments of German society and the world at large, his plans to create his “master race” had to be stopped. It took far too long to recognize his barbarism, and so Hitler was responsible for the loss of far too many lives. The world lost a great deal of talented and brilliant human beings to the madness and malevolence of several unworthy leaders.
Through the eyes of Hitler’s imaginary confidant and companion, Friedrich Richard, Hitler’s thought processes and private life are reconstructed to reveal exactly how he develops his diabolical plans. In the first book, where it is imagined that Friedrich and Hitler met, Friedrich’s amnesia and Hitler’s mental state and coming rise to power is introduced. In the second, a decade and a half later, Hitler and his follower's descent into Dante’s ninth circle of Hell is explored. Both Hitler and Richard in this book have lives created from fact and fiction. Friedrich is created out of whole cloth and is the embodiment of the conflicted German, the German who supported Hitler and yet turned a blind eye to his brutality, to what was happening around them because of loyalty to The Fuhrer, or loyalty to themselves, even as they suspected the worst was happening and dismissed those thoughts. At first, the very real Hitler convinced the world that he only wanted to unite Austria and Germany, something he said the Austrians also wanted, which the world witnessed as he was cheered when he and his minions marched into Linz, his hometown. Later, Hitler recognized that no one would intervene. No one had the stomach for a war. No one wanted the Jews. Not many were fully aware of the evil that was soon to begin in earnest. Therefore, when Hitler encountered so little resistance, he was emboldened to go further. He realized that no one would stop him. Although the world feared the worst possible outcome, they preferred to give Hitler the benefit of the doubt. Only those closest to him realized how dangerous he was, or perhaps they were the only ones brave enough to try to defy and stop him.
Who would ever have believed, knowing what we know now, that Hitler would become the Time Man of the Year for any reason, even because he had the most influence on the world? Hitler’s ego and arrogance were so dominant, it must have been a seminal moment for him. Hitler believed he was invincible and infallible. The apathy of the rest of the world, the ambivalence about his behavior and plans, the acceptance of the explanations for his actions, propelled him to further invade other countries and his early success was dependent upon the inaction of other leaders. If you don’t learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it, and right now, in the winter of 2022, the world is witnessing Russia’s egotistic leader, Vladimir Putin’s invasion of a sovereign country, simply because he, too, can do it. Once again, the world is looking the other way, as another man, whose genius is both authoritarian and merciless, invades a nation. Once again, will too much human capital be lost as a result of the world’s unwillingness to see the importance of the meaning behind this invasion, rather than the meaning of the invasion itself? Is there another kind of master plan at work here? This book is very timely. I suggest all read it, treating the romances lightly, because that might also take the reader’s eye off the crucial ball.
I learned many things from this book, because although some characters are fictional, the history and recognizable names are quite authentic. For those readers who are not as well versed in this history, there is a marvelous end section written by the authors. It succinctly describes the worldview in the time of Hitler. I look forward to the next book because, as they have in this one, I feel certain that these authors will uncover further little known or previously unknown theories, thoughts, facts and odd bits of information that are now being proffered as very much a pertinent part of world history.
This is the second collaborative book about Hitler written by these two authors, one who is a lawyer and author of non-fiction, and one who is an educator and author of novels. In the first book they wrote, “Wolf” (Hitler’s nickname), Adolph Hitler’s life from 1918-1934 is imagined in detail. In this novel, his rise to power, as he gained complete control over the German people, and mesmerized a good deal of the world as well, is envisioned further. With an exhaustive amount of research and investigation, uncovering information hitherto unknown or not widely published, the authors have woven fact and fiction together to create a picture of Hitler’s mental state as he rose to power, and it is very plausible. The book exposes the efforts of those who both supported and tried to thwart him, those unsung heroes who originally supported Hitler, but then were ultimately forced to continue to support him and to participate in the barbarism of this man whose sanity was most likely teetering on the edge of madness. This book is dedicated to those very real characters who sacrificed themselves in order to try to stop Hitler from bringing the world to the edge of catastrophe, and when that failed, to try to ultimately destroy him as his growing diabolical plans took shape and World War II began.
Blending the real and the imagined expertly, the authors have illustrated and documented Hitler’s efforts to create the Third Reich, his thousand-year dream which was the embodiment of evil. He imagined and planned it down to the smallest detail. He surrounded himself with men who were brutal and without a moral compass. They were savages, criminals, sadists and haters of everything decent people respected. They were arrogant, and they were cruel and violent. They were infected with Hitler’s virulent need to Aryanize so much of the world. While some of the characters will not be easily recognizable to the reader, many of the characters in the book wiill be widely known, even to those who are not students of history. FDR, Mussolini, Himmler, Chamberlain, Churchill, Goebbels, Eva Braun and Pastor Niemoller, to name a few, will ring a bell, although many of those remembered will have become negative household names, so much so, that as one reads the book, it will be hard not to wish it was pure fiction. However, because it is based on reality, the reader cannot suspend disbelief. This book is dedicated to those men who saw through Hitler’s charade, recognized his madness and the country’s doomed future and sacrificed themselves trying to stop Hitler’s barbaric plans from reaching fruition. Hitler’s Final Solution, his violence and total disregard and dislike of certain segments of German society and the world at large, his plans to create his “master race” had to be stopped. It took far too long to recognize his barbarism, and so Hitler was responsible for the loss of far too many lives. The world lost a great deal of talented and brilliant human beings to the madness and malevolence of several unworthy leaders.
Through the eyes of Hitler’s imaginary confidant and companion, Friedrich Richard, Hitler’s thought processes and private life are reconstructed to reveal exactly how he develops his diabolical plans. In the first book, where it is imagined that Friedrich and Hitler met, Friedrich’s amnesia and Hitler’s mental state and coming rise to power is introduced. In the second, a decade and a half later, Hitler and his follower's descent into Dante’s ninth circle of Hell is explored. Both Hitler and Richard in this book have lives created from fact and fiction. Friedrich is created out of whole cloth and is the embodiment of the conflicted German, the German who supported Hitler and yet turned a blind eye to his brutality, to what was happening around them because of loyalty to The Fuhrer, or loyalty to themselves, even as they suspected the worst was happening and dismissed those thoughts. At first, the very real Hitler convinced the world that he only wanted to unite Austria and Germany, something he said the Austrians also wanted, which the world witnessed as he was cheered when he and his minions marched into Linz, his hometown. Later, Hitler recognized that no one would intervene. No one had the stomach for a war. No one wanted the Jews. Not many were fully aware of the evil that was soon to begin in earnest. Therefore, when Hitler encountered so little resistance, he was emboldened to go further. He realized that no one would stop him. Although the world feared the worst possible outcome, they preferred to give Hitler the benefit of the doubt. Only those closest to him realized how dangerous he was, or perhaps they were the only ones brave enough to try to defy and stop him.
Who would ever have believed, knowing what we know now, that Hitler would become the Time Man of the Year for any reason, even because he had the most influence on the world? Hitler’s ego and arrogance were so dominant, it must have been a seminal moment for him. Hitler believed he was invincible and infallible. The apathy of the rest of the world, the ambivalence about his behavior and plans, the acceptance of the explanations for his actions, propelled him to further invade other countries and his early success was dependent upon the inaction of other leaders. If you don’t learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it, and right now, in the winter of 2022, the world is witnessing Russia’s egotistic leader, Vladimir Putin’s invasion of a sovereign country, simply because he, too, can do it. Once again, the world is looking the other way, as another man, whose genius is both authoritarian and merciless, invades a nation. Once again, will too much human capital be lost as a result of the world’s unwillingness to see the importance of the meaning behind this invasion, rather than the meaning of the invasion itself? Is there another kind of master plan at work here? This book is very timely. I suggest all read it, treating the romances lightly, because that might also take the reader’s eye off the crucial ball.
I learned many things from this book, because although some characters are fictional, the history and recognizable names are quite authentic. For those readers who are not as well versed in this history, there is a marvelous end section written by the authors. It succinctly describes the worldview in the time of Hitler. I look forward to the next book because, as they have in this one, I feel certain that these authors will uncover further little known or previously unknown theories, thoughts, facts and odd bits of information that are now being proffered as very much a pertinent part of world history.
February 22, 2022
Sins Of The Fathers
By Herbert J. Stern and Alan A. Winter
Publisher: Skyhorse
Publication Date: February 22nd, 2022
Pages: 432
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers.
Historical Fiction at its Finest
An excellent historical fiction based on the real life story of a 1938 attempt on Adolf Hitler’s life. This thrilling edge your seat read about a courageous group of Germans and the anti-Hitler movement within Germany.
This novel is the follow up to the novel Wolf, which I highly recommend reading and was one of my all time favorite reads of 2020
Meticulously researched, and filled with wonderful detailed observations.
the authors bend of actual facts with their own creative fiction, made for a seamlessly and smooth blend, that really stands out.
A riveting novel, readers are given front row seats into the working of Hitlers
inter-circle. Seen through the eyes of Friedrich Richard, an injured soldier who befriended Hitler as he recovered in a WWI hospital ward in the first installment.
We are also giving an enjoyable side storyline, of Friedrich Richard own character with his own trials and turmoils.
The authors Impeccable writing brings to light an incredible lost chance to halt Adolf Hitlers master plan, before World War ll started, and a series of events that would have changed history.
I held fast from start to finish until the intellectually suspenseful thought provoking ending, that left me shocked! A work of stunning achievement. An exquisitely written, ponderosa look at the series of events and if the Anti-Hitler movement would have gotten the full support of the British.
I highly recommend this book and it’s predecessor, Wolf the novel, to my readers, family and friends
@skyhorsepub #SinsoftheFathers #historicalfiction #ww2
By Herbert J. Stern and Alan A. Winter
Publisher: Skyhorse
Publication Date: February 22nd, 2022
Pages: 432
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers.
Historical Fiction at its Finest
An excellent historical fiction based on the real life story of a 1938 attempt on Adolf Hitler’s life. This thrilling edge your seat read about a courageous group of Germans and the anti-Hitler movement within Germany.
This novel is the follow up to the novel Wolf, which I highly recommend reading and was one of my all time favorite reads of 2020
Meticulously researched, and filled with wonderful detailed observations.
the authors bend of actual facts with their own creative fiction, made for a seamlessly and smooth blend, that really stands out.
A riveting novel, readers are given front row seats into the working of Hitlers
inter-circle. Seen through the eyes of Friedrich Richard, an injured soldier who befriended Hitler as he recovered in a WWI hospital ward in the first installment.
We are also giving an enjoyable side storyline, of Friedrich Richard own character with his own trials and turmoils.
The authors Impeccable writing brings to light an incredible lost chance to halt Adolf Hitlers master plan, before World War ll started, and a series of events that would have changed history.
I held fast from start to finish until the intellectually suspenseful thought provoking ending, that left me shocked! A work of stunning achievement. An exquisitely written, ponderosa look at the series of events and if the Anti-Hitler movement would have gotten the full support of the British.
I highly recommend this book and it’s predecessor, Wolf the novel, to my readers, family and friends
@skyhorsepub #SinsoftheFathers #historicalfiction #ww2
January 22, 2022
Time's Long Passed For Blaming Dad
What an exciting, fascinating read! Based on true accounts of the goings-on within Adolph Hitler's inner circle, there's plenty here for fans of historical fiction. But Herbert J. Stern and Alan Winter have told the story from the POV of a fictional character, who lends it drama and immediacy.
The parallels to events and figures in our own present time are plain to see in Sins of the Fathers. If you're engrossed by modern politics, reading this book will give you new perspectives to compare issues and personalities to, and perhaps will ring some alarm bells. Just as the first world war left issues unresolved that led inexorably to the second world war, we're seeing some history repeating itself, though the players and stages are different.
But, seen through the eyes of Friedrich Richard, a fellow injured soldier who befriended Hitler as he recovered in a WWI hospital ward, it's a very human story. It doesn't attempt to rehabilitate Hitler's image in any way, but gives a more encompassing picture that shows exactly how Hitler was able to gain and retain power, and how the hopes the German people placed in his hands went so horribly wrong.
I didn't read Wolf, the first volume of this series, but I had no trouble following this second book. I do want to read it though, as well as the coming volumes, because I want to get more insights into the history which the authors have researched so thoroughly -- and I want to know what happens to Friedrich, Carla, and the other characters. Because of the authors' fine writing, I care about them!
I received Sins of the Fathers as a free advanced reader's copy courtesy of Nicole at Meryl Moss Media and NetGalley. This is my honest review and endorsement: it's a really good book. I won't be surprised to see it as a miniseries or a movie, though without Conrad Veidt, they may want to cast Tom Hiddleston as Friedrich!
What an exciting, fascinating read! Based on true accounts of the goings-on within Adolph Hitler's inner circle, there's plenty here for fans of historical fiction. But Herbert J. Stern and Alan Winter have told the story from the POV of a fictional character, who lends it drama and immediacy.
The parallels to events and figures in our own present time are plain to see in Sins of the Fathers. If you're engrossed by modern politics, reading this book will give you new perspectives to compare issues and personalities to, and perhaps will ring some alarm bells. Just as the first world war left issues unresolved that led inexorably to the second world war, we're seeing some history repeating itself, though the players and stages are different.
But, seen through the eyes of Friedrich Richard, a fellow injured soldier who befriended Hitler as he recovered in a WWI hospital ward, it's a very human story. It doesn't attempt to rehabilitate Hitler's image in any way, but gives a more encompassing picture that shows exactly how Hitler was able to gain and retain power, and how the hopes the German people placed in his hands went so horribly wrong.
I didn't read Wolf, the first volume of this series, but I had no trouble following this second book. I do want to read it though, as well as the coming volumes, because I want to get more insights into the history which the authors have researched so thoroughly -- and I want to know what happens to Friedrich, Carla, and the other characters. Because of the authors' fine writing, I care about them!
I received Sins of the Fathers as a free advanced reader's copy courtesy of Nicole at Meryl Moss Media and NetGalley. This is my honest review and endorsement: it's a really good book. I won't be surprised to see it as a miniseries or a movie, though without Conrad Veidt, they may want to cast Tom Hiddleston as Friedrich!
March 22, 2022
This historical fiction novel was different than any I’ve ever read before. Instead of making Hitler a distant tyrannical figure, this novel gets up close and personal and shows the humanness of Hitler. The main character is a close friend of Hitler (but he is not a Nazi and is against Hitler’s heightening insanity), and it’s incredibly weird to read a book from that viewpoint. I gotta say though, I loved the originality of it.
My biggest problem with this book is that it sometimes came off too dry in its writing. The authors are clearly well researched (which is amazing) but the facts took over the novel to a point where it was difficult to get through some sections. I was a lot more captivated during the parts where it felt more like a story being told. In saying that, I’m sure a lot of readers would appreciate the factual nature of this book!
I think with the right audience, this book would be an easy five star read. For me, I felt it was missing a sense of theatrics and intrigue. But even though it was a bit hard for me to read at times, I’m still so glad that I read it because I learned so much!
Thank you to Meryl Moss for my gifted copy!
My biggest problem with this book is that it sometimes came off too dry in its writing. The authors are clearly well researched (which is amazing) but the facts took over the novel to a point where it was difficult to get through some sections. I was a lot more captivated during the parts where it felt more like a story being told. In saying that, I’m sure a lot of readers would appreciate the factual nature of this book!
I think with the right audience, this book would be an easy five star read. For me, I felt it was missing a sense of theatrics and intrigue. But even though it was a bit hard for me to read at times, I’m still so glad that I read it because I learned so much!
Thank you to Meryl Moss for my gifted copy!
February 23, 2022
Sins Of The Fathers was an extremely well researched deeply engrossing spy thriller kind of historical fiction. Because many of the main and side characters are real historical characters l had a bad feeling throughout the whole novel, as much as we wish for their enterprise to succeed, we as readers know it won’t and know that the Second World War with all its horrors is looming on the horizon. If recent German history is in our wheelhouse we even know that almost all of them will not see the end of this war because they will be tortured and hanged as traitors. Did I still enjoy this book ? I did, I thought the time focused on the Chamberlain pact with the annexation of Austria and the annexation of parts of Czechoslovakia right after was eerily timely in light of recent political events and the past is always there to teach us.
I liked the deep dive into this often disregarded attempt at a coup and loved that I could go on google deep dives beside this book. The author’s note was an added treasure trove of historical research.
I liked the deep dive into this often disregarded attempt at a coup and loved that I could go on google deep dives beside this book. The author’s note was an added treasure trove of historical research.
July 11, 2022
Daytona Beach Shores FL Book Club Member Barb B reviewed ‘Sins Of The Father’ by Herbert J Stern & Alan Winter (Book Trib book) “1930s to bring Hitler down. Sequel to Wolf. It would help to read Wolf first to better follow the story line in this book since there are so many names and titles. I am not a scholar of German history but I found this book to be very interesting and intense. The author did a great job of researching and searching for the truth from the time period of 1936 up to WWII. Hilter was portrayed as both good and bad. He was a faithful friend to those that helped him (Mussolini). He was self-educated in the arts, loved music, and liked to hand out with people in the arts. BUT, he also was a murderer. This book showed how he planned to take over Austria and Czechoslovakia but goes no further than that.”#BookTribBookClub#BookTribBC
February 24, 2022
Sins of the Fathers is a second book and it carries on smoothly from Wolf (book one). We still are following events with Hitler through Friedrich Richard's eyes and narrative.
Hitler is now the Chancellor of Germany and has been voted the Fuhrer by the people. He is on top and there seems to be no stopping him. He now has his eyes set on acquiring Austria, which seems easily done and now Czechoslovakia looks next in line, though in the background there are plans for a revolt if that happens. though we know how history unfolds this book gives you more background and more input on how it all came about. This was a carefully crafted plan in the eyes of Hitler and he seems to expect multiple scenarios and have a plan for them all.
I love the character of Friedrich, he is completely fictional but he feels so real. There is a great quality and humanity to him that endears him as a person. Though he is working with Hitler, and in fact is one of his closest friends he is not a horrible person. In fact, he doesn't view himself as a nazi as he has never- and has stated will never- joined the party. The plot thickens in this book as we see the more unstable side of Hitler come out and Fredrich is struggling to keep him in check.
A thrilling story that is based in real accounts and real people.
Hitler is now the Chancellor of Germany and has been voted the Fuhrer by the people. He is on top and there seems to be no stopping him. He now has his eyes set on acquiring Austria, which seems easily done and now Czechoslovakia looks next in line, though in the background there are plans for a revolt if that happens. though we know how history unfolds this book gives you more background and more input on how it all came about. This was a carefully crafted plan in the eyes of Hitler and he seems to expect multiple scenarios and have a plan for them all.
I love the character of Friedrich, he is completely fictional but he feels so real. There is a great quality and humanity to him that endears him as a person. Though he is working with Hitler, and in fact is one of his closest friends he is not a horrible person. In fact, he doesn't view himself as a nazi as he has never- and has stated will never- joined the party. The plot thickens in this book as we see the more unstable side of Hitler come out and Fredrich is struggling to keep him in check.
A thrilling story that is based in real accounts and real people.
February 20, 2022
Okay, to start off, I didn’t finish this book. It honestly wasn’t for me, and not because it was a bad story. What I did read, I liked. This story is WWll fiction that follows one of Hitler’s closest friend. The book was obviously well researched and the blend of fact/fiction was done brilliantly (to the point I didn’t know what was fiction). There’s manipulation and secrecy; there’s love and a vast of information. I would strongly recommend if you love historical fiction books, especially about WWll.
March 2, 2022
Sins of the Fathers was a very entertaining read, especially for those who enjoy historical fiction. The story was engaging and at times I found it difficult to put down. Sometimes the plot device with the protagonist having amnesia didn't work for me - it felt too clean somehow and some of the dialogue was forced, but the story idea was amazing. I'd definitely recommend!
May 30, 2022
This book is a sequel to "Wolf". This entry focuses on the leadup to Hitler's threat of war unless he is allowed to annex the Sudetenland. Much of what is in this book is historical fact and has been researched. But, there are several fictitious POV characters.
June 16, 2022
This book has a lot of good qualities - action, excitement, good character development. For whatever reason, I just couldn’t stick with it. I wasn’t able to get lost in it. The writing is excellent, it just wasn’t for me.
February 19, 2022
Very interesting read. Even though it is fiction, it definitely added to my knowledge of history, particularly the author's notes.
July 6, 2022
I always enjoy a book that provides a possible alternative to history. Imagine the amount of lives that would have been saved if Friedrich had been successful!!!
August 1, 2022
Excellent, backed by extensive historical research, very informative.
February 22, 2022
Whew, this book is like watching a chess match. The strategic planning and placing of all the chess pieces, only to be checkmated in the end.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It definitely exceeded my expectations. Our main character, Fredrich Richard, although a fictional character, gives us a history lesson on the true events leading up of the failed coup to overthrow Hitler. I enjoyed the blend of the imaginative fictional story and the historical aspect of the book. As a reader you can tell this book was well researched and delivers the story in an engrossing and engaging way. I'm not sure I've ever read a WW2 book that focused on Hitler and his rise to power that portrayed him as an actual person and not just the monster he is/became. When you look at what he did to millions of people it's hard to see anything but an evil monster, but through Sins of the Fathers you get a better idea of how he got to be in that position of power. The ending leads me to believe there may be a sequel to this series?? I'm here for it. Also, I haven't read the predecessor novel, Wolf but it is now on my list of books to read.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and honestly review an advanced readers copy.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It definitely exceeded my expectations. Our main character, Fredrich Richard, although a fictional character, gives us a history lesson on the true events leading up of the failed coup to overthrow Hitler. I enjoyed the blend of the imaginative fictional story and the historical aspect of the book. As a reader you can tell this book was well researched and delivers the story in an engrossing and engaging way. I'm not sure I've ever read a WW2 book that focused on Hitler and his rise to power that portrayed him as an actual person and not just the monster he is/became. When you look at what he did to millions of people it's hard to see anything but an evil monster, but through Sins of the Fathers you get a better idea of how he got to be in that position of power. The ending leads me to believe there may be a sequel to this series?? I'm here for it. Also, I haven't read the predecessor novel, Wolf but it is now on my list of books to read.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and honestly review an advanced readers copy.
May 27, 2024
I traditionally enjoy a good historical fiction. However- this one left me feeling a big flat. I never hide my review because of spoilers, but I do not feel that I can aptly describe my feelings of this book without going into more details about what happens.
I feel that there is no closure in this book. Not only that, but the narrator is left on a cliffnote- that could have been the novel in and of itself. There are several themes/plots to this novel. However, none ever really takes charge. It could have been the narrator's relationship with Hitler, it could have been the plot to try to get support from England to put a stop to Hitler's expansion, just the focus on Hitler being diagnosed as a psychopath could have been enough- but other aspects are brought in. Then- the book just sort of ends... And it doesn't take anything to full term.
I think that there were several great possible avenues that the author could have gone down. If he had picked one and just stuck to it, it had the potential to be great, it just tried to do too much.
I feel that there is no closure in this book. Not only that, but the narrator is left on a cliffnote- that could have been the novel in and of itself. There are several themes/plots to this novel. However, none ever really takes charge. It could have been the narrator's relationship with Hitler, it could have been the plot to try to get support from England to put a stop to Hitler's expansion, just the focus on Hitler being diagnosed as a psychopath could have been enough- but other aspects are brought in. Then- the book just sort of ends... And it doesn't take anything to full term.
I think that there were several great possible avenues that the author could have gone down. If he had picked one and just stuck to it, it had the potential to be great, it just tried to do too much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2025
wheres the 3rd book🥺💔
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews