Before the Storm

by James D. Shipman

Perfect for fans of Kate Quinn, Kristin Hannah, and Pam Jenoff, this thrilling, high-stakes Cold War novel from a bestselling author follows one couple’s relentless pursuit of an infamous fugitive Nazi scientist across Europe in the aftermath of WWII.

Berlin, 1948: World War II may be over, but a new era of conflict has begun. The Russians have cut off all access to the western part of Berlin in an attempt to seize it from the Allies. The thirst for power, dominance, and revenge is as strong as ever, and anti-Semitism is still rampant. When a store in West Berlin is vandalized with swastikas, Sara Sturm, a German woman working for the US Department of Public Affairs, is dispatched to investigate, and meets Max and Karl Portnoy, two Jewish survivors of the Holocaust.

Sharing their stories of loss, Sara and Max form a bond. Max and his family were sent to a concentration camp during the war, where his parents and sister perished. The man who betrayed them, Nazi nuclear scientist Heinz Hoffman, is now a wanted criminal. Since Max and his brother are among the very few who can identify him, Sara agrees to accompany them to Hoffman’s last known whereabouts, hoping they will finally be able to bring him to justice.
But tracking the elusive Hoffman is not just difficult, it’s perilous. From the mountainous backroads of Bavaria to the Soviet border, Sara and Max race to evade assassins sent by the top-secret Odessa organization. And then there are other adversaries, hidden but no less lethal, determined to gain control of Hoffman and the knowledge he possesses—knowledge that may determine the course of countless wars to come.

“Set in 1948 against the backdrop of the Berlin Blockade, this fast-moving Cold War thriller brings to life the shifting alliances that splintered the Allies in the years immediately following WWII. As readers attempt to sort out motives, the plot twists keep coming.” —Booklist

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Russia, World War II, Thriller, Mystery

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 21, 2023

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Second World War maybe over, but in 1948, life for the German people is still a daily struggle and the Russians have cut off the allies access to the Western part of Berlin. Ignoring the post war agreement where Germany was divided up into four sections and the Americans have to airdrop in much needed supplies for the German citizen’s.

Sara Sturm is German, she’s working for the US Department of Public Affairs, she’s one of the lucky ones, and she has a job and lives in a tiny apartment. Her boss sends her to an antiques shop, owned by Karl and Max Portnoy, their business has been vandalized and there’s still a lot of anti-Semitic behavior and resentment in Germany. Karl, Max and their entire family were all sent to a concentrating camp, and only the two brothers survived the Holocaust. They worked for a nuclear scientist Heinz Hoffman, who was trying to build an atomic bomb for the Germans and now he’s gone into hiding.

The two brothers know what Hoffman looks like, with Sara accompanying them, they try to find Heinz Hoffman and he’s believed to be in hiding somewhere in Bavaria? Sara’s being followed by Jeffrey Scott an American working for the same organisation, he wants to find Hoffman first and for his own selfish reasons. A member of the top-secret Odessa organization is helping Hoffman, it's made up of former German commandos and they always seem to be one step ahead of them.

During their dangerous quest to find Hoffman, Sara and Max develop feelings for each other and at a time when you can’t trust anyone. Germany is full of Nazi sympathizers and people who will do anything to make money or escape being prosecuted as a war criminal, and gain entry into Argentina or America where they can start over.

I received a copy of Before the Storm by James D. Shipman from Edelweiss and Kensington Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. The narrative is rather full on, which I enjoyed and you’re taken on a speedy ride through post war Germany and the start of the Cold War. A story about survival, justice, revenge, supremacy and superiority, navigating trouble and difficulties and it has many unexpected twist and turns that I certainly didn’t see coming. I loved Mr. Shipman’s latest book and five stars from me, perfect for fans of historical fiction stories based on true facts, and it's full of espionage, intrigue, double agents, big secrets and the odd nasty character!

[Lydia Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

James D. Shipman you are such a great author. You really brought this story alive for me. I loved the story and all of the characters. I felt kind of sad when I finished your book. I didn't want it to end. Before the Storm by James D. Shipman is an excellent post-WWII era historical fiction that had me turning the pages as fast as I could. Set in the 1948 Cold War era encompassing multiple locations within Germany and pushing towards the newfound Soviet borders, the reader is taken into a world-wind of a story to find out if good can truly triumph over evil. The author does a great job in taking this concept and adding intrigue, espionage, mystery, suspense, a tad of romance to create a wonderful story for the reader. I highly recommend. Would be a great book for a book club to read and discuss.

[Christy fictional_traits · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Before the Storm', set in 1948, depicts an interesting, though less written about, period of time after WWII, when Berlin was divided between the allies and the Russians and the Americans began to worry about the threatening spread of communism.

Sarah Sturm, a West Berliner employed by the US Department of Public Affairs, is sent to investigate the vandalism of a shop owned by two Jewish brothers, to see if the Department can help. After talking with them, Sarah learns of their harrowing war story and the Nazi who not only betrayed them but still enjoys his freedom, despite being on a wanted list. Together, Sarah and the brothers plot to find and bring the Nazi to justice.

'Before the Storm' has all the hallmarks of a great piece of WWII historical fiction; filled with espionage and a bit of romance. However, I felt the characters lacked depth, the pace felt unrealistic, and overall their escapades seemed a bit 'lucky'. Although the end is filled with a number of unforeseen twists, which perhaps go a way towards explaining the characters retrospectively, overall it felt incohesive.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before the Storm by James D. Shipman is an excellent post-WWII era historical fiction that had me gripping the edge of my seat from beginning to end.

I really enjoyed this HF set in the years after WWII where the instability is still dominating the landscapes of Europe. The author does a great job in taking this concept and adding intrigue, espionage, mystery, suspense, a bit of romance, and a bit of cat-and-mouse pacing to create a wonderful story for the reader.

Set in the 1948 Cold War era encompassing multiple locations within Germany and pushing towards the newfound Soviet borders, the reader is taken into a world-wind of a story to find out if good can truly triumph over evil.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Kensington Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 2/21/23.

[linda hole · Rating 2 out of 5]

What can I say about this book. It was not my cup of tea. Some parts were good, but the pacing so ueneven. And the characters they were so flat. They made me so angry with theor behaviour and talk. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Post-World War II Nazi hunters deserve a lot of credit for tracking down the Nazi criminals that preyed on innocent civilians. Beate and Serge Klarsfeld were two of them. Author JAMES SHIPMAN based his novel BEFORE THE STORM on their story.
The tale takes place in Berlin, Munich, Bavaria and Czechoslovakia over three weeks in October 1948. What makes this even more unusual is that the Russians had instituted their blockade of West Berlin (controlled by the United States, United Kingdom and France). Russia controlled East Berlin. The U.S. and its Allies were supplying West Berlin with the necessities of life by an airlift of thousands of flights.
The story features Sara Sturm, a secretary in the Office of Public Affairs, an American Agency, helping to rebuild and restore West Germany. Sara lost her family during the war. She lives in a small apartment in West Berlin. Her boss is Nicholas Varsberg, a man who cares about the work he is doing to help rebuild German businesses in Berlin. His assistant is Jeffrey Scott who is the polar opposite of Varsberg. All he wants is to bed Sara and feather his nest with his own plans.
Early in the story, Sara meets the brothers Portnoy. Karl is the older of the two. He is extremely bitter over the loss of his family while incarcerated in a prison work camp. Max, the younger brother, is less bitter and more pragmatic. The two have started an antiques store selling high-end porcelain and glassware. Anti-Jewish thugs had vandalized the store before its opening to the public. Sara and Varsberg want to help them reopen. Scott does not.
The man who was in charge of their work camp was Heinz Hoffman, a physicist, who was using the slave labor to build a laboratory to build nuclear weapons. Max, Karl, and their immediate family were in the camp. Karl and Max were the only two of their family to survive. They discover the fact that Hoffman is still alive and on the loose. They convince Sturm and Varsberg that they can find him and bring him to justice. Scott decides that this is his big chance to make himself famous. He forces his way into leading Sara, Max and Karl on the chase.
Odessa was a network of ex-Nazis who worked to assist their fellow criminals to find sanctuary outside of Germany after the war. Inexplicably, the U.S. also used their members for various schemes, mostly against Russia and its Allies. Assisting Hoffman is Otto Berg, a brute of a man who had been accused of killing U.S. prisoners of war during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. Strangely, Berg has a softer side when dealing with his own wife and kids.
Max, Karl and Sara keep finding ways to lose Scott while on the chase but he keeps finding them again. His leadership skills are slim to nonexistent. Scott keeps trying to seduce Sara even though he is repulsive to her. She also falls in love with Max. Scott because of his family connections is able to gain the assistance of the U.S. military to aid them in the chase.
The story goes from West Berlin to Munich and the countryside of Bavaria. Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria assists them. Father Michael a Franciscan monk helps Hoffman and other war criminals to escape Germany. The chase takes them all to Czechoslovakia and finally East Berlin.
This is a terrific tale with a surprise ending. Along the way, the reader will learn what post-war Germany was like. If you are fan of history and a good story, this book is for you. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

GO! BUY! READ!

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good page-turner,however, at the end of the story, it really gets weird. Enough said.
I did enjoy reading this thriller.

[s · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was SO excited to read this book and the premise of the real-life inspiration seemed really cool, but this book fell really flat for me for a few reasons. The final thing for me with this book was how discussions of jewish and non jewish germans experiences and suffering during the war were treated, it felt really insensitive and unrealistic to imply (and often outright state) that there was a even comparison to be made between the two.
I honestly think the book would have been better if the author just wrote about the real life couple this book was based on.


1. The story starts very quickly for me. The fmc is jumping to help the mmc go after a nazi and the mmc is telling the fmc all about his traumatizing experiences during the war, all after two short conversations with each other (and all with very limited emotions over dinner). I understand getting right to the point and trying to not make your book too long or drawn out, but the speed at which a connection forms between the two main characters was a little too fast for me (edit: which makes sense once the ending is revealed)

2. There were occasionally really short, blocky sentences- sometimes an entire paragraph consisting of sentences that would just state what was happening and where the characters were. For me, it sort of broke the flow of the story reading so many 5-8 word sentences in a row.

3. I thought the switching POV was a good writing choice, even if it wasn’t what I was expecting. It was interesting to read chapters from one characters POV and receive information that directly contradicts what another character knows/is doing in the next chapter. It really built up the suspense and intrigue as the book/plot continued.

4. Sometimes characters would just disappear from the story when there was a lot of commotion/action happening. There weren’t even a lot of characters in the scenes, but IMPORTANT characters to the scene happening were just not mentioned for pages and then randomly reappeared when the scene was moving on. I’m not saying that every character needs to be mentioned and described every paragraph, but throw in something so very important and relevant characters to the moment aren’t just missing for pages at a time.

5. I’m not going to add any spoilers but I honestly hated the ending, it felt really cheap and parts of it didn’t make sense at all.

6. The attitude toward non jewish germans ‘sufferings’ during the war (limited food, family members who were nazi soldiers dying in the war, etc) being compared to jewish peoples suffering during the war really rubbed me the wrong way. The Jewish mmc is also…not exactly sympathetic toward this but he doesn’t say anything to the effect of ‘other people had it much worse’ (though the brother of the mmc does, but the mmc always brushes it off and excuses his comments). The Jewish mmc will go out of his way to highlight how non jewish germans also suffered during the war while discussing his experiences during the holocaust, and these statements are not part of a larger conversation or lead to anything else.

7. The fmc talking about the pain of her nazi brother dying and then a jewish man who lost family and suffered during the holocaust at the hands of nazi soldiers comforting her about it and telling her that ‘she’s actually worse off than him bc she doesn’t have any family left while still he has his brother’ didn’t sit well with me at all. (and this happens immediately after the mmc tells her about his experiences during the holocaust). there are other instances in the book where the brother of the mmc says something to the effect of ‘what does the fmc know of pain and suffering?’ and the mmc will respond with ‘she lost her parents and (nazi) brother in the war, we aren’t the only ones who suffered just bc we’re jewish’. which like sure it’s sad that her parents died but two experiences are not comparable and for a Jewish man who suffered in the holocaust to make those statements didn’t seem realistic to me. No Jewish person who lost most of their family during the holocaust and experienced unspeakable tragedy would ever go out of their way to sympathize with someone largely unaffected during the war. I can’t imagine how these conversations were approved and deemed appropriate by so many people to end up in a published book.
(SPOILER!!) And even if the ending can explain all that away, for 98% of the book you’re led to believe a civilian jewish man who lost his entire family has this perspective


Overall, this was a quick read that was at times enjoyable and had some interesting parts to it but there were just too many issues for me. My major problem with the book is the conversations between the main characters about their experiences during the war. They almost made me dnf the book, but I kept reading to see if those type of conversations would be addressed or stopped in any way and they weren’t at all. Those conversations and comments really brought down the rating for me, and it would have been different if they were for the point of a conversation or to change the outlook that the character had, but it was too unrealistic and tone deaf for me.



Thank you penguin random house for the arc!

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different type of WWII, actually the aftermath, 1948 Berlin. This book is really so much more, and I had so many mixed emotions as I turned this fast paced read.
Sarah Sturm now works for the US Department of Public Affairs, and is sent to investigate a hate crime against two Jewish brothers, and thus we are on an adventure to bring justice to those whom committed the war crimes.
The author gives us a bit of romance, but there are so many twists and turns, and lots of action. There are people presented that you will really dislike, but in the end want justice.
This is really a book that I didn't realize exactly what was happening, there are so many twists and surprises, and bombshells!
Be sure to read the author's notes at the end!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Kensington, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Nancy Garbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story of post WWII Germany with so much jockeying for control of the territory and the stronger powers determined to punish Nazi war crimes. In an office representing the U.S. interests, Sara, a secretary, works diligently to help two Jewish brothers, Max and Karl, recover from an anti-Semitic attack on their store and to enlist them in an effort to capture Dr. Hoffman, a Nazi war criminal who is about to escape to South America.

The action adventure aspect of the story is exciting and sustains a good level of tension. Sara, Max and Karl set out to capture Dr. Hoffman who is being protected by an assassin, Otto (sent by Odessa to protect the Doctor) and Sara’s obnoxious co-worker Jeffrey continually interferes in hopes of gaining the glory of capturing a Nazi war criminal. This action is the greater part of the book and takes several unexpected turns, including a visit with a crown prince in his castle in Bavaria. After a lengthy chase everything turns around, the bad guys become good, there are revelations of actual identities and the real bad guy is silenced.

I received an Advanced Copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest voluntary review. The story was good, some of the minor details seemed too fantastic and the revelations left me feeling a bit duped, but it did leave the possibility of another adventure.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sara meets Max one morning when his shop is vandalized. Although, his brother Karl is grumpy and uninterested in being nice to the women, Max is immediately smitten. The two are definitely interested in the other. However, throughout the entire book, the two will face so many obstacles.
Sara works for a US government agency that is around after WW2 in Germany to take control of the German government. In 1948,the Soviet Union and the US were both trying to help put Germany back together again. When Sara learns that the brothers want to follow Heimann, a Nazi scientist to turn him in for war crimes he has so far avoided. With the help of Sara's boss the three start off on their journey.
I was immediately drawn to the story because if it's originality and the fact that it's based on true stories. The book is very suspenseful and when you think you know how the story is gonna end it takes a hard right.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Historical / Fiction / World War II
*Rating* 4.0

*Thoughts*

Before the Storm, by author James D. Shipman, mixes fact and fiction. The story is told from multiple points of view, primarily those of the protagonist Sara Sturm, a German who works for the Americans Office of Public Affairs, and the Nazi she’s hunting, Heinz Hoffman who may have been one of the primary scientist on German's attempt to create nuclear weapons. There is also a third character; a man named Otto who has a very bad reputation after his participation in the Battle of the Bulge. Otto is a member of the group known as Odessa.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a spy novel in a way I never expected. WWII has ended and the wall isn't built but Berlin is more restricted of a place. Lots of unexpected twists and turns.

How did this book find me? It was Hoopla recommendation.

[Sherryl Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first James Shipman book having received it as an advanced copy at the Pacific Northwest trade show.

I was worried that the source material and historical references wouldn't keep me engaged, but Shipman did a very great job at keeping me interested and engaged throughout the entire book.

I read the book while on two different flights. One from Texas to Oregon and another one from Colorado to Oregon and on both flights. I almost wanted to have a layover or something so that I had more dedicated time to spend on finding out what was going to happen with the primary characters.

The book focuses on Sarah Strum. A secretary/ administrative assistant who works for the Department of Public affairs. She starts her journey being introduced to Max and Karl Portnoy. She immediately wants to help them after their store was vandalized and pleas for assistance from her employers.

From the beginning of the book, I immediately hated one of the characters and felt a little ambivalent about the other manager at the Public Affairs station.

I, myself, was a public citizen for a very long time so I understood some of the decisions that had to be made that politically made sense, but ethically and morally probably will leave some readers a little heartbroken.

Has the story progresses you find yourself hopping on trains and going on to adventures with them in the coldest of nights in very desperate situations.

I'll never think of strudel and homemade cookies the same way again.

I don't want to spoil anything at all because having very little knowledge of what was about to happen I think is what made this book so well done.

Yes the writing could get repetitive and some descriptions but that didn't bother me so much when I was midway through the book and not wanting to put it down and not wanting to focus on anything else. I only wanted to know what was going on with Sara and these two Jewish survivors. What would happen next? What was the next danger? Were they ever going to find the scientist? Heinz Hoffman?

Shipman also gives you quite a bit of detail on the other characters. They aren't just loosely based character descriptions. You feel empathy for everyone in the book which is very hard to do given the source material.

After I read the book I immediately wanted to start over and start from the beginning again knowing what I discovered.

Another good sign that the book was really well written was that I wanted to go out and find one of his other books and see if I enjoyed that just as much.

I hope that there's a sequel to you before the storm so that I can read about Sara's next adventure.

[Jenn F · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book as part of a "Between the Chapters" raffle hosted by Goodreads. I was really rather excited about it a) because I never win anything and b) "Into the Storm" seemed to be right up my alley in terms of historical fiction reading preferences - and with such a cool premise! I mean, who doesn't love a riveting tail about a nazi-hunting couple in post World War II/Cold War Germany?! It's a plot made for the silver screen!

Alas...it fell very short of expectation. While I enjoyed certain features of the book, overall I found the novel superficial, painfully American, and rife with lazy writing. It started off with a bang but fizzled out completely - and very early on in the book. My attention was immediately captured in the first chapter by the different perspectives of people enduring life in post-war Berlin: German Citizen Sara Sturm, Jewish brothers and Holocaust survivors Karl and Max Portnoy, former Nazi nuclear Scientist Heinz Hoffman, to name a few...but that's where it peaked. Around Chapter 6, I really struggled to get through the book.

Let me start with the things Shipman did really well:

1. Writing a Female Protagonist
Usually when you read books by male authors trying to portray the female experience, attempts range from amusingly cringeworthy to outright misogynistic. However, Shipman does an exceptional job of highlighting the plight of Sara Sturm as an ambitious professional woman working her way up the ladder of a male dominated U.S. government bureaucracy. You're empathetic to, and enraged by, the diminishing and harassment of her character by the villainous Jeffrey Scott. Shipman does an excellent job of describing how she controls her emotions in the face of male misogyny and sexual harassment, as well as the entirely realistic and predictable response of Jeffrey when she repeatedly rebuffs his advances.

2. The Character of Otto Berg
Otto Berg was supposed to be a villain, but you can't help but like the guy. I've served in the military and encountered many special forces fellas who would likely enjoy having a beer with Otto, Nazi or no. Whether it was intentionally done or not, Shipman adequately portrays the character of a nuanced German war hero (or cold-blooded killer, depending on the perspective) who is also a devoted family man and skilled struedel maker. I laughed out loud several times at the things he would say ("Don't worry about it. I'm invisible") and the way he viewed civilian or non-combatants (people we used to call REMFs - myself included in that category), because it's absolutely what somebody with his combat arms skill set would say, do, and think. Otto has seen some you-know-what and doesn't suffer fools who've never set foot on the battlefield.

Now...I'm going to TRY and not nit-pick the various things that bothered me about the book, but there was quite a lot to critique.

1. The Villain
Despite Otto Berg and Heinz Hoffman being Nazis, the true villain of the book was unequivocally Jeffrey Scott. I'm sure we all have encountered some versions of Jeffrey in the world: spoiled silver spoon fed children from well-to-do families who feel entitled to everything despite having done nothing to earn their place in the world. I don't necessarily have a problem with that, and I love a good villain; but Jeffrey truly was a mere caricature of one. He's entitled, misogynistic, racist, prejudiced, conniving, condescending and without nuance or a single redeeming quality. Somehow he manages to - often accidentally, but luckily - foil every single one Sara and Max's attempts at retrieving Hoffman, to the point of being ludicrous: driving hours across Germany in two pages (after the author has spent 10 pages on Sara and Max's plight), somehow finding them wherever they end up even when the dynamic duo has an insurmountable lead. Most ridiculously, he enlists the help of known/wanted Nazi Otto Berg - as if he would not have been as big an asset to apprehend as Hoffman.

I will say, his humiliation by Otto was rather humorous, if a little gratuitous.

2. The "Plan"- if you can call it that
The lack of plan and resourcing to retrieve Hoffman is utterly nonsensical and unbelievable, until literally the last few pages of the book. Without giving up too much in the way of spoilers, the attempt at weaving a tail that culminates with double sided spy-craft falls lamentably short. There's a long, drawn out journey of what seems equal parts good/bad luck and sheer happenstance, only to rush through what was evidently a detailed and pointed effort by the allies in placing a mole behind Soviet lines.

3. The Romance between Sara & Max
By Chapter 5, it was hard to get behind the idea that the two were romantically involved and destined for love. The ending was humorous, but the story line never really panned out in a believable way. It was rushed and overplayed, culminating with Max's expression of undying love and desire for marriage - which really held no point or place in the novel. I also found Max's character to be very one-dimensional, tending toward the role of a saint that ventured on creepy.

4. . Pace, Structure, Writing, Evident Lack of Research, and Cringe-worthy Americanisms
The book started off well, as I said, but slowed to a snail's pace, and I struggled to trudge through it. The only highlights were chapters from the perspective of Otto Berg and his humorous mistreatment of Hoffman and Jeffrey. Things ramped up to the speed of light between chapters 20 and 25, as if the author tired in writing the novel, and just churned out chapters - some a mere two pages - to get to the finish line.

The book was structured okay overall in terms of voice, all the way up until the author started throwing in the random perspective of Jeffrey (who previously had no voice - aside from that which was lent to him by the other characters). Most of the book is from Sara's perspective with occasional views from Hoffman and Max. But things completely fall apart by the end of the book.
After the first quarter of the book, the author spends very little time describing people or places, focusing only on the plight of the primary protagonists -which would have been fine had it made sense in some way. But it didn't.

Here's where I may be getting a bit nit-picky, but the plebeian writing also drove me mad. In Chapter 4, virtually ever sentence started with "she" and it scarcely improved from there. For somebody who reads voraciously from a variety of international readers, it's frustrating to read sentences with non-English random words thrown in - as if we don't know the characters are German. If you're reading about Germans, the assumption is that they are in fact speaking German to one another. The nonsensical mix of English and German was asinine- and so cringe-ily American. Sentences like "Mutter, don't let Vater go!" were prevalent and irritating. If you're not comfortable writing in another language or able to consult with a native speaker, stick with the assumption of German speaking natives simply by writing in English: "Mother I don't want father to go!"; or if you're braver write in italics: "Mutter, ich will nicht, dass Vater geht!"

Shipman addressed some historical aspects of post-WW2 Germany, but it was awkwardly done. I liked how wrote the story around Odessa and the Skorzeny Commandos, but his introduction of random historical characters like Crown Prince Rupprecht seemed haphazard and forced, included only as if to say, 'ah, yes, he's in here because this is a historical fiction piece.'

Lastly...this book was so painfully American. I am American but I've spent a third of my life living abroad - some of that in the beautiful cities of Nuremburg and Hanau Germany. I've been to Berlin and Munich, among other German cities and towns, and the author fails to capture the spirit of the German people. I feel that any Deutsche reading this book would find the portrayal of the German characters to be lacking in substance if not outright ignorant. I.e. Not every German drinks peppermint schnapps with each meal; not all desserts are struedel; Germans (or Europeans rather) don't tip for service. Etc etc etc. I could go on, but I won't. The point being: don't write about a culture without studying it or speaking at length with people from that culture.

As (another) aside pointing to a substantial lack of research and lazy writing: the use of "just hop on the highway" multiple times throughout the book was annoying. The concept of public roadways was obviously established by post World War II, but the Autobahn as we know it now was a fairly new if more rural structure (a contribution from the Nazis, in fact) which most German's could not afford to use because they did not have cars. Highways and interstates as we know them are courtesy of the Eisenhower administration...in the US...in the 1950s.

Anyway...on that note, I give this book a 2 stars because the premise was cool, Otto Berg was hilarious, and I appreciated the writing of a female character. But otherwise, I don't know that I would recommend it unless you just want an easy read for a cursory overview of certain historical aspects like Odessa, Bavarian royalty, the German nuclear program etc.

I think the author would have been better served sticking with the story of real life Nazi Hunters Beate & Serge Klarsfeld, because the plot is established and well documented, and just needed some researched based yet creative fleshing out for a historical fiction piece.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set after WWII Berlin, Before the Storm is an engrossing, captivating and thrilling novel based on the true story of Nazi hunters Beate and Serge Klarsfeld whose greatest purpose was to bring Nazis to justice. WWII was horrendous and changed lives forever but what came after is less discussed. Anti-semitism continued to flourish and ordinary Germans wanted to get on with living. Russian "liberation" was anything but. The Cold War meant extreme hardship, especially for Jews.

In 1948 Sara worked as a secretary in the US Public Affairs office with Mr. Varberg and Jeffrey. Her world changed when she lost her parents during the war. Her job meant the world to her and as an independent young woman she stood firmly in spite of difficulties. Losing their store on Krystallmorgen galvanized Jewish brothers Karl and Max's resolve to track Nazi nuclear scientist Heinz Hoffman. They lost their family in concentration camps. Though not a high-ranking official, Hoffman did hold important secrets. But he wasn't the only one. Along with workplace angst there are bits of romance, courage, espionage and agent work. Surprise after surprise created exciting reading! I particularly liked the twisty ending.

If you are at all fascinated with post WWII and/or Nazi tracking, do be sure to read this beautifully-written novel.

My sincere thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this fabulously gripping book.

[Nikita Wells · Rating 1 out of 5]

This story looked like it would be an exciting tale filled with intrigue, danger, spies, romance and Krauts. The cover art was crisp and rich, and it featured said spies on the foreground. Unfortunately, the old adage of don't judge a book by its cover rings true with this book.

The plot was interesting, but this book was so chock full of language I could not and would not finish it. While I know it was not from a Christian publisher, it was way over the top and unnecessary. The author is talented enough with the storytelling they need not use foul language to try to impress the reader. It simply turned me off.


Negative Elements and Trigger Warnings

A woman thinks to herself that a certain hateful coworker can "pick up his own dam*ed clothes" from the cleaners.
"What the he*l" and variations of that are used some 20+ times.
Dam*, dam*ed used many times as well.
Other worse obscenities were used as well.

Trigger warning: attempted rape

A man attempts to rape a woman. It doesn't happen however, as she beats the tar out of him as he deserved. He also tried to force her to go drinking at a bar with him.

It's a pity, because this book had potential. But I cannot recommend this book to anyone. :-(

I received a complimentary e-book from the publisher through Netgalley. A positive review was not required of me, and the thoughts above are my own.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @kensingtonbooks for my gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.

Berlin 1948

Inspired by real-life husband and wife Nazi hunters, this novel describes the perilous hunt for a Nazi war criminal that turns into a cat and mouse game.

The story alternates between the third person narratives of Sara Sterm and Heinz Hoffman. Sara is a German secretary who works for the US Department of Public Affairs. She travels with two Jewish brothers, Max and Karl Portnoy, to search for the Nazi scientist who betrayed the brothers during the war. Heinz Hoffman is the the war criminal they plan to bring to justice. He is fleeing from Germany to a safer location. This tale gets intense as everyone narrows in on the other!

Read this if you enjoy:
*historical fiction
*tales of justice after WW2
*light romance

[❤️My Dog is my Best Friend❤️]

DNF at 32%

You’d think that a book “inspired by a real-life husband-and-wife Nazi-hunting team” would easily be a 4-5 star but here we are.

The characters felt extremely one dimensional and the dialogue felt…juvenile? Not bad but a lot of it didn’t flow well and even the way the characters talked and interacted with each other was very simplistic—which makes it hard to take the story seriously. I gave a 4.5 star to another of the authors books a while back so I’m surprised at how hard this one was to get into.

Content: some violence, there is a guy who gets kind of creepy to a girl but nothing happens (at least for the first 100 pages)

[aMandalin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish this book didn’t have bad language, but besides that, the plot was really good. Some parts were actually scary to me, a little too descriptive and graphic, but not horrible. I guess that’s par for the course with a WWII plot. So many factions were involved in WWII and I felt like this book did a good job incorporating all of them. There were some impressive plot twists at the end, so hang on to your seat!

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

#BeforeTheStormBook
I don't normally read a book about war or anything to do with war. But this book was awesome. It was so good. Mr. Shipman, you did an excellent job!! Everyone needs to read this book! A must have in your library!

[Melissa B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Espionage at it’s best! I never would have figured out the ending!

[ANNETTE · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story and the characters.there were some twists and turns along the way. The ending was a surprise.

[Katie Ewoldt · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable historical fiction set in the years following WW II Germany. During rebuilding the county, amateur Nazi hunters work to bring criminals to justice. Intrigue and betrayals hamper the protagonists from achieving their goals while tracking the war criminal across country. A surprise reveal at the end provides an interesting twist to the story.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I enjoyed the premise, as I've not read many jostorical fiction accounts directly following WWII and all of the politics at play in East and West Germany. I'm fascinated and always angered with the lack of justice for so many Nazi war criminals, so was very interested in Odessa's role in this story. I also was surprised to see Germany's nuclear program featured. I was engrossed in the story and was anticipating this being a four star read, but the ending felt contrived and just too much, although I didn't see one of the twists coming.

[Noelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characters were one-dimensional. The "bad guy" was terrible and didn't have a redeeming bone in his body. The "romance" was unbelievable and moved way too fast, with no chemistry between the characters. The plot twist at the end that came out of nowhere? What?
I enjoyed reading a story set in post World War II Germany.

[Lacey Bourne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I had never read a story based in Berlin after WW2 so I didn’t know about how they divided up the city between different countries and how it was surrounded by the Soviet Union. I had no idea about the hardships that those inside the city faced. It was interesting to hear the German perspective as well. There were definitely some plot twists that came that I did not see coming! The story was very interesting and kept my attention. The characters were likable and some were very hateable as they should be. Lol.

The two critiques I do have: the story jumped too quickly in at the beginning (the fact that the characters liked each other so quickly was not believable to me) and it concluded too quickly after the plot twists at the end. I would have liked more time to process the twists and to see the story come together.

[Paula · Rating 1 out of 5]

I abandoned this book at page 130. I don't ever remember doing this with another historical fiction novel; however, the writing in this one just got to be a bit much. Lots of short, choppy sentences. The characters were all one dimensional. Karl, the older brother, was just a cynical and dismissive character. Sara—I'm really not quite sure what to say about her. She sees herself as a competent individual, but she makes a lot of mistakes and often turns into a simpering female. I can't really see her searching down Nazis. Jeffrey is portrayed as a total ass! Nothing likeable about the man. I have no idea what happens—I'm assuming they will find Hoffman, but there's not enough here to sustain my interest.

[Leslie Raymer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won an advanced copy of the book, Before the Storm. I started reading it on Friday and finished it on Sunday. It was a fast read because it grabbed my attention and I wanted to find out what happened next. The ending was a total surprise, that is for sure. I've never read anything from this writer before, but will be looking up other books by him.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 - an engaging page-turner, but the conclusion felt like it went off the rails instead of being just a curveball?