The German Messenger

by M.J. Hollows

As the bombs fall, the race to save her son begins. Liverpool, 1940. Journalist Ruth Holt is struggling in the terror of the Blitz when her young son is suddenly snatched away in broad daylight. Soon after, the kidnappers’ demands arrive. They are working with the Nazis, and she has no choice but to co-operate, or the authorities will learn that she is harbouring secrets of her own. Ruth’s job gives her access to critical information, and if she does not share it with Britain’s enemies, her child will face the consequences. Desperate, she falsifies information, lying to everyone: her employers, her family and her lover. But as the demands increase, the knife edge she walks on grows increasingly thin. If she falls, she will never save her son.

Genres: Historical Fiction, War, Fiction, Historical, World War II

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2023

About the author

M.J. Hollows, the author of four historical fiction novels, was born in London in 1986, and moved to Liverpool in 2010 to lecture in Audio Engineering. With a keen interest in history, music, and science, he has told stories since he was little. Goodbye for Now was his debut novel, which he started as part of his MA in Writing from Liverpool John Moores University, graduating in 2015. Michael has also writen for Black Library and other tie-in fiction publishers. He gained his PhD in Creative Writing in 2014. www.michaelhollows.com

His new novel The Violinist's Secret has just been published by HarperCollins worldwide!

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruth Holt is a journalist, she lives in Liverpool, and her husband Peter is serving in the Royal Navy and her son George has been evacuated to the country. The people George is staying with put him on a train, send him home without telling her and now Ruth is busy juggling motherhood, working for the newspaper and she’s a member of the Women’s Voluntary Services.

When the blitz begins and life for Londoners becomes a struggle, nightly the bombs reign down, destroying houses and starting fires and killing and wounding hundreds of people. Ruth isn’t allowed to publish what’s happening in the paper, the sensors won’t allow it and they think it will cause widespread panic. Ruth’s neighbour looks after George for her, one day he’s taken and the kidnapper wants her to supply him with information and so he can give it to the Germans.

Ruth has no choice but to co-operate, she can access some details through her work, she has taken a few photographs and she passes on these and falsified troop movements. Ruth receives some bad news about Peter, she gets very disheartened and around the same time she meets Anthony Lloyd. He’s a school teacher and Anthony volunteers at night to make sure people are following the blackout rules. Ruth can’t tell Anthony the truth about herself and what she’s been doing, Ruth was born in Austria, George being kidnapped, she’s a spy and if she's caught, Ruth faces being arrested for committing treason.

I received a copy of The German Messenger by M. J. Hollows from NetGalley and HQ Digital in exchange for an honest review. The narrative focuses on a woman’s struggles during the Second World War, at first it was due to rationing and having to evacuate her son to the country and it gets worse. It highlights the horrors of the blitz, the endless nights of bombing and especially for people living in Merseyside. A historical fiction story full of, secrets, mystery, suspense, tragedy and drama. The pace of the narrative was a little slow for me at times and due to this, I gave the book three and a half stars.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

“How do we stop feeling so impotent, how do we take control?”

Author M.J. Hollows sweeps readers away to Liverpool in 1940 right before the August Blitz. He instantly captured my attention with a brazen boy who took matters into his own hands and returned home from the countryside. Knowing George’s secret added to my curiosity: Would he get away with it?

As was done in Britain during the war, children were sent, on the advice of the War Office, to the countryside for safety. George, like so many others, was lulled into false security by the strangely quiet start to the war and believed that the disruptions to their life were simply a result of fearmongering. This is a much-neglected part of historical fiction, so it was refreshing to read about it, not only from a child’s point of view but also from the point of view of adults who disregarded the blackout and air raid protocols.

I also appreciated the author highlighting those who weren’t British-born and the fears they lived with knowing they’d be considered a threat to national security. I hadn’t considered what the wartime experience would have been like for these individuals. Also, rarely touched upon are those who were considered unfit to fight and the feelings of inadequacy and unfairness they harboured. They, too, faced scorn from others.

There was a good balance of reactions to the war in this novel; it felt like an authentic representation. The spirit of the unconquered people working together in the face of trauma was triumphant against those who didn’t want to comply. There was also a good balance of mystery and historical fiction. Hollows appealed to my senses and showed the effects of the horrors of the Blitz through the eyes of those who chose to remain and volunteer. My only wish is that there had been a bit more showing instead of telling.

This story featuring Ruth Holt and Anthony Lloyd set during the Liverpool Blitz is a wonderful addition to the historical fiction genre.

I was gifted this copy by HQ Digital and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The German Messenger by M J Hollows is a mesmerizing historical novel that gripped me from the start.
The story is set in Liverpool 1940-1941 at the height of the blitz. M J Hollows writes of the horrors facing the brave people of the city. As the city burns, we witness brave firefighters running towards the flames. Comprehensive descriptions bring the landscape to life as we see a landscape right out of Dante’s inferno.
Ordinary citizens with German roots were viewed with suspicion. Some were interred in camps. It is heartbreaking to see the elderly wrenched from their homes to spend their last days incarcerated simply because of their roots.
There is a question of trust. Some, surprisingly, placed their loyalty with Hitler. These evil characters would prey on the vulnerable, using leverage to get classified information.
War throws people together. Neighbours help each other. Homes are opened to those in need of shelter and care.
We witness the rescues on bomb sites, seeing amazing miracles of survival.
All the characters were well drawn, likable and realistic.
I thoroughly enjoyed The German Messenger. I always love M J Hollow’s books that educate and entertain. This tale is simply marvelous.
I received a free copy via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little slow to get going, some explanations could have been made a bit sooner but it’s set during my preferred era—WWII— so I’m still giving it 4 stars. I’d give it 3 and a half if I could tho.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruth is a reporter and when her adopted son is kidnapped in broad daylight she is devestated. Soon the kidnappers demands come in, she must work for the Nazis too get her son back. This one started out rather slow but it didn't take long to pick up momentum and I became invested in the protagonist life. I loved how strong and courageous humans can be. The plot really makes you feel the danger and hear the bombs falling. It made me think about the dangers they faced and I think Ruth was amazing and I was screaming for her. I highly recommend this book especially for historical fiction lovers.

[Andrea A · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to the invitation from Net Galley I received to review this arc and to the publisher.

What would you do if your adopted son is kidnapped, and to get him back you have to steal information to give to the Nazis? Thats what reporter Ruth Hoyt is forced to do which may cost her a second chance at love as well.

Excellent book. Highly recommend.

[Soozee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the early years of WW2 in Liverpool, Ruth Holt is a journalist, trying to make her career in a man's world. However, her young son George is taken from her, and she is drawn into the world of espionage and danger in order to ensure his safety and keep her own secrets. She walks a difficult path between supplying false information and keeping the new man in her life out of danger by not telling him what is going on.

It was a bit difficult to believe in parts - the idea that George could be abducted and she merrily went on with life for months, hapharzardly trying to find him, whilst her lover accepted he had been evacuated with no contact or letters coming through. Also some of the sections were a bit clunky to read, but overall it was an exciting tale, with plenty of background about life during the Blitz.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenny Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book, it was interesting reading about Liverpool during the war and how it was affected as it is local to me. I was expecting more about the 'German messenger' based off the title, but it was more focused on Ruth's struggles from having her son kidnapped and also a love interest along with it. So I feel the title may not entirely fit with the story.
Regardless of that, I did really enjoy this book and it did really make you think about what life would have been like here during that time. I thought it was very well written and I will definitely be reading more

[Emma Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book show the insight to how Liverpool were so badly damaged in the World War 2 in 1940-41 how the people coped with it night after night. The book at the start was a bit slow but my goodness did the book gain momentum and I could not put the book down.

The book has a bit of everything in it sadness, romance and a bit of mystery. The book was well written and I really enjoyed the characters they worked well together.

Would certainly recommend this book.

[Trudy Dowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

The German Messenger took me back in time, helping me gain more understanding of the atrocities of World War 2. The author's words helped create a picture in my mind, one that I never want to personally experience. In all the times I have been to England all I have seen is the beauty. I did not realize how much ugliness was buried underneath.

The story takes place in Liverpool. The devastation that the citizens experience were atrocious. The reader learns of the struggles by following Anthony and Ruth. They are both volunteers helping the city of Liverpool as they stumble through the darkness. They helped put out fires. They helped to dig for survivors. They helped in anyway they could. I never thought the struggles would end. Things were looking bleak.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Ruth gets in a situation that I did not expect. I had never thought about the possibilities of what people could resort to in order to meet a goal. Ruth was stuck. If she didn't do what was necessary, she could loose everything she had left. She had already lost her husband and her favorite grandfather. How much more could she take?

The German Messenger is a historical fiction story that gives a greater understanding of the damages. Grab some tissues. The devastation, the loss of human life is heart wrenching. Textbooks did not prepare me for what actually happened. The plot twists were a shocker. I was hooked wanting to know how things were end. I knew the war would end, but I had know idea who would survive.

[Rachel Axford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book certainly emphasises how much the people of Liverpool suffered during World War Two. It shows their dogged determination to survive.
I found the human aspect very interesting, however the story was a bit unbelievable at times; an example is how long George was ‘away’ for.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

What would you do if you were on the brink and suddenly, somehow, pushed further? You do not know. None of us do. Not until the brink is right in front of us.

A woman trying her best to keep things together while her country is being torn apart by war. A mother trying to keep her son safe.

A man trying to find his place in the world. A man who wants to help his country but feels he falls short.

Wartime has a way of bringing people together…but also apart.

Said woman and man were as different as could be on the surface, yet brought together by multiple forces. What they don’t know is that they make a fantastic pair, if only they could get beyond the surface.

An unlikely pairing begins to come together to form a family, but then a son goes missing…just what and how far will a mother push herself in order to get her son back?

An overall interesting book, though a slow start with a great deal of buildup that ultimately ends quickly and left me somewhat unfulfilled. For those interested in thrilling historical fiction, you will find this enjoyable.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel brings a different perspective to the realities of the Blitz in the north western port of Liverpool. For those that remained in the city, such as Ruth and Anthony, both felt the need to join the workforce of volunteers alongside their jobs as a newspaper journalist and school teacher. As the bombs fell on the city, the population struggled to survive with an underlying theme of mistrust. When Ruth’s son is kidnapped, she has no option but to bend to the demands of the man responsible to provide information to the Nazis so as to protect her son. As the months pass Ruth maintains her silence until eventually Anthony discovers the truth about the woman he is falling in love with.

An interesting read, based closely on historical events, although I’m not convinced that the title adequately depicts the scope of the book.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers HarperCollins for this advance copy.

[Amy DeWolfe · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's clear that the author has done his research on his location, time period and topic. He painted a vivid picture of what life was like in Liverpool during the blitz.

I just couldn't bring myself to find the characters enjoyable. Ruth, to me, didn't have any redeeming characteristics and was very unlikable (and selfish!). Anthony was just bland. The relationship between them, I felt, wasn't fleshed out or developed and it happened all too quickly. They barely knew each other, only meeting for small periods of time a handful of times, when she asks him to move in with her because his house is destroyed by a bomb. Ruth's husband dies in August, but in December, she's starting up a relationship with Anthony. I know people mourn differently, but I just couldn't wrap my head around her.

The pacing for the story was off. It was too slow at first and then too fast towards the end. Also, George doesn't even get kidnapped until 42% in!

Thank you to HQ and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kayla Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The German Messenger by MJ Hollows was an interesting read.

It takes place at the beginning of the war in 1940 when London is experiencing nightly bombings by the Luftwaffe. Ruth works for a local newspaper and volunteers by night during the bombings to help the local citizens, but Ruth has a secret that she will not tell anyone. Anthony is a teacher by day and a bomb warden by night. Their paths cross one night during a raid and they instantly do not like one another. As the story progresses, they find out they have a lot more in common than they think. Back to Ruth's secret.. someone finds out about it and instantly uses it against her, in the worse way - involving the kidnapping of her son.

My only complaint is that the book starts incredibly slow and took a very long time to pick up the pace, only to have a somewhat rushed ending. The author has a really good writing style and is incredibly descriptive, which also helped bring the story to life.

[Valerie Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
I enjoyed the start of this novel, the writing style accurately reflected the way a young boy would think. Thereafter I found the writing too simplistic to be credible, with Ruth's thoughts running from a strong desire to be allowed to do more, to being frozen on the spot and not even offering a cup of tea as she's trained to do, within a couple of lines. The timeline seemed odd with Anthony going to the pub then reappearing in a shelter a few hours later while Ruth received news of her husband then went on duty the next day. I could not engage with Ruth's character at all, crumbs about her background were dropped into the story too infrequently with little detail so I didn't feel I was getting to know or understand her. I didn't feel living in that era was conveyed accurately. I read 25% of the book before giving up.

[Lori Sinsel Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another intriguing WWII novel about the sacrifices made and lengths gone when our loved ones are threatened or in harm's way.
Forced into giving critical information from her job about Britain to the Nazis when her son is kidnapped, journalist Ruth Holt finds herself in an impossible position, with impossible decisions having to be made, each one could result in her son paying the ultimate price. As the demands increase will she be able to withstand the pressure or will she break?
This was a exciting if somewhat far-fetched read. Some parts you just thought, "yeah right, I doubt that could have ever happened. But oh well, it is called fiction for a reason.
It isn't a bad book, it was interesting, but withou any of those "wow" moments that make a book great!!
Thank you to the publishers and author for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

[Ashley Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. I didn't really like this at all.

Set during the Blitz in England in 1640, Ruth Holt is a journalist and member of the Women's Volunteer Service whose husband has been sent to the front line, and whose son George has been sent via train to the countryside like many other young children during the war in order to keep them safe. In George's case though, the family doesn't want to board him and he's homesick, so he finds his way back home. To cope, Ruth has her neighbour babysit him when she has to go to work.

Ruth mets Anthony Lloyd, a teacher and volunteer warden during one of the raids and the two spend the majority of the book hating/mildly tolerating each other. Both of the characters are rather bland and in Ruth's case she spends most of it hinting at some apparently horrible secret and past that's really not all that surprising or dire.

The book is supposed to centre around George getting kidnapped and Ruth being under the control of the kidnappers to feed them British intel to the Germans, but George doesn't get kidnapped until 150 pages in. Anthony's house gets bombed so miraculously Ruth offers for him to stay with her, despite barely knowing him at all and then miraculously, despite absolutely zero chemistry the two fall madly in love, just 3 months after she finds out her husband has died.

It moved entirely too slow to get started and then fast forwards to the end way to quickly with everything wrapping up in a neat little bow where you spend your time wondering what you just read. I didn't like either Ruth or Anthony and didn't find either of them redeemable, likeable and I couldn't buy their relationship at all.

[Jim Sørensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Michael makes brings his characters to life. They feel like real people, and their thoughts and actions are very relatable throughout the entire story. The main characters are just as organic and natural, as any characters they encounter along the way.
The book is set in Liverpool during the second world war, but this only adds to the story, without taking focus away from the characters. It is told in an engaging and respectful way, describing the horrors experienced by the people, as if the writer was present at the time.
I would recommend this book to anyone, who likes tales about everyday people, put in difficult and morally challenging situations, while struggling with the events around them.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars rounded up from 3 and half.

This story is set in 1940 - 1941 England. A woman who was born in Austria, but raised in England is a journalist, mother and a soon to be widow. Her son is kidnapped and she is put in the position to betray England to the Nazis.

The premise of the story sounded good, I found parts to be hard to believe. The tales of the bombing and destruction were excellent reads. The struggles the people endured and the "incarceration" of German born citizens were excellent. The kidnapping and the storyline following that not so good. And the one part that really was crazy is that it was 'a secret' her son had been adopted.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book really has the wrong title, its really more about a 2 folks surviving during the severe bombing Liverpool took during the war and eventually hooking up. The actual messenger stuff was almost like a secondary/minor storyline that you really forgot about it for most of the book. Nice enough main characters and you really did feel for them surviving the bombings but there just seemed something missing with the book itself especially given the title of it.

[Ron Baumer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read overall. The story is well told and the action and suspense will hold your attention. The characters are well developed and the story is well grounded with historical facts. My only disappointment (if minor), was I felt the author rushed the end of the book to get it over with. However, that point aside, I did enjoy the story.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh goodness. As a mother, there were parts of this story that infuriated me, but like our main heroine, I would go to the ends of the earth to protect my babies. As the second great war is beginning, there are many with sympathies toward what the Germans are doing - but there is a lot in this story that is going to draw at your heartstrings. It was a hard, but amazing read, and I could not put this one down! Perfect for a weekend at the beach! 

[Liz Mistry · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a tantalising glimpse into WW2 Liverpool. I loved the insight inot how women were treated during this time and I found Rith a well rounded and quite charismatic character. Not sure if I'd be as brave as her if our positions were reversed.
The increasing claustrophobia and inherent anxiety of increasingly frequent air strikes increases the tension in this book, however this is juxtaposed by the gentle romance that blossoms between the characters.

Thoroughly enjoyable

[Lisa Carlile · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by M J Hollows is perfect for fans of historical fiction. It's a captivating novel based in 1940 in Liverpool. Ruth is threatened with sharing vital war information in return for the safety of her young son.
I couldn't put it down and was desperate to see what and how she would deal with this dilemma without compromising her believes and the future of her country

[Jim C · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a struggle to finish this one. A journalist’s young son is kidnapped during the blitz in Liverpool as she is forced to provide information to her captor. Storyline is painfully slow to develop and then ends very quickly. Very little focus on the spying angle, just a lot about personal angst. Only saving grace was the detail about the impact of the bombing on the city.

[Todd · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is 'forced' into real events during the bombing of Liverpool during WWII. At one point one person says he must get to the other character ASAP. Because of being built around real events, the next chapter takes place 3 weeks later with the first character 'still?' running to the other character.

I seriously wonder whether the book was generated by AI.

[Carol Mageean · Rating 3 out of 5]

enjoyed this historical novel set during the Liverpool.blitz.during WW2. I liked the way it transported you through the different ages and relationships all threaded through the novel with ease lots of emotion and believable tale

[Janice Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The German Messenger is an immersive read. It is hard to put down as the reader quickly becomes invested in the protagonist's life. Plot twists keep drawing one into the story.
History and WW2 readers will enjoy this author's work.

[Karen Norman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book as it had an intriguing storyline however I found it disjointed and the characters strangely 2 dimensional. I had no strong feeling about any of them which made the reading a bit plodding and a chore hence only 3 stars