The German Wife : A Novel
Kelly Rimmer
On Sale Date: June 28, 2022
9781525811432
Trade Paperback
$17.99 USD
464 pages
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The enmity between two women from opposing sides of the war culminates in a shocking event as anti-German sentiment sweeps America, when the aristocratic wife of a German scientist must face the social isolation, hostility and violence leveled against her and her family when they’re forced to relocate to Alabama in the aftermath of WWII. For fans of Beatriz Wiliams, Pam Jenoff, and Kristin Harmel.
Berlin, 1934—Ilse Meyer is the aristocratic wife of a scientist whose post-WWI fortunes change for the better when her husband, Jurgen, is recruited for Hitler’s new rocket program. Although Ilse and Jurgen do not share the popular political views rising in Germany, Jurgen’s new job forces them to consider what they must sacrifice morally for their financial security. But too late they realize the Nazi’s plans to weaponize Jurgen’s technology as they begin to wage war against the rest of Europe.
Huntsville, Alabama, 1949—Jurgen is one of hundreds of Nazi scientists offered pardons and taken to the US to work for the CIA’s fledgling space program. Ilse, now the mother of four, misses Germany terribly and struggles to fit in among the other NASA wives, who look upon her with suspicion. In a moment of loneliness, she confesses to a neighbor, Rachel Carlson, about Jurgen’s membership in the SS and her resentment for being forced to live in a country that will always see her as the enemy. What she doesn’t know is that she has trusted the wrong neighbor.
When the scandalous news about the Meyer family’s affiliation with the Nazi party spreads, idle gossip turns to bitter rage, and the act of violence that results will tear apart a community and a family before the truth is finally revealed—but is it murder, revenge or justice?
Review
Jurgen and Sophie have barely survived the war intact. Jurgen was captured by the Americans and sent to America with a pardon to help with the space program. Sophie is finally able to join him after two years. But, her arrival is not as easy as she had hoped. She clashes with one of Jurgen’s bosses wives and it taints her whole homecoming.
This is told by two different narrators, Lizzie and Sofie. Lizzie was raised during the dust bowl and the depression in the USA. She is currently married to a scientist at the Huntsville Space program. She and Sofie do not hit it off at all! Lizzie does not want the Germans anywhere near her or her family.
Sofie is a sweet German woman who struggled to survive the war. Because her husband, Jurgen, was a German rocket scientist, they struggled against everything they believed in. The threat by the Nazis to their lives and their family’s lives were constant. They had to conform to the Nazi beliefs to stay alive.
There is a lot of conflict between these two characters and to be honest…they both just want to protect their families and live their lives in peace. But, Lizzie’s brother changes all of that. And you must read this to find out the struggles these two women face and why!
On a side note…I learned something in this book. I had no idea the United States brought over some of the scientists which were German POWs. AND…they used them to help build the rocket program, especially in Huntsville, AL. I have spent lots of time at the space center there. Heck, one of my children went to space camp there. I had no idea about this history. I love a book which teaches me something.
Ok! Y’all run…don’t walk…RUN and get this book!
Need a fantastic historical fiction…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kelly Rimmer is the worldwide, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Before I Let You Go, The Things We Cannot Say, and Truths I Never Told You. She lives in rural Australia with her husband, two children and fantastically naughty dogs, Sully and Basil. Her novels have been translated into more than twenty languages. Please visit her at https://www.kellyrimmer.com/
SOCIAL LINKS:
Author website: https://www.kellyrimmer.com/
Facebook: @Kellymrimmer
Twitter: @KelRimmerWrites
Instagram: @kelrimmerwrites
BUY LINKS:
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/books/the-german-wife-9781525899904/9781525899904
IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781525811432
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-german-wife-kelly-rimmer/1139609914?ean=9781525811432
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09FGT2V4F/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i4
reecaspieces 
I never knew that either, and like you, I always love when I learn something new.
Great review, reeca.
Thanks lady!
🙂