In 1938, a group of Germans meet at Burg Lingenfels, a castle in Bavaria, during a party. They are resistors against the Nazis, and they are planning to kill Hitler. After the meeting, Connie Fledermann, a childhood friend of Marianne von Lingenfels, asks her, if the plot fails, to take care of his wife, Benita, and the other wives of the men involved in the plot.
In 1945, the European war is over. Marianne’s husband was executed during the war for his part in the conspiracy. She has returned to the castle and begun looking looking for the wives she promised to help. So far, she has only found Benita, who spent time in a camp, and Anie, the wife of a man she can’t really remember. But both women have secrets, and post-war Germany is a dangerous place. This novel tells the women’s stories through flashbacks as it moves forward in time to the 1990’s.
Although I don’t understand quite why, I didn’t really get that involved with this novel. It may have been because Benita and Anie have some secrets that aren’t revealed until the end, which leaves them relatively unknowable. Marianne is the only character who seems to have much depth.
What? Me Read? 
I listened to this on CD in my car, and went back and forth on whether I liked it or not. All three characters were annoying in different ways: Marianne too bossy (although where would they all have been without her drive?), Benita too dim/ungrateful, and Anie too secretive. However, I hated that Marianne and Anie’s friendship ended, as they needed each other. I love books set during WWII and give this author (I think she lives a town away from me) credit for trying something different but somehow it wasn’t satisfying. Also, the modern day scene did not ring true to me.
I agree.
Yeah… not sure about this one. But thanks for the review!
You’re welcome!