A Monstrous Lie

The Girls In The Attic by Marius Gabriel is a powerful, heart-wrenching historical novel that will remain with you long after the last page is read. It is a tribute to all those who lived and all those who perished in the Holocaust.

The novel is set in 1944 and 1945 as the Nazis are losing the war. Their cruelty is heightened as they wish to leave no witnesses.

We see life through the eyes of two Jewish sisters, hiding with the mother of a twice-decorated with the Iron Cross Nazi war hero.

The reader witnesses his battle with his conscience – to do what is required or to do what is right? Too many have blindly followed Hitler and joined in with the persecution of the Jewish people.

Not all Germans were Nazis. “A few are monsters, the rest look away” and some help. Many were guilty by omission. The reader is reminded that “for evil to flourish, it just needs good men to do nothing.” “While so many others stood back and watched evil happen, they had taken a stand against it.” Some stood up for what is right with no thought to their own safety.

The sisters clung to each other. The rest of their family were gone. They seemed weak but actually were of strong character to survive.

Love blossoms in the most unlikely of places.

We witness the destruction of Germany – of its people from within and by the Allies via bombing raids.

The fear is tangible – of the Nazis, of the bombs and of the Russians.

The Girls In The Attic was a powerful, compulsive and horrifying read – but there was hope too as we see the will to survive. It was a marvellous read.

I received a free copy via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

JULIA WILSON