The Commandant's Daughter - Catherine Hokin

 A heartbreaking novel about the incredible courage of ordinary people during the Second World War. Fans of The Alice Network, The Nightingale and The Tattooist of Auschwitz will never forget this powerful story of hope found in the darkest days.

1933, Berlin. Ten-year-old Hanni Foss stands by her father watching the celebrations marking Adolf Hitler as Germany’s new leader. As the torchlights fade, her safe and happy childhood changes forever as Reiner, the father she adores, is corrupted by his new position as commandant of an infamous concentration camp…

Twelve years later. As the Nazi regime crumbles, Hanni hides from her father on the outskirts of Berlin. In stolen moments, she develops the photographs she took to record the horrors of the camp – the empty food bowls and desperate faces – and vows to get justice for the innocent people she couldn’t help as a child.

But her carefully constructed new life is threatened when Hanni discovers a body hidden in a bombed-out building, and meets Freddy, the tortured young detective in charge of the case. Could the fierce emotion in his brown eyes distract Hanni from her quest for atonement?

Or will Reiner stop her himself? Because on the day she plans to deliver her damning photographs to the Allies, Hanni comes face to face with her father again. Reiner Foss has a powerful new identity and he makes it clear just how dangerous it will be to expose him. Now she faces a devastating choice, between the past which haunts her, and the chance of a future with Freddy…

Author Bio:

I seem to have followed a rather meandering career, including marketing and teaching and politics (don't try and join the dots), to get where I have always wanted to be, which is writing historical fiction. I am a story lover as well as a story writer and nothing fascinates me more than a strong female protagonist and a quest. Hopefully those are what you will encounter when you pick up my books.

I am from the North of England but now live very happily in Glasgow with my American husband. Both my children have left home (one to London and one to Berlin) which may explain why I am finally writing. If I'm not at my desk you'll most probably find me in the cinema, or just follow the sound of very loud music.

I'd love to hear from you and there are lots of ways you can find me, so jump in via my website https://www.catherinehokin.com/ or on my Cat Hokin FB page or on twitter @cathokin

My review

The Commandant's Daughter is half historical novel and half a murder mystery. Although, in some ways that description might be a little misleading. We follow Hanni Winter, daughter of an SS commandant during the second world war and her friendship with Jewish survivor and policeman Freddy. The story focuses on the rebuilding of German society after the war and how the various people came to terms with what had been before. At the same time, Hanni and Freddie find themselves investigating a series of murders, never sure that they actually want to discover who is behind them.
Both Hanni and Freddy have things to come to terms within this new world. Hanni's father has reinvented himself and this leaves her fearful for her own safety and longing to unmask him. Things, of course, are rarely so simple.
I enjoyed both the side of this where Hanni and Freddy must come to terms with what they have lived through and the way that life has changed and the murder side, although in many ways, both aspects are closely intertwined. This is the start of a series, of I believe, four books. I'm interested to see where Hanni and Freddie's stories will go and how they will come to terms with all that they have experienced.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.