I found this story fascinating. It was really interesting to learn about Hitlers tasters and the way they were treated. I knew so little about these women. It was really intriguing to read a story based on fact.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Wow what a read, I was lost within the story and just didn’t want it to end.
I’m actually having trouble putting into words just how much I enjoyed this book and what a difficult, heartbreaking read - so many emotions and not enough words.... wow just wow

This novel is based upon real events, and the life of Margot Wolk, who was the last survivor of Hitler’s food tasters – a fact she, apparently, only divulged at the very end of her life. In this novel, she becomes Rosa Sauer, a Berlin secretary, who has married her boss and is looking forward to a life of contented, marital bliss, when Gregor heads off to war. Then, as the bombs fall, and she finds herself without any family, she relocates – somewhat unwillingly – to the countryside, to stay with her in-law’s.

Being new to the area, and standing out as a city girl in the countryside, brings trouble to Rosa’s door. She is ordered, along with several other women, to become a taster at the Wolf’s Lair. It is 1943 in East Prussia and the tide of war is turning. Although some of the women recruited are keen Party supporters, there is plenty of – pretty open – criticism of the regime. Still, every day, the women sit down to breakfast, lunch and dinner, in order to eat food prepared for Hitler and then wait to check whether or not it has been poisoned. Undoubtedly, even though Hitler’s diet is slightly restricted and vegetarian, the food is much better than the women would normally have and, despite the risks, they mostly seem hungry enough to eat what is put in front of them with gratitude.

Through this novel we learn of the delicate balance of relationships – both between Rosa and her in-law’s and the women who are bussed in to try Hitler’s food. Rosa is the outsider; not part of the community, she stands out with her city shoes and clothes. As such, she both garners the others scorn and their envy. As the book progresses, we get to know the other women better and how their lives, and the war changes them. Overall, a fascinating historical novel, but the style was a little dry. However, as the book was translated, I am not sure whether this was due to the original author’s style, or the translation. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.