<i><blockquote>What do I know about memory? When you become old and used up like me, it’s easy to allow the past to take over. Some memories are sharp as teeth, others like gauzy clouds floating in your brain. Others flutter around like a trapped moth; others are right on the edge of remembrance. Like a familiar melody you can’t identify.</blockquote></i>

In 1945 John Bailey was one of the American soldiers sent to liberate Dachau after Germany surrendered. The horrors he witnessed there: the mass graves, the dead people and others who were not so lucky didn’t deter him from falling in love with Fräulein Ariana, whom he found hiding in a closet after he went to inspect her house. The two fell deeply in love despite the circumstances and the language barrier.

In 2012, John’s son, Jack, a jaded ex-cop convinces his friend Sherk to help him figure out the mystery behind the love letter Ariana had written to his father.

From the very start, Jack is an unlikeable character. He expects that the knowledge of his father’s past affair will bring light as to why he abused his children. <b>There is never an excuse for abusing children.</b> He calls Sherk’s positive views of Germany’s national healthcare as “socialist leanings.” Is this some sort of American joke that I’m too European to understand? In a passionate outburst, Jack calls Sherk “Führer”, who talks about his “frickin’ superior race.” Only after visiting Germany and reading his father’s diary, Jack is ready to accept that the criminals behind the terrors that happened during the war were individuals, not the whole country. And at the end of it all, Jack thinks himself more culturally aware. How very American, to be in your sixties and finally realize other countries function differently than the US. The whole ending with the birthday was unnecessary. Absolutely nothing of interest happened. The writing was stilted and unnatural, choosing to skip over interesting bits (like how Sherk managed to get in touch with Ariana’s sister) and instead giving us miniscule details of actions such as an old woman setting a tray of coffee and strudel.

The bits of history and horrors that happened were detailed and well-written. The description of holocaust deniers who lived right next to concentration camps and still refused to accept what happened was chilling. Sherk is an energetic character, with a vast knowledge of the past events that gets info-dumpy at times and a collection of quotes he recites at most inconvenient times (which, according to Jack, is always). He was the only interesting character, his history knowledge adding to the narrative.


<i>I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

When a 1930's love letter from an Ariana Schroder is discovered in his father's belongings, ex-cop Jack Bailey is determined to figure out if she holds the answers to why his father was so abusive.

I thought the flashbacks to WWII were very well written and I loved hearing their stories. The present day stories were painful to read. I didn't like Jack at all. His friend, Sherk, was the only redeeming character, and I felt he wasn't given a fair shake. While this had a lot of potential, I didn't like the execution of the story and probably wouldn't recommend it. I must point out that I have not read the previous stories in this series, so maybe that would change things a bit? I doubt it, but maybe.

Thank you NetGalley for ARC for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this read. It was full of hope for what might have been, and heartbreak for what happened, the suffering that was endured and the routes some took to try blot out the past, unsuccessfully at times, and try to move on as best they can. The truths that Jack Bailey uncovered during his trip to Munich were horrific but the author built in Bailey, a strong and credible led protagonist who undoubtedly contributed considerably to this novel. While so many books about the holocaust have been released in recent years this one is written from a different, and gripping angle. I highly recommend it!

I really liked the premise of this story, but unfortunately the writing style was not a good match for me. I didn't realise that this book was the third in a series featuring Jack Bailey, and I'm not sure whether that impacted my ability to connect with the character. I found Jack to be shallow and remote and despite forcing myself to read on, the story never really piqued my interest and I found myself emotionally disengaged. I concede that I am just not the right audience for this book at this time.

A Letter from Munich, as the title suggests, is about a "forgotten" letter, that resurfaces when John Bailey's family sorts through his belongings, after his death. The forgotten letter was from a woman, and since their Dad kept it for 66 years, John's sons Jack and Tommy, (the ones who found it), thought, that maybe, there could be a story behind the letter. Jack, one of John's 5 children, was actually planning a trip to Munich with his German and now X-partner from the police force (Jack is retired). Jack and his brother Tommy decide that this will probably be their last chance to possibly find the woman Ariane, who wrote the letter. So with the letter in toe, Jack heads to Munich, to look into his father's war time story.

A Letter From Munich is a WW2, #hstoricalfiction, that moves along at a very swift pace, The book kept me interested from the very beginning. It is a little different in that, it is not a story of an unyet, undiscovered or unrecognized female heroine. It is about 2 male "buddies", trying to help and support each other. I really found this a pleasant change. It also spoke not only about the atrocities in the concentration camps, but also equally about the effect of the war on the German people. This was really a great read, especially, if you may be planning a trip to Munich (post #covid19). Author Meg Lelvis brings Munich to life in the pages of her book! I have visited Frankfurt, but now I would really like to see Munich as well. Thank you #netgalley for the e-ARC in return for my honest review, #5stars.

After his father passes away, Jack Bailey discovers a letter that his father has kept for a decade. This discovery takes him on a journey to Germany to find out what was so important his father had held onto the letter for so long. The truth he finds may destroy his family.
The historical aspect in the story is heartbreaking to read as Jack discovers connections to the Holocaust. The story contains the horrors and evil of this time in history, what life was like living during this time and the aftermath effects on everyone.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this book for my honest opinion.

I love books that connect the past and the future snd one linking modern day Bavaria and the times of the Holocaust and Dachau was very good.

If you found a letter after a loved one passed away, would you attempt to find the sender?

Munich was one of the favorite places I traveled to during my trip across Germany and thus, this book sucked me in from the beginning. The author does a fabulous job at weaving the two timelines together - the present and the past. The characters are deep and relatable and I found myself wanting to know more about the letter as much as Jack does.

While there weren't any surprises, I genuinely enjoyed solving the "mystery" and had difficulty putting it down. I recommend this to anyone enjoying historical fiction or books regarding Germany!

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this and give my honest opinion.

"A Letter From Munich"
by
Meg Lelvis




What a gripping page turner!

"A Letter From Munich" by Meg Lelvis was a great story that starts out in 2012, where two brothers found a letter to their father at the end of WWII from a women in Munich. Will this letter explain why their dad was a different man when he came back home from the war. The letter held questions that needed to be answered. The only way to find the answers was to go to Germany and find Ariane. What will Jack Bailey find in Germany? What will be learn about the liberation of Dachau?

This is a well researched book. It opened my eyes about what the war must have been like. This is the first book by Meg Lelvis I've read and t will not be the last.

I highly recommend this book to anyone whom like a great historical book!

I am rating this book with a 5 out of 5

I received this complimentary copy of this e-book from the author through Netgalley. All thoughts are mine and mine alone.

This book speaks to many parts of WWII and Germany, but none so eloquently as the fact that part of it is set in Dachau, "a peaceful village near Munich". On a trip to Germany several years ago, I was with a group that visited Dachau, the camp. I was absolutely shocked to find out that there was a town within walking distance, bearing the same name. How could people not realize what was happening to the Jews and the other so-called undesirables?

This is the story of two brothers who discover a letter from Munich in their parents' attic. A letter addressed to their father. And the circuitous route that they follow to learn about the woman who wrote it.

A very worthwhile read.

I read this EARC courtesy of Black Rose Writing and Net Galley. pub date 04/09/20

This book was not for me. I was expecting a story line based more on the past. If you read the first 2 in the series, it may make more sense as it explains a lot about the main character's father, his outbursts, and its effect on the main character, but I was left wanting more of both stories at the end.
I have to say also that I couldn't relate to John, the main character. I found him insufferable and had a hard time wanting to know anything about him.
As for the story line during WW2, it's thin -but again, explain John's father's life.

So... not for me!

So let me preface my review by saying I didn’t realize this was an ongoing series until after I read it. I probably would have opted to read the others first. Because I just didn’t connect with the main characters. And that’s likely the reason. The underlying story was compelling enough and fell right in line with my favorite genre, historical fiction. A mysterious letter from decades ago, a wartime secret, the horrors of WWII...every time the storyline switched back to modern times, though, I found myself skipping along just trying to get through it. Something to keep in mind if you pick this one up.

Can a letter change your life?

Jack and Tommy were going through their late father's possessions when they found a letter to him from a German woman. It was sent to him just after the war ended.

Jack decides to go to Germany and find the lady that had written the letter in hopes he would find out about his father's time in the war.

What he finds not only changes how he thinks about his father, but how he thinks of the war and the German people. He finds the woman that wrote the letter, although she now has lost most of her memory. He also meets her sister who has a journal his father wrote during the war. She tells him her sister's story during the war and gives him his father's journal.

He finds out information which will change his life. It opens his eyes to what his father saw during the war that caused him to become a drunk and to have nightmares. He understands his father as he never did before.

He goes home to his brother Tommy and his sister Jennifer and shares what he learned and shared the journal with them.

It is a tragic story of a German family during the war, and a young soldier sent to liberate Dachau the Nazi concentration camp. The sites he saw would haunt the soldier the rest of his life. In his nightmares he remembers the young German girl he once knew. He could never explain to his family and never talked to them of the war. He became a bitter drunk and took it out on his sons. They never understood him until they read his journal.

The book was interesting to read, a page turner for me. I enjoyed the description of the German cities Dachau and Munich. The story that was told was interesting to read in a historical sense, but the feelings and the communications with the characters involved made the story.

I would recommend this book, it was a good read.

Thanks to Meg Lelvis, Black Rose Writing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of the book for an honest review.

The mists of time cloud the memories and hide the secrets of love lived and lost. Best to leave them alone. A simple story with a predictable ending.

Thank you to Netgalley, Black Rose Writing and Meg Lelvis for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

4 / 5 Stars

Told in two timelines - Modern Day Munich, Germany and World War II Dachau.

We meet up with Jack Bailey following his departure from Police as he embarked on an adventure with now friend Sherk to Germany to visit Sherk’s family. His motive to join the trip sits on a letter of his deceased fathers. Jack and his brother, Tommy wish to find out who sent the letter which balances English and German and is written in a female hand as well as the context surrounding it. It might be a key to understanding how and why their father became a drunk.

Her identity is uncovered through her sister - Renate. Ariana is her name, and she suffers from dementia. Renate tells the story of Ariana and Jack’s father over the course of a few days. The story pivotes between timelines as the past is described in dialogue. Renate begins by explaining her experiences during the war in order to bring war time Germany alive. Renate’s experiences run parallel with Jack’s own back story.

After obtaining a diary written by his father in order to please Ariana, Jack begins to understand his father’s psyche. They discovered Dachau Concentration Camp in 1945, and the horrors seen and experienced are detailed in his father’s writing. The diary also has a postscript written by Ariana. But the question becomes, what can Jack tell his brother ,sister and mother? Where does a boundary lie in regards to a deceased person’s secrets?

Lelvis’ uses great word choice in the experiences depicting Trauma and Horrors.

The themes highlight the importance of family and friendship and the importance of remembering/never forgetting what happened in Europe during World War II.

This was my first Jack Bailey novel, and I picked this up due to the historical fiction told. I am interested in going back and reading #1 and #2 now.

Highly recommend this book and author!

I've been excited about this book since I first heard about it, and it did not disappoint. The characters sucked you into the story and the story kept you turning pages as fast as you could. I devoured it in a day. I loved it.

A letter from Munich had a great concept, my opinion.. A lovely idea that had me really intrigued to read the book. However, the story fell flat for me. The main character was unlikable with very little depth to him, and while I understand that the author tried to give him growth, it really lacked the character development to do that. I also felt no connection to ANY of the characters leaving the book to be a very forgettable one for me.

184 pages

4 stars

This story is told in two timelines: 1930's Germany and the present.

At the beginning of this book the character Jack has a 'tude. Although to be fair the ex-cop has plenty to about which to have a chip on his shoulder.

He and his former partner and now friend Sherk travel to Germany to visit Sherk's family. Jack has another motive for going, however, and waits until they get there to spring it on Sherk. He has found a letter in his now deceased father's things and Jack and his brother Tommy want to know who sent it. Written in a feminine hand, and partly in English and partly in German, it is an intriguing find.

Sherk and Jack set out to find the woman named Ariana. Who they discover is her sister Renate. Renate is a spry, energetic woman who takes them to visit her sister. Sadly, she is suffering from dementia.

Over several days, Renate tells Ariana and Jack's father's story. She gives Jack a journal written by his fsther at Ariana's insistence. Jack reads about their discovery of the Dachau concentration camp in 1945. His father describes the horrors he saw and experienced.

Jack begins to understand why perhaps his father was a mean drunk.

But there is more to the diary. There is also a post script written by Ariana.

Well written and plotted, as are all of Ms. Lelvis' books, this novel is entrancing and fascinating. I didn't like Jack at first. I though he was rude to his friend and couldn't understand why Sherk would put up with his behavior. Ms. Lelvis has a talent for writing and I hope she keeps it up. She tells a very good story.

I want to thank NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review.