A detective mystery story well told but with a harrowing background. This is not an easy read as it is set in German concentration camps. Definite food for thought!
Many thanks to Netgalley/Oriana Ramunno/HarperCollins UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is not an easy read, but then you would not expect anything to do with Auschwitz to be easy. It has to be said that there are moments when you have to pause reading and just realise exactly what you are reading about. It makes a harrowing event to bring to mind the horrors of the treatment of Jews in the Second World War.
It is part detective story, but also this is running alongside the background of the concentration camp.
A well written book, but not for the faint hearted.

Best book on Auschwitz I have read since Primo Levi. A child in the "care" of Dr Mengele finds one of Mengele's colleagues dead. Hugo, a Berlin criminologist is sent to investigate. He himself has a secret - he has MS, and must conceal it or he will be pressured to seek euthanasia. By the time he has bee in the camp a short while Hugo's eyes are opened to the full horror of what is going on here; he will be forced to choose how he is going to pursue his investigation - and who can he trust?
Well written, beautifully paced and unputdownable - brilliant!

Christmas. A time for families and celebration. Not in Auschwitz. Bleak with the constant smell of death and fear, every day is the same. Without hope or expectation and in the harsh winter of 1943, the cold and hunger will kill as often as the gas chambers. Hugo Fischer, a criminologist is summoned to Auschwitz to investigate the death of a renowned doctor. Apparently having choked on an apple, this explanation for his death raised many questions and ones which Hugo was duty bound to find answers. Suspecting foul play, he began his investigations by interviewing those who had seen him last including a young jewish boy named Gioele. A twin who was part of the evil experiments of Dr Mengele, he discovered the dead body of Dr Braun. With an exceptional memory for detail, he was able to impart evidence that had already been covered up. As the story unfolds we get to know Hugo who has a degenerative illness that holds him back at times but has a strong determination to get to the truth. A story very much based on the horrific reality of Auschwitz, conjuring up dreadful imagery which reminds us of the unimaginable cruelty that befell thousands of innocent people. Mixing fiction with reality is a great skill and one the author does seemlessly. Also showing glimpses of the human sacrifices and kindnesses that gave a glimmer of hope that there was some good in an evil world. An excellent portrayal of a reality that must never be forgotten with an absorbing storyline. Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed this book, however, it was often difficult to read. There is no sugar coating of the atrocities experienced in Auschwitz and so can be shocking to read in black and white. Excellent writing and very believable characters.

Astonishing fictional account of an investigator slowly approaching death in a place where death is common place. Hugo Fischer must navigate the horrors of labour camps, personal accountability, grieving humanity's failure and finding resilience and courage within himself as he tries to solve a brutal murder that becomes even darker as he uncovers the evil of the Final Solution. Absolute must read but it is heartbreaking so have tissues at the ready. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this quite wonderful ARC.

Thanks to #NetGalley and Harper Fiction for an advanced copy of this book to read and review.

With the setting being in the concentration camp of Auschwitz/ Birkenau this is not a light hearted easy read. But in the bleakest times there are rays of hope and some goodness.

Hugo Fischer has been sent to investigate the death of a camp doctor. The irony that his death needs to be investigated, when thousands are being murdered daily without thought is not lost on Fischer.

His investigation is helped by one of the twins that Dr Mengele has taken an interest in. A bright, intelligent child with a great artistic skill provides much insight and detail to camp life. He winds his way into Fischers heart and the thought of what is going to happen to him pulls at his heartstrings.

This book portrays elements of the stark, horrific daily suffering which can not be fully understood without having experienced it. To me though, it gave me pause for thought and gave an angle to read about that I haven’t come across in many WW2 fiction books. It made me think about those that wore the Nazi uniform and consider there were some that were there to work against this evil.

To say I enjoyed this story would be wrong as it is one of the worst things to have happened, yet the writing was good, the portrayal of matters was done in a way to bring it to life and give a glimpse into the atrocities.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes WW2 fiction and also those who like murder mysteries.

I was sent a copy of Ashes in the Snow by Oriana Ramunno to read and review by NetGalley. This is an incredible book, reminiscent of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas but with a detective story twist. It is emotional, emotive, horrifying, heartfelt and important all in one. The novel was conceived after the author heard the memories of her great-uncle who was himself detained in a concentration camp. The characters are all too believable, as is the horror and terror of the Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps. The detective story sits very nicely within the wider history of the horrors and moves you thoughtfully through the pages. This is the sort of novel that should be on the curriculum at senior schools so that the very real atrocities described within should never be forgotten.

A murder mystery set in Auschwitz seems incongruous and ironic. A murder in a place where life has no value. However this is the murder of a German doctor. Renowned criminologist Hugo Fischer is called in to investigate. He finds several suspects as well as a place he struggles to comprehend. Some surprising human touches add hope to what seems the worst of humanity. When i read some of the reactions to Hugo's MS - that he should kill himself, that he shouldn't be allowed to live if he's not perfect, I was even more shocked. A moving, human account of life in the most inexplicably evil place ever. #netgalley #AshesInTheSnow

Ashes in the Snow is Oriana Ramunno’s debut crime novel, written in Italian and translated into English by Katherine Gregor. The book is set in Poland during World War II and begins with a young boy, Gioele Errera, finding the body of an SS officer in the snow. The man appears to have choked on an apple, but it soon seems that there is more to his death than that and German criminologist Hugo Fischer is summoned to investigate. Finding the murderer will not be easy, particularly as the dead man’s wife seems reluctant to cooperate, but Gioele agrees to help – if, in return, Hugo will help him to find his family from whom he has become separated.

This is a beautifully written and translated novel but not an easy one to read because, as we quickly discover, Gioele has a twin brother and the two of them have become subjects of the infamous Josef Mengele’s experiments. Of course this sort of thing is not supposed to be pleasant to read about, but I wasn’t really prepared for the level of detail Ramunno goes into in describing this and other parts of Gioele and Hugo’s stories. Hugo is an interesting and likeable character, a man suffering from a degenerative illness who must keep his condition a secret to avoid becoming a target of the Nazi regime himself. He’s an unusual detective and the crime element of the novel works well, but this book wasn’t for me.

This is an unsettling whodunnit set in Auschwitz in 1943. The murder of a renowned Nazi has been committed and an external detective has been brought in as the German Commander doesn’t want a murderer allowed to be lose in the camp. The cruel irony is of course that the camp is littered with permitted murders of the worse kind, not least depicted when an officer stamps on the baby of a woman who has just arrived in camp, killing it instantly.
It retains an eerie and highly uncomfortable atmosphere. Hugo Fische the detective must tread around eggshells. He is steered away from seeing too much or asking too much about the running of the camp.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about using Auschwitz as the backdrop of a crime mystery, but was pleasantly pleased with the tone and authenticity of it. Hugo is a likeable character, sensitive with flaws. The reveal of how he learns what is going on at the camp, is crafted deftly and to a degree sensitively, whilst also conveying the depths of human depravity. It felt authentic, the pace was careful and the approach cautious, yet matter of fact. I could within the realms of imagination of such a book, place myself there amidst the eerie and dark dehumanising world, which lives and breathes distrust and suspicion. Different and enjoyable, sobering and probably not for those easily upset as some depictions are very vivid.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It’s a really harrowing and distressing read. An incident in the first chapter was so sickening I couldn’t continue reading for a while. And that was the first of many. Although I am well aware of the awful atrocities carried out at Auschwitz it was much too graphic for me. The story begins at Christmas 1943 and criminologist Hugo Fischer has travelled to Auschwitz to investigate the death of Dr Braun a colleague of Josef Mengele. 8 year old Gioele Errera discovers the body of Dr Braun whilst wandering in a forbidden area. Jewish Gioele is one of twins and is in the ‘care’ of Mengele and part of his experimental programme. Gioele is a talented artist and impressed Hugo after drawing a detailed picture of the death scene. The detail in the drawing becomes instrumental in the search for the truth and it quickly becomes apparent that this is a murder. Hugo and Gioele form a friendship although this would be unacceptable to the Nazis if discovered. Hugo is also suffering from a degenerative disease which he conceals by taking morphine. He must keep this a secret in order to survive. Although I was sickened by the atrocities described in the story I found the complex investigation into the murder of Dr Braun to be superbly written and I was gripped until the truth was revealed. My thanks to HarperFiction and NetGalley for an ARC.

A very good Detective story which acts as a veneer over a setting that should never be forgotten. Apart from the main character, Hugo Fischer, a “flawed” but talented criminologist it also hi lights the efforts made by people literally both sides of the fence and their efforts to make some sort of difference, however small. A book I shan’t forget in a hurry.

A harrowing depiction of the experiments that Nazis inflicted in the name of science. Vivid and searing in it’s honesty about the brutality. I was held captive by the story and a good who -dunnit in it’s own right was unravelled as a result,. A flawed hero in a world of unwilling villains and complicit victims made the morality of the book satisfyingly stark and yet ambiguous .

I love historical fiction books and I was excited to read this as it unusually also added my favourite genre, crime fiction.

I liked the character of the detective, I found him well written and relatable but I found the subject matter really hard. I haven’t marked the book down for this because this is a personal thing to me and doesn't reflect on how good the book is-it probably means it’s even better because of how affecting it is.

Probably not one for by the pool but worth a read all the same.

Heart wrenching and poignant but utterly gripping. A wonderful debut novel, told as it is with no sugar coating. Difficult to stomach in places (death camps were utterly dreadful places as we know). I like this author and her writing style and will definitely look out for more of her work.
ARC copy.

An absolutely incredible debut novel. The personal experience comes through and I think you can say that the author has done her relative extremely proud.. Crime novel meets WWII novel meets harrowing tale of Nazi atrocities leading to almost impossible decisions. The writing is tremendous. I have basically just sat down and read the whole thing in one go. Tough to read at times, Set in Auschwitz the author doesn't sugar coat anything. The characters are believable and well crafted. I loved Hugo. The dilemma he faces at the end I wouldn't wish on anyone. This book will certainly stay with me The ending is tension filled and heart stopping, the epilogue gobsmacking tear jerking.

This is a detective story with a difference. It is also a world war 2 novel with a difference. But however you categorise it “Ashes In The Snow” is an extremely sad and heartbreaking novel.
Hugo Fischer is a criminologist in Nazi Germany. When he is ordered to a prison camp in Poland to investigate a murder he begins a journey to hell. Hugo has a progressive illness which he is forced to keep secret as people like him are not welcome under the Nazis and this makes his job all the more difficult.
Doctor Braun’s murder is not straightforward and Hugo has to use all his skills to work out the perpetrator. He is aided by Gioele an Italian child who found the body. Gioele is one of “Uncle Mengele’s Jewish “ twins- he is extremely bright and desperate to find the his parents and twin brother. He agrees to help Hugo in return for a favour- Hugo must find Gioele’s family
This is a book of supreme irony- with death and violence all around Hugo is tasked with solving one murder. Why does the death of one doctor matter so much in a society which treats murder as an everyday occurrence?
Some of the scenes in the book are awful, the description of the treatment of the prisoners is gut wrenching. It can be extremely difficult to read at times.
There are many interesting characters including Hugo himself and their actions and reactions to their situations are not always straight forward. Motivations are indeed murky in such an environment. Hugo has heard of Auschwitz but like many people he has not asked too many questions safely ensconced in Berlin. Now confronted with the reality he is sickened by what he sees. He cannot believe the lack of humanity in the officers that run the camp but he fears he lacks the courage to do anything about it. He focuses on solving the mystery and tries to ignore what is happening all around him.
This is both a mystery and a story about Auschwitz which holds the reader’s attention until the very end. It shows man’s inhumanity but also puts forward a view that even small acts of kindness can be seen as part of the struggle against evil. This is what Hugo learns as he carries out his investigation.
This is a chilling but compelling read which leaves the reader with much to think about.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for my arc.

Incredibly poignant, this book gets under your skin and never lets you go. The mystery is utterly gripping a really zips along - I finished the whole thing in an evening.

I have read a lot of WW2 fiction however, this is a different take on Auschwitz - the people who worked there. A reluctant Nazi has to go and investigate the death of an SS Officer. The irony is incredible as thousands are murdered in the background. The story also covers the medical experiments by Mengele and other monsters. A harrowing tale but well researched and some really heroic characters. An unbelievable time in history.