The Silence In Between by Josie Ferguson is a moving and emotional work of historical fiction. On 13th August 1931, the border between East and West Berlin is closed overnight. The city divided and in chaos, Lisette has been separated from her ill baby son Axel in the East. Her daughter Elly witnesses her mother’s pain and suffering but she has never understood why there has been an uncrossable barrier between their own relationship. In flashbacks to the end of the war we gain a dual perspective into the events that led to such tragic circumstances and sacrifice. In a bid to save her family, Elly decides to try and find her baby brother and bring him home. It is well researched and poignant viewpoint of a city and family at two periods of crisis. The writing is easy to read and emotionally complex and I felt both mother and daughter were dynamic characters who shared a love for music and melody. The story unfolds gradually over the novel and sustains a reflective, mysterious atmosphere throughout. The novel also includes important scenes of sexual assault and violence in war so please be cautious but it depicts true events that people endured and survived through. An important, moving work where we learn history is very much alive in the present 4.25 Stars ✨.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is historical fiction at its best. The story takes place in Berlin at the end of WW2 and when the wall goes up. The writing is beautiful and transported me to East Berlin. The characters are well developed and credible.
I am looking forward to more from this author.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to the author and publisher for my digital review copy, provided through Netgalley.

The Silence in Between is a historical fiction set in Berlin in 1961 and the Second World War. Lisette takes her baby to a hospital in West Berlin, at the Doctor's orders she goes home to East Berlin leaving her baby behind. Overnight the city and her world are sliced in two. Lisette's teenage daughter Elly has never understood the distance between them. Despite the music that connects them, Lisette's world has turned silent and Elly tries desperately to bridge the gap. A glimmer of an idea becomes a plan to cross the wall and return home with her baby brother. 

I loved reading this book. Well... it was devastating, but I was captivated by the story and the characters.

The first half of the book features two parallel storylines, contrasting war-wrecked Berlin with the post-war Russian occupation of East Berlin. The second half then became very tense - I ended up finishing the book in about 2 hours once I got to the midway point. 

Both Lisette and Elly are fantastic main characters. They had different voices, similar as they are mother and daughter but distinct. I especially enjoyed how Lisette's character is slowly built up to the 1961 version throughout the earlier part of the book. Ferguson also very cleverly leaves out certain names and details in 1961 so that they can be revealed in the 1940s part of the story. 

I thought it was really interesting to read a book set on the German home front of World War Two. I've read plenty set in Britain and a few in France, but not Germany. East Germany too I haven't read any books about, beyond Non-Fiction. I enjoyed reading from this new perspective, and both periods really captured the atmosphere in different ways. 

As a word of warning though, this book doesn't shy away from the realities of the war, the Russian arrival and occupation of East Berlin. This means there are some quite graphic and violent scenes, which you need to be prepared for if you read this book.

I highly recommend picking up this book when it's released! If you're a historical fiction reader or enjoy books with strong family relationships, I think you'd enjoy The Silence in Between. This is a very strong debut novel from Josie Ferguson and I hope she writes more!

Having lived in Berlin, I was keen to read a novel that explored the themes of the divided city and wartime deprivations. Taking as it's starting point a woman finding herself on the other side of the border to her newborn son, when soldiers closed off East Berlin in 1961, this story is perfect for fans of highly emotional historical fiction.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

This book kept me engaged from the very first page, Lisette leaves her baby boy at the hospital overnight whilst she returns home to get some rest however this is Berlin in August 1961 and the border closes overnight leaving Lisette in the East & her baby, Axel in the West. The story then jumps between Lisette during the Second World War, the bombing of Berlin by the Allied troops, the persecution of the Jews and Elly (Lisette’s daughter) in 1961 when the Berlin Wall goes up and her tenacity to get her brother back.

This book was beautifully written and gave me an insight into a part of history I had no real awareness of. I am used to reading & seeing things about the Second World War from other perspectives but not really from the point of view of what life was like for those living in Germany particularly the women. The book explores the trauma experienced by Lisette during the Second World War and how that has impacted on her relationship with her daughter Elly as well as her husband and her mother. Then the part of the story around the Berlin Wall going up was just so eye opening and something I only had a slight awareness of. A wonderful debut that I would highly recommend.

Thanks to PRH for the early copy. This is an incredibly moving novel about a part of history that I thought I knew well enough but I actually know so little about. It’s a fantastic portrait of life in Berlin through the 40’s and 60’s, and captures so many elements of what was a quite horrific time. It’s moving, deep and a story with many layers. The characters are all brought to life so vividly, and you can’t help but feel deeply for them. At its core it’s a tale of love and how it can conquer anything, and how we need to break down barriers so the past doesn’t repeat Itself. A very poignant message particularly in today’s times. I really enjoyed and can’t wait to see this published.

A remarkable book, this story covers a family torn apart by the Berlin wall, and society. I’ve not read anything quite like it, the writing was beautiful and the characters were vivid and warm. I particularly enjoyed the way music was presented as a common thread between mother and daughter, despite their differences. I always love historical fiction, and this was no exception. It was heart breaking and hopeful at the same time.