I love historical fiction and I love spooky/gothic/haunting reads so this sounded right up my street and I wasn't wrong. I loved both the historical element and the paranormal element of the book. There were times the hairs on the back of my neck were literally stood up to attention, poker straight.
I also really loved Ella, I think she came across as a fantastic protagonist

I requested and received this arc through netgalley.
3.5 stars feels more accurate for my honest review.

This is my first review and I'm relatively new to historical fiction.

Reading the blurb this book drawn me in with talks of historical history, asylums/hospitals alongside a thriller mystery.

I really enjoyed overall, felt a connection to Ella, inspiring young nurse in her studies hoping to care for children.

I really enjoyed how this story told truths of how poorly people were treated for their differences. The harsh reality of history all over the world in hospitals/asylums. Heartbreaking.

I didn't enjoy as much that I felt there was a lot of extra information that wasn't really needed regarding war/camps etc or the characters however that's a personal preference and I understand why some would require the information. Also I struggled with some of the language as songs etc written in German kinda took away the spook as I couldn't translate would of been better given both accounts or just in English.

I loved the ghost/supernatural element to this story and the hidden areas was fantastic! I really enjoyed reading Ella's relationships and finding myself liking a character then absolutely hating them knowing what they did now.
The thriller element was also good, did keep you on edge and felt like a page turner at these points.
Some twists through the story I enjoyed but we're slightly obvious.

However the near ending fell short on the thriller kinda felt it wasn't wrapped up as I'd of hoped for, needed more suspense and action at the part for me.

I loved the touching statement at the end with Ella & daughter, this touched my heart and made me smile 😊

I did enjoy overall, would recommend to others and will happily read from this author again.
Thank you for the opportunity to read and give me honest opinion on The Guilty.

KW

“The Guilty” by Samuel Hawken, is a 380-page fiction book released this year. It was published by Betimes Books CLG in Dublin, Ireland. Its design was produced by TheBookDesigners; the cover image was produced by Keisot Lewap, and the cover design by Masa Radanic. The paperback has the ISBN 978-1-0686170-5-8 and costs $15.99.

Samuel Hawken is a renowned crime writer and historian with a specialty in Holocaust studies.

This story takes place between the mid-1960s and 1970s in post-bellum Germany and centers on Ella Kaffenberger, a 20-year-old pediatric nurse intern at Engelmann Hospital. She makes friends and takes care of patients diligently. Following her breakup with Albert Brunke and recovery from a near-fatal accident, her superiors transferred Ella to the night shift in the spooky mental asylum wing for 90 days, where she constantly hears a mysterious haunting voice that no one discusses. Curious, she decides to delve into the mystery of the phantom voice, leading to an array of incidents that affect not only her but all those around her.

Who is this mysterious voice in the hospital? Will Ella be okay? What are the dark secrets to be uncovered? Find out, readers, in this epic thriller!

A notable aspect of this book is the protagonist’s peery personality. Ella is a naturally curious woman with a penchant for hidden knowledge. Herr Muller thinks her inquisitiveness is a wonderful gift. She considers it her responsibility to unravel the mystery behind each story, a trait that Ernst, Bruno, and even Muller counselled against. Her extreme empathy with the Strobels, however, makes her appear irrational in front of the other health workers, except Dr. Fischer.

Her role as a pediatric nurse aligns with her affection for others around her, which I find admirable. Her compassion towards the children she meets in the hospital is genuine. A relevant example is her friendship with Michael Gottschalk, both before and after his recovery. Her open-heartedness touches the soft sides of both former Nazi lieutenants, Bruno and Muller, who become protective of her in times of need.

I do not have any negative views in the book. It is an interesting psychological thriller filled with dark mysteries gradually unraveled with each page turn. Each character in the book is a vessel of secrets, and I am elated at the author’s open-mindedness in revealing the history of Engelmann, and the thoughts of all who were former supporters and victims of the Reich, especially Dr. Wohlauf and Dr. Fischer, respectively.

I did not find any typographical mistakes or grammatical errors because this book is excellently and thoroughly edited. I, Michael Lartey, the reviewer, find this book to be filled with sobriety, emotional intensity, and in-depthness. Because of this, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

I recommend this novel to young adult readers who love psychological thrillers and European history. It serves as a reminder of the dark days of German propaganda, the past lives of its victims, and unveils the guilt and fear of all those who once were partakers of its cause.

The book, however, contains profane words and mild sexual content; hence, it is most suitable for young adults.

A very disturbing novel. I can't say I enjoyed it, not because of the horrible topic (it's definitely important to talk about it!), but because of the ghosts, calling for the Guilty. The novel is cleverly done, no question. Just not for me. The writing feels emotionless, cold and really unpleasant in the first part of the novel (too many repetitions of some words). It was difficult to go on reading. The novel does reflect the reality of post-war Germany, of its horrific past whose all murderers were not accounted for, of its past embracing the Nazi inhumanity. I know many still believed in it !
Not a story for everybody.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.