Truth’s Labyrinth

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

This book was a little difficult for me to get into at first, but once I did, I really found myself enjoying it. Given the premise - searching for a traitor within the heirarchy of the Third Reich - it was hard to sympathize with the main character, but it challenged me to try to view these situations from a different perspective, and I found a lot of value in that.

This book has a unique premise......the search within the German WW II hiearchy, by Germans, for a traitor. The protagonist is a member of the Nazi party and an officer in the Abwher. He is caught up in the conflict of his time and certainly worthy of our sympathy (what would I have done in similar circumstances?). It is well-written and reveals the infighting, and last-hope decisions of those fighting to preserve Germany from destruction. It is not an uplifting read, but appears to be an honest one. For those with an interest about this period, with a perspective of having been a loyal German, I think you will find this a worthwhile read.

This uses the World War 2 elements perfectly to tell the story, it had character that I cared about and thought it worked in that atmosphere and time-period. I enjoyed what Jørgen Steines wrote this. I can’t wait to read more from Jørgen Steines.

While not considered an alternate history fiction, the author states in his endnotes that this is a “counterfactual book.” It is a terrific, suspenseful story and highly recommended.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Germany, 1943
Characters: Major Johann Richter and his small team of Abwehr intelligence agents, Richter’s family, and a large cast of accurately portrayed officers of the Third Reich
Overview: Richter is tasked with finding a traitor who has been leaking military intelligence to the enemy. He is pressured on all sides – by the high command, some of whom may have complex reasons not to cooperate, his family, who are increasingly aware of the atrocities being committed by Hitler, his son, who is a fully indoctrinated Nazi Youth, and his own conscience and principles. As the investigation progress, all factors combine to make his job harder and ultimately lead to tough, life-changing and historically deviating decisions.
Recommendation: I rate this book 4 stars
Extras: Descriptions of the atrocities are difficult to read but necessary as it is the German people’s increasing understanding and belief of the horror that provide the departure point of the story from the actual course of history. The perspectives of members of the German high command and the involvement of a neutral USA are particularly interesting and revealing.
Thanx to NetGalley and Matador for the opportunity to provide this candid review.