Haunting - yet enlightening - historical fiction!

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Annette Hess' first novel The German House highlights a little-explored period in post World War II historical fiction - the Frankfurt Auschwitz Trials of 1963 - as seen through the eyes young Eva Bruhns, a translator at the trials.

As a fan of World War II historical fiction, I was excited to read this perspective of post-war Germany and this book did not disappoint. Told in 4 parts but no chapters, it has a very distinct (and different) structure that was a bit unsettling at first. The point-of-view and perspective also shifts from paragraph to paragraph which was also hard to follow at first; but as I got into the story and learned each of the characters, it became easier. The shifting perspectives and almost frenetic pace of the story certainly emulates the particular period of post-war West Germany as the economy boomed and the people were focused on moving on from the horror of the war.

As the plot unravels and Eva goes from translator/bystander to intricately involved in the horrific stories that she's translating, I was completely overtaken by the story and found myself racing to the conclusion.

Overall, I loved this story - and it will stay with me for some time. The themes and questions revolving around who is ultimately responsible for the horror of the Holocaust - those who actively persecuted or those who looked the other way and did nothing - are deep questions that will remain with me long after closing this haunting and harrowing story.