Author: Steve Matthews
Publisher: Big Sky Publishing
Genre: Historical Fiction
Year of Release: 2021
Release Date: 13th October 2021
Rating 
Trigger warning, Rape, Suicide, Pet death.
Book 2 of 3 This series should be read in Order
Synopsis
1938, as the world spirals towards war, Klara Koch is employed as Hitler’s personal cook. While Germany reveres the image of the Fuhrer, Klara and the household staff are privy to the real Hitler – his secrets, his ailments and his addictions. As Klara observes those circling the Fuhrer, she realises that not all of them are his admirers. Hitler is right to be paranoid.
This thoroughly researched and compelling story takes readers right up close and personal with Hitler as he spirals increasingly out of control in pursuit of his drug-fuelled quest for world domination. This novel – the second volume in Steve Matthews’ gripping Nazi trilogy – takes you on a journey through World War II in Nazi Germany as seen through Klara’s eyes. It is a uniquely clever re-imagining of Hitler, his inner circle, and the absurdities and contradictions of his daily life.
Review
I’m always on the look out for a Historical Fiction based on WW2 and after reading and being fully emersed in Author Steve Matthews first book in the Trilogy “Hitler’s Brothel” I couldn’t wait to see what his second offering Hitler’s Assassins had in store, and it did not disappoint!
So many books that cover the WW2 time period look at it from the perspective of a country and its civilians, so when I discovered Hitler’s Assassins took the approach to see World War 2, Nazi Germany through the eyes of Adolf’s domestic cook Klara Koch, who overtime finds herself ultimately at odds with decisions the leader of the Nazi Party, Adolf Hitler has made.
To wind up on the wrong side of the Nazis would be disastrous, and with eyes and ears waiting to pounce at any moment, she knows that time is running out, not just for Klara but for Germany and the rest of the world. Klara makes the hardest decision in life, to save the one she loves most; she must be seen to support Hitler and his beliefs. I jumped at the opportunity to read this book.
“It is my business Karl, don’t you see? It is everyone’s business because turning a blind eye will not make it any easier to live with oneself when the war is over.’
-Klara, Steve Matthews Hitler’s Assassins
Author Steve Matthews has done a spectacular job in giving the reader plenty of three-dimensional characters to shape this book, all of whom played an important role within this tale, and within History. Even if I struggled to care about the men who caused so much unnecessary havoc, death, and destruction upon the world. I did find myself caring about the women in the story, I think Steve has done well to give so many characters individual personalities.
Just like with Hitler’s Brothel, Hitler’s Assassins is split into three parts this helped this reader piece together when the War was beginning and when it would be ending, I also believe because so much takes places during wartime it once again helped demonstrate just how long the Holocaust lasted which even though it’s hard to think about, I believe we must never forget those lost to this period in history.
Hitler’s Assassins is a clever re-imaging of Hitler’s inner circle that assisted in bringing a culture, a country and very nearly a world to its knees. I think anyone who is brave enough and manages to pull it off whilst at the same time being respectful of history deserves all the praise. One of the best re-imaginings I’ve ever read.
Characters such as Lotte, Erich, Kempa and Gisela make for wonderful minor characters, they added some much-needed light to a very dark time period. I felt as if some of the minor characters such as Frau Doh could’ve had a more substantial ending this doesn’t affect my overall enthusiasm for this book, the book could’ve also benefited from a character list in my opinion.
Hitler’s Assassin’s takes it’s time in the opening chapters, I believe this only added to the hype and the drama that was to come in parts two and three, which had me racing to the end.
Once again Steve Matthews has put a lot of time and effort into researching this time period, and it certainly shows. The world knows how this horrific period in History came to pass and eventually end, thanks to many other titles within the Historical Fiction WW2 Genre, however, to experience it from the Nazi perspective was truly chilling, disturbing, even at times heartbreaking.
“Loyalty is as constant as a change of mind.”
-Steve Matthews Hitler’s Assassins
Having already read Hitler’s Brothel I was expecting Hitler’s Assassins to be somewhat heavy on the gore and violence but rather shockingly I found Hitler’s household staff and his employees to be somewhat detached from the horrors being inflicted on those now imprisoned in the concentration camps. I knew this would be the case as they weren’t witness to the horrors but to read it forced the knowledge to the front of this readers mind, the staff and many others really were kept in the dark or simply chose to believe their beloved leader about the purpose of the camps for years and the fact some people are still of the belief that the Holocaust years never took place, this is a tragedy of its own.
Unlike with Hitler’s Brothel I found I wasn’t at a complete loss for words but still deeply saddened for those who never experienced liberation nor saw their loved ones return from the Concentration Camps. I’m eagerly awaiting the arrival of Hitler’s Resurrection, the third and final book in the trilogy.
I highly recommend this book to a mature audience, if you’re a fan of WW2 novels and enjoyed the Authors first book in the trilogy, Hitler’s Brothel than Hitler’s Assassins is a must read. If you’re looking for a WW2 novel with a different perspective this book is for you.
With continued thanks to Author Steve Matthews, Big Sky Publishing and Simon and Schuster Australia for sending a copy to read and review in exchange for my honest opinion.