The Commandant’s Daughter by Catherine Hokin – Book Review

*AD-gifted: I received a copy of The Commandant’s Daughter in exchange for this post. Affiliate links are marked with a*

Today I’m back with another fantastic book *The Commandant’s Daughter by Catherine Hokin. A heartbreaking novel about the incredible courage of ordinary people during the Second World War. A powerful story of hope found in the darkest days.

Book Description

1933, Berlin. Ten-year-old Hanni Foss stands by her father watching the celebrations marking Adolf Hitler as Germany’s new leader. As the torchlights fade, her safe and happy childhood changes forever as Reiner, the father she adores, is corrupted by his new position as commandant of an infamous concentration camp…

Twelve years later. As the Nazi regime crumbles, Hanni hides from her father on the outskirts of Berlin. In stolen moments, she develops the photographs she took to record the horrors of the camp – the empty food bowls and desperate faces – and vows to get justice for the innocent people she couldn’t help as a child.

But her carefully constructed new life is threatened when Hanni discovers a body hidden in a bombed-out building, and meets Freddy, the tortured young detective in charge of the case. Could the fierce emotion in his brown eyes distract Hanni from her quest for atonement?

Or will Reiner stop her himself? Because on the day she plans to deliver her damning photographs to the Allies, Hanni comes face to face with her father again. Reiner Foss has a powerful new identity and he makes it clear just how dangerous it will be to expose him. Now she faces a devastating choice, between the past which haunts her, and the chance of a future with Freddy…

What I Thought

I found it slow to start with, but it gathered up momentum soon enough! Right at the start, you read about little Hanni, a budding photographer whose life practically changes overnight when her father is promoted to a Nazi Commander. As the war goes on and she discovers what her father does, she makes it her aim to get him to pay for his crimes.

After the war, Hanni distances herself from her father and changes her name. She makes a fresh start with a new job in a photography studio. While out one day she comes across a murder of a former SS officer and together with an inspector called Freddy, they investigate what happened. This is the beginning of a spate of murders of this kind. Hanni and Freddy work together to bring justice. Each with their own secrets they keep hidden from one another.

At times, I found The Commandant’s Daughter quite tense. Dark secrets are all over, with no one wanting them to get out! If you stick with it, it’s an intriguing read. Plus it’s book 1 of 4 and I can’t wait to read the others as they tell the story of Hanni and Freddy.

Author Bio

I seem to have followed a rather meandering career, including marketing and teaching and politics (don’t try and join the dots), to get where I have always wanted to be, which is writing historical fiction. I am a story lover as well as a story writer and nothing fascinates me more than a strong female protagonist and a quest. Hopefully, those are what you will encounter when you pick up my books.

I am from the North of England but now live very happily in Glasgow with my American husband. Both my children have left home (one to London and one to Berlin) which may explain why I am finally writing. If I’m not at my desk you’ll most probably find me in the cinema, or just follow the sound of very loud music.

I’d love to hear from you and there are lots of ways you can find me, so jump in via my website https://www.catherinehokin.com/ or on my Cat Hokin FB page or on Twitter @cathokin

Where To Buy

Available to buy from *Amazon

Book Tour

Here are the other bloggers on The Commandant’s Daughter book tour. Why not head over and check out their reviews!

Other Books You May Like

• From The Dark We Rise by Marion Kummerow
• The Girl On The Platform by Ellie Midwood
• The Girl Across The Wire Fence by Imogen Matthews
• The Girl In The Striped Dress by Ellie Midwood

Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you’ve enjoyed this review. You can check out my bookcase of past reviews here.