

The German Wife
Books | Fiction / Historical / 20th Century / World War II
4.3
(191)
Kelly Rimmer
“Skillfully researched and powerfully written, The German Wife will capture you from the first page.” —Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in LondonFor fans of All the Light We Cannot See and The Tattooist of Auschwitz—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Things We Cannot Say and The Warsaw Orphan returns with a gripping novel inspired by the true story of Operation Paperclip: a controversial secret US intelligence program that employed former Nazis after WWII.Berlin, 1930—When a wave of change sweeps a radical political party to power, Sofie von Meyer Rhodes’s academic husband benefits from the ambitions of its newly elected chancellor. Although Sofie and Jürgen do not share the social views growing popular in Hitler’s Germany, Jürgen’s position with its burgeoning rocket program changes their diminishing fortunes for the better. But as Sofie watches helplessly, her beloved Berlin begins to transform, forcing her to consider what they must sacrifice morally for their young family’s security, and what the price for their neutrality will be.Twenty years later, Jürgen is one of the many German scientists offered pardons for their part in the war, and taken to America to work for its fledgling space program. For Sofie, this is the chance to exorcise the ghosts that have followed her across the ocean, and make a fresh start in her adopted country. But her neighbors aren’t as welcoming or as understanding as she had hoped. When scandalous rumors about the Rhodes family’s affiliation with Hitler’s regime spreads, idle gossip turns to bitter rage, and the act of violence that results will tear apart Sofie’s community and her family before the truth is finally revealed.“An unforgettable novel that explores important questions highly relevant to the world today.” —Christine Wells, author of Sisters of the ResistanceDon’t miss Kelly Rimmer’s newest novel, The Paris Agent, where a family’s innocent search for answers brings a long-forgotten, twenty-five-year-old mystery featuring two female SOE operatives comes to light!For more by Kelly Rimmer, look for: Before I Let You Go The Things We Cannot Say Truths I Never Told You The Warsaw Orphan The Midnight Estate (available July 22, 2025)
Historical Fiction
AD
More Details:
Author
Kelly Rimmer
Pages
464
Publisher
Harlequin
Published Date
2022-06-28
ISBN
036970214X 9780369702142
Ratings
Google: 5
Community ReviewsSee all
"With family who worked in the space program the subject of project paper clip is always interesting and something I have never seen handled in HF. I was surprised about how much I was interested with the nazi indoctrination of German citizens and how those citizens were treated here in the US. The dilemma of whether the US did the right thing is what makes this a compelling read. "
D r
DaRo reads
"4/5 I didnt think I was going to like this as much as I did to be honest. Its a good book, that goes back and forth in time and is well written."
A D
Ann D
"LOVED!!! This book I could not put down. About two different women and their stories through the Great Depression, WWII and after being in the same town. One woman an American whose brother fought during the war and the other a German whose husband was a scientist working for the Nazis. Two women on different oceans, different experiences but similar struggles. Highly recommend this book!"
S E
Shawna Evans
"Decent historical fiction, but Lizzie is such a brat. I felt no empathy for her story line."
G A
Gretta Albrecht
"Was so detailed showing the life and sides of the war. A heartbreaking story. Would read 1000 times."
K M
Kaylen Mundahl
"Excellent book! Narration was terrific. "
G P
Georgina Phillips
"A really clever write filled with valuable stand alone quotes about what government is for and also what it is capable of. A sobering view into Nazi Germany and the Great Depression. But also, a beautiful representation of being a wife and mom when nothing makes sense. "
B H
Bethany Hills
"Absolutely loved it!! "
D �
Delaney 🫶🏻
"Kelly Rimmer is a wonderful story teller. I learned many things about the pre- and post- WWII eras that were so surprising to me that I had to research them further (just to know whether those things were historical fact or fanciful fiction. Fact!) The reader must pay attention to the few clues the author provides in the chapter titles. Otherwise, I could not make it through the book. Kelly Rimmer’s character development so rich, I usually “fall in love” with the main characters in her books. I have to admit, near the end of this book I became so angry at one of the two main characters (due to a ‘character flaw’), I had to put the book down for several hours. I finally decided to finish the chapter, just to learn what happens to the other main character. It was an emotional rollercoaster. I finished the book. The author provides closure, but honestly I felt she wrapped it up a little too quickly. Personally, I would have liked to read more about Sofie and how she found her way through the complex social settings of post WWII where she is living. (Trying not to give any spoilers)"
R R
Rob Ransom
"Interesting perspective "
J B
Jill Bradley
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