The Girl in the Photo is the 3rd book in the Hanni Winter series and I will say, it is important to read them in order. I read the 4th book before this one, so there were aspects in this book that were spoiled for me. In this book, Freddy sees a picture in Hanni's photography show and recognizes the subject. It is his sister Renate aka, Renny. Finding out that she was still alive that late in the war encourages him to start looking for her again. The search takes him to Czechoslovakia, behind the Iron Curtain. He and Hanni are in danger of discovery all the time, but finding Renny is all that he has in mind. Because Hanni is keeping secrets from Freddy, she is at risk to do things she doesn't want to do but does because of the possibility of exposure before she is ready to share them. Will they find Renny and if they do, will they be able to get her home to Germany?

I have enjoyed this series due to the fact that I have learned what it was like to be German and live in Germany after the war ended. It wasn't rosy at all. It was hard, Jewish people were still hated, there was little food, homes were destroyed and so on. This book concentrates on trying to find loved ones that had been sent to the camps and survived. Of course, Reiner, Hanni's terrible father, and ex-Nazi is still around and she is still trying to uncover him and get him to pay for his crimes. My heart broke many times while reading this book. How terrible for Hanni who was only 4 when the war ended to have to relive all she went through and find out that the parents she was living with were not her own. The secrets eventually get revealed and there is terrible fall out that carries over to the next book. I recommend The Girl in the Photo and the series to those who enjoy WW2 stories, historical fiction about survivors and stories of rebuilding your life.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Boukouture, for the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Girl in the Photo, by Catherine Hokin. I had to sit with this title for some time after reading it. The subject matter was sad and scary to think about. In full disclosure, when I read it I didn't realize it was Book 3 of a series. I might have enjoyed reading the first two books, but it wasn't necessary as the backstory was evident and clearly described throughout. This book is about deceit, guilt, relationships, the horrible truths of the Holocaust and more. A tragic story about man who lost his family during the Holocaust but finds out there is a chance that his little sister may still be alive and he goes on a quest with his wife to find her. His wife knows more than she says and is hiding a dark secret. The book is written from her perspective and is at once heart-breaking, and suspenseful. Based on the ending of the book, I can see where book 4 will take us and I am here for it. It did take me a long time to read the book but this was mostly because the subject matter was heavy. The writing was good and while some parts were unimaginable, they also seemed rooted in the reality of the tumultuous times. I would recommend this book to those who are fans of WWII/post-WWII historical fiction - while not the very best of this genre - this story is solid, engaging and fairly unusual.

I’ve always enjoyed reading books set during and after World War II, even though many of them tend to be very sad. This book did not disappoint in the tearjerker department. I haven’t read the first two books in this series and now I feel like I should. I will be checking them out soon.

It actually took me a little while to really get into this one, but around page 100 or so, I didn't want to stop. it took some getting used to. I enjoyed it.

Hanni is a featured photographer at an exhibition where her husband zeroes in on one of the photographs she captured during the war. He immediately recognizes one of the children as his sister Renny, who was taken by the Nazis.

Hanni remembers the child specifically but cannot tell her husband, as she has not been completely honest as to her past. He wants to search for her and Hanni fears that her past will come back to haunt her. She will have to face places and people she would rather forget and try to find the courage to help Freddy and do what is right.

Historical Fiction is one of my favourite genres especially novels with a focus on WWII and this novel did not disappoint. There was enough background knowledge given that I didn’t feel I was left in the dark since I hadn’t read the first two novels in the series. I would definitely recommend this book to others!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #TheGirlinthePhotoHanniWinterBook3

The third book in the Hanni Winter series, of which I thought there were three... but after reading this I believe (or at least am very much hoping that there is at least one more to come!). For those who haven't read any of the previous novels, you could definitely go in to this as a standalone - but I would highly recommend you read the others in the series.

Hanni Winter, formerly known as Hannelore Foss is the daughter of a high ranking former concentration camp commandant SS officer, Reiner Foss. She has spent years both during the war and after trying to think of a safe way to expose him without putting her own life in danger. Each time she comes close, he fires a warning shot her way.

Now a successful photographer, Hanni finally feels ready to exhibit some of the photographs that she took during the War. She knows it is a dangerous thing to do, aware that it will stir some uncomfortable and deliberately repressed memories for some. But she believes that it is important.

Nothing can prepare her for what will follow.

Freddie, Hanni's husband recognises his Sister, Remy in one of the photographers taken in Theresienstadt Ghetto. Suddenly after all these years, he has hope that she may still be alive. Deep down he knows that is unlikely, but that doesn't stop him wanting to try and track her down.

Hanni is reluctant at first, she knows that Freddie is likely setting himself for disappointment, and she doesn't want to see his heart break all over again. She also has a deep personal reluctance to revisit Theresienstadt which is where Freddie believes that their search much start.

Of course, Hanni loves Freddie so much that she can't let him go alone, she must put her own feelings aside, and accompany her husband on his journey. Even if they don't find Remy, at least then he may be able to get some closure about what happened to her after the last saw her.

When they eventually get a lead Freddie is overjoyed, Hanni is fearful. She understands that they are now in very dangerous territory and to get the ending that they want, they may need to enlist the help of a person she wishes was dead, and Freddie doesn't know exists.

Her Father.

What follows is a rollercoaster of events and a whirlwind of emotions. I can't really comment anymore, as I don't want to give anything away, but I am a believer that things happen for a reason, and this will make sense when you read the novel for yourself.

Highly recommended and I can't wait to read more.

After surviving the Holocaust, Freddy visits his wife's art exhibition only to see the face of his missing sister in one of her photos. Returning to the camp brings back terrible memories of the past for Hanni and it leads to many struggles for the couple. Hanni must come to grips with the truth of her past.

This book deals with many triggers including PTSD, and wartime abuse during the Holocaust.

A beautiful story of hope and survival. Overall, I was drawn in by the characters and story. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys WWII fiction.

3.5/5 Stars

TRIGGER WARNING: anti-Semitism and the Holocaust
1950, Hanni displays her wartime photos and her Jewish husband Freddy recognises a girl in one of the photos as his sister. This gives him hope that she survived the camps so the couple travel to Prague to try to find her. Hanni has been keeping her own past a secret but now she may need to call upon her Nazi ather for help...
The Girl in the Photo is the third book to feature Hannelore Foss who has reinvented herself as Hanni Winters. It works as a stand alone novel but I think it would help to create a deeper understanding of the characters if you read the books in order.
Hanni and Freddy have now married but she still hasn't revealed to him that she is the daughter of a high ranking Nazi. Freddy finally has hope that one of his own family survived the death camps and is desperate to find his little sister. They embark on a dangerous journey across national and political borders. The anti Jewish sentiments, as well as the brutality described, make this book uncomfortable to read at times but the author and Hanni's revulsion at these opinions is clear.
The majority of the book is written in 1950 to show Hanni and Freddy's journey. However we also see Renny's perspective as her mother leaves her and she is rescued by a Nazi wife going on the run. There is a huge emotional aspect to the book as we share Freddy's hope to be reunited, Renny's childish understanding of events, and the fear that grips Hanni. The pair have a personal mission in this book unlike the previous books where there was a killer to catch.
The Girl in the Photo has plenty of emotion and drama, and has been thoroughly researched.

I reviewed this book for the May issue of Historical Novels Review, the magazine of The Historical Novel Society, and per their policy, I cannot post the review online until it is posted on their website May 1st.

This is a lovely tale of how one man and his wife set out to find his sister. On another level it is a tale with many facets. In takes place in the post world war 2 era when those living hid their past. Either because of there experiences in the war which they wanted to forget or because they were on the wrong side and wanted to hide that for as long as possible.

In this story Catherine explores the legacy of a Jewish man who experienced the full horrors of the camps married to the daughter of a camp commandant. Not easy bed fellows - except the girl has kept her past hidden. Add to this the complexity of living in West Berlin, a divided city.

And so their journey begins in West Berlin and takes them through into East Berlin and on deep into iron curtain country, where life is tough, even if you have nothing to hide. This is an amazing tale which if you are unfamiliar with the politics of this time, this well written story will introduce you to it. Expect the expected and the unexpected. A gripping believable tale. Thank you for allowing me to read this book.

⭐️⭐️
Eye rolling. Predictable Unrealistic. Inconceivable. Unbelievable. The Girl in the Photo is book three in a series but can be a standalone. Find something better to read. The setting is mid 1940’s. Hanni is daughter of a German officer that oversaw many concentration camps. As an adult she is photographer. She marries a Jewish man (Freddie) and she lies of her heritage. IN THE 1940’s Yes, the marriage is started on lies, deception, and propaganda.
Hanni displays her photos at a gallery. Freddy recognizes his long lost baby sister from a camp in one of the photos. They travel from across Europe past all the gates and guards in search of his toddler sister, with minimum issues. IN THE 1940’s! I’ll be honest I continued and finished this book bc I read some positive reviews. Wish I quit when I wanted and not read reviews. Time waster.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for ARC read in exchange for my honest review

Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book even though some parts were tough to read. I haven’t read the other books about Hanni so I would like to do that now. I wanted a better resolution for Hanni and Freddy but maybe that will come in the next book ? This was a great read that kept me engaged.

A story set around Theresienstadt that displays unwavering honesty. This book tackles some essential themes in a largely respectful manner. I had a few issues with the central 'romance' of the story. Still, if you are interested in the historical side of this novel, it is a beautiful read. I'm sure readers of this series will not be disappointed. See a more in-depth review on Aspects of History.

Its 1950 Hanni and Freddy are a young married couple, living in Germany. Freddy is Jewish and survived the concentration camps and believes most of his family died at the hands of the Nazis.
He met Hanni through work and they fell in love, but he knows little about her past and she reveals little.

Hanni is passionate about photography  and used her talent to help the police, where she met detective Freddy. When she decides to hold an exhibition, showing some pictures she took as a teenager, of children in a concentration camp in Czechoslovakia, she knows it is risky. However, it is her way of exposing more of the Nazi cruelty to the public through her art.

When her husband Freddy sees the photos he is drawn to the image of a little girl, who he recongnises as his little sister Renny! Believing her to have died a couple of years before the picture was taken it gives him hope that she was saved and could still be alive!

As he embarks on a mission to find his sister and travel back to the city where she was last seen Hanni realises that her past is starting to unravel. What will happen if he finds out who she really is?

I was unsure how I felt about Hanni, the main character. In some ways she could also be a victim of the era as she couldn't choose who her parents  were. However the book hints that she was involved in some of the Nazi propaganda, by taking part a film made at the camp, so does that make her a bad person, even if unwittingly?

This is a gripping book, which is a little different to other novels based around this era. A great read!

What a read! Hanni is a strong woman who knows her own mind. She is delighted when an opportunity to showcase her photography in an exhibition. Surprisingly when her husband Freddie views it, he spots someone he recognises. This causes untold damage not only to their relationship but brings Hanni face to face with the man she fears most.
I was actually scared while reading parts of it. Then excited. Recommend it.
Now all I have to do is wait patiently for the follow up!

After the horror of WWII, Freddy sees a photo of his sister from the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Determined to find her, he and friend Hanni find themselves traveling dark roads that ultimately lead to the camp itself, in search of Renny. A story of survival and the enduring spirit of love. Recommended reading.

With Hanni Winter’s first show, her husband finally sees her photos…and realizes the little girl in one of them is his sister, whom he thought had perished during the war. Determined to find if his sister is alive, Hannie and Freddy set off to look for the girl. While Freddy has to dig deep, Hanni has to hope his digging doesn’t unearth her own secret, which could destroy everything.

A touching and moving story that takes your emotions all over the place while telling a story of love, loss, hope and fear. I found this one a decent read, but found it a little hard to believe at times, like a young girl would remember so much from such a young age and that no one would have recognized Hanni and shared her secret before then. All in all a good read that will tug at your emotions.

This is the third book in the Hanni Winter trilogy, the first book is The Commandant’s Daughter and the second book was The Pilot’s Girl. In this installment more of Hanni’s story comes to light. Hanni continues to pursue her love of photography and while showing some of her photos to her husband Freddy, he recognizes one of the faces in the photo. Freddy tells Hanni that the girl is Renny, his sister. It’s been six years since he saw his sister so the thought of never finding her isn’t something he is willing to live with. When Hanni and Freddy arrive back at the same concentration camp that uprooted their lives, the very place they never thought they could possibly survive. It is the place to start their search for Renny, because it was the last place they saw her.

This story had me completely engrossed from the first page to the very last. I absolutely loved Hanni and Freddy’s story of survival, of losing everything and rebuilding their lives together. This emotional read will have you reaching for the tissues. This story was the perfectly written conclusion of this phenomenal series. Thank you Catherine Hokin, I loved everything about this series, and I highly recommend it.

Another hard-hitting instalment to this heartbreaking Post WW2 series.

What I love most about Hanni is that though she is good at heart, she quite often doesn't do the best thing when confronted with a bad situation. Which I think is realistic, not all hero's at heart know how to be the hero.

Freddie was a little frustrating in this book, but understandably so when on the hunt for his sister whom he had presumed dead for so long. So when the final showdown came, though I found myself saying you didn't help though did you Freddie?

Renny, I think was perfectly written as a child that had had to adapt to survive, I only wish we could have had more chapters with her perspective, but perhaps we will learn more about her in the final book.

The ending actually ripped my heart out but it teased some hope of a happy ending.

I can't wait for the last book in this series!

The Girl in the Photo is the third book in the Hanni Winter series by Catherine Hokin and what an outstanding series it has been so far. It just seems to go from strength to strength and each new book pushes the story on very well whilst also maintaining the tension and mystery throughout. Hanni is a standout character who has been through so much but still harbours many secrets close to her chest and now some of those are edging ever closer to the surface. If they find the light of day will the relationship that she has worked so hard to build with Freddy come crashing down or is the love they have for one another strong enough to withstand the onslaught of new information that is about to come to light?

I have loved this series since book one The Commandant’s Daughter as it’s really different from the usual World War Two stories I have read. It goes beyond the war and focuses on the effects it had on people and how their actions during that time had such a lasting impact. I loved that within the first two books there was a mystery running alongside the main plot and it added even more excitement and intrigue to the story. Here I felt the story became more personal as what has been haunting Freddy really comes into play. I kept waiting for the mystery element to appear but it didn’t and I must confess to being slightly disappointed as I thought it had added so much to the first two books but then I pushed that minor gripe aside and really it’s my own selfishness wanting this as the storyline here was so strong and didn’t need any extra frills. We really got to the heart of what had been driving/haunting Freddy for so long and in doing so Hanni’s own secrets start to come to light and I knew it would be interesting to see how their two lives would intertwine even further and become affected by everything that was unfolding and developing.

The book has a beguiling opening. It’s 1944 and a young girl is in a room with other children in Theresienstadt, a place where death, horror and illness lingers around every corner. There are no toys or luxuries in the room and the threat of being taken away into the unknown and the worst occurring is ever present. The little girl knows she is called Renny and she spends all her time waiting. She knows her mother is gone but she believes she will be back. We then move forward to 1950 and in Berlin Hanni is celebrating the opening of her photography exhibition which has been a huge success. Hanni’s exhibition gets tongues wagging as it has photos of Theresienstadt. These images are tackling her past but the finer details she has kept secret from Freddy, the love of her life. She has long held secrets and silences and kept a curtain drawn around the life she had before and during the war.

When Freddy sees one of her photos he can’t believe his eyes. He is almost sure it is long lost sister Renny. He never gave up hope after all these years that he would find out exactly what had happened to her. Seeing this photo instils a spark in him that had lain dormant but never fully extinguished. He now knows that she was still alive in 1944.This leads to further questions -is there a chance that she is still out there somewhere? Why did Hanni never say she was at Theresienstadt and what else has she been keeping from him? His job as a detective has led him to have a keen eye for detail and he is determined to try and discover what happened to Renny.He wants the truth and will use any means necessary to get it? But at what cost will it come to his relationship with Hanni?

I found in the previous books and even throughout this story the further things developed that Hanni had numerous chances to tell him the truth and it became frustrating that she seemed to back down when opportunities presented themselves. She doesn’t fight hard enough to make him listen in order to share the truth and specific facts that have needed to be aired for quite some time. She really needed to trust Freddy enough to face up to herself and who she was and trust him enough that he will still love her when she reveals the truth. But I felt she knew that she was in too deep and that Freddy was very hot headed and carried such a lot of hatred and given the history of the whole situation both on their own individual levels, as a duo and just the general background and circumstances to Freddy being left with no members of his family she knew she was threading a very thin line. Was she just too comfortable in her new found happiness? Yet, the guilt and what she witnessed and experienced not to mention the connections between her evil father and the story as a whole she was caught between a rock and a hard place. But still I thought if she loved Freddy enough she would make that sacrifice but whether that occurred it remains to be seen?

I found the development of the story was just perfect. A very balanced opinion of all people involved in the core plot of the book was presented and as a reader I swayed back and forth as to the right thing to do and the further I delved into the story the more tense and dangerous things became which only increased my anxiety over the whole situation. For I desperately wanted a positive outcome that would work for everybody. That Freddy might be one of the lucky ones to find a lost relative from during the war and that Hanni could unburden herself without all the revelations destroying what she had worked so hard to build up.She had tried to put the past behind her but the past always has a way of catching up with you whether you wish it would or not.

Freddy embarks on a dangerous journey to Theresienstadt and beyond and I admired when Hanni finally got the courage to go with him whilst knowing that the information and silences she harbours will have a very detrimental affect on Freddy when they break free at the surface. For surely they must? I thought this quote summed up perfectly the emotions Hanni was wrestling with throughout the book-‘ His happiness matters more to me than mine, mine matters more to him than his’. Hatred, lies, murder, neglect, deprivation, pain and suffering all become apparent the further Freddy delves into the story of what happened to his sister. There were so many twists and turns that began to occur that to go into any specific detail would ruin the book but suffice to say I was glued to every page and swayed between joy and sadness as we raced towards the conclusion. What I will say is that Catherine Hokin is brave in the fact that readers want a certain resolution or outcome and in order to get there she is not giving her characters an easy time of it. She could sew things up all nice and neatly but instead hardship and raw emotion exist side by side right until the very last word. I was heartbroken and in a way bitter at what I was reading in the last quarter but upon reflection things needed to end the way they did to allow time, breathing space and reflection before we move on to the conclusion of Freddy and Hanni’s story in book four.

The Girl in the Photo is another brilliant book from Catherine Hokin. She has really found her voice with these Hanni Winters books. As I said I wanted more mystery/murder but then I realised the first two books provided this as a precursor to the main event which we got in book three. The overall plot right from the very first word of book one to the last of book three has just been so carefully and beautifully executed. Catherine Hokin, has taken her readers on a fabulous journey, one which you will want to go back to the beginning and start all over again for both Freddy and Hanni really get under your skin as they have such incredible and powerful voices.I really felt as if the author took control of everything and I would have gone in whichever direction she was leading.

There are no lulls or boring sections placed in the story as mere filler. Instead every word and action is so relevant in what are compelling, memorable and riveting stories and The Girl in the Photo is no exception. I am delighted there will be a final chapter to conclude Hanni’s story as things were left on such a cliff hanger and really I don’t want things to end the way they appearing to be at the moment. The web of lies and deceit still exist and need to be resolved and there have been many dangerous and unpredictable complications which have set us up nicely for the conclusion which I am very much looking forward too. If it’s anything of the calibre of the series so far myself and many readers will be in for a real treat.