"The Vienna Writers Circle" deals with an interesting premise, but I liked it less than expected. There were just too many coincidences and last-minute-saves for my tastes, it just took away from the tension and suspense.

Unfortunately ran out of time to finish book, would be happy to give a full review if given an extension. Score given for what I managed to read of the book.

This is a remarkable story, told beautifully.After reading this ARC, I couldn't help it: I bought my own copy to as+dd to my collection and have since reread it. I strongly recommend it to anyone willing to learn a little about the Austrian Jews during WW2 - especially at a time when anti-semitism is again on the rise.

I didn't enjoy this as much as I'd hoped. It was a well written and researched story but, I couldn't get my head around it. It made my blood run cold at how the Jewish community were treated by the Nazis in WW2. A time in our history which must never be forgotten. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Set during world war 2 it tells of how Jews and other groups were treated by the Nazis. An historical fiction story took a while to get into this story.

I really loved this book. It took me a couple of chapters to get in to, but when I did I devoured it.
I've already recommended it to friends.

What a brilliant read! Historically accurate, great character and storyline development. Told from different pov's. Highly recommend.

I expected to enjoy this more than I actually did. But I can't ctiticise it objectively so I hope that others will read, and enjoy, it.

I very much enjoyed this work of historical fiction set in Vienna during WWII. It was a hard read at times, as Holocaust stories tend to be, but was ultimately uplifting and inspiring. The enormous amount of characters prevented me from giving it 5 stars, but I thought it was an excellent read nonetheless.

A novel told from the perspective of a group of writers who regularly met at a cafe in Vienna to discuss ideas and plot lines. As the story develops, real life events and characters are drawn into the narrative making for a great piece of historical fiction. The story begins around 1938 when Nazism is on the rise and the persecution of those who don't conform to the Aryan ideal is intensifying. Through links with escape networks, many of them are able to flee or have a change of identity to remain in the country whilst living under threat of being discovered.

Thanks to Netgalley the author and publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review

This is a fascinating and thought provking read but also, as you might expect given the subject matter, horrifying. I must admit that the first chapter set me on edge. I found that hearing one characters end at the start of the book was rather soul destroying and kept me on watch throughout the remainder of the novel.
Well researched and worth looking out for more from this author.

A novel regarding the Holocaust from an Austrian perspective. A gripping story with a very interesting cast of characters. The chapters each start with a quotation from Sigmund Freud who, though terminally ill, was able to escape to England and avoid the death camps though that was a fate that awaited his sisters. The connection with the actual Vienna Writers Circle is perhaps tenuous but provided a good historical context for the story. The plot is complicated but ingenious - more a thriller than a typical Holocaust novel, There is excellent build up of tension and suspense with a surprisingly neat conclusion bringing together the various strands of the story. There is a very good "feel" of the period and this will appeal to fans of Philip Kerr - which is high praise.

I absolutely love historical fiction books but unfortunately I really did not enjoy this book. I found the plot weak and couldn’t engage with any of the characters.

The story line is brilliant no boring parts and kept me glued to the end. Great author Can't wait for the next one!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"The Vienna Writers Circle" is a vivid and engaging portrait of a fascinating era in Austrian history, and a tribute to the enduring power of friendship, creativity, and perseverance. I believe it is always important to remember this point is history so we know what extreme hate looks like, what humanity is capable of, what humans are capable of and how we can avoid this ever happening again.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Beautiful and thoughtfully written. It explores a group of Jewish writers in Austria and their bid to survive. The group being pursued by the Germans but is it for the state or personal gain. Everyone has a secret, everyone tries to survive, what will they do. Would really recommend. A really fascinating thought provoking book.

The Vienna Writers Circle is an interesting exploration of the climate of fear amongst Jewish intellectuals during the rise of the Nazis and the establishment of the Final Solution.
Primarily following the lives of two writers and their families, Maetis plots an intriguing tale of comradery, personal choice and creative freedom. Lives are torn apart, beliefs hidden, choices made and survival challenged.

With well drawn characters and a perpetual sense of trepidation within, this book captivates the reader and transposes them into the murky world of Nazi Germany. Historical fiction at it's best

The Vienna Writers Circle

It’s 1938, we are in Vienna and introduced to members of the Vienna Writers Circle; a group of intellectuals, including writers, poets, philosophers, scientists and mathematicians, originally formed by Sigmund Freud. Most, if not all, were of Jewish descent. Anti Semitic sentiment was growing and now with Nazi occupation and their dislike of ‘intellectuals’’ members were increasingly anxious about the future and their survival. Would they be allowed to leave Austria and what of they didn’t? Rumours abounded about Concentration Camps. Jewish shops were closing, with many people just disappearing or last seen being marched to the Railway Station. Berlin ordered the SS and Gestapo to root out Groups like the Writers Club.
Recognising their vulnerability, a number chose to hide in ‘plain sight’ adopting false identities, moving homes and endeavouring to change their appearance, in the increasingly aggressive environment. And so developed an extended game of cat and mouse with the Nazis hunting for the ‘new’ names of Group members and old photos to aid identification. Interrogations were fierce and brutal, families threatened with promises made for cooperation.
Would anyone break or feel compelled to provide information? Was it the gas chamber or a harrowing time in a Concentration Camp not knowing how long it would last. You will need to read the book to find out.

Mr Maetis has provided us with thriller which captures what ‘life’ was like for these people. As a reader you will be in the thick of it with all the emotions it provokes. Gripping to the end with a mixture of happiness and joy, heartfelt grief and agony.

Highly Recommended

This is the first book I have read by this author and I would definately read more.

I have read a number of books set in WW2 this one is interesting and different and covers a different side. 2 writers have their books banned by the Nazi's and meet in a vienna cafe.

a great read

I found the premise of this book really interesting. J.C. Maetis (John Matthews) is not a writer I have had the pleasure of reading before. But it became evident as I was reading that this would be a story I would struggle to put down. Highly emotive and a great read.