I used to say that I'm not a fan of historical fiction, but it seems that when the author is Katherine Reay, I am. She writes engaging characters set in historical settings that are interesting and well-researched. She handles multiple POVs and dual timelines deftly. I won't go further into the plot than the summary, but if you're interested in Cold War era fiction, give this one a try!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #HarperMuse for a free copy of #TheBerlinLetters by Katherine Reay. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

Synopsis: In 1961, 3 month old Luisa handed over to her grandparents in West Berlin just as the Berlin Wall is being built. In 1989, Luisa, now an adult, works for the CIA as a codebreaker. When she happens upon a covert symbol in a set of old letters, she begins to uncover old secrets that will bring her back to Germany in hopes of finding her father, who was assumed to be dead.

Thoughts: The Cold War is a time in history that I do not know a ton. about, so I welcomed the opportunity to read a book set during this time. Paired with stories of hidden messages, espionage, and suspense, this book immediately grabbed my interest. I also really enjoyed the dual timelines/POVs, This is an excellent choice for readers who want to learn more about the Cold War through a fast-paced, genre-blending, book.

Luisa Voekler is a unique character I grew to love and cheer on with her every decision. Luisa suffered much in her early life, being moved from Berlin to Washington D.C. This clever young woman is brave and loving but lacking in belief in herself. I rooted for her on every page of this consuming novel.

What a trip to return to the eighties when East Germany was a mystery. At first, Luisa knows very little about her childhood in Germany, having been whisked off to the USA when she was barely four. Living with her grandparents provided a loving childhood, but the darkness of her dead parents always haunted her.

When Luisa gets some information at work, her life changes quickly, and with it, the novel speeds up (I started speed reading) to resolve all her questions. Overall, this story was superb in its telling, and the writing was excellent and substantial. I loved The Berlin Letters and look forward to reading more by Katherine Reay.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

4.0. A captivating yet interesting historical novel pertaining to East Germany, and ultimately the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification with West Germany. The story focused on a family in Berlin, post World War II, and the building of the Berlin wall in 1961 that impacted them personally and so many other families with some members in the West and others in the East as well as those who courageously attempted to breach it to escape to the west. A thriller though for me predictable. Nonetheless, the beliefs by some in the East that they would be better off soon crumbled with the reality and the difficulty of those in the West to understand their counterparts. Characters very realistic for the most part and well defined.. Enjoyable read. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an unbiased and candid review

This is not author Katherine Reay's first venture into the dispirited world of a Cold War-era Communist country. In her 2023 novel A Shadow in Moscow, Reay offers an alternating timeline which captures a story of secret agents, family dynamics, and struggles within the human condition. In her latest work, Reay travels to Germany in The Berlin Letters. Once again readers are brought into the world of espionage and intergenerational relationships, but the atmosphere is quite different this time. The threat and oppression of the East German government during the Cold War seems to hover over the entire narrative, bringing a seriousness to the novel that gives one pause.

Although I was born in 1971 and grew up during much of this era, I was fairly unaware of the majority of the political events that were going on in Eastern Europe at that time. Reading The Berlin Letters was an eye-opening experience. While it is a novel which was captivating and a source of entertainment, it was so much more than that. It seems to truly inhabit that world in such a way that the reader can genuinely feel the captivity of the people in that time period. They may have had their families and jobs, but their freedoms were quite limited. Often they were not given the option to even choose their careers. Some were strongly compelled to spy on their own friends and neighbors. Beauty and joy were extracted from their lives bit by bit. Their lives were literally and figuratively overcast and gray.

Despite the serious tone of the novel, I thoroughly enjoyed The Berlin Letters. Katherine Reay's historical research was impeccable, but she also crafted a fictional tale which bonded to the facts of the past seamlessly. Her characters are complex, likable, and well drawn. The villains are not always what they seem to be, and a few in particular took me by surprise. The alternating timeline was creative-- Chapter One opens in 1961, focusing on the lives of Luisa's parents, her father Haris in particular. The contrasting chapters are mostly set in 1989 with Luisa as an adult. As the novel moves forward, the experiences of Haris begin to get narratively closer to Luisa's in 1989. It was quite exciting to see those converging plotlines develop. The epic conclusion is historic, cinematic, and thrilling.

From a content standpoint, The Berlin Letters stands in an interesting position. There is remarkably no salty language, and any romantic content is quite sparse. Given the subject matter, this novel could have been much more graphic. That said, many difficult issues are addressed. This story is not for young children. The trials and tribulations of the people of this era are sometimes hard to take in. Some characters in the story are from the 80s punk scene and lead decadent lives. This is not a negative criticism of the book. Keay writes accurately and paints a realistic picture of what was going on at the time, and honestly portrays issues with which Luisa and her family were wrestling. I felt that this content lent an air of realism to the work. It did not water down or sugar-coat the situation, but its presentation was done in a non-gratuitous fashion.

The conclusion of The Berlin Letters rides the wave of hope and optimism which crashed into Germany during that historic moment in 1989. It doesn't come to that occasion easily. Many sacrifices and risks are taken for the sake of freedom and family love. The journey is fraught with tension, uncertainty, and no guarantee of success. Katherine Reay has crafted an excellent novel, combining the realities of the Cold War with the captivating fictional narrative of her characters. Her epilogue leads me to hope for more from Luisa, Haris, and their associates. The wall may have come down in 1989, but as the decades have passed, the possibilities for more epic tales endure. Katherine Reay not only brings exciting tales of espionage to her readers, but she also reveals history and hope in a way that bears repeating.

Great novel set in the Cold War era Germany, and duel povs and timelines. I enjoyed the suspense and historical background and seeing how both sides affected normal people. There's suspense and well written characters. As someone who enjoys fiction set in this era of history, I found it fast paced and enjoyable to read.
Thank you to both the publisher and Netgalley for this arc. Full review on my Instagram.

4.5 stars

Like anyone who grew up in the 80s, I remember the news footage of the day the Berlin Wall came down. I knew it was monumental, even in my 12 year old mind, but until reading The Berlin Letters, I didn’t really have a human connection to it. In her latest Cold War novel, author Katherine Reay gives heart and breath and soul to the people living on both sides of the Wall and those fighting for freedom (be they within or without).

I loved Luisa, the little 3-year-old we meet at a life-altering moment … and then the 31-year-old we become reacquainted with as everything changes for her once more. Bookending those two meetings is the Berlin Wall, from its very beginning to its final days, and the author made the history & politics come alive with a dual narrative that gave me a new perspective on those tough years in between. And while my life experiences don’t mirror Luisa’s in any sense, I still felt as though I could easily place myself in her shoes because of how relatable Reay made her personality and insecurities. I came to love her father’s character as well, through his narrative sections as well as through the letters that Luisa uncovers after her grandfather’s death. There are some stunning twists to his story, and I was glued to the last half of the book, barely remembering to breathe!

Bottom Line: Code breaking, hidden letters, mysterious pasts, the CIA, newspaper reporters, covert missions, snitches, secrets upon secrets… And family. And friends. And a subtle reminder that God never wastes a single thing in our lives. I loved The Berlin Letters from cover to cover and could not put it down! The characters are so well-layered, the history so compelling, and the writing voice so engaging that I’m confident you will quickly become immersed in it as well. The espionage elements fascinated me (I’ve secretly wanted to work for the CIA since my very first episode of Scarecrow & Mrs King haha), and I learned things that I wasn’t taught in school about the Berlin Wall. All while being thoroughly entertained and drawn to a story so far from my own and yet the emotions remained completely relatable at the same time. I’ve loved everything Katherine Reay writes but I have especially loved her Cold War novels and I hope there are more to come!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

I was surprised to see that author Reay has so many books out, because this reads like a novice attempt at a thriller. The premise is ok, but the plot is super simplistic, the coding aspect is really, really basic, and the story relies on way too much deus ex machina (and some seemingly unsound research) for this kind of book. The romance seems added in at the last minute and is 100% unnecessary and pointless. The characters are all pretty flat and the author spends way too much time emphasizing that the majority of the action takes place in 1989 (which, yes, tells any reader of this genre a lot of what will happen right there) and that we had corded phones back then. We get it. If only she'd spent that time giving the characters more depth and the plot more sophisticated.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book!

Such a good book! I didn't know very much about the Berlin wall and I learned so much from this book. Everything the Luisa goes through kept me on my toes and wanting to read more. Also getting to see the story from her father who lives in East Berlin helped to have you really feel what it was like during that time. I loved this story and would highly recommend it to historical fiction lovers and anyone who likes to figure out codes and CIA type things!

** “Infinity doesn’t mean endless or simply eternal. It means there is nothing lacking. It is all-encompassing. Complete. Self-determining. We are that when we do the right thing.” **

Katherine Reay delivers another incredible Cold War novel with “The Berlin Letters,” following the story of two generations greatly impacted by the Berlin Wall.

In 1961, as the Wall begins to go up, separating a German city, Monica Voekler, who lives on the eastern side with her reporter husband Haris, moves swiftly to literally toss her 3-year-old daughter Luisa over the barbed wire to her parents who live on the other side.

Eventually relocating to America, Luisa grows up to become a codebreaker for the CIA. When she stumbles upon some coded letters in her home in 1989, her world is quickly rocked. She learns of family secrets and unknown relationships and decides to take action.

Reay does an incredible job of fictionalizing a very real and horrible time in history. She develops great characters that are inspiring and full of moxie. She also fills “The Berlin Letters” with some great themes, like finding forgiveness, even when it seems impossible; doing the right thing; we have infinite possibilities; and the power of hidden secrets and lies.

Fans of historical fiction and stories with strong women characters will love “The Berlin Letters,” as well as fans of authors like Kate Quinn, Rachel McMillan and Kristy Cambron.

Five stars out of five.

Harper Muse provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Loved, loved, loved, loved! I am endlessly fascinated by stories of the Berlin Wall and Katherine Reay's storytelling is as fabulous as always. Love the writing, love the intrigue. Reay is an auto-buy author for me—even if I read digital copies of her book, I always end up buying a hard copy for my shelf.

A couple years ago I was introduced to author, Katherine Reay’s book The London House through bookclub. I loved the way that she weaved history with intrigue and mystery in a way that had me hooked.
The Berlin Letters delivered the same thing!

I loved the:
- CIA codebreaker and SPY VIBES!
- The Cold War— a different historical era
- Tension and intrigue
- Puzzles and mystery solving
- Secret letters with hidden messages
- Edge of your seat action
- Dual timeline/dual POV
- Secrets and lies
- Christian based historical fiction

🚪- Brief kiss
🧼- 1-2 mild cuss words

I first fell in love with Reay and her writing after reading “Dear Mr. Knightly.” She quickly became a must-read author. As she’s ventured into historical fiction, I appreciate her writing even more. These stories are on the more obscure side of history and obviously well researched. “The Berlin Letters” is no different.

Written in dual timelines to encompass the entire story is chef’s kiss from me. There is also a touch of suspense that kept me swiping those pages. I was still in elementary school during the later timeline of this story and remember hearing some of the names and places on the news. Just recently I studied the Iron Curtain with my homeschool co-op class, which opened my eyes even further to the historical happenings.

It was really interesting to read about the after effects of ww2 and the Russian control of east Berlin, which I have never really known much about. Heartbreaking, but great story.

This book has everything that I look for in historical fiction - a compelling story, strong character development, and a new perspective on an important time in history. I loved the dual perspectives and the way the story unfolded over time. Plus, I learned a lot about the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall. Absolutely recommend this for fans of historical fiction.

Cold war, code breaking, the CIA, the Berlin Wall.... This is a period of time that seems to be under-represented in historical fiction, the era of the separation of East and West Berlin and Germany. I absolutely loved this book and I look forward to more from this author. And hopefully more authors will take up this period of time.

With all the historical fiction I’ve read, after starting this one, I realized I think this is my first Cold War historical fiction. And it’s one war that I don’t know much about. So this was very eye-opening for me. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy historical fiction, even when it’s not based on or inspired by a real person, I know that the research needed to make them feel real and believable has to be thorough, and this one you can easily see required a lot.

Not only do we get to see a closer look at the Cold War, but we also get to see some espionage that takes place during it through the use of codes within letters. I’ve only read a small handful of spy fiction, but this one is probably my favorite of them all! The amount of details around the espionage was not only informative but was enjoyable to read, I wanted to learn more about the details around code breaking and the amount of effort needed to create the codes in the first place. It was so interesting!

From the very start of this, I was entranced. The prologue sets up the novel by heartbreakingly beautifully describing the horrors the people of Berlin faced the day they put up the barbed wire fence separating the east side from the west. Just from those few short pages at the beginning, my heart was entirely captured, and wanted to know what happened next. I flowed through the rest of the book with ease, I loved the different timelines we see bouncing between Luisa and her father, Haris. The generational story arc was fitting for this novel and written beautifully.

I highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys war fiction, historical fiction, and spy fiction!

I absolutely loved it! Another delightful read from Katherine Reay. Fast-paced, dual narrators, easy to follow. Historical fiction at its finest—the details don’t bore and the storyline keeps you wanting more. I’m also a sucker for a neat and tidy happy ending. 😍

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Wow! I can't begin to describe how much this book pulled me in from the beginning to the end. I was totally invested. Luisa Voekler's story is full of heartache, love, discovery, family, unknown, sacrifice, and much, much more! This story ranges from the beginning of the Berlin Wall to the end of the Cold War in November 1989. As the reader we start off our journey with a brief glimpse of Luisa's life right at the time the wall started to appear. Then we jump into her life as an adult in 1989. Luisa is unaware of much of her history and it all starts to unfold before her eyes as she is working and sees a symbol that leads her to dive into a search of her own.

I loved the code breaking and spy aspect of this book. It was truly incredible. Katherine Reay has woven an incredible story of Luisa's life and family and codes and spies that hooked me and had me not wanting to set this book down for anything. I had moments that I was holding my breath, sitting on the edge of my seat, getting very nervous for the characters and hoping that all would turn out well.

Luisa's journey is pretty incredible. She is willing to risk her life to save the life of the father she's never known. And it was truly a ride! Being pulled into Berlin during the Cold War had me feeling for those who truly lived during that time. I remember very well as a kid hearing about living conditions in Berlin during that time, seeing news stories about the Berlin Wall, and listening to President Reagan on TV saying to "Tear down that wall!" I remember watching in awe and with chills as the wall came down and the cheers and freedom and relief that was being restored to the people living there! It is something that I will never forget. I was young at the time but it left such a strong impression on me. So I always find it very interesting to learn more about it and to read these fictional stories based on it. And this one was very well done!

Grab a copy! And make sure to clear your schedule to read it!

Content: Clean. There are some moments of mild peril and discussing of the wall and the fear and heartache from it. And there are many aspects of spies throughout the book.

I received a copy from the publisher, Harper Muse, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

Received this in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley.
What a sunrise that the book opens with the date Aug 13, 1961 as I was there on vacation with my parents.
The book is well done, and and is about a family that is divided by the wall that then divides Berlin. As a young girl grows up thinking that her parents are both dead in East Berlin she finds all is not to be believed.