This is an important book with a message that needs to be told so perhaps we can learn from our past. No matter how many times the stories of the Nazis and the concentration camps are told they need to be examined over and over again. The author uses two timelines to tell the story. The first timeline is the 1940's which details the atrocities of the Austrian concentration camp where actually photos were proudly taken by the German officers. The second one is in the 1980's where Hannah, the granddaughter of Nico, is exposed to the photo album which her mother quickly hides.
Hannah is determined to find out the truth behind the album and the details of Nico's life. Through her graduate studies she becomes completely enmeshed in the history. This book is about the horrors of war and the personal endurance of human beings. Love and determination are shown throughout the story and the book plays a huge part in the Nuremberg trials. Well researched! Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an advanced e-book for an honest review. #TheHiddenBook #KirstyManning #NetGalley

This is a historical fiction primarily set at Mauthausen Concentration Camp during WWII, told in several different POV and two different timelines. I thought the premise of the book was unique, and I enjoyed the POV of Nico and Lena. I felt the POV of Hannah was rushed, and more development could have been done with her character. I often found myself rushing through Hannah’s POV to get to the different timeline, and the chapters devoted to Nico and Lena. Overall, I felt it was a solid historical fiction, with a unique premise.

For fans of historical fiction, especially World War II, this is a must read. Told in multiple timelines and with multiple POVs, this story takes you inside the lives of a German civilian family living in close proximity to a concentration camp, the lives of a few men in the camp and into the lives of future generations impacted by what happened there. One of the unique perspectives is of a camp prisoner forced into the role of photographer for the SS in the camp and how he used this to not only ensure others wouldn’t forget, but ultimately provided the documentation that helped convict many of those SS in war crime trials after the end of the war. This is ultimately a story of survival, bravery, love, and the impact of secrets and tragedies on future generations. I learned much from the unique POVS in this story and the writing and storytelling kept me wanting to turn the pages. A five start read for me!

This book really hit home. I love a WWII novel that borders the line of fictional and reality. This book toed that line really well. I love the multiple POVs and how they interconnected at the end. I think the characters were dynamic with their individual struggles. The chronological timeline made it easy to follow when switching between POVs. I look forward to reading other novels by this author.

I really enjoy WWII historical fiction. I liked this book, but felt like it jumped around a bit. I had a hard time connecting with Hannah’s story, but very much enjoyed Nico & Lena’s.

2.5 stars
This was an interesting book.
The details about the photographs taken at the concentration camp were heart-breaking. No matter how many WW2 novels I read, Nazi atrocities always amaze, and sicken me.
It wasn’t one of the best WW2 novels that I’ve read. Possibly the digital format, which makes it difficult to flip back and forth, made keeping the characters and timelines straight a struggle. Plus, some of the story seemed to be rushed; a woman went from engagement, to marriage and two kids in only a few pages!
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

Note: Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow Paperbacks, and author Kirsty Manning for the advanced reader copy of this book. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.

With so much historical fiction centered around World War II, it would seem that it’s hard to find a unique story. However, in The Hidden Book, not only is the story unique but it is based on actual events. A book of photographs of the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria was supposed to be used as Nazi propaganda. Instead, it ended up helping convict Nazi generals of war crimes at Nuremberg. It now sits in the Sydney Jewish Museum. How the book ended up in Australia is a bit of a mystery, and Manning has crafted an excellent fictional tale to tell the story.

In Austria in 1942, Lena is a young woman lives with her family in Mauthausen. Under Nazi occupation, they are getting by with her work at a tool factory and her father’s job as an Engineer for the City. Prisoners from the Nazi concentration camp at Mauthausen march past her home every day on the way to work. When there’s an accident, she becomes acquainted with several of the prisoners. She then helps them smuggle negatives of photographs taken at the camp out of the prison and held so that the Nazis can’t destroy them.

In Australia in the 1980s, Hannah Campbell lives on a rural farm with her mother, Roza, who is widowed. Roza’s father, Nico, visits them from time to time. On one visit, he brings a boo of photographs and Roza hides them away. Curious, Hannah finds the book and sees terrible photos of men in striped clothes. One of the men is her beloved grandfather, who is much younger in the photo.

The Hidden Book follows these two stories, as Hannah wants to learn more about her past, but her mother wishes it would just go away. There is friction between them as Hannah grows into an adult who studies history, but eventually, the two women grow in their relationship.

I loved The Hidden Book on many different levels. I hadn’t heard about the Mauthausen concentration camp. I knew of Auschwitz and a few others, but Mauthausen was on a different level. Manning describes the hard work the prisoners were put through, and if it didn’t look like they could work anymore, the prison guards sent the prisoners to the gas chamber. Manning really drills home how backbreaking this work was and how awful the conditions were. I loved the dynamic between Nico and Lena. Lena is in survival mode, afraid of her sister being sent to the camp after suffering brain damage following an accident. Her main goal is to protect her, yet she feels she must help Nico and the other prisoners as much as possible. She is not a denier of what’s going on but is just trying to protect her family by going along for the most part.

Hannah is a typical teenager in many ways. Although I was upset that Roza kept denying her the book, in the end, it made sense. Hannah has to grow and see the evidence as much more than the subject of a university thesis and understand the pain that it represents. She has to live her life before she can fully appreciate the gravity of the contents of the book. This isn’t the reason Roza hides the book from her, but it works out in the long run. Their relationship is complex, and I like that they were also quite deep, with Hannah having her share of relationships and growing as a person throughout the book.

I do recommend The Hidden Book to those who enjoy historical fiction. It’s a bit different than other World War II historical fiction that I’ve read. The characters have depth and grow and change. It will break your heart in places, but in the end, I felt I had a greater understanding of this aspect of the war.

This is a very moving story and a good read for those who like historical fiction. The dual timeline is a good way to tell the story, and a common theme throughout is the risks that people took to bring to light atrocities and to ensure that history never forgets what happened to so many innocent people. At times this was hard to read, but was an important reminder of history and a way to honor those who lost their lives.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

The Hidden Book by Kristy Manning is an exceptional historical fiction novel based on the true story of a WWII European Heirloom.

This compelling story is beautifully written and with dual timelines explores the trauma of war over several generations.

I enjoyed this book and would highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced reader’s copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Hidden Book by Kirsty Manning shares depicts dual timelines linking a grandfather’s story as a prison in Mauthausen concentration camp with that of his granddaughter as she tries to uncover his experience. Hannah’s mother’s silence and secrets make the journey a difficult one.
I am fascinated by the daily courage of many heroes during WWII. I knew nothing about this camp in Austria and very little about the Nuremberg Trials.
Nico, Hannah’s grandfather was definitely my favorite character. I deeply wish that I had been provided more of his story after the war. Roza, Hannah’s mother, was my least favorite character. Her bitterness was strong.
I was disgusted with the tremendous amount of sexual encounters in Hannah’s story. They simply were not necessary, in extreme detail, to shape her from girlhood to becoming a mother herself in order to discover who she was. She would have been just as capable of discovering and sharing her grandfather's past without those detailed scenes.
While the story of The Hidden Book is based on a true story, the fictional account was choppy and disappointing.
NetGalley and William Morrow Publisher shared an Advanced Readers Copy with me. This review is my opinion alone.

Hannah is always seeking a level of happiness but she seems to throw happiness away. On another timeline, Nico, Hannah's grandfather, is dealing with being a prisoner in a concentration camp but still finding happiness. Hannah is looking for answers that Nico has provided. Will it allow Hannah to be happy?

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow publishers for an advanced copy of The Hidden Book by Kristy Manning. I am an avid reader of WW2 historical fiction and this is my first encounter with the Mauthausen Concentration camp in Austria. Ms. Manning does an excellent job bringing to life the hardships and courage shown by prisoners and those on the outside willing to risk their lives for humanity. The dual timeline that discusses the granddaughters struggle to learn more about her beloved grandfather who survived the camp compliments the story line.

Why did her grandfather bring a parcel all the way from Yugoslavia to Australia?

And why was her mother horrified by it and told Hannah that she could not look at it?

Being a teenager and curious, Hannah found it and did look inside. What she found were pictures taken at a concentration camp, Mauthausen, where her grandfather was held prisoner during WWII.

Hannah knew nothing about the holocaust, but she was determined to find out and determined to find out how her grandfather had this book of photos.

We find out about his life during that time and move to present day as it is revealed that this was a concentration camp that was in operation and one where two prisoners were ordered to take photos of the prison and the prisoners.

The pictures in the book were used to prosecute during the Nuremberg trials.

Your heart again will go out to the Europeans and especially those in concentration camps who put up with the cruelty of the Nazis.

THE HIDDEN BOOK is another marvelous, heart-wrenching, well-researched book based on truth.

This is a gem you won’t want to miss if you enjoy historical fiction and wonderful characters.

You will love all the characters for their strength both past and present.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I was able to read an ARC of this thanks to William Morrow, the author and NetGalley. I love historical fiction novels and this was a great novel set in WWII.

This novel is a dual timeline that discusses the horrendous conditions of WWII and the Mauthausen concentration camp that was located in Austria. This novel was based on a true story and was beautifully written!

I really loved Lena’s side and perspective. Kristy did a fantastic job crafting this story! Definitely recommend to all fans of WWII set novels.

Thank you @NetGalley and @WilliamMorrow for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

An interesting dual timeline story that explores the atrocities of WWII and the lesser-known concentration camp of Mauthausen in Austria. Based on a true story, this book is a must read for any WWII historical fiction fan. During the war, Lena's family lives in view of the Mauthausen camp. As Lena befriends a prisoner, Nico, she puts herself and her family at risk as she hides an album of photos taken by the camp photographer. This photo album became instrumental in ensuring convictions during the post-war trials.

Fast-forward to modern day Australia, Hannah becomes aware of a family photo album her grandfather brought with him from his homeland. Hannah's mother, suffering the loss of her husband, the generational trauma deeply affects young Hannah as she leaves her home for university. Through her love affairs, the birth of her children, and a failed marriage, Hannah discovers what it means to love unconditionally, forgive, and accept yourself and others to live a fulfilled life.

Kirsty Manning does an excellent job of exploring the hard lessons life brings to our doorstep, whether through our own choices and the choices of others. Do not overlook this book!

#TheHiddenBook #NetGalley #WWII #historicalfiction #womenheroes #mauthausen #concentrationcamps

I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to ready the digital ARC of this novel.

I love historical fiction, and have read a lot of historical fiction around WWII. My favorite aspect of this book was Lena's side of the story. I do not feel that I have seen many viewpoints from someone who lives near a camp and the small actions of defiance that was taken by these individuals. Additionally, the family taking actions to keep Greta safe as also a great plot point-

The album/photos obviously played a huge role in history and it was a great point to tie the three main characters together. I think Kristy Manning is strong write, One quote that sticks me days after finishing was said by Nico- "It's not nothing. These tiny, simple things of beauty... they're everything. They make life rich. The taste of coffee or chocolate. A snowflake on the tongue. Making angels in the snow. I'll never take these moments for granted"

I just wish I had MORE insight to the characters. I felt our insight to Nico, Lena and Hannah was surface level and I was not able to truly understand what made them tick and drove them for their decisions. I would endorse this book for anyone who likes historical fiction.

This is definitely a five star novel! Impeccably researched this WWII story is based on true events. A secret book of photographs of the human atrocities of the Nazi work/extermination camp of Mauthausen, Austria was created by a Spanish enslaved photographer of the camp In the 1940's. It was hidden for years by a local resident and when the Allies finally arrived and the book was turned over to them it was instrumental in convicting Nazi officials of crimes against humanity and helped nail the coffin in their final sentencing. I just loved this book! I loved the characters, the descriptions of the local flora and fauna and especially the ending. The story jumps back and forth between current times and the late 1940's towards the end of the war. Hannah and Lena are our main characters, Hannah of modern times and Lena of the past. Each has a wonderful story to tell. I loved the 'family tree trail' of how these characters and their loved ones were connected. So clever and deep. I will be reading much more of this author Kristy Manning. A solid 5 stars.

Oh how I loved this book! It is well written, the story is unique and intriguing, and the characters are lovable. It is written from a dual timeline and the personal perspectives of characters during WW2 and character's during the life of a survivor's granddaughter. Although some chapters skipped long periods of time, months to years, the plot did not suffer and it didn't feel as though there were huge missing gaps.

The story is heartbreaking, but I was happy crying at the ending and so excited for a reunion. Well done, Kirsty Manning! Highly recommend!

This story was well researched and had some fascinating information in it. Unfortunately the book itself wasn’t as fascinating. The modern day storyline was the issue for more - it was hard to connect with the main character, the timeline would jump, and things just felt rushed. The WWII timeline story was, however, interesting & heartfelt.

This is an interesting book focusing (mostly) on photographs taken at Mauthausen. The historical parts of the book involving the concentration camp inmate photographer, the photographer's assistant, and the way they work to preserve the history of the camp are all well-written and engaging. I found the (more) modern storyline less so. It's really just a story about the ways in which people grapple with history and I didn't feel like Manning had much new to say with regard to that. My overall feelings is that this fits well and carves out a new space within the World War II fiction genre, but I think it needed a better editor to really make it stand out.