Another stunning piece of writing from Shari J. Ryan.

With devastatingly relatable characters in Emilie and Danner as we get to know them from age 13 in 1933, up to age 22, when Danner is a prisoner in Dachau in WWII and Emilie is a nurse and married to another of their childhood friends, Otto. Part of me wanted to race through this heartbreaking book to know what happened, and part of me didn’t want the beautiful and immersive writing to end.

My heart was breaking for Emilie, Danner and Otto as they each suffered in different ways but all at the hands of the third reich. Emilie was incredibly brave and I love to read about the women in war, who were often pushed into the background and yet had such a huge impact through their bravery and determination.

Although this is a work of fiction, it is clearly meticulously researched and I feel that it’s really important that this type of story continues to be told, so that we remember the horrific experiences of so many innocent people, hold them in our hearts and do our very best to ensure this never happens again.

I cried, smiled, cried more and loved every moment of this amazing book.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Shari J. Ryan and Bookouture, for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Emilie and Danner were childhood friends, alongside Felix, Otto and Gerty. They all lived on the same block of houses.

Emilie and Danner knew they were destined for each other. Then, Jews were being removed from their homes, forced to move away. Danner, along with his mum and younger brother, walked all the way to Poland to escape. His dad disappeared when getting a loaf of bread and Danner is determined to find him as soon as he can.

Emilie and Otto end up getting married and help Otto’s uncle in Dachau. It is too late to realise what they have gotten into, and Emilie is stunned when she spots Danner.

This was a heartbreaking and harrowing tale. The experiments on people that went on were horrendous. I can’t imagine having to live a life where you don’t know whether today is your last day on this earth, due to being experimented on, lack of food or being killed by the soldiers - just because they could.

It is also a tale of love, friendship, trust and above all else, hope.

I found myself extremely emotional reading this story, but I also couldn’t put it down. I needed to know if Danner and his family would be okay.

Such a powerful story that will be with me for some time to come.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I have to say I did struggle with this book but did finish it, it is a sad sad reminder of the torment and atrocities of that time. The characters were good and it was so well written but I did find myself a little lost with the story going backwards and forward.
My thanks as always to Netgalley and to Bookouture for the early read

Really enjoyed this heart felt book. I did find myself getting lost as it jumped about a lot. But apart from that it was great.

Heartwrenching does not adequately encapsulate the overwhelming feelings when reading this book. Visceral, real, and genuine are how the the plot and characters can be described. The amount of suspense was great and the way in which Ryan elicits empathy for several characters is masterful. Definitely a page-turner and a worthwhile read.

Such a hard book but was written so well
It brought you into the hell that was happening. Gave you a heavy heart and the will for survival.
Definitely a book that will stay with me for awhile.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read "The Nurse Behind The Gates" in exchange for my honest opinion.

The story starts in July 1942 in Dachau Germany where we meet Emilie Berger and her husband Otto. Emilie is going to assist Dr. Dietrich - Otto's uncle. All she has been told is that everyone is a dangerous criminal and she should not converse with them. Only when she hears "a rare honeybee...the world wouldn't survive without them," does she realize that these men are not criminals - because she recognizes the voice.

The story is told from the point of view of Emilie and her first love Danner Alesky. It bounces about in time a lot so it's a bit difficult to follow which time period you're in. The story also takes place in Munich and Dachau.

Emilie ends up marrying Otto instead of her true love and no one is truthful with her as to why they are getting a free house and having to move. Once Emilie realizes what is expected of her she risks her own safety to help those in Dachau. She fudges numbers on experiments to try to save people. She became a nurse to save patients not to deliberately inflict pain.

Uncle Dietrich can be a trying character - he repeats everything people say before he responds or comments. Ingrid the next-door neighbour is a professional busy-body. There are many side stories that all come together in the final chapters. Answering all the remaining questions that the reader might have.

A very good and captivating storyline ! I was totally engrossed in this heart wrenching e# about fear, social responsibility, guilt, friendship courage and love! Fear when you feel you should do something that pits your life in danger; social responsibility when you see your neighbours taken away (what is your duty?); guilt about what you did and let do, etc... This novel provokes many emotional reactions! The novel would have been even better if it had been written in a linear way. The different timelines made the storyline not as full of tension as it would have been if written chronologically. A whole chapter appeared (beginning of the novel) again further on. I understand the reason why but it was too long to really fit in. Overall, a compelling novel.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.

Loved this story. Heart breaking and yet filled with hope.
Following a group of kids who grew up in Germany during WW2
- Emelie and Danner have loved each other since they were children. When Danner gets deported back to Poland as he is a Jew with polish decent - they think they will never see each other again. Only to find each other in the same concentration camp - he as a prisoner and she as a nurse who's been forced into helping with the Nazi's medical experiments. This book definitely gripped your heart. I was rooting for both Emilie and Danner the entire time having to fight their own battles. I liked seeing the other side of WW2. The Germans who like Emelie were forced and black mailed into going against their beliefs and aiding the Nazis. She did what she could risking her life to help save the people she could. Such a tragic story but in the end hope prevailed. Definitely recommend if you like WW2 Historical fiction.
"But if I don't make it, and you find the time to seek her out, I would like her-Emilie Marx is her full name- to know that I spent my life falling in love with her, being in love without her, then dying in love with my memories of her."

A sweet and heart rending story that would have been easier to read if it was told chronologically instead of skipping back and forth in time from 1933? To 1942. I kept losing track between what point in time I was and who the POV character was.

“The Nurse Behind the Gates” is a historical fiction WWII book by Shari J. Ryan. I’ve read a number of Ms. Ryan’s books and eagerly look forward to her next book. The main female character, Emi, is a nurse in training. Her husband, Otto, a doctor, is assigned to work at Dachau. Emi, who is the brains of that couple, discovers that their mutual friend, Danner, is one of the patients in the infamous Dachau Hypothermia experiment. Through flashbacks scattered throughout the story, Emi and Danner’s stories and backgrounds are told to the reader. I’m often okay with flashbacks, but for some reason I really would have preferred this book to be in a linear fashion as I ended up being a bit confused when things were happening and in which order. While I understand why Emi married Otto, I really felt no sympathy for Otto or his family. While this book had a lot of tension, it felt slow quite often. However, I will read Ms. Ryan’s next book … and I hope that one will be more my cup of tea.

Different than excepted. I went blind into the book. I still don't know how I feel to be sincere. I would give it a try. Thanks for the Arc. NetGalley.

This book pulled me in from chapter one and was finished within 24hrs….. Dachau, 1942. Emilie has been told she’s here to nurse evil men. But the first patient she sees in the cold, dark room is hauntingly familiar. Her first love is not wicked. He couldn’t be. What is he doing here……
Dark and compelling, a slow-motion collapse; I read it in 24 hours with my heart in my mouth. So good!