Fans of the WWII genre should give this a try-it's a different take but it's also an emotional and thoughtful look at the lifelong effects of abuse as well as the horrors of Nazi Germany. This is set in the waning days of the war but it reaches back. You will feel and root for Maggie. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARc. A good read.

“The Photographer’s Secret,” by Ellie Midwood, has the setting of WWII Germany, but it delves into the topic of sexual abuse, which is a theme of (sadly) every time period. I found Maggie’s backstory to be heartbreaking, but her mother’s actions - doing what she could to protect her daughter once she acknowledged what was happening - I found encouraging. Because there are many layers in this story - typical of Ms. Midwood’s books - at times I wondered how they’d all fit together - but never fear, they did. Do read the Author’s Note as it gives insight into how this story came to be. It may seem odd to wish a fictional character “peace,” but I do hope Maggie finds some. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

What a character! Maggie Sullivan is a war photographer, but she is also on a mission. While the sections on Grete and child abuse are horrible, it is important that such things are brought to light. The whole treatment of women and children is central to this book, and the way things are swept under the table. As a lover of historical fiction, I also enjoyed the depiction of Germany as the end of the war happened. Thanks to NetGalley for a chance to read this book, and write a review. I look forward to reading more of this author.

A heartbreaking story written with a heartfelt pen! This novel about sexual abuse of children and its life long consequences is sometimes difficult to read. However, the author has shown much sensitivity in her writing making it possible to read the story up to the end. As in all Ellie Midwood's novels, I found it fascinating to read about resilience that seems to take hold in many people, the courage that goes with it, driven by the need to find solace in striving for justice . Will Maggie manage to finally find some inner peace? At what costs will she fight?? A great novel with WWII as the background.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

Firstly I would like to thank netgalley and Bookoutune and the author Ellie Midwood for an early copy of her book to read.

My rating is 3.5 rounded to 4
A great historical read,Ive read a few of this authors books which Ive enjoyed..this is about Maggie who loves her camera she finds herself in dangerous situations. She finds the truth what is going on in the death camps.putting herself in danger.who knows her secret.a great read.looking forward to reading more of her books

This book will be reviewed on goodreads and Amazon.

Maggie Sullivan is determined to bring the horrors of the Nazi’s secrets in the camps to the for front. She was born in Germany but when she was young she flee Berlin with her mother, sadly leaving behind her siblings.
She has a camera and is secretly taking photos of the atrocities. She sees something that is a little to close to home. She decides to investigate. She is already in danger with the photographs. How far will she go to protect her secret? Will she be discovered?
Heart-wrenching, graphic, detailed and riveting. I rooted for Maggie throughout this novel. Thank you Bookouture for this novel. If you are a historical fiction fan I highly recommend this author.

A fantastic read!!! Wow! I would absolutely recommend this book for your next book club pick. So many things to talk through and discuss. It’ll pull all the heartstrings. The most beautiful heartfelt story.

I'm a massive fan of Ellie's writing, so as soon as I this title on NetGalley I had to apply. And then as soon as I was approved, I downloaded it and devoured it. So you might wonder why it's only got stars. Because this genre (Holocaust fiction) pretty much only ever gets 4, I reserve 5 for true stories. This was so close to a 5 though.

As always with Ellie's books, there was a lot of suffering in the pages. This particular story depicts in some detail the sights that the US army were faced with when they liberated Buchenwald and Dachau. It also contains descriptions of child sexual abuse, so read with caution.

But it's also a story of hope, strength and friendship. It shows the heartbreaking lengths women will go to in order to help other women. It shows the strength of a mothers love for her child, and the child's love for her unborn sister.

Some of the characters and events in this book are true, others are composite characters. Which is which is clearly defined in the authors note at the end of the book. And some are based on Ellie's own experiences. Thank you for sharing those with us readers. I hope you have found healing.

A thoroughly detailed and heartbreaking historical fiction. I adored Maggie and her spirit and spunk. Despite her trauma in childhood she still fights for what’s right and her bond with her sister was especially beautiful. There was relevant commentary on society at the time, including the racism and sexism at the time and the treatment of those with mental illnesses. The last few chapters had me tearing up, I just loved this book simple as. A brilliant historical fiction with strong characters and an incredible story.