Slow in places, but not a bad read.

Alan Judd’s latest book is a fictional account set at Huis Doorn in the Netherlands where the former Kaiser of Germany was living after his abdication at the end of World War 1. It’s 1940 and the Germans have now occupied the Netherlands and Martin Krebs is in charge of an SS unit detailed to guard the former Kaiser. The book focuses on the of the relationship between Krebs and Akki, a Jewish woman who is part of former Kaiser’s household.

Whilst the book has an interesting dilemma with the conflict of Kreb’s ideology and his moral questioning I did find the idea of the relationship of Kerbs and Akki an unlikely one. I just didn’t feel there was enough substance to his reasons for continuing the relationship.

However, the portrayal of the Kaiser and his scheming wife was good and overall I quite enjoyed the book.