Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke

Gretchen Whitestone and her beau, Daniel Cohen, have managed to escape Germany and are now residing in England. She lives with her newly adopted family, Dr. Alfred Whitestone, his wife, and their children, while Daniel lives in a rented room nearby. One frightful evening, Daniel receives word that his cousin, Aaron, has been severely injured back in Germany and may not have much longer to live. Daniel leaves straightaway, vowing to Gretchen that he will return soon. Unfortunately, Gretchen receives word that Daniel has been accused of murder and is in danger. She drops everything and heads back to Germany into Hitler’s terrain, regardless of everything except saving her beloved. Will she and Daniel be able to clear his name and escape without being detected?

The emotion and fear is palpable in this gripping second installment. Anne Blankman has seamlessly woven fact and fiction by creating a stunning reenactment of Hitler’s rise to power and the innumerable followers who abetted him in reaching his dizzying heights of success. Gretchen and Daniel are both mature individuals, and I loved reliving history through their eyes. I recommend this novel to all ages. It should be required reading material. A definite must-have!