The Crimson Thread

When I first picked up this book, I thought I knew exactly what to expect. There are so many World War II books about fiery women resisting the Nazis and the soldiers they fall for that I expected this to be another of the same: enjoyable, but eventually forgettable.

I was surprised and delighted to find I was wrong. For one thing, The Crimson Thread is steeped in Cretan myth, not only the story of Ariadne and the labyrinth, but also everyday culture and folk beliefs. This brought it to life in a way other books can only dream of. In addition, the story started well before the protagonists found themselves in the midst of their troubles. We get to see them grow and reach the pinnacles of their journeys, rather than starting with them halfway there.

Best of all, partway through the book I realized I didn’t know what would happen. I could guess at the main structure of the story, but the details I thought were obvious soon became a mystery. I heartily enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.