Review: Auschwitz Syndrome

Publication Date: October 11, 2019
eBook & Paperback; 364 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction

~My Thoughts~

 I have read a lot of historical fiction, especially in the setting of WWII. In fact, I’m considering creating a seperate tag just for reviews set in this era. So it shouldn’t come as a complete surprise that I would like this book.

What is surprising is how much I liked it. It’s very hard for this genre to surprise me, but Auschwitz syndrome truly astounded me. The way the plot played out and how the characters had to confront their own actions and views was truly original.

Can you imagine not even being able to rely on your own feelings and memories? To slowly find out that what you think and feel might be completely wrong? To have to wonder if the love you thought you found during the worst situation imaginable wasn’t real, for anyone involved?

Beyond the beautiful writing and impeccable research, Ellie Midwood is a gorgeous storyteller. I look forward to reading all of her books.

~Blurb~
 
Germany, 1947.
A strange case scheduled for the Denazification Court lands on the desk of an American psychiatrist currently serving in Germany, Dr. Hoffman.

A former Auschwitz guard, Franz Dahler, is set to appear in court, and he has requested to bring the most unexpected witness to testify in his defense – one of his former inmates and current wife, Helena.

As soon as one of the newly emerging Nazi hunters and former Auschwitz inmate, Andrej Novák, recognizes the officer’s name, he demands a full investigation of Dahler’s crimes, claiming that the former SS man was not only abusing Helena in the camp but is also using her as a ploy to escape prosecution.

Silent, subdued, and seemingly dependent on her husband’s every word, Helena appears to be a classic victim of abuse, and possibly more of an aid to the prosecution instead of the defense.

As she begins giving her testimony, Dr. Hoffman finds himself more and more confused at the picture that gradually emerges before his eyes; a perpetrator is claimed to be the savior and the accuser, the criminal.

The better Dr. Hoffman gets to know each participant, the more he begins to question himself; whether he’s facing a most unimaginable love story, or a new and still-nameless psychological disorder affecting the very manner in which Helena sees the events of the past.

Partially based on a true story, this deeply psychological, haunting novel will take you back in time to the heart of Auschwitz and post-war Germany, and will keep you guessing the true motive of each side.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
About the Author
Ellie Midwood is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning historical fiction author. She owes her interest in the history of the Second World War to her grandfather, Junior Sergeant in the 2nd Guards Tank Army of the First Belorussian Front, who began telling her about his experiences on the frontline when she was a young girl. Growing up, her interest in history only deepened and transformed from reading about the war to writing about it. After obtaining her BA in Linguistics, Ellie decided to make writing her full-time career and began working on her first full-length historical novel, “The Girl from Berlin.” Ellie is continuously enriching her library with new research material and feeds her passion for WWII and Holocaust history by collecting rare memorabilia and documents.
In her free time, Ellie is a health-obsessed yoga enthusiast, neat freak, adventurer, Nazi Germany history expert, polyglot, philosopher, a proud Jew, and a doggie mama. Ellie lives in New York with her fiancé and their Chihuahua named Shark Bait.
For more information on Ellie and her novels, please visit her website. You can also find her on Facebook, Amazon, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, October 28
Review at Passages to the Past
Tuesday, October 29
Review & Interview at Nursebookie
Wednesday, October 30
Excerpt at What Is That Book About
Thursday, October 31
Feature at Just a Girl and Her Books
Friday, November 1
Review at Robin Loves Reading
Saturday, November 2
Review at Donna’s Book Blog
Sunday, November 3
Review at Reading is My Remedy
Monday, November 4
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Tuesday, November 5
Review at Amy’s Booket List
Excerpt at Books In Their Natural Habitat
Review at Jackie and Angela’s Book Reviews
Wednesday, November 6
Review at Jackie Loves Books
Review & Guest Post at Clarissa Reads it All
Thursday, November 7
Review at Life Through the Camera Lens
Friday, November 8
Review at @jypsylynn

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a paperback copy of Auschwitz Syndrome! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on November 8th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US residents only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.