Ariana Franklin City of Shadows

City of Shadows

Ariana Franklin

Morrow, May 2006, $24.95, 432 pp.

ISBN: 0060817268

Though the war to end all wars has been over for a few years by 1922 Germany is trouble as the peace has crippled the country. The government is failing and is unable to deal with incredible inflation and unemployment; people are starving and Jews are an easy scapegoat by politicians looking for cover. In this countdown to disaster, Hitler begins his message of dominance and start to ascent to power.

Her face hideously scarred, Esther Solonomova works as secretary to Prince Nick, who claims he is a Russian nobleman, which is a ruse. Nick owns several Berlin nightclubs whose clients are the rich and richer and affluent foreigners. At a nearby Berlin asylum Nick finds a woman claiming she is missing sole survivor of the Tsarist family, Grand Duchess Anastasia. Though he assumes she is just like him a sham, Nick realizes she actually sounds convincing. He gets her freed, renames her Anna Anderson and moves her in with Esther in a shabby apartment. Nick has begun a scheme to gain the wealth of the Tsars. All is perfect until someone tries to kill Anna and succeeds in murdering those who have come into contact with her.

The search for the real Anastasia and Hitler's first steps onto the world stage are the subjects of many books and movies, but not together until now. Ariana Franklin blends the pair into a deep historical mystery that brings to life the fledgling but lethal first steps of the Nazis with a con to steal the Tsarist treasures. The key cast members bring 1922 Berlin alive while the murder mystery keeps a fine period piece focused. Early twentieth century whodunit fans will want to read this superb character-driven suspense thriller.

Harriet Klausner