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City of Shadowsby Ariana Franklin |
Arlene Almas: This mesmerizing book
by Ariana Franklin, author of the "Mistress of the Art of Death"
series, tells the story of Esther, a Jewish woman living in Berlin
in the interim between World Wars I and II as the Nazis slowly
rise to power. It is also the story of the mysterious Anna,
who may or may not be Anastasia, a daughter of the last
Russian czar who many believe escaped the massacre of her
family by the Communists. Every character is so finely
drawn: "Prince Nick," owner of several Berlin nightclubs
and Esther's employer; Schmidt, a police detective
investigating the man who is terrorizing and trying to
kill Anna, and who eventually murders several others;
and Esther herself, who has a mysterious background
of her own. The Anna/Anastasia mystery, the murder
investigation, and the ominous atmosphere of Berlin merge
together seamlessly, producing a marvelously engrossing
tale that drew me breathlessly to its conclusion.
Rating: *****
