Book Synopsis:
Iot is just the beginning of a convulsed week, where danger lurks behind army headquarters, down sordid streets, and in the frightening Presidium of the Criminal Police. Bora is unexpectedly ordered by SS General Arthur Nebe, head of Kripo, to investigate the murder of a dazzling showman and clairvoyant, a major star since the days of the Weimar Republic. Bora’s inquiry, supported by police inspector and former S.A member Florian Grimm, resurrects memories of the excessive and brilliant world of Jazz Age cabarets and locales. Around them, in the oppressive summer heat, constant allied bombing, war-weary Berlin teems with refugees and nearly a million foreign labourers.
Soon enough the perceptive Bora realizes to his dismay that there is much more at stake than murder in a paranoid city where everyone suspects everyone, and where insistent rumours whisper about a conspiracy aimed at the very heart of the Nazi hierarchy. And then there is charming Emmy Pletsch, who works for Stauffenberg: could she be a key to understanding? Trying to solve the murder of the Weimar Prophet takes Martin Bora into the deadly whirlwind of an anguishing moral dilemma, as a German soldier and as a man. The 20 July plot and its dramatic implications as never told before.
The Night Of Shooting Stars is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below:
My Review:
The Night Of Shooting Stars is a gripping, atmospheric read about what could have been an important turning point in the war if it had succeeded!
The author does a great job of setting the scene in this book and I liked learning more about Berlin at this stage in the war. The little details like the descriptions of bombed out buildings, the war weary citizens and how glow in the dark paint was put on the pavements, helped me imagine the scenes vividly, like I was there watching everything unfold in front of me.
Martin was an interesting main character, who I took a little while to warm to. He’s a bit of an anti hero because of what he’s done in the war so far, however as we get to know him I started to feel a lot of sympathy with him and found myself hoping he would be successful; even though I knew he couldn’t be. The reader is given access to his innermost thoughts and feelings through diary extracts which make for intriguing reading. They definitely helped me to understand more about him and the type of person he is.
Project Valkerie is an event that I have heard mentioned but didn’t really know a lot about. I therefore found it very interesting to learn more about it, particularly the origins of the idea. The tension is slowly increased throughout the book and the suspicious atmosphere between the characters often meant I was never sure who was definitely on which side or if they were there to report on what Martin was up to.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of the series soon. I think this book can easily be read as a standalone, like I have as everything that you need to know is explained. I’ll definitely be recommending this book to anyone who likes historical fiction.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Bitterlemon Press for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
BEN PASTOR, born in Italy, worked as a university professor in Vermont. She is one of the most talented writers in the field of historical fiction. In 2008 she won the prestigious Premio Zaragoza for best historical fiction. She writes in English.
Over The Rainbow Blog 
Thanks for the blog tour support Jo x
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