Emma's Review: The Bookseller of Dachau by Shari J. Ryan

Reviewed by Emma Crowley

In Nazi Germany, innocent people vanish every day, torn mercilessly from their homes and loved ones. When Matilda’s childhood sweetheart Hans is in danger, she doesn’t hesitate to hide him in her attic. Neighbors their whole lives, and desperately in love with one another, she’ll do anything to protect him. For months, they exist by candlelight, smuggling food and communicating in whispers. But, in the end, nothing can stop the soldiers charging in…

America, 2018: Grace opens a mustard-yellow envelope, and her world unravels. She has inherited a bookstore in the small town of Dachau from the grandmother she had no idea existed. Her mom, adopted as a baby, spent her life searching for her biological parents––and died without ever knowing.

Grace visits her legacy––a bookshop on a cobbled lane filled with lost memories. She combs through handwritten letters, unearthing the story of her grandmother Matilda. A woman whose one true love was locked within the barbed wire of Dachau––a woman who never gave up hope…

As Grace pieces together her family’s heartbreaking past, she discovers the long-buried secret of her own identity. But when she learns the truth, will she ever be the same again?

Book Links: Kindle or Paperback

Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for my copy of The Secret in the Attic to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.

I read so many books in the historical fiction genre set during World War Two that at this stage it takes a lot for a book in this genre to really stand out but The Bookseller of Dachau was certainly one of those books. Two sittings was all it took for me to make my way through this incredible book from Shari J. Ryan. She is an author new to me but this certainly won’t be the last book that I will read by her if this brilliant story is anything to go by. We’ve all read countless books set during this turbulent and horrifying period of history but this story was different as instead of focusing on what went on in the Dachau concentration camp the attention centres on those left behind specifically Matilda and how she came to live in the town of Dachau. How did the residents cope with what was going on on their doorstep? Did they even know the true extent of the brutality and crimes of hatred that were ongoing behind the walls of the camp or were they just concerned about keeping their own heads above water during the most dangerous times in attempt to just survive?

This is a love story that’s both heart-breaking and shocking and one which will strike a chord with everyone who reads it. It’s really character driven and all the better for it as you get such a deep insight into what spurs on the main character Matilda. She is a warrior through and through - fierce, loyal, dependable and courageous. Those terms are banded about quite often when it comes to female characters trying to survive during the war but in this case each word is truly justified and describes her perfectly. The loss, trauma and devastation that she experiences never comes across as superficial and just thrown in to the story to add some spice and drama instead you feel as if she could have been a real person during this time and you root for her on every step in her journey and wish for nothing but a positive outcome despite this seeming to be next to impossible. The Bookseller of Dachau is difficult to leave out of your hands once you have started it and it’s a story that will stay with you long after you have turned the last page as these characters make such an impact on you and you are left with plenty of food for thought.

The story is told in a dual timeline format moving effortlessly between the past and the present. The two strands of the story merge together with ease and never once felt disjointed. In the present day, Grace lives in Boston and is disenchanted with her job as an architect. She works hard but never achieves any promotions but instead her male boss views her more or less as a dogsbody. Straight away  you sense that she is restless and needs a change. ’I feel like I’m in this place - a fork in the road, and I have no clue who I am, who I’m supposed to be, or where I should be going’. When a letter arrives from Germany containing details of a property that she has inherited from someone she has never heard of before, well her life is turned upside down. But I loved how she just went with the flow and it was like she could tell deep down that going to Germany was what she was meant to do. It’s like she had a mission to complete which began with her mother searching for her biological parents and having died she could no longer complete it but Grace would do her utmost best to do so.

I really enjoyed Grace’s chapters as I felt they moulded really well with the uncovering of the story from the past that led her to this point in time, to the town of Dachau and the bookshop with so many important tales to tell. The chapters from Grace’s perspective offered a breather when things in the past were veering on the heavy side and also allowed the reader to slowly join the dots together. Although I am glad to say that I never guessed specifics until just before the point of reveal. Archie who works in the bookshop is like a guide taking Grace by the hand and feeding her clues through the papers left behind by Matilda. He was never pushy or too forthcoming instead allowing Grace the space to discover the answers to so many questions. He understood the importance of what was going on and never wanted to rush it. He knew Grace had a family history to uncover and if he just told her everything she wouldn’t appreciate what she was reading and therefore wouldn’t be able to use it to help reconcile where she was in her own life. The story in the present was wonderfully executed as was Matilda’s in the past and they were both joined together at just the right point.

Matilda was a stand out character and one you won’t forget in a hurry. Just 17 when war breaks out, the love she has for her neighbour Hans radiates from the pages and this is reciprocated. Hans’ dream is to write a book and it is this that will prove essential to the overall plot. The love between the pair felt vivid and real and this connection and loyalty to each other never once wavered despite all they go through. Hans is a Jew and despite both their families being loyal neighbours and always being there for each other, when new laws are introduced this connection is severed but not for Matilda. ’Everyone seems angry with each other. Hate is like a viral disease, sparing almost no one a chance to live as they were raised - with love for one another’. 

This is highlighted when Matilda’s parents seem to turn against Hans and his family. I thought the pair were absolutely despicable in many of their actions throughout the first half of the book. They were so self centred. It was like they forgot Matilda was their daughter and didn’t care about the deep and lasting love she had for Hans. Yes, they wanted to protect themselves from the Nazi’s and any reprisals, but in doing so they forgot about basic humanity. Although Matilda never did, her love, dedication and bravery shone through from every page and never once faltered. Taking matters into her own hands she hides Hans in a secret section of the attic. Success ensues for a period of time but an act of betrayal makes her call everything into question. Her true love is gone but not forgotten as something important is left behind. What follows is truly heart-breaking and upsetting and you want to scream out loud at the injustice unfolding for both Hans and Matilda. But this line sums up what Matilda holds close to her heart and never lets go off in spite of all the hardship that ensues. ‘Hope is something no one can steal from you’.

Matilda is a brave and inspiring character whose dedication and love for Hans is highlighted in a powerful way. It’s a brutal and painful story to read at times and Grace feels this too but she knows she must persist if she wishes to find out all the answers that have arisen since the arrival of that letter. I loved how Matilda always stood firm to her own beliefs and spoke her mind to her parents even though the consequences were disastrous. She didn’t let outside influences detract from her one true goal which was to reunite with Hans. At times you could see she felt helpless and her journey took her to a place she may have never wished to go to but in arriving there she found a kindred soul and a place to linger which ultimately turned into a place that would be difficult to tear from her heart.

The Bookseller of Dachau is a story full of twists and turns but ultimately it is a love story ‘A story of everlasting love, patience, strength and bravery’. These words sum it up perfectly and with compelling elegant writing that transports you quickly to the heart of the story, it’s a read I would highly recommended. I can’t wait to read more from this really talented author.