Fatherland

This was the first Robert Harris book I read (in print) years ago and I was so impressed that I began buying and reading his other books. I enjoyed all of them that I read, but this was always my favorite and I have reread it several times over the years.

I also requested that Audible add this book and have been waiting for it for a long time. This book should not be confused with the TV movie soundtrack also available through Audible. I watched that TV movie and thought it was a terrible adaptation of the book. If you want the story as written by Robert Harris, stay away from the soundtrack.

When I saw that Audible had acquired the rights to the full book I downloaded it right away and listened. The reading is flawless. It grabbed me from the start and did not let go until the end. Having read it before I knew what was going to happen, but it is so well written and so well read that it was a wonderful experience. It is both a gripping mystery and an informative history of how the Nazis tried to hide what they were doing. Highly recommended for all those with an interest in World War II.

When I finished the book, The Ghost, I was excited about finding the author Robert Harris. I immediately looked at what else he had written and thought I would begin with his first novel, Fatherland. The premise was very interesting to me, and it became more interesting when I saw how he was tying real history to the imagined story. It was like the two were seamless. Although I really enjoyed The Ghost, I found this book even better. I will now be moving on to Harris' other books.

This was a nearly perfect thriller. Harris's writing style is, as always, evocative and descriptive while maintaining a certain succinctness. He expertly brings out his characters, and everything is more or less very believable. The plot draws you in.

I thought that Michael Jayston's performance was flawless. He narrates most of the book in his native British accent (including the characters), and enunciates German words with faithful accuracy.

this is an excellent alternate history type novel in which a "police procedural" type story set in the oppressive environment of a Nazi controlled Germany which "won" at least the European part of WW2 and ousted England's Churchill to hiding in Canada and controls much of western Europe although they still are in the 20+ year of war with Russia. Without belaboring certain issues, Harris's novel benefits from external baggage we bring to it's world concerning Nazi Germany. Many of the characters are real and simply have moved on an alternate timeline. The layout of the buildings etc is based upon Speer's actual designs for massive structures to be built in Berlin. though these are not vital to the plot, descriptions of them do point I think to the desperate grandeur Hitler and others yearned for to "legitimize" their political horrors. & many of the documents quoted are also real. A wonderful mystery. A friend suggested elements are rather analogous to the current NSA surveillance issues, which again, brings up 1984.

As a history and historical fiction buff, I was looking forward to this book. I thought of all the possibilities of a world where Nazi Germany won WWII. However, Robert Harris didn't.

This is basically a not very interesting murder mystery.There's one plot twist which isn't really fleshed out, and so isn't very compelling.

I would not recommend this book.

Fatherland has many great elements rolled into one: It's a great police mystery; a riveting thriller; and a fantastically detailed alternative history. Anyone familiar with the social history of Nazi Germany or the city of Berlin will get kicks a-plenty from the detail in Rober Harris' creation of a 1960s Third Reich.

Also of great note is the narrator, Michael Jayston, who provides an excellent reading of the book as always. He seems particularly suited to these kinds of thrillers, and throws in great accents to help colour in particular characters alongside his straight reading of the text. A pleasure to listen to.

Gripping thriller set in post-WWI victorious Germany. Very clever re-visioning of history and yet also contains a real sense of "heart" at the core. It doesn't forget what was truly evil about that regime and two people's struggle to get the truth out.

The book is an exe lent detective story set in an alternate Germany. It draws you in and you quickly accepts this new world. A lone detective in search of the truth behind a cruel murder despite risking all. Denounced by the world, with only a few friends to help he turns to an American journalist, and together they search for answers. With the GESTAPO on their heels, from Germany to Switzerland and back. The story takes you into a world, where corruption and lies fill the society. And where, truth is not always welcome or desired.

Never read it

March - an intelligent, thoughtful character with integrity and humanity.

The betrayals by those we love most.

Put it on your must-read list.

I originally read Fatherland, watched the movie and was excited to listen to it on Audible. The alternative history is so interesting and is a great backdrop for the murder mystery that is centerpiece of the story. If you like thrillers or murder mysteries, then give this book a try!