Reich

By: Donald Allen Kirch

Narrated by: Pete Milan

Length: 3 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

Adolf Hitler, the "Supreme Warlord" of Germany's Third Reich, ruled Europe with an iron fist. With his political promises to a desperate people he spoke of a reign that would last 1,000 years. Under his command humanity had entered a new dark age. Tales were told of horrors taking place in the East - of railroad cars, of ovens, and death. Still, there was one little secret he had kept to himself.

When Hitler survived an assassination attempt upon his life his secret was discovered by those in command. Something had to be done!

A German U-boat captain is ordered to transport Adolf Hitler to a secret military base in Norway, during the closing days of the Second World War. While on this mission, he discovers that there is more to Germany's "Supreme Warlord" than meets the eye. To his horror, the captain discovers the Third Reich's darkest secret: Hitler was a vampire!

©2012 Donald Allen Kirch (P)2015 Donald Allen Kirch

The hair on the back of my neck is stand up!

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast. What a scary, horrific, suspenseful novel! This book will keep your attention. I can't wait to read more from this author and find more book read by this narrator. Excellent book worth a credit!

Creepy and suspenseful.

Taking an obscure conspiracy theory of what really happened to Hitler, and turned it into an original horror tale. What if Hitler was a Vampire, and not the Sparkly kind, but an evil bloodsucking fiend of the night. Now imagine being stuck on a U-Boat with him. Yeah, it would be scary as hell. The author does a good job of ratcheting up the tension and pays off in the end. The characters are engaging, and the setting is perfect for this story. Anyone looking for a suspenseful vampire tale would be well served by this one.

action based alternate history

During the final days of World War II, Germany is losing and Hitler refuses to accept the failure of his beloved Third Reich.  Many of his top staff are as war weary as Germany’s many enemies and question his decision of murdering innocents.  The only way to end the bloodshed is to end their insane leader’s life.  Except Hitler has an almost inhuman ability to survive.

This alternate history portraying Hitler as a monster (and not in the figurative sense) is satisfying in many ways.  It eases our group consciousness over his many war crimes.  Who could stop such a creature?  It also explains, though somewhat weakly, why Germany couldn’t shake such a cruel leader.  Germans were human too, how could they stomach such atrocities.

There are essentially two stories linked into one book.  One, the mutilated officer who wants to save Germany from Hitler, and two, the U-boat commander who finds himself face to face with evil personified.  The two men are similar in temperament and honor, only one can succeed.

It is an action novel that slowly morphs into a horror story as we learn about Hitler’s true nature.  Hitler as a personality is limited and the listener is left to his own imagination as to how he came to be, or what kind of event created such a creature.  But there is so much lore, we don’t really need much prodding.  It is enough to know he exists and must be stopped at all costs.

This little slice of history, rewritten to explain, and in some ways, forgive Germany is entertaining in the way all alternate histories are; it tickles our imagination: “What if?”  The listener is asked to suspend their beliefs and try this one instead.  It is close enough.  Military enthusiasts will appreciate the late World War II setting as it is well depicted, especially in the claustrophobic confines of a leaky U-Boat.

Pete Milan narrates the story with his deep, resonant voice that is easy on the ears.  His character voices are good and his accents are believable; each easily discernible.

Horror and military fans looking for an action based alternate history will find Reich a good listen.  It is hard to call it enjoyable without trivializing the enormous tragedy of World War II, but perhaps satisfying is a better description.

Audiobook was provided for review by the narrator.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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Good story. Great performance

This was a great listen. I'm not quite sure I'd class it as an out and out horror though, more of a thriller with a supernatural element.

The narrator did an all round excellent job. His voice is deeply resonant and perfectly suited to the material.

If I had to have one criticism, it would be that the author should have broken up the structure a bit better, more than once the narrator paused for a POV change and said 'Two' making me wonder if I had skipped back by accident.

Definitely give this a go!

Stupid with the World's Slowest Reader

DAK wrote a book called Drop Dead Gorgeous. Based on how well that was written and how different and interesting, I decided to try another one of his works. It seems I got a hold of a practice story. At no time is this good. The concept is interesting and if more time had been spent to flesh it out and do something with it, this could have been good. Kirch, I had hopes for you, please don't have your practice books published for purchase. I don't like it when King does it, I especially don't like when a newbie does it.

I will listen to another kirsch, if I see that their is no paid for reviewers to skew the numbers and if I think it is new and not an old college paper brought out of the attic trunk.

This narrator was the world's slowest reader. I put him on 1 and a quarter and he was still slow. That is the best I can do with my MP3 player. He might have sounded normal at double speed.