Terrific story based on real history! A page turner, especially towards the end as the tension escalates and lives are at stake. History buffs and fans of spy stories will want to grab this one.

Covering the Cold War era in Berlin from 1961, when the Berlin Wall was erected, to its demise in 1989, it brought back memories from news stories of the time, with names of political leaders and events that rocked the world. A good look at the effects of strict communism on the culture and lives of people under its control.

Well-written and researched, perfectly paced, with just a touch of clean romantic interest towards the end. Highly recommend!

5 stars!

(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)

"I have found over the years that I fare better being surprised by hope rather than being fooled by reality."

I've unwittingly taken a hiatus from Katherine Reay's books and am so glad that I'm back to reading them again. Katherine Reay has a magical way of transporting the reader to wherever and whenever her characters are. The "past" component of the beautiful story starts in 1961 East Berlin and quickly makes its way to 1989. The "present" component of the plot takes place in one week of November 1989. The past is narrated in third person whereas the present is in first person and I loved how Haris and Luisa's voices mingled together to create a rich and complex tale of sacrifice, loss, regret, betrayal, secrets, and power of love.

I had not given much thought previously to how East Berlin functioned after WWII and during the Cold War years. The vivid descriptions of the conditions were eye-opening and heart-breaking. The codebreaking was truly fascinating and I loved how Luisa's mind worked. How the past collided into the present in the end was masterfully done and I'm still mulling over the details of the story a week after I've finished it.

It's an adrenaline and intrigue-infused race against time to find the truth and save a life - a fast-paced historical fiction that will have you thinking about the Berlin Wall in a new way. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Harper Muse via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

*Don*t die in the waiting room of the future.*

Another phenomenal historical fiction from Katherine Reay! I was in high school when the Berlin Wall seemed to come down overnight. The Berlin Letters swept me back in time to 1989 when punk rock was at its height and the Iron Curtain was finally coming down. This powerful story of a father and daughter separated by a wall of information and a literal wall kept me on the edge of my seat.

Luisa grew up loving cracking the codes her grandfather created for her. Now a code breaker for the CIA, she uncovers a link to her own past while decoding letters from the WWII era.

After once being a proud Soviet East Berliner, journalist Haris Voekler is now disillusioned by the unkept promises of the GDR. After losing his daughter and wife, he begins writing coded letters to his father-in-law who lives on the other side of the wall. He shares what*s happening as neighbor spies on neighbor and the underground youth punk movement begins working for freedom.

After her grandfather*s death Luisa discovers hidden letters from her father. Learning he*s alive and in prison, she attempts a daring rescue to free him from East Berlin.

This book was such a touching, suspenseful snapshot of what was going on in Germany 1989. The intensity is palpable especially when Luisa is in East Berlin trying to rescue her father. When the borders are suddenly opened, I loved the feeling of both euphoria and fear as the people wonder if it*s real and lasting or if East Germany*s iron fist will close them again. When Luisa & Haris meet for the first time, it*s such an emotional yet intense moment after being separated for 20 plus years.

The twists and turns, complex relationships, powerful historical details woven throughout, suspense and even a hint of romance kept me eagerly turning the pages. Definitely recommend this amazing book to historical fiction lovers. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher through TLC Booktours. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

** "Infinity doesn't mean endless or simply eternal. It means there is nothing lacking. It is all-encompassing. Complete. Self-determining. We are that when we do the right thing." **

Katherine Reay delivers another incredible Cold War novel with "The Berlin Letters," following the story of two generations greatly impacted by the Berlin Wall.

In 1961, as the Wall begins to go up, separating a German city, Monica Voekler, who lives on the eastern side with her reporter husband Haris, moves swiftly to literally toss her 3-year-old daughter Luisa over the barbed wire to her parents who live on the other side.

Eventually relocating to America, Luisa grows up to become a codebreaker for the CIA. When she stumbles upon some coded letters in her home in 1989, her world is quickly rocked. She learns of family secrets and unknown relationships and decides to take action.

Reay does an incredible job of fictionalizing a very real and horrible time in history. She develops great characters that are inspiring and full of moxie. She also fills "The Berlin Letters" with some great themes, like finding forgiveness, even when it seems impossible; doing the right thing; we have infinite possibilities; and the power of hidden secrets and lies.

Fans of historical fiction and stories with strong women characters will love "The Berlin Letters," as well as fans of authors like Kate Quinn, Rachel McMillan and Kristy Cambron.

Five stars out of five.

Harper Muse provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

This thrilling cold war story pulled me in right from page one and kept the adrenaline pumping through to the very end. With great research Katherine Reay brings East Germany and Berlin into sharp focus from the end of WW II the the fall of the Berlin Wall. The reader can feel the bleak existence the people were allowed, the despair and fear of being reported for any perceived infraction. The stark difference from East to West was brilliantly portrayed. The characters put life into the story, feeling the desperate despair and fear left from the war and how far it reached into the future for each person. Also how far a person will go to help another and erase a past that needs to be left in the shadows in order to move forward into the light. Luisa must face a past filled with lies in order to move herself and her family into a future free of the fear and danger those lies put there. The adrenaline barely has time to fade before the next threat emerges to kick the heart rate up again.

Katherine Reay has become a new favorite author. Her ability to convey historical information with detail and entertainment always leave me wanting more. Her research adds such dimension and realism to her writing, the story leaps off the pages like a movie. Then the characters fill every spot in to pull the reader personally into the story, like you are a part of the movie going on around you. The emotions felt by the characters become the readers' which makes the story pop even more for this reader. The jumps between points of view and timelines flows easily and adds to the entire story. I can not recommend this story more. It is thrilling, entertaining, and informative making for a terrific read that ends far too quickly. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.