That Summer in Berlin

That Summer in Berlin by Lecia Cornwall 464 pages

England, 1935. Hitler has risen to power in Germany, yet the world isn’t sure if he poses a danger or merely a nutcase.

On the England’s south coast, debutant Viviane Alden is headed to a party. The same boring type of party with the same people, all looking for a suitable partner for marriage. Trouble is, Viviane isn’t interested in marriage. Not right now anyway. She was to take photographs, and she is excellent at it.

The right people see her photographs, and she is recruited as a spy. It’s not unusual for Viviane to go to Berlin in 1936. After all, the world is flocking there for the Summer Olympics that are slated to take place. They should be quite the spectacle as the world waits to see how Hitler will handle any Jews on any team. 

While the world turns its attention to Berlin, Hitler and his gang of thugs are on their best behavior. They erase any sign of antisemitism, welcoming visitors with examples of peace and goodwill. It’s Viviane’s job to use her camera as a tool to uncover the darkness that hides right beneath the surface.

She is partnered with a journalist, Tom, to reveal the truth that Germany is preparing for war. The two manage to get into a few scraps and dangerous situations, but I never felt they were truly in harm’s way. The novel did not have as much tension as I had expected. In places it plodded along.

However, I was captivated by the Opening Ceremonies of the 1936 Summer Olympic Games. Seeing the event through Viviane’s lens was quite remarkable, but it wasn’t enough to propel this novel into a 4-star read. Therefore, “That Summer in Berlin” received 3 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.