Spring 1938: The Vienna Writers Circle meets at Café Mozart to share hopeful stories during a hopeless time. Mathias and Johannes - writers, cousins, and close as brothers - thrive within this creative group of friends.
But when the Nazis take over Austria, everything changes. With their families' lives now under threat, the men hide in plain sight using false identities. The safety of their loved ones and their writing is their only salvation.
A local policeman, Inspector Josef Weber, walks a dangerous line, helping 'hidden Jews' like Mathias and Johannes. But Weber faces conflicts of his own: having declared his love for a beautiful Romani-gypsy girl, Deya Reynes, he fears that she too will be sent to her death.
When all they have left is courage, will they survive?***
I'd never been so thirsty, my mouth so dry.- PROLOGUE
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(Penguin, 13 April 2023, e-book, 416 pages, ARC from the publisher via NetGalley)
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I enjoyed The Vienna Writer's Circle a lot. I've read other books set during WW2 but none set in Vienna. This book offered a different perspective which is one of the strength's. The author does a great job of bringing Vienna's culture to life and the impact of Hitler and the Nazi's. The book is tense at times as members of the circle realise they are not longer safe if they place they call home and take drastic action to save themselves and their loved ones. The characters are well written. The book really comes to life and is quite tense and gripping.
