Honestly, I love Erik Larson's writing style, but this was clearly not his strongest work. He kept me reading, and I finished, but it was slow moving. The topic itself made me want to pick this book up, WWII fascinates me, but the story was just not that captivating. I felt it could have been narrowed down to an even shorter book. It was interesting how he uncovered how smoothly Hitler worked his way into power, but the Dodd family was not as interesting. I did find Dodd himself an interesting character, with a individuality that was very unique and important. The rest of his family I felt played a smaller role, including Martha. I felt she was presented to make the story more interesting, and she did help carry the story along, but, some of the intrigue to her was a bit over the top. Some times I found myself thinking, what role does this part really have to do with the whole?, when I read parts of her romantic involvements. Although, it was really fun to read. Like reading People Magazine of the 1930s. She definitely helped keep me reading.

I also found the insight into the history surrounding Hitler's rise to power interesting. The way Larson painted each personality in the Hitler regime is something certainly history books don't normally do. He gave some more background into who they were. This was interesting as well as a bit eerie knowing so much about some of these people. It makes you wonder how some of them ever got as far as they did, especially Hitler.

I would recommend reading this book. It's short, but it is interesting; just a bit slower of a read than his Devil in the White City or even Thunderstruck.