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The German Heiress
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For readers of The Alice Network and The Lost Girls of Paris, an immersive, heart-pounding debut about a German heiress on the run in post-World War II Germany.
Clara Falkenberg, once Germany’s most eligible and lauded heiress, earned the nickname “the Iron Fräulein” during World War II for her role operating her family’s ironworks empire. It’s been nearly two years since t ...more
Clara Falkenberg, once Germany’s most eligible and lauded heiress, earned the nickname “the Iron Fräulein” during World War II for her role operating her family’s ironworks empire. It’s been nearly two years since t ...more
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Paperback, 384 pages
Published
April 7th 2020
by William Morrow Paperbacks
(first published March 5th 2020)
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An effective, highly suspenseful post WWII saga-
Clara Falkenberg, once an heiress to the Falkenberg Iron Works has been living under an assumed name since the end of the war. She earned a tough reputation while at the helm of the Iron works, but whenever possible, Clara snuck extra rations to workers who were brought in from Russia and Poland to work for them. But eventually she fled Essen fearing retaliation from the Nazis.
However, Clara hasn't heard from her best friend, Elisa, and her teenag ...more
Clara Falkenberg, once an heiress to the Falkenberg Iron Works has been living under an assumed name since the end of the war. She earned a tough reputation while at the helm of the Iron works, but whenever possible, Clara snuck extra rations to workers who were brought in from Russia and Poland to work for them. But eventually she fled Essen fearing retaliation from the Nazis.
However, Clara hasn't heard from her best friend, Elisa, and her teenag ...more

Clara hides in post-WWII Germany under a different name until someone recognizes her and unveils her true identity. Is that all she is? Her whole life comes down to the years during the war when she made poor choices. The focus of this novel illuminates morality through the eyes of a female war criminal.
Clara's circumstances put the reader in tight spot, and it is hard to trust her sometimes. As soon as I leaned one way, the next chapter would sway my feelings towards the opposite direction. I ...more
Clara's circumstances put the reader in tight spot, and it is hard to trust her sometimes. As soon as I leaned one way, the next chapter would sway my feelings towards the opposite direction. I ...more

Dec 14, 2019
Paromjit
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
netgalley
Anika Scott writes a post WW2 piece of intriguing historical fiction from the unusual perspective of the defeated and humiliated Germans, now living under Allied occupation of the victorious forces. Germany is a ruined and devastated nation, with ordinary people facing poverty and starvation, whilst having to come to terms with their part in and complicity with the horrors and terrors of their recent past. The allied forces are looking for war criminals to arrest, and a British Captain Fenshaw i
...more

Apr 03, 2020
Brenda - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
edelweiss,
traveling-sister-reads
I had some mixed feelings here with The German Heiress. The story started off slow for me and I felt like I was missing something here with Clara's characters. I struggled with finding her convincing and the overall plot of the story. Once I stop trying to find her convincing or compelling and just go with the story, I started to enjoy the story. I found it to be more of a thriller than historical fiction.
The story takes place post-WWII and the perspective is unique here. During World War II, C ...more
The story takes place post-WWII and the perspective is unique here. During World War II, C ...more

Clara Falkenberg was nicknamed “the Iron Fraulein” during World War II because she operated her parents large iron business. An heiress before war, she is now potentially in ruin with interrogators at her door.
Clara flees in hopes of finding her friend, Elisa, and quickly sees her home city in ruins. As she searches for Elisa, she meets Jakob, who works on the black market and is also seeking Elisa. All the while, the officer is still looking for Clara to make her answer his questions about pote ...more
Clara flees in hopes of finding her friend, Elisa, and quickly sees her home city in ruins. As she searches for Elisa, she meets Jakob, who works on the black market and is also seeking Elisa. All the while, the officer is still looking for Clara to make her answer his questions about pote ...more

Clara Falkenberg, was once Germany’s most eligible and richest heiress and during World War II she took over operating her family’s iron works empire. It’s been nearly two years since the war ended; Clara has been in hiding using a false name and she now calls herself Margarete Muller. Post war Germany was a mess, it was easy for Clara to get false documents and change her name. Like everyone living in Germany she had lost weight, her clothes were worn, she stopped coloring her hair blond and sh
...more

Favorite Quotes:
What a slippery thing conscience could be. It had driven her in two directions. To her father, with all the duties of family and work… And then she had been driven to help the workers, an act that put everything else at risk. One side of her conscience undermining the other. And still she had listened to both. She had thought she could do justice to both.
In Jakob’s experience, you had to watch the Tommies when they were being too nice. You never knew when they’d turn on you, remi ...more
What a slippery thing conscience could be. It had driven her in two directions. To her father, with all the duties of family and work… And then she had been driven to help the workers, an act that put everything else at risk. One side of her conscience undermining the other. And still she had listened to both. She had thought she could do justice to both.
In Jakob’s experience, you had to watch the Tommies when they were being too nice. You never knew when they’d turn on you, remi ...more

4 made me think stars
This one is set in post-WWII Germany and follows Clara Falkenberg. She’s from a prominent family that ran an iron business before and during the war. Once her father is off at war, Clara is the one who takes the helm. I say that this one made me think because Clara’s motives and thoughts feel a bit muddled. It made me think, what would I do in her place? Would I step into my father’s shoes and just carry on the business or would I question the humanity of what is happening?
N ...more
This one is set in post-WWII Germany and follows Clara Falkenberg. She’s from a prominent family that ran an iron business before and during the war. Once her father is off at war, Clara is the one who takes the helm. I say that this one made me think because Clara’s motives and thoughts feel a bit muddled. It made me think, what would I do in her place? Would I step into my father’s shoes and just carry on the business or would I question the humanity of what is happening?
N ...more

I won an ARC through Goodreads, and I could not have been more ecstatic.
I've always been obsessed with World War II historical fiction. This one had a German view.
This had all of my emotions in overdrive.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and couldn't wait until I could get back to reading it. ...more
I've always been obsessed with World War II historical fiction. This one had a German view.
This had all of my emotions in overdrive.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and couldn't wait until I could get back to reading it. ...more

If you are looking for a pro-nazi book you might enjoy this thriller more than I did. Clara ran an ironworks factory in Essen during the war. Her father has been accused of being a war criminal and now the British are trying to capture her too. Knowing that the British are after her, inexplicably she decides to return to her home town, where they are sure to look. She wants to find her friend Elisa and Elisa’s 15 year old son Willy. In Essen she encounters Jakob, a former German soldier.
Willy w ...more
Willy w ...more

The German Heiress by Anika Scott is a gripping post WWII historical fiction centered in Germany 1946. While the country lay in ruins and chaos, many were trying to create a sense of order and justice against the mayhem. This book centers around 31 year old Clara Falkenberg, the only daughter of an aristocratic and wealthy family that rose to high ranks through industrialism, slave labor, and important connections with the Fascists during WWII. While Clara herself did not believe in “the cause”
...more

1946 Post War, Essen.
Clara Falkenburg is living under an assumed name. She is being hunted down for was crimes by Captain Fenshaw. Clara decides to look for her best friend, Elsia after returning home to find her city destroyed and Elisa and her young son missing. Clara's father is in prison waiting trial for war crimes. Thenstory touches slightly on her family and there is a shocking secret revealed.
This story revolves around Clara's search for her friend, Elsia and her son. Clara is also tryi ...more
Clara Falkenburg is living under an assumed name. She is being hunted down for was crimes by Captain Fenshaw. Clara decides to look for her best friend, Elsia after returning home to find her city destroyed and Elisa and her young son missing. Clara's father is in prison waiting trial for war crimes. Thenstory touches slightly on her family and there is a shocking secret revealed.
This story revolves around Clara's search for her friend, Elsia and her son. Clara is also tryi ...more

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
These days I’m usually not tempted by World War II-era historical fiction. It’s a crowded subgenre and most of it is historical romance... not my cup of tea. However, The German Heiress intrigued me because, as the name implies, it presents a German perspective, which is uncommon.
Despite its unconventional approach, this book definitely suffered from comparison. I’ve read many truly ...more
These days I’m usually not tempted by World War II-era historical fiction. It’s a crowded subgenre and most of it is historical romance... not my cup of tea. However, The German Heiress intrigued me because, as the name implies, it presents a German perspective, which is uncommon.
Despite its unconventional approach, this book definitely suffered from comparison. I’ve read many truly ...more

Clara Falkenberg, once Germany's heiress and nicknamed "the Iron Fraulein" during World War II. She's taken on another name, after running away, only to return two years after the war is over to discover her home town in ruins and her friend she's been in search of is nowhere to be found.
Running from a British officer wanting to interrogate her for war crimes.
This novel will keep you turning the pages until the end. I stayed up way past my bedtime unable to put it down until I finished.
Thank y ...more
Running from a British officer wanting to interrogate her for war crimes.
This novel will keep you turning the pages until the end. I stayed up way past my bedtime unable to put it down until I finished.
Thank y ...more

THE GERMAN HEIRESS
BY ANIKA SCOTT
This was an excellent story of historical fiction of post World War II Germany that explores the German people's condition after the war. This novel takes place about eighteen months after the war has ended. The allied forces are occupying Germany. The Americans have gone and the British are hunting down who they consider to be war criminals. Margarete Muller is the name by which Clara Falkenberg is going by in Hamelin. She is proposed by Dr. Blum the small town d ...more
BY ANIKA SCOTT
This was an excellent story of historical fiction of post World War II Germany that explores the German people's condition after the war. This novel takes place about eighteen months after the war has ended. The allied forces are occupying Germany. The Americans have gone and the British are hunting down who they consider to be war criminals. Margarete Muller is the name by which Clara Falkenberg is going by in Hamelin. She is proposed by Dr. Blum the small town d ...more

Edgy, heat-pounding, gripping fiction… The German Heiress by Anika Scott isn’t the typical post-World War II historical fiction novel. It has bite and suspense that had me completely immersed in the story!
Clara is not your average heroine from historical fiction. I always find the best characters to be enthralling but maybe a bit bad sometimes. Clara is certainly flawed which in my mind made her all the more compelling. This is my first Anika Scott book but I’d venture to call her a daring autho ...more
Clara is not your average heroine from historical fiction. I always find the best characters to be enthralling but maybe a bit bad sometimes. Clara is certainly flawed which in my mind made her all the more compelling. This is my first Anika Scott book but I’d venture to call her a daring autho ...more

There are many World War II era novels, but this one is unique. The protagonist is a young, beautiful German woman, Clara Falkenberg, who during the war ran an iron works for the Nazis; they called her “The Iron Fraulein.” Many of its workers were forced or slave laborers. Yet she was not all bad as the Javert-like British officer, pursuing her after the war, believes. She’d run the factory out of loyalty to her idealized father and did her best to alleviate the terrible conditions of the worker
...more

Between the heights of the superhero and the lairs of the total villain lies a vast expanse occupied by ordinary people struggling to make choices under extraordinary circumstances. Set in post-World War II occupied Germany, THE GERMAN HEIRESS is the story of Clara, fleeing from accusations of war crimes, Jakob, a survivor of the Russian Front now struggling to care for his family, and the British officer who searches for Clara. Meticulously researched, this gripping historical fiction deals def
...more

Living two lives - one during the war and one after.
During the war she was Clara Falkenberg who was in charge of her family's iron works and was cruel to the workers.
After the war, she assumed another name, Margarete Mueller, lived in a boarding house, and worked as a secretary.
Could she hide her identity forever? She thought so, but the British had been following her for years and had extensive records of her war crimes.
They found her on a train back to her hometown to find a friend, was pulle ...more
During the war she was Clara Falkenberg who was in charge of her family's iron works and was cruel to the workers.
After the war, she assumed another name, Margarete Mueller, lived in a boarding house, and worked as a secretary.
Could she hide her identity forever? She thought so, but the British had been following her for years and had extensive records of her war crimes.
They found her on a train back to her hometown to find a friend, was pulle ...more

A really enjoyable WWII story told from the Germans' point-of-view! Plot was filled with twists from beginning to end. A must read to learn how the opposing people were treated after the war!
...more

Such a beautiful story, with such detail that puts you right into the middle of a strong woman on her quest for answers! All of the characters you meet continuously keep you intrigued. The story never goes off track into rambles or stories that do not coincide with the big picture. It was amazing to see a story where the woman was the main focus and the men did not overshadow her story of development and discovery. The ending will have you on the edge of your seat, and though you find the answer
...more

Finding Clara by Anika Scott
For those that love historical fiction, this was an unique and gripping plot that sees a German woman's perspective of post war. The characters were well developed and intriguing.
Set in 1946, Essen, Germany, Clara Falkenberg has returned home and is trying to find her best friend Elisa, after the war.
Clara is a wartime icon and German heiress who ran the family munitions factory during the war and is now wanted as a war criminal by the English allies.
To survive Clara ...more
For those that love historical fiction, this was an unique and gripping plot that sees a German woman's perspective of post war. The characters were well developed and intriguing.
Set in 1946, Essen, Germany, Clara Falkenberg has returned home and is trying to find her best friend Elisa, after the war.
Clara is a wartime icon and German heiress who ran the family munitions factory during the war and is now wanted as a war criminal by the English allies.
To survive Clara ...more

Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Tik Tok | You can find my review here.
As always, a copy of this book was provided by the authors in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
Being cooped up in the house for quarantine means more time for reading--like, SO much more time for reading. (And avoiding anxieties. Er, at least, attempting to by avoiding reality and drowning in fiction. Or is that just me?) Fortunately for readers seeking their next form of escapism, th ...more
As always, a copy of this book was provided by the authors in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
Being cooped up in the house for quarantine means more time for reading--like, SO much more time for reading. (And avoiding anxieties. Er, at least, attempting to by avoiding reality and drowning in fiction. Or is that just me?) Fortunately for readers seeking their next form of escapism, th ...more

I received this book through Goodreads First Reads.
3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4. I think it was a strong debut novel for this author with a lot of interesting characters. What made me toss back and forth between 3 and 4 stars was the ending. It seemed like there was a lot of build up, throughout the novel, but then the ending seemed a bit....rushed? That is the only word I can think of to describe it, as if the novel was left unfinished. Aside from that, I would recommend the book for anyone who ...more
3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4. I think it was a strong debut novel for this author with a lot of interesting characters. What made me toss back and forth between 3 and 4 stars was the ending. It seemed like there was a lot of build up, throughout the novel, but then the ending seemed a bit....rushed? That is the only word I can think of to describe it, as if the novel was left unfinished. Aside from that, I would recommend the book for anyone who ...more

Clara Falkenberg, nicknamed ‘The Iron Fraulein’, daughter of a German father and English mother. Rich industrial family having scattered when the war is almost at an end and the Allies are bombing their town and taking poisoners.
We meet Clara, in the first chapter, with false identity papers now calling herself Margarete Muller. She is visiting her boyfriend Dr. Blum. He proposes marriage and only just now reveals to her that he did some not so nice things during the war. Clara is upset by this ...more
We meet Clara, in the first chapter, with false identity papers now calling herself Margarete Muller. She is visiting her boyfriend Dr. Blum. He proposes marriage and only just now reveals to her that he did some not so nice things during the war. Clara is upset by this ...more

I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. It will be published April 7, 2020.
Net Galley's description was that this book was "for readers of The Alice Network and The Lost Girls of Paris, an immersive, heart-pounding debut about a German heiress on the run in post-World War II Germany." BOOM I was sold!
The book takes place after 2 years after WWII had ended in Germany. Clara Falkenberg has false documents saying she is Margarete Müller, but in reality she is an h ...more
Net Galley's description was that this book was "for readers of The Alice Network and The Lost Girls of Paris, an immersive, heart-pounding debut about a German heiress on the run in post-World War II Germany." BOOM I was sold!
The book takes place after 2 years after WWII had ended in Germany. Clara Falkenberg has false documents saying she is Margarete Müller, but in reality she is an h ...more

Germany 1946. A country coming to terms with a decade of evil, with a lost war, with deprivation and hunger, with occupation. Many citizens have secrets to hide, even if their guilt is just looking the other way, but some have culpability for real, serious crimes, and the forces occupying their destroyed country are determined to root them out. People like Clara Falkenberg, the Iron Maiden, Nazi poster girl who ran factories manned with slave labour.
British officer Fenshaw is on a mission to fi ...more
British officer Fenshaw is on a mission to fi ...more

A fascinating story, focussing on the lives of German people at the end of the Second World War. I was totally gripped and immersed in the story of Clara Falkenberg, the Iron Fraulein of Hitlers propaganda machine, and her struggle to survive at the end of the war. The author very cleverly highlights the way in which the German people were all affected by the Nazi reign. Each in their own way was aware of, or carried out, acts that they would later regret. This is a novel which really highlights
...more

I read The German Heiress with much interest as it is set in the aftermath of post WWII Germany in a period and from a POV not often portrayed. The author gives us a perspective and insight into a country and people devastated by a horrific regime, trying to find their way in great hardship and to come to terms with their own complicated past. The author paints a realistic picture of the time and draws interesting, complex characters who each embark on personal journeys which end in unanticipate
...more
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“down by the packs on their backs or the bags over their arms containing valuables to exchange for food or”
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