The Taster by V.S. Alexander - 3 stars (BWF)

[Joy D]

The Taster by V.S. Alexander - 3* - My Review

In early 1943, Magda’s parents send her to Berchtesgaden to live with her uncle to avoid the Allied bombing of Berlin. Her uncle helps her find a job working for Hitler in the Wolf’s Lair. She becomes a taster, sampling Hitler’s food to ensure it is not poisoned. Magda’s father was not a supporter of Hitler, and she has followed in his footsteps. She falls in love with a Nazi officer involved in Von Staufenberg’s plot to kill Hitler. The storyline follows Magda’s experiences in Germany during WWII, and her attempts at resistance while pretending to support the Reich. This is a somewhat different take on a World War II story. I enjoyed reading the perspective of one of Hitler’s “tasters,” which was a real role on Hitler’s staff. Although it is occasionally melodramatic, I felt engaged in the story until close to the end. At that point, it goes off the rails with our heroine getting involved in all the major events in Berlin in the waning days of the war in Europe. It is an engaging story marred by an over-the-top ending.

PBT October BWF Extra T/A - fits letters not tag