In early 1930s Germany, life for the Stiepermann family was simple yet idyllic.

Artistic Ingrid and her inventive brother Dieter loved the freedom of the Bavarian Alps, but that was before the Jew haters surfaced in their society.

Fuelled by Nazi ideologies, Stefan Weiss and his friends suppress and destroy anyone who opposes their beliefs.

#TheGirlFromBerchtesgaden X(Twitter) @ABirchAuthor #KimRigby @ZooloosBT #ZooloosBookTours #blogtour #BookX 
Instagram #alistairbirch @kimrigby27 @zooloosbooktours #bookstagram

While one family battles for supremacy, another is torn apart.

Fleeing the tyranny, Ingrid, and her brother escape to London. Seemingly safe from danger, can Ingrid save her family as war threatens?

My Review

Because of my background (Polish Catholic father – Jewish mother born in Bucharest but living in Vienna in the 1930s), I can only read books on this subject every now and again as I find it very upsetting. Luckily The Girl from Berchtesgaden did not go into detail about the concentration camps or the torture to the same extent as some other books I’ve read in recent years.

But be warned. People die in this story that you don’t expect and hope will survive. It’s not pretty, but it’s war. It’s harrowing stuff at times, even without the graphic details.

Ingrid Stiepermann is Jewish. She lives with her father Gerhard, her mother Freda, her Oma, and her younger brother Dieter in the idyllic town of Berchtesgaden. I’ve been there – it was around 1965 when I was 12. We visited the town and Hitler’s underground bunker which was largely destroyed in 1947, but some of it was open to us. I remember photos of Hitler, Eva Braun and their favourite German Shepherd dog. I’m still not sure what it was called.

There has to be a villain in a story and in this case it’s Stefan Weiss. And not just because he’s a Nazi. He has a personal vendetta against the Jewish Stiepermann family. And nothing will stop him from taking out his hatred on them. He’s also trying to make his way to the top in the SS and his own father often stands in his way.

It’s a wonderfully researched book, which follows Ingrid and her family, as she and her brother flee Germany to settle in London, while another fate awaits the rest of the family. Stefan will not rest until he has destroyed them all. It’s a constant battle of cat and mouse for Ingrid.

As an aside, I found the parts about Oswald Mosley in London very interesting. It’s not often covered in books about WW2 and the holocaust. It’s a reflection of what could be happening at the moment in a lot of countries where the far right is taking hold. Many people don’t see it that way, but it’s real.

Many thanks to @ZooloosBT  for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the Authors

Alistair’s Bio
Alistair Birch is a thriller writer and occasional poet. His debut psychological thriller The Evil Within came out in June 2023. In June 2024 comes the release of a co-authored historical thriller, The Girl from Berchtesgaden and he plans to re-release two action thrillers, Shadow Pursuit and Shadow Play in the future. Outside of storytelling, his poems range from rather silly to tackling deeper mental health challenges. He frequently runs around his home town and occasionally steps up to do the odd half or full marathon but this is all for fun and friendship rather than being super speedy.

Alistair’s Social Media
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/alistairbirchauthor
Twitter : https://twitter.com/ABirchAuthor

Kim’s Bio
Kim was born in the cool climes of Hobart, Tasmania. She initially dreamed of a life in journalism, but opted for adventure instead with the Royal Australian Navy. Joining the Australian Defence Force Academy, Kim graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1990. After further studies, Kim became a logistics officer, serving in the Navy until the year 2000. She was medically retired as a Lieutenant after she was diagnosed with lupus.

After a couple more health hurdles, including thyroid cancer in 2011, Kim published her first book, The Black Fire Chronicles – Origins. There are currently four books in the middle-grade / young adult series, and a short prologue. A complementary series to the Black Fire Chronicles details the lives of hero Andrew’s Guardians. Dorothy the Dreamer and Patrick the War Man are suitable for young adults. Angus the Ageless is due for release in 2024.

A recent collaboration with fellow author Alistair Birch has resulted in a World War Two thriller, The Girl from Berchtesgaden, due for release in 2024.

Kim moved home to Hobart in 2023. She has previously lived in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, and other regional areas in New South Wales. Each place permeates Kim’s writing, along with other cities and towns she has visited across the world. Away from writing, you’ll find Kim in the garden, or practising tai chi. She is a member of several international online writer’s groups. Kim is an active participant on social media platforms, and her website has a dedicated page for showcasing the work of other talented authors.

Kim’s Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimrigby27/
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/kimrigbywriter
TikTok : www.tiktok.com/@kimrigbyauthor
Website : www.kimrigby.com

Book Links
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/212427900-the-girl-from-berchtesgaden
Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/girlberchtesgaden-zbt