Flight From Berlin by David John

Flight From Berlin by David John

Publisher: Harper

Publication Date: July 10, 2012

Source: Publisher

A cynical English reporter and a beautiful, headstrong, American Olympic hopeful are caught in a lethal game of international espionage during the 1936 Berlin Olympics in Flight from Berlin, a riveting debut thriller from breakout novelist David John. Combining the suspense and atmosphere of Alan Furst’s spy novels with the exciting narrative drive of Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon adventures, John delivers an unforgettable masterwork of thrilling suspense set against the backdrop of one of the most monumental summers in history—a contest of champions, including the remarkable Jessie Owen, that captivated the world as the specter of Nazi Germany continued its rise to threaten the globe.

 The Skinny: A fascinating story that combines history and suspense

This is such an appropriate story at this time. Flight From Berlin is set during the 1936 Berlin Olympics. When Eleanor, an Olympian, meets Richard, a reporter, they discover that a Jewish athlete is forced to compete for Nazi Germany during the Olympic games. While they initially believe that the conflict is based on the athlete’s plight, they eventually discover that Hitler is intending to use the games as a method to publicize the Nazi agenda. In addition to the heavy historical aspect of the story, there is a romantic element that unfolds between Eleanor and Richard.

I love historical fiction, I am obsessed with the Olympics, and I have studied Nazi Germany at great length, so I am the perfect audience for this story. Flight From Berlin is so well-written, because it is not too heavily focused in one area. In this story, we are exposed to espionage, history, romance, and mystery. Every area is perfectly balanced and well-developed. This story will appeal to individuals who do not typically read historical fiction, because it is a great story.

John’s writing is captivating, and he is an excellent storyteller. The characters are relatable, the setting is descriptive, and the pacing is perfect. This is the type of novel that inspires readers to study the topic after concluding the story. This novel is so riveting that I highly recommend it. John’s ability to weave together real characters with a fictional story is remarkable, and I can’t praise this story enough.

 Be sure to check out the other tour stops!

Tuesday, July 10th: nomadreader

Wednesday, July 11th: Stephany Writes

Thursday, July 12th: The Year in Books

Wednesday, July 18th: Unabridged Chick

Saturday, July 21st: Doing Dewey 

Monday, July 23rd: Bibliosue

Tuesday, July 24th: Paperback Princess

Wednesday, July 25th: Tiffany’s Bookshelf

Thursday, July 26th: Joyfully Retired

Monday, July 30th: Savvy Verse & Wit

Wednesday, August 1st: Oh! Paper Pages

Thursday, August 2nd: “That’s Swell!”

Wednesday, August 8th: My Bookshelf

DAVID JOHN was born in Wales. He trained as a lawyer but made his career in publishing, editing popular books on history and science. In 2009 he moved to Germany to write Flight from Berlin. He lives in Seoul, South Korea, where he is researching his second novel.