Fatherland: From the bestselling author of Conclave Paperback – 1 Oct. 2009

Fatherland by Robert Harris is up there with the best books that I have ever read. The book is set against the backdrop of a very different world to the one we currently live in.Harris creates a world where Germany has not only won the Second World War but is now the biggest and most dominant country in Europe. Hitler is still alive and the still the leader of the new Germany and the Nazi party are still controlling the citizens of Germany by controlling the media and through use of the SS and other police forces.The plot of the book follows Xavier March, a member of the German police force, as he investigates the discovery of a body that is found on the outskirts of Berlin. The identities of the body and the secrets that he has taken to the grave have the potential to rock the new Germany. March is forced to look deep into the history of Germany and some of the answers will change his life for ever.This is one of the best books that I have ever read. The story telling is fantastic and the plot is one of the best I have ever read. Harris creates compelling characters and manages to make you care about them and that for me is the mark of a skilled author.As a standalone book I cannot recommend this book enough. If you are looking for an enjoyable book with a great story that is very well written then this is the book for you.

Fatherland is a book worth taking the time to get into, even if the start doesn't grab the reader as much as the cover and tagline would have you think. When presented with the concept of a world in which Hitler won, enjoying an uneasy peace with Kennedy's United States, one expects drama and outrage from the start. What one gets instead is a fairly conventional murder mystery. A prominent member of the Nazi party has seemingly committed suicide, but March, our protagonist, has his suspicions.As March investigates, ably supported by Charlie, an American journalist, the Gestapo interfere and he is nominally taken off the case. Of course, he continues. As the book reaches halfway, all the tropes are there. Inter-departmental dispute, a suicide that we think is a murder, the hubristic decadence of the wealthy. The reader would be forgiven (at this point) for wondering whether the story needed the Nazi backdrop at all.Without giving the plot away, that all changes when the full scope of the murder and its ramifications becomes clear. The pace and drama of the story accelerates markedly, and the conventional murder mystery becomes entirely gripping and unique. From an underwhelming opening, I could not put the book down in the second half.That being said, the ending is still a little inconclusive. Some sort of postscript could have gone a long way. Nevertheless, this is an accomplished novel. The raw emotion that it achieves is striking and authentic, and in its own way it hits upon a common historical misconception. There are a lot of alternative futures that envisage a Nazi victory, but this is one of the strongest.

Robert Harris has endured as one of the finest modern writers still writing, and though in some eyes he has faltered lately (considering his extremely high standards, of course) with "Fear Index", this in my opinion is his magnum opus, his seminal work that all other alternate history books past and present are judged by.The story revolves around the idea that Hitler and his Nazi Party have taken over much of the world, and certainly the majority of Europe, including Russia. I am always fascinated by alternate history books, in particular, relating to the Second World War and how things could have turned out so radically different. In this alternate reality, we follow Xavier March, a detective working for the German police, the Kripo, investigating the suspicious death of a high-ranking Nazi official. He soon discovers that this death's consequences reach further than he previously imagined as he is constantly dissuaded from investigating, and decided to take up the task off the record.What follows is a break-neck, white-knuckle ride to the heart of the German political system and reveals truths that have not been laid bare for years.This book is rightly considered one of the best books of the 20th Century, and is truly an experience that you won't forget.Once you've read Fatherland, every other alternate history book pales in comparison.I cannot recommend this enough to anyone who is a literature fan, and to this day is one of my favourite books.

Xavier March is unfortunate enough to take the call when a dead body is found in a lake in Berlin. It is April 1964, and Hitler’s 75th birthday is a week away. No one wants any trouble, but March is not a typical party man, and he digs and digs. Slowly, he uncovered the terrible conspiracy hidden in this alternate world.This is a terrific read, and revisiting was a real pleasure. Mr. Harris gives 60s-era Nazi Berlin depth, and the brief, discrete explanations of what it is like to live in a world where the Nazis won the war and not overpowering, but are immensely disturbing. A real treat for fans of the genre.

I love Robert Harris’s books. This particular one is highly researched intelligent writing. ImaginativeI recommend it whole heartedly. Enjoy

The story was gripping enough I have to admit. However, it became quite convoluted and long-winded in terms of plot. Although I liked the ending, it was also a bit of a damp squid and I pondered the purpose of the book. His novel on Munich was more cohesive and better.

Great read from a mostly brilliant author. A very imaginative version of an alternate Germany combined with a thrilling mystery. Couldn’t put it down.

Good book that I read years ago and thoroughly enjoyed. Bought as a gift this time for someone else and they also really enjoyed it, possible new Robert Harris fan!