What if in 1943 you were the 'black sheep' child of a high ranking Nazi official? What if you had already run away as far as you could only to be forced back due to injury? What if you were given the chance to run away to a secluded village on the coast and stay in an old friend's place? What is you discovered the secluded village has some secrets and a charming man?

What if in September of 2008 when you were miserable and recently unemployed you found out your grandmother had some secrets?

Elise is 1943 and Jenni is 2008. I did like the back and forth of the story. I will mention, as other reviewers mention the book gets overly descriptive at times that really are not relevant to carrying the story along. I would have enjoyed it more if I had not had to read basically the same area described multiple times over the book. It took a lot away from the emotions. There were times I was close to crying not just sniffling a little bit and bammo let's describe the dunes, the house, the something, another time.

Quite enjoyed reading this book. It was different from what I read mostly and will most likely read it again.

I enjoyed tbe multiple storylines in tbe Nazis Daughter. It was well written. I didn't want to put this book down.

Beautifully written, intriguing and captivating. I couldn't put this book down.

I enjoyed both the story and format of The Nazi's Daughter. The granddaughter is in the present learning about her grandmother's past. The back-and-forth from the present to the past kept me reading. Tim Murgatroyd gives the reader a section long enough to pull you in and lets you forget about the other characters. As you turn the page, eager to find out what happens with Elise, you are taken back to New York and Jenni. Jenni, what she is learning, and Barney's story are woven together and keep your interest when you are with them. In the end, I the reader knows the story of both women, and understands the characters, even if they don't fully know.

I stayed up late finishing the last 1/3 of the book; I didn't want to put it down. Some specifics are left to the reader to fill in the blanks. I liked that. I also keenly felt the sense of loss for a family whose relationships could have been something special.

As an educator, this could be an option for high school students. There are life lessons woven into this story. Don't wait to connect with the older generation. They will not be with us forever. And when they are gone, those memories and stories and history are also. Fighting against evil is sometimes necessary. Remaining neutral is rarely an option. Everyone must make difficult choices and sacrifice; everyone is impacted.

I would love to hear the story of the Bigard family.

The book contains two story lines, one in modern day New York and one in Holland during the second world war. A story about a girl who tries to retrace her grandmothers footsteps.

Holland during the second World War, a place without sunshine anyway that was brought into even darker times than usual. The story is about the daughter of a high placed Nazi who has alway been the black sheep of the family and will most likely stay that for ever. She doesn't share the Nazi ideology and therefor is the stranger around her relatives. She tries to find peace and quiet by fleeing to one of the islands of the Dutch coast where she lives in a windmill. On this island she comes into contact with the locals and a painful love story unfolds that ends in disaster.
The other half of the book is about the granddaughter of this woman who tries to uncover her grandmothers story after she died.

All in all I enjoyed this book. It was fun to read and it helped me pass some time. However there are a few things I liked about it less as well. Being Dutch myself the bits in Holland were sometimes painfully off. The names, the behaviours, living in a windmill. It was never hugely incorrect but it felt just a tad off. However that is just me, most readers will not be Dutch and most likely never notice any of it. Another critique I have is the modern day part of the book, somehow it never really grew on me. Maybe because the story lines never seemed to merge.

On a more simple note I did love to read a book about Holland!

I received this ARC from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

Written with alternating views, Elise in 1943 is the daughter of a high ranking Nazi. Her career as a ballerina is cut short by an injury. Forward to her granddaughter Jenni in 2008, her career on Wall Street is gone when the prime loan scandal blows up.

I enjoy reading these alternating timelines between family members. I think Elise's timeline was more moving and interesting. The ending felt rushed, with a typical ending for Jenni.

Overall, a very good read and I would definitely recommend this book.

4 ☆

A great historical fiction piece that I recommend that even folks not into the genre, take a look at.

This book was a solid 4 stars, right up until the ending. The historical aspect of the book was very well done, and I felt like I was living in war time Holland right along with the characters. The scenes set in present day time were ok...sometimes they felt like filler, and I felt like it took me out of the war narrative too much at times. The reason I gave it 3 stars is the ending. It was so rushed and disjointed and didn't feel like a proper conclusion at all.

In Holland in 1943, when her career as a ballerina is cut short by a dancing injury, Elise Van Thooft-Noman, daughter of a powerful Dutch Nazi, flees to an isolated island off the coast of Holland.where she meets Pieter Goedhart, the village schoolmaster and Resistance fighter, and the unlikely pair fall in love.. In New York in 2008. Jenni Malarkey is summoned to a mysterious party to celebrate her estranged grandmother’s glamorous life. Her journey through Elise’s secret history will force her to confront a legacy of guilt and shame. Past and present come together in this historical novel set in wartime Holland and contemporary New York.

A very enjoyable read. The moves between time periods worked well (without making the story disjointed) and there were some thought-provoking aspects to the book. It is rare that the Dutch hunger winter makes an appearance in World War 2 novels, so good to see that incorporated into the storyline.

Books like this one are right up my alley.  Historical fiction, World War II era, a bit of suspense thrown in...these are the stories that stick with me.  

Elise has a promising career as a ballerina.  She lives to dance, allowing herself to escape from the fact that her father is a high-ranking Nazi.  She's somewhat of a disappointment to her family as she chooses to immerse herself in her career rather than fall in line with their Nazi beliefs.  When an injury forces her to take a break from dancing, she finds refuge on a small island.

It's here that she meets Pieter.  Instantly attracted to him, she resists for as long as possible.  But when their chemistry becomes impossible to ignore, she finds herself in a precarious position as the daughter of a Nazi.  Pieter, the man she loves, is part of the Resistance.  Will it be possible to keep her two worlds separate?

This is, to me, the best and most compelling part of this story.  There's more, though.  Fast forward to present day New York City.  Jenni finds herself the benefactor of her deceased grandmother's estate.  Because she didn't know much about her, and because her own life is in shambles, she immerses herself in grandma Elise's past.  What secrets will she uncover?

A great story for fans of historical fiction with some romance and a bit of mystery as well.

This is a beautifully written, amazing war tragedy and love story rolled into one. Very thought provoking!!! One of the better historical fictions I have read, for sure! I love this book!

In all this world there is no such thing as Christian or Bolshevik or Communist or Nazi or Jew. There are no Eternal Jews. Not really. Not at the heart of things. Not when the dyke is broken. There are just people.

The book is divided into two parts - and two stories. One about Elise, ex-ballet dancer and a daughter of a famous Dutch Nazi, and the other one about her granddaughter Jenni, who knows almost nothing about her grandmother. After the lawyer that is responsible for Elise's will lets it slip that Elise was a daughter of a Nazi, her granddaughter embarks on a quest to learn more about her grandmother, who left her an apartment and a sizeable amount of money.

Both stories were interesting to me, maybe Jenni's a bit less but it was not bad. I just had some hard time to skip from one historical period to another, but this is just a mild inconvenience. The book is great and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in history, as I will recommend it to my friends.

The Nazi’s Daughter is set in present day New York City and 1943 Europe at the height of WWII. Elise Van Thoof-Noman is the daughter of a very powerful Dutch Nazi. She is a prima ballerina that has suffered a career ending tendon injury. After recuperating in Paris, Elise heads off to a remote island off the coast of Holland. Once there she meets Pieter Goedhart a school teacher and reluctant resistance fighter. They are drawn to each other, but Pieter must take care with Elise. She cannot find out about the people he is hiding from the Nazis in his attic. If she does, it could jeopardize both their lives and the lives of those he is hiding.

Skip to New York City in 2008, at the beginning of the Great Recession, and we meet Elise’s granddaughter Jenni Malarkey. Jenni has just been let go from her job as millions of others were during this time. She also just found out that her grandmother has passed away and left her a sizable inheritance. When Jenni attends a life celebration at Good Hearts restaurant she discovers unknown facts about Elise’s life and hears a rumor that Elise may have been a Nazi. She decides that she wants to know more about this elusive person whom people say she looks like. She starts the quest by going through her grandmother’s New York apartment she has inherited. This starts her journey into the enigmatic life of Elise. With so much time gone, will she be able to find out the truth behind the real Elise Van Thooft-Noman?

Once I started reading I suspected this would be a tragic story as so many are from this time. I connected with the characters of Elise and Pieter. I found myself sympathizing with them and trying to imagine how hard life must have been during the Nazi occupation and how great of a risk Pieter took by hiding fugitives. Unfortunately, I did not connect with Jenni. Her character lacked the depth the others had. In addition, the plot was slow in places. Fortunately there was enough suspense to keep my reading.

Despite the few qualms I had, overall, this was a good story and I enjoyed reading it. Anyone who likes historical fiction will enjoy this one.

I received a free copy from Troubador Publishing, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

It's amazing how a moment of smugness can ruin your life while one of being humble can make it even better #thenazisdaughter @TimMurgatroyd

The Nazi’s Daughter by Tim Murgtroyd is the story of Elise and Jenni, two women, generations apart inked by blood and history. Jenni is Elise’s granddaughter. The story begins with the death of Elise. Jenni attends a celebration of her grandmother’s life although it is clear from the start that the two didn’t really know each other. However, at this ceremony, she decides to get to know her grandmother. She starts searching for answers and asking questions to find out who she was.

The story is narrated in two timelines. The past is set in 1943 with Elise growing up as the Nazi’s daughter. She suffers an injury and goes off to live at the coast where she meets Peter. Peter is in the resistance. In his house, there are people hiding in the attic including Jews, a man wanted by the Nazi and black pilot. Peter and Elise meet and over time, friendship turns to something more. However, their identities pose a threat to the relationship and to the lives of those around them. If the resistance finds out about Peter’s relationship with Elise, they could eliminate her based on the fear that she will reveal their secrets. If the Nazis find out about the relationship and take a closer look at Peter, they may find the people in his attic and that would mean death to them and Peter. In addition, one of the Nazi officers, Cornelius has an interest in Elise and is determined to marry her. This poses another challenge to the relationship. Although both are hiding secrets and fears about the relationship, Peter and Elise can’t fight the feelings that they had for each other.

I liked the past narrations. The 1943 timeline was interesting. The author developed the setting to reflect the realities of the time. The conflict between the Nazi, resistance and Jews was vividly portrayed through the pages. I know this shouldn’t shock me but I still can’t believe that there are people who were once loyal to Hitler. In the book, the Nazis determination is evident. They believe in Hitler and his ideologies. They are so dedicated to their leader that not even family can deter their commitment. On the other hand, I liked the description of the resistance. These are people who decided not to support the Hitler madness and risked their lives to do so.

Elise stands out in the narrative. She was rebellious, strong and determined. Her family name haunted her wherever she went but in a way, she was determined to establish her own identity. On the other hand, her granddaughter was different. I don’t have much to say about her apart from the fact that I admired her resolve to find answers. However, thinking about her now, I don’t think her character was as well developed as Elise’s. I didn’t connect with her and I actually found myself more interested in her grandmother’s story.

This book is tragic and certain events broke my heart. However, the story was addictive. I especially wanted to know Elise and the events that took place in her life. The writing has an easy flow to it. The only thing that bugged me a little bit was the amount of details. I could skip a paragraph and find out that I hadn’t missed anything. Nevertheless, I think that this book will appeal to lovers of historical fiction.

This book needs to be in every library! Tim Murgatroyd has crafted a masterpiece. I have always read a lot about WWII and the horrendous, unimaginable acts of terror that the Nazi's committed. This book was so riveting and so well done it had my heart pounding and turning page after page anxiously to keep the story going. There really aren't enough words to describe the artistry with which this book was written. SO good.

This is the story of Peter and Elise and Jenni. It is a time hopping story. Part of the book takes place during WWII and the other in 2008. I love how you see the impact of what happened during WWII in 2008. The language is lyrical in places and straight forward in others. I found myself skipping over some paragraphs that seemed to be unnecessary to the storyline. I felt like some of it could have been left out with no harm done to the plot. Even though The story was a little slow I still couldn't stop reAding. It's not a high action WWII story. It takes place more on the periferie. Painted a pretty good picture of life during WWII. Could have used some more details and descriptions to bring it to life even more. Overall it was a very enjoyable read for someone who loves WWII fiction.
I received a digital copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Actual rating 3.5

I enjoyed this book for the most part. I'm not typically a fan of multiple storylines but in this case it worked well. I did have a bit of trouble feeling completely engaged in the story as it had a tendency to keep me at arm's length, which was a shame. There was also a fair amount of choppiness to some of the sentences which removed me from the story as well. The ending felt rushed and unconvincing, which was disappointing as most of the story had moved along at a good pace. Overall it was a good read despite my issues with it.

I was given an ARC of The Nazi's Daughter by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.