To what lengths you would go to protect your child?
The Survivors tells the story of survivors, no, Displaced Persons, after the end of World War 2. The story is dark and brutal, exactly how life was in the DP camps.

The Survivors tells the story of Klara and her daughter Alicja and their time at Graufeld Displaced Persons Camp. During their time in the camp, Klara notices a man one day who resembles a face from her past. If this is the man she thinks, then Klara cannot allow him to live for her and her daughter's sake.

I read the book in a day because I couldn't wait another day to see what happens with the mother and daughter duo. I admire Klara and Alicja's strength. I also liked Davide, another character in the book.

I highly recommend this fast pacing historical fiction/thriller.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC. Thank you Kate Furnivall for writing such a marvelous book

Klara Janowska and her ten-year-old daughter Alicja had managed to survive through WW2 .Their arrival at the Graufeld Camp - home of thousands of Displaced Persons. The British set up the camp at the end of the war, Klara and Alicja had a roof over their heads, and food in their bellies. Klara’s determination to head to England and her grandmother was foremost in her mind. However everything changes when she realises that one of the men in the camp is someone from her past, someone who knows her secrets, someone who could ensure they never reached England..
This gripping novel full of heartwrneching emotion had me on the edge of my seat. You cannot help being torn between disapproval of the things Klara has had to do but an agreement that there is sometimes no choice. A wonderful book that I would highly recommend.

Kate Furnivall is one of my all time favourite authors and once again with her new book The Survivors she has crafted another masterpiece, it's a gripping story from beginning to end. It's packed full of tension, danger, manipulation, mystery and intrigue with the theme of survival being the focal point to the plot. Right from the opening pages I was instantly drawn into the world of Klara Janowska and her young daughter Alicja as theirs was a story that was absorbing, thrilling, powerful and in a lot of ways haunting for all they had to endure. Klara is a character who will really get inside your head as you journey with her as she attempts to get to England where she has relatives and where she feels she will be safe following the conclusion of World War Two. Unfortunately Europe is in chaos following the downfall of Hitler and travelling from Poland to England is no easy feat with threats and danger lurking at every corner. But Klara is resourceful and intuitive and she is determined to complete her task no matter what happens. She needs to both for herself and Alicja as she knows a better life has to be out there for them.

The path to a peaceful more happy existence does not run smoothly and soon the pair find themselves in Graufeld Camp in Germany, a holding camp for displaced persons. For those who have survived the atrocities of war yet lost their homes and in some ways their identity and sense of self. Europe is on the move with a huge mass migration in full flow. Will this be the last stopping place for Klara and Alicja or will they battle through to reach their intended destination? It was so refreshing to see an author putting a new slant on World War Two in the fact that the war itself was not the major focus rather the fallout from all that had occurred for six long years.

We've all read and enjoyed, if that's the word you can use, historical fiction set during the war but admittedly I have given scant thought to what happened afterwards. By setting this novel in the camp Kate Furnivall has shone a light on what happened post war and how Europe coped with so many people migrating or fleeing the Russians in some cases. The research and detail throughout the story was phenomenal. The writing was excellent and visually descriptive giving the reader a real sense of time and place. I really do think that The Survivors would make a great mini drama series for television as it has it all - a brilliant storyline that you reels you in and keeps you hooked and guessing, characters you become deeply invested in and of course a love story.

The descriptions of the British run camp were so real and never once did the author spare the reader from what actually went on there. It really was everyone for themselves as they waited in a kind of limbo to move on in the next stage of their journey if that was at all possible. Klara essentially set up a new life for herself but she didn't become bogged down in the fact that she may never leave the camp. She knew she had an end goal in sight and was courageous and determined that she would carry these through right to the bitter end. I felt Klara was a very restless character that she could never sit still for long as she was always observing her surroundings, the comings and goings at the camp and essentially she was wary that could she ever really trust anybody.

Davide Bouvier, an administrative assistant to the camp Colonel Whitmore, proved to be an ally and a friend to Klara when she needed resources and help the most. The affections bubbling away between the pair developed at a slow and relaxed pace but for the most part I felt this was more on Davide's side rather than Klara's. Again I think this goes back to the fact that she was always on high alert and always plotting different ways to get out of the camp. She used her time and acquired resources wisely, she wasn't just existing from day to day like some others. She was cunning in a good way and was always looking at their bigger picture. Everything was carefully planned and worked out and what she had been up to during the war years stood her in good stead as her cleverness and resilience shone through the further we delved into the story.

Klara has to be one of my favourite characters that I have read in a book this year. Kate Furnivall put her heart and soul into creating a character that had such a strong voice and brilliant mind. But above all else her love and devotion towards her daughter was heart warming to see and she wanted nothing but a positive future for Alicja given their enforced separation during the war. Every so often chapters from Alicja's viewpoint came about and although they were interesting to read and showed a child's viewpoint in relation to everything that was unfolding Klara's chapters and story still remain my firm favourite. Alicja in some ways was an innocent and then in others she surprised me with her actions. It showed she was observant and very devoted to her mother. She too wanted to leave the camp and begin a new life but the secrets from the recent past will have a strong forbearing on the present and future as an old face appears at camp.

When Klara sees this person she is like a cat defending her new born kittens. Her hackles rise and the sense of urgency that is ever present throughout the book only increases as I rapidly flew through the chapters. To understand why the appearance of this person sets Klara in a panic the author interspersed the chapters with recollections as Klara looks back on how she spent her time during the war years in Poland. An enforced separation from Alicja and the strong urge to reunite kept her going through the darkest of times. I don't think she would say she was proud of some of the things she had to do but again this goes back to the fact that it was all about survival, about being alive come wars end in order to make a new life for herself and her daughter without her husband who was lost while fighting.

Given what we learn about Klara and some of the compromising situations she went through there could have been a danger my opinion of her would have changed but I sensed there had to be a further more complicated reason behind everything. Why was she so guarded and always so worried about self protection? What kept her on high alert at all times? Why was the past really like the shadow that never leaves you? I had a feeling that there were major revelations to come but that was not before some major twists, turns and surprises that left me thinking would Klara and Alicja ever achieve some form of happiness? But against all the odds and no matter what the powers that be threw in her direction I knew Klara was gutsy enough, determined and brave enough to just keep on keeping on as they say. Klara's hardened outer core was present for a reason but at the back of my mind I kept wondering just what was the truth behind Klara the person and had her actions affected Alicja so much that she had lost the innocence, lightness and exuberance a young child should have?

No doubt about it Klara was a remarkable character who could have let hatred all consume her but she just held herself back from the brink and exacted everything in the most awe inspiring and riveting manner. Revenge is a dish best served cold and the reader is left guessing until the last possible moment to discover if all the plotting and planning will come to fruition. I was thrown by the last few chapters when we reached the culmination of everything but thrown in a good way. Kate Furnivall had certainly pulled the wool over my eyes and I was left gasping in shock at some of the revelations. On reflection I should have been more astute but I think I was too caught up in the pace and development of the story to read further into circumstances and people than I did. The twists were mind blowing but slotted in perfectly with the overall story, scenarios and picture that the author was trying to achieve.

The Survivors blends imagination with historical fact to absolute perfection and by the time you reach the last page you will be disappointed to leave such amazing characters behind. Kate Furnivall never fails to disappoint and with The Survivors being the fantastic, spell binding story that it was she has yet again not disappointed this reader. Long may things continue in this vein.

I would like to thank Simon & Schuster Publishing and the Netgalley website for this partnership.

The story takes place in Germany during the Second World War in 1945 when Klara and her daughter Alicja walk towards a dislodged camp. With 3200 other people they had the chance to survive and only want one thing to go home. But when once in the camps, Klara recognizes a man she knew in the past, he knows exactly what she did during the war to save Alicja what price she will pay for it? Will she get out of the camp alive?

I am a fan of historical novels and by reading this one I was not disappointed, the author's pen is so beautiful, the writing so fluid that I immediately hooked on the characters and the story so moving, captivating and full of suspense and twists and turns that I would have thought I was there at that time.

A talented author who deserves to be known everywhere. A must-read book for fans of World War II.

Kate Furnivall writes thrillers. This one was set in Germany after the Second World War. (Her last one was set at the same time, but in Italy.) She is good at setting the scene and building suspense, and I very much like the historical context.
I liked the characters and could envisage the camp. The children were well written.
The huge amount of research she undertakes is evident, and it sometimes comes into the dialogue which can feel unnatural. It must be very tempting to include everything you know about the time and place.
An easy read which is a page turner.
Thank you to #NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read #TheSurvivers

I have read several books by this author and have enjoyed them all. This was no exception and I found I couldn't stop reading on because I needed to know how things would end. It does cover quite a grim period but I felt like there was always little glimmers of hope throughout which helped it to be an easier read.

Mother and daughter who have survived traumatic wartime experiences end up in a camp for displaced persons at the end of the second world war.
This book was not as good as I had hoped it would be - the characters were not compelling enough to make you really care about their fate.
An almost-but-not-quite good book.

I have enjoyed all of Kate’s books and this one is no exception. I would happily recommend to friends.

This is a really good read. It is heartbreaking and difficult to read in places. How far would you go to protect your daughter? What would you be willing to do to make sure she survives? Klara is a fiercely protective mother. I had not heard of these camps set up after the war. This book is interesting and informative and obviously well researched. I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

The Survivors is a harrowing tale of displaced Europeans in a displacement camp after WW2. I must admit I didn’t even know there were displacement camps after the war, so the theme that technically the internees were free to leave, but that they had nowhere to go to was interesting.

This book kept me on the edge, Klara and her daughter Alicja are both feisty survivors, with Klara particularly being determined not to let the past catch up with her.

I was hooked, and I must admit a bit saddened by the ending. A very different perspective on the WW2 theme and definitely recommend.

An extremely sad but uplifting book set Just after World War Two in a displacement camp. A story of survival despite the most harrowing of conditions make for an exciting and compelling read. I love the descriptive writing from this author, a huge 5*, thoroughly recommended.

How far would you go to save your child? What would you sacrifice to get reunited with a child who has been snatched from you just because of your race and belief in your country? This is a powerful novel depicting a very strong woman. Not always likeable, not always shown as kind but with a determination and loyalty to be admired. I found this both difficult to keep reading but also hard to put down. It took me longer than average to read but it is a story which will stay with me for years to come.

A heart wrenching read and another triumph for Kate Furnival.

Set in WW2

When Klara and her daughter arrived at a displaced persons camp they had been walking for many weeks. Then terrifyingly Klara sees a man from her past. He and she have information on each other and she knows he must die in order for she and her young child to survive.

Frightening and tense this is a wonderful read. I am still thinking about it and the characters are quite haunting.

If you love mystery, history, tension and surprises I encourage you to buy this fabulous book. Everything I have read by Kate Furnival has been brilliant. I have one left to read and then I await the next. She’s a captivating, skilled writer.

What another amazing historical fiction piece of writing Kate Furnivall has brought us with The Survivors. I found it very refreshing that rather than another book based on the harrowing atrocities of World War II that I actually got an insight into the devastating aftermath that war for all sides can bring.

The characters Klara and Alicja are brought alive in an initial chase scene through the forest, trying to escape not from soldiers but from fellow refugees desperate to survive. I felt their desperation and urgency as the vivid setting and description whipped the forest ferns past my face and I felt twigs metaphorically catch my hair. You learn a lot about the characters through their reselling of events during the war and now as displaced persons in an interment camp desperate to get to relatives in England.

I loved the plot twists which unfurl towards the end of the book and thought it really drove home the adage 'keep your friends close, but your enemies closer'

A compelling read which I will be recommending to both of my book clubs.

I was kindly provided with a copy of this book by Netgalley and Simon & Schuster in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I have previously read work by Kate Furnivall and know that her attention to detail with historical fiction is exemplary and this story was no exception. It centres around Klara (who is half English half Polish) and her ten year old daughter Alicja who are both in a Displaced Persons Camp, awaiting family in England to come forward so that they can move to England, following their escape from their hometown of Warsaw. A person from Klara's past moves into the camp, and Klara considers that she will have to kill him in order to protect her daughter. I was unaware of Displaced Persons Camps which were established at the end of World War II to assist refugees fleeing from their homelands, and this story gave an insight into a tough existence for the people inside the camps. There was a tremendous strength of character in both Klara and fierce little Alicja, which leaves the reader willing them on from the beginning.

The book kept me on edge from start to finish, and I had to keep reading to find out what happened next. If you love historical fiction, set during WWII or just afterwards, this book will be perfect for you. I highly recommmend it.

This is my first time reading a book by this author and I will certainly be looking out for more.
The book has everything I love about historical fiction as I'm always fascinated to learn about WW2 from different perspectives.

I love WW2 stories and this, though mostly post war gave me an insight into something I did not have much knowledge about - the Displaced Persons Camps. Kara and her daughter have endured the horrors of war. Brutally separated for 3 years they are together now. I loved their characters - strong, resilient and brave even little Alisja only 10 years old. You feel the horror of their past, the depressing situation of their current placement and then someone from Kara's past appears. There are some wonderful characters - the brave, the brutal, the friends and the other campmates. A gripping and emotional historical fiction tale.

This is the first Kate Furnivall book that I have read and I will definitely be looking out for more of her books after reading this one.

This book really pulled on my heart strings, it was superbly written and the characters are so well developed. Furnivall writes in great detail which immediately transports you to within the book

This is a story set just after the end of World War 2 although there are als some flashbacks to wartime Poland. It examines what a mother will do to protect her child as well as looking at the chaos that reigned at this difficult time.
Klara and her daughter Alicja are in a Displaced Person camp in Germany having escaped from Warsaw as soon as the war finished, trying to avoid the Soviet occupation which followed.
They are awaiting notification from Klara’s English Grandmother’s so that they can settle England but this is slow in coming. Klara’s pilot husband has died in the war and it becomes apparent that Klara was in the resistance and after being caught by the Nazis has had to live on her wits to keep her and Alicja safe.
When one day she spies a man from her past in the DP camp her worst nightmare comes back to haunt her as he knows exactly what she did to survive. She has to use all her keen intelligence to protect herself before he comes for her and her daughter.
There is a lot of mystery about Klara’s past and this heightens the tension as the reader gradually works out Klara’s secret.
Kate Furnivall certainly knows how to tell a gripping story and has researched this period extensively so that the camp setting is well described and evocative of the era.
Klara’s actions are those of someone who is desperate but she shows her grit and strength; this is a powerful story of a mother protecting her child in dire circumstances.
Kate Furnivall has the knack of describing women who need a hard core of inner strength to survive.
A great read. Highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

Having read most of Kate's books this one doesn't disappoint.A hard subject to read about but Kate does it so well.I look forward to Kate's next book now.thanks.