I had never really thought about the lives of Berliners who overnight discovered a wall preventing them travelling from east to west - in fact was oblivious to the fact that the barrier appeared literally overnight. The idea that a mother could be on the East, their baby on the West side, and that there would be no way to return to collect the baby was a horrific one and a great idea for a story. That there were elements of fact woven into this piece of fiction was something that appealed to me. I liked hearing the 1960s viewpoint of teenage Elly - she seemed a real person, one to whom I could relate. Her mother Lisette, and her grandmother were harder to warm to, although as the story reached its end it became more understandable why they were such damaged characters. Again, I was unaware of the atrocities carried out by Russian soldiers upon German women when WW2 ended and whilst this aspect of the book was truly horrific, these are stories that feel like they need to be told. This is a book which I felt compelled to continue reading and which left with me a lot to think about

What an amazing historical fiction giving a point of view and side to the story that I’ve not seen before. I loved the two timelines of Lisette and Elly and thought they brought each of their points of view across well. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Imagine waking up to find your city divided by a wall overnight, and on the other side is your newborn baby.

This is Lisette’s nightmare when, on August 13, 1961, the Berlin Wall slices East from West Berlin. Trapped in East Berlin with the streets in chaos and armed guards preventing escape, Lisette’s situation becomes desperate as her baby boy lies ill in a West Berlin hospital.

Elly, Lisette's teenage daughter, has always felt distant from her mother. While Elly hears music in everyone she meets, Lisette, once a gifted pianist, has lost her musical touch. Determined to bridge the gap between them, Elly devises a daring plan to escape East Berlin, find her baby brother, and bring him home.

This dual-timeline novel weaves between 1961 and World War II, exploring Lisette's earlier years and her daughter Elly's efforts in 1961. The seamless transitions between eras provide a captivating, emotional journey through fear, uncertainty, and the harsh realities of historical events. With meticulous research and well-drawn characters, this book offers a moving portrayal of a family torn apart and the lengths they will go to reunite.

Really enjoyed this book. Wartime Germany and early 1960’s when the Berlin Wall was erected, finishing with the 1989 demolishing of the wall. Fascinating and very sad read, from a point of view I had not experienced before. A German family who did not agree with the war, but whose men had to fight. The ignorance or denial of the German citizens to what was happening to the Jews. The Russians arriving into East Berlin and the atrocities that happened then to the women and girls. Don’t want to give too much away. Well written and compelling reading.

Thanks to netgalley for the review copy.

This is a really impactful historical fiction that follows the perspectives of a mum and daughter each coming of age in time of turmoil one within Germany at the end of WW2 and the daughter within the separation of Berlin in the 60s. I thought the way it was done was very clever and poignant at times as it weaves the stories together.

What a beautiful story of love and loss. Swapping between Lisette and the war and Elly and the Wall. I was gripped to their tale, urging them on. You don't often hear of the German's side of WW2, the women left at home and what they had to deal with was heart breaking, and the men who were forced to fight on Hitler's side! A wonderfully written book full of awful truths. Had me in tears.

Absolutely loved this book! From page one I was hooked and couldn’t wait to pick the book back up. Can’t wait to read more by this author.
Such a beautiful story that will stick with me.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book, but it all seemed overly simplistic. It reads like a Young Adult book, but it isn't described as such. A good story though.

Absolutely love this book. A great take on what life was like during the Berlin Wall years. Emotional. Really put a different perspective on life during those times.

The Silence In Between is a beautifully written book set in Berlin during World War 2 and in the 1960's when the Berlin Wall was dividing the country. It was very interesting to read a book set in Germany during the war as the majority of historical fiction I have read previously have been set outside this region. This book does a excellent job of highlighting the consequences of war on civilians and in particular the story many women of war suffer through which is not always immediately recognised. I love a book that is based on true stories and once I was finished i found myself researching more about this time line and impact on those who lived through it. This book is clearly well researched and I thought the difficult content was managed excellently. Its an emotional historical fiction that I will be thinking about for long after finishing. Highly recommend!

3. 5 stars.
This was a wonderfully heartbreaking story and I enjoyed it so much. I adore historical fiction novels and Josie Ferguson write this so well. Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this novel in return for an honest review.

A tense historical novel set in East Berlin at two critical periods: the end of the Second World War and the building of the Berlin Wall. The book gives a great insight into these difficult times, especially for women. Highly recommended but not always easy reading.

For the first 100 pages of this book I wasn't sure. As a plot driven reader I couldn't see how the timelines would be relevant to one another... but as we found out how the two were related this book had my heart gripped! The history... the emotion... I felt for these characters on a personal level.

I can see why Josie Ferguson was nominated for the Waterstones debut fiction prize. This book was very well thought out, and beautifully written.

I'm not sure that this book is for everyone; but if you like historical fiction, and you're emotionally in a good place then I would highly recommend giving this a read.

‘Evil demanded little of me - it merely asked me to remain silent, to do nothing. And I complied.’

Lisette, under instruction and reassurance from her doctors goes home to rest, leaving her newborn baby boy in hospital care, but the next day, 13th August 1961, a wall is built slicing Germany in two and preventing her from returning to her son.

Told from two perspectives, in two time zones, we see the impact of trauma pass through generations. Elly, Lisette’s daughter, witnesses her mother’s pain as she is torn from her newborn baby, and we travel back in time with Lisette and see her suffering in the events that led to her daughter’s birth.

Told through first person, you become so invested in the characters you keep the pages turning. I absolutely adored the characters in this book. This book explores the power of bonds formed through love and in friendship, and does it so beautifully.

This is honestly such a stunning debut novel and one of the best historical fictions I’ve read in a while. Thank you so much netgalley for an advanced copy of this book, I loved it so much I bought the hardback. Highly highly recommended.

TW: mental and physical abuse including sexual assault and rape

Wow - what a book!
This is the third book I've read this year with a Cold War Berlin setting and it is by the far best, and most emotional.
I knew that families had been separated when the border (later the Wall) in Berlin went up over night but it never occurred to me that the system was so intransigent that children/babies in hospitals were separated from their parents nor that the state was so unfeeling that they wouldn't let a parent cross to be with the child.

I was more aware of the portion of the story set in 1945, but when retold in fiction it seems to be even more hard hitting than any history book or documentary.

While I also knew about the various escape route from East to West Berlin, and that people in the West tried to help those fleeing the East it had never occurred to me that there were some people who would want to go the other way.

This book packed a real emotional punch, and will stay with me for a long time. Certainly one for a reread in the future - and to be on my best of 2024 list in December.

This novel is based on a young girl from East Berlin, who’s family is torn apart by the closing of the wall.

The book moves between WWII and the divided Berlin. An emotionally charged book, focusing on the experiences of the German women left behind whilst their husbands, fathers and sons were taken for the war, the horrors they faced at the hand of the Russian soldiers. The story is told from the POV of Lisette, a teenager when the war starts; and Elly, who risks her life to collect her younger brother, who is caught up on the other side of the wall, and bring him home.

What brought this closer to home is that my grandmother, who left East Berlin when the Russians came after war, never got to see her brother again, as he remained in East Berlin.

Although I was aware that the Berlin Wall went up overnight, reading about the reality of this was still shocking: people being separated from friends and family and no longer allowed any access to the West. This was a really well researched and written book that I'll be recommending it to other people to read.

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. This is an excellent debut for Jodie Ferguson. She has carried out excellent research on the life of German women in Berlin during the 2nd World War and in 1961 when the wall was put up between East and West Berlin. I've not read any stories that have portrayed their personal difficulties. The characters Lisette and Elly are very well written and it is easy to feel sympathy towards them and anger towards others.
A recommended must read for everyone. This history shouldn't be forgotten.

I knew very little about the history of the Berlin Wall, especially not that it literally appeared over night. This book was brilliantly written and left me heartbroken for the characters. Thank you for the opportunity to read it in advance.

The Silence In Between is a great work of historical fiction. It's clearly well researched but the information is only used to build storylines and character development, compared to some novels that feel they have to shoe-horn in every fact they've ever read on the period. I also felt that the era chosen - the building of the Berlin Wall was really fascinating. It is hard to believe that such a thing was allowed to happen in such recent history.

The themes and era covered were incredibly similar to Circus of Mirrors by Julie Owen Moylan, and I enjoyed both. However, I would say that The Silence In Between is more harrowing and dark and I did feel it to be slightly too depressing in tone at times. But, having said that, it seems to be gaining great accolades so I'm sure that is very much to do with my taste.