The Silence In Between by Josie Ferguson

Imagine waking up and a wall has divided your city in two. Imagine that on the other side is your child...

Lisette is in hospital with her baby boy. The doctors tell her to go home and get some rest, that he’ll be fine.

When she awakes, everything has changed. Because overnight, on 13 August 1961, the border between East and West Berlin has closed, slicing the city - and the world - in two.

Lisette is trapped in the east, while her newborn baby is unreachable in the west. With the streets in chaos and armed guards ordered to shoot anyone who tries to cross, her situation is desperate.

Lisette's teenage daughter, Elly, has always struggled to understand the distance between herself and her mother. Both have lived for music, but while Elly hears notes surrounding every person she meets, for her mother - once a talented pianist - the music has gone silent.

Perhaps Elly can do something to bridge the gap between them. What begins as the flicker of an idea turns into a daring plan to escape East Berlin, find her baby brother, and bring him home....

Based on true stories, The Silence in Between is a page-turning, emotional epic that will stay with you long after you finish reading.

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I was very young when the Berlin Wall fell, too young to really understand what was happening and what it meant; I learned about it as history, something that happened in the past. Too long ago to really affect anything. This book brings it stunningly, vividly to life.

Be aware, as I wasn't, this book jumps timelines; the first part is divided between the days immediately after the Wall went up, and Berlin immediately before and during the Second World War. The Second section is set completely after the Wall and there's an brief epilogue. I've never been a fan of time jumping books, I find it very hard to keep the timelines straight, but I know that's my issue and most readers don't have a problem with it.

The sheer horror and brutality of both the War and the Wall are shown clearly here, as well as the moments of brightness and happiness that can happen even in the worst situations. The bravery of ordinary people was amazing.

This novel will definitely rip your heart out. It's a fascinating read about a momentous time period that will - hopefully - never be repeated.

The Silence In Between publishes on the 20th of June, 2024. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.