We have updated our Privacy Policy Please take a moment to review it. By continuing to use this site, you agree to the terms of our updated Privacy Policy.
‘A poignant love story’ THE i
Two families divided by war.
An entire city on the edge of disaster.
‘I was blown away not just by the gripping story, which had my heart thumping at times, but the sheer eloquence of writing. It is a story of the strength of the human spirit, and of love which will not be defeated. I know I will be recommending it to everyone’ LESLEY PEARSE
1948, Berlin. World War II has ended and there is supposed to be peace; but Russian troops have closed all access to the city. Roads, railway lines and waterways are blocked and two million people are trapped, relying on airlifts of food, water and medicine to survive. The sharp eyes of the Russian state police watch everything; no one can be trusted.
Anna and Ingrid are both searching for answers – and revenge – in the messy aftermath of war. They understand that survival comes only by knowing what to trade: food; medicine; heirlooms; secrets. Both are living in the shadows of a city where the line between right and wrong has become dangerously blurred.
But they cannot give up in the search for a lost child . . .
‘An absolute triumph’ DINAH JEFFERIES
‘Vivid, brave and suspenseful’ RACHEL HORE
‘I defy anyone not to read beyond the first killer sentence’ JANE CORRY
‘A harrowing and compelling portrait of Berlin in the aftermath of World War Two, told through the interconnecting stories of two courageous women struggling to survive in the rubble of their war-torn city’ FIONA VALPY
*** READERS LOVE THIS NOVEL! ***
‘The plot is exciting and fast paced. Thought-provoking and multi-layered as well as thoroughly entertaining. A perfect read’
‘Furnivall masterfully captures the history of a divided Berlin in the aftermath of WW2′
‘This novel draws you in with its incredibly well-researched historical fiction and tenacious female leads’
‘A sweeping historical drama that’s powerful and tense, full of espionage, making you feel like you’re living in post-war Berlin… Beautifully written’
‘This was such an emotive and immersive read that certainly stayed with me long after finishing the pages … I literally couldn’t put this book down. A brilliant story’
‘Such an emotional, powerful, well-written, totally gripping book. I was blown away’
Two families divided by war.
An entire city on the edge of disaster.
‘I was blown away not just by the gripping story, which had my heart thumping at times, but the sheer eloquence of writing. It is a story of the strength of the human spirit, and of love which will not be defeated. I know I will be recommending it to everyone’ LESLEY PEARSE
1948, Berlin. World War II has ended and there is supposed to be peace; but Russian troops have closed all access to the city. Roads, railway lines and waterways are blocked and two million people are trapped, relying on airlifts of food, water and medicine to survive. The sharp eyes of the Russian state police watch everything; no one can be trusted.
Anna and Ingrid are both searching for answers – and revenge – in the messy aftermath of war. They understand that survival comes only by knowing what to trade: food; medicine; heirlooms; secrets. Both are living in the shadows of a city where the line between right and wrong has become dangerously blurred.
But they cannot give up in the search for a lost child . . .
‘An absolute triumph’ DINAH JEFFERIES
‘Vivid, brave and suspenseful’ RACHEL HORE
‘I defy anyone not to read beyond the first killer sentence’ JANE CORRY
‘A harrowing and compelling portrait of Berlin in the aftermath of World War Two, told through the interconnecting stories of two courageous women struggling to survive in the rubble of their war-torn city’ FIONA VALPY
*** READERS LOVE THIS NOVEL! ***
‘The plot is exciting and fast paced. Thought-provoking and multi-layered as well as thoroughly entertaining. A perfect read’
‘Furnivall masterfully captures the history of a divided Berlin in the aftermath of WW2′
‘This novel draws you in with its incredibly well-researched historical fiction and tenacious female leads’
‘A sweeping historical drama that’s powerful and tense, full of espionage, making you feel like you’re living in post-war Berlin… Beautifully written’
‘This was such an emotive and immersive read that certainly stayed with me long after finishing the pages … I literally couldn’t put this book down. A brilliant story’
‘Such an emotional, powerful, well-written, totally gripping book. I was blown away’
Newsletter Signup
By clicking ‘Sign Up,’ I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Hachette Book Group’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Reviews
I was blown away not just by the gripping story, which had my heart thumping at times, but the sheer eloquence of writing. It is a story of the strength of the human spirit, and of love which will not be defeated. I know I will be recommending it to everyone
An impressively researched, powerfully emotional tale of two women surviving post-war Berlin . . . Child of the Ruins will have you gripped in suspense from the first line to the last
In Kate's inimitable style we are immediately drawn into this impeccably researched and terrifying period of history. Stunning from the very first line, this is a masterclass in historical fiction writing. An absolute triumph!
An absolutely stunning book from the Queen of Historical Fiction. Emotional, powerful, meticulously researched, sharp writing, just wonderful
There is only one word to describe Child of the Ruins and that is awesome. It is compelling and evocative, thrilling and yet hugely touching. Kate Furnivall has really steeped herself in the period and faced the horrors of those times. I congratulate her
An extraordinarily tense and gripping story set in a city brought to its knees in the aftermath of war, where life is cheap and crusts of bread are currency. The plotting is ingenious and the writing beautifully atmospheric
Unforgettable characters negotiate desperate times in this vivid, brave and suspenseful novel set in the chaos of war torn Berlin. The final twist made me gasp!
Gripping from the very first page, Child of the Ruins is a powerful and emotionally intense reminder that heartache and hardship linger long after a war ends. Highly recommend!
I have just finished reading Child of the Ruins and now I am bereft. Such an emotionally powerful and compelling story, told with skill and impeccable research. I was immersed from beginning to end
Each page and each word made me feel as though I was in Berlin at the end of the Second World War, alongside a mother searching for her son. Kate Furnivall has a gift for description, heartbreak and joy. I defy anyone not to read beyond the first killer sentence'
Atmospheric and compelling
A harrowing and compelling portrait of Berlin in the aftermath of World War Two, told through the interconnecting stories of two courageous women struggling to survive in the rubble of their war-torn city
A beautifully written and atmospheric portrayal of life in Berlin in the aftermath of WW2, with exquisitely-drawn characters and a storyline that is both powerful and heart-breaking. Kate has become one of my favourite writers and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next
Brilliantly written and incredibly moving. I was gripped from the first page