In Berlin in 1944, Lili Rodenberg and her husband Marius run the Edel, Berlin’s most glamorous hotel. For its wealthy guests, it is an escape from the destruction outside, with its elegant piano bar and fine amber brandy.
But Lili is Jewish, a secret she is terrified will end in tragedy for her and their beloved little girl.
Lili’s only choice is to hide in plain sight, her heart racing each time uniformed officers step through the Edel’s grand entrance.
As Berlin becomes a more frightening place, Lili pleads with her husband to help shelter those in danger but Marius is adamant: he will not risk the lives of his wife and daughter.
Until the day he is called to the front – and goes missing in action.
Left in sole charge of the Edel, a heartbroken Lily fixes her smile as she serves men who would have her killed in an instant if they knew the truth. She decides she must fight back, hiding Jews in the hotel’s wine cellar before moving them to safety. Though she is seized with terror, it gives her the strength to carry on.
But her courage catches the attention of the Resistance. What they ask of her is impossible.
Lili has protected her daughter by living a life full of secrets. Can she risk it all now and put her child in danger for the sake of her country?
The Secret Hotel in Berlin by Catherine Hokin is published on 12 July, 2024.
Have a look at Catherine’s new feature about the changing faces of Berlin.
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