Reviewer: Amy Lignor
Title: Trudy's Promise
Author: Marcia Preston
Publisher: MIRA
ISBN-13: 978-0-7783-2533-8
Release Date: March 2008
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Fiction
Year/Setting: East Berlin, 1960’s
Overall Rating: 4.5
Sexual Content Rating: None
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: None/Mild
Violent Content Rating: Minimal (In context with time period)
Marcia's Website:
www.marciapreston.com
Trudy Hulst has no idea if her husband survived his escape over the Berlin wall. Her husband, Rolf, had become a defector after aiding so many in their midnight trips to freedom. Leaving his wife and child behind, Trudy must now face the wrath of a Germany that wants to make her pay for her husband’s actions. In order to save her son, she must flee over the wall herself or face a life in prison.
I want to interject here that there are scenes in this book that kept me on the edge of my chair. When Trudy goes to a churchyard for her escape (I won’t give away any details), the writer is so blessed with the knowledge and understanding of her characters and their time period, that I feel like I am beside Trudy all the way. I mean that sincerely. I can feel the tunnel closing in on me; the desperation of a mother leaving her son behind – everything.
Trudy makes it to West Berlin and is caught up in a world where she is now free – but at what cost. There is nothing for her without her beloved son. The twist that hits this story was completely a surprise to me as Trudy ends up on an adventure into America - being used by the same political machines that she’d run away from.
Then there is Wolfgang. He, Trudy and her husband, Rolf, were all friends in their college days. But Wolfgang had been lucky. As a child, his father had moved him to Sweden so he was away from the monstrous time of WWII; whereas, Rolf was thrown headfirst into the tumult, learning to rebel against any government that wanted to keep people down. This is the ‘blue vs. gray’ at its finest. Brother against brother, friend against friend.
There are so many points in this book I can’t even name them all. You will be horrified by the treatment of Germany’s people. Your heart will be lifted by the struggle and choices a mother has to make. You will cheer for the bad guys who turn good. And you will come away with an intense sadness over the fact that politics never change. We still believe that to save the many – sacrificing the few is necessary. I, for one, hope this author sits down and writes A LOT more. I look forward to it.
Amy
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