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The Crooked Cross

by Michael Dean

     

Michael Dean gives us a very entertaining novel about Adolph Hitler that takes place in 1933, just prior to World War II, at a time when Hitler and the Nazi party are gaining power over Germany. Dean has done a huge amount of research for this novel about an insane man who was a murderer, and against all odds, became the Furher of Germany and the supreme leader of the Nazis.  Here, he has declared the German Expressionist painters degenerate and is working to eliminate them. Gerhard Glaser, the man who hopes to render Hitler powerless, is an art lover, and lawyer. He is also the Public Prosecutor who tried to get Hitler convicted of killing his niece, Geli Raubal.

Hitler, who was himself an artist, had done a number of drawings of Geli. Now, the Jewish art dealer who had possession of them has been murdered and the drawings stolen.  Glaser is sure that Hitler is behind that murder too, and is determined to bring him to justice. Meanwhile, in a riveting parallel plot, other characters want to assassinate Hitler, and work toward that end, eventually involving Glaser.

This is an absorbing historical novel based on facts.  I read this book with dread and apprehension, since I knew how Hitler fared, but didn't know what had happened to Glaser, and the ultimate fate of his efforts to denigrate Adolph Hitler. Dean's characters are compelling and sympathetic and the multi-level plot is tense. He presents this story with great skill and emotion and showcases the great courage of Gerhard Glaser.

The Book

Quaestor2000 Ltd
May 29, 2009
Trade Paperback
1906836132 / 978-1906836139
Historical fiction
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Excerpt
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The Reviewer

Beverly J. Rowe
Reviewed 2009
NOTE: Reviewer Beverly J. Rowe is Myshelf.com's "Babes to Teens" columnist, covering topics related to reading ideas for the youth in the family.
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