The Pilot’s Girl
The Pilot’s Girl is the second book in the Hanni Winter series. While it can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading book one, The Commandant’s Daughter, first. In Berlin in 1948, Hanni is still working as a crime scene photographer for the police department but is also helping the U.S. government with some publicity shots. She continues to investigate an evil person from her past, trying to bring everything to light and make things as right as she can. In addition, she is fighting her growing feelings for detective Freddy Schlüssel because she knows he can never accept her history. When a series of seemingly unrelated murders occurs, Hanni and Freddy are sure they are connected and begin to investigate.
This novel transports us back to Berlin after World War II. The Nuremberg trials have taken place, but many Nazis have escaped, some remaining very close by. The politics of the era and the upheaval in Berlin are portrayed very skilfully. The murder mystery is unique in that the reader is introduced to the killer early on. Hanni’s struggles are very real for the time. She desperately wants to bring someone from her past to light but knows it may destroy her life as well. The weaving together of history, mystery, thriller, and love story is very well done. The character development is outstanding, especially when it comes to the villains. Full of intrigue, surprise, and a dose of romance, this mystery series will keep you enthralled.
