Author: Kate Furnivall
ISBN: 978-1-4711-7228-1
RRP: $32.99
Publication Date: 1 October 2018
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Copy: Courtesy of the Publisher
Kate Furnivall is an accomplished historical author penning tales of strong heroines overcoming hardships we couldn’t begin to imagine. I have only read one of her backlist, The Liberation, which shares a similar cover image and time period.
The Survivors is another story told in the aftermath of WWII, this one set in Germany. Klara and her daughter Alicja have been trudging for weeks towards the Graufield Displaced Persons camp. Finally they have a semblance of safety, along with 3,200 others in cramped, dirty and dangerous conditions. They have survived the war and will do all in their power to make it back to their homes.
There are many displaced in the camp and when Klara recognises a man from her past it kicks off a deadly game of cat and mouse.
He knows the lengths she is capable of to keep her daughter safe and she knows who he really is. (This is something that does have a familiar ring to it but I can not place where it was from. Having said that I’m sure it is quite a common scenario in the wake of WWII, or any war really.)
I can see this being a tense and captivating race to see who can make it out alive and what the cost of silence will be. We have 30 of our members reading The Survivors and I look forward to hearing their thoughts, almost as much as I look forward to sinking my own teeth in.
Kate Furnivall can be followed on Facebook and Twitter.
The Survivors is published by Simon & Schuster and is available now from Angus & Robertson, Booktopia and where all good books are sold.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster 30 of our Beauty and Lace club members will be reading The Survivors so please be aware there may be spoilers in the comments below.
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!
I found this novel to be a captivating read. It incorporated real life past history and fiction to create a novel which brings you into the story. This novel uses the story of a mother and child to make us believe what is written has actually happened. And as a matter as fact, while this story may not be real, many other stories not written, which actually happened, are quite similar.
I all round enjoyed this novel, and would not hesitate to read another novel by Kate Furnivall.
I found this novel to be a captivating read. It incorporated real life past history and fiction to create a novel which brings you into the story. This novel uses the story of a mother and child to make us believe what is written has actually happened. And as a matter as fact, while this story may not be real, many other stories not written, which actually happened, are quite similar.
I all round enjoyed this novel, and would not hesitate to read another novel by Furnivall.
I found this novel to be a captivating read.
It incorporated real life past history and fiction to create a novel which brings you into the story. This novel uses the story of a mother and child to make us believe what is written has actually happened. And as a matter as fact, while this story may not be real, many other stories not written, which actually happened, are quite similar.
This novel flowed quite well between POV of different characters, and I quite liked reading from the point of view of Alicjia. I felt remorse, sadness, anger, and happiness, all along with and for her.
I all round enjoyed this novel, and would not hesitate to read another novel by Furnivall.
Thank you to Beauty and Lace and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read and review The Survivors by Kate Furnivall.
This is the second book of Furnivall’s I have read and again it did not disappoint. Furnivall has the ability to mix history and fact with a beautifully woven story that immerses you in the characters and events of the day.
The Survivors is set just after the end of the second world war and follows a mother and daughter Klara Janowska, a Polish refugee, and her daughter Alicja as they make the dangerous journey to the German border and Graufeld Diplaced Persons camp.
Once in the camp Klara works to ensure the safety and survival of herself, her daughter and some of the orphaned children as she attempts to get the authorities to recognise her British ancestry so she can move to safety.
Then one day she sees another refugee at the camp who brings the horrors of her past crashing down upon her, for he is not who he seems. He is a high ranking Nazi who has previously tortured Klara and forced her to engage in actions in order to keep her abducted daughter alive. He is also the only person in the camp who knows that Klara was a member of the Resistance and therefore a wanted person by the Soviets.
Each knowing the true identity of the other, and what it would mean if the authorities found out means the stakes have been raised, Klara needs to protect her daughter and ensure safe passage to England while knowing the only reason he is in the camp is to kill her.
And so begins a deadly game of cat and mouse, with twists and turns and surprises at every corner, for as the story progresses we discover that all are not who they appear to be and we begin to wonder who or what should we be believing.
Furnivall develops her characters magnificently, accurately recreating the experiences of the time and the horrors both during and after the war, as well as the hopelessness experienced by those who were displaced from their homes and lives.
Highly recommended as a great read, but also a fabulous insight into the history of what happens after a war ends and people have to try to rebuild their lives. I give it 5 stars.
I really enjoyed this book. It was very confronting and harsh. Klara comes across as a very strong character.. I couldn’t put this book down. Thank you for the opportunity.
This book was a dark and gritty novel about life for “displaced people” after the WW2. I really enjoyed the story telling and character development of the mother and daughter main characters. This is the first novel I have read by Furnivall, and I enjoyed her writing style and will definitely look out for her books in the future.
This is the first Kate Furnivall book I have read and I really enjoyed it! Love the different POV of the different characters. I had a hard time putting this book down once I started it. Definitely recommend reading it.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this.
A fantastic novel by Kate Frnivall a gripping story from beginning to end.
Set at the end of the Second World War the story of Klara and her daughter Alicja the characters are strong women as they try to find a safe place after fleeing Poland.
Loved this book and the insight into life post war.
Thank you to beauty and lace for the optunity to read this novel.
I really enjoyed the book The Survivors even with the awfulness what war can do to people and what they must do to survive in war and even who they should trust. The story of Klara and her daughter Alicja really gave you an incite what people went through and the horrors. I loved it also Klara took under her wing the orphaned children to care for and have there backs. It was a story of war with love thrown in and danger and survival. I definitely recommend this book a absolutely great read.
Thank you so much to Beauty & Lace and Simon & Schuster Publishers for a great book. .
As a massive Kate Furnivall fan, I was so excited to be chosen to review The Survivors. And in true Kate fashion she doesn’t disappoint.
This was a great twist on the standard WWII tales and kept me guessing as to how it was all going to play out and which characters were really good or bad,
I recommend The Survivors and all of Kate’s books to anyone who loves brilliantly written historical fiction.
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.