True, as Hugo learns more about what exactly is going on at the camps, the story becomes so much more than just the investigation… But Braun’s murder is the red thread the plot is woven around. Because the main focus of this plot is most definitely on the murder of doctor Braun, and detective Hugo Fischer was called in from Berlin to investigate. Hugo made for a fascinating character and we get to see everything that happens at the camps through his eyes… The descriptions are realistic, harrowing and truly heartbreaking, but like they say when you visit the camps in present day: the past shouldn’t be forgotten.Īshes In The Snow isn’t your regular WWII fiction story though the setting might have been done before, but you don’t often see a detective thriller twist in one. I really liked what the parts told from his POV added to the plot, although the story does mainly follow detective Hugo Fischer. This doesn’t mean that Ashes In The Snow doesn’t have some Italian flavor though, mainly in the form of the young Jewish boy Gioele. I guess there is a personal reason for this, and it was interesting to read about her motivation for this story. The author might be Italian, but this story is set in Auschwitz, Poland.

And I was definitely more than impressed by this story! Ashes In The Snow ended up being a well-researched, thought-provoking and emotional read that will speak to fans of the genre. Stories set in Auschwitz have become even more impactful for me after a visit to the camps in 2018, and I had high hopes this translation of an Italian debut would be a winner for me. It’s no secret that I have a weak spot for WWII fiction, and I was immediately intrigued when I read the blurb of Ashes In The Snow. *** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. But it’s underneath that the murkiest things are concealed.” “A dead body is like the snow: sometimes, everything on the surface looks present and correct, perfect and clean.

(Originally written in Italian: ‘Il bambino che disegnava le ombre’) 2023 Netgalley And Edelweiss Reading Challenge.2017 Netgalley And Edelweiss Reading Challenge.

Snow like ashes