wgvlxv92hx7g7gfc1ti3av3xez7uSynopsis: “When the Nazis take Rome, thousands go into hiding. One priest will risk everything to save them. September 1943: German forces occupy Rome. SS officer Paul Hauptmann rules with terror. The war’s outcome is far from certain. An Irish priest, Hugh O’Flaherty, dedicates himself to helping those escaping from the Nazis. His home is Vatican City, the world’s smallest state, a neutral, independent country within Rome where the occupiers hold no sway. Here Hugh brings together an unlikely band of friends to hide the vulnerable under the noses of the enemy. But Hauptmann’s net begins closing in on the Escape Line and the need for a terrifyingly audacious mission grows critical. By Christmastime, it’s too late to turn back. Based on an extraordinary true story, My Father’s House is a powerful literary thriller from a master of historical fiction. Joseph O’Connor has created an unforgettable novel of love, faith and sacrifice, and what it means to be truly human in the most extreme circumstances. “

My Review

This was such a  gripping WW2 thriller set in Rome. It’s actually based on the true story of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, an Irish priest who was based in the Vatican.

The story is told from multiple points of view in 1943, and also later through interviews for a television programme in the 1960s, looking back at the events that took place.

I loved the way the story unfolded, the way it flitted backward and forward, making it a very tense read. I must admit that I Googled to find out more as I was reading, because I couldn’t stand the tension, and had to find out what had happened to the Monsignor. If you want to avoid spoilers don’t Google as there’s loads of information about him.

It’s the first book in a trilogy and I can’t wait to see what the other books will be about, as this felt like it had a conclusion, but who knows what the author has up his sleeve?

Highly recommended if you enjoy thrillers set in WW2.