In 1945, the Mauthausen Concentration Camp in Austria was the scene of horrific atrocities. Mateo Baca, a young Spanish prisoner, is told to photograph images of the prison and create five albums to be presented to high-ranking Nazi generals. But Mateo creates a sixth book to smuggle out of the camp exposing what had taken place. Nico Antonov manages to hide the book of photographs in the home of Lena Lang, a courageous young woman who understands the dangers she and her family face by assisting prisoners. When the story shifts to 1987, Nico travels to Australia to visit his widowed daughter Roza and his 13-year-old granddaughter Hannah. He brings with him the book of photos from Mauthausen that he has kept hidden for decades. Before her mother hides the album, Hannah glimpses at the photos and is shocked by the haunting images. As Hannah gets older, she becomes determined to learn more about her grandfather Nico's connection to the concentration camp, which she had no knowledge of. Her mother does not want her daughter delving into the painful past.
Kirsty Manning's The Hidden Book was inspired by the true story of prisoners who risked their lives to preserve evidence of the atrocities committed at Mauthausen. I've enjoyed Manning's other books and appreciate her style of storytelling. The dual timeline was very effective in telling this poignant story of courage and resiliency, dealing with the trauma of war as well as the generational trauma it creates.
Rated 4.25 out of 5 stars.
Historical Fiction.
Publication Date: August 13, 2024.
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