4.5 "far surpassed my expectations" stars !!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Lume books. The original release was in 2012 and re-released by this publishing house in March 2020.

What I had hoped for ..... a quietly thrilling espionage narrative behind the German Iron Curtain with some hopes for some insights into the daily living of East Germans

What I got.... a beautifully intricate and subtle story of young man's search for his father's story after the loss of his job, the death of his intensely private mother and the loss of meaning after West Germany begins to rebuild the East after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

This is a historical love story of very high quality. I was so moved throughout this story that my tears fell hotly and fiercely as I read how this young man was created by the most selfless of loves and sacrifice between an Irish German man thrown into spy work and an aspiring female violinist who raised him with care and love as a remembrance of her knight whom she could only love for a few stolen days.

One of the most exquisitely beautifully told love stories that I have had the privilege to read.

I hope my little review compels some of you to consider this most beautifully observant and emotionally moving reads that has not gotten the recognition that it deserves.

An interesting take on an era - immediate post-reunification Germany - that has not been explored enough in fiction. But having read this one, I'm hungry for more. I can't say I was 100% moved by, or captured by, the story itself. But the detail, both in the way things looked and the way people felt, was fascinating, and the tale does at least have sufficient momentum to take you to the end.

The Berlin Crossing is about a man called Michael Ritter. It follows him as he tries to discover the truth about his father as his life unravels all at once and sends him in to this quest. After losing his job, his wife and his will to continue, he throws himself into discovering the truth about his dad. His terminally ill mother sends him to a priest because he has info about Michael's dad and so begins the journey for Michael. During this journey, Michael suffers a great deal but ultimately gets what he's looking for; answers and a little hope.

This book was gifted to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion. All opinions are mine and mine alone.

Interesting take on what it must have been like in Berlin as an English Spy. This period of history is an area of interest for me, having accompanied students on trips to Berlin with the school I work in, so being able to put the history to the place was interesting.

I really enjoyed the book and liked the path the author took in telling his story. I spent some time in Berlin before and after the wall came down and could really see the contrast between the two sides especially before the fall of 5he wall. Later I could see how much more lively and happy the east seemed after. We stayed very near the wall on our first trip and. felt very uneasy as we could see the guards in the towers with our telephoto lens. I could appreciate the exchange of marks at Friedrickstrasse and visited Checkpoint Charlie. Geographically and culturally this book resonated with me.
I thought the characters in the story seemed especially real and I enjoy stories about spies and intrigue. I would recommend this book to mature students who are interested in the aftermath of WW2 and changes that occur after governments change.

Although I haven't finished this book (yet!) I'm reviewing it, and giving it the rating that I have, because there are SO MANY proofreading errors like multiple words bunched up together without spaces in between, and things like that, I mean, I get that this is a "galley" copy, an uncorrected proof version of the book. But the amount of proofreading issues and other problems has made it virtually UNREADABLE!

In all honesty, even before I started reading this book, I was hoping (and really wanted) to give it a good rating. Especially since the plot description sounds very interesting and I'm eager to know what happens.

But this book is in such dire need of proofreading/editing that I am struggling to get through it.

That being said, I did like the content (of what I could get through, at least) enough that I'll most likely get it when it is available in a completed version, and hopefully that will be easier to read, and in that case, I will come back and update my review.

The Berlin Crossing is a glimpse into the life of a man born during the Cold War. Set in the early 1990s, Michael has accepted his new fate of being from the "wrong side of the wall" as Berlin works to reunify itself. Throughout his life, Michael has always known that there are some things about his life that have just always been, like living in the GDR or growing up fatherless. However, on her deathbed, Michael's mother starts telling him things that create questions that he never realized were always buried inside of him. As he tries to solve the puzzle of clues his mother gives him, Michael finds answers, ends up with more questions, and ultimately figures out who he is as a German citizen in this new time of open and reunified Berlin.
Brophy has created a wonderfully written story exposing a time in history that is still not talked about much in literature. You can feel the anxiety and emotion coming from his characters as you read each chapter. I found myself having difficulty walking away from the book as I became wrapped up in the story from the very beginning and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next.

Brilliant book to read. It’s a very interesting topic to me. The book was very well written. It was a pleasure to read. I learned a lot as well. Can see this book being a huge hit

The Berlin Crossing by Kevin Brophy offers an exceptional historical-fiction reading material. The integrated story aligned with the social-political environment after the fall of the Berlin Wall offers an interesting but also emotionally insightful story. The storyline provides an in-depth understanding of the close to home struggles individuals experienced during the time. The book allows for an integrated analysis of the typical secrets developed during a challenging time, and also the mistrust because of the political agendas followed before the destruction of the Berlin Wall. I recommend this book to any person who comprises an interest in historical fiction but also wants to learn from the past. The book offers a well-defined writing style and makes it easy for the reader to understand the different plots. It also explains the background of East Germany well and the events surrounding the complexity of people's behaviour towards each other. I suggest this book as a must-read to history lovers.

A good read about an English spy in East Berlin. Very well written. Reflects accurately what it must have been like to live in the GDR in the 1960s and after the fall of Berlin Wall. As to the plot, the scene in London seems to be a bit unrealistic. I must admit though that my knowledge about how a spy is trained is definitely inexistent! I have enjoyed this book otherwise and would recommend it. Christine