My Father's House: AS SEEN ON BBC BETWEEN THE COVERS (Rome Escape Line Book 1)

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I need to read some non-fiction of this aspect of the war – there is a lot to learn and try and understand. And as it’s Reading Ireland month hosted by Cathy at 746books, it seemed as good as time as any to get stuck in. The novel provides wonderful background on each character and follows each of them through the action. It harbours diplomats, as well as priests, several of whom dedicate themselves to helping Jews and escaped allied prisoners get out of Rome.

Based on a true story, and several real characters, My Father’s House opens in September 1943 with wartime Rome as its memorable backdrop.

There's a thrilling true story behind this novel about how a Catholic priest stationed at the Vatican assembles a motley crew to usher prisoners out of Nazi-occupied Italy via the Escape Line. This author uses a highly effective way of developing the main characters (largely, choir members) by inserting a few pages on each, spaced throughout the novel. The city is occupied by German forces and the Gestapo commander, Paul Hauptmann, rules with an iron fist.

All the characters are well fleshed out and the author skillfully brings all the threads of the story together weaving a cohesive, intense and suspenseful narrative that is hard to put down. But Hauptmann's net begins closing in and the need for a terrifyingly audacious mission grows critical. Hauptmann already has utter contempt for the Irish priest after he was appointed to serve as an official Vatican visitor to the Italian concentration camp for British prisoners of war. An absolute gut punch of a book that throbs with all the rage of a middle-aged woman who refuses to go quietly' RED 'Readers will relish the letting loose of one woman's long-suppressed righteous rage . It has come to their notice that Christmas Eve may represent a huge opportunity to move the so many hidden within the many rooms of the Vatican City.

However, he is soon prevented from carrying out his duties by a Vatican fearful of the Nazis threat of occupying their city, although for Hugh, neutrality is an extremist stance, without which no tyranny can flourish. Never has the incredible story of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty been fictionalised in such a vividly immersive experience. That book utilised a number of structural techniques including diary entries, letters and transcripts of conversations as well as more traditional third person narration, and the same is true of this latest novel.

Irish priest, Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, aka Ugo and Hughdini, is tasked with visiting the horrors of the Italian POW camps, an appointment the Nazis thought would not raise the terrifying conditions as the Irish were known to despise the English.

I read a lot of historical fiction, especially about the Holocaust and WWII, and this is one of the really good ones. The countdown to the Rendimento adds further suspense and tension, and I like the way the author almost draws this out (in a good way) as you’re almost holding your breath and when it comes you are willing them on, but so afraid for them. At times, I feel as if I’m just behind Hugh as his feet tread the streets or alleys in fear of discovery. I have come to see neutrality is the most extremist stance of all; without it, no tyranny can flourish. As a note, Pope Pius XII seemed to know of O'Flaherty's activities and knew what he did could endanger the Vatican, but allowed him to continue.

Many of these obscene war criminals were – filing down the teeth of prisoners to pulp being interrogated during the day and tucking their kids in bed at night. It alternated between the days in 1943 that led up to the Rendimento and then in 1963 when several members of The Choir were interviewed. He was on to the Monsignor and had compiled a dossier on him but so far had not been able to charge him with anything. Amazing Grace Adams tells the story of a life, a marriage, a family, set against a single north-London day.He is the author of the novels Cowboys and Indians (short-listed for the Whitbread Prize), Desperadoes, The Salesman, Inishowen, Star of the Sea and Redemption Falls, as well as a number of bestselling works of non-fiction. The story is set in Nazi-occupied Rome during December 1943 and unfolds as a countdown towards 'a mission'.