Book Review: The Vienna Writers Circle by J.C. Maetis

“A gripping and powerful tale of resilience and courage set in Vienna on the brink of WWII, as two members of Freud’s Circle try to keep themselves and their loved ones safe as the SS closes in.”

Goodreads blurb for The Vienna Writers Circle

Review:

When I picked up this book, I had been expecting something more cerebral. Instead, it has more of a thriller tone. However, I didn’t find this all too thrilling, personally. 

The story follows two cousins and writers, Mathias and Johannes, in annexed Austria. As part of ‘Freud’s Circle’, they are targeted by Hitler and are left with having to choose to live under assumed names. But will those closest to them remain loyal? 

I realize that I have an abnormal amount of World War II facts stored in my brain, but I think average readers would also find the situations and outcomes unlikely. Though the relationship between Mathias and Johannes is written well, everything around it falls short with feelings of inauthenticity and a sense of romanticization. By the end, the situations felt watered down.

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• Good characters.

What I didn’t like:

• In a way, softened the brutality of this war.
• Difficult to follow.

Afterthoughts:

Maybe if I had known this was going for more of a mystery/thriller tone going into it, I would have enjoyed it a little more, but when I bought the book a couple of years ago, I based my assumptions solely on the title, so that’s on me.

Where to buy the book: