“…a novel that reminds the world to remember Anne Frank is most welcome.” —Patty Rhule,USA TODAY
“Not only a poignant reminder of all that was lost during the war, but a vivid, searching exploration of what it meant to exist in the aftermath.” —Jessica Shattuck, New York Times bestselling author of The Women in the Castle
“In this haunting what-if, David Gillham asks us to reflect on the quandary of how one learns—in the unimaginable wake of the Holocaust—to live again, shedding a powerful, human light on the tragedy of lost potential.” —Georgia Hunter, New York Times bestselling author of We Were the Lucky Ones
“In Annelies, David Gillham not only explores what might have happened if Anne Frank had survived, but also draws an intimate portrait of life as a Jewish survivor in post-war Amsterdam. By turns a coming-of-age novel and a story of survival, redemption, and family—Annelies is a meticulously researched, emotionally resonant what-if.” —Jillian Cantor, author of Margot and The Lost Letter
“I had to slow down reading Annelies to better absorb the beauty and power of David Gillham’s words. His depth of understanding of human resilience and our capacity to survive and find the light after unimaginable darkness is a gift. A stunning evocation of the human spirit and its ability to inspire across borders, languages, and decades.” —Kathleen Grissom, New York Times-bestselling author of The Kitchen House and Glory Over Everything
“…Philip Kerr and Alan Furst have outdone their literary counterparts. Now, with his first novel, City of Women, David R. Gillham joins their rank.” — Charles Finch, USA Today
“Gillham’s writing is often stunning…The characters are complex…They are heroes and anti-heroes in turn. Their flaws make this story — ultimately one of supreme courage — deeply felt and mercilessly real.” — Donna Marchetti, The Plain Dealer, Cleveland
“Stories about war often focus on battles. What’s so fascinating about this month’s Book Buyer’s Pick, David R. Gillham’s debut novel City of Women , is that he focuses on the people left behind… Gillham does an unforgettable job of taking readers to 1943 Berlin .” — Matthew Robb, Costco Connection
“Do we really need another World War II novel? This jaded reader sure did, because David Gillham’s City of Women is great…The writing is a great mix of the literary and commercial, page-turning and suspenseful, with a morally complex, intelligent heroine at its center. If you’re a fan of well-written historical novels in the vein of Ann Patchett’s Bel Canto, this one is for you.” —Claire Lundberg, The Slate Book Review
“Gillham’s Berlin is a terrified city, where nobody dare speak the truth and the smallest decision can cost you your life. A terrifically tense first novel.” —The Times of London
“…this engrossing novel deftly describes the claustrophobic feeling of what it must have been like to live through World War II in Berlin, under a dense cloud of suspicion and uncertainty. Part steamy wartime romance, part historical fiction and part moral exploration, the tale revolves around the life of Sigrid Schroder, a German woman living a “normal” life in 1943…For if it is indeed true that all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing, then David Gillham’s heroine is not just a good woman but one who does her best to bring evil to its knees.” —Yasmin Kaye, Haaretz
“Gillham’s debut novel is a meticulously researched and beautifully told love story—and a remarkable look at life in Germany during World War II.” —Minneapolis Star-Tribune
“Gillham, who deftly blends history and fiction in this story, gives the women of Berlin a strong voice.” — Bookreporter.com
“…World War II Germany may be familiar ground, but Gillham’s novel—vividly cinematic yet subtle and full of moral ambiguity, not to mention rivetting characters—is as impossible to put down as it is to forget.”
”…The complex relationships that develop among women, men, family, and lovers are at the core of what drives this debut novel, which captures both heart and mind from the start and does not let go until the riveting end….This is an exemplary model of historical fiction generously laced with romance, suspense, and exciting plot twists…” —Library Journal, Star Review
In this stunning debut about the battle between good and evil, Gillham puts a fresh spin on the horrors of WWII … powerfully drawn characters, and the multilayered dilemmas make his first literary effort a powerful revelation.” — Publishers Weekly, Star Review
“David Gillham’s excellent new novel, City of Women, is built on one of the most extraordinary and faithful recreations of a time in history—Berlin in World War II—that I’ve ever read.” —Alan Furst
“In this moving and masterful debut, David Gillham brings war-torn Berlin to life and reveals the extraordinary mettle of women tested to their limits and beyond. Powerful and piercingly real. You won’t soon forget these characters.” —Paula McLain, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Wife
“Haunting and sensual, City of Women is a story of sisterhood and survival, of the unfathomable choices made and consequences suffered by those pushed to the brink. David Gillham has depicted a little-known aspect of the war with humanity and grace.” —Pam Jenoff, international bestselling author of The Things We Cherished
“If you enjoy beautiful story telling, gripping suspense, and a distractingly romantic plot, this is the book for you! An exciting, page turning read!” —Kathleen Grissom, New York Times bestselling author of The Kitchen House
“City of Women is a big, brilliant, passionate book, a masterful evocation of Hitler’s Berlin in all its claustrophobia, duplicity, and fear. This is a thriller of searing intensity. . . . I found it utterly compelling.” —Margaret Leroy, New York Times bestselling author of The Soldier’s Wife
WHAT BOOKSELLERS SAY:
“Every once in a while, if you’re fortunate as a reader, a book will reach out and grab a hold of your mind, your thoughts, and that book will simply not let go, even after you’ve finished reading it. City of Women by David R Gillham is such a book.” —Nancy Simpson-Brice Book Vault, Oskaloosa, IA
“…A sensual, suspenseful read filled with extraordinary characters and exceptional moments of resilience, humanity, and grace.” —Anderson McKean, Page & Palette, Fairhope, AL
“Gillham is a most gifted writer with a keen insight into the minds of both men and women…This book is a keeper.” —Catharine Howard, Barnes and Noble, Charlotte, NC
“This powerful novel …A heart and soul story that totally mesmerized me.” —Carol Hicks, Bookshelf, Truckee, CA
“…Romantic and intensely suspenseful, City of Women is a compelling story of the choices we face in our darkest hours….the story and the very real Sigrid will haunt me for some time. This is storytelling at its finest.” —Lanora Haradon, Next Chapter Bookshop, Mequon, WI
“A literary page-turner, an illuminating historical novel, and a fabulous story of women during wartime. I can’t wait to recommend this book.” —Leslie Reiner, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL
“City of Women has it all—intrigue, war, romance, family, friendships, and betrayal. Incredibly gripping, it’s the very best kind of book to lose yourself in.” —Mary Gay Shipley, That Bookstore In Blytheville, Blytheville, AR
“To say that I loved this book would be a gross understatement! This is the best Nazi-era fiction I have read in a very long time.” —Barbara Kelly, University of Southern Maine Bookstore
“City of Women is fascinating…Intrigue, betrayal, and moral dilemmas… Riveting!” —Leigh Barnes, The Book Bin, Onley, VA
