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John Rossett #1
The Darkest Hour
In this crackling, highly imaginative thriller debut in the vein of W.E.B. Griffin and Philip Kerr, set in German-occupied London at the close of World War II, a hardened, dispirited British detective jeopardizes his own life to save someone else and achieve the impossible—some kind of redemption.
London, 1946. The Nazis have won the war and now occupy Great Britain, using brutality and fear to control its citizens. They even use it to control those who work for them. John Henry Rossett, a decorated British war hero and former police sergeant, is one of those unlucky souls. He’s a man accustomed to obeying commands, but he’s now assigned a job he didn’t ask for and knows he cannot refuse: rounding up Jews for deportation, including men and women he’s known his whole life. Robbed of his family by a resistance bomb, and robbed of his humanity by the work he is forced to do, fate suddenly presents Rossett with an unexpected challenge that could change everything. He finds a boy hiding in an abandoned building and is faced with a momentous decision—to do something or to look the other way—yet whatever Rossett does, he will be pushed into a place where he could endanger all he holds dear.
Played out against a city in ruin, a place divided between the conquered and the conquerors, The Darkest Hour is a tense, driving adventure thriller, a fascinating alternate history, and the unforgettable story of a man who will be broken—or given a completely new lease on life.
London, 1946. The Nazis have won the war and now occupy Great Britain, using brutality and fear to control its citizens. They even use it to control those who work for them. John Henry Rossett, a decorated British war hero and former police sergeant, is one of those unlucky souls. He’s a man accustomed to obeying commands, but he’s now assigned a job he didn’t ask for and knows he cannot refuse: rounding up Jews for deportation, including men and women he’s known his whole life. Robbed of his family by a resistance bomb, and robbed of his humanity by the work he is forced to do, fate suddenly presents Rossett with an unexpected challenge that could change everything. He finds a boy hiding in an abandoned building and is faced with a momentous decision—to do something or to look the other way—yet whatever Rossett does, he will be pushed into a place where he could endanger all he holds dear.
Played out against a city in ruin, a place divided between the conquered and the conquerors, The Darkest Hour is a tense, driving adventure thriller, a fascinating alternate history, and the unforgettable story of a man who will be broken—or given a completely new lease on life.
418 pages, Hardcover
First published September 23, 2014
About the author
Tony Schumacher
25 books195 followersTony Schumacher has written for The Guardian Newspaper, the Huffington Post, and many magazines.
He currently is working on the third book in the John Rossett series of thrillers, which are published worldwide by HarperCollins.
"Schumacher's assured and atmospheric writing make this a memorable novel, reminiscent of writers from John Buchan to Ken Follett, and of directors from Alfred Hitchcock to Carol Reed..." Wall Street Journal Sept 14
"...a thrilling novel that poses some very challenging questions to the reader, and tells a fascinating story..." Mark Rubinstein Huffington Post
"By the last quarter of the book, I was in full unputdownable mode, and it wasn’t a disappointment..." My Shelf Confessions
"You won't quickly forget the ending of this novel or the man who created it. Schumacher is just getting started!" Bookloons Review
He currently is working on the third book in the John Rossett series of thrillers, which are published worldwide by HarperCollins.
"Schumacher's assured and atmospheric writing make this a memorable novel, reminiscent of writers from John Buchan to Ken Follett, and of directors from Alfred Hitchcock to Carol Reed..." Wall Street Journal Sept 14
"...a thrilling novel that poses some very challenging questions to the reader, and tells a fascinating story..." Mark Rubinstein Huffington Post
"By the last quarter of the book, I was in full unputdownable mode, and it wasn’t a disappointment..." My Shelf Confessions
"You won't quickly forget the ending of this novel or the man who created it. Schumacher is just getting started!" Bookloons Review
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
October 14, 2014
>The Darkest Hour Is Tony Schumacher's debut novel. It powerfully re-imagines history in a chilling way. It's 1946 and the Germans have won the war. They occupy England. Rossett, a former war hero is now a disillusioned alcoholic. His wife and child have been killed by a Resistance bomb. He has nothing to live for. He has been recruited by the Nazi SS in the Office of Jewish Affairs and is tasked with rounding up Jews for deportation. He has crossed the line into the abyss of moral depravity. But then, he encounters a young Jewish boy and everything changes. The novel becomes a thriller with Rossett re-evaluating everything. Ultimately, the novel explores the concepts of guilt, hopelessness, responsibility and redemption. It's a riveting read, well-written, and will take the reader on a very powerful trip in a deeply intelligent way.
Mark Rubinstein
Author of Mad Dog House and Mad Dog Justice
Mark Rubinstein
Author of Mad Dog House and Mad Dog Justice
October 15, 2015
This book probably deserves a higher rating, but it's so depressing and dark that I find it hard to like the tale - which presumably is the desired effect.
Through the eyes of one copper in London, John Henry Rossett, we see what happens when the Germans win WWII. Actually what we see is roundups and deportations of the civilian minorities they have been persecuting on the continent. The Nazis have commandeered the best of everything and the SS run the police force. Rossett feels he has no choice but to co-operate, and like so many others, he just follows orders. He does once wonder what will happen when the Germans run out of the immediate targets.
A hidden boy and a hoard of gold sovereigns cause Rossett to change his mind and examine the possibilities for escape. There is a Resistance, but they are not loved as innocents have been harmed by their bombs. Rossett has never been much of a hero, though a decorated soldier, but he becomes more heroic in aim and antiheroic in action from this point.
The story contains strong violence and strong language. I was interested in the alternate history - Mosely, who held Fascist rallies in London prior to the War and married one of the Mitford sisters, is installed as a figurehead Prime Minister and so on. This timeline is gradually unrolled, starting with the fall of Moscow recounted to Rossett. Some items we may call unlikely - Ireland would have been steamrollered if Britain had fallen, for a start - but the grim despair and struggles are what we take away, and this outcome of the War is actually not impossible, just unthinkable.
We should thank the author Tony Schumacher for reminding us just why our forefathers fought so hard against this evil. Read as an allegory, The Darkest Hour shows us why we have to fight so hard today for global freedom from any force built on hatred.
Through the eyes of one copper in London, John Henry Rossett, we see what happens when the Germans win WWII. Actually what we see is roundups and deportations of the civilian minorities they have been persecuting on the continent. The Nazis have commandeered the best of everything and the SS run the police force. Rossett feels he has no choice but to co-operate, and like so many others, he just follows orders. He does once wonder what will happen when the Germans run out of the immediate targets.
A hidden boy and a hoard of gold sovereigns cause Rossett to change his mind and examine the possibilities for escape. There is a Resistance, but they are not loved as innocents have been harmed by their bombs. Rossett has never been much of a hero, though a decorated soldier, but he becomes more heroic in aim and antiheroic in action from this point.
The story contains strong violence and strong language. I was interested in the alternate history - Mosely, who held Fascist rallies in London prior to the War and married one of the Mitford sisters, is installed as a figurehead Prime Minister and so on. This timeline is gradually unrolled, starting with the fall of Moscow recounted to Rossett. Some items we may call unlikely - Ireland would have been steamrollered if Britain had fallen, for a start - but the grim despair and struggles are what we take away, and this outcome of the War is actually not impossible, just unthinkable.
We should thank the author Tony Schumacher for reminding us just why our forefathers fought so hard against this evil. Read as an allegory, The Darkest Hour shows us why we have to fight so hard today for global freedom from any force built on hatred.
February 8, 2017
This is a great debut by Tony Schumacher which uses the premise that Germans won the Battle for Britain. His writing makes for an easy read that turns into a thrilling page turner. The ending seems a little abrupt but sets up for the 2nd book which left me wanting to read more of the story. The characters are all well-drawn and the plot revolves around the themes of trust between the characters, redemption of the protagonist and salvation of a young Jewish child. I found it to be a very entertaining read and would recommend it to those who like action-packed WW2 books.
July 29, 2014
In an alternate time line England had been conquered by the Germans in a 1944 invasion. The King and Government-in-Exile were in Canada, and Great Britain now under the rule of the British Union of Fascists and Oswald Mosley was Prime Minister. It’s 1946 and the Germans have started to ship Jews out of England to Poland ‘to be resettled’.
John Rosset is a sergeant in the Metropolitan (London) Police. Rosset had been a war hero, fighting against the Germans in France and England, and received the Victoria Cross for bravery. But now he works for the Germans in the ‘Jewish Bureau’ as a ‘Jew Hunter’. Rosset job is to ‘consolidate’ the Jews into Ghettos before removing them for resettlement. He lives only for his job. He hates the British Resistance because one of their bombs killed his wife and son.
After clearing out a Ghetto house, John finds a young Jewish boy hiding behind a fireplace. The boy is the grandson of a shop-owner that John knew in his boyhood. John decides to save the boy and get him out of the country to Canada or the US. This is when the book turns into a 1940s movie, with John as the hero and his boss Kohler as the bad guys (which they are). He falls in love with a double agent who also works for the Nazis and blah blah blah blah blah.
The story is very banal and everyone in the tale plays their assigned parts. John is again the hero, the woman he loves is a double agent, there are good and bad Nazis, some of the English help while others are only in it for the money while other try to repent and help by helping the boy. There’s gold and diamonds and all the clichés you can read. The ending is so telegraphed that you can skip the last chapter and just read the last sentence.
Well written but oh so unoriginal.
Zeb Kantrowitz zworstblog.blogspot.com
John Rosset is a sergeant in the Metropolitan (London) Police. Rosset had been a war hero, fighting against the Germans in France and England, and received the Victoria Cross for bravery. But now he works for the Germans in the ‘Jewish Bureau’ as a ‘Jew Hunter’. Rosset job is to ‘consolidate’ the Jews into Ghettos before removing them for resettlement. He lives only for his job. He hates the British Resistance because one of their bombs killed his wife and son.
After clearing out a Ghetto house, John finds a young Jewish boy hiding behind a fireplace. The boy is the grandson of a shop-owner that John knew in his boyhood. John decides to save the boy and get him out of the country to Canada or the US. This is when the book turns into a 1940s movie, with John as the hero and his boss Kohler as the bad guys (which they are). He falls in love with a double agent who also works for the Nazis and blah blah blah blah blah.
The story is very banal and everyone in the tale plays their assigned parts. John is again the hero, the woman he loves is a double agent, there are good and bad Nazis, some of the English help while others are only in it for the money while other try to repent and help by helping the boy. There’s gold and diamonds and all the clichés you can read. The ending is so telegraphed that you can skip the last chapter and just read the last sentence.
Well written but oh so unoriginal.
Zeb Kantrowitz zworstblog.blogspot.com
August 21, 2014
As a fan of Phillip Kerr and WWII historical fiction in general, I looked forward to reading Schumacher's take on what could have been. I was not disappointed.
The Germans have taken over England and Inspector Rossett has been assigned to rounding up Jewish citizens to ship off to "work camps". He is just doing his job and doesn't question his orders or the fates of those he has transported. He has lost his own family and is only trying to get by. When he has a chance encounter with a docker and his wife, he finds his humanity and attempts to save the life of Jacob, a 7 year old Jewish boy. Once he rescues Jacob, the chase is on and the action does not slow up. Friends become foes and you can never be sure where a person's loyalty lies. The book moved quickly and I put everything on hold until the last pages revealed Jacob's fate.
The Germans have taken over England and Inspector Rossett has been assigned to rounding up Jewish citizens to ship off to "work camps". He is just doing his job and doesn't question his orders or the fates of those he has transported. He has lost his own family and is only trying to get by. When he has a chance encounter with a docker and his wife, he finds his humanity and attempts to save the life of Jacob, a 7 year old Jewish boy. Once he rescues Jacob, the chase is on and the action does not slow up. Friends become foes and you can never be sure where a person's loyalty lies. The book moved quickly and I put everything on hold until the last pages revealed Jacob's fate.
August 7, 2014
The Darkest Hour takes an alternate look at WWII, with Hitler's Nazis winning in Europe and the US turning away from the madness. England, where the story takes place, is now occupied and managed by German Nazis. The setting here is so realistic that I often found myself forgetting this is not how the war actually played out, though it all too easily could have.
Schumacher writes with a depth of detail that transports you right into the midst of the struggle. I saw the scenes playing out, felt the despair along with that shred of hope.
This story is dark, disturbing, thought-provoking, and a powerful reminder of how easily good people can be forced to do bad things in order to survive.
Schumacher writes with a depth of detail that transports you right into the midst of the struggle. I saw the scenes playing out, felt the despair along with that shred of hope.
This story is dark, disturbing, thought-provoking, and a powerful reminder of how easily good people can be forced to do bad things in order to survive.
October 24, 2018
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
It took me quite some time to get the hang of the story, I guess. At least 150 pages before I actually wanted to read on eagerly. And not because the story is so fantastic. I really loved the premise of the book: what if the Nazi's had won the war? What would happen? Maybe my expectations where a little bit too high, because I felt there wasn't any real emphasis on the fact that it's actually a post-war Third Reich situation. I found it quite difficult to connect with the main character, John Rossett, because everything he does is 'because he has to' or 'because it's his job'. There was a real lack of character in my opinion, even after he decided to get little Jacob (a jewish boy) out of prison. You never really know what his true motives are. Is it because of money? Does he feel guilty about everything he's done for the Germans? Well, you get to know him a little bit better at the end of the book and I guess that's what the author was playing at, but it didn't really work for me. I think if Rossett had been more ashamed of his actions and tried to redeem himself a little bit more instead of killing everyone that got in his way, I would've liked the book a bit better. Nevertheless, I'm still curious to see how the story will continue, especially after that cliffhanger. So, yes, I will be reading book two (and most likely book three as well).
It took me quite some time to get the hang of the story, I guess. At least 150 pages before I actually wanted to read on eagerly. And not because the story is so fantastic. I really loved the premise of the book: what if the Nazi's had won the war? What would happen? Maybe my expectations where a little bit too high, because I felt there wasn't any real emphasis on the fact that it's actually a post-war Third Reich situation. I found it quite difficult to connect with the main character, John Rossett, because everything he does is 'because he has to' or 'because it's his job'. There was a real lack of character in my opinion, even after he decided to get little Jacob (a jewish boy) out of prison. You never really know what his true motives are. Is it because of money? Does he feel guilty about everything he's done for the Germans? Well, you get to know him a little bit better at the end of the book and I guess that's what the author was playing at, but it didn't really work for me. I think if Rossett had been more ashamed of his actions and tried to redeem himself a little bit more instead of killing everyone that got in his way, I would've liked the book a bit better. Nevertheless, I'm still curious to see how the story will continue, especially after that cliffhanger. So, yes, I will be reading book two (and most likely book three as well).
March 11, 2017
Tijden van Duisternis is echt een prachtig boek, heel indrukwekkend. Het begint meteen vrij heftig met een razzia, maar gaandeweg komen er gelukkig veel meer aspecten bij kijken en wordt het een verhaal dat veel, véél meer is dan alleen een verhaal dat zich afspeelt in tijden van oorlog. Liefde, angst, wanhoop, hoop.. Alles komt aan bod!
De hoofdstukken zijn normaal tot kort en samen met de vlotte schrijfstijl zorgt dit ervoor dat je het boek nauwelijks weg kunt leggen. Het is erg beeldend geschreven, maar zonder onnodige overvloed aan informatie. In deze enorme rollercoaster van duisternis en nare idealisaties, blijft er toch telkens hoop op de loer liggen. Van het hartbrekende stuk wat de aanleiding gaf tot het redden van Jacob, naar soms bizar gewelddadige acties en een kat- en muisspel waarbij de spanning constant aanwezig is. Meerdere keren waren er wendingen in het verhaal die ik niet aan zag komen. Spannend tot de laatste bladzijde.
Wat een ontzettend fijn debuut. Aanrader, ook als je niet van oorlogsverhalen houdt! Dik 4*.
De hoofdstukken zijn normaal tot kort en samen met de vlotte schrijfstijl zorgt dit ervoor dat je het boek nauwelijks weg kunt leggen. Het is erg beeldend geschreven, maar zonder onnodige overvloed aan informatie. In deze enorme rollercoaster van duisternis en nare idealisaties, blijft er toch telkens hoop op de loer liggen. Van het hartbrekende stuk wat de aanleiding gaf tot het redden van Jacob, naar soms bizar gewelddadige acties en een kat- en muisspel waarbij de spanning constant aanwezig is. Meerdere keren waren er wendingen in het verhaal die ik niet aan zag komen. Spannend tot de laatste bladzijde.
Wat een ontzettend fijn debuut. Aanrader, ook als je niet van oorlogsverhalen houdt! Dik 4*.
May 5, 2015
When I think about World War II, it’s hard to imagine any other outcome than the Allies winning. But in The Darkest Hour, Tony Schumacher imagines the opposite – that Germany invaded England, and continued their persecution of the Jewish people, using the British themselves to help ostracize, round up and deport them to the European continent. It’s a shocking, and difficult idea to accept, but The Darkest Hour is scarily convincing in it’s imagination.
John Rossett is the damaged hero – his family are dead, he himself suffered greatly during the war, and now he finds himself working for the SS. Outwardly he doesn’t believe that anything terrible is happening to the Jewish people he works to round up and deport back to the European continent, but he obviously has strong suspicions. Despite the fact he was a rather closed character, I found it very easy to like John Rossett. He still retains a strong sense of right and wrong, even if he doesn’t always act immediately on his feelings, and I really liked that he had doubts and changed his mind at certain times – it made him more human than if he had been completely sure and confident.
The Darkest Hour also delves into the idea that there would be a resistance in Britain as well, and it’s all very convincingly explained and written, even if some of the lines between right and wrong are also blurred by the resistance themselves.
My favourite part of The Darkest Hour however, was the relationship between Rossett and Jacob, the young Jewish boy he finds hiding in a house that has recently been emptied by the Nazis. As they spend more time together, their relationship grows stronger, and more is revealed about Rossett’s own past – I loved the layers that Schumacher had written into the characters.
Perhaps my one and only real issue with The Darkest Hour was there is a relationship formed between Rossett and another secondary character quite late in the book that felt a bit awkward and rushed. I didn’t quite feel their connection to each other, especially considering the risks that were being taken.
The pacing of The Darkest Hour is quite gradual. Schumacher spends a lot of time setting up the story, exploring various characters and scenarios, all whilst subtly ratcheting up the stakes for the characters and the pace of the plot. By the last quarter of the book, I was in full unputdownable mode, and it wasn’t a disappointment.
If an alternative history book sounds like your cup of tea, I can definitely recommend The Darkest Hour. It’s scarily convincing, with characters that it’s impossible not to care about, and a storyline that really made me think.
John Rossett is the damaged hero – his family are dead, he himself suffered greatly during the war, and now he finds himself working for the SS. Outwardly he doesn’t believe that anything terrible is happening to the Jewish people he works to round up and deport back to the European continent, but he obviously has strong suspicions. Despite the fact he was a rather closed character, I found it very easy to like John Rossett. He still retains a strong sense of right and wrong, even if he doesn’t always act immediately on his feelings, and I really liked that he had doubts and changed his mind at certain times – it made him more human than if he had been completely sure and confident.
The Darkest Hour also delves into the idea that there would be a resistance in Britain as well, and it’s all very convincingly explained and written, even if some of the lines between right and wrong are also blurred by the resistance themselves.
My favourite part of The Darkest Hour however, was the relationship between Rossett and Jacob, the young Jewish boy he finds hiding in a house that has recently been emptied by the Nazis. As they spend more time together, their relationship grows stronger, and more is revealed about Rossett’s own past – I loved the layers that Schumacher had written into the characters.
Perhaps my one and only real issue with The Darkest Hour was there is a relationship formed between Rossett and another secondary character quite late in the book that felt a bit awkward and rushed. I didn’t quite feel their connection to each other, especially considering the risks that were being taken.
The pacing of The Darkest Hour is quite gradual. Schumacher spends a lot of time setting up the story, exploring various characters and scenarios, all whilst subtly ratcheting up the stakes for the characters and the pace of the plot. By the last quarter of the book, I was in full unputdownable mode, and it wasn’t a disappointment.
If an alternative history book sounds like your cup of tea, I can definitely recommend The Darkest Hour. It’s scarily convincing, with characters that it’s impossible not to care about, and a storyline that really made me think.
July 30, 2016
This was a debut that attracted my interest due to the subject matter. A Britain that is overrun by Nazi Germany and wee meet our protagonist John Rossett who is forced to work under the same despicable people he fought a few years ago. His task to locate Jewish refugees and hand them over to his employers. A task which he finds repugnant to the extreme but has to do as there's no other alternative.
John Rossett faces a moral crisis when he find Jacob, a small Jewish child who awakens his paternal instincts. Forced to go against his employers, John will have to dig deep and find his inner strength to go against a society gone of the deep end. Highly recommended for those who love procedurals and alternative history.
John Rossett faces a moral crisis when he find Jacob, a small Jewish child who awakens his paternal instincts. Forced to go against his employers, John will have to dig deep and find his inner strength to go against a society gone of the deep end. Highly recommended for those who love procedurals and alternative history.
October 17, 2014
Most "what if the Germans won WWII" novels use the main conceit as an excuse to cover up substandard plot and storytelling. The Darkest Hour, on the other hand, works terrifically on both levels - as a sharp alternate history exploring the doom and gloom of Nazi-occupied Britain, and as a crackling thriller in its own right. After setting up the bleak backdrop, the book keeps a narrow scope. The "hero" isn't trying to belatedly destroy the Reich. He's just trying to atone for his past sins by saving one kid. I'd love to see this kick off a series, but the book is satisfying as a standalone.
December 27, 2015
interesting debut novel based in an alternative world that the germans had won the war and based in post war london that policeman john rossett finds himself rounding up jews for relocation but for some reason decied to help a small jewish boy jacob and the many twists and turns of this thriller. enjoyed the book and looking forward to the next in the series.
September 13, 2016
An amazing read! I couldn't put this book down, and it kept me up until all hours turning the pages until the small hours.
I'm genuinely excited at the thought of reading the sequel The British Lion, and at having a new favourite author!
I'm genuinely excited at the thought of reading the sequel The British Lion, and at having a new favourite author!
October 20, 2014
Cheap rip-off of SS-GB, with unnecessary "jeopardies", plus a lead too wooden to make his characterlogical swerve believable.
February 19, 2020
Absolutely loved Schumacher's The Darkest Hour. Sgt. John Henry Rossett is an interesting character. You spend the better part of the first 1/4 (almost 1/2) of the book not liking the "British Lion."
1946 - WWII
Although English, Rossett settles in and works for the Nazi's. He does what he is told. He gives the tasks assigned little thought. He blocks out the end results of his actions -- such as forcing Jewish people out of their homes and onto trains bound for Poland.
Everything changes when a Jewish man tells Rossett about a hidden treasure. Rossett wasn't interested in riches. He wanted to ensure he uncovered whatever it was that had been hidden. When it turns out to be a young boy, Rossett's purpose is turned upside down.
Gold. Diamonds. Germans. The Resistance. Agents. Double Agents . . .
The Darkest Hour is a fast, fast read. And while it does end ... the saga continues in Book 2 -- The British Lion (Which I have ready to go next) . . . and that is a good thing since as a reader I need more - so much more after seeing where Book 1 ended!
Phillip Tomasso
1946 - WWII
Although English, Rossett settles in and works for the Nazi's. He does what he is told. He gives the tasks assigned little thought. He blocks out the end results of his actions -- such as forcing Jewish people out of their homes and onto trains bound for Poland.
Everything changes when a Jewish man tells Rossett about a hidden treasure. Rossett wasn't interested in riches. He wanted to ensure he uncovered whatever it was that had been hidden. When it turns out to be a young boy, Rossett's purpose is turned upside down.
Gold. Diamonds. Germans. The Resistance. Agents. Double Agents . . .
The Darkest Hour is a fast, fast read. And while it does end ... the saga continues in Book 2 -- The British Lion (Which I have ready to go next) . . . and that is a good thing since as a reader I need more - so much more after seeing where Book 1 ended!
Phillip Tomasso
March 11, 2018
I really enjoyed reading this book. I like how Rosset begins to feel bad about what he is doing and decides to change his ways. I like how he saves Jacob and how he decides to whatever he can to protect him. I like how Kate ends up helping them escape when Koehler is chasing them through the cemetery. I like how Rosset sacrifices his life to save Jacob, Kate, and the others. I hate how Rosser gets shot in the end and we don’t know if he died or not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2019
A suspenseful, action-packed thriller set in 1946, in a dystopian England that has lost to the Germans in World War II. This is the first of a trilogy, so the rather abrupt, leave-you-wondering ending can be forgiven, especially if (as I do!) you have the remaining 2 books lined up and ready to go.
I would have liked a little more fleshing out of this unpleasant alternative world, though.
I would have liked a little more fleshing out of this unpleasant alternative world, though.
March 21, 2016
The Blurb
The terrible struggle that was WWII is over, the Germans have won and now occupy London, but it s up to a hardened British detective to turn the tables, save someone s life, and achieve what he has believed was impossible redemption in this crackling thriller debut.
The year is 1946. Nazi Germany has conquered the British, and now forcefully occupies the country and controls its citizens. John Henry Rossett, a decorated British war hero for the Allies and former police Sergeant, has been reassigned to the Office of Jewish Affairs. Built on Nazi ideology, it is a department strictly under the control of the SS, one of the largest and most powerful organizations in the Third Reich.
Rossett, a man accustomed to obeying commands but also one who has lost everything in the war including his wife and child is given no chance to ask questions, no chance to turn it down.
Ultimately, he has no choice in the matter. So he gets on with his job of rounding up Jews, some of whom he s known his whole life, for deportation. That is until he finds Jacob, a young Jewish boy, hiding in an abandoned building and everything changes. Determined to protect the child, Rossett finds himself on the run, the quarry of not only the Germans but also the Royalist resistance and the Communists.
Each faction has its own agenda and Rossett will soon learn that none of them can be trusted . . . and all of them are lethal.
The Review
With a premise like that, it would take a lot for this book not to be hugely enjoyable. And hugely enjoyable, it certainly is.
John Rossett is a war hero turned collaborator – a somewhat robotic figure, reminiscent of Winston Smith in some respects, from Orwell’s 1984. I struggled with him to begin with - his lack of passion, his empty subservience, until it became clear how the war had damaged him on the deepest of levels.
Then it all made sense.
The plot crackles along in an alternative 1946 London that is beautifully atmospheric, peopled with a whole cast of desperate characters, existing beneath and within the Nazi regime that dominates the lives of every Englishman with a typically iron fist.
There are car chases and gunfights, and a cat and mouse game of oppressor versus oppressed, running throughout the book entire book. Holding it all together, however, is the relationship between two seemingly incompatible characters – Rossett and his boss at the Office of Jewish Affairs, Ernst Koehler. Schumacher portrays their relationship brilliantly, holding the tension of the gossamer thread that connects one with the other with a consistently steady hand.
Although the book ostensibly seems to be about the recovery of some diamonds, almost the entire cast of the book are out to discover, or rediscover, just one thing – their humanity.
This, for me, is an anti-war book. A book that shows what war can do to people, how it can make human beings commit the most horrendous acts, undergo the most horrific experiences, and what it takes from them in the process.
But being what it is, humanity can be found in the rarest of places.
Highly recommended.
The terrible struggle that was WWII is over, the Germans have won and now occupy London, but it s up to a hardened British detective to turn the tables, save someone s life, and achieve what he has believed was impossible redemption in this crackling thriller debut.
The year is 1946. Nazi Germany has conquered the British, and now forcefully occupies the country and controls its citizens. John Henry Rossett, a decorated British war hero for the Allies and former police Sergeant, has been reassigned to the Office of Jewish Affairs. Built on Nazi ideology, it is a department strictly under the control of the SS, one of the largest and most powerful organizations in the Third Reich.
Rossett, a man accustomed to obeying commands but also one who has lost everything in the war including his wife and child is given no chance to ask questions, no chance to turn it down.
Ultimately, he has no choice in the matter. So he gets on with his job of rounding up Jews, some of whom he s known his whole life, for deportation. That is until he finds Jacob, a young Jewish boy, hiding in an abandoned building and everything changes. Determined to protect the child, Rossett finds himself on the run, the quarry of not only the Germans but also the Royalist resistance and the Communists.
Each faction has its own agenda and Rossett will soon learn that none of them can be trusted . . . and all of them are lethal.
The Review
With a premise like that, it would take a lot for this book not to be hugely enjoyable. And hugely enjoyable, it certainly is.
John Rossett is a war hero turned collaborator – a somewhat robotic figure, reminiscent of Winston Smith in some respects, from Orwell’s 1984. I struggled with him to begin with - his lack of passion, his empty subservience, until it became clear how the war had damaged him on the deepest of levels.
Then it all made sense.
The plot crackles along in an alternative 1946 London that is beautifully atmospheric, peopled with a whole cast of desperate characters, existing beneath and within the Nazi regime that dominates the lives of every Englishman with a typically iron fist.
There are car chases and gunfights, and a cat and mouse game of oppressor versus oppressed, running throughout the book entire book. Holding it all together, however, is the relationship between two seemingly incompatible characters – Rossett and his boss at the Office of Jewish Affairs, Ernst Koehler. Schumacher portrays their relationship brilliantly, holding the tension of the gossamer thread that connects one with the other with a consistently steady hand.
Although the book ostensibly seems to be about the recovery of some diamonds, almost the entire cast of the book are out to discover, or rediscover, just one thing – their humanity.
This, for me, is an anti-war book. A book that shows what war can do to people, how it can make human beings commit the most horrendous acts, undergo the most horrific experiences, and what it takes from them in the process.
But being what it is, humanity can be found in the rarest of places.
Highly recommended.
October 2, 2014
This is not the first novel that I have encountered that fictionalizes the “what-if” angle of World War II. Set in London of 1946, Schumacher’s UK is a conquered one. The Nazi party has overrun the country and has forced Britain to begin rounding up their own Jewish population. John Henry Rossett feels tormented by his own grief and the role he now plays as a police officer supporting the SS. He tries his best to live honorably despite his occupation - turning down “freebies” and the opportunity to loot. But on a now routine removal of 84 Jewish occupants, one older occupant directs him to the hiding spot of a great treasure - the man’s seven year old grandson.
This sets the plot into motion and with brief chapters, this fast-paced novel soon becomes impossible to set aside. The writing is strong, and in many ways, this is an impressive debut. The action feels nearly non-stop and there are plenty of betrayals and compelling character-reactions. John certainly fulfills the role of redeemable hero with the ends that he goes to save young Jacob. Schumacher, however, never lets readers forget John’s sullied past. The supporting cast of characters are relatively well-developed - though the female characters, particularly Kate, are rather weak in comparison. Her motivations and overall development never feel as convincing as some of the others.
But, what spoils the book a bit for me is the ending. The climax is inevitable, but the ending itself is overly abrupt. The action barely feels completely described, let alone resolved. I am not sure if a planned sequel is the reason for this sharp finale, but the book simply feels incomplete. I am curious to read a sequel because of the way Schumacher makes his London feel so terrifyingly realistic and I think that there is much more to be explored in this story, but if Schumacher’s next novel is an unrelated standalone thriller, I will definitely be skipping it because of this ending!
This sets the plot into motion and with brief chapters, this fast-paced novel soon becomes impossible to set aside. The writing is strong, and in many ways, this is an impressive debut. The action feels nearly non-stop and there are plenty of betrayals and compelling character-reactions. John certainly fulfills the role of redeemable hero with the ends that he goes to save young Jacob. Schumacher, however, never lets readers forget John’s sullied past. The supporting cast of characters are relatively well-developed - though the female characters, particularly Kate, are rather weak in comparison. Her motivations and overall development never feel as convincing as some of the others.
But, what spoils the book a bit for me is the ending. The climax is inevitable, but the ending itself is overly abrupt. The action barely feels completely described, let alone resolved. I am not sure if a planned sequel is the reason for this sharp finale, but the book simply feels incomplete. I am curious to read a sequel because of the way Schumacher makes his London feel so terrifyingly realistic and I think that there is much more to be explored in this story, but if Schumacher’s next novel is an unrelated standalone thriller, I will definitely be skipping it because of this ending!
January 16, 2015
I was lucky enough to win a copy of The Darkest Hour through Goodreads First Reads.
This book teetered between 4 and 5 stars, and if I could give it 4 1/2 I would. In the end I decided on 5, because I really do think its brilliant, despite a couple of niggles.
Honestly, I don't expect it'll be long until we see this in cinemas. The book reads like a movie, the action, the emotion, the characters and setting, everything can be visualised so perfectly that I can almost see it on the big screen already.
Rossett is a really well-written character. You start off hating him, a mindless drone of the Nazis, and then as his story grows and develops, you can't help but feel for the guy. He is broken, but that doesn't stop him from doing what needs to be done.
The story itself is paced perfectly. The many short chapters at times feels unnecessary, but it does keep the action going. There's a good deal of action and tension, but even calmer bits of conversation reveal so much of the story. Every word is carefully plotted. There are bits that had me crying, grinning and screaming at the pages. It's a proper roller coaster.
Things I didn't like were mostly inconsequential. There were a few things that required googling; to do with the SS and Blackshirts that weren't explained, and my knowledge of WWII didn't encompass that before I read this book. I didn't like Kate, I feel like compared to the male characters in the story she was very bland, given a trope to try and make her a character, but she didn't really work for me at all. The story certainly wouldn't pass the bechdel test! And I really hated the margins!! Having the text printed off-centre really bothered me for the first 50 pages!
But despite those things, the story as a whole is fantastic. I would highly recommend it, and have already thrust it at my partner insisting that he reads it immediately.
5 stars.
This book teetered between 4 and 5 stars, and if I could give it 4 1/2 I would. In the end I decided on 5, because I really do think its brilliant, despite a couple of niggles.
Honestly, I don't expect it'll be long until we see this in cinemas. The book reads like a movie, the action, the emotion, the characters and setting, everything can be visualised so perfectly that I can almost see it on the big screen already.
Rossett is a really well-written character. You start off hating him, a mindless drone of the Nazis, and then as his story grows and develops, you can't help but feel for the guy. He is broken, but that doesn't stop him from doing what needs to be done.
The story itself is paced perfectly. The many short chapters at times feels unnecessary, but it does keep the action going. There's a good deal of action and tension, but even calmer bits of conversation reveal so much of the story. Every word is carefully plotted. There are bits that had me crying, grinning and screaming at the pages. It's a proper roller coaster.
Things I didn't like were mostly inconsequential. There were a few things that required googling; to do with the SS and Blackshirts that weren't explained, and my knowledge of WWII didn't encompass that before I read this book. I didn't like Kate, I feel like compared to the male characters in the story she was very bland, given a trope to try and make her a character, but she didn't really work for me at all. The story certainly wouldn't pass the bechdel test! And I really hated the margins!! Having the text printed off-centre really bothered me for the first 50 pages!
But despite those things, the story as a whole is fantastic. I would highly recommend it, and have already thrust it at my partner insisting that he reads it immediately.
5 stars.
December 6, 2014
Thoroughly enjoyable book which made for compelling reading which is unusual, given I'm not normally given to reading stories set around the second world war. But this was so much more. The age old struggle of a pained hero whose belief in 'doing the right thing' drives him to increasingly dangerous situations. The relationships along the way are complex, given the war-torn backdrop, but intriguing. My only negative is that I didn't like the ending. Too much left unexplained. Too much of a cliff-hanger. I've been saying that quite a lot recently. It's only a minor point - I wish this site allowed 4.5 stars :-)
November 27, 2016
The Darkest Hour is a fantastic piece of literature, centered around fantastic characters, in a fantastic setting, the only book that I can truly say that is better than the darkest hour is Mr. Schumacher's newest book, the British Lion.
February 24, 2015
Story reminded me of Fatherland.
January 30, 2022
Alternate history thriller with an intriguing set-up. Not just because the Nazis have won, also because of its protagonist. In occupied London detective Rossett, a decorated British war hero, is, as he says, just doing his job. But it's not catching bad guys, it's catching Jews. And he's pretty good at it too. There's really no excuse for what he's doing, but he does have a few. A few heavy ones. A hard to like man, but it had me rooting for him anyway. It takes a bit of time to get going, but once Rossett finds the strength to possibly redeem himself by trying to save a Jew boy, there's no stopping it. Coincidence leads to a thrilling chain of events in which no side and nobody can be trusted. Rossett has little or no allies and if you still feel no sympathy for the guy, there's always the little Jacob to hang onto. A fast moving rollercoaster, harsh and cruel at times, with, what I think is its biggest strength, an omnipresent sense of urgency. The Darkest Hour never feels safe.
December 17, 2021
By the end I really liked Rossett. He seems like someone I would meet in a bar and become instant friends with. Deep down he's a good guy, wants to do the right thing, but he's conflicted, because the right thing isn't always black and white. He doesn't consider himself a hero, but life keeps throwing these situations at him that he overcomes. He's lost a lot in life, but he's not overly bitter or hardened. He still wants good things for people and to connect with them. I don't think The Darkest Hour was overly dark or heavy on the history. It's not really a detective story or mystery either. It's just an honest account of a guy who has a crisis of conscious and tries to make it right. I enjoyed it, Thanks for the ride Tony.
P.S. I won this book through a goodreads giveaway!
P.S. I won this book through a goodreads giveaway!
April 20, 2018
Onderhoudend debuut van Schumacher. Londen na WO2, waarbij de Duitsers de oorlog hebben gewonnen en dus de bezettende macht zijn. Politieman en oorlogsheld John Rossett heeft in de oorlog vrouw en kind verloren en helpt nu de Duitsers joden op transport te zetten, een zekere dood tegemoet. Op een dag breekt er iets bij hem en hij besluit een joods jongetje dat zich heeft verstopt te helpen ontsnappen. Dit gaat gepaard met de nodige actie en zowel goede als foute Duitsers en Engelsen.
Het einde is redelijk op en laat voldoende open voor de aangekondigde twee vervolgdelen. Ik vraag me wel af of Schumacher in de volgende boeken nog voldoende ontwikkeling in zijn personages kan stoppen. Daarvoor lijken de karakters toch een beetje té eendimensionaal.
Het einde is redelijk op en laat voldoende open voor de aangekondigde twee vervolgdelen. Ik vraag me wel af of Schumacher in de volgende boeken nog voldoende ontwikkeling in zijn personages kan stoppen. Daarvoor lijken de karakters toch een beetje té eendimensionaal.
February 16, 2018
This book and its sequel have been residents of my TBR list for a while. What an exciting book and I'm sorry I waited so long to read it. I won't make that mistake with the next book in the series! The story is about a cop, John Rossett, who lives in England in 1946, after the Germans have won the war. He was a British war hero, but after the loss of his family he has lost any zest for living. He is forced to work for the Germans and is involved in rounding up "undesirable citizens" for "relocation" or worse. An incident happens that makes him realize he needs to do something , even if it only makes a difference for one person. I really enjoyed this book and think it's a wonderful story, especially since this is Mr. Schumacher's first book.
July 5, 2020
An interesting read
It is a rare book of alternative history that grabs my attention but this one is very well written. Set in a rather gloomy London after the successful German invasion of England, we meet a series of characters who are incredibly well drawn and credible. There is plenty of action and the story is taught with tension and suspense. Nicely done.
It is a rare book of alternative history that grabs my attention but this one is very well written. Set in a rather gloomy London after the successful German invasion of England, we meet a series of characters who are incredibly well drawn and credible. There is plenty of action and the story is taught with tension and suspense. Nicely done.
June 18, 2017
This was a real page turner, as the hero races against time to save a young child from the Germans controlling Britain. No one can be trusted, not even him.
There are a lot of harsh things that happen, but when the bonds that keep society together break, people break as well and are willing to do terrible things to survive one more day.
There are a lot of harsh things that happen, but when the bonds that keep society together break, people break as well and are willing to do terrible things to survive one more day.
April 27, 2017
An entertaining book that looks at London post WWII, had Germany won.
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