Berlin Letters, page 32
A new Oma has emerged during these last months as well. She cried a lot at first, but now she laughs more. Alice visits more too. She is truly the friend and big sister I always hoped she would be. And don’t get me started on Oma’s garden. Her friends are green with envy at the abundant produce Oma is already gathering.
Daniel’s not doing too badly either. He stayed in Berlin a full month after the Wall fell but called me nightly. After a couple weeks, I quit returning the upstairs hall phone to its little table each morning and simply kept it plugged in within my room. It was an incredibly special time because, until all my security clearances transferred from an off-site project and role into an operational one, we could really only talk about ourselves. All those hopes and dreams, fears and vulnerabilities, one rarely approaches without trepidation. He knows most everything about me now, and I know and love everything about him.
Except . . . he says he had a long talk with my dad last night, and neither will share the subject matter with me.
By the time he picks me up for tonight’s dinner, I’m so tense I stop on my apartment building’s sidewalk halfway to his car. “Just say it. You’re going back into the field.”
“How’d you know?” Daniel stares at me. “Yes. Two years. Minimum.”
I nod. I have just been asked to go to Eastern Europe myself. But Daniel’s work is different. Working under nonofficial cover means there’s no communication while he’s away. He’s simply gone.
Tears prick my eyes. I duck my head to hide them. “Southeast Asia?” I ask, but I don’t really expect him to answer.
“Eastern Europe.”
My head flies up. “But that means—”
“You have no patience, you know that?” he teases.
I nod, afraid to speak, think, or ruin the moment in any way. He steps to me. He’s so close I can smell the grass and citrus notes of his cologne and see the small scar at the outer corner of his left eye.
“It means, if you marry me, like I pray you will, we go together.”
As I said, one would be surprised how many marriages exist within the CIA.
Once again, I launch myself into his arms. And once again, he catches me, lifts me off the ground, and hugs me tight.
This time, I don’t let go. I’ll never let go.
Author’s Note
I had an incredible time digging into this fascinating and tumultuous time within history. Of course, I bent it a little for fictional purposes, but so much true history remains within these pages as well. And, as always, any and all mistakes are mine alone . . . But let’s peel back the curtain a little.
I was able to travel to Berlin in February of 2023 for several days and walked the city a few times over. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a city unlike any other—at least any other I’ve visited. One author I read for research, Rory MacLean, put it so well: “Paris is about romantic love. Lourdes equates with devotion. New York means energy. London is forever trendy. Berlin is all about volatility.” And that’s what I found. A city on the edge throughout history, surging between the cosmic—and cosmopolitan—heights and the lowest of lows, with periods of tremendous pain and horror within its past as well.
One thing I found interesting is the speed at which the Wall went up. Without the world realizing it, General Secretary Ulbricht had been stockpiling all the materials and preparing the troops for months in advance. Once he got Moscow’s approval, he was ready to move, all in one night. But Bernauer Strasse was a bit of a problem. As stated, the buildings were in East Berlin and the sidewalks—one step out the front door—were in West Berlin. I found it an ideal place to situate much of the story as those buildings were an ever-changing part of the Wall and the city’s history.
So while I got to know a great deal about Berlin during my visit and walked it several times over, I still played with its geography. Bornholmer Strasse is not the closest border crossing to Friedrichstrasse Station, but it was the first gate to open on November 9, 1989. Even without official orders, guards—under pressure from thousands of people pressing toward them—opened the gates at 11:00 p.m. I wanted Luisa and Haris to be at that first gate.
Also note that Haris doesn’t capitalize the “wall.” I chose to let him leave it uncapitalized. He doesn’t want to give it too much respect. He believes it already wields enough control over his life. Furthermore, to clear up any confusion, Haris speaks of the DDR, the Deutschland Democratic Republic, which is East Germany or what we, on the west side of the Atlantic, would call the GDR, German Democratic Republic—which one man I interviewed noted, with dark humor, was “neither democratic nor a republic.”
There is also a bit of interesting history, posited as true with good supporting evidence, in Paul Kengor’s fantastic book A Pope and a President. He writes that the Soviet Union was planning to invade Poland, as it had Hungary in ’56 and Czechoslovakia in ’68, and was hiding that intention under the guise of their extended Soyuz ’81 military exercises along the Polish border. However, when US President Reagan was shot, the US—not knowing what kind of threat it was dealing with—put Strategic Air Command on alert, as is standard protocol. Although not intended as a show of force to the Soviets over Poland, that move may have—unexpectedly—stopped an invasion.
Kengor’s book, as well as a few others, is also where I learned a great deal about the details surrounding the assassination attempt against Pope John Paul II and where I found the text for John Paul II’s quote from his first speech. I highly recommend this book if you’d like to learn more. We may take it for granted today that the Soviets were involved, but that wasn’t always the case. While the Italian investigations pointed that direction, as did the research and writings of journalist Claire Sterling, much of the world refused to look at the Soviets. The consequences were too dire. In fact, the official CIA document still remains classified and the Stasi Operation Pope didn’t come to light until 2005. To avoid World War III, everyone seemed to feel that believing the disinformation campaign of a single gunman was in everyone’s best interests, especially as the Soviet Union in the mid- to late 1980s seemed to be falling apart on its own.
I also want to share two other invaluable resources: Tim Mohr’s Burning Down the Haus and Paul Hockenos’s Berlin Calling. Both books introduced me to the young men and women who fought for a freedom and a future of their choosing through dress and music—as everything in a police state is political. Within Mohr’s book, I also learned one of their slogans: “Don’t die in the waiting room of the future.” Basically, don’t be complacent.
What happened after November 9, 1989?
There is so much history to explore here and so many good books can help. I have included a list on my website, and I hope you’ll enjoy them and the photographs and other details I placed on The Berlin Letters page. Germany was reunited, the Stasi disbanded, and people even started requesting to see their files—and many were shocked at how many of their friends and neighbors had been spying on them for years.
I hope you’ve enjoyed The Berlin Letters and, again, please go to my website, katherinereay.com, for some of my source materials.
Discussion Questions
How do you feel about Walther’s decision to share Haris’s letters with a journalist?
Do you think Walther should have told Luisa her father was alive? Why or why not? Were his secrets justified?
Luisa begins to grasp the fear that continues to affect her Oma’s life. Do you think she’ll ever fully understand? What does that say or mean with regard to our ability to understand each other?
Would you have risked everything and traveled to Berlin? Why or why not?
What do you think of Luisa’s initial plan? And considering how little information was conveyed over the wall, was she wrong to hope it might work?
Did the story change your thoughts regarding punks in Eastern Europe? What do you think about music and dress as a form of protest?
How would life feel when, at any moment, anyone, including your best friend, could be watching and reporting to the government about you?
Did you enjoy the split-time scene between Haris and Luisa as they raced away from the Stasi for their “one hour” on November 9, 1989? Do you believe that, despite hearing the same words, two people can perceive things so differently during a single event?
Acknowledgments
As always, there are so many wonderful people to thank for this book . . .
Thank you to Claudia at Folio Literary Management and the fantastic team at Harper Muse—Amanda, Becky, Julee, Kerri, Margaret, Nekasha, Halie, Kim, Laura, Lizzie, Savannah, Natalie, Colleen, Caitlin, Jere, and Patrick. I appreciate all the hard work and your incredible dedication to this story!
Thank you, Ashley and Meghan of UpLit Reads and Laurel Ann Nattress of Austenprose. Also, many thanks to Kathie Bennett of Magic Time Literary Management for supporting me every step of the way.
I also need to thank family and friends. Elizabeth—thank you for your encouragement and loving this story from the beginning. Thank you to all my writer friends, as this is truly a community that supports one another, and in this world that is a tender and valuable thing. And never last, thank you to my family. There are not enough words to express my gratitude and love.
Thanks to all the bookstores and libraries that have generously opened their doors to me. I have so much fun sharing my love of books with you! And thank you, dear readers, for trusting me with your time and your hearts once more! I hope we meet within the pages of a book again soon.
Enjoy!
Katherine
About the Author
Corinne Stagen Photography
KATHERINE REAY is a national bestselling and award-winning author who has enjoyed a lifelong affair with books. She publishes both fiction and nonfiction, holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University, and currently lives outside Chicago, Illinois, with her husband.
* * *
Visit her online at katherinereay.com
Facebook: @KatherineReayBooks
Twitter: @katherine_reay
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Praise for Katherine Reay
“Both deeply moving and edge-of-your-seat suspenseful, The Berlin Letters is an eloquent reminder of the brutal totalitarianism of Soviet Communism and the unsung heroes who fought to tear down the Iron Curtain and free Eastern Europe.”
—Beatriz Williams, New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Wives
“The Berlin Letters is a thrilling read that has it all: secret codes, espionage, and a fascinating glimpse into the world behind the Berlin Wall. Katherine Reay always delivers well-researched historical fiction with a perfect blend of heartwarming characters and fast-paced action. Fans of historical spy novels are going to love this enthralling read!”
—Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Keeper of Hidden Books
“Surrounding the Cold War and the fall of the Berlin Wall, Reay’s action-packed novel is told in dual-narrative form between a daughter with a rebellious streak and her father’s buried secrets. A story of hope and resilience, The Berlin Letters, is a thrilling story full of intrigue, espionage, code-breaking, and at its core, loyalty and humanity. You won’t be able to put it down!”
—Eliza Knight, USA TODAY and international bestselling author of Starring Adele Astaire
“Both a gripping tale of espionage and a moving portrait of a family ripped apart, The Berlin Letters offers readers a fascinating glimpse at a fraught period of all-too-recent history and the people caught in the crosshairs of geopolitics who chose, each in their own way, to fight back.”
—Jennifer Thorne and Lee Kelly, co-authors of The Antiquity Affair
“In her nail-biting latest . . . Reay builds an immersive world behind the Iron Curtain, full of competing loyalties and a constant, chilling sense of paranoia. Readers will be enthralled.”
—Publishers Weekly for A Shadow in Moscow
“This book is a consummately rendered and captivating espionage account of the Cold War, told from the perspective of two sympathetic and admirable women . . . Filled with surprise twists and turns, and ultimately uplifting and inspiring, I found this superlative novel an enduring gem. Five stars!”
—Historical Novel Society for A Shadow in Moscow
“Rich with fascinating historical detail and unforgettable characters, A Shadow in Moscow deftly explores two female spies who will risk everything to change the world. Katherine Reay eloquently portrays the incredible contributions of women in history, the extraordinary depths of love, and, perhaps most important of all, the true cost of freedom in her latest stunning page-turner. A story that will leave readers examining what they hold most dear and positively brimming with hope, this is an important, timely tour de force—and a must-read for anyone who has ever wondered if just one person can make a difference.”
—Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Veil
“Katherine Reay’s latest has it all—intrigue, twists and turns, acts of bravery and sacrificial love, and an unforgettable Cold War setting with clever, daring women at the helm. An expertly delivered page-turner by a true master of the craft!”
—Susan Meissner, USA TODAY bestselling author of The Nature of Fragile Things, for A Shadow in Moscow
“This riveting story of two female spies operating in Moscow during different eras has everything you could ever want in a novel—suspense, intrigue, compelling characters, exotic settings, deep insight, and gasp-inducing plot twists. A word of advice: clear your calendar before opening A Shadow in Moscow. Once you start, you won’t be able to stop until you regretfully reach the last page of Katherine Reay’s masterfully written novel.”
—Marie Bostwick, New York Times bestselling author of Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly
“Spellbinding. Reay’s fast-paced foray into the past cleverly reveals a family’s secrets and how a pivotal moment shaped future generations. Readers who enjoy engrossing family mystery should take note.”
—Publishers Weekly for The London House
“The London House is a tantalizing tale of deeply held secrets, heartbreak, redemption, and the enduring way that family can both hurt and heal us.”
—Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars
“The London House is a thrilling excavation of long-held family secrets that proves sometimes the darkest corners of our pasts are balanced with slivers of light. Arresting historical fiction destined to thrill fans of Erica Roebuck and Pam Jenoff.”
—Rachel McMillan, author of The London Restoration
“Expertly researched and perfectly paced, The London House is a remarkable novel about love and loss and the way history—and secrets—can impact a family and ultimately change its future.”
—Syrie James, bestselling author of The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen
“The town of Winsome reminds me of Jan Karon’s Mitford, with its endearing characters, complex lives, and surprises where you don’t expect them. You’ll root for these characters and will be sad to leave this charming town.”
—Lauren K. Denton, bestselling author of The Hideaway, for Of Literature and Lattes
“In her ode to small towns and second chances, Katherine Reay writes with affection and insight about the finer things in life.”
—Karen Dukess, author of The Last Book Party, for Of Literature and Lattes
“Reay understands the heartbeat of a bookstore.”
—Baker Book House for The Printed Letter Bookshop
“The Printed Letter Bookshop is both a powerful story and a dazzling experience. I want to give this book to every woman I know—I adored falling into Reay’s world, words, and bookstore.”
—Patti Callahan Henry, bestselling author
Also by Katherine Reay
A Shadow in Moscow
The London House
Of Literature and Lattes
The Printed Letter Bookshop
The Austen Escape
A Portrait of Emily Price
The Brontë Plot
Lizzy & Jane
Dear Mr. Knightley
Nonfiction
Awful Beautiful Life, with Becky Powell
Copyright
The Berlin Letters
Copyright © 2024 Katherine Reay
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Published by Harper Muse, an imprint of HarperCollins Focus LLC.
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Any internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by HarperCollins Focus LLC, nor does HarperCollins Focus LLC vouch for the content of these sites for the life of this book.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Reay, Katherine, 1970- author.
Title: The Berlin letters: a Cold War novel / Katherine Reay.
Description: [Nashville]: Harper Muse, 2024. | Series: A Cold War Novel | Summary: "Near the end of the Cold War, a CIA code breaker discovers a symbol she recognizes from her childhood, which launches her across the world to the heart of Berlin just before the wall comes tumbling down"--Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2023039223 (print) | LCCN 2023039224 (ebook) | ISBN 9781400243068 (paperback) | ISBN 9781400243075 (epub) | ISBN 9781400243082
