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Wartime Holland #2
Hidden in the Shadows
The hidden village was meant to keep them safe, but the Nazis have found it… There’s no time to lose. Laura gathers the children and whispers to them to be brave. The smallest cowers in her arms as they hear the crack of gunshots outside. Laura knows they’ll have to run if they are to survive…
Nazi-occupied Holland, 1943 : In a makeshift village in the middle of the woods, hiding from Nazi soldiers determined to find them, a beautiful young Jewish woman named Laura thought she was safe. By day she remained silent and out of sight, but as darkness fell, she began to fall in love with a resistance fighter named Wouter . Until everything changed, on the day the village was stormed…
Desperate to protect the six small and terrified children in her care , Laura races towards the church spires of the nearest town in the distance and just manages to escape from the soldiers.
Wouter is stuck on the other side of the village when the German officers start shooting. As he desperately scrambles through the dark, dense woodland, he has no idea whether Laura has made it out alive.
Devastated that he hadn’t tried to save her, Wouter spends his days delivering food and transporting people to safety, determined to help those most in peril. But he never gives up hope of finding the woman he loves.
Even when he hears the rumours about the Nazis cramming Jews onto cattle trains for deportation to brutal work camps, he can’t believe she’s gone forever. How could he live if Laura was amongst them? And if he does find her, will their love have survived the ravages of everything they’ve been through, together and apart?
An utterly heartbreaking tale of love, betrayal and sacrifice, Hidden in the Shadows is perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, The Nightingale and All the Light We Cannot See.
Readers love Imogen
‘ Literally gave me shivers … Absolutely heartbreaking … Gripping … This one really got to me, I was in tears… Will stay with me for a very long time .’ Echoes in an Empty Room , ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ Unbelievable … Drop everything as you will not want to put this down .’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ Powerful, inspiring, heartbreaking … An inspiring story about the bravery and kindness of ordinary people… It had me in tears .’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ Heart-wrenching … My heart was in my mouth through some of it and tears for others.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ I couldn’t put it down … I read it in a day … From the first chapter you are engaged with the characters and I even found myself warning them when they were due to be raided – OUT LOUD! ’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ Couldn’t put this book down … Have read a few historical fiction [books] about WWII but this one was the best. I was transported through time and space and felt as if I was right there .’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ Truly heartbreaking and emotional … Tear-jerking … Glued to the story… A page-turner and unputdownable, will make you cry till the end! ’ Tropical Girl Reads Books , ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ Absolutely captivated me from the first to the last page! … Heartbreaking … This five-star read needs to be top of your list – especially if you are a lover of historical fiction!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ Wow! Where do I begin?… An inspirational read and one of hope… Loved it. ’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A moving story of courage and betrayal … This is a rapid-paced, compelling story with masterful execution.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nazi-occupied Holland, 1943 : In a makeshift village in the middle of the woods, hiding from Nazi soldiers determined to find them, a beautiful young Jewish woman named Laura thought she was safe. By day she remained silent and out of sight, but as darkness fell, she began to fall in love with a resistance fighter named Wouter . Until everything changed, on the day the village was stormed…
Desperate to protect the six small and terrified children in her care , Laura races towards the church spires of the nearest town in the distance and just manages to escape from the soldiers.
Wouter is stuck on the other side of the village when the German officers start shooting. As he desperately scrambles through the dark, dense woodland, he has no idea whether Laura has made it out alive.
Devastated that he hadn’t tried to save her, Wouter spends his days delivering food and transporting people to safety, determined to help those most in peril. But he never gives up hope of finding the woman he loves.
Even when he hears the rumours about the Nazis cramming Jews onto cattle trains for deportation to brutal work camps, he can’t believe she’s gone forever. How could he live if Laura was amongst them? And if he does find her, will their love have survived the ravages of everything they’ve been through, together and apart?
An utterly heartbreaking tale of love, betrayal and sacrifice, Hidden in the Shadows is perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, The Nightingale and All the Light We Cannot See.
Readers love Imogen
‘ Literally gave me shivers … Absolutely heartbreaking … Gripping … This one really got to me, I was in tears… Will stay with me for a very long time .’ Echoes in an Empty Room , ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ Unbelievable … Drop everything as you will not want to put this down .’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ Powerful, inspiring, heartbreaking … An inspiring story about the bravery and kindness of ordinary people… It had me in tears .’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ Heart-wrenching … My heart was in my mouth through some of it and tears for others.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ I couldn’t put it down … I read it in a day … From the first chapter you are engaged with the characters and I even found myself warning them when they were due to be raided – OUT LOUD! ’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ Couldn’t put this book down … Have read a few historical fiction [books] about WWII but this one was the best. I was transported through time and space and felt as if I was right there .’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ Truly heartbreaking and emotional … Tear-jerking … Glued to the story… A page-turner and unputdownable, will make you cry till the end! ’ Tropical Girl Reads Books , ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ Absolutely captivated me from the first to the last page! … Heartbreaking … This five-star read needs to be top of your list – especially if you are a lover of historical fiction!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘ Wow! Where do I begin?… An inspirational read and one of hope… Loved it. ’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A moving story of courage and betrayal … This is a rapid-paced, compelling story with masterful execution.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2019
1094 people are currently reading
419 people want to read
About the author
Imogen Matthews
17 books85 followersImogen Matthews lives in Oxford, England, and is the author of two romantic fiction novels. The Hidden Village is her first foray into historical fiction and YA.
She was born in Holland to a Dutch mother and English father and moved to England when she was still a baby.
Imogen has always enjoyed holidays in Holland and since 1990, has gone regularly with her husband and two children to Nunspeet on the edge of the Veluwe woods.
It was here she discovered the story of the hidden village and, together with her mother's vivid stories of life in WW2 Holland, she was inspired to write her historical fiction novels about bravery, courage, resilience and love.
She was born in Holland to a Dutch mother and English father and moved to England when she was still a baby.
Imogen has always enjoyed holidays in Holland and since 1990, has gone regularly with her husband and two children to Nunspeet on the edge of the Veluwe woods.
It was here she discovered the story of the hidden village and, together with her mother's vivid stories of life in WW2 Holland, she was inspired to write her historical fiction novels about bravery, courage, resilience and love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
December 13, 2019
This captivating book is the sequel of the book called "The Hidden Village" by the lovely author, Imogen Matthews.
First of all I like to mention that at the end of the book you'll notice a very well translated Glossary of Dutch-English and German-English Words & Phrases, and as a Dutchman myself I'm very proud to say that the Dutch words were wonderfully used within this fascinating war-story.
Storytelling has been again of a superb quality, the people featuring in this WWII story come all vividly to life, especially the young ones like the leading couple Laura Wechsler and Wouter Brand, while the atmosphere of wartime occupied Holland come wonderfully off the pages.
The Veluwe surroundings will play a major role in the first part of the book for Wouter and Laura, but later on places like Zwolle, Utrecht, Maassluis and other places in the west of Holland will play a significant part in the adventures of the Jewish people in their attempt to evade the Nazi oppression and deportation.
Like I said this story evolves the love-story of Wouter Brand and the Jewish girl Laura Wechsler and is situated mainly in the year 1944 with its the hunger winter, and ending with a kind of prologue which is set in September 1945, after the war.
After a raid by the Germans on their "Hidden Village" Wouter and Laura will get separated and a journey of survival, fear and desperation will begin for both, with on the one hand Wouter in his desperate search for Laura facing dangerous encounters with the Nazis, until with quite some help he's able to locate Laura and go in search for her, while on the other hand Laura is taken first to Zwolle before finally ending up in the west of the country, but whether they will be finally reunited is for the reader to find out for her/himself by reading this marvellous book.
What this book also strongly delivers is the persistence of the resistance to help as many Jews as possible to escape the Nazis clutches, as well as the German occupation itself and not to forget the heroics and betrayal of certain people who are featuring in this gripping tale.
Highly recommended, for this is a true telling of the deprivation of life, and the fight for survival in occupied Holland in WWII, especially the starvation at the end of the war in 1944/1945 during the hunger winter, and because of all these truthful ingredients I like to call this beautiful book: "A Fantastic Realistic WWII Story"!
* I would like to thank the author and publisher for my copy in exchange for an unbiased and honest review! *
First of all I like to mention that at the end of the book you'll notice a very well translated Glossary of Dutch-English and German-English Words & Phrases, and as a Dutchman myself I'm very proud to say that the Dutch words were wonderfully used within this fascinating war-story.
Storytelling has been again of a superb quality, the people featuring in this WWII story come all vividly to life, especially the young ones like the leading couple Laura Wechsler and Wouter Brand, while the atmosphere of wartime occupied Holland come wonderfully off the pages.
The Veluwe surroundings will play a major role in the first part of the book for Wouter and Laura, but later on places like Zwolle, Utrecht, Maassluis and other places in the west of Holland will play a significant part in the adventures of the Jewish people in their attempt to evade the Nazi oppression and deportation.
Like I said this story evolves the love-story of Wouter Brand and the Jewish girl Laura Wechsler and is situated mainly in the year 1944 with its the hunger winter, and ending with a kind of prologue which is set in September 1945, after the war.
After a raid by the Germans on their "Hidden Village" Wouter and Laura will get separated and a journey of survival, fear and desperation will begin for both, with on the one hand Wouter in his desperate search for Laura facing dangerous encounters with the Nazis, until with quite some help he's able to locate Laura and go in search for her, while on the other hand Laura is taken first to Zwolle before finally ending up in the west of the country, but whether they will be finally reunited is for the reader to find out for her/himself by reading this marvellous book.
What this book also strongly delivers is the persistence of the resistance to help as many Jews as possible to escape the Nazis clutches, as well as the German occupation itself and not to forget the heroics and betrayal of certain people who are featuring in this gripping tale.
Highly recommended, for this is a true telling of the deprivation of life, and the fight for survival in occupied Holland in WWII, especially the starvation at the end of the war in 1944/1945 during the hunger winter, and because of all these truthful ingredients I like to call this beautiful book: "A Fantastic Realistic WWII Story"!
* I would like to thank the author and publisher for my copy in exchange for an unbiased and honest review! *
March 6, 2022
We all know how important it is to have a contingency plan. We all know how important it is to run through it again and again in our minds until we know exactly what to do should the circumstances necessitate it. What we can’t plan for is panic. It will repeatedly cause us to react irrationally. Wouter and Laura fall into this trap.
The Jewish girl in hiding and the German boy who refused to work for the Nazis fell in love, but are torn apart when Berkenhout, their hiding spot in the woods, is discovered in September 1944. In order to evade capture, they must run. Unfortunately, during the raid, they become separated in the chaos and confusion as the onderduikers run for their lives.
I liked that the author used secondary characters from book 1 as her main characters in this book. The common theme that ran through both books was how people in the town banded together to help their fellow citizens, regardless of religion. In book 1 they went to courageous lengths to feed and protect strangers as they hid in the village and in book 2 they are helping to hide and protect them as they flee from their village and attempt to evade the enemy. The push and pull of Wouter and Laura’s timeline is captivating. Readers follow Laura as she goes from one hiding place to the next and then trace Wouter’s steps as he takes each tip received and then dodges danger in his quest to reunite with her. As if this wasn’t agonizing enough, the two now face the atrocities that come with the Hunger Winter. If only they’d stayed together.
Matthews' plot is thrilling, engaging and heartbreaking. You’ll soon realize, like Laura and Wouter, that despite surviving the difficulties of life in the forest village, it still failed to prepare them for what destiny lay outside. Matthews shares with us the myriad of ways the Dutch survived the invasion, including joining the resistance and collaborating.
In giving us a unique lens with which to view the bravery of the Dutch people during WW2, the author allows us to see the humanity shown to strangers, friendships made, love gained and lost, and the determination of everyday citizens just to live another day.
I was gifted this advance copy by Imogen Matthews, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
The Jewish girl in hiding and the German boy who refused to work for the Nazis fell in love, but are torn apart when Berkenhout, their hiding spot in the woods, is discovered in September 1944. In order to evade capture, they must run. Unfortunately, during the raid, they become separated in the chaos and confusion as the onderduikers run for their lives.
I liked that the author used secondary characters from book 1 as her main characters in this book. The common theme that ran through both books was how people in the town banded together to help their fellow citizens, regardless of religion. In book 1 they went to courageous lengths to feed and protect strangers as they hid in the village and in book 2 they are helping to hide and protect them as they flee from their village and attempt to evade the enemy. The push and pull of Wouter and Laura’s timeline is captivating. Readers follow Laura as she goes from one hiding place to the next and then trace Wouter’s steps as he takes each tip received and then dodges danger in his quest to reunite with her. As if this wasn’t agonizing enough, the two now face the atrocities that come with the Hunger Winter. If only they’d stayed together.
Matthews' plot is thrilling, engaging and heartbreaking. You’ll soon realize, like Laura and Wouter, that despite surviving the difficulties of life in the forest village, it still failed to prepare them for what destiny lay outside. Matthews shares with us the myriad of ways the Dutch survived the invasion, including joining the resistance and collaborating.
In giving us a unique lens with which to view the bravery of the Dutch people during WW2, the author allows us to see the humanity shown to strangers, friendships made, love gained and lost, and the determination of everyday citizens just to live another day.
I was gifted this advance copy by Imogen Matthews, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
April 6, 2022
One Liner: Interesting backdrop and side characters. The rest falls flat.
Sep 1944
The hidden village has been discovered and destroyed by the Nazis. Wouter, who should have been guiding the survivors to safety, panics and runs away to save his life. He feels guilty for his reaction and worries about Laura (his love) and others. Wouter manages to track some of them, though he has no information about Laura. He is determined to right the wrong and find her… if it’s not too late.
Laura is a Jew and knows that her chances of being alive are zero if found by the Nazis. She is moved from one place to another, hidden in the cellars and attics, and transported in the dark. She doesn’t know if she’ll ever get to stay in one place for long. Moreover, she wonders what happened to Wouter and if there’s any chance of having another chance at love.
Will Wouter and Laura find each other and be united? Can their love triumph in the bleakest of times?
What I Like:
• The book is less than 300 pages and has a decent page. It deals with Holland during wartime and how the locals did their best to hide/ save Jews from being caught by the Nazis.
• The side characters are more impactful and active in the book. They are the ones who take responsibility and get the job done.
• There is little violence in the book. What’s there is not graphic and is only mentioned. It was a relief, especially since this is my third book (back to back) in the WWII setting.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
• Sigh! I know this book takes off where book one ends. I didn’t read it. That wasn’t a problem either. My issue was with the narration.
• The story moves between Wouter’s POV in the third person and Laura’s in the first person. Now, I should’ve connected to at least one of them. Instead, I liked Else, Kiki, Oliver, Dick, Bets, Henk, etc. Go figure!
• I hate to say this, but neither of the lead characters impressed me or made me worry for their safety. The distance between me and the lead characters was too vast and continued to grow wider. After a point, I just wanted the book to end.
• The timeline is also not smooth. The events happen before or after in one timeline, and we get to know if it is in the other. I don’t know if I would have felt differently if I read book one. The narrative style doesn’t seem to work for me.
• The saving grace was the network of the Dutch people who took a brave stance of defending the Jews in ways they could despite the dire circumstances and constant threat to their lives.
To sum up, Hidden in the Shadows uses an interesting theme, but the lead characters fail to make an impact. Those who read the first book loved this more, so you might want to pick that up before this one.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#NetGalley #HiddenintheShadows
Sep 1944
The hidden village has been discovered and destroyed by the Nazis. Wouter, who should have been guiding the survivors to safety, panics and runs away to save his life. He feels guilty for his reaction and worries about Laura (his love) and others. Wouter manages to track some of them, though he has no information about Laura. He is determined to right the wrong and find her… if it’s not too late.
Laura is a Jew and knows that her chances of being alive are zero if found by the Nazis. She is moved from one place to another, hidden in the cellars and attics, and transported in the dark. She doesn’t know if she’ll ever get to stay in one place for long. Moreover, she wonders what happened to Wouter and if there’s any chance of having another chance at love.
Will Wouter and Laura find each other and be united? Can their love triumph in the bleakest of times?
What I Like:
• The book is less than 300 pages and has a decent page. It deals with Holland during wartime and how the locals did their best to hide/ save Jews from being caught by the Nazis.
• The side characters are more impactful and active in the book. They are the ones who take responsibility and get the job done.
• There is little violence in the book. What’s there is not graphic and is only mentioned. It was a relief, especially since this is my third book (back to back) in the WWII setting.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
• Sigh! I know this book takes off where book one ends. I didn’t read it. That wasn’t a problem either. My issue was with the narration.
• The story moves between Wouter’s POV in the third person and Laura’s in the first person. Now, I should’ve connected to at least one of them. Instead, I liked Else, Kiki, Oliver, Dick, Bets, Henk, etc. Go figure!
• I hate to say this, but neither of the lead characters impressed me or made me worry for their safety. The distance between me and the lead characters was too vast and continued to grow wider. After a point, I just wanted the book to end.
• The timeline is also not smooth. The events happen before or after in one timeline, and we get to know if it is in the other. I don’t know if I would have felt differently if I read book one. The narrative style doesn’t seem to work for me.
• The saving grace was the network of the Dutch people who took a brave stance of defending the Jews in ways they could despite the dire circumstances and constant threat to their lives.
To sum up, Hidden in the Shadows uses an interesting theme, but the lead characters fail to make an impact. Those who read the first book loved this more, so you might want to pick that up before this one.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#NetGalley #HiddenintheShadows
February 10, 2024
Beautifully written novel that pulls you in from the very first page. Wonderful characters and poignant storyline make this a book that will stay with you long after you finish the final chapter! Full review to come very soon!! :)
March 27, 2022
One Step Ahead
A tragic and heartbreaking romance set in WWII. A Jewish girl named Laura and a resistance fighter named Woulter live in a village of huts hidden in the middle of a forest in Nazi Occupied Holland. They are hiding from the German Nazi soldiers and maintained by the resistance. Slowly Laura and Woulter fall in love with each other. He promises to save her if the German soldiers find the village. This is a second book to the first The Hidden Village. It can be read as a read alone.
They should have been safe, they took every precaution to keep the village secret. One day the German Soldiers found the village and stormed it. Laura grabbed the children and ran one direction toward a village and a church. Woulter panicked and instead of running to find Laura he ran for the forest in the opposite direction.
Woulter helped the resistance feed and hide the Jewish, but he never stopped looking for Laura and he never forgave himself for not finding her when the Nazi's came to the village. He needs to know that she escaped and is still alive.
Thus the story of Laura and the story of Woulter and the resistance that helped them both after the village is compromised. The journey's they both took and the people they met along the way. The tight escapes, and the fear they always carried staying just one step ahead of the enemy.
This is a story of love and survival, of fear and hope and of the romance that doesn't die between two young people. Will they find each other or will one or the other perish in the horrible war raging on or the famine which has spread across the land.
I enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it.
Thanks to Imogene Matthews for writing a great story, to Bookouture for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me.
A tragic and heartbreaking romance set in WWII. A Jewish girl named Laura and a resistance fighter named Woulter live in a village of huts hidden in the middle of a forest in Nazi Occupied Holland. They are hiding from the German Nazi soldiers and maintained by the resistance. Slowly Laura and Woulter fall in love with each other. He promises to save her if the German soldiers find the village. This is a second book to the first The Hidden Village. It can be read as a read alone.
They should have been safe, they took every precaution to keep the village secret. One day the German Soldiers found the village and stormed it. Laura grabbed the children and ran one direction toward a village and a church. Woulter panicked and instead of running to find Laura he ran for the forest in the opposite direction.
Woulter helped the resistance feed and hide the Jewish, but he never stopped looking for Laura and he never forgave himself for not finding her when the Nazi's came to the village. He needs to know that she escaped and is still alive.
Thus the story of Laura and the story of Woulter and the resistance that helped them both after the village is compromised. The journey's they both took and the people they met along the way. The tight escapes, and the fear they always carried staying just one step ahead of the enemy.
This is a story of love and survival, of fear and hope and of the romance that doesn't die between two young people. Will they find each other or will one or the other perish in the horrible war raging on or the famine which has spread across the land.
I enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it.
Thanks to Imogene Matthews for writing a great story, to Bookouture for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me.
December 26, 2019
A very moving and compelling read.
This picks up the story of the main characters who were in hiding in a hidden village in the forest in Holland during World War II. The incredible hardships they endured just to survive, are so heartwrenching. Some are searching for loved ones, others are coming to terms with their losses, but it is still a matter of who can you trust.
So very well written and researched by Imogen Matthews; I cannot recommend it highly enough.
This picks up the story of the main characters who were in hiding in a hidden village in the forest in Holland during World War II. The incredible hardships they endured just to survive, are so heartwrenching. Some are searching for loved ones, others are coming to terms with their losses, but it is still a matter of who can you trust.
So very well written and researched by Imogen Matthews; I cannot recommend it highly enough.
April 12, 2022
I really enjoyed the first book
"The Hidden Village"
, not only for its concept of a hidden village in a Dutch forest for the Jews during such a tumultuous time, but I really loved the characters...particularly Sofie and the young boys she was friends with (their names escape me now). So when HIDDEN IN THE SHADOWS came up I was excited at the prospect of continuing the journey after the harrowing time Sofie faced when the hidden village was ambushed. However, this book took a slightly different journey, focusing on Sofie's friend she met in the village Laura and Wouter, a young Dutch man who refused to join the Germans' fight. While we do meet up with some of the characters who had a starring role in the first book, they don't feature quite as heavily in this one.
The story follows Laura and Wouter from the moment the village was ambushed and having to flee. Although both of them were on the verge of some form of relationship or other - or whatever it might be in their self-imposed prison hidden away from the Germans - they each fled in different directions instead of looking for the other to flee with. At the time the instinct was basic - get out or die. Throughout the story Wouter chastised himself for failing to look after Laura in getting her and the others out safely, with questionable character Henk doing so in his place. Wouter, on the other hand, fled and found himself in the company of another somewhat questionable character I didn't entirely trust named Klaus. Together they bunked in barns and outhouses or under the stars in their bid to flee the Germans but Wouter's guilt would not let him forget what he left behind and how he failed the other villagers. Despite this, Wouter continued to help the resistance but never stopped his search for Laura.
Meanwhile, Laura was passed around like unwanted baggage, at first with two young brothers with whom she escaped and continued teaching them as she did in the village to help keep their minds occupied and stop them missing their family. However, the woman hiding them found it impossible to keep both boys as well as Laura and so she found someone else who was willing to take them in and keep the brothers together. They had lost everyone and everything else, at least keep them together. But it wasn't long before Laura too had to move on and it was Henk who silently came to transport her. Should she trust him? Or was he handing her over to the Germans? Throughout her journey, Laura never stopped thinking of Wouter, wondering if he got out alive and if so where was he now. She couldn't help wondering about her dear friend Sofie who took her under her wing when she first arrived at the village from Belguim and what had happened to her. The truth of Sofie's horrendous experience would become known to her, and again it was heartbreaking.
There is so much involved in this story working in the background just as it was in the first book. The resistance network of people transporting and offering shelter and aid to those in need...specifically the Jews. How frightening it must have been not only for those fleeing but for those who put their own lives on the line by hiding and helping them. Had they been discovered, they would be shot without question. The Germans spared no one and never showed mercy. The romance between Laura and Wouter was secondary to the rest of the story as each of them were left wondering if the other survived the ambush.
Do Wouter and Laura find each other? Will it be ‘happily ever after’? Was forester Henk hero or villain? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
HIDDEN IN THE SHADOWS is a story of bravery, of survival, of fear and of hope. It should have been as enthralling as the previous one but it wasn't. I couldn't connect with Laura or Wouter's narratives or really anyone else's and wasn't invested in them as I had been with Sofie, Oscar and Jan who were just adorable, especially mischievous Jan. But I felt none of that in this book. I missed the other characters that were the focus of the first book and only a couple featured briefly in this one. Not only that but "The Hidden Village" did have an ending of sorts by jumping twenty years ahead...and then this sequel just rewinds back to 1944 again.
I was disappointed with HIDDEN IN THE SHADOWS given how much I enjoyed the first book, though it is still a good story. There has been a lot of research done to enable Ms Matthews to pen such a story based on fact and she has done an incredible job of bringing the story to life. Unfortunately, I just didn't enjoy this one as much as the first one.
You can read this book without reading the first, but again, the first one is the better story of the two as you get the history behind the building of the hidden village and everyone's part that they played. You also get to meet adorable characters that were missing from this one.
Overall, HIDDEN IN THE SHADOWS is an interesting follow-up to "The Hidden Village" but generally falls flat. However, don't take my word for it as many others have enjoyed this one far more than I did. You might too.
I would like to thank #ImogenMatthews, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #HiddenInTheShadows in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
The story follows Laura and Wouter from the moment the village was ambushed and having to flee. Although both of them were on the verge of some form of relationship or other - or whatever it might be in their self-imposed prison hidden away from the Germans - they each fled in different directions instead of looking for the other to flee with. At the time the instinct was basic - get out or die. Throughout the story Wouter chastised himself for failing to look after Laura in getting her and the others out safely, with questionable character Henk doing so in his place. Wouter, on the other hand, fled and found himself in the company of another somewhat questionable character I didn't entirely trust named Klaus. Together they bunked in barns and outhouses or under the stars in their bid to flee the Germans but Wouter's guilt would not let him forget what he left behind and how he failed the other villagers. Despite this, Wouter continued to help the resistance but never stopped his search for Laura.
Meanwhile, Laura was passed around like unwanted baggage, at first with two young brothers with whom she escaped and continued teaching them as she did in the village to help keep their minds occupied and stop them missing their family. However, the woman hiding them found it impossible to keep both boys as well as Laura and so she found someone else who was willing to take them in and keep the brothers together. They had lost everyone and everything else, at least keep them together. But it wasn't long before Laura too had to move on and it was Henk who silently came to transport her. Should she trust him? Or was he handing her over to the Germans? Throughout her journey, Laura never stopped thinking of Wouter, wondering if he got out alive and if so where was he now. She couldn't help wondering about her dear friend Sofie who took her under her wing when she first arrived at the village from Belguim and what had happened to her. The truth of Sofie's horrendous experience would become known to her, and again it was heartbreaking.
There is so much involved in this story working in the background just as it was in the first book. The resistance network of people transporting and offering shelter and aid to those in need...specifically the Jews. How frightening it must have been not only for those fleeing but for those who put their own lives on the line by hiding and helping them. Had they been discovered, they would be shot without question. The Germans spared no one and never showed mercy. The romance between Laura and Wouter was secondary to the rest of the story as each of them were left wondering if the other survived the ambush.
Do Wouter and Laura find each other? Will it be ‘happily ever after’? Was forester Henk hero or villain? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
HIDDEN IN THE SHADOWS is a story of bravery, of survival, of fear and of hope. It should have been as enthralling as the previous one but it wasn't. I couldn't connect with Laura or Wouter's narratives or really anyone else's and wasn't invested in them as I had been with Sofie, Oscar and Jan who were just adorable, especially mischievous Jan. But I felt none of that in this book. I missed the other characters that were the focus of the first book and only a couple featured briefly in this one. Not only that but "The Hidden Village" did have an ending of sorts by jumping twenty years ahead...and then this sequel just rewinds back to 1944 again.
I was disappointed with HIDDEN IN THE SHADOWS given how much I enjoyed the first book, though it is still a good story. There has been a lot of research done to enable Ms Matthews to pen such a story based on fact and she has done an incredible job of bringing the story to life. Unfortunately, I just didn't enjoy this one as much as the first one.
You can read this book without reading the first, but again, the first one is the better story of the two as you get the history behind the building of the hidden village and everyone's part that they played. You also get to meet adorable characters that were missing from this one.
Overall, HIDDEN IN THE SHADOWS is an interesting follow-up to "The Hidden Village" but generally falls flat. However, don't take my word for it as many others have enjoyed this one far more than I did. You might too.
I would like to thank #ImogenMatthews, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #HiddenInTheShadows in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
May 10, 2020
In my recent review of The Hidden Village, I commented that its ending left me with unanswered questions about some of the characters and what happened next. It seems the author felt the same as, in the introduction to Hidden in the Shadows, Imogen writes, “Sometimes, a story doesn’t end on the last page of the book. Sometimes, there’s another story still waiting to be told”.
The story of ‘what happened next’ is revealed in chapters told from the points of view of Wouter, Laura, and occasionally Else (surely everyone’s favourite tante from the first book and who played such an important role in maintaining the hidden village). Perhaps because Laura’s story is written in the first person (whereas Wouter’s is in the third person) I found myself more engaged in her experiences. I have to say, however, that even Laura seemed at times overly preoccupied with her predicament – ‘passed around like some unwanted baggage’ as she describes it – rather than considering what a risk the people sheltering her and others like her were running.
For me, by far the most compelling aspect of the book was not so much the romance between Laura and Wouter, but the details about the network of people involved in transporting and offering shelter to those in need. It was fascinating to read about the ingenious hiding places and inspiring to witness people’s willingness to put themselves at risk and share their scarce resources with complete strangers. I also thought it was clever of the author to introduce characters such as Emil and Friedrich to demonstrate there were Germans, even amongst those forced to serve in the army, who were just as keen as the population of the countries they had overrun for the war to end.
Do Wouter and Laura find each other? Will it be ‘happily ever after’? Was forester Henk hero or villain? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
Hidden in the Shadows is described by the publishers as “an unforgettable story of bravery and love, inspired by historical events” and, like The Hidden Village, it certainly sheds a light on the courage, ingenuity and community spirit that helped people like Laura and Wouter escape the clutches of the Nazis.
The story of ‘what happened next’ is revealed in chapters told from the points of view of Wouter, Laura, and occasionally Else (surely everyone’s favourite tante from the first book and who played such an important role in maintaining the hidden village). Perhaps because Laura’s story is written in the first person (whereas Wouter’s is in the third person) I found myself more engaged in her experiences. I have to say, however, that even Laura seemed at times overly preoccupied with her predicament – ‘passed around like some unwanted baggage’ as she describes it – rather than considering what a risk the people sheltering her and others like her were running.
For me, by far the most compelling aspect of the book was not so much the romance between Laura and Wouter, but the details about the network of people involved in transporting and offering shelter to those in need. It was fascinating to read about the ingenious hiding places and inspiring to witness people’s willingness to put themselves at risk and share their scarce resources with complete strangers. I also thought it was clever of the author to introduce characters such as Emil and Friedrich to demonstrate there were Germans, even amongst those forced to serve in the army, who were just as keen as the population of the countries they had overrun for the war to end.
Do Wouter and Laura find each other? Will it be ‘happily ever after’? Was forester Henk hero or villain? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
Hidden in the Shadows is described by the publishers as “an unforgettable story of bravery and love, inspired by historical events” and, like The Hidden Village, it certainly sheds a light on the courage, ingenuity and community spirit that helped people like Laura and Wouter escape the clutches of the Nazis.
June 11, 2025
A fascinating and well-researched book about a group of Jewish & Dutch people who hid in the woods to conceal themselves from advancing Nazis.
January 2, 2020
The novel has a cinematic quality about it and succeeds in bringing the terrifying events befalling a group of Jewish and Dutch people trying to escape the Nazis after the discovery and destruction of an underground hideout in the woods near a Dutch village during WW2.
The story follows the predicament of the survivors separated after the German raid on the hideout and tracks the fate and emotional turmoil of two of them in particular. Wouter and Laura had fallen in love at the hidden settlement but their sudden violent separation had caused feelings of guilt and doubts towards each other.
The reader is effortlessly led to hope that both have been spared the horrors of being captured, or worse, and that their fate will bring them together again with all misunderstandings happily resolved.
But the times are hard and dangerous. Any early hope of an end to the German occupation of Holland are initially dashed before the arrival of the Allies and freedom come at last.
But what awaits them when thay are finally liberated?
The narrative leads the reader seamlessly from scene to scene. The description of the highs and lows of the hopes and feelings of the characters is highly sympathetic, getting the reader to follow the vicissitudes of the characters with equal empathy.
I found it an excellent read and a compelling page turner.
The story follows the predicament of the survivors separated after the German raid on the hideout and tracks the fate and emotional turmoil of two of them in particular. Wouter and Laura had fallen in love at the hidden settlement but their sudden violent separation had caused feelings of guilt and doubts towards each other.
The reader is effortlessly led to hope that both have been spared the horrors of being captured, or worse, and that their fate will bring them together again with all misunderstandings happily resolved.
But the times are hard and dangerous. Any early hope of an end to the German occupation of Holland are initially dashed before the arrival of the Allies and freedom come at last.
But what awaits them when thay are finally liberated?
The narrative leads the reader seamlessly from scene to scene. The description of the highs and lows of the hopes and feelings of the characters is highly sympathetic, getting the reader to follow the vicissitudes of the characters with equal empathy.
I found it an excellent read and a compelling page turner.
December 5, 2019
As someone who devours historical fiction (especially fiction set during WW2), and who lived right in the Veluwe (Apeldoorn to be exact) for a few years, I was really interested in reading Imogen Matthew’s novel Hidden In The Shadows. Partially based on true stories, Hidden In The Shadows is the sequel to the author’s first novel, The Hidden Village. The Hidden Village ends with a secret hideout in the Veluwe woods being discovered by Nazis, and Hidden In The Shadows begins right where The Hidden Village left off. The story is told through the voices of two narrators, Wouter and Laura, who became separated while fleeing the Nazis. Wouter’s narrative is mainly focused on finding Laura, while Laura’s is more focused on surviving the war in general.
All in all the story is well written and engaging, although I found Laura’s use of present tense a little jarring, especially as Wouter’s voice uses the past tense. I also found it a bit hard to understand when certain events happen as there is a time delay between both narrators. There is no clear indication of date at the top of each chapter, so it can sometimes be a little confusing (especially as the time hops all over the place between chapters). I also found the characters a little one dimensional; especially Wouter. His story doesn’t always make complete sense, and he just seems self-absorbed and just kind of boring really. There were other characters who deserved more attention in my opinion (Emil for example). And there are also a few loose ends that should have been tied up (Klaus for example - his story needed a conclusion in my opinion).
I loved that the story is set in a part of The Netherlands that we don’t read about often, and also talks of how the general population suffered at the hands of the Nazis during the occupation. It’s important to remember the stories of the everyday people who hid those persecuted even though they barely had enough food to survive themselves, even though they risked death if discovered. For most of the novel Laura is on the run, staying in different places frequently. This was a great way for the author to show how the Dutch population survived the war, how some readily joined the resistance, some collaborated with the Nazis, and some just reluctantly did what they had to to survive.
As I hadn’t read The Hidden Village I did feel a bit lost at first - I had no idea who all the characters were and struggled to imagine what the hidden village looked like. So I do think that the reader will probably get more out of Hidden In The Shadows if they read The Hidden Village first. I personally think that both books deserve to be together as one book, with some parts of the plot and some of the characters fleshed out a little more. I would have loved to read more about Emil for example!
All in all the story is well written and engaging, although I found Laura’s use of present tense a little jarring, especially as Wouter’s voice uses the past tense. I also found it a bit hard to understand when certain events happen as there is a time delay between both narrators. There is no clear indication of date at the top of each chapter, so it can sometimes be a little confusing (especially as the time hops all over the place between chapters). I also found the characters a little one dimensional; especially Wouter. His story doesn’t always make complete sense, and he just seems self-absorbed and just kind of boring really. There were other characters who deserved more attention in my opinion (Emil for example). And there are also a few loose ends that should have been tied up (Klaus for example - his story needed a conclusion in my opinion).
I loved that the story is set in a part of The Netherlands that we don’t read about often, and also talks of how the general population suffered at the hands of the Nazis during the occupation. It’s important to remember the stories of the everyday people who hid those persecuted even though they barely had enough food to survive themselves, even though they risked death if discovered. For most of the novel Laura is on the run, staying in different places frequently. This was a great way for the author to show how the Dutch population survived the war, how some readily joined the resistance, some collaborated with the Nazis, and some just reluctantly did what they had to to survive.
As I hadn’t read The Hidden Village I did feel a bit lost at first - I had no idea who all the characters were and struggled to imagine what the hidden village looked like. So I do think that the reader will probably get more out of Hidden In The Shadows if they read The Hidden Village first. I personally think that both books deserve to be together as one book, with some parts of the plot and some of the characters fleshed out a little more. I would have loved to read more about Emil for example!
December 7, 2019
It's September, 1944, and a group of people have created a hidden village in the woods in the Netherlands. Most of the people there are Jews who are trying to stay safe from the occupying German army and others are people who need to hide. The Nazis in this area have heard about this village in the woods and have been searching for it and on this morning, they have found it. As the shooting begins, several people run into the woods. The main characters, Wouter, who has been trained to help protect the people in the village, gets scared and runs to the woods to hide by himself. As walks for miles, trying to find a safe place, he meets a lot of people who are doing the same thing. Luckily, there were a lot of people who were sympathetic to the people in hiding and helped them with food and a place to sleep despite the danger. As Wouter, travels, he meets other people who had been in the hidden village but no one knows what happened to Laura, the love of his life. They are both running scared and their paths are often very close as they search for safety and each other. Will they be able to maintain their safety and find each other before they are found?
I read a lot of historical fiction and it was apparent that they author had done considerable research to make the story (based on fact) realistic. I read this book as a stand alone but plan to read the first book, The Hidden Village to get some additional back ground on the characters. Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review.
I read a lot of historical fiction and it was apparent that they author had done considerable research to make the story (based on fact) realistic. I read this book as a stand alone but plan to read the first book, The Hidden Village to get some additional back ground on the characters. Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review.
May 4, 2020
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
I am delighted today to be kicking off the blog tour for Hidden in the Shadows!
Anyone who follows my blog and reviews will know how much of a passion I have regarding historical fiction, the blurb for this book really caught my attention and I loved that it was inspired by real and true events.
I thought that the story was very well written, I loved the pace and the author really brought the pages to life for me. I have read a lot of non-fiction books on the same period and the author has clearly done her research to write this book and I loved the accuracy with the descriptions.
It is 5 stars from me for this one, it was a delight to read and that fact that it was inspired by true accounts made it an even more special read to be read in the 75th anniversary year of the ending of the Second World War – this is definitely a book I will be recommending.
I am delighted today to be kicking off the blog tour for Hidden in the Shadows!
Anyone who follows my blog and reviews will know how much of a passion I have regarding historical fiction, the blurb for this book really caught my attention and I loved that it was inspired by real and true events.
I thought that the story was very well written, I loved the pace and the author really brought the pages to life for me. I have read a lot of non-fiction books on the same period and the author has clearly done her research to write this book and I loved the accuracy with the descriptions.
It is 5 stars from me for this one, it was a delight to read and that fact that it was inspired by true accounts made it an even more special read to be read in the 75th anniversary year of the ending of the Second World War – this is definitely a book I will be recommending.
April 17, 2020
A wonderful WWII novels Heart breaking and lovely at the same time. Wouter and Laura made a wonderful couple. This the second book by Imogen Matthews I have read. Both make me want to read more about these characters
April 12, 2022
This is the second book In the Wartime Holland series. Wouter and Laura are separated. Will,they ever be reunited? Told in altering chapters from both their perspectives, it’s a heart pounding read as their perilous journeys continue. Hiding, dodging, not knowing who to trust, even discarded by family members, the subterfuge takes a toll on both.
Even when the war ends, there are unraveled seams that have to be addressed.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the early read.
Even when the war ends, there are unraveled seams that have to be addressed.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the early read.
March 22, 2022
Hidden in the Shadows is a World War 2 historical novel. It is beautifully written with emotional accounts of courage and resilience during a tumultuous and scary time. Having to trust strangers and question your acquaintances was written in a passionate way that conveyed genuine emotion, heartache, and tender moments.
#HiddenintheShadows #NetGalley @Bookouture
#HiddenintheShadows #NetGalley @Bookouture
September 29, 2022
Hidden in the Shadows
I'm not sure why but I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did the 1st in the series. Don't get me wrong! I DID like it! I wouldn't have given it 5 Stars if I didn't. It's just that I liked the 1st that much more! It may be that the 1st story affected so many people & this one was basically only two people w/ a few temporary "friends" thrown in for good measure. This book showed even more of what life was like for Jews at the time. Not the horror of the camps as so many others do, but the horrors brought about by trying to stay OUT of the camps! Also what the Resistance faced! Until recently, when I thought of the Resistance I pictured folks hiding in the woods waiting to attack a Nazi convoy, or blow up a train full of supplies! Not the everyday people who risked their lives, & those of their family, to hide 1 or 2 Jews on their property! Of course, even knowing of the food shortages, I never thought about how they fed their "guests"! I pray we never see the like again, but I also pray that if I'm not the one hiding, that I would have the courage to help those who are. If I AM one who is hiding, I pray people will be courageous enough to help me, to be compassionate enough to WANT to help.
I'm not sure why but I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did the 1st in the series. Don't get me wrong! I DID like it! I wouldn't have given it 5 Stars if I didn't. It's just that I liked the 1st that much more! It may be that the 1st story affected so many people & this one was basically only two people w/ a few temporary "friends" thrown in for good measure. This book showed even more of what life was like for Jews at the time. Not the horror of the camps as so many others do, but the horrors brought about by trying to stay OUT of the camps! Also what the Resistance faced! Until recently, when I thought of the Resistance I pictured folks hiding in the woods waiting to attack a Nazi convoy, or blow up a train full of supplies! Not the everyday people who risked their lives, & those of their family, to hide 1 or 2 Jews on their property! Of course, even knowing of the food shortages, I never thought about how they fed their "guests"! I pray we never see the like again, but I also pray that if I'm not the one hiding, that I would have the courage to help those who are. If I AM one who is hiding, I pray people will be courageous enough to help me, to be compassionate enough to WANT to help.
March 14, 2022
Imogen Matthews - Hidden in the Shadows - Wartime Holland Book 2
Soon we can expect them again, - our heroes, now fragile and vulnerable men, many of them well into their 80s and 90s.
Given their age, it will most likely be their last and final ‘farewell’ when they participate in the celebrations on Liberation Day (May 5th), to mark the freedom of the Netherlands, with parades of veterans and (music -) festivals throughout the country, and although we owe them our freedom, this story is not about them.
This story is about very ordinary people, young, old, people in love, farmers, housewives, people like you and me, who tried to live life as well as they possibly could during these dark years.
Most Dutch are familiar with the story of ‘het verscholen dorp’ or ‘Pas-Op Kamp’ as it’s also known, near Vierhouten (the Hidden Village). Here, about a hundred people, who were fleeing from the German occupier, found a safe place here in varying compositions between April 1943 and October 1944. The camp provided shelter for Jews, resistance members, allies, a Russian and a German deserter.
The camp consisted of 9 huts, some semi-underground, others completely above ground.
Hidden in the Shadows is somewhat fictionalised, based on a true story. Author Imogen Matthew has turned it into a gripping, heart-wrenching and emotional read, which should be read by everyone.
Having grown up with stories about the resistance, and the war - my grandfather on my mother’s side had to go into hiding to avoid ‘Arbeitseinsatz’, while at my father’s parental home there were people hiding; one of the ‘onderduikers’ became family when he married my father’s sister after the war - I was moved to tears by this particular story about young Wouter and Laura. From the very start, I entered their world of misery, danger, hunger and the fear of perhaps never seeing each other again, moving from place to place, staying with strangers, in the hope of finding a place to shelter, be safe, get some food.
With simple, yet powerful language, this impressive story became quite an emotional roller-coaster as well, as the two protagonists, Wouter and Laura, are about the same age as my son and eldest daughter.
The story brought back other memories as well, and in my mind, I was once again with my dear, sweet ‘oma’ (nan) sharing her own stories about the war; I once asked her why she dared to do such things (bringing food and fake distribution coupons), and her answer was; ‘simply, because it was necessary.’
I would like to thank Bookouture, and Netgalley for this advanced reader’s copy, and for bringing back sweet memories. This opinion is my own.
This gripping, and emotional story about two young people in times of war comes highly recommended. Read it. Just do.
***** 5 stars.
---
For those interested in the Hidden Village, here is a link: https://www.verscholendorpvierhouten....
It's in Dutch, but if you click on the subjects, it'll take you to the photo gallery. The current huts are replicas, since the originals have rotted away since.
Soon we can expect them again, - our heroes, now fragile and vulnerable men, many of them well into their 80s and 90s.
Given their age, it will most likely be their last and final ‘farewell’ when they participate in the celebrations on Liberation Day (May 5th), to mark the freedom of the Netherlands, with parades of veterans and (music -) festivals throughout the country, and although we owe them our freedom, this story is not about them.
This story is about very ordinary people, young, old, people in love, farmers, housewives, people like you and me, who tried to live life as well as they possibly could during these dark years.
Most Dutch are familiar with the story of ‘het verscholen dorp’ or ‘Pas-Op Kamp’ as it’s also known, near Vierhouten (the Hidden Village). Here, about a hundred people, who were fleeing from the German occupier, found a safe place here in varying compositions between April 1943 and October 1944. The camp provided shelter for Jews, resistance members, allies, a Russian and a German deserter.
The camp consisted of 9 huts, some semi-underground, others completely above ground.
Hidden in the Shadows is somewhat fictionalised, based on a true story. Author Imogen Matthew has turned it into a gripping, heart-wrenching and emotional read, which should be read by everyone.
Having grown up with stories about the resistance, and the war - my grandfather on my mother’s side had to go into hiding to avoid ‘Arbeitseinsatz’, while at my father’s parental home there were people hiding; one of the ‘onderduikers’ became family when he married my father’s sister after the war - I was moved to tears by this particular story about young Wouter and Laura. From the very start, I entered their world of misery, danger, hunger and the fear of perhaps never seeing each other again, moving from place to place, staying with strangers, in the hope of finding a place to shelter, be safe, get some food.
With simple, yet powerful language, this impressive story became quite an emotional roller-coaster as well, as the two protagonists, Wouter and Laura, are about the same age as my son and eldest daughter.
The story brought back other memories as well, and in my mind, I was once again with my dear, sweet ‘oma’ (nan) sharing her own stories about the war; I once asked her why she dared to do such things (bringing food and fake distribution coupons), and her answer was; ‘simply, because it was necessary.’
I would like to thank Bookouture, and Netgalley for this advanced reader’s copy, and for bringing back sweet memories. This opinion is my own.
This gripping, and emotional story about two young people in times of war comes highly recommended. Read it. Just do.
***** 5 stars.
---
For those interested in the Hidden Village, here is a link: https://www.verscholendorpvierhouten....
It's in Dutch, but if you click on the subjects, it'll take you to the photo gallery. The current huts are replicas, since the originals have rotted away since.
December 6, 2019
Hidden in the Shadows is World War II historical fiction that grabs you and pleads with you and sticks in your mind.
I highly recommend this book. I wish it were totally fiction and not based on actual history, as the story is hauntingly sad and painful. At the end of this profound book, the author writes (as many authors do) “If you have enjoyed Hidden in the Shadows, please do leave a review on the major review sites.” I am glad to leave a review, but this is not an “enjoyable” story in the sense of reading a rom com or sweet cozy mystery. Inspiring, unbelievable, a book that make you cry, a book that brings history to life- yes, it is all that.
This book is a follow-up to the bestselling book The Hidden Village. The hidden village was built purposefully by the Dutch in the Veluwe woods to hide Jews and others who need to hide from the Germans. I did not read The Hidden Village, but the author explains in her prologue that the book ends with the Germans discovering and destroying the village. Many readers wanted to know what happened to the characters that survived, and it is these characters who fled the Germans that we read about in book 2.
Laura and Wouter are two characters who ran for their lives, from the hail of bullets and pursuit of the German soldiers. They are both young, Laura is still a teenager, and they were just beginning to explore their love for each other. They are separated and spend the next year looking for each other. If Laura and Wouter had thought it was hard to live in a hidden village, life in Holland in the last year of the war is hell.
Laura is snuck from home to home, barn or shed, with little notice at all hours of the day or night. She is hungry, thirsty, cold in the harsh winter weather, and she is never able to relax or feel cared for. Wouter becomes more involved with the resistance. Death is always a present fear. The next person who passes them on the street could be a German soldier or collaborator.
Beautifully written, with many marvelous characters, this book reveals much about Holland during the war and the brave citizens who did their best. I couldn’t put it down. I am going to read the first book, The Hidden Village and I encourage readers to them both. The story is suitable for YA readers. Thanks to the author for a digital review copy. This is my honest review.
I highly recommend this book. I wish it were totally fiction and not based on actual history, as the story is hauntingly sad and painful. At the end of this profound book, the author writes (as many authors do) “If you have enjoyed Hidden in the Shadows, please do leave a review on the major review sites.” I am glad to leave a review, but this is not an “enjoyable” story in the sense of reading a rom com or sweet cozy mystery. Inspiring, unbelievable, a book that make you cry, a book that brings history to life- yes, it is all that.
This book is a follow-up to the bestselling book The Hidden Village. The hidden village was built purposefully by the Dutch in the Veluwe woods to hide Jews and others who need to hide from the Germans. I did not read The Hidden Village, but the author explains in her prologue that the book ends with the Germans discovering and destroying the village. Many readers wanted to know what happened to the characters that survived, and it is these characters who fled the Germans that we read about in book 2.
Laura and Wouter are two characters who ran for their lives, from the hail of bullets and pursuit of the German soldiers. They are both young, Laura is still a teenager, and they were just beginning to explore their love for each other. They are separated and spend the next year looking for each other. If Laura and Wouter had thought it was hard to live in a hidden village, life in Holland in the last year of the war is hell.
Laura is snuck from home to home, barn or shed, with little notice at all hours of the day or night. She is hungry, thirsty, cold in the harsh winter weather, and she is never able to relax or feel cared for. Wouter becomes more involved with the resistance. Death is always a present fear. The next person who passes them on the street could be a German soldier or collaborator.
Beautifully written, with many marvelous characters, this book reveals much about Holland during the war and the brave citizens who did their best. I couldn’t put it down. I am going to read the first book, The Hidden Village and I encourage readers to them both. The story is suitable for YA readers. Thanks to the author for a digital review copy. This is my honest review.
March 16, 2022
A massive thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for allowing me an ARC of the book for an honest review.
This was such a beautifully written story based on event during ww2 and the Holocaust. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the holocaust and the events that happened around it. It is such a beautiful book about love, betrayal and most importantly sacrifice that had me in tears wishing I could reach into the pages and help both of the characters.
The Jewish community in this story show a high level of bravery when they do everything that they can to hide from the Nazi's.
The bravery of Laura and Wouter is truly inspiring and watching the characters grow whiles following there journey through alternating chapters is inspiring especially as the grow, find strength and courage during such a challenging and dangerous time.
For me this book was a real page turner that i just didn't want to put down and although this is the second book in a series it can be read as a standalone.
I can't wait to read others by this author!
This was such a beautifully written story based on event during ww2 and the Holocaust. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the holocaust and the events that happened around it. It is such a beautiful book about love, betrayal and most importantly sacrifice that had me in tears wishing I could reach into the pages and help both of the characters.
The Jewish community in this story show a high level of bravery when they do everything that they can to hide from the Nazi's.
The bravery of Laura and Wouter is truly inspiring and watching the characters grow whiles following there journey through alternating chapters is inspiring especially as the grow, find strength and courage during such a challenging and dangerous time.
For me this book was a real page turner that i just didn't want to put down and although this is the second book in a series it can be read as a standalone.
I can't wait to read others by this author!
March 7, 2022
A different WW2 story inspired by true historical events this time set in the occupied Netherlands. Wouter is in hiding as all young men are being recruited by the Germans and being forced to work in Germany. Laura is Jewish and hence in hiding herself. They met whilst in the hidden village, deep in the woods but then got separated when it was raided. Chapters alternate between Woulter, Laura and occasionally Else and tell of their survival and hiding, hardships and terror. This is the second book in the series but does stand alone (I hadn't read the first one) as things are well explained. This tells of the network of not only the resistance but those who wouldn't be ground down by oppressors and just wanted to do right by their fellow man offering help, shelter and food to those on the run in fear of their lives. Even some of the recruited Germans were sympathetic, they themselves having had no choice over their position at the time. A time of horrors and trauma, very well portrayed and one to keep the pages turning. Of bravery and defiance, of love and loss and believing in whatever keeps you going forward. An informative, interesting read
April 23, 2022
Hidden in the Shadows is the second in the Wartime Holland series by Imogen Matthews. It can be read as a standalone as I found it recaps a lot of the story from book one. I don’t think new readers would be confused at all and could easily follow along with the plot. In fact, I found a good chunk of the story went over old ground from book one. At first I found this to be slightly frustrating as I wanted the story to move on a bit and for new things to happen but then I realised the necessity for this as it helped provide and consolidate the overall picture of Wouter and Laura’s story from when they had to flee the hidden village. It did go on a bit recapping things so perhaps this aspect could have been shortened.
This book continues on from where the first left off and I found myself quickly refamiliarising myself with the plot, the characters and the setting. I enjoy that the books are set in Holland because prior to this I hadn’t read anything set in this country during the war years. It gives the reader a good perspective on how Holland dealt with its occupation by the Germans and how so many people sacrificed so much to take part in resistance work to try and aid those less fortunate then themselves. These people being Jews and other sections of society deemed worthless by Hitler.
We first encounter Wouter as he is fleeing from the village hidden deep in the forest in the area surrounding Kampenveld. Someone had given away the location of Berkenhout which had been so painstakingly constructed and kept secret by a resistance group. German soldiers had arrived unexpectedly and tried to kill as many as possible. Wouter is not Jewish but didn’t want to be sent to Germany to work in a factory so that is how he came to be living there. Being high up in the ranks created by the village he should have stayed to help people flee. Escape routes had been planned and drills in case of discovery had been carried out but all this goes out the window when the attack happens and he runs for his life.
Wouter carries the guilt of his wrong doing throughout the book. He knows he should have stayed to help especially as the whereabouts of the young girl Laura that he loves remain unknown. The last time they had seen each other there had been an uneasy tension between them with things left unsaid and misunderstandings occurring. Now Wouter feels he will never have the opportunity to express how he really feels. Will he ever see her again? Will he have the chance to tell her that he loves her and wishes to be with her? He experiences such remorse throughout the novel as we journey with him as he navigates the days which turn into weeks following the destruction of the village. He knows Laura is out there some where but given the dangerous situation they find themselves and with Laura being Jewish the resistance network has kept her moving on from place to place to get her as far away to safety as possible. The country is in a constant state of fear and anxiety with so many people hiding and so many others doing their best to keep people safe.
I found that the chapters throughout the book were very short and flitted between characters very quickly. Just as I was getting to grips with where Wouter was and what he was doing the chapter concluded and then we were back to Laura and so forth. I don’t think the book ever found a steady rhythm where the reader could fully engage with what was going on. I admit I found Wouter to be quite spineless in that at the first sign of danger his instinct was to escape instead of thinking about others also. So perhaps he deserved to feel the guilt and upset that plagues him throughout the story? We follow Wouter as he tries to find Laura but at the same time he is trying to redeem himself and so helps with the network in whatever way he can. But is it too little too late? When push came to shove was that the time when he should have showed his metal and determination or will he persist and demonstrate resilience and courage and keep going to find Laura?
To be honest I wasn’t overly enamoured with Wouter as a character but I appreciated the journey he went on. I found it interesting to read of the people he meets and the secret work they were all involved in. A small network could achieve so much because they were all united for one common cause. I found the secondary characters to be more interesting as they highlighted the brave work of so many and put their lives in danger when they needn’t have. They could have gone through the war, keeping their heads down and just making it through to the end unscathed. They choose not to and for that they deserve admiration and respect.
Laura’s aspect of the story took less prominence than Wouter’s and I found myself wanting to read more of her and to try and really get into her head. They were glimpses of this occurring but it didn’t happen enough. Her journey takes her far away from the village and from Wouter and she has no choice but to go along with it. She really does put her life and her future in someone else’s hands. As a reader you just can’t imagine having to do this. She relies on the kindness and compassion of others and she goes through some very dark periods before hopefully reaching a place of sanctuary or does fate have more in store for her? You do desperately want her to reunite with the man she loves but it’s like a game of cat and mouse. They always seem to miss each other and it’s like Wouter is always one step behind and that reuniting is so far from becoming a reality. Laura really went on a journey of transformation throughout the book. I felt she was the one who grew the most and she did things she never thought she was capable of. But again, some aspects of her story fell flat in that I needed to read more of her instead of the male perspective dominating too much.
Overall, I was glad I read Hidden in the Shadows because I felt book one left many unanswered questions. I remember finishing book one and wanting to know what happened to those who escaped from the village and here is where I got those answers. Yet, the story overall was a bit of a mixed bag for me in that there was too much going over what occurred in book one instead of pushing the story forward. A few paragraphs of recapping would have sufficed. Hidden in the Shadows is an interesting read but the first book is the better of the two as it gives you the background to the setting up of the village whereas here the connection between Laura and Wouter I didn’t always care so deeply for them as I should have done. None the less I am glad I read this book and to see if the pair find their way back to each other then I suggest you give this story a read.
This book continues on from where the first left off and I found myself quickly refamiliarising myself with the plot, the characters and the setting. I enjoy that the books are set in Holland because prior to this I hadn’t read anything set in this country during the war years. It gives the reader a good perspective on how Holland dealt with its occupation by the Germans and how so many people sacrificed so much to take part in resistance work to try and aid those less fortunate then themselves. These people being Jews and other sections of society deemed worthless by Hitler.
We first encounter Wouter as he is fleeing from the village hidden deep in the forest in the area surrounding Kampenveld. Someone had given away the location of Berkenhout which had been so painstakingly constructed and kept secret by a resistance group. German soldiers had arrived unexpectedly and tried to kill as many as possible. Wouter is not Jewish but didn’t want to be sent to Germany to work in a factory so that is how he came to be living there. Being high up in the ranks created by the village he should have stayed to help people flee. Escape routes had been planned and drills in case of discovery had been carried out but all this goes out the window when the attack happens and he runs for his life.
Wouter carries the guilt of his wrong doing throughout the book. He knows he should have stayed to help especially as the whereabouts of the young girl Laura that he loves remain unknown. The last time they had seen each other there had been an uneasy tension between them with things left unsaid and misunderstandings occurring. Now Wouter feels he will never have the opportunity to express how he really feels. Will he ever see her again? Will he have the chance to tell her that he loves her and wishes to be with her? He experiences such remorse throughout the novel as we journey with him as he navigates the days which turn into weeks following the destruction of the village. He knows Laura is out there some where but given the dangerous situation they find themselves and with Laura being Jewish the resistance network has kept her moving on from place to place to get her as far away to safety as possible. The country is in a constant state of fear and anxiety with so many people hiding and so many others doing their best to keep people safe.
I found that the chapters throughout the book were very short and flitted between characters very quickly. Just as I was getting to grips with where Wouter was and what he was doing the chapter concluded and then we were back to Laura and so forth. I don’t think the book ever found a steady rhythm where the reader could fully engage with what was going on. I admit I found Wouter to be quite spineless in that at the first sign of danger his instinct was to escape instead of thinking about others also. So perhaps he deserved to feel the guilt and upset that plagues him throughout the story? We follow Wouter as he tries to find Laura but at the same time he is trying to redeem himself and so helps with the network in whatever way he can. But is it too little too late? When push came to shove was that the time when he should have showed his metal and determination or will he persist and demonstrate resilience and courage and keep going to find Laura?
To be honest I wasn’t overly enamoured with Wouter as a character but I appreciated the journey he went on. I found it interesting to read of the people he meets and the secret work they were all involved in. A small network could achieve so much because they were all united for one common cause. I found the secondary characters to be more interesting as they highlighted the brave work of so many and put their lives in danger when they needn’t have. They could have gone through the war, keeping their heads down and just making it through to the end unscathed. They choose not to and for that they deserve admiration and respect.
Laura’s aspect of the story took less prominence than Wouter’s and I found myself wanting to read more of her and to try and really get into her head. They were glimpses of this occurring but it didn’t happen enough. Her journey takes her far away from the village and from Wouter and she has no choice but to go along with it. She really does put her life and her future in someone else’s hands. As a reader you just can’t imagine having to do this. She relies on the kindness and compassion of others and she goes through some very dark periods before hopefully reaching a place of sanctuary or does fate have more in store for her? You do desperately want her to reunite with the man she loves but it’s like a game of cat and mouse. They always seem to miss each other and it’s like Wouter is always one step behind and that reuniting is so far from becoming a reality. Laura really went on a journey of transformation throughout the book. I felt she was the one who grew the most and she did things she never thought she was capable of. But again, some aspects of her story fell flat in that I needed to read more of her instead of the male perspective dominating too much.
Overall, I was glad I read Hidden in the Shadows because I felt book one left many unanswered questions. I remember finishing book one and wanting to know what happened to those who escaped from the village and here is where I got those answers. Yet, the story overall was a bit of a mixed bag for me in that there was too much going over what occurred in book one instead of pushing the story forward. A few paragraphs of recapping would have sufficed. Hidden in the Shadows is an interesting read but the first book is the better of the two as it gives you the background to the setting up of the village whereas here the connection between Laura and Wouter I didn’t always care so deeply for them as I should have done. None the less I am glad I read this book and to see if the pair find their way back to each other then I suggest you give this story a read.
December 6, 2019
When the hidden village, shelter for Dutch Jews hiding from the Nazis, is attacked, Woulter, whose task was to guide everyone to safety, runs away in panic, leaving not only the survivors to fend for themselves, but abandoning Laura, a young Jewish girl he loves dearly. Laura barely escapes with her life, and has to go from place to place to stay out of German clutches.
Hidden in the Shadows by Imogen Matthews is a love story set in World War II, based on historical events and stories told to her by her relatives who survived.
A fascinating tale that will grab your attention from the first page, told mainly from the point of view of Woulter (in third person) and Laura (in first person), this story shows how love and determination can endure and survive even the horrors of war.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, the sequel to The Hidden Village. I give it four stars.
Hidden in the Shadows by Imogen Matthews is a love story set in World War II, based on historical events and stories told to her by her relatives who survived.
A fascinating tale that will grab your attention from the first page, told mainly from the point of view of Woulter (in third person) and Laura (in first person), this story shows how love and determination can endure and survive even the horrors of war.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, the sequel to The Hidden Village. I give it four stars.
November 14, 2020
Sequel to the Hidden Village
I enjoyed this book, I think even more than the first book.
This brought together the loose ends of the first book and added more depth of character and relationships. It ends both on a sad note and a happy note, making us remember not everyone has a silver lining in their life. Some people either can’t or won’t let go of their pain and difficult past. This is very real to true life. If you’ve read The Hidden Village be sure to follow up with this book. However, if you’ve not read the Hidden Village, I think this back tracks enough so that you’ll be filled in enough to only read this as a stand alone and be just fine. They go very well together and after reading the first, it was vital to read the second book.
pamarella
PRCS
I enjoyed this book, I think even more than the first book.
This brought together the loose ends of the first book and added more depth of character and relationships. It ends both on a sad note and a happy note, making us remember not everyone has a silver lining in their life. Some people either can’t or won’t let go of their pain and difficult past. This is very real to true life. If you’ve read The Hidden Village be sure to follow up with this book. However, if you’ve not read the Hidden Village, I think this back tracks enough so that you’ll be filled in enough to only read this as a stand alone and be just fine. They go very well together and after reading the first, it was vital to read the second book.
pamarella
PRCS
September 15, 2022
Hidden in the Shadows
(Wartime Holland #2)
by
Imogen Matthews
Released April 20, 2022
This book was so interesting to read. Not only Jewish people had to hide out from the NAZI’s, but also able-bodied men who were afraid of being shipped to Germany to work and young men who disliked the German army and were afraid of being sent to a concentration camp. Still, others worked against the Germans in order to regain peace-their efforts were so great to see!
The story is told amongst the actual events that occurred in Holland during WWII. The book is told in chapters that alternate between Wouter and Laura, both residents of THE HIDDEN VILLAGE. They are separated when the camp is violently raided. Wouter, who was a former postal worker who was to be deported to work in Germany, is searching for Laura, a Jewish woman who has to remain in hiding because the war is not over, yet. As he visits the homes of people with information about her whereabouts, they seem to have just missed each other. They are constantly dreaming of each other, but cannot get together.
The author writes historical fiction based upon facts-many come from the recollection of her grandmother from Holland during WWII. I found this story so interesting.
The actual HIDDEN VILLAGE, which the original and this sequel was based upon, can be visited in Holland. The huts were partially below ground-making them hard to spot at a distance. The doors were only 59 inches high, so it would be hard to get into one of the huts. After German solders discovered the village in 1944, most of the huts were destroyed. A few were rebuilt in 1970 for historical value.
(Wartime Holland #2)
by
Imogen Matthews
Released April 20, 2022
This book was so interesting to read. Not only Jewish people had to hide out from the NAZI’s, but also able-bodied men who were afraid of being shipped to Germany to work and young men who disliked the German army and were afraid of being sent to a concentration camp. Still, others worked against the Germans in order to regain peace-their efforts were so great to see!
The story is told amongst the actual events that occurred in Holland during WWII. The book is told in chapters that alternate between Wouter and Laura, both residents of THE HIDDEN VILLAGE. They are separated when the camp is violently raided. Wouter, who was a former postal worker who was to be deported to work in Germany, is searching for Laura, a Jewish woman who has to remain in hiding because the war is not over, yet. As he visits the homes of people with information about her whereabouts, they seem to have just missed each other. They are constantly dreaming of each other, but cannot get together.
The author writes historical fiction based upon facts-many come from the recollection of her grandmother from Holland during WWII. I found this story so interesting.
The actual HIDDEN VILLAGE, which the original and this sequel was based upon, can be visited in Holland. The huts were partially below ground-making them hard to spot at a distance. The doors were only 59 inches high, so it would be hard to get into one of the huts. After German solders discovered the village in 1944, most of the huts were destroyed. A few were rebuilt in 1970 for historical value.
June 13, 2024
Laura and Wouter are inhabitants in the hidden village of Berkenhout when it is raided by the Nazis. They both flee in opposite directions: will the young sweethearts be reuinited?
Hidden in the Shadows is the second book by Imogen Matthews to describe wartime experiences in Holland. It is the sequel to The Hidden Village and continues the story of two of the more peripheral characters from that first book.
Laura is Jewish and Wouter has refused to join the Nazis so he is also hiding. He has a fiancee but falls in love with Laura whilst they are living in the hidden village. The surprise attack splits them up and they are desperate to be reunited. The drama and danger faced by the characters is relentless as they hide from the Germans and are continually fearful about being captured or betrayed.
Laura and Wouter's characters were easy to like. I did feel more of a connection with Laura but this could be due to her parts of the book being written in the first person. They are brave yet vulnerable, with complex emotions and relationships that bring their characters to life.
The sense of community that was so strong in the first book carries on as the locals continue to support those in hiding. I felt that the author had done substantial research about the location, culture and history of the Dutch people during WW2 which gives a realism to the plot and characters.
Hidden in the Shadows is an enjoyable historical novel
Hidden in the Shadows is the second book by Imogen Matthews to describe wartime experiences in Holland. It is the sequel to The Hidden Village and continues the story of two of the more peripheral characters from that first book.
Laura is Jewish and Wouter has refused to join the Nazis so he is also hiding. He has a fiancee but falls in love with Laura whilst they are living in the hidden village. The surprise attack splits them up and they are desperate to be reunited. The drama and danger faced by the characters is relentless as they hide from the Germans and are continually fearful about being captured or betrayed.
Laura and Wouter's characters were easy to like. I did feel more of a connection with Laura but this could be due to her parts of the book being written in the first person. They are brave yet vulnerable, with complex emotions and relationships that bring their characters to life.
The sense of community that was so strong in the first book carries on as the locals continue to support those in hiding. I felt that the author had done substantial research about the location, culture and history of the Dutch people during WW2 which gives a realism to the plot and characters.
Hidden in the Shadows is an enjoyable historical novel
July 3, 2022
A WWII story set in wartime Holland with the attendant horrors of the Nazis, the persecution of Jews, the courage of those who helped them escape and mainly the story of Wouter and Laura.
The story is compelling, the horrors actual and the escape of Laura particularly descriptive and detailed. The efforts by normal civilians to help as many people escape - despite knowing what would happen if they were found out is almost unbelievable. Putting yourself at risk is one thing but putting your family and the entire village at risk is something else. The repercussions of being found out were horrible and still people continued to help others selflessly.
Wartime 1944 Holland going into 1945 was not easy for anyone - food was very scarce, resources were limited and everyone was stretched to the limit. A story of endurance and courage.
The story is compelling, the horrors actual and the escape of Laura particularly descriptive and detailed. The efforts by normal civilians to help as many people escape - despite knowing what would happen if they were found out is almost unbelievable. Putting yourself at risk is one thing but putting your family and the entire village at risk is something else. The repercussions of being found out were horrible and still people continued to help others selflessly.
Wartime 1944 Holland going into 1945 was not easy for anyone - food was very scarce, resources were limited and everyone was stretched to the limit. A story of endurance and courage.
March 30, 2022
I definitely wanted to know what happened to the inhabitants of The Hidden Village (the first book) after the Nazis discovered them. I was not disappointed! I found particularly fascinating and priceless to read about how the Resistance worked/was organized, about the incredible number of people helping those in need of a hiding place. The romance between Laura and Wooter took too much room when stories about other people in hiding would have interested me. The end of the story ended too abruptly for me, as if rushed, hence a 3*.
I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Imogen, for letting me read your novel.
I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Imogen, for letting me read your novel.
April 13, 2022
I have read the first book The Hidden Village but for the life of me I couldn’t remember Wouter or Laura so I felt lost with this book because I had no idea who the characters were and what the background was. Since I am Dutch I love reading about the WWII in The Netherlands and all the brave men and women who helped people. It was very dangerous to do.. I really enjoyed this part.
To be honest I didn’t really connect with Wouter or Laura.
To be honest I didn’t really connect with Wouter or Laura.
October 12, 2022
In parts it was hard to follow ( so many characters) but once you got passed that it was ok. I had read of the Dutch eating tulips to survive but my goodness I bet they were dreadful.Sophie was a strong person but the war paid a heavy price for her emotionally.
I also think that Henk was covering all bases so hence a collaborator and I think he gave the Jewish people away to the SS. Overall the story was interesting but preferred book 1.
I also think that Henk was covering all bases so hence a collaborator and I think he gave the Jewish people away to the SS. Overall the story was interesting but preferred book 1.
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