A Night of Long Knives (Hannah Vogel Novels) [Hardcover]

Rebecca Cantrell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 22, 2010 | Series: Hannah Vogel Novels

Journalist Hannah Vogel has vowed to never again set foot in her homeland of Germany while the Nazis are still in power. She has good reason: three years ago in 1931, she kidnapped her “son,” Anton, from the man claiming to be his father--Ernst Rohm, head of the Nazis' SA. A powerful man not to be trifled with, Hannah knows that Rohm will never stop searching for them.

Hannah is asked to write about a zeppelin journey from South America to Switzerland, but Switzerland turns out to be too close. The zeppelin is diverted to Munich, where Hannah and Anton are kidnapped and, to Hannah's horror, separated.

It’s unlucky timing for Rohm, however.  Hitler has ordered the execution of Rohm and hundreds of his storm troopers and is determined to wipe out any remaining traces of his name. The Night of the Long Knives has begun.

When Rohm is killed before Hannah can ascertain Anton’s whereabouts, she desperately enlists all of her remaining sources and friends to locate Anton before the Nazis do. And the Gestapo is closing in…

Thrilling and powerful, A Night of Long Knives breathtakingly recreates a shattered and betrayed city as it plunges into darkness. 

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cantrell's sequel to her acclaimed debut, A Trace of Smoke (2009), will disappoint those expecting a realistic portrayal of 1934 Nazi Germany. When the zeppelin transporting journalist Hannah Vogel and her adopted son, Anton, to Switzerland lands in Germany instead, the pair are captured by Ernst Röhm, head of the paramilitary SA, who claims to be the boy's father. Hannah manages to get away from Röhm through the coincidental intervention of Hitler himself, who happens to enter Röhm's hotel room to have him arrested at just the right time. The plot focuses on Hannah's search for Anton, with a murder mystery thrown in two-thirds of the way through. Full of miraculous escapes, the novel comes across as a far-fetched thriller rather than a serious effort to convey the tightening Nazi grip. Readers interested in suspenseful books set during the same period in Europe will find Alan Furst's spy series (Shadow Trade, etc.) more rewarding. (June)
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From Booklist

After escaping Germany in 1931 (A Trace of Smoke, 2009), after kidnapping her adopted son, Anton, from SA leader Ernst RÖhm, who wants to believe the boy is his son, Hannah Vogel vowed never to return to her homeland. Yet here she is, three years later, with Anton at her side, watching the zeppelin in which they are riding land not in Switzerland, the intended destination, but in Germany. RÖhm is behind the unscheduled stop, and soon Hannah and Anton have been abducted by brownshirts. Hannah will be forced to marry RÖhm, thus countering the scandal brewing over his homosexuality. But it's too late: the Night of the Long Knives, Hitler's purge of the SA, has begun and will leave RÖhm dead. Hannah escapes in the melee, but Anton is lost, prompting a frenzied search across Germany and drawing Hannah into all levels of political intrigue. Once again, Cantrell nails the prewar German landscape, although this time, with the Nazis in power, the mood has gone from Weimar decadence to tight-lipped uncertainty. The thriller plot plays out somewhat predictably, but the appeal here is all about atmosphere and the historical moment. --Bill Ott

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Forge Books; First Edition edition (June 22, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765320452
• ISBN-13: 978-0765320452
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #441,781 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A few years ago Rebecca Cantrell quit her job, sold her house, and moved to Hawaii to write a novel because, at seven, she decided that she would be a writer. Now she writes the award-winning Hannah Vogel mystery series set in Berlin in the 1930s. 'A Trace of Smoke' and 'A Night of Long Knives' are currently available. 'A Game of Lies' will be released in the summer of 2011, 'A City of Broken Glass' in 2012.

A faded pink triangle pasted on the wall of Dachau Concentration Camp and time in Berlin, Germany in the 1980s inspired 'A Trace of Smoke.' Fluent in German, she received her high school diploma from the John F. Kennedy Schule in Berlin and studied at the Freie Universit't in Berlin and the Georg August Universit't in G'ttingen.

When she visited Berlin in the summer of 2006, she was astounded to discover that many locations in her novel have been rebuilt and reopened in the last few years, including the gay bar El Dorado and the Mosse House publishing house.

Her short story 'Coffee' is in the 'Missing' anthology. Her short story 'On the Train' is in the 'First Thrills anthology.

Her screenplay 'The Humanitarian' was a finalist at Shriekfest 2008: The Los Angeles Horror/Sci-fi Film Festival. Her screenplay 'A Taste For Blood' was a finalist at the Shriekfest 2007: The Los Angeles Horror/Sci-fi Film Festival.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fascinating Depression Era tale, June 26, 2010

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Night of Long Knives (Hannah Vogel Novels) (Hardcover)

Journalist Hannah Vogel, traveling as Frau Zinsli, and her adopted nine year old son Anton fly on the Graf Zeppelin to Switzerland. Hannah is concerned that she is so close to Nazi Germany as three years ago she kidnapped the alleged son of the chief of staff of the storm troopers Ernst Rohm. Her fears become affirmed when the airship lands in Germany with she and the lad dumped by the Swiss, who continue their journey. Worse she is separated from the lad as she is taken to Rohm.

However, she has her first break since being captured on German soil when Hitler and a contingency arrive at Rohm's hotel room to arrest him. Hitler's inadvertent intrusion enables Hannah to escape. However, she refuses to leave without her Anton so the intrepid reporter searches for her son at great risk to her life.

A Night of Long Knives is a fascinating Depression Era tale that centers on the Nazi's strengthening their power over all aspects of German society. The story line is action-packed with a courageous heroine who has way too many Houdini-like escapes that eventually detracts from the sense of what is happening to Germany circa 1934. Still historical readers will enjoy Rebecca Cantrell's exciting thriller rooting for Hannah the heroine.

Harriet Klausner

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I couldn't put the damn thing down!, August 2, 2010

By 

Quinbould "knowledgebuff" (Snowmass Village, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Night of Long Knives (Hannah Vogel Novels) (Hardcover)

I'm not one for historical novels, but I developed affection for Hannah Vogel in "A Trace of Smoke," which I read on recommendation from a friend. I really enjoyed that book, but this one is even better. I'm hooked. Every time something would come up (like dinner or taking the dog for a walk) I just hated to put the book down. I recommend it as a rip roaring airport read. The continuous action and palpable sense of danger keeps one on edge.

In this book, Hannah is driven to find her missing adopted son under almost impossible circumstances. Her ferocious moma-bear instincts keep her going, facing enormous odds, injuries, betrayal, and spies everywhere, in her quest to find Anton. I feel Cantrell has grown as a writer in this second book. I can't wait to read more of her stuff.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't Put It Down!, June 27, 2010

By 

Glenn Koch (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Night of Long Knives (Hannah Vogel Novels) (Hardcover)

I actually just stumbled upon the first of the Hannah Vogel mysteries thanks to an Amazon Suggestion. I love books that come in a series and was excited to see that there was another in the series coming right on the heels of my purchase of the first. I breezed through the first volume (enjoyed it greatly) and the next day "A Night Of Long Knives" arrived. I must say, I really couldn't put it down. I read the book in three days, having just finished it yesterday afternoon.

I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this type of story and style of writing. Frankly, I think the review posted on this page from Publisher's Weekly does the book a great disservice and would suggest that you pay it little notice. It was probably written by someone who really doesn't know what a good read is. I for one feel that Ms. Cantrell does a wonderful job of recreating pre-war Nazi Germany and what it was like.The tension just starts building from the first page and doesn't stop till the last.

Ms. Cantrell, if you read these reviews, the only thing I would please ask for volume 3 is to get rid of Boris. His wishy-washy back and forth "I'm Mad and I don't trust you"/"I love you, I'll do whatever you want to help" routine in both volumes just is annoying. Feed him to the Nazis (or better yet, maybe a murder/suicide with Frau Inge) and get Hannah a real man; one who instinctively understands what she's doing and isn't so irritating in the process.

I will anxiously await your next installment in the series!