A writer of the popular Tatort series, Andreas Pflüger´s very well researched Ritchie Girl is a political thriller well anchoraged in the crime realm, set in the first years after the end of the WWII in Germany.
A former German citizen, Paula Bloom trained in the famous Camp Ritchie in the US, where between 1942 and 1945 military intelligence officers that will be dispatched in Europe, particularly Germany, after the War. In the company of famous strangers or acquintances, like Henry Kissinger or Allan Dulles, Paula is not only trying to trace war criminals but also to recreate personal puzzles, either by connecting with people from her and her father´s past or better understand contexts she was privy of.
The novel is very dense, both in terms of interaction between characters and in historical/fictional events. Both the language and the story are captivating and I literally spent long hours delving into this book. The inner construction of the story and the complexities of the characters do match in a way that makes you want to read more. As someone interested in contemporary post-War German history, Ritchie Girl was a very interesting read because although a work of fiction it reveals facts and possible interactions that may have happened - even though not between the same persons - in the aftermath of the Second World War.
It is a recommended read to anyone passionate about German literature - including and particularly those aiming at improving their German writing skills - and post-war stories.
Rating: 4.5 stars
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