The Angel of Vienna

By: Kate Hewitt

Narrated by: Charlie Norfolk

Nazi-occupied Vienna, 1940: A young nurse finds herself with the chance to save innocent children. An unmissable and heartbreaking story—based on devastating real events—about tragedy, hope, and courage in the face of impossible odds.

“These children, who the Nazis don’t even see as human, these children are innocent. And, Hannah, if you have the chance to save even one of them, you know what you have to do. Even if it puts your own life at risk.”

As bombs fall over Europe, Hannah Stern is a 27-year-old nurse who is just trying to survive. When she takes a position at Vienna’s esteemed psychiatric hospital, Am Steinhof, she thinks it will take her away from the danger.

Her estranged half-brother has arranged the job for her on the condition that she must take his son, Willi, there too. He insists it’s a place where Willi will be safe. And Hannah soon forms a close bond with the sweet, fragile child in her care.

At first the hospital seems like a safe haven—a beautiful, airy, spacious place of healing and recovery. But the hospital is a place of secrets. And they are darker than Hannah could ever have imagined. Children, ones just like Willi, are disappearing—not to be healed as promised, but taken somewhere else. Somewhere terrible.

And when Willi’s own life comes under threat—in spite of her half brother’s position of power in the Nazi military—Hannah must overcome her own fears and act. Then she discovers one of the other nurses is also trying to help patients escape, and Hannah becomes determined to help in any way she can.

But she is only one person up against the enemy. And to save even just one life from the grip of the Nazis, she must risk her own....

The most unmissable historical fiction of the year, guaranteed to leave listeners in tears. Perfect for fans of My Name is Eva, All the Light We Cannot See, and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

©2022 Kate Hewitt (P)2022 Bookouture, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.

Powerful and Moving

What an absolutely soul stirring book. Oh to be so brave and powerful like the angels of Vienna. God bless all those who risk their lives to save those in need.

Fantastic

Very interesting and very good narration. I was intrigued from beginning to end and really enjoyed this and will look forward to reading more books by this author.

Austrian Resistance

I hadn't yet read anything about the Austrian resistance in WWII, but now I have; about Heinrich Maier, and his many contributions to that resistance. It helped that I looked him up quickly when his name was first mentioned. Knowing his fate added gravitas to the risks the nurses were taking.
Also note in the epilogue the narrator made no indication that we we returning to a point earlier in time. It was just a bit awkward, no big deal, but a bit confusing. At about 7 min 45 sec remaining. It's a serious book that the narrator made palatable by her excellent narration. I will look for both the author and the narrator again.

What a book

Engrossing. Surprise ending. A part of WWll I was aware was aware of but 1st thing I have read on the subject.

Angel of Vienna

This book was different than most of the WWII books I have read. We hear so much about the camps in Poland, Germany etc. This book showed another part of the war. I truly enjoyed this book!

Painful truth

There are so many stories that have come out of the horror that was World War Two. This one broke my heart! If you really want to know what happened to the precious children even though they were not Jews, this book will tell You the sad horrible truth. I'm glad I had a chance to hear the stories of these dear children.

I just finished this book and I sit here stunned

So much I did not know about the children who today would be classified as ‘special needs’. My favorite genre is historical fiction and this fit it 100%. Such brave kind nurses I meet while some were cruel and vicious and found pleasure in tormenting helpless children . All praise to the Lord for the Allie’s winning the war and this is really something to think about too

Heartbreaking

As we currently hear a politician say he wants to start a registry for autistic children who, in his words "will never speak, never write a poem and destroy families," this is an extremely important book to read. This book will show us history can be repeated.

Couldn’t finish…

Didn’t really care about the characters or ending. Very repetitive. The story moved much too slowly. I wasn’t as enthralled with the story as with other books in this genre I have read.