The Ragged Edge of Night

By: Olivia Hawker

Narrated by: Nick Sandys, Olivia Hawker

For fans of All the Light We Cannot See, Beneath a Scarlet Sky, and The Nightingale comes an emotionally gripping, beautifully written historical novel about extraordinary hope, redemption, and one man’s search for light during the darkest times of World War II.

Germany, 1942. Franciscan friar Anton Starzmann is stripped of his place in the world when his school is seized by the Nazis. He relocates to a small German hamlet to wed Elisabeth Herter, a widow who seeks a marriage - in name only - to a man who can help raise her three children. Anton seeks something too - atonement for failing to protect his young students from the wrath of the Nazis. But neither he nor Elisabeth expects their lives to be shaken once again by the inescapable rumble of war.

As Anton struggles to adapt to the roles of husband and father, he learns of the Red Orchestra, an underground network of resisters plotting to assassinate Hitler. Despite Elisabeth’s reservations, Anton joins this army of shadows. But when the SS discovers his schemes, Anton will embark on a final act of defiance that may cost him his life - even if it means saying goodbye to the family he has come to love more than he ever believed possible.

©2018 Libbie Hawker (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Great story, writing just ok

The book was ok, but over-written, over-wrought, self-absorbed, tedious at times. Very little action as compared to a lot of thoughts, emotions and feelings. Characters were just not real. I've read a lot of historical fictions and particularly WWII novels. This does not compare to the Book Thief, the Nightingale, All the Light We Cannot See, and others. Just too boring. And as for the performance, when did Germans start speaking with Irish and Cockney accents?

Could have done without author comments

Amazing story. Loved the book. As one who has an Opa and studies history fervently, I was very put off that the author would equate America today and the President with Hitler. She took events created by the few (extremists) and equated that to the time of the Nazis.

Inspiration in the Everyday

Olivia Hawkers prose is brought to life in Nick Sandy’s performance of this true story of an everyday family man’s fight against tyranny and the evils of Nazi Germany. Great listen! #inspiring #relatable #Tagsgiving #Sweepstakes

Poor narration

I enjoyed the story, especially since it is based on a true story. The narration was absolutely horrible! I only persevered through the book because of the quality of the writing.

Ought to be required reading in high school

By far the most sensitively and beautifully written story I've read in several years, and definitely my favorite of all the World War II era historical fiction, of which I am an avid fan. The story--which is true--is written like a good old fashioned piece of classic fiction, without bad words, raucous sex or gratuitous violence. It is a story for the ages, and one I'd recommend to anyone looking for quality family-friendly material from which they can learn the real history and horrors of World War II, which is so glossed over in most schools these days. Its subtle real-life lessons about the dangers of gun control, thought police, "fake news," and other government exploitations of citizens' rights ring oh-so-true today, as we in American see a crumbling of our rights toward a socialist government by leftists who, like the Nazis, claim to act "in the best interest of all."

I was astounded to discover that this was written by a young woman (Olivia Hawker) only a couple years ago. It's written in the voice of an older, mature male protagonist. I was also confounded she professed to be an atheist, and that she had been spurred into writing the book following the 2016 Presidential election. One would infer from these comments that she was "anti-Trump administration," although the story she has written is full of examples of precisely what concerns conservatives today . And her story is extremely spiritual,God-centered, and credible. Hawker is a gifted storyteller but, like many Hollywood elitists, she should stick to her craft (historical fiction, not acting) and keep her political views from tainting her product.