The Road Beyond Ruin

By: Gemma Liviero

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld, Angelo Di Loreto

For some people in post-World War II Germany, the battle is not over.

August 1945. As Stefano, an Italian POW, heads toward home across war-ravaged Germany, he encounters a young child beside his dead mother. Unable to leave him to an unknown fate, Stefano takes the boy with him, finding refuge in a seemingly abandoned house in a secluded woodland.

But the house is far from vacant. Stefano wakes at the arrival of its owner, Erich, a former German soldier, who invites the travelers to stay until they can find safe passage home. Stefano cautiously agrees, intrigued by the disarming German, his reclusive neighbor Rosalind, and her traumatized husband, Georg. Stefano is also drawn to Monique, the girl in a photograph on Rosalind’s wall, who went missing during the war.

But when he discovers letters written by Monique, a darker truth emerges. This place of refuge could be one of reckoning, and the secrets of the past might prevent the travelers from ever getting home.

©2019 Gemma Liviero. (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

The Road Beyond Ruin

I really enjoyed the book, although some war descriptions were very difficult to hear. I was a bit confused in the middle and felt it was drawn out. However in the last 2 hours all the pieces start to make sense. It is almost 75 years since WWII is over yet the horror and tragedy
of war and it’s aftermath is still present today.

Great story, but maybe not for Audible

I loved the story, narration OK, but often found it hard to keep track of the story. I think it would be a better read, instead of an Audible read

My favorite story of the year

I love this book. I truly identify with every character. I did not see that ending coming. Please listen.

Highly recommend this book

Most of the books about WWII that I’ve read focus on the Holocaust and the Jewish point of view. I like that this book’s characters are German and Italian, instead of Jewish. I don’t agree with the prejudices of some characters but it gave an interesting look into postwar Germany. The story was narrated well. It was a very good book, though the time shifting was a bit confusing at times.

Captivating!

If you're a fan of historical fiction and narrators Di Loreto / Maarleveld... This is for you!

I couldn't put this book down! The lateral, complementing stories of the East and the West were so captivating!