Julie's Review: The Huntress

Author: Kate Quinn
Series: None
Publication Date: February 26, 2019
Publisher: William Morrow
Pages: 560
Obtained: publisher
Genre:  Historical Fiction
Rating: 4/5

Bottom Line: Lengthy but worth it historical fiction/thriller

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Summary: In the aftermath of war, the hunter becomes the hunted… Bold and fearless, Nina Markova always dreamed of flying. When the Nazis attack the Soviet Union, she risks everything to join the legendary Night Witches, an all-female night bomber regiment wreaking havoc on the invading Germans. When she is stranded behind enemy lines, Nina becomes the prey of a lethal Nazi murderess known as the Huntress, and only Nina’s bravery and cunning will keep her alive. Transformed by the horrors he witnessed from Omaha Beach to the Nuremberg Trials, British war correspondent Ian Graham has become a Nazi hunter. Yet one target eludes him: a vicious predator known as the Huntress. To find her, the fierce, disciplined investigator joins forces with the only witness to escape the Huntress alive: the brazen, cocksure Nina. But a shared secret could derail their mission unless Ian and Nina force themselves to confront it. Growing up in post-war Boston, seventeen-year-old Jordan McBride is determined to become a photographer. When her long-widowed father unexpectedly comes homes with a new fiancée, Jordan is thrilled. But there is something disconcerting about the soft-spoken German widow. Certain that danger is lurking, Jordan begins to delve into her new stepmother’s past—only to discover that there are mysteries buried deep in her family . . . secrets that may threaten all Jordan holds dear.In this immersive, heart-wrenching story, Kate Quinn illuminates the consequences of war on individual lives, and the price we pay to seek justice and truth. ~amazon.com

Review: I know I say this with a lot of historical fiction but I always learn something new from these books. Especially when they are obviously well researched. I loved learning about the Night Witches and how they took on the Nazi. How they put the fear of God into the Germans to earn the nickname Night Witches. Nina Markova is one of those fearful women. Coming from the "wild" part of the USSR she finds her passion in being in the air. It is how she escapes from her horrible upbringing.
Nina's got moxie that's for sure to saunter her way into an elite women's flying group.

We meet Ian Graham and Tony who are on the hunt for Nazi's who have escaped prosecution by taking on new lives. They are on the hunt for The Huntress; who is one of  most skilled Nazi killers that they are after. Meanwhile, Jordan meets her soon to be step-mom, Annaleise, and while she seems kind there is something about her that Jordan feels doesn't quite fit. She's cagey about her history and about why she carries a Nazi Iron Cross. It is evident to the reader how these story-lines will intersect but how they come to a climax is heart-pounding.

The only drawback to this novel is the length in which it takes to get to the climax. There is a lot of research done, which is essential to a strong historical fiction novel but it definitely could have used a bit more editing.

For those of you who love historical fiction and I know there are many, you won't want to miss The Huntress.