The Curator’s Daughter by Melanie Dobson

About the Book

1940. Hanna Tillich cherishes her work as an archaeologist for the Third Reich, searching for the Holy Grail and other artifacts to bolster evidence of a master Aryan race. But when she is reassigned to work as a museum curator in Nuremberg, then forced to marry an SS officer and adopt a young girl, Hanna begins to see behind the Nazi facade. A prayer labyrinth becomes a storehouse for Hanna’s secrets, but as she comes to love Lilly as her own daughter, she fears that what she’s hiding–and what she begins to uncover–could put them both in mortal danger,

Eighty years later, Ember Ellis is a Holocaust researcher intent on confronting hatred toward the Jewish people and other minorities. She reconnects with a former teacher on Martha’s Vineyard after she learns that Mrs. Kiehl’s mother once worked with the Nazi Ahnenerbe. And yet, Mrs. Kiehl describes her mother as “a friend to the Jewish people.” Wondering how both could be true, Ember helps Mrs. Kiehl regain her fractured childhood memories of World War II while at the same time confronting the heartache of her own secret past–and the person who wants to silence Ember forever.

The Review

Melanie Dobson’s book The Curator’s Daughter is a heart wrenching yet inspiring read.

The modern day character Ember is shrouded in mystery so the unraveling of her traumatic past as well as that of her past romance, is fascinating. 

Hannah, the main female character in WW2 Germany is troubled–typical of one living in war time. Her struggle to do what is right amidst the ravishment of her country and the expulsion and murder of Jewish people is heart wrenching to read.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

About the Author

Melanie is the award-winning author of more than twenty historical romance, suspense, and time-slip novels. Five of her novels, Memories of Glass, Chateau of Secrets, Catching the WindThe Silent Order and Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa, have received Carol Awards. Catching the Wind received the Inspirational Fiction Audie Award in 2018 and was nominated for a Christy Award in historical fiction. The Black Cloister, her novel about a dangerous cult, was named the ForeWord Religious Fiction Book of the Year.


Episode 5: Guest Melanie Dobson & a Review of All Through the Night

Join us for a chat with award-winning author, Melanie Dobson. You’ll enjoy hearing this delightful historical and time-slip author share about her experience with adoption, her latest release, and more. Find out more about Melanie and her latest release, The Curator’s Daughter, on her website MelanieDobson.com

A Pinch of the Past presents a few interesting historical tidbits about a general, queen, wrestler turned president, and a female sniper. You just never know what you’ll find when you look into history beyond what we read in textbooks.

Our Bookworm Review brings you Tara Johnson’s January release, All Through the Night. You can find our interview with Tara on episode 3 of the Historical Bookworm Show. For more on Tara, go to her website TaraJohnsonStories.com