Well written and fast paced. By careful use of their letters, logs, diaries and the memories of those who knew them, Larson manages to make the people involved seem like real people - especially helpful with a few of the Germans, who might otherwise have come across as undifferentiated 'bad guys'. Interesting as always to see how different people respond when the fears they convince themselves are ridiculous are suddenly realised . . . and how willing supposedly just and democratic governments can be to play with people's lives and to scapegoat the blameless in attempt to cover their own misdeeds.