London, 1969. Great Britain has flourished under National Socialist rule since its integration into the Third Reich after the Second Great War – a war Great Britain lost – and the nation is at peace.
Or so it seems.
A psychedelic drug named Yonder has taken the working class population by storm, and has become a figurehead for a “silent protest” against the Nationalist Socialist regime. It is now the single greatest threat to social order, and must be stopped.
British-born Detective Sergeant John Highsmith – an officer in the Metropolitan Police’s Drug Enforcement Squad – is a member of the Task Force dedicated to achieving just this. But the job is not so straightforward, and when John is confronted with violence, torture, and death, only his stead-fast loyalty to National Socialism will protect him as he puts his life on the line – in the name of the Reich.
A harrowing tale of what might have been, In the Name of the Reich examines how Nazi rule would have warped British society and a young man raised under it. It is uncompromising in its depiction, and aims to revolutionise this genre of fiction.
What did I think?
I didn't write a single note in my reading journal when I was reading In the Name of the Reich because I couldn't put it down! I had to double check that it's a debut novel as the writing is so accomplished and it's absolutely fantastic from start to finish, with a breathtaking conclusion that deserves a chef's kiss.
The alternative history feels so realistic; it doesn't read like a 'what might have been' it's more of a 'this is what is actually happening in an alternate reality'. To cope with the National Socialists ruling the country, the British people are turning to a drug called Yonder to escape from their grim reality. As with all drugs though, Yonder has a darker side and the police need to find the source to prevent the flow of it into Britain.
DS John Highsmith is about to become a father for the first time but his investigation into Yonder puts him in increasing danger. John is a bit like a cat with nine lives as he has so many near misses that had me on the edge of my seat. Just how long will his luck last?
Highly original and scarily realistic, In the Name of the Reich is a magnificent debut novel from Ian M. Williamson. With a razor-sharp, compelling plot and blistering pacing, it is unmissable, unforgettable and unputdownable. I will be raving about this book for a very long time and I can't recommend it highly enough. A well-deserved five stars. Wunderbar!
I received a gifted paperback for the Love Books Tours virtual book tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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About the author:
Ian M. Williamson graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2015 after studying History and Hispanic Studies, where his historical interests were based largely in 20th century world politics. These studies fostered a lifelong intrigue in what might have been, and provided an insightful basis for his work on an alternate history narrative.
Website: www.ianmwilliamson.co.uk
Instagram: @ianmwilliamson
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