Amy B. (BaileysBooks) reviewed on 7/8/2015 + 491 more book reviews

In the Garden of Beasts is Larson's attempt to look into the heart of Germany's rising Third Reich through the eyes of William Dodd, America's unlikely Ambassador to Germany in 1933. However, the primary character in this book ended up being William Dodd's daughter, Martha. It is through here that the reader is introduced to most of the power players in the German regime, and through her that most of the action and intrigue occurs.
This book is not a page turner by any means. Larson was meticulous as always in his research, and the wealth of information that he was able to collect on the Dodds was admirable. Unfortunately, much of it was also not very exciting. This is not a book with a compelling plot. It stated facts and tried to craft a story around those facts, but it did so with very little sense of momentum. The book plods along, follows the timeline, and then it ends.
In comparison to other works by Erik Larson, this is the one that reads the least like a story and more like a textbook. It was biographical but weak, historical but superficial, interesting but not suspenseful. Devil in the White City is the ideal starting place for all new initiates to Larson's work, and it is by far his most interesting and universally approachable story. The rest of his books, especially this one, are certainly not for everyone and will cater to those who are most interested in learning in detail about a specific topic or set of events, rather than simply seeking to be entertained. For any reader looking for a unique American perspective in the heart of Nazi Germany, however, you have come to the right place.

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