Books On Board

Catherine Hokin Books in Order

  • 12 Books
  • 2016 – 2024 Published

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Reading order
2 of 2 reading orders shown

Where to Start Reading Catherine Hokin

If you are new to Catherine Hokin’s historical fiction, you have two primary entry points depending on your reading style. For those who love serial character development and recurring casts, the Hanni Winter Series is the perfect place to start. Beginning with The Commandant's Daughter, this series follows a photographer confronting the dark legacy of her Nazi father in postwar Berlin. It offers the most cohesive and emotionally satisfying continuous narrative in Hokin's bibliography.

If you prefer a self-contained story, her breakout standalone novel The Fortunate Ones or the dual-timeline epic What Only We Know are excellent starting points. Both showcase Hokin's trademark style: deep historical research, strong female protagonists, and the complex human toll of war and division in 20th-century Berlin. For readers interested in medieval history rather than her signature World War II and Cold War settings, her debut novel Blood and Roses stands alone as a fictionalized account of Margaret of Anjou during the Wars of the Roses.

The Hanni Winter Series (Leo & Hanni)

The Hanni Winter series should be read strictly in publication order. The narrative follows Hanni Winter as she navigates the ruins of Berlin after World War II, deals with her complicit family legacy, and attempts to build a life while shielding her loved ones from lingering dark forces. The emotional stakes and political intrigue build directly from one book to the next.

  • The Commandant's Daughter (2022) – Introduces Hanni in 1946 Berlin, working as a photographer and dealing with the secrets of her Nazi father.
  • The Pilot's Girl (2022) – Set in 1947, Hanni faces new dangers as she tries to protect an orphaned child amid the rising tensions of divided Berlin.
  • The Girl in the Photo (2023) – Hanni's past catches up with her as a single photograph threatens to unravel the fragile peace she has built.
  • Her Last Promise (2023) – The concluding chapter of Hanni's main arc, focusing on a long-held promise and the search for her missing sister dating back to 1938.

The Vivi Von Rhomberg Series

Beginning in 2026, Hokin launched a new historical series centered on Vivi Von Rhomberg. This series shifts the timeline back to the pre-WWII era, beginning in the mid-1930s, exploring the early rise of the Nazi regime and its international reach.

  • The Man She Had to Save (2026) – Vivi Von Rhomberg Book 1. Set in 1935 Berlin and Spain, following Vivi's attempt to protect her brother amidst Spain's burgeoning civil conflict and the growing shadow of fascism.

Catherine Hokin's Standalone Novels

Hokin’s standalone novels can be read in any order, as they feature unique characters and self-contained plots. However, reading them in publication order illustrates her growth as a writer and her evolving focus on 20th-century German history. Note that The German Child and The Children We Lost are the same novel published under different titles.

  • Blood and Roses (2016) – Hokin's debut novel, focusing on Margaret of Anjou and the Wars of the Roses in 15th-century England.
  • The Fortunate Ones (2020) – A tragic love story set in WWII Berlin and postwar Buenos Aires.
  • What Only We Know (2020) – A dual-timeline story spanning from the 1930s to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
  • The Lost Mother (2021) – An emotional story of maternal love, sacrifice, and survival in WWII Germany.
  • The Secretary (2021) – Centers on a woman working in the heart of the Third Reich and the choices she must make to survive.
  • The German Child / The Children We Lost (2024) – A dual-timeline novel investigating the horrors of the Nazi Lebensborn program.
  • The Secret Hotel in Berlin (2024) – Set in the aftermath of WWII, focusing on secrets hidden within a run-down Berlin hotel.
  • The Train That Took You Away (2025) – A sweeping wartime novel exploring separation, hope, and survival.
  • The Secret Locket (2025) – A mystery-laden historical drama set against the backdrop of war-torn Europe.
  • The Girl Who Told the Truth (2026) – A powerful tale of resistance, truth, and betrayal in occupied territory.

Chronological Timeline vs. Publication Order

For readers who enjoy tracing the historical timeline of 20th-century Europe, reading Catherine Hokin's books chronologically offers a unique perspective on how Germany transformed from the rise of the Nazis to the Cold War. If you want to read them based on the historical eras they depict, here is a general chronological guide:

The Rise of the Nazis & Pre-War Era (1930s)

  • The Man She Had to Save (starts in 1935)
  • Her Last Promise (flashbacks starting in 1938)
  • What Only We Know (earliest timeline starts in the 1930s)

World War II & The Holocaust (1939–1945)

  • The Secretary (set during the war years)
  • The Lost Mother (war-era survival)
  • The Fortunate Ones (wartime Berlin)
  • The German Child / The Children We Lost (earliest timeline set in 1944)

Postwar Ruins & Reconstruction (Late 1940s)

  • The Commandant's Daughter (starts in 1946)
  • The Pilot's Girl (set in 1947)
  • The Secret Hotel in Berlin (immediate postwar era)

The Cold War & Divided Germany (1950s–1980s)

  • The Girl in the Photo (set in the postwar/divided era)
  • What Only We Know (later timeline ends around the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989)
  • The German Child / The Children We Lost (detective timeline set in 1979/1980)

What to Know Before You Start

Hokin’s work is deeply emotional, frequently dealing with heavy themes such as the Holocaust, child separation, political betrayal, and the psychological trauma of living under totalitarian regimes. While her books feature strong romantic subplots, they are primary historical dramas rather than romance novels. Readers should expect gritty realism, extensive historical detail, and complex moral ambiguity rather than simplified tales of good versus evil. Her transition from medieval history in her debut to 20th-century Berlin reflects her personal passion for the German capital, inspired by her son's move to the city and her own frequent visits.

Frequently Asked

Do I need to read the Hanni Winter series in order?

Yes. The Hanni Winter books follow a continuous narrative arc detailing Hanni's life, family secrets, and struggles in postwar Berlin. Reading them out of order will spoil major plot points and character development.

Are 'The German Child' and 'The Children We Lost' different books?

No, they are the same book. The novel, which centers on the Nazi Lebensborn program, was published in 2024 under the title The Children We Lost in some markets and as The German Child in others.

What is Catherine Hokin's debut novel?

Her debut is Blood and Roses, published in 2016. It is a medieval historical novel focusing on Margaret of Anjou during the Wars of the Roses, making it distinct from her later 20th-century Berlin stories.

Is 'The Man She Had to Save' connected to the Hanni Winter books?

No. The Man She Had to Save (2026) is the first book in the brand-new Vivi Von Rhomberg series, which takes place in a different timeline beginning in 1935 Berlin and Spain.

Can Catherine Hokin's standalone novels be read in any order?

Yes. Standalones like The Fortunate Ones, What Only We Know, and The Secretary feature completely independent characters and storylines and can be read in any order you choose.

Where does Catherine Hokin research her historical details?

Hokin spends approximately six months researching each novel. She relies on archives, historical biographies, physical visits to Berlin, and consulting with local experts to ensure the authenticity of her settings.