Ellie Midwood Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Ellie Midwood

Ellie Midwood has established herself as a powerhouse of World War II historical fiction, weaving meticulously researched, character-driven narratives of resilience, sabotage, and survival. Because her bibliography spans both multi-book series and self-contained novels inspired by real historical figures, readers often wonder where they should begin. We recommend two main entry points depending on your reading preferences:

• For Series Readers: Start with The Girl from Berlin: Standartenführer's Wife. This is Midwood's breakout trilogy. It follows a Jewish ballerina, Annalise Meissner, navigating an impossible double life and forbidden love in the heart of Nazi Germany. Reading this trilogy in order provides a deep, continuous look at espionage and moral compromise.
• For Standalone Readers: Start with The Violinist of Auschwitz or The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz. These are her most widely read and emotionally gripping standalone novels. They are based on the real-life stories of Alma Rosé (the violinist who led the women's orchestra in Auschwitz) and Mala Zimetbaum (the brave resistance fighter who escaped the camp). They showcase Midwood's talent for blending rigorous research with deeply moving human struggles.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

Unlike some historical fiction writers whose books form a single, massive chronological timeline, Ellie Midwood’s works are divided into distinct series, standalone novels, and thematic collections. While the standalone books can be read in any order, her multi-book series should absolutely be read in publication order to preserve character arcs and plot developments. However, readers should be aware of a few retitling updates that can cause confusion when purchasing her books.

The Retitled Works Alert

Some of Ellie Midwood's earlier books have been republishing under new titles. If you are tracking down her physical copies or e-books, keep these matches in mind so you do not accidentally purchase the same book twice:

• The Girl Who Survived was originally published under the title No Man's Land.
• The Girl in the Striped Dress was originally published under the title Auschwitz Syndrome.
• The Girl from Berlin is often subtitled or alternatively sold as Standartenführer's Wife.

The Major Series & Collections

To help you organize your bookshelf, we have broken down her books into their official series and thematic groups.

The Girl From Berlin Series

This award-winning trilogy centers on the agonizing choices of Annalise Meissner and her relationship with an SS officer, offering a complex look at the domestic front in Berlin during the rise and fall of the Third Reich. Read them in this strict order:

1. The Girl from Berlin / Standartenführer's Wife (2015)
2. Gruppenführer's Mistress (2015)
3. War Criminal's Widow (2015)

The Austrian Series

This duology explores the psychological struggles and aftermath of the war through the eyes of an SS officer imprisoned at Nuremberg. It is best read in order:

1. The Austrian (2016)
2. The Austrian, Part 2 (2016)

The Indigo Rebels Series

Set against the backdrop of occupied France, this series follows the brave operations of the French Resistance. Read them in this order:

1. The Indigo Rebels (2017)
2. The Lyon Affair (2017)
3. Liberation (2018)

Metropolis Books

A gritty, atmospheric series that leans into espionage and Weimar/Berlin wartime politics. Read them in this order:

1. Metropolis (2020)
2. Spies (2020)

Women and The Holocaust Books

Though these books feature separate protagonists, they are connected by their focus on the specific horrors faced by women in the concentration camps and their psychological recovery after liberation. They can be read as standalones, but the publication order is:

1. Emilia (2016)
2. The Girl Who Survived / No Man's Land (2019)
3. The Girl in the Striped Dress / Auschwitz Syndrome (2019)

The Standalone Novels & Companion Pieces

Midwood's standalone historical novels can be read in any order. Many of her recent blockbusters are inspired by real-life female resistance fighters and survivors, making them excellent companion pieces to one another. Here is a guide to these standalones, organized by their publication years:

• The Brooklyn Boys Club (2015): A departure from her typical European WWII setting, focusing instead on mid-century American drama.
• A Motherland's Daughter, A Fatherland's Son (2018): A dramatic wartime romance exploring the dividing lines of loyalty.
• Of Knights and Dogfights (2018): A fast-paced tale focusing on aviation and pilot combat during the war.
• The Aftermath (2020): A haunting look at post-war Germany and the struggles of rebuilding lives.
• The Violinist of Auschwitz (2020): The heartbreaking true story of Alma Rosé, who saved dozens of musicians by forming a camp orchestra.
• The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz (2021): The epic true story of Mala Zimetbaum and Edek Galinski's legendary escape attempt.
• The Girl on the Platform (2021): A poignant story of survival and love centering around the arrivals at the camp train platform.
• The White Rose Network (2022): Inspired by the real-life German youth resistance group who risked everything to distribute anti-Nazi leaflets.
• The Wife Who Risked Everything (2022): A gripping tale of a woman operating undercover inside the German command.
• The Undercover Secretary (2023): The true story of Dora Schaul, a German-Jewish woman who went undercover as a secretary for the Gestapo in occupied France to leak information.
• The Child Who Lived (2023): A moving tale centering on the protection of children hidden from the Nazi regime.
• I Have to Save Them (2024): Based on the true life of Orli Reichert-Wald, a German political prisoner and nurse who resisted Dr. Josef Mengele's experiments inside Auschwitz.
• When the World Went Silent (2024): The story of Mina, a deaf physics student forced to work on the German atomic bomb project while secretly sabotaging it.

Novellas & Anthologies

If you are looking for shorter reads, Midwood has one major novella: Killing the Hangman (2019). This story dramatizes the real-life assassination attempt on Reinhard Heydrich by Czechoslovakian operatives in Prague. The novella was also published as part of the collaborative WWII anthology, The Darkest Hour: WWII Tales of Resistance (2018).

The Debut: The New York Doll

Readers should note that her debut work, The New York Doll (2014), is frequently cataloged under non-fiction. This is because it is a semi-autobiographical novel drawing directly from Midwood's own experiences as a Russian immigrant arriving in New York City. While it is not historical fiction like her later works, it offers a fascinating look at the author's own beginnings.

What to Know Before You Start

Ellie Midwood's books do not shy away from the brutality of the Holocaust, Gestapo interrogation tactics, or the harsh realities of concentration camps. While they are ultimately stories of hope, love, and human resilience, they contain heavy themes that can be emotionally taxing. Midwood relies heavily on primary historical documents, survivor testimonies, and letters, which gives her books a highly realistic and authentic feel. Because of this, we recommend pacing yourself when reading her works, especially when transitioning between Auschwitz-centered standalones like I Have to Save Them and The Violinist of Auschwitz.