Cold Peace Helena P. Schrader Cross Seas Press, 516 pages, (paperback) $23.95, 9798987177006 (Reviewed: July 2023)

In her compelling novel Cold Peace, Helena P. Schrader delves into complexities of post-WWII Germany and the roots of the Berlin Airlift. The first in a planned trilogy, the novel reprises some characters from Schrader’s past work, including former RAF fighter pilots David Goldman and Robin Priestman.

Priestman is now the Wing Commander at an RAF base just outside Berlin. Goldman, now a civilian, is creating an air ambulance business located at the same base. The narrative revolves around their interlocking stories, culminating in the attempt to airlift food and medicine to Berliners trapped behind Soviet lines.

Schrader’s plotting is intricate and engaging. She deftly guides readers through the political and cultural landscape of a Berlin divided into four quarters: French, American, British and Russian. In this Germany, Russians have replaced Nazis as the primary enemies, while British and American forces play a key role in keeping the city from being completely absorbed into the new Soviet Union.

Cold Peace introduces entrancing new characters, such as Charlotte Walmsdorf. A German citizen with a complicated past, Charlotte becomes critical to the success of Goldman’s air ambulance business. Charlotte’s sympathetic characterization provides readers with a contrast to the sinister former Nazis who also populate the narrative.

Schrader’s fiction is deeply rooted in historical fact, interweaving fictional characters with real historical figures such as American Military Governor General Lucius D. Clay. She effectively uses detailed maps, historical notes and a comprehensive “Recommended Reading” list to buttress readers’ understanding of this nuanced historical period.

The book suffers from some copyediting issues, including missing and misused commas, and repetition (ex: “Kathleen glanced over her shoulder toward the radar room” is used twice in the span of three paragraphs). Additionally, the dialogue is sometimes used to convey background information, making it a bit stilted. Nonetheless, fans of Schrader’s prior work will find Cold Peace rewarding, as will new readers interested in the origins of the Cold War.

Cold Peace: A Novel of the Berlin Airlift, Part IBy: Helena P. SchraderPublisher: Cross Seas PressPublication Date: June 15, 2023ISBN: 979-8-9871770-0-6Reviewed By: Kathy SticklesReview Date: August 10, 2023

Cold Peace: A Novel of the Berlin Airlift, Part 1 is an absolutely enthralling new historical fiction story from author Helena P. Schrader and, at least in my opinion, she has hit it out of the park with this book. The historical facts and accuracy in this story, intermixed with the historical figures and the fictional characters who have been added, make it a book that holds the reader’s attention and teaches them at the same time, an incredible combination.Cold Peace is set three years after the end of World War II as Europe is trying to recover while still being under the threat of the Soviets. At this point in time, Berlin is trying to come to grips with all of the problems they are facing, such as rationing and unemployment, as well as the fact that the city is being occupied by Soviets, Americans, and the French, all fighting for control of the city. This makes everything even harder on the people who only want to recover and move on. While all of this is happening, a Soviet plane is a participant in the crash of a British passenger plane in Berlin and now the entire world is on the brink of World War III.While Cold Peace contains numerous real-life figures from history, the story also includes many fictional characters who help make the novel so fabulous. The cast of characters includes a pilot from the Battle of Britain, a female air traffic controller and her adorable daughter, and a survivor from a concentration camp, to name just a few. These characters come together in Berlin with many others as they try to aid the people and keep the conflict with the Soviets, who are also occupying Berlin, from boiling over into another tragedy. Is that even possible? For that, you will have to read the book and I can tell you for certain that it is so well worth the read.Although this is the first book by Schrader that I have read, this author has written numerous books wrapped around World War II and I can only assume that they are all as fascinating and accurate as this one. Cold Peace is the first book in a trilogy that is going to show the reader the history of the blockade in Berlin that leads up to the famous airlift and the people, both actual and fictional, who were involved. It is apparent that this author puts her everything into a story as the development of the characters, the dialogue, the historical facts, and the descriptive settings are completely accurate and draw the reader in very quickly.Cold Peace has such a wide range of very different and complex characters and the way the stories jump back-and-forth between the characters is simply marvelous. After a while, all of the characters seem to intertwine effortlessly, and it makes the book even more engaging. The plot is perfectly done and timed and really leads the reader through the political and cultural history of Berlin. All of this combines into a very fast-paced, suspenseful, emotional, and riveting story that any reader will find almost impossible to put down. It is simply one of the best historical fiction books that this reviewer has ever read and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys military history, world history, or simply a very realistic and attention-holding book. The settings are perfect, the writing is superb, and the plot is very well-crafted.Quill says: Cold Peace: A Novel of the Berlin Airlift, Part 1 is a riveting and wonderfully written example of historical fiction and definitely stands out as one of the best. There is nothing better than reading a book by an author who is able to weave together a story full of historical fact and figures with a group of fascinating fictional characters, but Schrader has done just that. I am sure that all readers will be anxiously awaiting part 2 in the series. I know that I certainly will be as I have become a huge fan.For more information on Cold Peace: A Novel of the Berlin Airlift, Part I, please visit the author's website at: www.helenapschrader.com/ 

Cold Peace A Novel of the Berlin Airlift, Part IHelena P. SchraderCross Seas Press (Jun 15, 2023)(516pp)979-898717700-6Clarion Rating: 4 out of 5

Character studies dominate in Cold Peace, a lengthy novel that sets up the story of the Berlin airlift.

Helena P. Schrader’s historical novel Cold Peace covers the events surrounding the Berlin Blockade in the wake of World War II.When Wing Commander Priestman is called to his new post at RAF Gatow, he is unsure of what to expect. He is asked to “fly the flag” and “be the face of Britain” in a war-torn Berlin. As he flies over crumbled buildings and he see scavengers looking for items to barter, he is asked to put on an air show. His wife, Emily, who is also a skilled pilot, is expected to show her pretty face, attend the ladies’ club, and volunteer her time selling raffle tickets. It all seems superficial and frivolous—until their friend David brings his air ambulance to Berlin, giving them a sense of purpose at the busiest airport of the period.This novel is a prequel to a coming novel regarding the Berlin airlift, and it works to introduce its characters in depth. Their ranks and military acronyms are explained; their places in history are covered in the supplementary material. As the novel progresses, though, there are some abrupt segues between characters. Still, the book’s portrayals of people finding their way in the confusing postwar era are empathetic on an individual basis. For example, David, a recent heir, assumes the task of unearthing properties owned by his late aunt and uncle, one of which holds a squatting Nazi. He also helps the “true Germans” of Berlin when Soviet forces try to starve out British and American people.Throughout the book, though, it’s the strong women who stand out most. Emily clashes with some of the officers’ wives whom she encounters, whose concerns are more everyday than hers: they gossip in fancy dresses and talk about fashion and their children. Emily is more comfortable in her flight jacket; she does not have children. During a tense phone conversation with an American wife who wants to leave Berlin to protect her children, Emily’s tough characterization is solidified: she would rather stay and aid her husband, whom she regards as a teammate. She also interacts with Charlotte, a German countess who teaches her conversational German; Charlotte’s parents were killed during the war, and she wears her late brother’s coat and boots and cuts her hair short. She and Emily are hired by David and are a source of strength to the men they work with.In tidy form, the members of the cast make their way to Berlin; much of what occurs herein is a setup for events to come. There’s a sense that each person will come to find their true purpose later on; their stories are not completed in this volume.In the historical novel Cold Peace, war heroes and strong women find their collective purpose in a war-torn Berlin.Reviewed by Erin NesbitJuly 20, 2023 

Cold Peace by Helena P. Schrader is the first of what I understand to be a trilogy of novels based around the incredible 1948-49 Berlin Airlift. This was a humanitarian effort by the Allied powers to supply the citizens of Berlin with necessities by air after the Soviet Union blockaded all ground transport into Berlin, which was deep within the Soviet sphere of influence in post-WWII Germany.

Wing Commander Robin Priestman was convinced his Air Force career was going nowhere following the end of hostilities in 1945. When he found himself posted to Gatow Airfield, in the British sector of Berlin, he was deeply disappointed. He had spent the war as a fighter pilot, shooting down Germans and now he was expected to go back to Germany and “play nice” with the very people he had been so recently fighting. When David Goldman was left a considerable fortune on his father’s death, he teamed up with another crew-mate from the war, Charles Murray, to start an air-ambulance service in the beleaguered city of Berlin. They decided to locate their business in Gatow, where their friend and colleague Robin Priestman was Station Commander. All this played out against the background of increased Soviet pressure to eliminate the Allied powers from Berlin and install a puppet communist regime in all of Eastern Germany.

It was only once I started reading Cold Peace that I realized this was a continuation of a previous book by Helena P. Schrader. The author captures the different attitudes and commitments of the various Allied parties that made up the ruling powers in Berlin post World War II perfectly. The beauty of this narrative is that it educates wonderfully, as well as entertains completely. The relationships between the various characters are fully explored and complete but the factual account of what happened in Berlin leading up to the Soviet Blockade and subsequent Allied airlift is also provided. I particularly appreciated the confusion many of the characters experienced in having to interact socially and professionally with people they had been taught to despise and destroy for five and a half long years of war. It was interesting to note the difference between the political views of some of the participants as opposed to the professional nature of the relationships between the two station commanders, Priestman and Kuznetsov. Robin Priestman asserted that it was easier to talk to each other as airman to airman, rather than Englishman to Russian. This is a wide-ranging and expansive dive into the nature of the Berlin Airlift and I cannot wait to read the follow-up books from this superbly talented author.

Cold Peace: Bridge to Tomorrow is a work of fiction in the historical, interpersonal drama, and wartime fiction subgenres. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience and was penned by author Helena P. Schrader. In this highly immersive and engrossing historical tale, we find ourselves transported back to the post-war era following the Second World War. In Berlin, tensions run high as a cast of characters forms an air ambulance company, including female air traffic controllers and former RAF pilots. Carrying the scars of the last war with them, it’s not long before the threat of Stalin brews up trouble once more.

Author Helena P. Schrader has crafted a spellbinding work of historical fiction that brings a unique pocket of history to life with extraordinary detail and heart. I loved the premise and was so intrigued to learn about the Berlin Airlift, particularly through such a naturally told and engaging storyline that gives us all the richness of the period but never has a dull moment in the plot. I was particularly drawn to Kathleen Hart and her journey of self-discovery throughout the tale, but readers will all find different people to relate to as Schrader puts heart and soul into the dialogue and development of everyone from cover to cover. This keen sense of reality adds to the overall attitude of the piece, giving an authentic image of people caught in a very unsettling historical time. Overall, Cold Peace is a deeply engrossing novel that I would recommend to fans of military history, realistic drama, and suspense novels alike.

Sharp research meets vivid storytelling in an absorbing novel of the postwar period.

American author Schrader’s historical series-starter charts the events preceding the Berlin airlift from a European perspective.The author’s Bridge to Tomorrow trilogy examines how the Berlin airlift, a colossal operation to counter the Soviet blockade of the German capital, was a pivotal moment between the post–World War II and Cold War eras.

This first installment covers the period between late 1947 and June 1948, when the international crisis first began. Royal Air Force Wing Commander Robert Priestman is a British flying ace with a past reputation for “irresponsible aerobatics” and a playboy image. Priestman accepts the new role of station commander at RAF Gatow, Berlin, which will become the world’s busiest airport. He relocates to Germany with his wife, Emily Priestman, who’s also a pilot; she contributed to the war effort by delivering service aircraft.

Among other characters headed for Berlin is David Goldman, who, after receiving a sizeable inheritance, is intent on operating an air ambulance business from the city, and RAF Flight Sergeant Kathleen Hart, a war widow and single parent who’s also been assigned to Berlin; she leaves England in the hope of finding love.

The characters find the crime-ridden postwar city in ruins, and the threat from the Soviet Sector of Berlin is clear. Priestman must deal with Soviet fighter planes repeatedly harassing RAF aircraft; a tragedy results in an international crisis, and it seems as if another world war could be on the horizon.

Schrader is a sharply descriptive writer who captures the atmosphere and minute details of life in postwar Berlin with photographic precision: “Behind façades shorn of plaster, people existed more than lived. They cooked a little food over a wood-burning stove, crowded around a radio, perhaps, or read by the light of a bulb dangling from the ceiling.”

The author’s research is impressive; in her historical notes, for example, she highlights her quest to pin down an accurate date for the construction of Gatow’s concrete runway. The novel ambitiously juggles several major characters, and the author ably handles the tricky task of making each well rounded and psychologically believable. She provides in-depth background information that reveals not only the various players’ pasts, but also their understanding of one another. In a description of the relationship between Priestman and his spouse, for instance, Schrader writes that “he had never been able to talk to her about being a prisoner, about how it made him feel naked, worthless and helpless. He’d certainly never told her about the brutality he’d experienced on recapture.”

One minor criticism is that the author spends much of the first half of the novel simply introducing people, which becomes somewhat programmatic. Although this process could have been more smoothly integrated, one can make a case for its necessity, given the trilogy’s vast scope.

Overall, this is a smart and compelling read, punctuated by gripping aerial sequences, political tension, and a dash of romance. It will likely have military fiction fans clamoring for the next installment.Sharp research meets vivid storytelling in an absorbing novel of the postwar period.

Pub Date: June 15, 2023ISBN: 979-8987177006Page Count: 516Publisher: Cross Seas PressReview Posted Online: July 27, 2023Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023Review Program: Kirkus IndieCategories:HISTORICAL FICTION | HISTORY