Like any piece of fiction, the book Winter Work: A Novel captures the essence of the end of times, the duplicity of spies, and the imagined feeling of East Germany.

The dialogue isn’t that great. There are times when it’s cringeworthy, especially when Americans talk about intra-office politics. That was horrible.

However, the dialogue between Emil, Karola, and Claire is fantastic.

The descriptions of the forest, the restaurants, and the settings are impeccable. I felt like I was in East Germany, which had just joined the west.

I will observe that the protagonist is that particular kind of German protagonist who is deeply flawed and trying to fit in.

A great, great, great read.