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Ellie Midwood
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Spies (Metropolis Book 2) Kindle Edition

by Ellie Midwood (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 252 ratings
Weimar Berlin, 1927

Having recovered from the hyperinflation, the decadent metropolis is prospering against all odds. Unbothered by the turbulent events of the previous years, Berlin plunges into an orgy of life, entirely oblivious to the dangerous signs of an upcoming catastrophe.

Much like the rest of Berlin’s artistic elite, Margot von Steinhoff is too preoccupied with her work on the set of the infamous Fritz Lang, to pay attention to the dark shadow of the nationalistic threat hanging over the city. When Ernst Weniger, her former lover and now an official NKVD officer, asks for her help in aiding the German communists, she refuses at first, choosing to stay apolitical, just like Lang. However, when the new Gauleiter of Berlin, Joseph Goebbels, arrives in the city and begins his relentless campaign of harassment and misinformation, Margot realizes that staying neutral is no longer an option. Playing on the wrong side can cost her not only her career but her freedom, yet Margot has never been more certain of her choice.

“I don’t read political newspapers, Margot. I only want to make my films… I don’t want to have anything to do with all those politics.”

“I don’t want to have anything to do with them either. But the sad fact is that sometimes politics wants to have everything to do with us, regardless of our desires. At some point, all of us will have to take sides. The good news, Fritz, is that I’ll always be on yours.”

Dark, gritty, yet full of hope, “Spies” is the novel of the doomed Weimar Republic and the last generation of free-thinking artists who lived and created their masterpieces in a city, on the verge of collapse.
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  1. Book 2 of 2
    Metropolis
  2. Print length
    300 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    May 15, 2020
  6. File size
    2.6 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B085F2QLJ5
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 15, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.6 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 300 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 2 of 2 ‏ : ‎ Metropolis
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 252 ratings

About the author

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Ellie Midwood

Ellie Midwood

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Ellie Midwood is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning historical fiction author, whose works have been translated into 20 languages. She owes her interest in the history of the Second World War to her grandfather, Junior Sergeant in the 2nd Guards Tank Army of the First Belorussian Front, who began telling her about his experiences on the frontline when she was a young girl. Growing up, her interest in history only deepened and transformed from reading about the war to writing about it. After obtaining her BA in Linguistics, Ellie decided to make writing her full-time career and began working on her first full-length historical novel, "The Girl from Berlin." Ellie is continuously enriching her library with new research material and feeds her passion for WWII and Holocaust history by collecting rare memorabilia and documents.

In her free time, Ellie is a health-obsessed yoga enthusiast, neat freak, adventurer, Nazi Germany history expert, polyglot, philosopher, a proud Jew, and a doggie mama. Ellie lives in New York with her husband and their three dogs.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
252 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this historical novel captivating with an explosive plot and minute details of its time period. The book is well-researched and masterfully written, with one customer noting how it's based on factual historical events and characters. They appreciate the vivid scenes and authentic atmosphere, with one review highlighting its realistic portrayal of Berlin life before the war.

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17 customers mention "Story quality"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's story captivating and filled with drama, describing it as a wonderful historical novel with an explosive plot. One customer notes that the author extensively researched the time period.

"...While Spies was filled with drama, twists, and turns, incredible and believable characters, all based on factual historical events and characters, I..." Read more

"...The combination of art and politics during this era makes for an explosive plot. The romance is good, too...." Read more

"...I found her so to be genuine and remarkable. The story itself was captivating, romantic, inspiring but also rich in themes that apply today, and..." Read more

"...and surrounding, a contrast between the rich and poor, makes the story come alive...." Read more

13 customers mention "Research quality"13 positive0 negative

Customers praise the research quality of the book, finding it well-researched and incredible, with one customer noting it's every bit as good as the first book in the series.

"...While Spies was filled with drama, twists, and turns, incredible and believable characters, all based on factual historical events and characters, I..." Read more

"...The author did a great amount of research to create this interesting plot...." Read more

"Wow! Spies is even better than book one. Margot is a brilliant, relatable, unique character and I loved the setting - it’s my favorite..." Read more

"...Well done. I'm looking forward to more books in the series. It's refreshing to see all the events that led to the Nazi rise to power." Read more

9 customers mention "Character development"9 positive0 negative

Customers are fascinated by the characters in the book, with one review noting they are based on factual historical events and characters.

"...indefatigable and ambitious photographer, cinematographer, and vibrant personality in Ellie Midwood’s “Metropolis”, we now find her wiles and skills..." Read more

"...The character Margot is as fascinating as her world where she is a cinematographer working with the great German film director Fritz Lang...." Read more

"...Margot is a brilliant, relatable, unique character and I loved the setting - it’s my favorite setting of all Midwood’s books - the creatives paint..." Read more

"...So many wonderful descriptions of the characters and surrounding, a contrast between the rich and poor, makes the story come alive...." Read more

8 customers mention "Readability"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable, with one mentioning their enjoyment of the author's works about Germany.

"...It is fascinating to read whether she can bring herself to take sides...." Read more

"...I found her so to be genuine and remarkable...." Read more

"...It’s a great set up for another work-of-perfection by the talented Midwood...." Read more

"...What I will say is that these books are amazing, well written, and feels real. You'll be pulled in the story line straight away...." Read more

6 customers mention "Visual quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the visual quality of the book, with one review noting its vivid scenes and atmospheric descriptions, while another mentions its realistic portrayal and exciting nightlife patterns.

"...Such is the power of this author’s narrative and her ability to paint a scene so vividly, you begin to worry for your heroine and for her..." Read more

"...Berlin in the '20's is so colorfully described as are the many characters...." Read more

"...all Midwood’s books - the creatives paint such an atmospheric, realistic portrait of the awe-inspiring, prosperous city that is getting back on its..." Read more

"...The scenes are vivid with an authentic aliveness that has become a craft of this masterful-wordsmith author. Highly recommend." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, describing it as well-written and noting the author's masterful use of words.

"...Tightly-written, fast-paced, this story hold great tension navigating the reader through the pages to its conclusion...." Read more

"...and you have the makings of another fascinating work from this very talented author! Highly recommended." Read more

"...What I will say is that these books are amazing, well written, and feels real. You'll be pulled in the story line straight away...." Read more

"...is that is so unique, and the setting of Berlin in the 20’s is just spellbinding...." Read more

5 customers mention "Authenticity"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the authenticity of the book, with one noting its realistic portrayal and another highlighting its true storyteller approach.

"...Spies is even better than book one. Margot is a brilliant, relatable, unique character and I loved the setting - it’s my favorite setting..." Read more

"...The scenes are vivid with an authentic aliveness that has become a craft of this masterful-wordsmith author. Highly recommend." Read more

"...Scrupulously researched (read Author’s Note) and truthfully presented, it’s an example of historical fiction at its best...." Read more

"...; love her insecurities, her down right single minded protective, emphatic nature and her drive...." Read more

4 customers mention "Sex scenes"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the sex scenes in the book, with one review noting how they capture Berlin's personal and seedy aspects, while another highlights the mystical atmosphere of the city.

"...with her boyfriend, Paul, we are up close and personal with the seediness of Berlin, with its general poverty, the desperation of prostitutes, and..." Read more

"...of nightlife, movies, artists, opium dens creating an almost mystical mood in Berlin...." Read more

"...It is so neat to see Berlin before the war as we do not have many novels on that...." Read more

"An interesting follow-up to Metropolis, and the lifestyle of Berlin between WWI and WWII...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Induna
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Tension Builds in The Weimar Republic
    Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Following the brilliant depiction of Margot Von Steinhoff as the indefatigable and ambitious photographer, cinematographer, and vibrant personality in Ellie Midwood’s “Metropolis”, we now find her wiles and skills are softening the character of the other major protagonist in this drama, that of the tyrannical film director, Fritz Lang.
    He becomes so much more human toward Margot, to the extent that she must not allow his newly recognized charm and attention to her become overwhelming and to the detriment of her relationship to her true love, Paul Schneider.
    It does become a test of character and will when Margot and Fritz must meet an American film mogul in a den of iniquity where Fritz is helping Margot obtain funding for a new project of her own. The scene here is played out with such sexual tension that while not pornographic, leaves little to the imagination with a drug and alcohol-induced location. Such is the power of this author’s narrative and her ability to paint a scene so vividly, you begin to worry for your heroine and for her wellbeing.

    As I have pointed out before, there is an aspect of my favorite authors where their inner humanity and character always shine through and this is no less with Ellie Midwood. Here, her character Margot is set in a time period of an impending change in Germany, and Berlin in particular. The nationalists through Goebbels propaganda machine and their ANTIFA like Brownshirts propagating their violence and intimidation, while the Communists attempt to bring improved wages and conditions to unrepresented workers.

    Margot is given an opportunity to show her fairness and humanity by slipping informational leaflets to the film crew with whom she is engaged with each day. It is fascinating to read whether she can bring herself to take sides.

    Finally, she has a new project completely of her own making in which she will produce a film, unlike any film Germany has yet seen.

    While Spies was filled with drama, twists, and turns, incredible and believable characters, all based on factual historical events and characters, I am filled with wonderful anticipation of the next book in this series. More so, because the author of the story Margot wishes to film, lived in the town where my own mother and grandfather were born and which is embedded in my soul.
    David E. Huntley May 28, 2020
    One person found this helpful
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  • C Woods
    4.0 out of 5 stars Truly engrossing!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I love this series of filmmaking in the 1920's Berlin. The author did a great amount of research to create this interesting plot.

    The character Margot is as fascinating as her world where she is a cinematographer working with the great German film director Fritz Lang. Berlin in the '20's is so colorfully described as are the many characters. The Nazi Party is trying to gain a foothold in politics and already dangerous. The combination of art and politics during this era makes for an explosive plot. The romance is good, too.

    I am looking forward to the next book in this series and recommend to readers of historical fiction.
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  • carissa backherms
    5.0 out of 5 stars Atmospheric, realistic, and brilliant!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Wow! Spies is even better than book one.

    Margot is a brilliant, relatable, unique character and I loved the setting - it’s my favorite setting of all Midwood’s books - the creatives paint such an atmospheric, realistic portrait of the awe-inspiring, prosperous city that is getting back on its feet...But of course, the tension builds, as we know what’s coming and the realization blooms in our lovely MC and it’s both fascinating and painful to experience along with her. Margot, torn between two sides and determined to stay neutral, is forced to take a stand. I enjoyed experiencing this through Margot’s perspective. I found her so to be genuine and remarkable. The story itself was captivating, romantic, inspiring but also rich in themes that apply today, and with such dark undertones, you can’t help reading on the edge of your seat. I wanted to stay there in prosperity and beauty forever ... but as we know, there’s a dark reality in all of Midwood’s stories.

    Midwood is a FORCE - her ability to build a world and make us fall in love with, and deeply understand, her characters regardless of their background or perspective, is what keeps me coming back for more! I absolutely can’t wait to see how this evolves in book 3 ...

    Spies is a must read, and a great book to lose yourself in during quarantine!

    - Carissa Ann Lynch
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Spies
    Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    One thing I love about this series is how the author ties the movie making into the Title and theme of the story. The first one, Metropolis, was as much about the city of Berlin as it was about the creation of the movie. In this one, you get immersed into the beginnings of the world of spies--both in the movie and what is happening with the characters. There's direct mention of getting information... Ernst asking Margot to give him information about changes at the movie production set... and indirect methods... what is Fritz's wife really up to? I'm sure in future books in the series, these themes will be even more developed.

    In this book, the Nazis--at first thought of as only bothersome, but overall inconsequential and brainless--are gaining momentum. The first mention of certain names, such as “Goebbels," will send shivers down your spine, knowing what a tremendous role he had in the Nazi rise to power.

    So many wonderful descriptions of the characters and surrounding, a contrast between the rich and poor, makes the story come alive. As with the first book, when I finished this one, I was eager to watch the Spies film that Fritz produced.

    Well done. I'm looking forward to more books in the series. It's refreshing to see all the events that led to the Nazi rise to power.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Maria
    5.0 out of 5 stars Spies
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 10, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Brilliant. Absolutely loved it and can't wait for book 3.
    Spies picks up where Metropolis ended. The author has created a fantastic and believable central character, Margot. Her 'true' husband is a skilled photographer and she works as an assistant to the renowned film director, Lang. I was fully engaged in her personal story on the set of Spies and her desire to direct a film of her own, Dracula as the first German full-length film with sound. The attention to detail, whether it's action on the film sets, the fashion and cars or the events carrying on in the background is incredible.
    As well as Margot's personal journey the atmosphere in Germany in the late 1920s is depicted perfectly. The influence of the Nazi party is growing in official circles as is that of the brown shirts on the streets. Jewish property is attacked and prominent people are desperately hiding their Jewish ancestry. The increasing sense of menace and forthcoming dramatic change is palpable throughout the book.
    Highly recommend to historical fiction fans.
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  • Trudie Collins
    4.0 out of 5 stars Another great read
    Reviewed in Australia on May 29, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is the first book I have read by this author which follows on from a previous book. It continues the story perfectly. There is no change in direction or personality. The characters evolve in a realist and believable way.

    The other books I have read by this author have centred around world war 2 and its effects on various people. I never thought I would enjoy books on this topic, but these stories are written in a way that makes me want to read more. Unlike the other books, this series is set before the war. It’s centred around the film industry, which I am not interested in at all, but somehow the characters are brought to life in a way that made me want to not put the book down. The things which happen which ultimately lead up to and cause the war are mentioned so subtly in the background that it is easy to believe that’s what really happened. I often wondered why how the Nazis came to power without anyone stopping them and this series sheds some light on it.

    At the end of the book, the author states her research resources. Even if she hadn’t done that, I could easily believe that some of the characters and events were real. It’s impossible not to as the author makes you feel you are living the characters’ lives with them and makes you care about what happens to them

    I can’t wait for book 3.
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  • Bill
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 12, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Another gem of a book from this fabulous author, which has you completely immersed in the characters and setting of 1920s Berlin. I refer to this author's writing as 'faction' because although it is a fictional story, it is packed with facts and real life characters, which gives the book such an authentic feel of living in those times. I have enjoyed the story on a superficial level but have also learned something! My only complaint is that on reaching the end of the book, I am desperate to read more about Margot and her friends! Hopefully it won't be too long to wait!
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  • Gail Laird
    4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting background to German movie industry in 1930’s
    Reviewed in Australia on October 18, 2020
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    A direct continuation from metropolis. Same characters and story line- But a little more background to the rise of Hitler. I’m glad I read it straight after Metropolis as it just felt like a nice long book.
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  • Books R Best
    5.0 out of 5 stars CARRIED ON FROM BOOK 1 TO BOOK 2
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 19, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I read book one in this series by one of my favourite authors and went straight on to read book 2. Great story, all the more edgy as the reader knows what’s coming but the characters don’t. I can see Margot getting into a lot of trouble very soon. I can’t wait for book 3.
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