SHORT REVIEW: The pace drags on a bit to establish the multitude of characters and the chronology jumps around a bit chaotically at times. As one not versed in historical non-fiction, I was not supremely impressed by the end effect, though interested to see the build-up of tension during the early years of Hitler's ascension, mainly in how the German citizens reacted, the bouts of violence that erupted against expatriates, and the isolationism around which the government was rallying. Though I see the importance of having a stable and central protagonist around whom the narrative is based, I was not overly eager to learn more about Dodd and his "Jeffersonian" ways or flighty Martha (though her prose was quite talented). 
 LONG REVIEW: I had not studied or read about Hitler's Nazi Germany since high school, so I found quite a few gems of information and knowledge that I had not previously known, such as Hitler's paranoid seizure of the army (and how his officials seemed to have conned him into it), the mob mentality of "regular" German citizens in adhering to Nazi policies and deifying Hitler, and the overall paranoia that wracked even Hitler's right-hand men. 
 Larson's account, through Ambassador Dodd and Martha, was reliable and woven with emotion and realism, which is why I rated this three stars instead of two. However, in the end, one must enjoy the books one reads, mustn't one?? It was a bit boring reading through this, and it all has to do with Ambassador Dodd. I appreciate the difficulty of his position (and yes, I was kind of nodding my head along to his complaints of excessive spending) but realistically, a diplomat has a role to play. And yes, I didn't expect Dodd to openly denounce Hitler or stealthily issue passports to those in danger from his regime, but he really did not do anything. And Martha was just as bad. Sure, her life was kind of exciting, in the way that a soap opera is, with her countless trysts and her penchant for drama, and made for a lighthearted reprieve from Dodd's Jeffersonian ways (I wish I had not returned my e-book version because now I am itching to see how many times Larson described him as such). However, I still appreciated how stark and startling the oppressive environment must have been for her to arrive indulgent and admiring, only to take off her rose-colored glasses, and how effectively Larson used her narrative. (And, while I admit that I was unfairly inclined to think her vapid and airheaded because of how easily enamored she was by the various men she encountered and Nazi Germany itself, I was pleasantly surprised by how complex and proficient her written account is.) Still, framing the narrative around these two was a fresh take on this era of history, which has become overrun. 
 I also enjoyed the climax of the Night of the Long Knives, an event I never studied. It made the drudgery of learning name after name and position after position worth it as you finally see Hitler make a drastic move, only for the nation and the rest of the world to do nothing. Smartly done, instead of hundreds or thousands of meaningless names thrown at you, now there is context--Dodd's context, yes--with which the victims can be associated. However, the aftermath was rushed, which so starkly contrasted with the extremely slow build-up. 
 Overall, I would recommend giving this one a read, if not for the absorbing text, then for the wealth of knowledge on events pre-Holocaust, mostly logically organized content, and peek into the lives of the head honchos of the Nazi Regime.