Find Another Book

Book details

Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke

Anne Blankman - Author

Gretchen and Daniel’s murder investigation brings them into danger amid the Nazi consolidation of power. Alongside the romantic relationship, the novel covers political changes and the targeting of Jews as scapegoats.

More about this book

In 1933, eighteen-year-old Gretchen, niece of Adolph Hitler, reunites with her Jewish boyfriend when she leaves the safety of England to return to Germany to investigate a murder and expose the evil of the Nazi regime. The girl known as Gretchen Whitestone has a secret: she used to be part of Adolf Hitler's inner circle. But she made an enemy of her old family friend and fled Munich, living now in England, posing as an ordinary German immigrant, and preparing to graduate from high school. But then her love, Daniel, a reporter, gets a telegram that sends him back to Germany. When she receives word that Daniel is wanted for murder, Gretchen has to face the danger she thought she'd escaped, and return to her homeland.

Add to Compare Explore

Book Analysis

At a Glance

Discover

Nazi rule· ExplainedAntisemitism· ExplainedScapegoating· Explained

Consider

Violence and harmDiscrimination or prejudiceRelationships and intimacy

Personalised Fit

Beyond the Cover

Nazi ruleantisemitismscapegoating

FictionNovel

Themes in Context

Historical persecution and political power

The novel covers how the Nazi Party consolidated power and how Jews were made scapegoats amid social hardship.Exploratory / explanatory

How the book presents it: This historical strand may help readers consider how political movements use prejudice and blame.

Talk about: What conditions make scapegoating persuasive to people, and how can it be challenged?

Why It May Be Worth Reading

The historical backdrop gives a reader a way into how the Nazi Party gained power, while Gretchen’s choices and perspective add a personal thread to that political story.

What Deserves Attention

Violence includes repeated beatings, guns being brandished or fired, and torture-related injuries described in detail. Cocaine use, smoking and drinking are also mentioned; romantic scenes include kisses and brief physical sensations.

A Conversation Worth Having

If the book’s portrayal of scapegoating prompts questions, what makes a group vulnerable to being blamed for wider hardship, and how might readers recognise that pattern?

Reading Approach

This continues the story begun in Prisoner of Night and Fog: the opening catches readers up, though the characters and relationships may mean more after the first book. Pause where needed around violence or political persecution.

Confidence & Basis

Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.

What remains unconfirmed

Historical persecution and political power: Some details of this treatment remain unclear.

Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman | Open Library

Limited information

Checked: 1 October 2026.

Relevant to: General book context

Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke

Limited information

Checked: 1 October 2026.

Relevant to: Historical persecution and political power

Benefits, discussion questions and reading approaches are suggestions. Your knowledge of your child remains part of the decision.

Heidi

Heidi

Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke

At a Glance

Discover

Consider

Personalised Fit

Beyond the Cover

Themes in Context

Historical persecution and political power

Why It May Be Worth Reading

What Deserves Attention

A Conversation Worth Having

Reading Approach

What remains unconfirmed