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Natalie Morrill
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The Ghost Keeper Paperback – Deckle Edge, May 22 2018

by Natalie Morrill (Author)
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 191 ratings
3.7 on Goodreads
1,143 ratings
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Winner of the HarperCollins/UBC Prize for Best New Fiction, this powerful, sweeping novel set in Vienna during the 1930s and ’40s centres on a poignant love story and a friendship that ends in betrayal.

In the years between the two world wars, Josef Tobak builds a quiet life around his friendships, his beloved wife, Anna, and his devotion to the old Jewish cemeteries of Vienna. Then comes the Anschluss in 1938, and Josef’s world is uprooted. His health disintegrates. His wife and child are forced to flee to China. His closest gentile friend joins the Nazi Party—and yet helps Josef escape to America.

When the war ends, Josef returns to Vienna with his family and tries to make sense of what remains, including his former Nazi friend who, he discovers, protected Josef’s young female cousin throughout the war. 

Back among his cemeteries in Austria’s war-shattered capital, Josef finds himself beset by secrets, darkness and outward righteousness marred by private cruelty. As the truth is unearthed, Josef’s care for the dead takes on new meaning while he confronts his own role in healing both his devastated community and his deepest wounds.

The Ghost Keeper is a story about the terrible choices we make to survive and the powerful connections to communities and friends that define us. Here is a finely accomplished novel that introduces an exciting new voice to our literary landscape.

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  1. Print length
    368 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Patrick Crean Editions
  4. Publication date
    May 22 2018
  5. Dimensions
    15.24 x 2.34 x 22.86 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    1443450456
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1443450454
  8. See all details
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Product description

From the Back Cover

Winner of the HarperCollins/UBC Prize for Best New Fiction, this powerful, sweeping novel, set in Vienna during the 1930s and ’40s, centres on a poignant love story—and a friendship that ends in betrayal.

In the years between the two World Wars, Josef Tobak builds a quiet life around his friendships, his beloved wife, Anna, and his devotion to the old Jewish cemeteries of Vienna. Then comes the Anschluss in 1938, and Josef’s world is uprooted. His health disintegrates. His wife and child are forced to flee to China. His closest Gentile friend joins the Nazi Party—yet helps him escape to America.

When the war ends, Josef returns to Vienna and tries to make sense of what remains—including his former Nazi friend, who, he discovers, protected Josef’s young female cousin throughout the war. 

Returning to his cemeteries and a Vienna shattered by war, Josef finds himself beset by secrets, darkness and apparent righteousness marred by private cruelty. As the truth is unearthed, Josef’s care for the dead takes on new meaning as he confronts his own role in healing both his devastated community and his deepest wounds.

The Ghost Keeper is a story about the terrible choices we make to survive and our powerful connections to the communities and friends that define us. Here is a finely accomplished novel that introduces an exciting new voice to our literary landscape.

About the Author

NATALIE MORRILL holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of British Columbia. Her fiction and poetry have been published in Canadian journals and included in The Journey Prize anthology. She lives in Ottawa, Canada.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Patrick Crean Editions (May 22 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1443450456
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1443450454
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 381 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 2.34 x 22.86 cm
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 191 ratings

About the author

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Natalie Morrill

Natalie Morrill

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Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
191 global ratings

Top reviews from Canada

Susan Pinard
5.0 out of 5 stars Live and let live - if only they could have
Reviewed in Canada on July 19, 2021
Verified Purchase
The writing is powerful, and a good story is told. I know the author and her mother. I'm happy to be reading this book, which I haven't finished yet.
One person found this helpful
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Laraine
4.0 out of 5 stars A slow but haunting read
Reviewed in Canada on September 30, 2018
4-4 1/2 star read. Morrills's book is a quiet but compelling read. She introduces us to Josef, a Jew and his Gentile friend Friedrich. Set in Vienna before WWII, the boys become fast friends with Friedrich secretly in love with Josef's older sister Zilla. When the Germans invade Vienna, Josef is married to Anna and Friedrich joins the National Socialists, because he must in order to stay in business. But he secretly helps Josef and Anna and their son Tobias, helping Anna and Tobias flee to China and later, helping Josef flee to New York City. After the war, Josef returns to Vienna and a reunion with his wife and son and learns of others Friedrich has helped. But a truth from his friend tears the friends' lives apart. A slow but haunting read.
2 people found this helpful
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Josse
5.0 out of 5 stars Great themes
Reviewed in Canada on March 23, 2022
Verified Purchase
This book asks and answers those hard questions that come at the crossroads of grief and forgiveness. A beautiful story of human resilience, forgiveness and compassion.
One person found this helpful
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Alan Belkin
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb!
Reviewed in Canada on March 14, 2020
Verified Purchase
A wonderful, deep novel, rich, well written. I can't wait for her next book!
2 people found this helpful
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rizalvaro
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, immersive writing; poignant story
Reviewed in Canada on December 9, 2018
Verified Purchase
What a delightful and gripping read! The author shows much promise and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.
5 people found this helpful
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Bookworm
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
Reviewed in Canada on June 19, 2024
I read lots of Holocaust literature, mostly (like 98%) non-fiction. A friend recommended this book, so I trusted their judgement. It was wonderful. The character development, very realistic plot that draws the reader in. The tension builds, and though you have an idea of what might be going to happen, it still surprises. The author's writing is just beautiful.
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Dale E. Donovan
5.0 out of 5 stars What an excellent book! You care about the characters
Reviewed in Canada on June 15, 2018
Verified Purchase
What an excellent book! You care about the characters, you are immersed in the history of pre-war and post-war Austria, and there is a satisfying ending.
5 people found this helpful
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Neema
5.0 out of 5 stars enjoyed the book
Reviewed in Canada on January 18, 2020
Verified Purchase
awesome
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Allie. S.
5.0 out of 5 stars New Perspective on the tragedy of the Holocaust
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2024
Verified Purchase
As my book club talked over this book collectively there were varying opinions, from love/ hate relationship to Ive read it over 3 times because it was so great. I personally enjoyed it as a fresh perspective. I found the writing style indicative gave a sense of the untethered feeling that time must have brought. It had a surprising twist at the end and yet felt like it was a happy ending without the Hallmark sappy. A fictional story yes but felt as if it could have happened. It brought out such complexity in characters that through the horror of what mankind can do to its fellow humans one can still bring forth forgiveness, really it asks of the reader more so than the characters whom can you have sympathy towards. And again in our book club there were a variety if answers. Good read!!
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Jean
5.0 out of 5 stars Deeply moving
Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2021
Verified Purchase
Beautifully written story of a Jewish man in Vienna and his closest friend,a Gentile. In the aftermath of the 1939 Anachluss, both must make difficult, painful choices that will affect the remainder of their lives. A sensitive exploration of friendship, loyalty, betrayal, fear, and forgiveness. Highly recommended.

Those who know the Book of Tobit from the Hebrew scriptures will find interesting parallels.
2 people found this helpful
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Alicia Pederson
1.0 out of 5 stars sentimental and psychologically implausible
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2024
Verified Purchase
— fragile and vulnerable characters hard to care about/like
—protagonist’s obsession with bearing memory to the dead improbable and not justified through book
—totally humorless
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