The Quote is Campbell Russell’s first adult novel, and it tells the story of Milanda Coward, a concentration camp survivor who is trying to move on with her life, but never really can. The past is always there, and in this case, it comes back in a very real way.
Milanda believes she has recognised a former SS officer, Wilhelm Staub, now living quietly in 1980s Hampshire under a different name and working as a German teacher in a local independent school. While everyone else sees an ordinary man, she sees something very different, and she is determined to prove it.
The story uses Milanda’s journal to take us back to her experiences during the war. These parts are tough to read. They help you understand why she cannot let this go. This is not about revenge. It is about truth, and about someone refusing to allow the past to be ignored.
What I thought of The Quote
What I found interesting was the use of quotes from the German poet Heinrich Heine. Milanda uses them as a way to test Staub and confirm her suspicions. It is a clever idea and gives the story something a little different.
Milanda largely takes this on alone. She had tried going to the authorities before, and it had not gone well, so she no longer trusted them. That decision adds tension because you know she is dealing with a dangerous man. This is not a straightforward situation, and there are real consequences to what she is doing.
Alongside this, we are introduced to Detective Inspector Colin McKenzie. He is trying to find his place in the police force in the 1980s, facing his own challenges along the way. His storyline adds another layer to the book without taking over from Milanda’s.
The pace of the book works well. It moves steadily, and I found it easy to keep reading. The references to events like the Miners’ Strike and the Millennium Bug help place the story in time without overdoing it.
In Conclusion
Overall, this is an interesting and engaging read. It is not the easiest subject, but it is handled well. It sits somewhere between a crime thriller and a character-led story, which makes it a little different from the usual. My interest was held until the end, and I am still left feeling very sorry for Milanda. Her life was hard, sad, and I felt she was never really loved.
