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All The Broken Places

The Sequel to The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas

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All The Broken Places

By: John Boyne
Narrated by: Helen Lloyd, Kristin Atherton
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

1946. Three years after a cataclysmic event which tore their lives apart, a mother and daughter flee Poland for Paris, shame, and fear at their heels, not knowing how hard it is to escape your past.

Nearly eighty years later, Gretel Fernsby lives a life that is a far cry from her traumatic childhood. When a couple moves into the flat below her in her London mansion block, it should be nothing more than a momentary inconvenience. However, the appearance of their nine-year-old son Henry brings back memories she would rather forget.

Faced with a choice between her own safety and his, Gretel is taken back to a similar crossroads she encountered long ago. Back then, her complicity dishonoured her life, but to interfere now could risk revealing the secrets she has spent a lifetime protecting.


All the Broken Places is John Boyne's masterful sequel to his classic bestseller, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, taking a character from that novel on a journey to a place she never goes - the past. Through her story, he explores the aftermath of the war and the effects of a lifetime of guilt.

© John Boyne 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

 20th Century Family Life Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking War

Critic reviews

Gripping and well-honed...consummately constructed, humming with tension... a defence of literature's need to shine a light on the darkest aspects of human nature and it does so with a novelist's skill, precision and power
'What an incredible feat of storytelling. All the Broken Places is a stark confrontation of evil, an examination of guilt and deflection, and an old-fashioned page-turner. John treads the finest of narrative lines with skill and grace and proves himself yet again to be among the world's greatest storytellers. '
An eloquent meditation on guilt, complicity and redemption.. a remarkable novel, with humanity at its core
Beautifully told and gripping from first page to last
This novel, this exceptional, layered and compelling story, is built on modern history and all of us people who live it. The protagonist, the elderly, forthright and mysterious Mrs. Fernsby, is more than memorable and every one of Boyne's characters, and every scene, dark or light, is limned in truth and insight. This book moves like a freight train,with force and consequence for the reader.
'When is a monster's child culpable? Guilt and complicity are multifaceted. John Boyne is a maestro of historical fiction. You can't prepare yourself for the magnitude and emotional impact of this powerful novel'
John Boyne is a master storyteller
John Boyne is not just one of Ireland's best living novelists but also one of the best novelists of Ireland
Compulsively readable
Boyne offers writing of insight and beauty
All stars
Most relevant
Found this a quick and entertaining read. I loved the backward and forward between the two time periods and young Gretel and the 91 year old. Normally I find flash backs a bit tiresome but thos time I was intrigued to know 'what happened next' in both time line.

Sometimes challenging but well paced sequel

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This book is so well written you feel completely immersed in it and the history from the very start. The plot is just incredible skipping back in time and returning to the present day in alternate chapters so seamlessly. The narration is just brilliant and both narrators bring the characters to life so brilliantly!!! I didn't want it to end!!
Another piece of literary brilliance from John Boyne.

Having not read The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas prior I most definitely will now.

Masterfully written, brilliantly read.

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Enjoyed the dual narrative of the character from opposite ends of life. Great ideas for the affects of the events in TBiSP on the lives of those whose narrative continues.

Affecting story of a great character

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Loved this book despite the horrifying, necessary detail. Was charmed and frightened by this adult sequel to “The Boy in the striped Pyjamas”.
Have bought this for two others who also love World War 2 stories.

Horrifying and heartbreaking

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I loved this book, the characters and worlds created by the author were fascinating and flawed; plausible and true to life. The only reason I gave it 4 stars was because for me, the plot failed around the modern safeguarding arrangements that would be in 2022. Doctors and police would share information with children’s services and a far more complex response would have taken place. This was a missed opportunity for me to share the very difficult and complex work that does take place to safeguard children. Particularly in a culture that only reflects failings. I can’t see how the plot line couldn’t have worked in this context, but in a more realistic way. It’s so frustrating to read such a brilliant book, accepting it’s a work of fiction, but thinking… that wouldn’t have happened like that.

Complex, interesting characters

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