Like many others, I've always been fascinated by the story of Eva Braun, but (maybe because I'm Jewish) was also afraid to really take a good look.  It's part of a horrifying story for a Jew, but I was drawn to this book specifically because it purported to be a "fictionalized" version of a (probably mostly) true story.  That kind of made it more neutral for me.  What I didn't expect was to come away with some sympathy for Eva; the author revealed aspects of her life with Hitler that show her to be something of a victim and a prisoner herself.  After all, once involved with this monster, she was not able to be free; she couldn't even leave her home alone, ever - she was always under guard.  And the author also brings up the fact that Hitler wouldn't marry her publicly...she was always described as his "friend" or his "secretary."  In that time, in Europe, it was something of a disgrace to be a mistress, with no hope of marrying the man who had ruined your reputation.  So that Eva was placed in a humiliating position.  In  other words, this is as much a feminist novel as one about an evil society (which it also is; very, very subtly elaborated as the story unfolds). Another surprise was to find that I identified with Eva in some respects.  For example, the author describes her as a "fashion addict," a shopaholic; all she ever thought about was what she would wear next.  And Eva would often change her clothing several times a day.  This vanity - this character defect  of  placing appearances above other values - is found among women everywhere, trained to use appearance to compete for men's attentions.  Eva is depicted as shallow and uninterested in anything other than being Hitler's lap dog.  This made her an object of scorn in the novel - but also a forgiveable, if weak, type of woman common to every culture.  I found myself unable to put the book down, and I admired the writing, which was, as one reviewer said, perfectly "creepy" - as if the storyteller were whispering a horror tale.  There are many insights about the times, the protagonists, including Hitler, Eva and Hitler's stooges.  As another reviewer has mentioned, one thinks about this book long after putting it down.