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This is an extraordinary book centered around a true story of East Germans escape attempts to West Berlin. It is a very fast paced and exciting read, much like a fictitious thriller filled with many tense moments that had me on the edge of my seat, no small feat for non fiction writing. The author, Helena Merriman, has done fantastic research and was blessed to have interviewed at length one of the central figures in the whole ordeal, Joachim Randolph, who gave her so much insight into what transpired that the reader feels like he/she's actually in the room with all of the heroes (& sometimes villains.) But it is really so much more than an account of one escape attempt. It really helps you understand what life was truly like behind the Iron Curtain and why freedom was so meaningful that lives were risked and often lost to achieve it. I was very fortunate having worked for a fabulous German airline to have visited Germany for work and pleasure multiple times. And as knowledgable as I thought I was about the country and its recent history, this book was still eye opening about what went on in the early 1960's and what life among the Stasi, VoPos and neighbors spying upon neighbors was like in the East. Merriman weaves historical facts and background into the central tale so seamlessly it just added to my enjoyment. I read (& reviewed on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ) another excellent non fiction account called "Betrayal in Berlin" by Steven Vogel which I highly recommend. "Tunnel 29" is equally compelling.