The Keeper of the Laugh: A Novel

A beautiful story of love and redemption set in the aftermath of World War II—perfect for fans of The Longest Echo and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

Munich, 1945. Max Fischer cannot remember anything from his life before the concentration camp. Not his family, not his occupation, not even his own name. All he is left with is the sickening, maniacal laugh that echoes in his head. More than haunting his every waking moment, the laugh is Max’s only connection to his lost past. For a holocaust survivor, recalling the past comes with a heavy toll.

Just months after the allied forces liberated the camp that interned him, Max is introduced to the beautiful and wealthy Alexandra Brecholdt. The former Berlin actress seems adamant on taking Max into her care, but there is something she is too ashamed, or too afraid to tell him. The secret of her fortune, her survival—and her son.

As Max’s memories begin to unravel, it becomes clear that the laugh is the key to his lost past. Restless, Max takes it upon himself to uncover its origins as Alexandra vows to protect him from the horrible truths it hides. Their mutual hunger for life shows them the true meaning of courage, love, and hope—and the ultimate secret behind the laugh.