Publication Date: October 7, 2025
Auschwitz, 1944. Halina clutches the baby to her chest, cuddling her close for warmth. She must keep moving. Her heart pounds as she races through the thick trees. If she’s caught, this is the end–for both of them…
Walking to work at the orphanage she was raised in, Halina tries to ignore the imposing gates of Auschwitz nearby. She has one dream: to survive the war and find out who her parents were. But one morning, a Nazi officer with icy eyes blocks her way. He needs a new nanny, and he gives Halina a choice: serve in his home, or be sent to the camp…
In the enemy’s world, one wrong step could land Halina in prison-or worse. But she pledges to do good while trapped amongst evil and protect the innocence of the children in her care, especially sweet baby Flora. And when she meets Gavriel-a Jewish prisoner forced into hard labor in the officer’s home, with the kindest eyes she’s ever seen-she knows she’ll risk everything to keep him safe.
But then one day, Halina discovers a letter hidden in the book her mother left with her as a baby. She always wanted to know who she really was-yet that knowledge has plunged her into unimaginable danger.
Because the letter reveals that her mother was Jewish. And Halina is working in the enemy’s home, just a stone’s throw from the prison they’d lock her in if they knew the truth. She must find a way out, to save Gavriel’s life, as well as her own…
An unputdownable, addictive World War Two page-turner which will make your heart sing with hope even as you reach for the tissues. Perfect for fans of The Midwife of Auschwitz, The Choice and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
When a German officer discovers that Halina takes care of children, he gives her the choice of serving in his home or going to the prison labor camp, causing her freedom to slip through her fingers.
The Nanny Outside the Gates illustrates the dangers faced by Polish citizens during the German occupation of Poland. Author Shari J. Ryan delivers a heartbreaking story told from alternating perspectives.
Halina’s compassionate nature is overwhelmed by the officer’s household. The two young girls have already repeated some of the derogatory comments about the Jews. Of special concern is the baby, who seems to always be sleepy.
Meanwhile, Gavriel is slowly dying at Auschwitz. He’s put on a construction crew working in the officer’s house, which puts him in contact with Halina. The author builds a solid representation of the persecution of the Jews, with prisoners tortured and killed at random.
Halina’s discovery of a secret held by the officer’s wife propels her to take action before she, too, must join the ranks at the prison. It’s a suspenseful twist with a powerful conclusion.
The Nanny Outside the Gates features a daring plan that hinges on outwitting the Nazis.
Shari J. Ryan is a USA Today Bestselling Historical Fiction writer. Her desire to write stories revolving Jewish livelihood during World War II stems from being a descendant of two Holocaust survivors. After the passing of Shari’s grandmother, she pursued an active interest in learning more about the inherited stories she yearned to understand better.
Shortly after earning a bachelors degree from Johnson & Wales University, Shari began her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer. She then found her passion for writing books in 2012. In 2016, Shari began writing her first Historical Fiction novel, Last Words, a story about a lifelong journey through the eyes of a Holocaust survivor, and Shari quickly found a new passion to share untold World War II stories within a fictional setting. In 2023 she will explore her first foray into the world of psychological thrillers with the gripping, twisty The Homemaker…
Shari is a lifelong New England girl who lives to make people laugh. She is happily married with two wonderful sons and a spunky Australian Shepard, who fits right in with the family.
