The famous journalist and author of several best-selling books, Erik Larson, invites the reader to immerse himself in the atmosphere of Berlin in the 30s. XX century, at a turning point in the modern history of Germany - from Hitler’s appointment as chancellor to his usurpation of power and the transformation of the country into a “garden of monsters” - a dictatorship actively preparing for war. During this period, the United States adhered to a position of non-intervention and preferred not to notice militarization, persecution of dissidents and signs of future terror. The book's main characters are William Dodd, who was appointed US ambassador to Berlin in 1933, and his daughter, a socialite who initially admired Hitler's regime. The plot is based on official documents, memoirs, diaries and letters, allowing you to learn about the fate of the main characters: diplomats, public figures, journalists, representatives of the Nazi elite and ordinary people. Together with the ambassador and his family, the reader moves from rejection of reality to awareness of the evil of the Nazi regime, and then to desperate but unsuccessful attempts to warn the world of the impending danger.