Eric Larson, a well-known journalist and author of several bestsellers, invites the reader to immerse himself in the atmosphere of Berlin in the 30s of the XX century, at a turning point in Germany's recent history — from Hitler's appointment as chancellor to his usurpation of power and turning the country into a "garden of monsters" — a dictatorship actively preparing for war. During this period, the United States adhered to the position of non-interference and preferred not to notice militarization, persecution of dissidents and signs of future terror. The main characters of the book are William Dodd, who was appointed US ambassador to Berlin in 1933, and his daughter, a socialite who initially admired the Hitler regime. The plot is based on official documents, memoirs, diaries and letters that allow 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 goes from rejection of reality to awareness of the evil that the Nazi regime brings, and then to desperate but unsuccessful attempts to warn the world about the impending danger.