The Einstein Vendetta
Hitler, Mussolini, and a True Story of Murder
Union Square & Co. · Print & ebook · January 20, 2026
A true crime investigation into the murder of the relatives of Albert Einstein, set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Florence during WWII.
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- Who it’s for
- A grim historical true story with the snap of a murder tale.
- Genres
- Historical True Crime, World War II: European Theater, Holocaust History
- Published
- Union Square & Co., January 20, 2026
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Start with this bookAbout this book
A true crime investigation into the murder of the relatives of Albert Einstein, set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Florence during WWII. Florence, August 1944. Fifteen miles southeast of the city, a unit of German soldiers arrive at Il Focardo, the home of Robert Einstein, first cousin of the famous scientist Albert Einstein. Nearby, Robert is hiding out in the Tuscan countryside, while his wife and daughters remain in the villa.
Continue reading
Twelve hours later, Nina, Luce, and Anna-Maria are brutally murdered. In The Einstein Vendetta, Thomas Harding recounts the story of an unthinkable crime, one that unspools to reveal Italy’s brutal wartime history—its fall to fascism, antisemitism, and bitter partisanship—and a family’s search for justice. Vividly told, Harding threads history and detective story to build an unquiet, haunting testimony.
Grim History
A grim historical true story with the snap of a murder tale.
Come here for
- true-crime sting in wartime history
- edgy, high-tension nonfiction
Expect
- Hitler and Mussolini in the frame
- serious wartime history, briskly told
Where it sits
| Historical True Crime | 79% |
|---|---|
| Holocaust History | 39% |
| World War II: European Theater | 29% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Italian History
- Jewish History
- World War II History
- Authors
- Thomas Harding
- Publisher
- Union Square & Co.
- Published
- January 20, 2026
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Reading lane
- Italian History