No quick shower this, more a long, luxurious soak in the bath! The writing is pure pleasure, but, in addition, the narrative will keep you engrossed throughout. The story opens in 1947 with the first appearance of the eponymous German Boy. Then it moves back 20 years, returning gradually to the 1940s by the end. Stefan (the German Boy) only features at either end of the book, but is, nonetheless, pivotal to the story. I'll read this again!