A coming-of-age historical fiction novel set in Ukraine during WW1 and the Russian Civil War.

1951, Germany: While searching for clues to Katarina’s disappearance in Ukraine during WW2, her son, Peter, stumbles on her diaries from the Russian Civil War. What secrets lie behind the Iron Curtain? Is there a chance that Katarina is still alive?

1915, Ukraine: Rebellious fifteen-year-old Katarina is the youngest daughter of a wealthy Mennonite family. As Russia's politics change and an independence movement rises up in Ukraine, the wealthy are persecuted. The Mennonites' pacifist faith deters them from fighting back. Placing their trust in money and God, the religious communities ignore the politics. Katarina senses dark storms ahead and warns her family. What happens next is a historical lesson in the fragility of freedom.

Set during the darkest days of Ukraine’s history, Katarina’s Dark Shadow portrays the courageous human struggle inside a distinct faith during violent political times.

Inspired by true stories and actual events based on the harrowing tales of the author's ancestors, this book will particularly interest those with German-Prussian, Ukrainian, or Russian Mennonite ancestry.

The book touches on the collapse of traditional structures and the challenges faced by the Mennonite community during the Russian Civil War. This exploration of societal changes and the impact on the characters lives adds depth and intrigue to the story, making it relevant and thought-provoking.