5 out of 5 stars
On Amazon (universal link)
On Goodreads
How I discovered this book: I've enjoyed others by this author so thought I'd try this one!
In a Nutshell: A novel about the Polish partisans of WWII, and a mystery surrounding an unmarked grave, waiting to be solved fifty years later.
This is a terrific book that taught me much I didn't know about Poland eighty years ago - I didn't realise that, during World War II, Russia was considered as much an enemy as Nazi Germany, or why. I read the second half of the book in one afternoon; I was utterly gripped.
The main timeline of the story concerns Edek and Szymon, two young lads wanting to join the partisans (or Home Army). Now and again, we move forward a few decades and meet Dorota, who is fascinated by and determined to solve the mysteries surrounding her family ... and the identity of a body in an unmarked grave.
The mystery side of the story was well thought out and provided a completely unexpected outcome, but I found the chapters set during the war the most compelling. It is so hard for us to comprehend the hardship people endured in their daily lives less than a century ago, and what they were prepared to suffer for the sake of their country, what they would risk to help their friends; this novel really brought home the terror of Nazi occupation, and the bravery of the persecuted people of that time and place. The Warsaw uprising, the stealing of munitions from the local German garrison, a thrilling escape from one of the cattle trucks heading to Auschwitz, the annihilation of whole villages, the murder of so many innocents.
Highly recommended!
This does sound like a story that I would enjoy. Thanks for recommending it.
ReplyDeleteI love your review. Thank you so very much, Terry!
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