G1078 Book Review of The Ghost by Henry Kellerman
Author: Henry Kellerman
ISBN: 978-1-56980-822-1
Publisher: Barricade
Type of book: 1958, revenge, Holocaust, Krav Maga, documents, Simon Wisenthal, history, no time limit or expiration, secrets, travel
Year it was published: 2018
Summary:
Summary Assassinations, a love story, a kidnapping, and many twists and turns characterizes this riveting novel of historical fiction, circa 1958, thirteen years post World War II. Events are uncovered where The Ghost, a powerful Vatican Bishop, is sending assassins to retrieve a secret tailpiece - a hidden extension of the 1942 Wannsee Conference Papers that underpinned the Holocaust against Jews. Only two copies of this tailpiece remain where names of thousands of high level Nazis such as Eichmann and Mengele are listed along with their future destinations - should Germany lose the war. At the same time, New York City detectives working with British M16 secret service, and Israeli Mossad agents, get Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal and his group, (including an Israeli sanctioned killer) involved in order to find and send the crucial coded microfilm to England's renowned decryption center. Now, in 1958, these Jewish Nazi hunters will not forgive and not forget. This story is newsworthy testimony regarding the villains who are actual historical figures and are named. Fitting it all together (as in the screenplay based on the story titled: "We Will Find You,") is the avenging drama of the novel.
Characters:
The characters were unique, but I think there were too many and the character sheet at the end seemed to be of little help to me. First there is Al Kaye, an American-Jew who is living with Gloria and works as a detective and seems to be resourceful as well as a talented Krav Maga fighter. There are many others, but I had a hard time keeping track of them and of their functions.
Theme:
Some things have no end date
Plot:
I have no idea if the story is first person or third person narrative because at first its told in first person narrative from Frank Carbone's point of view, then it switches to omniscient third person point of view, and with some descriptions, I have to wonder how Al knew the story? There is definitely something in the dialogue and the snappy writing which appealed to me a little, but other than that, very little appeal, which is unfortunate. I think I also wasn't comfortable with the way women were portrayed. I am all for strong women and heroines, but for some odd reason I felt as if they tended to lack likable qualities/personalities.
(From iRead Book Tours)
Meet the Author:
Dr. Henry Kellerman, psychologist/psychoanalyst/author, is a practitioner in New York City. His more than 50 years of treating individuals with a host of humanity's psychological/emotional struggles as well as his more than 30 books published, is testament to his virtuosity AND SKILL in the telling of compelling stories.
Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble
Add to Goodreads
Opinion:
Considering the subject matter and the topics that the book covered, I really really wanted to like it. I wanted to give it four stars, but alas I can't. The topic of reparation of Holocaust as well as enacting revenge against people who were the cogs and wheels in murder of 6+ million Jews and 6 million of others is something I strongly support. And I tend to enjoy stories where Jews are portrayed as more than victims but can be heroes and masters of their own fate as well as others. Thus I was expecting to enjoy the tale, but instead I was disappointed in it. I think what disappointed me at first is that it sounds as if its a sequel instead of a stand-alone, and I couldn't really wrap my head around what point of view its being told: first or third because it does do both and I found it confusing. The story is definitely very fast paced and I tended to have a hard time keeping up with it.
This is for iRead Book Tours
BOOK REVIEW TOUR SCHEDULE:
Nov 26 - Working Mommy Journal - review / giveaway
Nov 27 - Locks, Hooks and Books - review / giveaway
Nov 28 - Rockin' Book Reviews - book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 29 - Gabriel's Wharf - review / giveaway
Nov 30 - Amy’s Booket List - review / giveaway
Dec 3 - Between the Shelves - review / giveaway
Dec 4 - Olio by Marilyn - review / giveaway
Dec 5 - A Mama's Corner of the World - review / giveaway
Dec 6 - The Avid Reader - review / giveaway
Dec 10 - Truly Trendy - review / giveaway
Dec 12 - Library of Clean Reads - review / giveaway
Dec 13 - Books for Books - review
Dec 14 - Just Reviews - review / giveaway
Dec 14 - The Hufflepuff Nerdette - review / giveaway
TBD - Svetlana's Reads and Views - review / giveaway
Click here for the link
1 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)
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