Eli's Promise

by Ronald H. Balson

Book Overview

National Jewish Book Award winter Ron Balson returns triumphantly with Eli's Promise, a captivating saga of the Holocaust and its aftermath spanning decades and continents. Readers will not be able to put this book down, but will turn the pages compulsively with heart in throat, eager to learn the fate of the Rosen family. Balson's meticulous historical detail, vivid prose and unforgettable characters further solidify his place among...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1250271460
• ISBN13: 9781250271464
• Release Date: September 2020
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Historical/ fiction set in Poland during world war ll

A Stunning Novel and gripping story, very powerful, and heartbreaking about, love, and loss and a Husbands Quest for Justice that has taken over 20 years to finally see happen . It is strong in the love The Whole Rosen Family has for one another, and the Danger and Sacrifice they make to protect one another, as the Nazi's invade Poland, and little by little are emptying the towns of all the Jewish citizens. Eli Rosen lives with his wife, Esther, and young son Izaak, he helps his father run their family owned construction company that has been in their family for 3 generations. when the Nazi's come, they take away the Rosen's company transferring it to Maximilian Polesk, A Nazi Collaborator to run for the Germans, but who Max had begged of Eli to stay and help him run the company, as he hasen't a clue what or where to begin. But he is smart enough to know, if he screws up, the Germans will have his skin. Max has no honor, is as slick as a snake, and a Nazi collaborator who makes profits off the Jewish citizens, making empty promises to hide them, get them Visa's or to help them travel to freedom via Switzerland. All for a handsome price. Eli in Desperation pays Max, to have him guard his wife from the sweat shop sewing factory that she is forced to work in. Max has helped, in that he's kept Esther's name off the list, and she can come home everday after a grueling non stop work day to be with her family. They are thankful and happy for the time being, but Esther, in all her wisdom doesn't trust Max, and tells Eli not to either, he will make money off them as long as he could, then like a rat, turn them in without a slight conscience in his whole being. It turns out as Esther has predicted, she is picked up by the ""Nazi Jew Hunters" and sent away, and Max knew this the whole time, but never tell Eli. Fast forward, as the war ends and Eli and his son are together, still in a German displaced persons of war camp, awaiting visas, he finds out someone on the outside is coming into the camp selling Illegal Visa's for a good profit to America. As Eli hears the stories and descriptions of this person..he realizes its non other than Maximilian...he would bet his life on it . Thus starts Eli's personal quest to get Max once and for all and to fill a promise Eli has made to His wife, and the rest of his family..to get justice..no matter how long it's been. As Eli stays with his son in the displaced persons camp, he searches everyday, lists, upon lists and other camps to try and find his beloved Esther, is she a survivor or has she perished in the camps, like the thousands of others. Eli and his son, hold on to hope and faith that they will one day know the truth. Fast Forward 25 years later..the year is 1965 Eli is in America, working for the Government FBI, with patience Eli is on a trail of major corruption, starting with a Chicago Congressman, many different contractors making money off the Vietnam war, and One Maximilian Poleski !! The Rat !! It is a superb story with historical details, unforgettable characters in the whole Rosen family, and the friends along the way. It is filled with hope, and redemption, through layers of lies and corruption from the Nazi's to Maximilian. This Author is Brilliant, with a page Turner that you just won't want to put down ! Absolutely should be All of 10 stars if I could! A must read for anyone.