Review of Traitors in the Gestapo
Posted: 01 May 2023, 19:42
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Traitors in the Gestapo" by J.H.Ahlin.]
Jenz is half-Jewish, and he was always a big, strong boy. These might have been just features if it wasn’t because he grew up in what was soon to become the inferno of Nazi Germany. His best friend, Ezequiel, or Zeke for short, is Jewish. When Zeke suffers the first instance of discrimination, Jenz discovers the power of his strength. Traitors in the Gestapo by J.H. Ahlin follows Jenz and Zeke as they do their best to diminish the impact of Nazi bullies, with particular emphasis on the Gestapo, Nazi Germany’s Secret State Police, and a cat-and-mouse chase will ensue. Who will come out victorious? Is change more effective when it comes from within? What’s the limit between courage and foolhardiness?
I want to applaud that the author often acknowledges that the concentration camps were not only hell for the Jews but also for communists, Roma, homosexuals, and other groups considered “lesser than” the Aryans. This is not meant to diminish the Jewish suffering but to validate the agony of other groups. The author seamlessly interweaves fictional characters with real, historical people, which creates a realistic portrait of one of the most sinister periods in history. J.H. Ahlin also included historical facts in footnotes, which helps the reading flow smoothly and adds information that history buffs like me will surely relish.
On the downside, the story can be repetitive. I won’t spoil the story for the rest of the readers, but most chapters follow a clear pattern and are repeated time and again. However, I constantly wondered if this was really a downside. Who gets tired of seeing Nazis get bashed? The adjacent romance subplot and the nuggets of humor add a bit of spice to the mix.
Some dialogues feel unnatural. For example, one character describes another as follows: “His pockmarked face expressed a deep hatred for anything if it didn’t go exactly his way.” (pp. 77-78). This is all very informative and descriptive but unbelievable for natural speech. The use of bold print or italics to signal the important parts of a sentence is a double-edged sword. I found it condescending, but I acknowledge that some readers could think this is useful, especially considering the book is almost 500 pages long.
In view of the stiff dialogues and an edition that needs work, I rate Traitors in the Gestapo by J.H. Ahlin 4 out of 5 stars.
The erotic content and graphic violence, albeit justified, call for a mature audience. The vast amount of information about Nazi weapons will appeal to weapons enthusiasts and people interested in engineering. This is an ideal read for historical fiction fans and anyone who’s just starting to learn about the horrors of the Holocaust since the author is very clear in their explanations. The constant action and vivid descriptions would make this book a great movie about a Nazi-bashing Rambo.
******
Traitors in the Gestapo
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Jenz is half-Jewish, and he was always a big, strong boy. These might have been just features if it wasn’t because he grew up in what was soon to become the inferno of Nazi Germany. His best friend, Ezequiel, or Zeke for short, is Jewish. When Zeke suffers the first instance of discrimination, Jenz discovers the power of his strength. Traitors in the Gestapo by J.H. Ahlin follows Jenz and Zeke as they do their best to diminish the impact of Nazi bullies, with particular emphasis on the Gestapo, Nazi Germany’s Secret State Police, and a cat-and-mouse chase will ensue. Who will come out victorious? Is change more effective when it comes from within? What’s the limit between courage and foolhardiness?
I want to applaud that the author often acknowledges that the concentration camps were not only hell for the Jews but also for communists, Roma, homosexuals, and other groups considered “lesser than” the Aryans. This is not meant to diminish the Jewish suffering but to validate the agony of other groups. The author seamlessly interweaves fictional characters with real, historical people, which creates a realistic portrait of one of the most sinister periods in history. J.H. Ahlin also included historical facts in footnotes, which helps the reading flow smoothly and adds information that history buffs like me will surely relish.
On the downside, the story can be repetitive. I won’t spoil the story for the rest of the readers, but most chapters follow a clear pattern and are repeated time and again. However, I constantly wondered if this was really a downside. Who gets tired of seeing Nazis get bashed? The adjacent romance subplot and the nuggets of humor add a bit of spice to the mix.
Some dialogues feel unnatural. For example, one character describes another as follows: “His pockmarked face expressed a deep hatred for anything if it didn’t go exactly his way.” (pp. 77-78). This is all very informative and descriptive but unbelievable for natural speech. The use of bold print or italics to signal the important parts of a sentence is a double-edged sword. I found it condescending, but I acknowledge that some readers could think this is useful, especially considering the book is almost 500 pages long.
In view of the stiff dialogues and an edition that needs work, I rate Traitors in the Gestapo by J.H. Ahlin 4 out of 5 stars.
The erotic content and graphic violence, albeit justified, call for a mature audience. The vast amount of information about Nazi weapons will appeal to weapons enthusiasts and people interested in engineering. This is an ideal read for historical fiction fans and anyone who’s just starting to learn about the horrors of the Holocaust since the author is very clear in their explanations. The constant action and vivid descriptions would make this book a great movie about a Nazi-bashing Rambo.
******
Traitors in the Gestapo
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
