Review of Truth and Evil

[Sbitan Mohammad]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Truth and Evil" by G. Edward Martin.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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War brings out the worst in people, as seen in the way soldiers treat their victims with no remorse or how the victims would do anything to survive. This book, Truth and Evil by G. Edward Martin, is a historical fiction piece set during World War II in the 1940s, and the main character was a 22-year-old soldier fighting for the Germans at the time. This young soldier was brutal in the war, killing, burning down houses, and maiming his enemies; he felt invincible.
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One day, while he and his platoon were clearing a village, he was asked to check the cellar, and there he found a young Russian girl hiding there. Instantly, he sees in her the faces of all his enemy nations, and out of spite and to satisfy his urge, he rapes her. However, on the way out, he and his platoon are involved in a bomb explosion, and they all die. This soldier goes to give his account to God, and he is given a second chance at life to rectify his mistake. Will he succeed? Or is he a lost cause?
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One thing we are reminded of in this book is how forgiving God is. This young soldier committed atrocities but was still given a chance to correct his mistake. The way the protagonist's character morphs throughout the pages of this novelette is intriguing. The audience observes his move from a mean, angry, and wicked soldier to one who understands right from wrong. I pitied him because he never asked for war but was thrust into that life. The book had a lot of lessons for its readers and could even serve as a judge in other situations apart from war, like life in general. The book was concise but packed a powerful punch of information. The diction was straightforward; a few translated German words were included.
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I wouldn't say I liked that this young soldier had no name; however, this is subjective, as it could mean that the author would like us to put ourselves in his shoes. The book had an excellent instructive plot and elements of theology, moral building, and even psychological imprints. It lacked errors; hence, it is exceptionally edited. For the reasons above, I'm rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to mature adults who believe in God and second chances. I must warn that it contains dark themes like rape and violence in war.
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Truth and Evil
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