Review: A Compelling, Emotional, Historical Legal Thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 23, 2013
My rating: 4 of 5 starsA Murder in Auschwitz is a January 2013 publication. The is a self published novel. This is a legal thriller set in Germany, before, during, and little after the war. The story alternates in time between 1929 and 1943 Auschwitz, Germany. We meet Manfred Meyer as he is just starting his career as an attorney. He is a family man, married to his beloved Klara who is expecting their first child. Manfred is mentored and taught to be a good defense attorney. His law firm is like a second family to him.  He is given his first murder case, a case that will solidify him as a defense attorney, but will also have a drastic effect on him in the future, a future he could never have predicted. The alternate chapter set in 1943, we find Manfred in a death camp. He has been separated from his wife and  twin daughters. He doesn't know about their well being. He finds out right quick what the score is and what his future would turn out like. His only wish is to see his family again. The last thing that Meyer ever expected was to come face to face with a man who he had successfully defended against a murder charge. Now an SS soldier, the man finds himself once more charged with murder. He makes the unusual request to have a Jew participate in his defense. When Meyer is approached about the situation, he makes one demand- to see his family one more time. The author does a great job of separating the time frame of past and present. The normal life Manfred had and the wonderful mind he has. Then the stark contrast of being in the death camp. Now, there is no way to get around the depressing atmosphere of the camp. It is not easy to read these chapters in the book. It is a heart wrenching account of a man's life being reduced to the death sentence of the camp. The depiction is very realistic, but it's not overly graphic. However, it is still disturbing.  These chapters were emotional, so be forewarned. Manfred is a great guy. He's devoted to his family and takes his job seriously. He takes pride in preventing innocent people from going to prison. He is honest and hardworking and is well liked by his co-workers and boss. He is also very, very smart and clever. Although is realizes his life is doomed no matter what, he makes the best of his dire situation... and perhaps has the last laugh? There are a few really shocking twist in the plot involving both murder cases, past and present. Manfred suffers some gut punching revelations and those are some of the hardest things to get over. After all is said and done, the book ends on an uplifting note and with a wonderful twist of irony. I received this novel from the author for an honest review. If you like historical mysteries or historical fiction in general or legal thrillers, you will like this book. As with many self published novels, there may be a few typos here and there, and maybe some sections could have been cut down a bit to hasten the pace of the novel. Other than that, this was a very well written novel with a compelling and emotional story. Overall a B+.