The Final Reckoning

The Good Stuff

* Fascinating intense mystery inspired by a true story
* Intriguing smart thriller with tons of twists and turns
* Introduction grabs you and doesn't let go until the very last page
* Keeps you second guessing yourself about what is going on
* Really makes you think
* Powerfully intense and emotional and quite frankly uncomfortable at times
* Author has obviously done his research and his passionate interest in the subject matter is obvious
* I won't lie, there are many scenes that are horrific, but they are a part of history that we should never forget -- obviously many haven't learned since this still happens in many parts of our world
* Some sticky moral issues brought up that really make you think and will bring up show more some fascinating discussions.
* Very realistic portrayal of revenge
* I wish I was a better writer so I could explain how fantastic this book is, I really am at loss for words -- just go buy it

The Not so Good Stuff

* I was sickened by the atrocities described, but that has nothing to do with the authors writing, just hard reading for someone like me. I truly cannot understand, and I guess that is a very good thing, the horror of what the Nazi's did and those that stood by and watched it happen
* I could not put this down and therefor we had to order Pizza for dinner
* With all the characters and historical information I felt a little lost at times, but hey I am a Mom and slightly brain dead

Favorite Quotes/Passages

"And this, you see, is the dirty little secret of the second World War. We're told over and over again, that the attempted extermination of the Jews was the greatest crime in human history - and yet hardly anybody was punished for it. The guilty men got away with it. It was a crime that was unavenged, a genocide for which there is no reckoning."

"You think I'm proud of what we found out today? You think it was OK to go around killing and killing and killing like that?"

"They were Nazis for Christ's sake!"

"What if they got it wrong, Tom? Eh? What if they accidently killed the wrong man?"

"Besides, cleaner's overalls? That's a regular invisibility cloak in this town. Fuck Hogwarts. Just gotta be a black man dressed as a cleaner; no one sees you then, trust me."

"When a man burns with rage as white-hot as this rage, made hotter still by the knowledge that the rest of the world is ready to shrug its shoulders and move on - he is prepared to do almost anything. If it will sate his fury, he is ready to do it. As I was ready to do it."

What I Learned

* There are some sick bastards in this world
* Too much historical information to bring up here -- go read the book and you will understand
* Auschwitz was the only place that the Nazi's branded the Jewish people with a number
* How many Nazi's were never made to pay for their crimes

Who should/shouldn't read

* This may be a little difficult for those who are sensitive, put please do not let this stop you from reading
* Great for fans of political thrillers and historical fiction based on WWII

4.5 Dewey's

I received this from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review -- thanks guys this was incredible! show less

A well put together novel based on true events. The secret life of an old Jewish man shot dead by police outside the United Nations in New York is revealed by our hero, lawyer Tom Byrne. The story of the old mans life takes us from his childhood in the Lithuanian ghetto, his work for the Jewish underground resistance and his continuiing work for a Jewish secret society taking revenge on ex-Nazis. I found this book fascinating, as someone who knows little about the holocaust it opened my eyes to the suffering of the Jews during WW2 and how a handful of men and women decided to seek revenge.

Wonderful story and the third in a series by Sam Bourne. Thoroughly enjoyed it and would high recommend it to anyone who likes suspenseful books based on historical happenings.

Group of people has vowed never to allow anybody to threaten their people in the way they have suffered during WW2. For that they went long way punishing those that have been at the forefront and have led execution parties. Their "punishing" missions continued long after the WW2. Suddenly last remaining member of the group moves on, to finish the task they set before themselves, almost forty years after group was disbanded. Also, dark secret emerges from the group’s history….

Book with similar plot is "The League of Night and Fog" by David Morell.

Recommended.

Group of people has vowed never to allow anybody to threaten their people in the way they have suffered during WW2. For that they went long way punishing those that have been at the forefront and have led execution parties. Their "punishing" missions continued long after the WW2. Suddenly last remaining member of the group moves on, to finish the task they set before themselves, almost forty years after group was disbanded. Also, dark secret emerges from the group s history& .[return][return]Book with similar plot is "The League of Night and Fog" by David Morell.[return][return]Recommended.

Based on the true story, it is a shocking tale of what would've befell post-war Germany. Shocking but true...