Once We Were Brothers cover art

Once We Were Brothers

A Novel

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Once We Were Brothers

By: Ronald H. Balson
Narrated by: Fred Berman
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About this listen

The gripping tale about two boys, once as close as brothers, who find themselves on opposite sides of the Holocaust.

Elliot Rosenzweig, a respected civic leader and wealthy philanthropist, is attending a fundraiser when he is suddenly accosted and accused of being a former Nazi SS officer named Otto Piatek, the Butcher of Zamosc. Although the charges are denounced as preposterous, his accuser is convinced he is right and engages attorney Catherine Lockhart to bring Rosenzweig to justice. Solomon persuades attorney Catherine Lockhart to take his case, revealing that the true Piatek was abandoned as a child and raised by Solomon's own family only to betray them during the Nazi occupation. But has Solomon accused the right man?

Once We Were Brothers is Ronald H. Balson's compelling tale of two boys and a family who struggle to survive in war-torn Poland, and a young love that struggles to endure the unspeakable cruelty of the Holocaust. Two lives, two worlds, and sixty years converge in an explosive race to redemption that makes for a moving and powerful tale of love, survival, and ultimately the triumph of the human spirit.

 Fiction Historical Jewish Mystery Private Investigators Thriller & Suspense World Literature Thriller Law Survival Crime Holocaust Emotionally Gripping War Detective

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Critic reviews

<p>“This is as compelling a story as you would ever want to read...This book is different in its passion and its presentation. It is worth your time and you won't be disappointed. Once We Were Brothers is a new look at an old story, and it will stay with you long after you have finished it.” —<i>Jackie K Cooper, Huffington Post</i><br><br>“The phenomenal triumph of lawyer-author John Grisham's legal thrillers has spawned surprisingly few successful emulators; however, Chicago attorney Balson's first novel, while featuring a young lawyer heroine, Catherine Lockhart, who sees her bar admission as a license to further justice, is no simple imitation of Grisham's entertaining potboilers..., this novel is uplifting and moving, intelligently written and featuring historically accurate context and an unusual insight into human character and motivations. Highly recommended for all readers.” —<i>Starred Library Journal Review</i><br><br>“Balson does a number of things superbly: he crafts a highly readable plotline and makes great use of the Chicago backdrop…many will enjoy this gripping novel for its narrative drive and its emotional storytelling.” —<i>Booklist Review</i><br><br>“The author describes the atrocities of wartime Poland and the beautiful, eternal romance between Ben Solomon and his wife, Hannah. Balson's first novel is hard to put down.” —<i>The Jewish Book World</i><br><br>“A legal thriller...a reader knows he's writing from the inside. ” —<i>Chicago Jewish Star</i></p>
All stars
Most relevant
this book grabs you right from the beginning.i could not put it down.really annoyed that I had to stop listening when in work but immediately got back to it ...thank you for this amazing book .this should be made into a film it would be a blockbuster
thankyou again for taking me on a sad.funny.heartbreaking journey

what an extraordinary work of art

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Absolutely compelling and so very well-narrated. Magnificent in every way. I shall never forget it. Balson brings to life the reality of the Nazi persecution and reminds us not to shelve it as ‘just history’ but to feel it fully within our own souls.

Phenomenal

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This book was awesome, could not put it down/switch it off, it was amazing !!! The Narrator Fred Berman was so good to listen too:)

Loved this book

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The plot was intriguing and clever although I think it petered out at the end. I was very irritated by the poor pronunciation of the narrator.

Great story

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What did you like most about Once We Were Brothers?

gripping story line, excellently narrated

What other book might you compare Once We Were Brothers to, and why?

that's a no-brainer question; this book is incomparable - without equal

Have you listened to any of Fred Berman’s other performances? How does this one compare?

no, but certainly intend to now

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

absolutely, but for the time factor. listened to it 2x within 10 days, with even increased pleasure!

Any additional comments?

I don't feel I can rate this highly enough. Each time I listened, in the car - driving and just sitting in it (to carry on listening), walking the dog, cooking, getting up etc etc, I thought: this is just superb and Fred Berman's acting/reading mind-blowing. Both Ronald Balson and Fred Berman have created an UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE for me.....

OUTSTANDING - STORY AND NARRATOR BEYOND EXCELLENT

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