So far, this book has been very informative, but in a very interesting way. It has informed me in multiple ways of how the Jewish community was treated in the beginning of WWII and how the violence had grown during the entire event. This book will tell you all about a small town near Poland, and how a family gets betrayed by friends they had known for years. I believe this book is going to become very suspenseful and hopefully, continues to be as well written as it has been.

"No suspect gets his reputation ruined by having his name splashed in the headlines unless Hoover has the goods on him. There are no raids on the private or political files. Hoover is tough, but respects the rules—especially fundamental liberties." Pearson concluded, "The nation is lucky to have him on the job."

This book covers the little known story of how one German born American, William Sebold, partnered with the FBI to take down German spy rings in New York City. Sebold when he went back to Germany to recuperate from an illness found himself being recruited by the Germans to spy on America. Sebold, who had become an American citizen, took his oath of allegiance to America seriously and got in contact with American authorities and found himself becoming a double agent.

 

It took me a little while to really get into this book (about around 35% of the way through is when I really started to get into it). I think that is because this book not only covers Sebold and his takedown of German spies but also does cover some history of WWII. I probably would have been more interested in the unrelated to the Sebold case history of WWII if I hadn't already known most of it. I was really interested in learning about all of the people relevant to the operation and their histories before and after the events that took place. The book does tend to mention the Norden bombsight a lot, and while it was important to the Sebold operation the parts mentioning it (especially after the trials of the German spies took place) could be a bit long and hard to keep interested in.

 

It is really a shame that what Sebold did for America is not well known and it is also a shame where Sebold ended up before he died. For a man that was an integral part in the first big counterespionage operation of the FBI you would think that more could have been done to help him. He seemed to be in such a fragile mental state towards the end of his life which is quite understandable with all that he had been through.

 

I would definitely recommend this book if you are interested in learning about a little known man who contributed a lot to the takedown of German spy rings right before WWII. I am also interested in learning more about WWII and I am glad that I got the chance to read about William Sebold. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the galley.

Having written so many reviews today, I am getting lazy and sloppy. Let me just summarize by saying that I really liked this book b/c it showed how some Jews fought against the Nazis. So many just say they dumbly put themselves on trains to the concentration camps. THAT IS FALSE! Their active attempts to fight against all odds must be made known. This book helps make clear the truth. Jews did fight for their ives. Secondly, Tuvia was a fighter. To be that you cannot at the same time expect him to always balance his anger perfectly. In time of war maybe you need these people too. It is utterly amazing the non-descript role he took as a taxi-driver after the war. You might look at this taxi driver and NEVER, ever imagine the acts of courage that lay in his past! You never know who a person REALLY is until you sit down and talk and talk and talk. It is amazing what one person can hide inside themselves. Thirdly, this book presented an absolutlely stunning overview of all parts of WW2. It is wxorth reading just for that. Nope, I think I will switch it to five stars, from my previously allotted four!

Through page 130: This is hard to swallow. Tuvia becomes just too vengeful for my tastes.I have absolutely no intention of stopping, but this is not a pleasant read.

Through page 118: At times this is an extremely difficult and detailed read about the atrocities committed during war. Actually it is the historical overviews that gives your emotions a reprieve.

Through page 60: The book begins by giving a clear overview of WW2 from 1939-1941. It is on the basis of these events that Tuvia Bieski begins to realize that he has to do something to save the remaining members of his family and other Jews in his community. It is in this man's nature to fight back. So he began to plan. I particularly liked the degree of detail given to the historical events - not too much nor too little. The sources for each chapter are noted in the back of the book. Along with the "historical events" the readers learns what was happening to the Bielski family. This makes the "historical events" have a more personal tone. This is what happened to the mother, the father, this brother and that brother. You understand the fury and determination of Tuvia and his brothers, Asael and Zus.

Starting: Lovely it has a good map! It takes place in what is today Belarus, a deep forest area west of Minsk. I so want to read about these Jews who courageously fought for their survival in WW2. they didn't just succumb.

My recommendation: Read the prologue, which is very interesting and quite well-written. Don't bother trying to read the rest of the book. I do hope a more skillful author takes on this story at some point in the future. I think it's important and could be very engaging in the proper hands.