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 Crime Holocaust Survival Thriller Law Detective Emotionally Gripping War

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>
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this is without doubt the best audiobook performance I've ever heard it was so believable and the story is so utterly moving that I cried like a baby

by far the best book ever

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I really enjoyed listening to this story. The narrator's were great and the story powerful.

Great story!

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I Loved the story and couldn’t put it down. A couple of parts seemed a bit unrealistic but the story was so well put together and so well narrated that it still made for an excellent story

Fantastic story, brilliant narration

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This book was riveting, I couldn’t stop listening. It is one of those books you will never forget having read.

Been looking for a book like this.

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This story was so beautifully written and told. It sucked me in and was hard to pause listening. It also pulled in my emotions big time. Loved it!

Brilliant story

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