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Once We Were Brothers cover art

Once We Were Brothers

By: Ronald H. Balson
Narrated by: Fred Berman
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Publisher's Summary

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 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.

©2009 Ronald H. Balson (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

What listeners say about Once We Were Brothers

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Brilliant story

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!

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Starting out promising

Based on the reviews I had high expectations but five hours from the end, it became slow and predictable. Irritating characters and some cringey soapy moments made things worse. I held on, waiting for a twist, but it never came.

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by far the best book ever

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

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Truly remarkable

The narrative comes to life. 1930s Poland and the town of Zamosc
are as vivid as the characters.
Memories can and do travel across time and place in this amazing story of unknown and unnamed victims of the Holocaust. The central character of Ben Solomon tells all their stories, It is also a deep love story with an intriguing search, In which a young US lawyer and her friend a private detective search for justice in a sometimes corrupt world . It may bring tears to the reader .

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Great story!

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

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Been looking for a book like this.

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

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Fantastic story, brilliant narration

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

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Brilliant

Loved this book couldn't put it down. Amazingly written and narrated. Thoroughly recommend this book.

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Haunting and beautiful memoir

This story had me from the first line. I knew it would be grim and I shed tears and felt the pain. No-one should forget the holocaust.. it happened and it's horrors must never be discounted. For me there are two main characters in the book who are superbly supported by those closest to them and make it a harsh but beautiful read.. you feel you know them all personally. I grew to love the narrator's voices and this time listening was so much better than reading. Probably the best story of that time I have encountered and very highly recommend.

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