Once We Were Brothers: A Novel (Liam Taggart and Catherine Lockhart, 1) Paperback – October 8, 2013

I couldn't put this book down. Although it was a heartbreaking story about the holocaust, it was also filled with human kindness and much love.

It was difficult for me to stop reading this book and go about my day.It is not only a historical fiction novel, but also a thriller, a love story and a reminder that evil must be stopped at all costs.

For a story line that is woven into Holocaust history, the book rates four stars. But, the author falls short in the areas of scene transition, suffusing the secondary characters (Catherine, Liam, et al)with adequate descriptions, and providing enough back story for them (in the earlier pages)to help the reader understand their importance to one another. Dialogue ranges from realistic to amateurish, rating just three stars.Other negatives include:* Bolson's research is evident, albeit flawed in places. For example, pogroms plagued Poland long before World War II, although one of his characters claims otherwise.* The early lack of character description weakens the reader's bonding to the protagonists.* Scenes with the lawyer are usually set in her office/her home and inevitably begin with a focus on a mug of tea and/or food--unimaginative and boring.To his credit, Bolson's best work is his secondary story of life in Poland. He was able to engage the reader and maintain momentum, especially in the second half of the book. Even the relationships of the present day characters improved in the latter section of the story. Maybe this book is a warm-up for the author, with better things to come.For those who lack information about the rise of Hitler and Naziism's spread through Eastern Europe, this book offers a narrowly focused history lesson. It includes the point of view of an elderly Jewish Holocaust survivor but, takes pains to describe gentiles who risked their lives to live according to their moral compasses and not by the dictates of a madman.At times poignant, this story-within-a-story is compelling but, belabored by its negative features. While I would not decline to read a future book by Bolson, it wouldn't be my first choice.

Great story and character development. It keeps you in suspense until the end. And it’s an interesting peek into WW II and life under Nazi domination.

ONCE WE WERE BROTHERS REVIEWAttorney and author Ronald H. Balson’s highly acclaimed first novel, “Once We Were Brothers,” published in 2010, is my second read from this tremendous writer. I recently gave a 5-star review to newly released “Saving Sophie” and was so impressed I had to read his earlier work. His research and knowledge of his subject matter shines brightly in a dark story about the familiar subject of the holocaust with a unique twist.Elliot Rosenweig is a highly respected Chicago businessman and philanthropist. At a large fund raising event he gets accosted by an irate Jew, Ben Solomon, who points an empty Lugar at his head and accuses him of being a Nazi war criminal named Otto Piatek who needs to answer for his crimes. The city is aghast that a popular citizen would be accused of such activities. Rosenweig denies being Piatek, claims a mistake has been made, and refuses to press charges because the distressed old man was confused.Solomon claims that he and Rosenweig were raised in Poland by the same Jewish family, that Rosenweig, whose real name is Otto Piatek, was abandoned by his parents, that they became like brothers, and that when the Nazis invaded, Piatek’s father and mother, having become high ranking party members, reclaimed Otto and installed him in the hierarchy of the Nazi army. As the purge against Poland escalated, Piatek became a vicious enforcer of Jewish persecution, sending many to their deaths. Solomon also claims that Piatek betrayed his family and stole its wealth, along with that of many other Jews, and eventually was responsible for their deaths. His rants are largely turned aside by authorities as misdirected.Attorney Catherine Lockhart is Solomon’s choice to carry out his crusade against Piatek. He is persistent and she is reluctant. In the beginning she does not see any provable truth to Solomon’s claims and her employer doesn’t want her or her law firm to be involved. But as she learns more of his story, a story that Balson masterfully unfolds, her feisty nature and sense of compassion begins to embrace both the old man and the truth as he tells it. Eventually she adds her voice to the controversy, is dismissed by her employer, and fights to uncover the truth. Righteous claims seem to come from both sides; however only one is the truth and Lockhart is focused on bringing it to light.Balson is crystal clear with his narrative. His characterizations are magnificent. The storyline is mesmerizing and the legal wrangling is engrossing. It is a fascinating legal thriller that grabs the reader’s attention. This is a truly great book that must not be missed.Schuyler T WallaceAuthor of TIN LIZARD TALES

What an amazing story. At first I wasn't a fan of Ben, but like with Catherine he grew on me. The attention to historical detail made this book impossible to put down. Mr. Balson did a fantastic job of character development and plot building. Would have been nice Epilog to know what happened to Otto's wife.