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El emblema del traidor

by Juan Gomez-Jurado (Goodreads Author)

3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 · rating details · 673 ratings · 126 reviews

Un secreto terrible. Un amor trágico. Una venganza destructora. Estrecho de Gibraltar, 1940. En el epicentro de una tormenta, el capitán González rescata a un grupo de náufragos alemanes. Cuando cesa el temporal, el cabecilla le obsequia con un emblema de oro macizo. De la conversación con ellos, González no olvidará dos palabras: traición y salvación. En torno a este embl...more

Published 2010 by PLAZA & JANES EDITORES, S.A.

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Jul 06, 2011 Beth rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

THE TRAITOR’S EMBLEM begins in the Straits of Gibraltar in March, 1940. In the midst of a terrible storm, the crew of the Spanish naval vessel, Esperanza, rescues four German sailors from a life boat. The rescue could have cost Captain Manuel Gonzalez Pereira his life but he couldn’t leave the Germans to die. Agreeing to alter his course, Captain Gonzalez takes the Germans to a point near the coast of Portugal. As a token of his gratitude, the German officer, a man with one eye, leading the grou...more

THE TRAITOR’S EMBLEM begins in the Straits of Gibraltar in March, 1940. In the midst of a terrible storm, the crew of the Spanish naval vessel, Esperanza, rescues four German sailors from a life boat. The rescue could have cost Captain Manuel Gonzalez Pereira his life but he couldn’t leave the Germans to die. Agreeing to alter his course, Captain Gonzalez takes the Germans to a point near the coast of Portugal. As a token of his gratitude, the German officer, a man with one eye, leading the group gives Gonzalez a gift, a medal made of solid gold. The German puts his finger on his chest and says “verrat” – treachery . Then he puts his finger on Gonzalez’s chest and says “rettung” – salvation. Then he and his three compatriots disappear.

Gonzalez retires from the sea and when he can spare time from his bookstore, he researches the medal he was given in 1940. “It was a double-headed eagle set on an iron cross. The eagle was holding a sword, and there was a number 32 above its head and an enormous diamond encrusted in its chest.” Gonzalez learns that it is a German Masonic emblem but the Germans did not use “noble” metals such as gold, silver, or platinum so its origins are mysterious.

When Gonzalez died, his son, Juan-Carlos, inherited the shop and the mysterious medal. In 2002, an old man came to the shop to give a talk about his book on Freemasonry. No one came and to make his guest more comfortable, Juan-Carlos showed the man the picture of the medal. The old man began to haunt the shop and Juan-Carlos. He offered to buy it, he begged and pleaded. Juan-Carlos agreed but only after the old man told him the story of the strange Traitor’s Emblem.

From 2002, the story goes back to 1919 and the terrible years between the end of World War I and the rise of the Nazi party in Germany. Set primarily in Munich, it is the story of Paul Reiner, his hunt for the true story behind the death of his father, his relationship with his cousin, Jurgen, and his interest and membership in the Masonic Society.

The story deserves to be read and enjoyed on its own merits; to tell more is to tell too much. What can be said without intruding on the story is that the author creates an atmosphere in the book that engulfs the reader as it does the characters in the story. Paul Reiner is a sympathetic character. His cousin, Jurgen, becomes a willing participant in the nascent SA, a bully who wants to damage and corrupt. Jurgen’s internal corruption is such that he is part of the inner circle of Reinhard Heydrich and Adolph Eichmann. When asked to infiltrate Masonic Lodges to uncover yet another Jewish conspiracy, Jurgen is more than willing. He knows Paul is a member of the Masons. Paul isn’t Jewish but Jurgen is not unwilling to use whatever he can to get rid of the cousin he hates.

Until researching some of the information in the book, I did not know that the Masons had been another victim of Nazi paranoia. As a secret society, it could not continue to exist in Germany. Members who had achieved high degrees in the society were suspected of being Jews or hiding Jews. The author provides a great deal of information about Masonic rituals and the handshakes. I do not know if this is material from the Masons or the fruit of the author’s imagination. I prefer not to know; either way is intriguing.

In the Author’s Notes, Gomez-Jurado provides this information – “The Masons were the object of persecution during the Nazi dictatorship in Germany: more than eighty thousand of them died in the concentration camps. An ancient Masonic legend claims that the fall of all the lodges was the fault of one single Mason who sold all the others out to the Nazis.”

Children reported their parents for listening to the BBC. Neighbors turned neighbors into the Gestapo for infractions that would have been impossible to prove but led to the deaths of the accused anyway. If the Masons were destroyed by one person, it would not have been unusual in that time and in that place.

I reviewed Gomez-Jurado’s THE MOSES EXPEDITION. That book and THE TRAITOR’S EMBLEM do not seem to have been written by the same person. Two absolutely different stories written in two absolutely different voices is an accomplishment that can only be achieved by a very talented author.(less)

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Sep 17, 2011 J.M. Cornwell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A novel of revenge, betrayal, and love, a good heir to Alexandre Dumas.

Paul Reiner and his mother, Ilse, live in Baron von Schroeder’s home in Munich as servants. Ilse is the Baroness Brunhilda’s sister and the Reiner’s are dependent on Brunhilda’s generosity, what little there is of it. There is little of the baron’s fortune left in the wake of his gambling and that does not change the way Paul’s cousin Jürgen treats Ilse and Paul. Jürgen is a petty tyrant and a coward and vents his arrogant s...more A novel of revenge, betrayal, and love, a good heir to Alexandre Dumas.

Paul Reiner and his mother, Ilse, live in Baron von Schroeder’s home in Munich as servants. Ilse is the Baroness Brunhilda’s sister and the Reiner’s are dependent on Brunhilda’s generosity, what little there is of it. There is little of the baron’s fortune left in the wake of his gambling and that does not change the way Paul’s cousin Jürgen treats Ilse and Paul. Jürgen is a petty tyrant and a coward and vents his arrogant sadism on Paul for no other reason than Paul exists. That changes with time and the revelation that Paul and Jürgen’s relationship is closer than cousins.

As time goes on and Paul and Ilse are thrown out of the mansion, they struggle to survive and, with Paul’s intelligence and ingenuity, prosper in the wake of Germany’s struggle to survive after the Versailles Treaty’s onerous provisions. All Paul wants is to find out what happened to his father Hans and why he was branded a deserter and the facts of his death obscured. Paul will get his chance, but it will cost him dearly.

In the author’s notes, Juan Gómez-Jurado explains that the story of The Traitor’s Emblem is different from what he initially planned and is based upon a story a man told him about a relic from the Hitler, a profane object with which Gómez-Jurado begins and ends the novel, a piece known as the Traitor’s Emblem, long thought to be a myth. While the story surrounding the relic is fascinating, Gómez-Jurado is correct in believing it is not enough to hold the novel together. He does construct a plausible scenario for the main characters and much of it is believable. Unfortunately, the story falls apart in some areas.

Without giving too much away, the circumstances surrounding the breakout from Dachau fails to provide the slimmest glimmer of evidence as to why the Nazis suddenly took up the chase. From all accounts, the imposters had gotten away with their ruse and were driving away when alarms go off, lights flash on, and gunshots riddle the getaway car. After having come so far with success, there is no reason for the camp to erupt and the Nazis to give chase. It makes for an exciting getaway, but seems too convenient and implausible.

The other issues surround a man Paul spends eleven years tracking, the man, Nagel, one of Hans’s confederates, runs for his life, which makes no sense. Paul supposedly has information Nagel needs and Nagel has no reason to suspect Paul plans to kill him. Once again, a nice bit of drama without a plausible reason. Paul wants information, as does Nagel, and Nagel keeps running away, abandoning one profitable business after another to end up back in Germany after a long fruitless chase through South West Africa. The whole piece of business is too pat, although it does put the players in the right place at the right time, and so conveniently plotted. There is also the hint that Nagel was the murderer and not Hans and this fact, thrown out as part of Nagel’s internal monologue, was not cleared up or mentioned again.

Despite the flaws in the story, The Traitor’s Emblem is an intricate tale of revenge, betrayal, love, and the chaotic political scene of Germany in the years between the end of World War I and the rise of Adolf Hitler to power before World War II. The details of life in Munich and the struggles of the German people under the lash of the Versailles Treaty are intimately drawn and provide a dark backdrop for the more personal tragedy between Paul and Jürgen.

Gómez-Jurado has written a page turner with strong adventure elements that is mostly satisfying and exciting. The pluses substantially outweigh the flaws even though the novel should have been longer to do justice to the story and the characters.
(less)

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May 27, 2011 Robert Ashbacher rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Other reviews go into more details, but here is my own quick response to The Traitor's Emblem. Once I started reading, I simply could not put it down. This was a true page-turner, as it was very well developed, and structured as a novel. Also, there is no doubt a tremendous amount of research was conducted by Gomez Jurado, with a lot of information around which to frame a story. One of the best historical novels I've ever read. It's disguised as a thriller, but when you think about it this is th...more

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Jun 23, 2011 Entertainmentfocus rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. The Traitor’s Emblem is the latest novel from Spanish writer Juan Gómez-Jurado. The setting is a different European country, as the story follows the lives of two closely-related but feuding German families through the twin horrors of the World Wars.

The book opens with a tantalising prologue of a storm at sea in 1940, from which four enigmatic Germans are rescued from drowning. One of the saved – a man with only one eye – imparts a departing gift to their valiant Spanish savi...more HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. The Traitor’s Emblem is the latest novel from Spanish writer Juan Gómez-Jurado. The setting is a different European country, as the story follows the lives of two closely-related but feuding German families through the twin horrors of the World Wars.

The book opens with a tantalising prologue of a storm at sea in 1940, from which four enigmatic Germans are rescued from drowning. One of the saved – a man with only one eye – imparts a departing gift to their valiant Spanish saviours – a solid gold and diamond emblem. It’s the story behind this mysterious man and his priceless but sinister gift that forms the rest of the narrative. The identity of the one-eyed man remains a puzzle until very late in the book, and turns out to be an astonishingly clever twist in a plot full of delightfully clever surprises.

Although the World Wars and other effects such as the economic depression in Germany after the Treaty of Versailles, and the inevitable rise of the Nazi party form the backdrop of the novel, The Traitor’s Emblem isn’t overtly political. Although it helps to know the basics, a thorough understanding of Twentieth Century history isn’t required to enjoy the story, as Gómez-Jurado ensures that the plot is always character-driven. There are plenty of mysteries that slowly unfold, as Gómez-Jurado keeps a masterly grip on the unweaving of his tale. Why the gold and diamond emblem is considered a traitor’s emblem, lending itself to the title of the piece, and why it’s worth a fortune is one of the central enigmas, linked to the esoteric cult of the Masons, with which two of the characters become embroiled.

In a deliberately confusing opening, it’s not clear who the protagonist of the story is (the device of a story within a story, a tad hackneyed these days perhaps, is put to imaginative use), but it emerges as Paul Reiner, a young man whose family work as servants for the rich Shroeders, even though his mother is the sister of the lady of the house. There are sustained and deeply entrenched rivalries and secrets between the families. From childhood Paul experiences a bitter feud with his cousin Jürgen, a handsome bully who flouts his wealth and status (he will inherit his father’s title of Baron) over his lowly cousin. Paul falls for the Jewish Alys Tannenbaum, whose wealthy father wants to arrange a marriage between her and Jürgen, whom she despises. Their lives are destined to remain forever entwined, and despite the massive historical events happening all around them, fate contrives to bring the three of them into contact time and time again.

Gómez-Jurado is a writer of consummate skill. He makes you care for the main characters and their fates, whilst creating a richly complex and compelling story. The Traitor’s Emblem is a real page-turner, with something exciting or unexpected happening in each of the short chapters; so it’s easy to devour the whole book in only a few sittings. The beauty and quality of the prose (thanks to an excellent translation by Daniel Hahn) ensures that doing so is a real pleasure.

There’s nothing that fundamentally doesn’t work about the book. The characters; their believable romances and obsessions; the intriguing plot that constantly astonishes and the quality of the prose and the grip Gómez-Jurado keeps on the timeline as the story belts through the years are all first-rate, and the work of a mature and highly gifted writer.

There are some truly exceptional moments, but it is difficult to discuss them in detail without giving away major spoilers, and it’s the unremitting revelations that are one of the book’s greatest assets. In fact, there are several occasions where the reader learns something even about dead characters that completely alters their perception of them. I will say that a climactic scene in the Nazi concentration camp Dachau is truly breathtaking.

Readers of a nervous disposition should be warned that some passages are delightfully gruesome. The fate of Jürgen’s brother Eduard, who returns home from World War One with missing limbs, is simultaneously moving and grotesque. It’s he who whispers a secret into Paul’s ear from his sickbed, telling him that his long dead father didn’t die at sea, but was murdered. Paul’s quest to find out the truth about his enigmatic father and the nature of his death drives him like an obsession, worsening the older he gets.

The Traitor’s Emblem is a fantastic read that should appeal to a wide range of people. It’s extremely beautifully written, which more literate readers will enjoy. Whilst the thriller tends to be a genre favoured by men; the character of Alys is strongly written, and there’s a well-developed element of romance. The period setting and the intriguing mysteries should appeal equally to both sexes.

Thankfully, given that the market reached saturation point some years ago for the genre, there aren’t any elements of the supernatural in the story. Instead, The Traitor’s Emblem stands as a solid historical thriller. Highly recommended.(less)

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May 26, 2011 Tess rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My husband is a blogger, and he recived the Advance Reading Copy of this novel. This book is set mainly in the period leading up to WW11, most of the events taking place in Munich. It concerns two boys as they grow into men. Jürgen, the son of a baron, is a nasty piece of work who becomes a dedicated follower of Adolf Hitler. He ends up in the SS working under Reinhard Heydrich with Adolf Eichmann as a colleague. He is violent by nature and so well suited to his role in the SS, where he is given...more

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May 26, 2011 Claire rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I received this book as part of the Amazon Vine Program. I was attracted to this novel by its setting - Munich during the time of the Weimar Republic and the rise of the Nazis.
I won't give a blow-by-blow account of the plot;I don`t like to give away too much as it spoils the enjoyment for the reader. The tale is set in motion by the mystery of a strange medal-like object which a Spanish captain passes on to his son; only in 2002 is the origin of the emblem finally explained.
Gómez-Jurado skilfull...more I received this book as part of the Amazon Vine Program. I was attracted to this novel by its setting - Munich during the time of the Weimar Republic and the rise of the Nazis.
I won't give a blow-by-blow account of the plot;I don`t like to give away too much as it spoils the enjoyment for the reader. The tale is set in motion by the mystery of a strange medal-like object which a Spanish captain passes on to his son; only in 2002 is the origin of the emblem finally explained.
Gómez-Jurado skilfully uses the backdrop of an economically ruined Germany with all its despair, political turmoil, anger, violence and decadence to tell his back-story of Paul Reiner`s search for the truth about his father's death and the reasons for the bitter treatment he and his mother endure working as servants in the home of their aristocratic, but bankrupt relatives. After an altercation with one thuggish cousin and the suicide of another, Paul learns that a dark secret has been kept from him; meanwhile mother and son are forced to leave and fend for themselves...
I had no difficulty in accepting the picture of Munich from the 20`s and 30`s that the author paints; there is always a danger that attitudes or linguistic phrases that sound a little too modern when historical settings are employed can creep in, but I didn't find anything objectionably anachronistic here and the historical details and events woven into the plot seem to be accurate; the narrative flows at a good pace - short chapters with cliff-hanging endings ensure you keep reading - a good device - and this author knows how to use it! I can`t comment on the quality of the translation, but the language is of a good standard throughout. It was - for me - a fast, easy and very enjoyable read with an ambitious breadth to the plot. Some of the characters are a little two-dimensional and credibility is stretched in places, but I think on the whole this is a pretty recommendable mystery/thriller which will appeal to a wide readership. A postscript explains the true story that led to the novel being written.
I do think we'll be hearing a lot more of Gómez-Jurado...(less)

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May 22, 2011 DebbieSanders rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Spanish journalist turned author Juan Gomez-Jurado is going places, winner of the impressive sounding 'Premio de Novela Ciudad de Torrevieja' (even more impressive when you learn the prize was a half million US$), the rights to his first book (God's Spy) have been sold in 42 countries, his first two books claim 3 million readers and his third and latest 'The Traitors Emblem' is being translated into 40 languages.

'Traitors Emblem' is set in post world war one Germany against the background of po...more

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Jan 15, 2013 Islandwitch rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, favorites, mysterys, suspense

It's rare that I find a real gem when I purchase something on a whim off a bargain table.... But that's exactly what I did when I picked up The Traitor's Emblem! The adventure and suspense begins on the first page and continues all through the book (I seriously had to set it down at one point just to catch my breath!), and the reader gets to see the historical aspect of everyday life in Munich and the rise of Nazism through the eyes of several diverse characters (do NOT get me started on Jürgen,...more

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Sep 28, 2011 Kevin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: germany, library, mystery-thrillers, favorites

The Straits of Gibraltar, 1940. In the heart of a storm at sea, Captain González rescues a group of German castaways. When the torrent subsides, the leader of the survivors gratefully offers the captain a strange-looking emblem made of gold and diamonds, in exchange for safe passage to the coast of Portugal. Decades later, in 2002, the son of captain González receives a substantial offer for the emblem. He does not sell it, but the buyer reveals an astounding story behind that mysterious object:...more

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Aug 05, 2011 Monica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Love, revenge, family secrets…what more could you want in a book? “The Traitor’s Emblem” was a delight to read. Set in the period between WWI and WWII, Juan Gómez-Jurado's knows exactly what it takes to keep you turning the pages of his book...and wondering if there are going to be answers and solutions to the puzzles and difficult situations that you encounter from the very first page.

Strong writing, a fast pace that leaves nothing out, and characters who you immediately like or hate...these a...more

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Sep 26, 2012 Antonio rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Yo ya sabía de sobra el buen hacer de Gómez-Jurado a la hora de contar historias. Sin embargo, lo que más agradezco por 'El emblema del traidor' es la genial manera de transportarnos a ese momento histórico. Durante los días que he dedicado a este libro he procurado documentarme yo también sobre el tema y he visto un par de documentales sobre Adolf Hitler, he escuchado algunos podcast sobre el nazismo para intentar comprender mejor la situación y tengo en mente leer algunos libros sobre el tema....more

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Aug 05, 2011 Matt rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I felt the book was very much like an Edward Rutherfurd or Follet (in Fall of Giants), in its inter-generational nature. While it took place mainly within Alys and Paul's life, there was some stretch added to the timeline. I enjoyed it, especially with the NIZA Germany backdrop, but would not call it stellar, as the two aforementioned authors tend to have their works labelled.

The story keeps a good interest from start to end. I am used to the usually Hitler is good, rah rah, or Hitler is bad, bo...more

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Jul 29, 2011 Nina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 3-5-stars, 1930s, historical-fiction, mystery, 1940s, germany, europe

In 1940, four Germans are rescued by a Spanish sea captain. Before departing, a one-eyed German gives the captain a gold emblem. The story behind the emblem and the Germans is not revealed until sixty years later, to the captain's son.

In 1919, Paul Reiner is a young German boy who knows almost nothing about his dead father. He and his mother, Ilse, live with Baron von Schroeder and his wife, Brunhilda (Ilse's sister). In the Schroeder's house, Paul and his mother are treated like servants, but a...more

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Feb 26, 2012 César Caracuel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Es el primer libro que leo de este autor, además ha sido éste por sugerencia de él mismo, a través de Twitter. En El emblema del traidor, nos sumergimos en la Alemania entreguerras, el ascenso de la Alemania nazi, cuando Hitler subió al poder, y vivimos la historia de Paul y Alys, dos personas que se enamoran, y que a lo largo de años luchan contra los errores que sus familias cometieron, pero a pesar de todo, acabando juntos. Traiciones, secretos de familia, matrimonios que pretendían ser conce...more

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Feb 08, 2012 María E. Sanz rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Hace un par de horas que he terminado de leer "El Emblema del Traidor" y aún estoy conmocionada y emocionada con esta novela, sin ninguna duda, la mejor de las publicadas hasta ahora por Juan Gómez Jurado.

Soy una lectora compulsiva, unos libros me gustan más, otros menos, pero a veces, me cuesta encontrar un libro que me toque de verdad el corazón. Hacía muchos meses que no encontraba un libro que me entusiasmara de verdad. Pues bien, este lo ha hecho, y tardaré bastante en olvidarlo.

Es una hist...more

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May 27, 2011 Mason Dixon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

By the time I got to the last 50 pages of The Traitor's Emblem, I was oddly reluctant to read on. Yes, I was eager to find out what happened next. But I didn't want the journey to end. The story is thrilling and believable, kept to a human scale. I wish Gomez-Jurado had spent more time describing Paul's growing realization, and how the search for his father's murderer did it changed him.

The author is deft in bringing even minor characters to life with a few vivid strokes. It is a pleasure to se...more

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May 31, 2011 Lucy Spillmann rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Traitor’s Emblem is a thoroughly enjoyable novel. It is written really simply and as a result is not a challenge to read the way some novels can be. I like novels that have any kind of link with the social impact of the two world wars and this covers both wars to a certain extent and was done very interestingly. Initially I was not keen on the opening scene as I felt it gave away the fates of some of the characters but actually it is not as simple as I thought. The final scenes were surprisi...more

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Feb 15, 2012 Pedro León rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Lo primero que tengo que decir es que el libro es fantástico. De nuevo he sentido esa agradable sorpresa al encontrar un autor que no conocía y que promete diversión y calidad en sus libros. En este caso hablamos de una historia ambientada en el periodo de entre guerras en la Alemania que vio nacer el fenómeno del nacismo.

La primera mitad del libro tiene un estilo que me ha recordado a partes iguales a Perez Reverte y Dumas (si, es una mezcla extraña, pero es mi sensación). La segunda parte, des...more

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Jul 11, 2011 Beth rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Once again, Juan Gomez-Jurado does not disappoint. The Traitor's Emblem is a fast paced book that will keep you turning the pages late into the night. The story follows Paul Reiner during the period in Germany between WW I and WW II as he tries to find out who killed his father. But family secrets, the incoming Nazi Regime and his own obsessions stand in his way. The research done for this book is evident in the details of the story. There are many times that I turned to the internet to see if t...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Nancy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-read

Germany on the brink of WWII. The story of Paul Reiner, Alys Tannenbaum, and Jurgen the son of Baron Von Schroder. Alys is the daughter of a Jewish business man who is definitely a very independent and does not want to be controlled by anyone, even the man she loves. Paul and Jurgen are brought up as cousins but there is an secret that makes them related in a very different way. Paul's father died when he was too young and his death has always been shrouded by in mystery and Paul continues to de...more

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May 31, 2011 John Taddeus rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This fascinating story deals with life in Germany between the wars following the fortunes of some fundamentally decent people as they struggle with the moral and physical difficulties of survival in a system increasingly distorted by violence, sectarianism and hatred.
The main characters are well drawn and involving; the plot is fast-paced – I thoroughly enjoyed this book and welcomed the peripheral insights into Masonic beliefs and practices. I was surprised by the denouement, I hadn’t expected...more

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Feb 10, 2013 Paco Orozco rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Laura Picazo

Recommended to Paco by: Leo C.

Esta madrugada he acabado de leer este libro, el cual he devorado sin compasión. Han sido dos intensos días siguiendo esta gran aventura. Lo primero que me atrajo es el principio de la historia, la escena de la tormenta en el estrecho de Gibraltar.

Como me pasó con Contrato con Dios, Juan Gomez-Jurado ha vuelto a conseguirlo. Mantenerme en esta trepidante acción, en esta historia de amor. No podréis dejarla hasta el final.

La novela me encanta porque habla también de errores humanos, los buenos n...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Elli rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: family-relationships, crime-criminal-activity, cultural-setting, germany, mystery-historical, world-war-2

It was interesting and fast reading. More literature with a setting heavily influenced by what happened in World War 1 and the period leading to World War II. It was said to be based on a true happening. For me it was difficult to relate to it in that way, though. Too much of it seemed to be just too too such as acts performed by the various characters including a young boy. And the so totally black black and so totally white white of the moral fiber of the characters. It was a good story with a...more

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Oct 03, 2011 Stacey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Stacey by: Kevin

Shelves: library, germany, favorites

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May 26, 2011 Librarian rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a well crafted novel with nicely defined, believable characters. The main action is set in the years before the Second World War during a time of political upheaval in Germany.

The story is of dark family secrets and the rivalry and bitterness between Paul and Jurgen involving the liberated young woman, Alys. Slowly these turn to hatred and the need for revenge.

Finally the family secrets and the creation and meaning of the 'emblem' are revealed.

This novel has plenty of action and intrigue...more

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Jul 21, 2012 Nicholas Carpenito rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

This man is one of the great story writers of our time.
This book, as with all of Jurado's books, had extremely compelling characters. You really wanted to see the good guys succeed, and the bad guys fall. Although at times pretty far fetched, the story was gripping and kept you reading page after page.

The only downside I can say to this book, is that Father Anthony Fowler was not in it, one of the reoccurring characters of Jurado's line of fiction. However a new story line needs new characters,...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Javier rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

La novela está ambientada en la Alemania de entreguerras y el comienzo del nazismo y acompañamos a Paul Reiner mientras esclarece la muerte de su padre.

Una novela ágil de capítulos breves que siempre acaban con un poco de suspense para animarte a continuar con la lectura. El estilo es muy visual, sin grandes descripciones. El transfondo histórico pone la atmósfera adecuada a la historia, sin que recibamos lecciones. Los personajes no son estáticos sino que evolucionan, desde la adolescencia hast...more

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Jul 03, 2012 Daniel Sanz rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Una novela que engancha desde la primera pagina, consigue que no puedas soltarla y necesites saber que le pasa a los protagonistas.
Sin embargo, al terminarla, cierras el libro y te olvidas de el. El argumento es demasiado estricto, continuamente surgen acontecimientos que te emocionan, piensas que va a desarrollarlos pero no, pasan de largo como si no hubiesen existido dejándote con las ganas de mas.

Una novela rápida y entretenida que recomiendo para pasar un par de días entretenidos o ideal par...more

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Aug 22, 2012 Olgalijo rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was happily surprised with "El Emblema del Traidor". Mot of the books in Spanish I had read lately were hopelessly overwritten and with not so credible stories. This is definitely not the case with "El Emblema del Traidor". The only thing I could have dispensed with were the obvious romance cliches that litter the relationship between the two protagonists. On the positive side, it was nice to see that the female protagonist was basically credible, and her feminist achievements were not miracul...more

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Aug 12, 2011 Kitty Bullard rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"THE TRAITOR'S EMBLEM" BY JUAN GOMEZ-JURADO

Set in a place and time where drama was a staple of everyday life, this novel is filled with excitement and will leave you biting your nails in suspense. If you're a fan of the 1940's Germany you will love this story as it delves deeply into the time when some of the darkest days were upon us.

I definitely recommend this book!

-Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club

Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.probo...

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About Juan Gomez-Jurado

Juan Gómez-Jurado (December 1977 Madrid, Spain) is an award winning journalist and bestselling author. He is one of the three most successful contemporary Spanish authors along with New York Times bestselling authors Javier Sierra and Carlos Ruiz Zafón. In 2011, Juan celebrated the mark of 4 million readers worldwide.

Juan is the author of three international bestselling novels: GOD’S SPY, THE MOSE...more

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Quotes from El emblema del traidor

“Ah, ah. No releas, Paul. Eres muy joven, y aquellos que releen tienden a llenarse de la sabiduría inadecuada antes de tiempo. Ahora tienes que leer, leer todo lo que puedas, lo más heterogéneo posible. Sólo cuando llegas a mis años sabes que aquello que relees no es una pérdida de tiempo.” — 2 people liked it

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