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Dreidel To The Grave
Nine years have passed since the fall of the Third Reich…
For most, the scourge of Nazism is a fading memory…
But for one man, the ultimate demise of its vilest leaders is everything…
A lone Israeli agent has dedicated his life to tracking down those who have escaped justice…
Now, only one remains: Adolf Hitler.
For most, the scourge of Nazism is a fading memory…
But for one man, the ultimate demise of its vilest leaders is everything…
A lone Israeli agent has dedicated his life to tracking down those who have escaped justice…
Now, only one remains: Adolf Hitler.
177 pages, ebook
First published December 23, 2020
2 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
January 30, 2021
Both the premise - (hunting down the military elite of the Nazi party, 9 years after the war, and in particular its leader, Hitler) combined with the explosive non stop action, means’ Dreidel To The Grave’, would make a spectacular movie!
David Gal is very much his own man, a Mossad agent, he does things his way, and if he’s on a mission, nothing and no one will prevent him from achieving his goals. He’s something of a smartass, brash to the point of rudeness, but you have to admire him, considering who his targets are, and in particular the reason why this quest is so personal to him.
This mission takes him to Argentina, where Hitler and his inner circle - the military elite, are thought to have fled. It goes without saying that this is a very dangerous mission, involving gun fights, bloody encounters, interrogation and torture. Gal has a meeting set up with a local underworld boss, who may have the information needed to complete his quest. He is provided with an Argentinian chauffeur/guide, Enzo, however Enzo becomes much more than a chauffeur to Gal. Enzo is an adorable character, he has a childlike naivety, that will melt your heart, and brings much to the storyline.
With extreme and bloody violence, a storyline that may require you to suspend disbelief at times, it was nevertheless, an action packed, gripping read, with an opening chase sequence that left me breathless. Very enjoyable.
*My thanks to Yoel Bereket, for offering me a free copy in exchange for an honest unbiased review*
David Gal is very much his own man, a Mossad agent, he does things his way, and if he’s on a mission, nothing and no one will prevent him from achieving his goals. He’s something of a smartass, brash to the point of rudeness, but you have to admire him, considering who his targets are, and in particular the reason why this quest is so personal to him.
This mission takes him to Argentina, where Hitler and his inner circle - the military elite, are thought to have fled. It goes without saying that this is a very dangerous mission, involving gun fights, bloody encounters, interrogation and torture. Gal has a meeting set up with a local underworld boss, who may have the information needed to complete his quest. He is provided with an Argentinian chauffeur/guide, Enzo, however Enzo becomes much more than a chauffeur to Gal. Enzo is an adorable character, he has a childlike naivety, that will melt your heart, and brings much to the storyline.
With extreme and bloody violence, a storyline that may require you to suspend disbelief at times, it was nevertheless, an action packed, gripping read, with an opening chase sequence that left me breathless. Very enjoyable.
*My thanks to Yoel Bereket, for offering me a free copy in exchange for an honest unbiased review*
April 21, 2021
Imagine a 350-page pulp fiction paperback. Open it up, tear it in half, toss out the part in your left hand, and pick up the story for its final 177 pages.
That’s what it feels like diving into Yoel Bereket’s Nazi-hunting revenge fantasy Dreidel to the Grave. You’re dropped right into the center of the action without all the pesky slow-burn plot and character buildup so common in most novels. Readers follow primo Nazi slayer David Gal as he ruthlessly murders former leaders of the Third Reich in a fictionalized world nine years after its fall. In this version of history, Hitler is still alive and in hiding, and Gal is determined to track him down at all costs.
Maybe it’s because I already had “pulp fiction” on my mind, but Dreidel to the Grave reminded me a lot of Quentin Tarantino movies. Its tone and violence are similar to the filmmaker’s signature style in general, but the revisionist plot is specifically reminiscent of “Inglourious Basterds.” If you liked that film, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy this book.
I am a Tarantino fan, so I was predisposed to like Dreidel to the Grave. If I was reviewing it on a site called Goodpulp, I’d be at 4 stars. For Goodreads though, 3 seems more appropriate.
My thanks to the author for providing a gifted copy to review.
That’s what it feels like diving into Yoel Bereket’s Nazi-hunting revenge fantasy Dreidel to the Grave. You’re dropped right into the center of the action without all the pesky slow-burn plot and character buildup so common in most novels. Readers follow primo Nazi slayer David Gal as he ruthlessly murders former leaders of the Third Reich in a fictionalized world nine years after its fall. In this version of history, Hitler is still alive and in hiding, and Gal is determined to track him down at all costs.
Maybe it’s because I already had “pulp fiction” on my mind, but Dreidel to the Grave reminded me a lot of Quentin Tarantino movies. Its tone and violence are similar to the filmmaker’s signature style in general, but the revisionist plot is specifically reminiscent of “Inglourious Basterds.” If you liked that film, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy this book.
I am a Tarantino fan, so I was predisposed to like Dreidel to the Grave. If I was reviewing it on a site called Goodpulp, I’d be at 4 stars. For Goodreads though, 3 seems more appropriate.
My thanks to the author for providing a gifted copy to review.
February 3, 2021
This was a newer type of story for me, but I really did enjoy it. It follows a superhero-like Israeli spy, Gal, hunting Hitler for his atrocities against the Jews, which includes Gal's family. He travels around the world to find his target, leaving a path of well-calculated destruction in his way. He is an awesome protagonist and his sidekick, Enzo, is great, too. The story is informative, action-packed, bloody, and has a lot of serious portions of it, however, there is also a fair amount of humor. Some of the dialogue literally had me laughing out loud. It is an easy read and moves quick, having a definitive conclusion, but also leaves some loose ends for more potential adventures with Gal, which I would be interested in reading. The title of the book is absolutely tremendous, too!!
May 6, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up. This book can be classed as alternate history. It's 1954, and Mossad spy Gal is asked to kill Adolph Hitler. Gal was born in Germany and survived the Holocaust. He wants to kill all of the German WWII leaders who were involved in the Holocaust.
Pros: The plot moves along very fast. I read it in 1 day.
Cons: Gal is able to repeatedly kill many bad guys (sometimes a couple dozen at a time) and always survive. If you are an action/spy fan, you will probably like it.
This was an Amazon purchase.
Pros: The plot moves along very fast. I read it in 1 day.
Cons: Gal is able to repeatedly kill many bad guys (sometimes a couple dozen at a time) and always survive. If you are an action/spy fan, you will probably like it.
This was an Amazon purchase.
May 29, 2021
Dreidel to the Grave is an alternate history, revenge-fueled, assassination/spy thriller. A Mossad agent named Gal is tasked with hunting down Nazis who escaped after the collapse of the Third Reich at the end of World War II.
I took a day to really ponder this book before writing a review. I have to give kudos to the author, who self-published the book. He sought out so many people on GoodReads to ask for their honest reviews. That takes some courage! I appreciate his initiative. Having said that, I have very little positive praise for this one, making it difficult to rate. I usually know how many stars I will give a book before writing the review. This time, I’m going to write and then rate. Let’s see how that goes.
The thriller aspect of the novel was good. Or at the very least, I should say the action scenes were good. Bereket does a great job of writing action. He keeps the action clear, the imagery illustrative but direct at the same time, and delivers a sense of excitement in his description and pacing. Many scenes feel vivid enough for a movie. He definitely has an eye for action scenes.
Unfortunately, that’s about all I can say that I liked. Well, I guess the beginning wasn’t bad. The plot and action were quite good at the start. It just devolved into a mess later.
I like alternate history stories. It’s like a twisted fairy tale for me. But here’s the thing - alternate history books are stories that take one specific event and postulate how the rest of history would change if that event had turned out differently. The Man in the High Castle is a perfect example of this. What if the allies had not won WWII? Dreidel to the Grave is unclear about how it is an alternative history, except that more Nazis escaped punishment, including Hitler. What event changed to make that happen? I like stories that have a clear premise and this aspect is hazy at best.
A spy novel is still based on realism. Mossad agents really did hunt down Nazis who escaped punishment from the Nuremberg Trials. Sadly, the book doesn’t feel grounded in reality or history. Gal is constantly praised for being an amazing assassin, even if he is a bit rogue and doesn’t follow orders to the letter. And yet he does stupid things that blow his cover all the time. He really is the worst spy ever. I can’t understand how he’s so successful, except that things always work out and he kills who he needs to. So there’s that. Somewhere it says that it takes place in 1955 but it feels like the 1960s (clothing, language). Some scenes are absurd or so far from realistic that I felt like I was reading fantasy fiction instead.
There are rules for writing. When characters speak in a foreign language, it should be placed in italics. While this is written in English, there are clear sections where the characters are speaking in Spanish, Italian or German. It’s not referenced that they are speaking a different language in the narration, nor are they speaking in that language. Just English. It felt off like I was missing something. There are occasional German words thrown in for flavor, which makes no sense. Their lines would all be in German if that was their language of choice. I just felt it was odd and he needed more technique in this area.
The characters are so flat. Gal is frustratingly rogue and rude. I do like his flashback scenes to his childhood. These were done very well! Full of imagery and characterization. The secondary characters are annoying and unrealistic. Basically the characters are caricatures, especially the Nazis. Look - I don’t care about how he portrays the Nazis. Seriously, most horrible people in all of history. However, they weren’t cartoonish bumbling idiots. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been as scary as they were. It just didn’t hold up to how awful these people really were. They were made out to be buffoons. Whatever. No one’s crying over that. I just felt like it was unrealistic. I’ve seen movies and TV shows about the Mossad tracking down Nazis. Never do they show the Nazis as cartoon idiots. I feel like Bereket really needs to watch some of those for inspiration. Or read some nonfiction books about real spy operations.
The book had some potential - flashbacks and action scenes especially. He had a good idea. He just needed better technique and research to help him tell a plausible and good story. I guess I’ll give it two stars. I didn’t hate it. I just didn’t enjoy it.
I took a day to really ponder this book before writing a review. I have to give kudos to the author, who self-published the book. He sought out so many people on GoodReads to ask for their honest reviews. That takes some courage! I appreciate his initiative. Having said that, I have very little positive praise for this one, making it difficult to rate. I usually know how many stars I will give a book before writing the review. This time, I’m going to write and then rate. Let’s see how that goes.
The thriller aspect of the novel was good. Or at the very least, I should say the action scenes were good. Bereket does a great job of writing action. He keeps the action clear, the imagery illustrative but direct at the same time, and delivers a sense of excitement in his description and pacing. Many scenes feel vivid enough for a movie. He definitely has an eye for action scenes.
Unfortunately, that’s about all I can say that I liked. Well, I guess the beginning wasn’t bad. The plot and action were quite good at the start. It just devolved into a mess later.
I like alternate history stories. It’s like a twisted fairy tale for me. But here’s the thing - alternate history books are stories that take one specific event and postulate how the rest of history would change if that event had turned out differently. The Man in the High Castle is a perfect example of this. What if the allies had not won WWII? Dreidel to the Grave is unclear about how it is an alternative history, except that more Nazis escaped punishment, including Hitler. What event changed to make that happen? I like stories that have a clear premise and this aspect is hazy at best.
A spy novel is still based on realism. Mossad agents really did hunt down Nazis who escaped punishment from the Nuremberg Trials. Sadly, the book doesn’t feel grounded in reality or history. Gal is constantly praised for being an amazing assassin, even if he is a bit rogue and doesn’t follow orders to the letter. And yet he does stupid things that blow his cover all the time. He really is the worst spy ever. I can’t understand how he’s so successful, except that things always work out and he kills who he needs to. So there’s that. Somewhere it says that it takes place in 1955 but it feels like the 1960s (clothing, language). Some scenes are absurd or so far from realistic that I felt like I was reading fantasy fiction instead.
There are rules for writing. When characters speak in a foreign language, it should be placed in italics. While this is written in English, there are clear sections where the characters are speaking in Spanish, Italian or German. It’s not referenced that they are speaking a different language in the narration, nor are they speaking in that language. Just English. It felt off like I was missing something. There are occasional German words thrown in for flavor, which makes no sense. Their lines would all be in German if that was their language of choice. I just felt it was odd and he needed more technique in this area.
The characters are so flat. Gal is frustratingly rogue and rude. I do like his flashback scenes to his childhood. These were done very well! Full of imagery and characterization. The secondary characters are annoying and unrealistic. Basically the characters are caricatures, especially the Nazis. Look - I don’t care about how he portrays the Nazis. Seriously, most horrible people in all of history. However, they weren’t cartoonish bumbling idiots. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been as scary as they were. It just didn’t hold up to how awful these people really were. They were made out to be buffoons. Whatever. No one’s crying over that. I just felt like it was unrealistic. I’ve seen movies and TV shows about the Mossad tracking down Nazis. Never do they show the Nazis as cartoon idiots. I feel like Bereket really needs to watch some of those for inspiration. Or read some nonfiction books about real spy operations.
The book had some potential - flashbacks and action scenes especially. He had a good idea. He just needed better technique and research to help him tell a plausible and good story. I guess I’ll give it two stars. I didn’t hate it. I just didn’t enjoy it.
March 10, 2021
Review in English at the bottom.
La persistencia y el trabajo constante siempre dan buenos resultados.
Existen historias de todo tipo: Las que nos hacen llorar, las que nos inspiran, las que nos aterran, las que nos decepcionan, y en el caso de Dreidel to the Grave, esta ha sido una historia que me ha entretenido todo el tiempo y que me hizo sentir como si estuviera jugando un videojuego o disfrutando una película de acción. Honestamente, me siento gratamente sorprendido; sorprendido porque no esperaba la calidad de este libro. En A Bolshevik Christmas, el primer libro del autor, resulté insatisfecho por distintos aspectos, y como no ha transcurrido tanto tiempo entre la publicación de sus dos novelas, entonces inicié esta lectura sin expectativas y con la certeza de que encontraría fallas parecidas a las observadas en aquella ocasión. Si eso hubiera ocurrido sería algo completamente normal pero afortunadamente el destino no está escrito. Aquí, con esta novela, el autor ha logrado batear un Home-Run presentando una evolución impresionante como escritor. Es notable su persistencia, su dedicación y sus deseos de mejorar día tras día su escritura. Su actitud es un buen ejemplo de superación para aquellas personas que intentan algo y que renuncian tras su primer fracaso. Todo es cuestión de intentar, de creer en nuestras capacidades y ser conscientes de que necesitamos recorrer un largo camino para mejorar realmente nuestros resultados. Felicidades Yoel por tu trabajo, esta vez lo has hecho muy bien.
Dreidel to the Grave nos cuenta la historia de David Gal, un judío, quien siente odio hacia los nazis porque ellos destruyeron su familia; por ello, Gal buscará cazar a sus enemigos infiltrándose en los lugares más peligrosos. La historia se sitúa a finales de la segunda guerra mundial, en una época donde los perdedores de la guerra han huido y son cazados por todo el mundo. Lo más interesante y que genera curiosidad, es la posibilidad que presenta el autor de que Hitler haya escapado hacia Argentina, por lo que Gal también investigará para intentar encontrar el supuesto paradero del Führer. Personalmente, esta hipótesis fue algo que me sedujo todo el tiempo porque hace unos años trasnochaba leyendo e investigando este tipo de teorías conspirativas, por lo tanto, fue como recordar mis andanzas del pasado. Más allá de esa teoría, nos encontramos ante una historia que acompañada de acción, disparos, persecuciones, bombas, tanques, lanzagranadas, peleas, etc., logra captar nuestra atención en todo momento. De no ser por mi lentitud para leer en inglés, este libro lo habría terminado el mismo día que lo inicié porque realmente tiene un ritmo vertiginoso.
Sobre los personajes también finalicé complacido porque tanto Gal, como Enzo —su acompañante — fueron dotados de una personalidad e historia muy bien desarrollada. A pesar de que tienen un comportamiento e historia tan diferente, se complementan muy, pero muy bien. Además, sus conversaciones en algunas escenas fueron muy graciosas, así como sus comentarios que presentaron cierto tipo de sátira, tal y como me gustan. También me encantó como el autor jugó con los capítulos cortos, el momento en que presentó los flashbacks con la dosis de información suficiente, la importancia del Dreidel —para ser sincero ni siquiera conocía lo que significaba esa palabra, pero ahora sé que es un tipo de peonza o perinola—, el final también me dejo muy satisfecho, e incluso la portada está genial con sus tonos de color muy bien combinados. Francamente calificaría este libro con cinco estrellas. Pero, por ciertos detalles, me veo en la obligación de puntuarlo con solo cuatro. Detalles que son pequeños pero incorrectos, porque no pertenecen al contexto presentado de esta obra y por lo tanto son ilógicos. Seguramente, la experiencia ayudará al autor a evitar cometer este tipo de errores en el futuro.
Yoel, los sudamericanos no nos disculpamos en exceso como Enzo, ni en la actualidad, ni en el pasado, ni nunca. Por momentos, Enzo no pareció un argentino sino un chico tímido como los que son protagonistas en el anime; los nazis jamás fueron amigables, ni confiaron en los desconocidos, es más, ni siquiera confiaban en ellos mismos; no es correcto usar una criatura mitológica en una historia netamente de ficción; es ilógico que un ser que ha estado en una guerra y que ha matado tantas personas, sienta tanto terror ante la posibilidad de morir. Los sobrevivientes de la segunda guerra mundial finalizaron tan trastornados por lo ocurrido, que vivieron el resto de sus vidas como si su alma hubiera sido arrancada de sus cuerpos; y, finalmente, siento que faltó un poco de creatividad para no llegar a repetir escenas similares como ocurrió en algunas partes. Son pequeños errores, pero, de la misma forma como destaco lo positivo también es importante informar sobre los aspectos negativos de una obra.
En resumen, una obra que a pesar de no ser perfecta me deja una muy buena impresión. Yoel, gracias por tener en cuenta mi opinión, espero sigas escribiendo muchas más historias. Si sigues mejorando lo único que te espera es éxito en tus futuros proyectos. Libro recomendado.
----------------------
Persistence and constant work always pay off.
There are stories of all kinds: those that make us cry, those that inspire us, those that terrify us, those that disappoint us, and in the case of Dreidel to the Grave, this has been a story that has entertained me all the time and that made me feel like I was playing a video game or enjoying an action movie. Honestly, I am pleasantly surprised; surprised because I did not expect the quality of this book. In A Bolshevik Christmas, the author's first book, I was dissatisfied on different aspects, and since not so much time has elapsed between the publication of his two novels, so I began this reading without expectations and with certainty that I would find flaws similar to those observed on that occasion. If that had happened it would be something completely normal but fortunately, the destination is not written. Here, with this novel, the author has managed to hit a home-run presenting an impressive evolution as a writer. His persistence, his dedication, and his desire to improve his writing day after day are remarkable. His attitude is a good example of improvement for those people who try something and who quit after their first failure. It's all a matter of trying, of believing in our abilities, and being aware that we need to go a long way to really improve our results. Congratulations Yoel for your work, this time you have done very well.
Dreidel to the Grave tells the story of David Gal, a Jew, who feels hatred towards the Nazis because they destroyed his family; for this reason, Gal will seek to hunt down his enemies by infiltrating the most dangerous places. The story takes place at the end of the Second World War, at a time when the losers of the war have fled and are hunted all over the world. The most interesting and curious thing is the possibility that the author presents that Hitler has escaped to Argentina, so Gal will also investigate to find the alleged whereabouts of the Führer. Personally, this hypothesis was something that seduced me all the time because a few years ago I spent the night reading and researching this type of conspiracy theories, therefore, it was like remembering my adventures in the past. Beyond that theory, we are faced with a story that accompanied by action, shots, chases, bombs, tanks, grenade launchers, fights, etc., manages to capture our attention at all times. If it weren't for my slowness to read in English, this book would have been completed the same day I started it because it really has a breakneck pace.
Regarding the characters, I also ended up pleased because both Gal and Enzo —his companion— were endowed with a very well-developed personality and story. Although they have such a different behavior and history, they complement each other very, very well. Also, their conversations in some scenes were very funny, as well as their comments that indicated a certain kind of satire, just the way I like them. I also loved how the author played with the short chapters, the moment he presented the flashbacks with enough information, the importance of the Dreidel —to be honest, I didn't even know what that word meant, but now I know it's a spinning top—; the end also left me very satisfied, and even the cover is great with its color tones very well combined. I would frankly rate this book five stars. But, for certain details, I am obliged to rate it with only four. Details that are small but incorrect, because they do not belong to the presented context of this work and are therefore illogical. The experience will surely help the author to avoid making such mistakes in the future.
Yoel, we South Americans do not apologize excessively like Enzo, not today, not in the past, not ever. At times, Enzo did not seem like an Argentine but a shy boy like those who are protagonists in anime; the Nazis were never friendly, nor did they trust strangers, what's more, they didn't even trust themselves; it is not correct to use a mythological creature in a purely fictional story; it is illogical that a being who has been in a war and who has killed so many people should feel so much terror at the possibility of dying. The survivors of World War II ended up so upset by what happened that they lived the rest of their lives as if their souls had been ripped from their bodies; and, finally, I feel that a bit of creativity was lacking to avoid repeating similar scenes as happened in some parts. They are small errors, but in the same way, as I highlight the positive it is also important to report on the negative aspects of a book.
In short, a work that despite not being perfect leaves a very good impression on me. Yoel, thank you for taking my opinion into account, I hope you continue writing many more stories. If you keep improving, the only thing you hope for is success in your future projects. Recommended book.
La persistencia y el trabajo constante siempre dan buenos resultados.
Existen historias de todo tipo: Las que nos hacen llorar, las que nos inspiran, las que nos aterran, las que nos decepcionan, y en el caso de Dreidel to the Grave, esta ha sido una historia que me ha entretenido todo el tiempo y que me hizo sentir como si estuviera jugando un videojuego o disfrutando una película de acción. Honestamente, me siento gratamente sorprendido; sorprendido porque no esperaba la calidad de este libro. En A Bolshevik Christmas, el primer libro del autor, resulté insatisfecho por distintos aspectos, y como no ha transcurrido tanto tiempo entre la publicación de sus dos novelas, entonces inicié esta lectura sin expectativas y con la certeza de que encontraría fallas parecidas a las observadas en aquella ocasión. Si eso hubiera ocurrido sería algo completamente normal pero afortunadamente el destino no está escrito. Aquí, con esta novela, el autor ha logrado batear un Home-Run presentando una evolución impresionante como escritor. Es notable su persistencia, su dedicación y sus deseos de mejorar día tras día su escritura. Su actitud es un buen ejemplo de superación para aquellas personas que intentan algo y que renuncian tras su primer fracaso. Todo es cuestión de intentar, de creer en nuestras capacidades y ser conscientes de que necesitamos recorrer un largo camino para mejorar realmente nuestros resultados. Felicidades Yoel por tu trabajo, esta vez lo has hecho muy bien.
Dreidel to the Grave nos cuenta la historia de David Gal, un judío, quien siente odio hacia los nazis porque ellos destruyeron su familia; por ello, Gal buscará cazar a sus enemigos infiltrándose en los lugares más peligrosos. La historia se sitúa a finales de la segunda guerra mundial, en una época donde los perdedores de la guerra han huido y son cazados por todo el mundo. Lo más interesante y que genera curiosidad, es la posibilidad que presenta el autor de que Hitler haya escapado hacia Argentina, por lo que Gal también investigará para intentar encontrar el supuesto paradero del Führer. Personalmente, esta hipótesis fue algo que me sedujo todo el tiempo porque hace unos años trasnochaba leyendo e investigando este tipo de teorías conspirativas, por lo tanto, fue como recordar mis andanzas del pasado. Más allá de esa teoría, nos encontramos ante una historia que acompañada de acción, disparos, persecuciones, bombas, tanques, lanzagranadas, peleas, etc., logra captar nuestra atención en todo momento. De no ser por mi lentitud para leer en inglés, este libro lo habría terminado el mismo día que lo inicié porque realmente tiene un ritmo vertiginoso.
Sobre los personajes también finalicé complacido porque tanto Gal, como Enzo —su acompañante — fueron dotados de una personalidad e historia muy bien desarrollada. A pesar de que tienen un comportamiento e historia tan diferente, se complementan muy, pero muy bien. Además, sus conversaciones en algunas escenas fueron muy graciosas, así como sus comentarios que presentaron cierto tipo de sátira, tal y como me gustan. También me encantó como el autor jugó con los capítulos cortos, el momento en que presentó los flashbacks con la dosis de información suficiente, la importancia del Dreidel —para ser sincero ni siquiera conocía lo que significaba esa palabra, pero ahora sé que es un tipo de peonza o perinola—, el final también me dejo muy satisfecho, e incluso la portada está genial con sus tonos de color muy bien combinados. Francamente calificaría este libro con cinco estrellas. Pero, por ciertos detalles, me veo en la obligación de puntuarlo con solo cuatro. Detalles que son pequeños pero incorrectos, porque no pertenecen al contexto presentado de esta obra y por lo tanto son ilógicos. Seguramente, la experiencia ayudará al autor a evitar cometer este tipo de errores en el futuro.
Yoel, los sudamericanos no nos disculpamos en exceso como Enzo, ni en la actualidad, ni en el pasado, ni nunca. Por momentos, Enzo no pareció un argentino sino un chico tímido como los que son protagonistas en el anime; los nazis jamás fueron amigables, ni confiaron en los desconocidos, es más, ni siquiera confiaban en ellos mismos; no es correcto usar una criatura mitológica en una historia netamente de ficción; es ilógico que un ser que ha estado en una guerra y que ha matado tantas personas, sienta tanto terror ante la posibilidad de morir. Los sobrevivientes de la segunda guerra mundial finalizaron tan trastornados por lo ocurrido, que vivieron el resto de sus vidas como si su alma hubiera sido arrancada de sus cuerpos; y, finalmente, siento que faltó un poco de creatividad para no llegar a repetir escenas similares como ocurrió en algunas partes. Son pequeños errores, pero, de la misma forma como destaco lo positivo también es importante informar sobre los aspectos negativos de una obra.
En resumen, una obra que a pesar de no ser perfecta me deja una muy buena impresión. Yoel, gracias por tener en cuenta mi opinión, espero sigas escribiendo muchas más historias. Si sigues mejorando lo único que te espera es éxito en tus futuros proyectos. Libro recomendado.
----------------------
Persistence and constant work always pay off.
There are stories of all kinds: those that make us cry, those that inspire us, those that terrify us, those that disappoint us, and in the case of Dreidel to the Grave, this has been a story that has entertained me all the time and that made me feel like I was playing a video game or enjoying an action movie. Honestly, I am pleasantly surprised; surprised because I did not expect the quality of this book. In A Bolshevik Christmas, the author's first book, I was dissatisfied on different aspects, and since not so much time has elapsed between the publication of his two novels, so I began this reading without expectations and with certainty that I would find flaws similar to those observed on that occasion. If that had happened it would be something completely normal but fortunately, the destination is not written. Here, with this novel, the author has managed to hit a home-run presenting an impressive evolution as a writer. His persistence, his dedication, and his desire to improve his writing day after day are remarkable. His attitude is a good example of improvement for those people who try something and who quit after their first failure. It's all a matter of trying, of believing in our abilities, and being aware that we need to go a long way to really improve our results. Congratulations Yoel for your work, this time you have done very well.
Dreidel to the Grave tells the story of David Gal, a Jew, who feels hatred towards the Nazis because they destroyed his family; for this reason, Gal will seek to hunt down his enemies by infiltrating the most dangerous places. The story takes place at the end of the Second World War, at a time when the losers of the war have fled and are hunted all over the world. The most interesting and curious thing is the possibility that the author presents that Hitler has escaped to Argentina, so Gal will also investigate to find the alleged whereabouts of the Führer. Personally, this hypothesis was something that seduced me all the time because a few years ago I spent the night reading and researching this type of conspiracy theories, therefore, it was like remembering my adventures in the past. Beyond that theory, we are faced with a story that accompanied by action, shots, chases, bombs, tanks, grenade launchers, fights, etc., manages to capture our attention at all times. If it weren't for my slowness to read in English, this book would have been completed the same day I started it because it really has a breakneck pace.
Regarding the characters, I also ended up pleased because both Gal and Enzo —his companion— were endowed with a very well-developed personality and story. Although they have such a different behavior and history, they complement each other very, very well. Also, their conversations in some scenes were very funny, as well as their comments that indicated a certain kind of satire, just the way I like them. I also loved how the author played with the short chapters, the moment he presented the flashbacks with enough information, the importance of the Dreidel —to be honest, I didn't even know what that word meant, but now I know it's a spinning top—; the end also left me very satisfied, and even the cover is great with its color tones very well combined. I would frankly rate this book five stars. But, for certain details, I am obliged to rate it with only four. Details that are small but incorrect, because they do not belong to the presented context of this work and are therefore illogical. The experience will surely help the author to avoid making such mistakes in the future.
Yoel, we South Americans do not apologize excessively like Enzo, not today, not in the past, not ever. At times, Enzo did not seem like an Argentine but a shy boy like those who are protagonists in anime; the Nazis were never friendly, nor did they trust strangers, what's more, they didn't even trust themselves; it is not correct to use a mythological creature in a purely fictional story; it is illogical that a being who has been in a war and who has killed so many people should feel so much terror at the possibility of dying. The survivors of World War II ended up so upset by what happened that they lived the rest of their lives as if their souls had been ripped from their bodies; and, finally, I feel that a bit of creativity was lacking to avoid repeating similar scenes as happened in some parts. They are small errors, but in the same way, as I highlight the positive it is also important to report on the negative aspects of a book.
In short, a work that despite not being perfect leaves a very good impression on me. Yoel, thank you for taking my opinion into account, I hope you continue writing many more stories. If you keep improving, the only thing you hope for is success in your future projects. Recommended book.
January 23, 2021
This entertaining short novel is an action-packed story about a superhero called, David Gal the Mossad agent.
Storytelling is of a very good quality, all characters are lively, especially Gal and his Argentinian little mate, Enzo, and interactions between them are very likeable in this fast-paces fantasy story of assassinations and bloodshed, although personally in some cases its a bit far-fetched, like Hitler already being dead but Adolf Eichmann very much alive in Argentina, where he was kidnapped by the Mossad in 1960, convicted in Israel in 1961 and hanged there in 1962, but with fantasy anything may be possible so anyone who doesn't mind fiddling with the true facts, then this is a great read for all of you.
The book starts explosively with the murder of Adolf Eichmann in Rome at the hands of the Mossad agent, David Gal, assisted by his colleague, Saul, before returning to Israel.
Gal's next target will be Adolf Hitler, who's hiding somewhere in fascist Argentina, and Gal and Saul are sent there by the Israeli Government, Golda-Meir and Ben-Gurion, and their Boss of the Mossad.
In Argentina Gal will meet in Buenos Aires his mate in combat, a little Argentinian called, Enzo, and they will develop an amazing partnership in this story of murder and survival, before they will reach their final destination, and Gal's victim, Adolf Hitler.
In an exciting, thrilling and sad way this read will come to an immense exploding end, and its also an end in which the dreidel, not a round spinning top but a four-sided one with names on it, has played a very important part to Gal to fulfill his ultimate vengeance.
Really recommended, for this is a very enjoyable story, mixed with a superhero of the James Bond kind, and these ingredients make for an absolute worthwhile read, and that's why I like to call this short novel: "A Likeable Fast-Paced Fantasy Novel"!
** Thank you to the author for my digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased and honest review!**
Storytelling is of a very good quality, all characters are lively, especially Gal and his Argentinian little mate, Enzo, and interactions between them are very likeable in this fast-paces fantasy story of assassinations and bloodshed, although personally in some cases its a bit far-fetched, like Hitler already being dead but Adolf Eichmann very much alive in Argentina, where he was kidnapped by the Mossad in 1960, convicted in Israel in 1961 and hanged there in 1962, but with fantasy anything may be possible so anyone who doesn't mind fiddling with the true facts, then this is a great read for all of you.
The book starts explosively with the murder of Adolf Eichmann in Rome at the hands of the Mossad agent, David Gal, assisted by his colleague, Saul, before returning to Israel.
Gal's next target will be Adolf Hitler, who's hiding somewhere in fascist Argentina, and Gal and Saul are sent there by the Israeli Government, Golda-Meir and Ben-Gurion, and their Boss of the Mossad.
In Argentina Gal will meet in Buenos Aires his mate in combat, a little Argentinian called, Enzo, and they will develop an amazing partnership in this story of murder and survival, before they will reach their final destination, and Gal's victim, Adolf Hitler.
In an exciting, thrilling and sad way this read will come to an immense exploding end, and its also an end in which the dreidel, not a round spinning top but a four-sided one with names on it, has played a very important part to Gal to fulfill his ultimate vengeance.
Really recommended, for this is a very enjoyable story, mixed with a superhero of the James Bond kind, and these ingredients make for an absolute worthwhile read, and that's why I like to call this short novel: "A Likeable Fast-Paced Fantasy Novel"!
** Thank you to the author for my digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased and honest review!**
May 6, 2021
4.75
This book was a totally surprised
It's not my genre, so I didn't have high expectations but...
Characters:
They're really good I was genuinely so interested with them, I was so invested and I really found myself wanting more about them
Plot:
The action, fights etc. Are really good, and I think those parts were my favorites, I don't feel it like it was too long or short just the perfect time
Overall I would give these book five stars but something happened at the finale with a character (and my rule is if that happens I can't give a book five stars) but for me, or the plot, characters, etc just amazing
I'd recommend this book if you want a quick read, entertaining, and you can't just put it down, it literally transports you and it doesn't matter if it's your type of genre or not
It's really good
This book was a totally surprised
It's not my genre, so I didn't have high expectations but...
Characters:
They're really good I was genuinely so interested with them, I was so invested and I really found myself wanting more about them
Plot:
The action, fights etc. Are really good, and I think those parts were my favorites, I don't feel it like it was too long or short just the perfect time
Overall I would give these book five stars but something happened at the finale with a character (and my rule is if that happens I can't give a book five stars) but for me, or the plot, characters, etc just amazing
I'd recommend this book if you want a quick read, entertaining, and you can't just put it down, it literally transports you and it doesn't matter if it's your type of genre or not
It's really good
April 28, 2021
Three and a half stars except for an excess of smirks
This is not historical fiction. It is alternate history/fantasy which apparently takes place in the mid 1950's. Unfortunately nowhere in the description nor in the beginning of the book is that.made clear. It is clear that the book is based on over-the-top action and violence with exaggerated comic book style heroes and villains. Mossad agent Gal personally destroyed an entire SS Division during the war. Later, he assassinated nearly every major Nazi figure - Mengle, Himmler, Goering, Goebbels - almost everybody except Hitler. In the beginning of this book, he kills Eichmann and hangs his mounted head on his wall as decoration. Now he is after Hitler who is apparently living in Argentina.
Comparing this book to a comic book is not necessarily a negative criticism. Adventure/action comics are popular big business complete with movie franchises. I do not happen to like them or most movies based on them but plenty of people do. If you are one of those people, you may very well like this book.
I did not like Agent Gal or the other characters but for the most part, it is a pretty well written, if almost breathless and non-stop, action tale. My major criticism of the writing is of the gross overuse and sometimes misuse of smirk, smirking and smirked. Approximately 11 smirks in the first 33 pages.
This is not my kind of book but it is pretty well written except for the smirks. I think three and a half stars.
This is not historical fiction. It is alternate history/fantasy which apparently takes place in the mid 1950's. Unfortunately nowhere in the description nor in the beginning of the book is that.made clear. It is clear that the book is based on over-the-top action and violence with exaggerated comic book style heroes and villains. Mossad agent Gal personally destroyed an entire SS Division during the war. Later, he assassinated nearly every major Nazi figure - Mengle, Himmler, Goering, Goebbels - almost everybody except Hitler. In the beginning of this book, he kills Eichmann and hangs his mounted head on his wall as decoration. Now he is after Hitler who is apparently living in Argentina.
Comparing this book to a comic book is not necessarily a negative criticism. Adventure/action comics are popular big business complete with movie franchises. I do not happen to like them or most movies based on them but plenty of people do. If you are one of those people, you may very well like this book.
I did not like Agent Gal or the other characters but for the most part, it is a pretty well written, if almost breathless and non-stop, action tale. My major criticism of the writing is of the gross overuse and sometimes misuse of smirk, smirking and smirked. Approximately 11 smirks in the first 33 pages.
This is not my kind of book but it is pretty well written except for the smirks. I think three and a half stars.
February 1, 2021
This book was action from beginning to end. Action is usually not my thing, but it had enough humanity in it to appeal to me. Enzo has to be my favorite character. He blended in with the protagonist, Gal seamlessly. The scene at the hotel was my favorite part. The characters were colorful and it felt like a break from the action. The book needed a couple of more parts like this scene, a moment to smell the roses. I would also have appreciated a little more description. Gal was in some beautiful places that I would have liked to enjoy more. This would make a movie so easily. I really enjoyed it and would read another.
February 22, 2021
The Dreidel he carries in his pocket is Gal's reminder of the past, the same clay toy formed by the hands of his family for other children. He was named David then, working alongside his parents and his sister earning less than enough for a family to live by. Memories of the cruel war and the merciless Reich remain and continually linger. Can the lives of those who ruled and tortured be enough to ease memories? Or is it not about forgetting at all, but remembering and therefore making these others recall?
Himmler, Heydrich, Eichmann. Cross their names from the dreidel. But there is one left, or it has been rumored. Israeli spy Gal believes he lives. He will cross a world in search of this one who matters most, for his country, for his family, for himself.
Gal is brash and head-strong, while often using the “act before I think about it” tactic. It's who he is. No-nonsense can be a very likable trait, when a little humor is applied. In the wake of the bodies that fall, I found some laughs. There is meaning, but the story doesn't take itself too seriously. After all, it is writing its own history, of a sort.
Not a long book, but a shortened chase may have delivered a more powerful impact. 3.5 stars with a gun, a grenade, or bare-knuckles...whatever's handy. And of course, one dreidel in his pocket.
Yoel, the author of this novel asked me to read his story, and I very much appreciate that.
Himmler, Heydrich, Eichmann. Cross their names from the dreidel. But there is one left, or it has been rumored. Israeli spy Gal believes he lives. He will cross a world in search of this one who matters most, for his country, for his family, for himself.
Gal is brash and head-strong, while often using the “act before I think about it” tactic. It's who he is. No-nonsense can be a very likable trait, when a little humor is applied. In the wake of the bodies that fall, I found some laughs. There is meaning, but the story doesn't take itself too seriously. After all, it is writing its own history, of a sort.
Not a long book, but a shortened chase may have delivered a more powerful impact. 3.5 stars with a gun, a grenade, or bare-knuckles...whatever's handy. And of course, one dreidel in his pocket.
Yoel, the author of this novel asked me to read his story, and I very much appreciate that.
April 12, 2021
Dreidel To The Grave
by Yoel Bereket is an alternative history novel that is set nine years after the end of World War II in Vatican City, Israel, and Argentina, with most of the story taking place in Argentina. Israeli agent, David Gal, has devoted his life to tracking down those German officers and leaders who have escaped justice for the atrocities they committed. He was been successful, but the biggest one that has eluded him is the one that didn’t die in the bunker.
There are some heart-breaking flashback scenes to Gal’s childhood that helps the reader understand why he is so driven, but he shows no character development or growth. Additionally, he doesn’t seem to care about causing international incidents or injuries or deaths to innocent bystanders. While I felt Gal’s pain and fury for the atrocities committed by these criminals, he wasn’t very relatable. However, he was definitely impactful and will not be soon forgotten.
The novel is action-packed and kept this reader turning the pages. However, overall, the book is more about revenge and action than character development. The author did a great job of writing the violent action scenes and the world-building was good, but there were no real surprises along the way.
Thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of this novel and the opportunity to read and provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
There are some heart-breaking flashback scenes to Gal’s childhood that helps the reader understand why he is so driven, but he shows no character development or growth. Additionally, he doesn’t seem to care about causing international incidents or injuries or deaths to innocent bystanders. While I felt Gal’s pain and fury for the atrocities committed by these criminals, he wasn’t very relatable. However, he was definitely impactful and will not be soon forgotten.
The novel is action-packed and kept this reader turning the pages. However, overall, the book is more about revenge and action than character development. The author did a great job of writing the violent action scenes and the world-building was good, but there were no real surprises along the way.
Thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of this novel and the opportunity to read and provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
April 24, 2021
TW// suicidal ideation
CW// sex, violence
Thank you so much to Yoel Bereket for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve been wanting to get into historical fiction more this year so I was super excited to have the opportunity to review this book. Dreidel to the Grave is like a Tom Cruise action movie mixed with one of my favorite historical conspiracy theories of all time. It was so much fun to read. The conspiracy theory is a disturbing one but it’s really interesting to read about it. Some people believe that Hitler survived and fled to Argentina. This book takes that theory and turns it into an alternate history story. Sort of disturbing to imagine Hitler surviving, but sort of also really satisfying to read a book where a man hunts down Hitler and kills nazis. Is that bad of me to say? Oh well.
For being a really well written action book, I was surprised by how much this book made me laugh. Enzo, the comedic relief character, is an absolute gem that made me so happy. Enzo made the book have just enough touch of comedy to lighten the violent and gritty parts of this book.
The reason why I can’t rate this book any higher is because there’s two portrayals of groups of people that are somewhat problematic. First off, any plus sized character is described in a negative manner and made the butt of a lot of jokes. The second and most important reason… the females in this book. There are no strong female characters, which I could’ve forgiven given the historical context of the book and how women weren’t really viewed as equals during that time, but the way that women were described? Absolutely disgusting. Women were described only as sex objects and wives. There wasn’t really much more than that to them. Women were described as whores and as having watermelon tits. Men were constantly talking about having sex with women and soiling women’s bed sheets. Like come on, it’s not hard to just not sexualize women nonstop. I wish I could’ve given the book a higher rating but I can’t when women are portrayed in this manner. A simple couple fixes to being a more body positive book and to let women be actual human beings would’ve easily upped my rating and enjoyment for this book.
CW// sex, violence
Thank you so much to Yoel Bereket for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve been wanting to get into historical fiction more this year so I was super excited to have the opportunity to review this book. Dreidel to the Grave is like a Tom Cruise action movie mixed with one of my favorite historical conspiracy theories of all time. It was so much fun to read. The conspiracy theory is a disturbing one but it’s really interesting to read about it. Some people believe that Hitler survived and fled to Argentina. This book takes that theory and turns it into an alternate history story. Sort of disturbing to imagine Hitler surviving, but sort of also really satisfying to read a book where a man hunts down Hitler and kills nazis. Is that bad of me to say? Oh well.
For being a really well written action book, I was surprised by how much this book made me laugh. Enzo, the comedic relief character, is an absolute gem that made me so happy. Enzo made the book have just enough touch of comedy to lighten the violent and gritty parts of this book.
The reason why I can’t rate this book any higher is because there’s two portrayals of groups of people that are somewhat problematic. First off, any plus sized character is described in a negative manner and made the butt of a lot of jokes. The second and most important reason… the females in this book. There are no strong female characters, which I could’ve forgiven given the historical context of the book and how women weren’t really viewed as equals during that time, but the way that women were described? Absolutely disgusting. Women were described only as sex objects and wives. There wasn’t really much more than that to them. Women were described as whores and as having watermelon tits. Men were constantly talking about having sex with women and soiling women’s bed sheets. Like come on, it’s not hard to just not sexualize women nonstop. I wish I could’ve given the book a higher rating but I can’t when women are portrayed in this manner. A simple couple fixes to being a more body positive book and to let women be actual human beings would’ve easily upped my rating and enjoyment for this book.
February 11, 2021
I loved this book! It’s truly is an exciting, fast-paced historical fiction story.
At first I was skeptical. I have read many historical fiction books about WWII and some have been wonderful while, others, not so much. My great grandparents were Holocaust survivors. The book sucked me in along with my skepticism .
I’m finicky about book pacing, depending on the type of book. This book is perfectly timed; the author did not waste words in going off on tangents, which is why the book smoothly sped ahead. When I was at the 70% mark I slowed myself down in order to savor the pages that were left.
Gal is a Nazi hunter, and is determined to take down the leaders of the fallen 3rd reich that got away with brutal crimes, at any cost. The book does have violence due to the topic. But many of my books have violence in them.
Gal, is unlikeable in many ways. He’s rude, arrogant and gets highly irritated with anything in his way, which is why is has to work with other agents who try to reel him in (unsuccessfully). Gal’s anger is palpable and very personal, it is part of who he is. However, he does have a redeeming quality or two.
I loved the character of Enzo. A naive, yet lovable boy, who lives his life wholeheartedly. In spite of his questionable ties, he is still innocent, not to mention loyal.
Then there is Pishtaco. A mythical creature in Andes region in South America, which was an interesting twist.
Bottom line: I’m a big fan of justice thrillers and I’m a big fan of this book. This is a great read and Yoel Bereket has done a wonderful job in luring us into the world and emotions of that time. If there ends up being a sequel, I would definitely read it.
I would like to thank, Mr. Bereket for giving me a free copy of his book for an honest, unbiased review.
At first I was skeptical. I have read many historical fiction books about WWII and some have been wonderful while, others, not so much. My great grandparents were Holocaust survivors. The book sucked me in along with my skepticism .
I’m finicky about book pacing, depending on the type of book. This book is perfectly timed; the author did not waste words in going off on tangents, which is why the book smoothly sped ahead. When I was at the 70% mark I slowed myself down in order to savor the pages that were left.
Gal is a Nazi hunter, and is determined to take down the leaders of the fallen 3rd reich that got away with brutal crimes, at any cost. The book does have violence due to the topic. But many of my books have violence in them.
Gal, is unlikeable in many ways. He’s rude, arrogant and gets highly irritated with anything in his way, which is why is has to work with other agents who try to reel him in (unsuccessfully). Gal’s anger is palpable and very personal, it is part of who he is. However, he does have a redeeming quality or two.
I loved the character of Enzo. A naive, yet lovable boy, who lives his life wholeheartedly. In spite of his questionable ties, he is still innocent, not to mention loyal.
Then there is Pishtaco. A mythical creature in Andes region in South America, which was an interesting twist.
Bottom line: I’m a big fan of justice thrillers and I’m a big fan of this book. This is a great read and Yoel Bereket has done a wonderful job in luring us into the world and emotions of that time. If there ends up being a sequel, I would definitely read it.
I would like to thank, Mr. Bereket for giving me a free copy of his book for an honest, unbiased review.
May 14, 2021
I was provided with a copy of this story by the author so I could give an unbiased review.
What can I say about this tale? Well, when I was a kid I would have enjoyed our hero going around killing bad guys by the score. And these bad guys deserved it. When our hero was a child in Germany, he saw the Nazis harassing and killing the Jews once they came to power. He escaped to Switzerland after his father was killed and their shop burned down. As he grew he made it his life goal to track down and kill those Nazis bastards that escaped the hangman's noose. With a little help from he Israeli government, our hero went on a killing spree in Argentina. If you want action, here it is.
Unfortunately, after having read so many books and talked to so many people over the years, I have learned quite a bit about the Nazis, WWII, and the tracking down of Nazis hiding in Argentina and elsewhere. So knowing the facts took a little fun out of this for me. For instance, our hero kills off Adolf Eichmann in a bloody shootout in the beginning of the book. Didn't the author know that Mossad agents captured him in Argentina and carried him off to Jerusalem where they tried him and executed him? It is stuff like that that bothers me, but I read the rest of the story anyway.
Still, it had its moments of mayhem and even humor, like when a Nazi was accusing our hero of being a spy while in the bathroom. It came down to 'I'll show you mine if you show me yours' being as the Nazi wanted to see if he was circumcised. The ensuing fight scene would have been Ben Stiller crazy in a movie.
What can I say about this tale? Well, when I was a kid I would have enjoyed our hero going around killing bad guys by the score. And these bad guys deserved it. When our hero was a child in Germany, he saw the Nazis harassing and killing the Jews once they came to power. He escaped to Switzerland after his father was killed and their shop burned down. As he grew he made it his life goal to track down and kill those Nazis bastards that escaped the hangman's noose. With a little help from he Israeli government, our hero went on a killing spree in Argentina. If you want action, here it is.
Unfortunately, after having read so many books and talked to so many people over the years, I have learned quite a bit about the Nazis, WWII, and the tracking down of Nazis hiding in Argentina and elsewhere. So knowing the facts took a little fun out of this for me. For instance, our hero kills off Adolf Eichmann in a bloody shootout in the beginning of the book. Didn't the author know that Mossad agents captured him in Argentina and carried him off to Jerusalem where they tried him and executed him? It is stuff like that that bothers me, but I read the rest of the story anyway.
Still, it had its moments of mayhem and even humor, like when a Nazi was accusing our hero of being a spy while in the bathroom. It came down to 'I'll show you mine if you show me yours' being as the Nazi wanted to see if he was circumcised. The ensuing fight scene would have been Ben Stiller crazy in a movie.
February 24, 2021
Wow! The fictitious plot was full of good characterisation and twists, turns and excitement. Excellent fast moving fiction with a historical basis. Honestly It was the fastest page turner I have ever read, in fact I made myself go back and reread some of it as I was reading it too quickly. I enjoyed the novel very much. This is the first time I have read a book written by this author. Such a brilliant writer with incredible creative range. Definitely worth ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars!!
February 8, 2021
First and foremost, a large thank you to Yoel Bereket for providing me with a copy of this novel, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Having enjoyed Yoel Bereket’s debut novel, I happily accepted a request by the author to read an early copy of this book as well. Bereket mixes history with politics in a quasi-thriller that pits a man with a troubled past against the behemoth known as Nazism, with a figure at its core that is the embodiment of hate. This journey takes the reader across two continents and explores post-war sentiments about fascism while seeking to close the book on one of the darkest moments in 20th century history. Entertaining and gritty, Bereket’s book will likely appeal to those who like dabbling with a little alternate history while garnering thrills and spills along the way.
David Gal has a unique talent for being able to infiltrate groups to which he would not usually have access. Gal’s sole focus is to extract information and kill those involved, particularly if they still hold firm to their national socialist views. It is nine years since the fall of the Third Reich and many of those men who espoused the eternal nature of Germany’s new way of life are on the run, but still collaborating as best they can. Gal’s goal is to eradicate them as best he can, no matter the amount of bloodshed.
When called to meet with Israel’s prime minister and a handful of others, Gal is tasked with taking down the greatest threat of all; Adolf Hitler. It would seem his suicide in a Berlin bunker was a misdirection and the Führer is still alive, hidden away in Argentina. Armed with his determination, Gal finds his way there and is given a local errand boy to help traverse the vast terrain.
As they hunt, Gal and his companion learn a little more about one another and the intensity of the battle ahead. Hitler’s whereabouts is not widely known, nor is it advertised on roadsigns. Gal will have to use his intuition and some violent outbursts to follow the trail into the rural environs, determined to put a bullet into the head of the man who espoused such hatred. However, there is more than nationalistic pride on the line, as Gal reveals throughout. This is personal and nothing short of complete annihilation will be accepted.
Yoel Bereket does well pulling all the needed elements together in this piece. Part alternate history, part adventure story, the novel keeps the reader connected throughout the narrative. The entertainment value of the story provides something for the reader to enjoy without getting farcical out outlandish. There are certainly some strong sentiments throughout, which become more prevalent as the story advances to its climactic revelations.
David Gal is a strong protagonist and the reader discovers much about the man throughout the narrative. His sole focus is the extermination of the Nazis left over and in hiding, though he is calculating in his approach. Bloodletting is no concern to him, though he seeks to be discreet, so as not to alert too many to his plan. With a more personal undertone woven into the story, the reader gets a glimpse of a delicate backstory that helps propel the larger plot forward.
Bereket also peppers his piece with some strong secondary characters, each of whom plays an essential role in the larger story. Revealing much about the history of the time and the sentiments around Nazi hunting, Bereket develops these characters to push the story along and reveals certain sentiments that are important to better understanding the themes of the novel.
The story itself is a mix of serious and lighthearted, with a definite darkness as it relates to world history. Bereket does well to balance both, while telling a thrilling story that keeps its momentum throughout. With a mix of chapter lengths, the reader is pushed forward, hoping to be a part of this hunt for a ruthless dictator, while also seeing some of the side trips that the protagonist is forced to take. The narrative flows well and there are certainly some moments of gritty dialogue, which only adds to the realism of the overall piece. While this is not high-brow literature, Yoel Bereket can surely entertain throughout, which is surely his primary goal with this piece. I am eager to see what else he has in store for readers in the coming years!
Kudos, Mr. Bereket, for an entertaining piece. I have enjoyed both your novels and hope others soon find out why for themselves!
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A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Having enjoyed Yoel Bereket’s debut novel, I happily accepted a request by the author to read an early copy of this book as well. Bereket mixes history with politics in a quasi-thriller that pits a man with a troubled past against the behemoth known as Nazism, with a figure at its core that is the embodiment of hate. This journey takes the reader across two continents and explores post-war sentiments about fascism while seeking to close the book on one of the darkest moments in 20th century history. Entertaining and gritty, Bereket’s book will likely appeal to those who like dabbling with a little alternate history while garnering thrills and spills along the way.
David Gal has a unique talent for being able to infiltrate groups to which he would not usually have access. Gal’s sole focus is to extract information and kill those involved, particularly if they still hold firm to their national socialist views. It is nine years since the fall of the Third Reich and many of those men who espoused the eternal nature of Germany’s new way of life are on the run, but still collaborating as best they can. Gal’s goal is to eradicate them as best he can, no matter the amount of bloodshed.
When called to meet with Israel’s prime minister and a handful of others, Gal is tasked with taking down the greatest threat of all; Adolf Hitler. It would seem his suicide in a Berlin bunker was a misdirection and the Führer is still alive, hidden away in Argentina. Armed with his determination, Gal finds his way there and is given a local errand boy to help traverse the vast terrain.
As they hunt, Gal and his companion learn a little more about one another and the intensity of the battle ahead. Hitler’s whereabouts is not widely known, nor is it advertised on roadsigns. Gal will have to use his intuition and some violent outbursts to follow the trail into the rural environs, determined to put a bullet into the head of the man who espoused such hatred. However, there is more than nationalistic pride on the line, as Gal reveals throughout. This is personal and nothing short of complete annihilation will be accepted.
Yoel Bereket does well pulling all the needed elements together in this piece. Part alternate history, part adventure story, the novel keeps the reader connected throughout the narrative. The entertainment value of the story provides something for the reader to enjoy without getting farcical out outlandish. There are certainly some strong sentiments throughout, which become more prevalent as the story advances to its climactic revelations.
David Gal is a strong protagonist and the reader discovers much about the man throughout the narrative. His sole focus is the extermination of the Nazis left over and in hiding, though he is calculating in his approach. Bloodletting is no concern to him, though he seeks to be discreet, so as not to alert too many to his plan. With a more personal undertone woven into the story, the reader gets a glimpse of a delicate backstory that helps propel the larger plot forward.
Bereket also peppers his piece with some strong secondary characters, each of whom plays an essential role in the larger story. Revealing much about the history of the time and the sentiments around Nazi hunting, Bereket develops these characters to push the story along and reveals certain sentiments that are important to better understanding the themes of the novel.
The story itself is a mix of serious and lighthearted, with a definite darkness as it relates to world history. Bereket does well to balance both, while telling a thrilling story that keeps its momentum throughout. With a mix of chapter lengths, the reader is pushed forward, hoping to be a part of this hunt for a ruthless dictator, while also seeing some of the side trips that the protagonist is forced to take. The narrative flows well and there are certainly some moments of gritty dialogue, which only adds to the realism of the overall piece. While this is not high-brow literature, Yoel Bereket can surely entertain throughout, which is surely his primary goal with this piece. I am eager to see what else he has in store for readers in the coming years!
Kudos, Mr. Bereket, for an entertaining piece. I have enjoyed both your novels and hope others soon find out why for themselves!
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http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
January 1, 2021
Fast and Furious
What a swell book. I really enjoyed this book and I think anyone who reads it will as well.
The plot starts out fast and continues at that pace till the very surprising end. One must remember that this is historical fiction and not nonfiction because the author plays a little loosely with the facts of the Nazis. However, he does a wonderful job of weaving a fantastic story.
Characters are very relatable. I would’ve liked to of seen as a female character who would’ve taken on a strong role rather than just the one supportive character or the many who are in the background.
I really love World War II stories having lived in Germany for almost 10 years and this is a very strong one. The author did a fantastic job
I highly recommend this book.
I was given a free copy of this book by the offer for a an honest evaluation
What a swell book. I really enjoyed this book and I think anyone who reads it will as well.
The plot starts out fast and continues at that pace till the very surprising end. One must remember that this is historical fiction and not nonfiction because the author plays a little loosely with the facts of the Nazis. However, he does a wonderful job of weaving a fantastic story.
Characters are very relatable. I would’ve liked to of seen as a female character who would’ve taken on a strong role rather than just the one supportive character or the many who are in the background.
I really love World War II stories having lived in Germany for almost 10 years and this is a very strong one. The author did a fantastic job
I highly recommend this book.
I was given a free copy of this book by the offer for a an honest evaluation
February 16, 2021
Fast paced, intriguing story. If only had it a little less violence, it would have been a perfect pastime for me.
February 15, 2021
*3.5 stars rounded up. I received a copy of this book from the author for my honest review. Thank you for the opportunity.
Imagine that Hitler had never died..and then imagine a young Israeli agent named David Gal who is hellbent on finding him and being the one to kill him. He has already killed several of the most hated Nazi officers and now has this one last assassination to do before his mission is done.
Sounds a bit like a scene from a teenager's daydream, doesn't it? The hero kills all the bad guys with his trusty Red Rider bb gun? Or maybe a scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark? Actually this story would probably make a great action movie in the right hands. It's actually pretty exciting with lots of non-stop action and violence.
But I think what I liked best about the story were Agent Gal's flashbacks to what happened to his family and others in Nazi Germany, what stoked his hatred. Those parts had heart. The writer might want to entertain writing historical fiction.
The relationship between the agent and Enzo, the young Argentinian assigned to be his driver, is also interesting and at times even comical. Again, these are the parts with heart.
Good luck with your writing and self-publishing, Yoel. I have a feeling you are planning a sequel and I'd be happy to read that one too.
Imagine that Hitler had never died..and then imagine a young Israeli agent named David Gal who is hellbent on finding him and being the one to kill him. He has already killed several of the most hated Nazi officers and now has this one last assassination to do before his mission is done.
Sounds a bit like a scene from a teenager's daydream, doesn't it? The hero kills all the bad guys with his trusty Red Rider bb gun? Or maybe a scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark? Actually this story would probably make a great action movie in the right hands. It's actually pretty exciting with lots of non-stop action and violence.
But I think what I liked best about the story were Agent Gal's flashbacks to what happened to his family and others in Nazi Germany, what stoked his hatred. Those parts had heart. The writer might want to entertain writing historical fiction.
The relationship between the agent and Enzo, the young Argentinian assigned to be his driver, is also interesting and at times even comical. Again, these are the parts with heart.
Good luck with your writing and self-publishing, Yoel. I have a feeling you are planning a sequel and I'd be happy to read that one too.
March 26, 2021
Well that was a great premise with some incredibly well written action scenes.
Unfortunately, there were a few elements that did not work for me. I love a good gun-toting, revenge-obsessed, tortured soul as much as the next person, however, Gal wasn't a character I felt I could get behind. He was pretty flat and even the handful of flashbacks didn't establish a connection for me. The concept was engaging but the tone wasn't right given the content. There were a few scenes that I found hilarious despite the fact the they were meant to be quite intense and serious. The strongest aspect of the novel for me was the writing of the action sequences. They were certainly movie worthy.
Thank you to Yoel Bereket for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, there were a few elements that did not work for me. I love a good gun-toting, revenge-obsessed, tortured soul as much as the next person, however, Gal wasn't a character I felt I could get behind. He was pretty flat and even the handful of flashbacks didn't establish a connection for me. The concept was engaging but the tone wasn't right given the content. There were a few scenes that I found hilarious despite the fact the they were meant to be quite intense and serious. The strongest aspect of the novel for me was the writing of the action sequences. They were certainly movie worthy.
Thank you to Yoel Bereket for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 7, 2021
Rating: Very Good
Genre: Thriller + Action + Alternate History
It is nine years since the war and the fall of the Third Reich. Mossad agent, David Gal is assigned to take care of the Nazi group and their head Adolf Hitler! Keep in mind that this is not historical fiction but an alternate history where Adolf Hitler is alive and to be taken down by the badass Israeli agent who can resemble superheroes in his action and attitude.
The idea of the story is that the Nazis are plotting to make their fourth Reich in Argentina and Hitler is there to be the head of that Reich and that the reports of him committing suicide are not accurate. The Israeli agent is sent there to track and take down the Nazi groups one by one until he reaches the head.
During his mission, the reader understands the agent’s personal motives as he keeps dreaming about his childhood and what he and his family have suffered just for being jews. The story has a very fast pace which makes it an easy page-turner. The chapters are quite short as well so this makes the reading progress even faster. I liked the agent’s driver a lot, a boy called Enzo. He added warmth and humor to the story. The author successfully created such adorable chemistry between the two. They both click with the readers immediately. But be ready for some heartache later.
Yoel Bereket has a winner with Dreidel To The Grave. It has all the right elements to make it a fast-paced action thriller and at the same time an emotional one. A strong protagonist and a likable side character all enhance the story. Keep in mind that due to the nature of the subject there is violence in the story. This definitely made a fun and entertaining read for me.
Many thanks to the author Yoel Bereket for providing me a free copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily after being sent the book.
Genre: Thriller + Action + Alternate History
It is nine years since the war and the fall of the Third Reich. Mossad agent, David Gal is assigned to take care of the Nazi group and their head Adolf Hitler! Keep in mind that this is not historical fiction but an alternate history where Adolf Hitler is alive and to be taken down by the badass Israeli agent who can resemble superheroes in his action and attitude.
The idea of the story is that the Nazis are plotting to make their fourth Reich in Argentina and Hitler is there to be the head of that Reich and that the reports of him committing suicide are not accurate. The Israeli agent is sent there to track and take down the Nazi groups one by one until he reaches the head.
During his mission, the reader understands the agent’s personal motives as he keeps dreaming about his childhood and what he and his family have suffered just for being jews. The story has a very fast pace which makes it an easy page-turner. The chapters are quite short as well so this makes the reading progress even faster. I liked the agent’s driver a lot, a boy called Enzo. He added warmth and humor to the story. The author successfully created such adorable chemistry between the two. They both click with the readers immediately. But be ready for some heartache later.
Yoel Bereket has a winner with Dreidel To The Grave. It has all the right elements to make it a fast-paced action thriller and at the same time an emotional one. A strong protagonist and a likable side character all enhance the story. Keep in mind that due to the nature of the subject there is violence in the story. This definitely made a fun and entertaining read for me.
Many thanks to the author Yoel Bereket for providing me a free copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily after being sent the book.
March 20, 2021
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Actual Rating: 3/5🌟.
With a simple and predictable storyline, this action-packed book delivers just enough to keep the reader interested and hopefully expect even better stories from Yoel Bereket in the future.
What I liked:
* The concept of the book was very cool. David, a Nazi-hunter who has seen his family falling down to the mad whims of the Nazis has grown into a revengeful, violent man who is on a mission to find and kill Adolf Hitler. Bereket builds a gripping story of Hitler’s migration to Argentina after the fall of the Nazis in Europe and his attempts at redoing his past actions to make the world Jew-free.
* The action scenes were well-written.
* The background story of the novel’s MC Gal, was very heart-touching and melted my heart despite my hatred for him; he was way too violent for my taste so I never had a soft corner, but the author did justice to his character by drawing a befitting sorrowful past that sort of justified his vile actions.
What I disliked:
* There were barely any women characters in the book and the few who were there, were more like fancy objects to make the MC look more macho.
* The storyline was too simple for my liking. Right from the beginning to the end, there were zero surprises, I always knew what was coming.
* There are some minor typos in the book and there is scope for another round of proofreading and editing.
Overall, Bereket did a good job at storytelling, but has the capability to do even better. His writing is promising and I will look forward to read and review his books in the future.
Actual Rating: 3/5🌟.
With a simple and predictable storyline, this action-packed book delivers just enough to keep the reader interested and hopefully expect even better stories from Yoel Bereket in the future.
What I liked:
* The concept of the book was very cool. David, a Nazi-hunter who has seen his family falling down to the mad whims of the Nazis has grown into a revengeful, violent man who is on a mission to find and kill Adolf Hitler. Bereket builds a gripping story of Hitler’s migration to Argentina after the fall of the Nazis in Europe and his attempts at redoing his past actions to make the world Jew-free.
* The action scenes were well-written.
* The background story of the novel’s MC Gal, was very heart-touching and melted my heart despite my hatred for him; he was way too violent for my taste so I never had a soft corner, but the author did justice to his character by drawing a befitting sorrowful past that sort of justified his vile actions.
What I disliked:
* There were barely any women characters in the book and the few who were there, were more like fancy objects to make the MC look more macho.
* The storyline was too simple for my liking. Right from the beginning to the end, there were zero surprises, I always knew what was coming.
* There are some minor typos in the book and there is scope for another round of proofreading and editing.
Overall, Bereket did a good job at storytelling, but has the capability to do even better. His writing is promising and I will look forward to read and review his books in the future.
April 19, 2021
My rating 3.3
The book “Dreidel To The Grave” by Yoel Bereket is the story of a superhero in some parallel universe in which the main protagonist captures surviving members of the German Reich. Fans of constant Marvel action will surely like it, but what bothered me the most was that the positivist is superior and the villains are naive and stupid.
Throughout the story, we follow the Israeli spies Gal who captures the surviving members of the SS division and his last task is to kill Hitler. The hunt for members of the German Reich takes him all over the world, all the way to Argentina where Hitler is located.
In the book, you can expect a handful of action, towards the end even a little fantasy. If you’re a fan of action, an invincible main character like in Marvel cartoons then this is the book for you.
The book “Dreidel To The Grave” by Yoel Bereket is the story of a superhero in some parallel universe in which the main protagonist captures surviving members of the German Reich. Fans of constant Marvel action will surely like it, but what bothered me the most was that the positivist is superior and the villains are naive and stupid.
Throughout the story, we follow the Israeli spies Gal who captures the surviving members of the SS division and his last task is to kill Hitler. The hunt for members of the German Reich takes him all over the world, all the way to Argentina where Hitler is located.
In the book, you can expect a handful of action, towards the end even a little fantasy. If you’re a fan of action, an invincible main character like in Marvel cartoons then this is the book for you.
September 6, 2022
This is a 3.5 star ⭐️ read for me !!
This took me a lot longer than my normal reads because it made me feel conflicted. I read a lot of books about history and historical fiction. This story follows a former agent 9 years after the end of WWII. This was one of the darkest reported times in human history and it left a lot of scars especially for Gal.
The best sense of the word is that he is a vigilante. He goes on what some might call a killing rampage in order to get the ultimate revenge and kill Hitler. I found it harder to read this because Nazi’s were horrid because they set out to mass annihilate a race. Gal became just as blood thirsty as this novel progressed. That is why it lost a star and a half for me.
This was so action packed it had the same effect on me as a Mission Impossible film you watch them fight and destroy and you just hope your MC makes it out alive.
Read the book 📖 and you’ll find out if he does.
I received a free copy of this Ebook from the author and I am leaving an honest review.
This took me a lot longer than my normal reads because it made me feel conflicted. I read a lot of books about history and historical fiction. This story follows a former agent 9 years after the end of WWII. This was one of the darkest reported times in human history and it left a lot of scars especially for Gal.
The best sense of the word is that he is a vigilante. He goes on what some might call a killing rampage in order to get the ultimate revenge and kill Hitler. I found it harder to read this because Nazi’s were horrid because they set out to mass annihilate a race. Gal became just as blood thirsty as this novel progressed. That is why it lost a star and a half for me.
This was so action packed it had the same effect on me as a Mission Impossible film you watch them fight and destroy and you just hope your MC makes it out alive.
Read the book 📖 and you’ll find out if he does.
I received a free copy of this Ebook from the author and I am leaving an honest review.
March 26, 2021
A holocaust inspired alternative viewpoint thriller published 2020.
3 stars
First I would like to thank the author Yoel Bereket for providing me with a copy of this book.
There is no getting away for it, this is one high octane, action packed, blood fest of a thriller and if this is your thing then this is the book for you. But if, on the other hand, you’re looking for a bit of subtlety you will need to look else where.
The books scenario is of a young Jewish boy who survived the horror that was the holocaust of the 2nd WW. In this version of history Adolf Hitler survived the wars end and escaped to Argentina where he is planning the rise of the next Reich.
Nine years later the young survivor is a man and now an agent of the new Israeli state.
His commission is to seek out and assassinate any surviving Nazi’s, chief amongst them being Hitler himself.
Most of the action takes place in Argentina where David Gal, the agent, and his young Argentinean sidekick have Hitler’s scent and there will be blood in the streets as they pursue their prey.
This book pleased and disappointed in equal measure.
What pleased me was the sheer adrenalin rush generated by the chase.
What disappointed me was that I found it hard to empathise with any of the characters.
The agent, David Gal’s, came across as a borderline sociopath, collateral damage, what collateral damage? As for the young Argentinean, Gal treated him like a well trained hound, fetch, sit, stay, good dog and like a good dog the young lad would wag his tail and wait for a pat on the head.
First and foremost this is Thriller, with a capital T but for me it was about 100 pages short. There was not enough room to create fleshed out characters, characters that you wanted to identify with, feel for, and want them to succeed. Unfortunately I didn’t feel this for David Gal.
I’ve read a few of the earlier reviews for this book by other readers and it would appear my thoughts are in the minority. In the minority I may be but this is my honest opinion, for what it’s worth.
Thanks again to Yoel Bereket for the opportunity to read this book.
3 stars
First I would like to thank the author Yoel Bereket for providing me with a copy of this book.
There is no getting away for it, this is one high octane, action packed, blood fest of a thriller and if this is your thing then this is the book for you. But if, on the other hand, you’re looking for a bit of subtlety you will need to look else where.
The books scenario is of a young Jewish boy who survived the horror that was the holocaust of the 2nd WW. In this version of history Adolf Hitler survived the wars end and escaped to Argentina where he is planning the rise of the next Reich.
Nine years later the young survivor is a man and now an agent of the new Israeli state.
His commission is to seek out and assassinate any surviving Nazi’s, chief amongst them being Hitler himself.
Most of the action takes place in Argentina where David Gal, the agent, and his young Argentinean sidekick have Hitler’s scent and there will be blood in the streets as they pursue their prey.
This book pleased and disappointed in equal measure.
What pleased me was the sheer adrenalin rush generated by the chase.
What disappointed me was that I found it hard to empathise with any of the characters.
The agent, David Gal’s, came across as a borderline sociopath, collateral damage, what collateral damage? As for the young Argentinean, Gal treated him like a well trained hound, fetch, sit, stay, good dog and like a good dog the young lad would wag his tail and wait for a pat on the head.
First and foremost this is Thriller, with a capital T but for me it was about 100 pages short. There was not enough room to create fleshed out characters, characters that you wanted to identify with, feel for, and want them to succeed. Unfortunately I didn’t feel this for David Gal.
I’ve read a few of the earlier reviews for this book by other readers and it would appear my thoughts are in the minority. In the minority I may be but this is my honest opinion, for what it’s worth.
Thanks again to Yoel Bereket for the opportunity to read this book.
March 1, 2021
I enjoyed this fast-paced, exciting thriller. The story held me to the final page, the action sequences explicit and realistic. I enjoyed the writing, vivid and concise, and the characters were compelling. I especially enjoyed the Sara, who added warmth to the story, and Enzo, another great character. Overall, an intriguing international thriller.
January 18, 2021
This is one hell of an action adventure book, not my usual read to be honest but it had me hooked with the full on action all the way through. It is really fun however believable it is not; just suspend your disbelief and enjoy the ride.
We follow our protagonist Gal, a Nazi hunter who reminded me of a James Bond type character, he has the charm, the strength and the quips too. This one man army with a vendetta is justified if you ask me and he will do whatever it takes to complete his mission. In this fast paced, bloodied adventure death and destruction follow in his wake and even so throughout we still have a sense of humour and light heartedness. Gal is a great character, very likeable, as is Enzo - it is hard not to become invested in the story when you like the characters this much.
Overall a well written book with just enough detail, it keeps going along at a decent pace and flows well making for an easy enjoyable read, this is the kind of writing that takes no effort at all. Yes there is blood and gore but only what is required for the story, it is not gratuitous or over the top.
If you like action and adventure then I think this is the book for you. It has quite a powerful opening and really doesn’t disappoint from there.
I’m giving this a very fair 4*/5, I’m not one for action stories as a general rule but this one had me.
We follow our protagonist Gal, a Nazi hunter who reminded me of a James Bond type character, he has the charm, the strength and the quips too. This one man army with a vendetta is justified if you ask me and he will do whatever it takes to complete his mission. In this fast paced, bloodied adventure death and destruction follow in his wake and even so throughout we still have a sense of humour and light heartedness. Gal is a great character, very likeable, as is Enzo - it is hard not to become invested in the story when you like the characters this much.
Overall a well written book with just enough detail, it keeps going along at a decent pace and flows well making for an easy enjoyable read, this is the kind of writing that takes no effort at all. Yes there is blood and gore but only what is required for the story, it is not gratuitous or over the top.
If you like action and adventure then I think this is the book for you. It has quite a powerful opening and really doesn’t disappoint from there.
I’m giving this a very fair 4*/5, I’m not one for action stories as a general rule but this one had me.
March 1, 2021
It’s 9 years after the end of WWII and most of the Nazi leaders are dead, the majority got assassinated by a rogue spy ‘Gal’. We first meet him in Rome where he chases and kills Eichman and a whole bunch of others along the line. Now he’s got only one target left, the main one. His Mossad bosses have found out that Hitler hides in Argentina and that’s where he travels next. Apart from his handler Saul, Gal enlists the help of a young Argentinian criminal. But of course, nothing goes according to the plan and they need to improvise.
A couple of my GR friends were enthusiastic about this book. So, when the author asked me to read it, I said yes. But unfortunately, I’m not as impressed as them. I loved the premise that Hitler would have escaped alive to Argentina but the story itself fell flat. It got lost a bit in the endless fights and shootings and left too little for a good decent backbone story.
The book starts very violently with Gal wreaking havoc and carnage all around Rome. I thought it a bit exaggerated and sometimes cruel. The whole point is to be better than your enemy, I thought. If you lower yourself to the same level of cruelty and inhumanness, you’re not better than him and thus no right to speak. And this doesn’t mean that I condone anything whatsoever. It’s not because something evil is done to you that you must retaliate in the same way. That is why there are war tribunals, however failing they often are.
Actually, I almost had enough of the constant shooting and fighting but decided to give it a last chance. Happy I did, as well. Luckily the story turns around a bit and we learn about Gal’s past in Germany and the horrors he and his family suffered, like so many. It is heart-breaking but still not an excuse for his excessive violence.
Gal is not a nice person. As I said, he’s prone to aggression and violence. When he first meets Enzo, he’s rude and unfriendly. Later he takes to the boy and saves his life more than once and the other way around. He’s got no respect for his 'superiors’ and doesn’t take orders. He has a goal and nothing whatsoever can stop him from achieving this goal.
Enzo is adorable. He changes quickly though from a rather naïve boy into a ruthless man that can kill without remorse.
I particularly loved the description of Hitler slouched on his settee. It was hilarious and made me think of Onslow (from keeping up appearances).
Apart from the fate of the German Nazi government, there are other signs that this is an alternate reality. There are a suit and helmet to withstand Jewish supernatural mental powers. I never heard that the Germans believed that Jews possessed those, but I suppose anything is possible. There’s also a monster in the jungle that’s rumoured to be a demon.
At the end of the book, the author leaves ample room for a sequel and a series. But I don’t think they’ll be my cup of tea. With the violent shot outs and fighting, this story would work better as a script for a movie or TV series.
The title is well-chosen and has a double meaning.
A couple of my GR friends were enthusiastic about this book. So, when the author asked me to read it, I said yes. But unfortunately, I’m not as impressed as them. I loved the premise that Hitler would have escaped alive to Argentina but the story itself fell flat. It got lost a bit in the endless fights and shootings and left too little for a good decent backbone story.
The book starts very violently with Gal wreaking havoc and carnage all around Rome. I thought it a bit exaggerated and sometimes cruel. The whole point is to be better than your enemy, I thought. If you lower yourself to the same level of cruelty and inhumanness, you’re not better than him and thus no right to speak. And this doesn’t mean that I condone anything whatsoever. It’s not because something evil is done to you that you must retaliate in the same way. That is why there are war tribunals, however failing they often are.
Actually, I almost had enough of the constant shooting and fighting but decided to give it a last chance. Happy I did, as well. Luckily the story turns around a bit and we learn about Gal’s past in Germany and the horrors he and his family suffered, like so many. It is heart-breaking but still not an excuse for his excessive violence.
Gal is not a nice person. As I said, he’s prone to aggression and violence. When he first meets Enzo, he’s rude and unfriendly. Later he takes to the boy and saves his life more than once and the other way around. He’s got no respect for his 'superiors’ and doesn’t take orders. He has a goal and nothing whatsoever can stop him from achieving this goal.
Enzo is adorable. He changes quickly though from a rather naïve boy into a ruthless man that can kill without remorse.
I particularly loved the description of Hitler slouched on his settee. It was hilarious and made me think of Onslow (from keeping up appearances).
Apart from the fate of the German Nazi government, there are other signs that this is an alternate reality. There are a suit and helmet to withstand Jewish supernatural mental powers. I never heard that the Germans believed that Jews possessed those, but I suppose anything is possible. There’s also a monster in the jungle that’s rumoured to be a demon.
At the end of the book, the author leaves ample room for a sequel and a series. But I don’t think they’ll be my cup of tea. With the violent shot outs and fighting, this story would work better as a script for a movie or TV series.
The title is well-chosen and has a double meaning.
February 23, 2021
The author very kindly sent me this book in exchange for an honest review.
In 1955, a daredevil Mossad agent is going around killing Nazis. He finds that Hitler is alive, and goes to kill him, as well, putting an end to the Nazi menace once and for all.
That's all well and good, and there is some decent action. Unfortunately, most of the rest falls a bit short. The 1955 Argentina, could just as well be anywhere. The characters aren't fleshed out at all. Many of them have a distinctively post 1960's viewpoint. There's no tension generated, as the protagonist is simply superheroic.
Diverting but disposable.
In 1955, a daredevil Mossad agent is going around killing Nazis. He finds that Hitler is alive, and goes to kill him, as well, putting an end to the Nazi menace once and for all.
That's all well and good, and there is some decent action. Unfortunately, most of the rest falls a bit short. The 1955 Argentina, could just as well be anywhere. The characters aren't fleshed out at all. Many of them have a distinctively post 1960's viewpoint. There's no tension generated, as the protagonist is simply superheroic.
Diverting but disposable.
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