Death Knell

by C. Terry Cline Jr.

Pamela Roth, like her brilliant father, German emigrant Russell Roth, exhibits from childhood a cool composure and rare intellect. Although only a teenager, she is increasingly absorbed with the history of the Hitler period, the Holocaust, and the truth of her fatherâ s early life in wartime Germany.

Pamelaâ s mother becomes alarmed at her daughterâ s obsession and turns for help to Otto Ebenstein, an old friend and psychiatrist with an outstanding record for tracking down Nazi war criminals. Pamelaâ s youthful passion for Nazi history rekindles Ottoâ s flagging dedication to the cause.

When two ex-Nazis are found sexually assaulted and tortured to death, Otto begins to suspect Pamela of powers beyond his reckoning. His investigations lead him to an astonishing discovery.

Death Knell is a breathtaking novel of chilling suspense and retribution whose seed lies in the gas chambers of Auschwitz.

Genres: Horror, Nazi Party

286 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1977

About the author

C. Terry Cline Jr. had an extensive career, producing works that included a number of suspense novels, a children’s play and an unconventional late project titled “The Return of Edgar Cayce,” which he presented as a channeled communication from the spirit of the early 20th-century psychic.

C. Terry Cline was born in Birmingham, Alabama, "on a train going out," he always said, because his family moved often during his youth. He was married to author, Judith Richards. They lived in Fairhope, Alabama.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was really a great book full of suspense and interesting twists. The characters are very good developed. Also the theory on if there might be a God is interesting before the background of Nazi terror. That was quite a compelling and interesting read. Sad thing that many Nazi criminals were protected by US-government after WW II. You've never read about hunting down Nazis the way it is described in this book. Very inventive an absolute page turner you can't put down easily. Clear recommendation!

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very original work from the plot to, obviously, the style of writing. The only thing I would have liked to have seen from this story is more background on the historical figures in the book, like Himmler, for example. Otherwise, I found this book an interesting and thrilling read. I even found myself nauseous with worry at times. An emotion filled roller coaster of a story!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Jewish Holocost victim is reincarnated to modern day. She hunts down the perpetrators of crimes against her and those she knew during the Holocost, gets to know them a bit, then kills them, letting each know who she was. I think she also made sure that while she was in their trust, she made them remember her person in the past life. Kind of fuzzy on those details. I'm not big on violence, but somehow I found this story compelling. Maybe it was the horror of the crimes that were committed by the people she hunted down that made her revenge understandable, even satisfying.

[Reevrb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

I loved this book as the historically based plot kept me engrossed. Would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys mystery, suspense, horror or historical fiction.

[Inés Magdaleno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ha sido toda una revelación de última hora, no me esperaba engancharme tanto y ni mucho menos acabar reflexionando a las dos de la madrugada sobre Dios, el concepto de la reencarnación, los desajustes de la mente, el dilema de una moralidad dual, la empatía q puedo llegara a experimentar no por una persona (dado q en varias ocasiones resultan atroces sus pasados) sino a raíz una situación concerta... Metafísica, ética, moral, perdón y deontología son conceptos a los que está novela incita a reflexionar de una forma ligeramente brutal.

[Linda Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a good story. The twist and turns kept the reader interested. The ending left things hanging regarding Pamela and her mother. It could have been resolved for Erika which could have freed Pamela but the end was left to the reader.

[Mayeli Dávila]

Es un libro inolvidable que te atrapa de inicio a fin.

[Rebecca Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this! The suspense and the way the author really got you gripped was amazing. Read this book about 3 times now.

[Joe Borg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is about a girl born to an ex Nazi war criminal who like many others who had special skills was given a new identity and cover by the Americans after the War. The girl searches for her father's past and she becomes a Polish holocaust victim. Being very bright and capable under the identity of the Polish girl she manages to start killing those Germans who had come across her in the War. She finally has to kill her own father in justification or won't she?
What to me stands out is the fact that one of the characters in the book turns back to believing in God. He questions why God saved Hitler through the various assassination attempts against him by bombs poison and the death of 6 mio Jews when it could have been halted by a simple heart attack , but man's will is not God's fault.
The author also mentions ' pre stamped ' cells or genetic memory which is more under discussion now than then considering the book was written in 1977 .

[Krelnick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in high school and it actually holds up pretty well.