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Orphans of War Series #3
Crossroads of Granite
The storm of war thunders to a finale.
Nora Brouwer, a radar operator, watches as Allied bombers crest the horizon. A cryptic call tempts her—safety or a daring mission?
Her brother-in-law Christiaan Brouwer, ensnared in an SS prison, faces a dire betray his secrets or forfeit his life. What will honor demand?
Floris Brouwer, once a Waffen-SS titan, now languishes at Mauthausen concentration camp. A chance to regain past glory beckons, but at war's dark price.
Lisa Abrahams, master of espionage, yearns for more than London's shadows. With victory nearing, her heart races to find Christiaan and alter fate.
Crossroads of Granite is the heart-pounding finale of the Orphans of War trilogy. Venture into a tapestry of courage, sacrifice, and love as WWII's final moments etch indelible marks upon the soul.
Nora Brouwer, a radar operator, watches as Allied bombers crest the horizon. A cryptic call tempts her—safety or a daring mission?
Her brother-in-law Christiaan Brouwer, ensnared in an SS prison, faces a dire betray his secrets or forfeit his life. What will honor demand?
Floris Brouwer, once a Waffen-SS titan, now languishes at Mauthausen concentration camp. A chance to regain past glory beckons, but at war's dark price.
Lisa Abrahams, master of espionage, yearns for more than London's shadows. With victory nearing, her heart races to find Christiaan and alter fate.
Crossroads of Granite is the heart-pounding finale of the Orphans of War trilogy. Venture into a tapestry of courage, sacrifice, and love as WWII's final moments etch indelible marks upon the soul.
410 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2023
238 people are currently reading
845 people want to read
About the author
Michael Reit
13 books391 followersMichael Reit writes page-turning historical fiction. His books focus on lesser-known events and people in World War II Europe.
Born in the Netherlands, he now lives in beautiful Vienna, Austria, with his partner Esther and daughter Bibi. You can connect through michaelreit.com or Facebook (Michael Reit Author).
Born in the Netherlands, he now lives in beautiful Vienna, Austria, with his partner Esther and daughter Bibi. You can connect through michaelreit.com or Facebook (Michael Reit Author).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
August 8, 2023
Orphans of War book #3
“Crossroads of Granite” continues where “They Bled Orange”, left and is the final chapter in the trilogy. In alternate chapters and from the point of view of Christiaan, Lisa and Nora narrate their life during the last years of the war.
In a few words:
Christiaan was in the resistance till he was captured and sent to Mauthausen, a concentration camp, where he struggled to survive. While, Lisa at the front with General Patton’s army is caring for the wounded, Nora is interned in a concentration camp hoping to stay alive while helping those around her. As the noose begins to close around the Germans, life became dangerous for all. The physical and emotional stresses took a toll.... Too much horror and too much uncertainty....Quite a venture into a tapestry of courage, sacrifice and love...
My thoughts:
The events are based on true accounts from prisoners and survivors. The author does honors in representing them. The well-crafted chapters paint a vivid and poignant picture of what life was during the war. The dialogue is authentic and active. Mr. Reit doesn’t shy away from telling us the horrors the prisoners suffered at the hands of their captors but does this with tact. This story has a lot going on that is captivating to no end so much so I read it in two settings so eager to see what will come next and if the three heroes would manage to survive. The energy in this historical fiction is far more that I had expected. So well- said, so well- researched. Michael Reit is a powerful story teller and one of my preferred in historical fiction.
I received this ARC from The Book Whisperer via Netgalley
“Crossroads of Granite” continues where “They Bled Orange”, left and is the final chapter in the trilogy. In alternate chapters and from the point of view of Christiaan, Lisa and Nora narrate their life during the last years of the war.
In a few words:
Christiaan was in the resistance till he was captured and sent to Mauthausen, a concentration camp, where he struggled to survive. While, Lisa at the front with General Patton’s army is caring for the wounded, Nora is interned in a concentration camp hoping to stay alive while helping those around her. As the noose begins to close around the Germans, life became dangerous for all. The physical and emotional stresses took a toll.... Too much horror and too much uncertainty....Quite a venture into a tapestry of courage, sacrifice and love...
My thoughts:
The events are based on true accounts from prisoners and survivors. The author does honors in representing them. The well-crafted chapters paint a vivid and poignant picture of what life was during the war. The dialogue is authentic and active. Mr. Reit doesn’t shy away from telling us the horrors the prisoners suffered at the hands of their captors but does this with tact. This story has a lot going on that is captivating to no end so much so I read it in two settings so eager to see what will come next and if the three heroes would manage to survive. The energy in this historical fiction is far more that I had expected. So well- said, so well- researched. Michael Reit is a powerful story teller and one of my preferred in historical fiction.
I received this ARC from The Book Whisperer via Netgalley
September 19, 2023
My Musings
What an amazing finish to this fabulous series. I've read each of these incredible books and loved these characters. I also glad I found this author and his fantastic novels in Kindle Unlimited. A very happy reader!
What an amazing finish to this fabulous series. I've read each of these incredible books and loved these characters. I also glad I found this author and his fantastic novels in Kindle Unlimited. A very happy reader!
August 3, 2023
A terrific ending to this trilogy. I really loved how this book told of lesser known heroes and departments in World War two. The authors note at the end to explain how some of the happenings were based off of true stories, which makes it extra interesting. The reality of war and what many of these freedom fighters and prosoners faced will keep readers of World War 2 history interested in the storyline. Highly recommended to fictional history fans.
March 8, 2024
(You can find my review of the previous books in the series here and here)
As Dmitri Vrubel once said, "Mein Gott, hilf mir, diese tödliche Liebe zu überleben."
I think, aside from the whole clean Wehrmacht bollocks and Reit's persistent desire to put his characters in jail, over and over again, the worst sin of this series is that it is fundamentally boring.
The characters themselves have no...character? They have no depth to them, they never develop nor go anywhere, and the books themselves can best be summed up with the phrase "and then this happened." If your novel exists solely as a sequence of events which take place chronologically, you have fucked up big time.
I think, probably, the most damning criticism I can give the books is how obvious it is that They Bled Orange and Crossroads of Granite were afterthoughts. They were clearly written after Orphans of War and whereas the former wraps up the story nicely, the latter two entries expound upon it in a meandering and hollow way. There's just nothing to the narrative. Wartime events happen and our four heores, three in the end, simply endure these events by leafing through them.
In the second book, The issue there is that Christiaan and Lisa never communicate as people in love would. There is no tenderness in anything they do, no softness, no basis for their romance. They have nothing at all in common and when they do talk, like 90% of the conversations in Reit's books, it is about the events around them, never about themselves. We never get any insight into who they are as people and consequently this dilly-dallying is immensely, intensely fucking boring. This repeats itself for every character interaction in the entire trilogy save for the first book: we just get endless exposition dumped in our faces, either in the form of long paragraphs narrating very interesting far-away events, themselves way more engrossing than whatever in the blue fuck is currently happening in the books, and the consequences of these events are discussed in the cadence of your tipsy uncle relating the daily happenings to you across that morning's copy of The Guardian.
The third book is much more of the same, really. Christiaan spends the entire book in jail and then in a concentration camp. And again, as I mentioned before, Reit loves his concentration camps. This is something which borders on problematic: we get these insanely detailed descriptions of concentration camps, with the torment, torture, and pain down to a tee, but without any characters involved, it literally just becomes a half-hearted documentary of Mauthausen's actual history. If you fancy reading that, I doubt you'll pick up a novel, as you're more likely to go for an actual history book. Our imprisoned protagonists react with shock, horror, and resignation, but again, it's all so empty, one-note, without anything to underpin it, nor anything to strive towards. When Christiaan does think of Lisa, it is solely in himself. I think this is what I could pin down as a key problem within the novels:
Reit has absolutely no fucking idea how to make the imagery flow, or even how to produce imagery. He narrates events, expounds on things found in history books, and is focused on accuracy. But the imagery is of no particular significance to the characters. There's nothing even remotely artistic about this. All thoughts of despair, horror, hope, and endurance are taken in utter isolation from one another and from the character - and this makes sense, as Christiaan does not really have sufficient character to draw from.
What also does not help the third book is that over half of it is just meandering fucking nonsense where two out of the three protagonists are actively in prison and thus nailed in place, and the narrative of endless, repetitive despair, mixed with one-note images and the absolute lack of any emotional depth makes it all feel like applying paste upon paste upon paste with a trowel. And because all we, the readers, are doing is waiting for these people to be liberated, it just sort of turns into "fine, I'll read another page but only because I fucking paid for it."
And it's funny, you know. On occasion, the trilogy threatens to become interesting. Thereafter, with nothing to strive for anymore, she, like the other characters, becomes defined solely as "brave, persevering, courageous, strong, and vying for the liberation of the Netherlands."
It is what she, in effect, lives for. It's absurd, because people didn't, usually. They had other reasons to want to go back. They'd dream of home, of something resembling normal life, and they'd strike up friendships with those around them. But Nora's only friend in Mauthausen is Not exactly riveting stuff, is it?
And the final chapter of the final book and it is so dry, so flat, so one-note, so utterly fucking vapid, and so God damned pointless that I nearly threw my book out the window.
Our reward for slogging through Reit's exposition on the evils of the Holocaust is
Fucking sports films have better endings than this.
I really have to applaud Reit for the feat he's accomplished here. It is really, really hard to turn the period between 1939 and 1945, six years during which everything happened everywhere at once into a fucking boring slog.
His action scenes are just him saying "oh, and then this happened, and this happened, and that happened," and in the end, I had trouble following it, because we see the same phrases, the same descriptions, the same sections of prose reused over and over and over again. Which, by the by, amazed me.
I am an avid reader of Wikipedia. It is, I would say, my number one form of idle entertainment, thumbing through Wikipedia articles. It's usually boats. Fuck me, I luv me boats, ah do (insert Yorkshire accent where appropriate). And I noticed something. At several points, Reit describes the hospital in the Mauthausen concentration camp as a "hospital in name only." Imagine my surprise when this is the exact phrasing which is found on Wikipedia when describing the very same. And I thought it felt familiar. Reit then goes on to use this simile at least one more time. I am by no means accusing Mr. Reit of plagiarism, God no, it's one line, but I am accusing him of being tremendously lazy.
This pattern repeats itself some more. Our characters are constantly "In Hell," and always in that exact phrase. I counted, it crops up seven times.
Floris was entering his own personal Hell.
Christian was sure it was just another sort of Hell.
Nora wondered what Hell awaited her.
Honestly? I think Reit exhibits a problem which a lot of historical fiction authors have. He has his history and facts down to a tee (If we are not talking about the emotional and ideological aspects of Nazism, that is), but he is incapable of formulating a gripping narrative around this. In fact, he is incapable of formulating a narrative, and therefore, we are left with the aforementioned walls upon walls upon walls of narration, devoid of description, and endless repetition of the same phrases and segments of prose.
The English language is a wonderful thing. it is diverse, it is flexible, and it is a space of endless possibilities. To see it used in this stilted, extremely academic way when describing untold human horrors is almost staggering in how wasteful and boring it is.
I am giving this book two stars, because at the very least it shows perseverance. It is not easy to complete a novel. And, as a fellow writer, I really have to give Reit kudos for this. But just for that, and for very little else.
Read it only if you're aching for a story about the Dutch resistance.
As Dmitri Vrubel once said, "Mein Gott, hilf mir, diese tödliche Liebe zu überleben."
I think, aside from the whole clean Wehrmacht bollocks and Reit's persistent desire to put his characters in jail, over and over again, the worst sin of this series is that it is fundamentally boring.
The characters themselves have no...character? They have no depth to them, they never develop nor go anywhere, and the books themselves can best be summed up with the phrase "and then this happened." If your novel exists solely as a sequence of events which take place chronologically, you have fucked up big time.
I think, probably, the most damning criticism I can give the books is how obvious it is that They Bled Orange and Crossroads of Granite were afterthoughts. They were clearly written after Orphans of War and whereas the former wraps up the story nicely, the latter two entries expound upon it in a meandering and hollow way. There's just nothing to the narrative. Wartime events happen and our four heores, three in the end, simply endure these events by leafing through them.
In the second book, The issue there is that Christiaan and Lisa never communicate as people in love would. There is no tenderness in anything they do, no softness, no basis for their romance. They have nothing at all in common and when they do talk, like 90% of the conversations in Reit's books, it is about the events around them, never about themselves. We never get any insight into who they are as people and consequently this dilly-dallying is immensely, intensely fucking boring. This repeats itself for every character interaction in the entire trilogy save for the first book: we just get endless exposition dumped in our faces, either in the form of long paragraphs narrating very interesting far-away events, themselves way more engrossing than whatever in the blue fuck is currently happening in the books, and the consequences of these events are discussed in the cadence of your tipsy uncle relating the daily happenings to you across that morning's copy of The Guardian.
The third book is much more of the same, really. Christiaan spends the entire book in jail and then in a concentration camp. And again, as I mentioned before, Reit loves his concentration camps. This is something which borders on problematic: we get these insanely detailed descriptions of concentration camps, with the torment, torture, and pain down to a tee, but without any characters involved, it literally just becomes a half-hearted documentary of Mauthausen's actual history. If you fancy reading that, I doubt you'll pick up a novel, as you're more likely to go for an actual history book. Our imprisoned protagonists react with shock, horror, and resignation, but again, it's all so empty, one-note, without anything to underpin it, nor anything to strive towards. When Christiaan does think of Lisa, it is solely in himself. I think this is what I could pin down as a key problem within the novels:
Reit has absolutely no fucking idea how to make the imagery flow, or even how to produce imagery. He narrates events, expounds on things found in history books, and is focused on accuracy. But the imagery is of no particular significance to the characters. There's nothing even remotely artistic about this. All thoughts of despair, horror, hope, and endurance are taken in utter isolation from one another and from the character - and this makes sense, as Christiaan does not really have sufficient character to draw from.
What also does not help the third book is that over half of it is just meandering fucking nonsense where two out of the three protagonists are actively in prison and thus nailed in place, and the narrative of endless, repetitive despair, mixed with one-note images and the absolute lack of any emotional depth makes it all feel like applying paste upon paste upon paste with a trowel. And because all we, the readers, are doing is waiting for these people to be liberated, it just sort of turns into "fine, I'll read another page but only because I fucking paid for it."
And it's funny, you know. On occasion, the trilogy threatens to become interesting. Thereafter, with nothing to strive for anymore, she, like the other characters, becomes defined solely as "brave, persevering, courageous, strong, and vying for the liberation of the Netherlands."
It is what she, in effect, lives for. It's absurd, because people didn't, usually. They had other reasons to want to go back. They'd dream of home, of something resembling normal life, and they'd strike up friendships with those around them. But Nora's only friend in Mauthausen is Not exactly riveting stuff, is it?
And the final chapter of the final book and it is so dry, so flat, so one-note, so utterly fucking vapid, and so God damned pointless that I nearly threw my book out the window.
Our reward for slogging through Reit's exposition on the evils of the Holocaust is
Fucking sports films have better endings than this.
I really have to applaud Reit for the feat he's accomplished here. It is really, really hard to turn the period between 1939 and 1945, six years during which everything happened everywhere at once into a fucking boring slog.
His action scenes are just him saying "oh, and then this happened, and this happened, and that happened," and in the end, I had trouble following it, because we see the same phrases, the same descriptions, the same sections of prose reused over and over and over again. Which, by the by, amazed me.
I am an avid reader of Wikipedia. It is, I would say, my number one form of idle entertainment, thumbing through Wikipedia articles. It's usually boats. Fuck me, I luv me boats, ah do (insert Yorkshire accent where appropriate). And I noticed something. At several points, Reit describes the hospital in the Mauthausen concentration camp as a "hospital in name only." Imagine my surprise when this is the exact phrasing which is found on Wikipedia when describing the very same. And I thought it felt familiar. Reit then goes on to use this simile at least one more time. I am by no means accusing Mr. Reit of plagiarism, God no, it's one line, but I am accusing him of being tremendously lazy.
This pattern repeats itself some more. Our characters are constantly "In Hell," and always in that exact phrase. I counted, it crops up seven times.
Floris was entering his own personal Hell.
Christian was sure it was just another sort of Hell.
Nora wondered what Hell awaited her.
Honestly? I think Reit exhibits a problem which a lot of historical fiction authors have. He has his history and facts down to a tee (If we are not talking about the emotional and ideological aspects of Nazism, that is), but he is incapable of formulating a gripping narrative around this. In fact, he is incapable of formulating a narrative, and therefore, we are left with the aforementioned walls upon walls upon walls of narration, devoid of description, and endless repetition of the same phrases and segments of prose.
The English language is a wonderful thing. it is diverse, it is flexible, and it is a space of endless possibilities. To see it used in this stilted, extremely academic way when describing untold human horrors is almost staggering in how wasteful and boring it is.
I am giving this book two stars, because at the very least it shows perseverance. It is not easy to complete a novel. And, as a fellow writer, I really have to give Reit kudos for this. But just for that, and for very little else.
Read it only if you're aching for a story about the Dutch resistance.
September 1, 2023
Crossroads of Granite by Michael Reit is the final installment in the self-published Orphans of War trilogy. What makes his books different from other WWII historical fiction is his focus on lesser known aspects of major events and lesser known places.
In this book, the principal focus is the Nazi prison/work camp in Mauthausen, Austria with its associated granite mining pits. This was one of the most brutal of the Nazi camps run by the SS and not a common subject in this genre. Other topics were the radio communication and radar tracking support for major operations such as Quicksilver and Overlord, and the Army field hospitals set up during liberation.
A native of the Netherlands, Mr. Reit’s main characters are Dutch and we learn about the roles Dutch citizens played outside the Netherlands during the war.
As mentioned earlier, this is the third and final book of the series. I read it without having read books 1 and 2 as I was reading it for a review. Although the time period covered stands alone, the stories of the principal characters are continuing. Little in the way of backstory is given to tell readers what preceded and what are the relationships between the characters in the first few chapters of Crossroads. More is revealed later in small bits. I strongly recommend that readers read the summaries of the prior books if reading this as a stand-alone to avoid confusion.
Two of the principle characters are brothers Floris and Christiaan Brouwer. Floris is an SS soldier and prison guard. Christiaan, working as a spy for the British SOE, has been captured and becomes a prisoner of the SS. The other two principals are Nora and Lisa, both of whom have escaped the continent and reside in England. Nora is Floris’ wife and has joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force to work as a radar and radio receiver operator at Bawdsey in Suffolk, the world’s first fully operational radar station. Lisa is Christiaan’s partner, Jewish, and working in communications with the Dutch government’s intelligence branch in London as part of the Allied effort to invade France and liberate Europe.
Crossroads of Granite is an intensely researched work, particularly with regard to Mauthausen. It was evident that Mr. Reit is passionate about this subject and has written a totally engaging story based on fact. I was totally on board with his characters, both good and evil. His writing is quite cinematic, giving one the sense of actually being present watching events occur. There are parts which are very difficult to read but he handles these expertly.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this highly interesting and informative book. A very welcome and appreciated addition to the WWII historical fiction genre.
In this book, the principal focus is the Nazi prison/work camp in Mauthausen, Austria with its associated granite mining pits. This was one of the most brutal of the Nazi camps run by the SS and not a common subject in this genre. Other topics were the radio communication and radar tracking support for major operations such as Quicksilver and Overlord, and the Army field hospitals set up during liberation.
A native of the Netherlands, Mr. Reit’s main characters are Dutch and we learn about the roles Dutch citizens played outside the Netherlands during the war.
As mentioned earlier, this is the third and final book of the series. I read it without having read books 1 and 2 as I was reading it for a review. Although the time period covered stands alone, the stories of the principal characters are continuing. Little in the way of backstory is given to tell readers what preceded and what are the relationships between the characters in the first few chapters of Crossroads. More is revealed later in small bits. I strongly recommend that readers read the summaries of the prior books if reading this as a stand-alone to avoid confusion.
Two of the principle characters are brothers Floris and Christiaan Brouwer. Floris is an SS soldier and prison guard. Christiaan, working as a spy for the British SOE, has been captured and becomes a prisoner of the SS. The other two principals are Nora and Lisa, both of whom have escaped the continent and reside in England. Nora is Floris’ wife and has joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force to work as a radar and radio receiver operator at Bawdsey in Suffolk, the world’s first fully operational radar station. Lisa is Christiaan’s partner, Jewish, and working in communications with the Dutch government’s intelligence branch in London as part of the Allied effort to invade France and liberate Europe.
Crossroads of Granite is an intensely researched work, particularly with regard to Mauthausen. It was evident that Mr. Reit is passionate about this subject and has written a totally engaging story based on fact. I was totally on board with his characters, both good and evil. His writing is quite cinematic, giving one the sense of actually being present watching events occur. There are parts which are very difficult to read but he handles these expertly.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this highly interesting and informative book. A very welcome and appreciated addition to the WWII historical fiction genre.
May 7, 2025
This review covers the trilogy “Orphans of War”, “They Bled Orange”, and “Crossroads of Granite” because you must read all three to get the full story. It is so well written and well researched, combining mostly fact with some fiction. I love fiction, but historical fiction is probably my favorite genre. I had a hard time putting these books down, because I wanted to know what happened to Christiaan, Nora, and Lisa! In the midst of so much cruelty and inhumanity, these three young people helped countless others in the background. We hear so much about the front lines, but without the hidden helpers, the war would not have been successful.
In the beginning, Christiaan was a tram driver in Amsterdam, but the more he saw the cruelty playing around him with the police force actually taking the side of the Nazis he felt he had to do more to help Jews escape from Amsterdam. Nora was a battered wife who was smart enough to outsmart her Nazi loving husband, Floris. She even used his ill-gotten gains to help another young woman escape. Lisa was a Jew who lost her parents to an interment camp, but with Christiaan and Nora’s help was able to escape the country. The story covers their experiences during the war.
The stories of Christiaan, Nora, and Lisa are so intriguing and it was gratifying to hear that even though they all had hard times (even though in different ways), their love and caring for each other and for other people finally brought them back together.
The information about the resistance and the things people went through in order to escape Amsterdam was fascinating and a testimony of the faith that is so crucial to truly making a difference in this world. I would recommend these books to anyone who loves reading!
In the beginning, Christiaan was a tram driver in Amsterdam, but the more he saw the cruelty playing around him with the police force actually taking the side of the Nazis he felt he had to do more to help Jews escape from Amsterdam. Nora was a battered wife who was smart enough to outsmart her Nazi loving husband, Floris. She even used his ill-gotten gains to help another young woman escape. Lisa was a Jew who lost her parents to an interment camp, but with Christiaan and Nora’s help was able to escape the country. The story covers their experiences during the war.
The stories of Christiaan, Nora, and Lisa are so intriguing and it was gratifying to hear that even though they all had hard times (even though in different ways), their love and caring for each other and for other people finally brought them back together.
The information about the resistance and the things people went through in order to escape Amsterdam was fascinating and a testimony of the faith that is so crucial to truly making a difference in this world. I would recommend these books to anyone who loves reading!
September 21, 2025
I loved all 3 books regarding the saving of Holland and the resistance. My father was one of the 1st in Liberation of Holland. He was in the Canadian army The Dragoons that infiltrated one of the towns in Holland, my dad was stationed on the small town of Gieten. Whereas the Germans took a family hostage and stayed in their house, and told the towns people if they didn’t obey them.they would kill the family. I was able to visit this town and talk to survivors during the 50 year celebration of their liberation. When my father was there, he was the goodwill ambassador and handed out food to people and clothing, and showed Charlie Chaplin movies in the town hall. When we went back to visit, adults who were children when my father was there came up and shook his hand and say they wouldn’t be alive have not been for him. He just said he was a soldier that was doing his job. One young man came up and said if it hadn’t been for him, he would not have been able to save someone’s life because he wouldn’t be alive and they received a medal from the queen and he showed the metal to my father. It was a very emotional visit and all of the towns people were proud that this Canadian had come back to visit them. I love the story because it brought me more information as to what people went through. It’s hard to believe that one person or more could be mean so mean to a population and they received joy from it. My dad said ‘while driving into Holland. He was in the back of the truck and saw his lying all along the road. He said it was quite scary. Being part of the dragoons was a very proud part of his life.
August 1, 2024
Brothers at War
This is the third book in the Orphans of War series. Once again, we come across the two brother’s Floris and Christiaan. Floris once in full SS honor is now delegated to be a prison guard at the concentration camp since being wounded in the war. Christiaan is working for the resistance and sent to same concentration camp.
Nora is Floris’s wife and she is working with the British as a radar Operator. When Christann her brother-in-law is missing, she is faced with a choice. Stay safe in Britain or take on a dangerous assignment.
Lisa is Christiaan’s sister and she is working with the British in London but yearns to be more involved and wants to find out what happened to her brother.
The story follows these three as they make their way in the war and the consequences of their bravery and resistance against the Nazi’s. The Nazi’s do not think well of Spies and usually the consequence is death.
It is well written and follows the three characters from the other books in the series. It is at times hard to read about the cruelty of the Nazi’s, but the courage of these characters is great.
I love that it has two independent and courageous women as characters in some very dangerous situations with dire consequences at times.
The story was good and I enjoyed reading it.
I received a complementary copy of the book to read and review. The review is voluntary and the words are my own.
This is the third book in the Orphans of War series. Once again, we come across the two brother’s Floris and Christiaan. Floris once in full SS honor is now delegated to be a prison guard at the concentration camp since being wounded in the war. Christiaan is working for the resistance and sent to same concentration camp.
Nora is Floris’s wife and she is working with the British as a radar Operator. When Christann her brother-in-law is missing, she is faced with a choice. Stay safe in Britain or take on a dangerous assignment.
Lisa is Christiaan’s sister and she is working with the British in London but yearns to be more involved and wants to find out what happened to her brother.
The story follows these three as they make their way in the war and the consequences of their bravery and resistance against the Nazi’s. The Nazi’s do not think well of Spies and usually the consequence is death.
It is well written and follows the three characters from the other books in the series. It is at times hard to read about the cruelty of the Nazi’s, but the courage of these characters is great.
I love that it has two independent and courageous women as characters in some very dangerous situations with dire consequences at times.
The story was good and I enjoyed reading it.
I received a complementary copy of the book to read and review. The review is voluntary and the words are my own.
August 2, 2023
A Mesmerizing Portrait of a Moment in Time Through the Eyes of Those Who Lived It !
This sizzling historical fiction encompasses a vitality far beyond expectations. The third book in the Orphans of War series continues to its finale, the arduous journeys of a prudently constructed assembly of charismatic characters. With an abundance of sensual cadence, the author makes it easy to walk in these people’s shoes...recognize their fears, comprehend their desires, and feel their sweat. And since these characters closely resemble real life in Austria during WW2, readers will acquire a distaste for some and grow affection for others.
Best-selling author, Michael Reit, has previously proven himself as a dynamic storyteller, and in this novel he achieves an even higher echelon of workmanship. The author notes how his research from the true accounts of a survivor from the Mauthausen camp in 1944 and memoirs written by its prisoners, aided his inspiration. Well-crafted chapters paint a vivid, poignant picture of every scene; dialogue is crisp and authentic; and the reader notices their heart beating faster, then experiences cold chills!
Crossroads of Granite is definitely the author’s best work! Reading the entire series is highly recommended, as its conclusion is very satisfying.
Thanks is extended to the author and BookFunnel for an ARC.
This sizzling historical fiction encompasses a vitality far beyond expectations. The third book in the Orphans of War series continues to its finale, the arduous journeys of a prudently constructed assembly of charismatic characters. With an abundance of sensual cadence, the author makes it easy to walk in these people’s shoes...recognize their fears, comprehend their desires, and feel their sweat. And since these characters closely resemble real life in Austria during WW2, readers will acquire a distaste for some and grow affection for others.
Best-selling author, Michael Reit, has previously proven himself as a dynamic storyteller, and in this novel he achieves an even higher echelon of workmanship. The author notes how his research from the true accounts of a survivor from the Mauthausen camp in 1944 and memoirs written by its prisoners, aided his inspiration. Well-crafted chapters paint a vivid, poignant picture of every scene; dialogue is crisp and authentic; and the reader notices their heart beating faster, then experiences cold chills!
Crossroads of Granite is definitely the author’s best work! Reading the entire series is highly recommended, as its conclusion is very satisfying.
Thanks is extended to the author and BookFunnel for an ARC.
August 2, 2023
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.
“Crossroads of Granite” is the third book in the “Orphans of War” trilogy, a WWII historical fiction book, by Michael Reit. My strong recommendation is to, at minimum, read the first book in this series - while this book can be read as a stand-alone, I believe that a new reader to this series would have a number of questions, especially at the beginning of the book. This book follows four people - husband and wife Floris and Nora Brouwer, their brother/brother in law Christiann, and his companion, Lisa. At the beginning of the book, they are in different locations, doing different jobs - though all of their jobs are military ones. I really liked reconnecting with these four people and seeing how the war unfolded for them, between undercover work, changing attitudes toward the war, and basic survival. Mr. Reit doesn’t shy away from the horrors at two of the concentration camps - Mauthausen and Ravensbruck, though they’re factual, they’re not gory. I enjoyed reading the Author’s Note regarding the story and delving into the history he researched for this book.
“Crossroads of Granite” is the third book in the “Orphans of War” trilogy, a WWII historical fiction book, by Michael Reit. My strong recommendation is to, at minimum, read the first book in this series - while this book can be read as a stand-alone, I believe that a new reader to this series would have a number of questions, especially at the beginning of the book. This book follows four people - husband and wife Floris and Nora Brouwer, their brother/brother in law Christiann, and his companion, Lisa. At the beginning of the book, they are in different locations, doing different jobs - though all of their jobs are military ones. I really liked reconnecting with these four people and seeing how the war unfolded for them, between undercover work, changing attitudes toward the war, and basic survival. Mr. Reit doesn’t shy away from the horrors at two of the concentration camps - Mauthausen and Ravensbruck, though they’re factual, they’re not gory. I enjoyed reading the Author’s Note regarding the story and delving into the history he researched for this book.
August 25, 2023
CROSSROADS OF GRANITE
This book leapt right to the top of Mt. TBR; I was that eager to rejoin Nora, Lisa, and Christiaan, and I was completely caught up in their ongoing struggle against the Nazis. Fiction based so accurately on real events is powerful, in some parts horrifying, but not half as horrible as the reality. Life may have had no value in the eyes of those who ran Mauthausen and other camps, but the courage and care shown by prisoners is inspiring, as is the kindness and courage of strangers. Ignaz and Barbara Friedmann were real! There should be statues and memorial tributes to them and others like them.
The insights into support and organizing behind the lines is fascinating also. Preceding D-Day, false information sent out regarding a planned landing at Calais helped deflect Germans from the Normandy landing. Unsung heroes.
Parting thought: All war is a symptom of man's failure as a thinking animal. — John Steinbeck
I agree with that more than ever, such senseless destruction and suffering. We must do better.
This book leapt right to the top of Mt. TBR; I was that eager to rejoin Nora, Lisa, and Christiaan, and I was completely caught up in their ongoing struggle against the Nazis. Fiction based so accurately on real events is powerful, in some parts horrifying, but not half as horrible as the reality. Life may have had no value in the eyes of those who ran Mauthausen and other camps, but the courage and care shown by prisoners is inspiring, as is the kindness and courage of strangers. Ignaz and Barbara Friedmann were real! There should be statues and memorial tributes to them and others like them.
The insights into support and organizing behind the lines is fascinating also. Preceding D-Day, false information sent out regarding a planned landing at Calais helped deflect Germans from the Normandy landing. Unsung heroes.
Parting thought: All war is a symptom of man's failure as a thinking animal. — John Steinbeck
I agree with that more than ever, such senseless destruction and suffering. We must do better.
September 1, 2023
This is another stellar 5-Star book by Michael Reit! Based on many true-to-life events, this work of historical fiction had me holding my breath in horror and suspense. It's hard to believe there was so much evil happening in 'hidden' places during WWII but I do believe it. Yes, I knew of the infamous concentration camps but not this one, Mauthausen, in Austria. I feel like some of that granite has hit me on the head as the story unfolds its tragic tale.
This third book of the Orphans of War trilogy will keep the reader up at night, not doubt, wondering what will happen next to Christiaan, Nora and Lisa. Would they survive? Reit doesn't let many secrets out of the bag and 'tortures' the reader to the very end.
~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~
August 2023
Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publishers.
This third book of the Orphans of War trilogy will keep the reader up at night, not doubt, wondering what will happen next to Christiaan, Nora and Lisa. Would they survive? Reit doesn't let many secrets out of the bag and 'tortures' the reader to the very end.
~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~
August 2023
Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publishers.
December 7, 2024
There is so much to say about this book and this series. What I will say is this….this trilogy has impacted my life in such a big way. I have always been interested in WWII and am an avid reader of historical fiction. What I loved about these books is that they were written from perspectives of people on different sides. This gave it even more depth. When I finished the books I was in the process of planning my annual vacation, this year taking me to Europe. Something just sat there in the back of my mind and I ended up rearranging my trip in order to make the pilgrimage to Mauthausen Concentration Camp. It was one of the most impactful things I have ever done in my life. I learned things we are never taught about in school and it is something I will never forget. What I can say is that the author did a tremendous job with his research and portrayal. He handled something so awful with care and attention to correct detail. I highly recommend the Orphans of War trilogy and even The Crossroads of Granite as a standalone read. You will not be disappointed!
May 7, 2025
This was a terrific series. As many WWI and WWII books as I have read, I believe the detail in these was up with the best, if not better. I was attracted to it because of a recent visit to the Netherlands and to Ann Frank’s house. I had previously read very little about how the war affected that country. This series taught me a lot and freshly illustrated man’s ability to be horrifically cruel… and yet that, in the midst of such horror, there are those who are willing to stand up for what they believe to be morally right and to risk their lives to help save lives and defeat evil. The valor of the Allied troops, both US and European, in this effort was well researched and their roll in bringing an end to the Nazi occupation of Europe brought this series to a very satisfying conclusion. The authors notes are not to be missed.. so much of this story was based on actual events. He did a wonderful job of incorporating them… making this series all the more important, historically, and impactful. ‘ Lest we forget..’
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October 23, 2025Overall I very much enjoyed reading Crossroads of Granite, after previously reading the two prequels in the series. Once again, the facts creating the backbone of the story had been very well researched, and the details of various descriptions were illustrative and vivid. At times it was a tense and nail-biting read.
I found the central part of this book, with several sections describing manoeuvres or warfare in detail, rather less exciting. The individual suffering of the protagonists was well depicted, although at times I still had the feeling the characters were slightly like cardboard cut-outs. I rather felt that the relationships or experiences were based on film characters from early post-war movies.
I did also notice on several occasions that a bit more proof-reading may have been a benefit. In the series there were several occasions where words had been omitted or were incorrectly written - even if considering that I am a UK reader and this is written from the US point of view.
I found the central part of this book, with several sections describing manoeuvres or warfare in detail, rather less exciting. The individual suffering of the protagonists was well depicted, although at times I still had the feeling the characters were slightly like cardboard cut-outs. I rather felt that the relationships or experiences were based on film characters from early post-war movies.
I did also notice on several occasions that a bit more proof-reading may have been a benefit. In the series there were several occasions where words had been omitted or were incorrectly written - even if considering that I am a UK reader and this is written from the US point of view.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2023
First off, even though this book can be read as a standalone it would be better to read the first two book to get the full background as to why the characters ended up where there were and why they are currently doing the jobs they are doing.
Now to the story at hand. It was an extremely emotional read. You were fully transported into the story and were looking at everything through the eyes of each character. It’s been a very long time since I’ve been fully engrossed into a book this deeply. Feeling everything that these characters felt, every feeling, every emotion, every heartbreak.
These are not the watered down stories that we learned in school. This is the real deal. This is what leaves you thinking for days on end because every time you get a spare moment you’re like.. wow that’s really a part of our history.
Thank you NetGalley and Book Whispers for an advanced copy of this book for my honest opinion
Now to the story at hand. It was an extremely emotional read. You were fully transported into the story and were looking at everything through the eyes of each character. It’s been a very long time since I’ve been fully engrossed into a book this deeply. Feeling everything that these characters felt, every feeling, every emotion, every heartbreak.
These are not the watered down stories that we learned in school. This is the real deal. This is what leaves you thinking for days on end because every time you get a spare moment you’re like.. wow that’s really a part of our history.
Thank you NetGalley and Book Whispers for an advanced copy of this book for my honest opinion
September 3, 2025
Finishing the third book in Michael Reit’s Orphans of War trilogy left me breathless and in tears. This was not an easy story to read—not because of the writing, which was exceptional, but because of the profound heartbreak it portrays. The horrific realities the prisoners endured were almost unimaginable, and yet their strength and resilience were nothing short of mind-blowing. I found myself in tears more than once, needing to pause, sometimes a day or two, just to process and take it all in. Rarely have I felt so invested in fictional characters; their struggles, pain, and moments of hope felt so real that they stayed with me long after I put the book down. This trilogy is powerful, unforgettable, and written with immense respect for history. Michael Reit has created something truly extraordinary.
November 21, 2023
A great ending! Sorry I somehow skipped the middle.
Somehow, after reading book 1 with the intention of reading the trilogy, I got the numbers wrong and skipped to book 3. This led to confusion... I could not understand the huge jump from where the characters were at the end of book 1 and what I thought was the beginning of book 2. I was disappointed with the gap, but decided to pick up the flow of the story. After awhile, I became engrossed in the storyline and thoroughly enjoyed the story as it reached its conclusion. My regret is that now, having read the conclusion, it would make little sense to go back and read book 2. Anyway, a great ending to an enjoyable story.
Somehow, after reading book 1 with the intention of reading the trilogy, I got the numbers wrong and skipped to book 3. This led to confusion... I could not understand the huge jump from where the characters were at the end of book 1 and what I thought was the beginning of book 2. I was disappointed with the gap, but decided to pick up the flow of the story. After awhile, I became engrossed in the storyline and thoroughly enjoyed the story as it reached its conclusion. My regret is that now, having read the conclusion, it would make little sense to go back and read book 2. Anyway, a great ending to an enjoyable story.
June 30, 2024
This is the third book in the series. I appreciate the author’s use of real stories to bring these characters to life. I also appreciate the lack of Hollywood theatrics.
This book, and the entire series, reflects the real life of real people and the trials and horrors they overcame at the hands of the Nazis. There are no James Bond heroics. This is about as real as it can get.
The only complaint I have about the third book is that it’s much longer than the first two. A fourth book could have been written instead. But I can appreciate the author’s willingness to want to end the series here.
Overall I really enjoyed this series and highly recommend it to anyone who wants a non-romanticized view of WWII.
This book, and the entire series, reflects the real life of real people and the trials and horrors they overcame at the hands of the Nazis. There are no James Bond heroics. This is about as real as it can get.
The only complaint I have about the third book is that it’s much longer than the first two. A fourth book could have been written instead. But I can appreciate the author’s willingness to want to end the series here.
Overall I really enjoyed this series and highly recommend it to anyone who wants a non-romanticized view of WWII.
July 3, 2024
The third and final book in the Orphans of War series by Michael Reit continues the wonderful series without missing a beat. Crossroads of Granite could definitely have many meanings; but it seems to be a reference to the concentration camp of Mauthausen. It could also refer to the steadfastness of the three main characters as they work their different ways through the war to the end. Their love and admiration of each other and their faith in their living though this horrifying event in history never wavers. I definitely recommend these books to those who are interested in the Holocaust. True stories of men and women who lived during this time are combined seamlessly to create a trio of books that are impossible to put down.
January 13, 2024
This is the 5th book by Reid that I’ve read. I knew I would like this one because he is a good writer. The very first part of the book is a bit mundane but he needed to explain a lot before getting into the throes of terror. It’s not a story for the faint of heart but what book about the Holocaust would be. Some things were very hard to read knowing they were true. I ended up loving this story. The authors notes at the end explain a lot.
He mentions a book by Jack Hersch “Death March Escape: The Remarkable Story of a Man Whi Twice Escaped the Nazi Holocaust”. He credits this story for inspiration to write Crossroads of Granite. Now on my reading list.
He mentions a book by Jack Hersch “Death March Escape: The Remarkable Story of a Man Whi Twice Escaped the Nazi Holocaust”. He credits this story for inspiration to write Crossroads of Granite. Now on my reading list.
September 14, 2024
I have read 5 of Michael Reit's books now and have enjoyed them all immensely. This book I found particular harrowing. Michael touches on areas that are not always widely known about and brings to the fore many humans who fought the Nazis SS regime with outstanding bravery. I love how at the end of his books he informs the reader that his research has come across the true stories and the actual people and happenings involved and the reality, which invariably leads you to want to read about those same people. Very interesting and easy to read books and not bogged down with facts and figures. I am just about to read Michael's 3rd book in the Beyond the Tracks Series now.
February 4, 2025
I could not put down the three books until I finished. And they were my first e-books. Having had dutch resistance relatives I inhaled the details but had to pass up read of the torture. At 77 I choose life not death and pray these horriible facts will never cover that land again. I do believe was present through out that war on both sides. Sadistic aspects obviously Hoover just under the surface of many people rendering them inhumane. Minus one star as I believe people learn evil from reading about how evil dominated in this period of history, and I’ve read books in WW11 most of my adult life.
August 3, 2025
Micheal Reit is a master in writing books about WWII and the Holocaust. I flew through this book because I wanted to know what happened to the characters that had been in the previous two books of the trilogy. when he wrote about Mauthausen, I was curious about how many concentration camps the Germans actually had because I had never heard of this camp, so I googled it and found out that for the ones we usually hear about Auschwitz-Birkneau, Dachau, and Ravensbruck to name three. Google listed close to if not over 100 camps or sub-camps. I look forward to reading Beyond the Tracks trilogy, The Eagles Shadow, and Warsaw Fury.
August 30, 2023
I enjoyed this series from beginning to end! Michael Reit did a great job of researching real characters and events in history to include in his books. The author did not hold back describing the brutalities of war. This is another excellent book with twists and turns that you don't expect.
I won't give away the ending but it is everything I had hoped for. Many thanks to the author, The Book Whisperer and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I won't give away the ending but it is everything I had hoped for. Many thanks to the author, The Book Whisperer and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
September 1, 2023
Crossroads of Granite, by Michael Reil, is the third in the Orphans of War series. It is best of the three. Follow Lisa, Nora, and Christian help with Operation Overlord and with the Dutch resistance. This time Nora and Christian are caught and sent to concentration camps. The horrors of those camps are described. There are still good people who help. Christian after his escape. Lisa travels eith Pattinson army as the liberate Austria and see the end of the war. I was able to read an ARC on #Netgalley. You do need to read the other two books in the series first.
September 5, 2023
Fantastic
Once again Michael Reit has written a stunning book, in this case a Trilogy of WW2. The horrific evils of the Nazi Regime are described as well as the indifference of many Europeans who witnessed the atrocities. In recounting history he also wrote of the kindness of many people who braved personal risk in an effort to protect the victims. The sheer determination and resilience of those who survived is a testament to enduring love for not only their families but for other victims, to tell their stories, we must remember.
Once again Michael Reit has written a stunning book, in this case a Trilogy of WW2. The horrific evils of the Nazi Regime are described as well as the indifference of many Europeans who witnessed the atrocities. In recounting history he also wrote of the kindness of many people who braved personal risk in an effort to protect the victims. The sheer determination and resilience of those who survived is a testament to enduring love for not only their families but for other victims, to tell their stories, we must remember.
October 19, 2023
A very interesting yet haunting story of the final stages of WWII.. it never ceases to amaze me the courage and strength of so many people in wars. Characters risking their lives for their country and their beliefs. Yet on the dark side the atrocities that occurred in concentration camps. When you read this book you will discover the vast differences in human nature and wonder how anyone can commit such deadly cruelty to another human being. The author’s words create a picture not easily forgotten. I highly recommend this novel.
June 24, 2024
I began reading your three-book series on my way home from four days in Amsterdam and was completely enthralled by the story. Having walked the streets of Amsterdam, absorbed the history and visited numerous World War II related sites, the stories came to life and made both my visit and my reading richer experiences. Each book can stand on its own; however, I would suggest that a reader who is Interested in WWII read the entire series to fully appreciate the challenges faced by people during that period of history. Thank you for writing this series.
August 28, 2024
This is the third book in the Orphans of War series. This book continues with the lives of Christiaan, his wife, Lisa, and his brother Floris and his wife Nora. All of them become cogs in Hitlers war. Some work for the Resistance, some for the Red Cross, some for the SS and some end up in concentration camps. I won’t tell you who is who, but suffice it to say that this book will keep you turning the pages until the end.
WARNING: The atrocities of the death camps are told in minute detail. The author does not try to spare the reader of the horrors of these camps.
WARNING: The atrocities of the death camps are told in minute detail. The author does not try to spare the reader of the horrors of these camps.
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