What do you think?
Rate this book
The Lucky One
An elderly woman is haunted by memories of her escape from the holocaust.
But how reliable are painful memories that have been kept at bay for nearly sixty years?
And at her time of life, what exactly is she searching for?
(A short story of approx. 3,500 words taken from the collection: Tales of Loss and Guilt)
But how reliable are painful memories that have been kept at bay for nearly sixty years?
And at her time of life, what exactly is she searching for?
(A short story of approx. 3,500 words taken from the collection: Tales of Loss and Guilt)
19 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2012
132 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
About the author
Ray Kingfisher
11 books165 followersI've written stories in a few different genres, but my historical novels are the most successful to date.
My latest release is Three Tales from Vienna , an epic story spanning a century and three generations of an ordinary Viennese family as seen through the eyes of three sisters.
The three 'Holocaust Echoes' novels: The Sugar Men , Rosa's Gold and Beyond the Shadow of Night depict the long lasting effects of the Holocaust.
Then came a sideways step in the shape of Under Darkening Skies . Set in Norway during the German occupation, this is a story of how the Lebensborn program left an equally serious legacy for many ordinary people.
An Ocean Between Us is a Historical Romance set in the Republic of Ireland during WWII, and was released under the pen name Rachel Quinn.
Matchbox Memories is a gentle comic drama, and Tales of Loss and Guilt is a diverse collection of early works short stories, which is a pretty representative mix of what I like to write.
I have also written a few gritty thrillers: The Salamanca Sheiks , The Ice Line , Never Be Safe , Slow Burning Lies (all novels), and Bad and Badder (5 short stories) under the pen name Ray Backley , and also a few silly (and, I guess, very British) comedies as Ray Fripp , most notably I, Smith (co-written with Harry Dewulf) and Easy Money .
I live in Hampshire in the UK, and I love to hear from readers. If you want to know more about me, please take a look at www.raykingfisher.com, or email me at raykingfisher@gmail.com, or even just send a Goodreads message.
My latest release is Three Tales from Vienna , an epic story spanning a century and three generations of an ordinary Viennese family as seen through the eyes of three sisters.
The three 'Holocaust Echoes' novels: The Sugar Men , Rosa's Gold and Beyond the Shadow of Night depict the long lasting effects of the Holocaust.
Then came a sideways step in the shape of Under Darkening Skies . Set in Norway during the German occupation, this is a story of how the Lebensborn program left an equally serious legacy for many ordinary people.
An Ocean Between Us is a Historical Romance set in the Republic of Ireland during WWII, and was released under the pen name Rachel Quinn.
Matchbox Memories is a gentle comic drama, and Tales of Loss and Guilt is a diverse collection of early works short stories, which is a pretty representative mix of what I like to write.
I have also written a few gritty thrillers: The Salamanca Sheiks , The Ice Line , Never Be Safe , Slow Burning Lies (all novels), and Bad and Badder (5 short stories) under the pen name Ray Backley , and also a few silly (and, I guess, very British) comedies as Ray Fripp , most notably I, Smith (co-written with Harry Dewulf) and Easy Money .
I live in Hampshire in the UK, and I love to hear from readers. If you want to know more about me, please take a look at www.raykingfisher.com, or email me at raykingfisher@gmail.com, or even just send a Goodreads message.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
January 23, 2019
A horrifying, emotional story of a Holocaust survivor's need to revisit the site of the concentration camp where she was held. They called her The Lucky One - but is she really?
December 22, 2020
Beautifully written
This was such a powerful and emotional short story! To pack that much in to so few pages shows how talented this author is. This novel does turn into a full length novel called the sugar men , which I will be getting. The story is of an old ladies flashbacks to when she was taken to the concentration camp, it is gripping, beautifully written and definitely makes you want to buy the full length version!
This was such a powerful and emotional short story! To pack that much in to so few pages shows how talented this author is. This novel does turn into a full length novel called the sugar men , which I will be getting. The story is of an old ladies flashbacks to when she was taken to the concentration camp, it is gripping, beautifully written and definitely makes you want to buy the full length version!
August 3, 2018
"Chilling tale"
Above average short story about a Holocaust survivor from an accomplished wordsmith.
Above average short story about a Holocaust survivor from an accomplished wordsmith.
January 13, 2013
For a long time, I have been drawn to books and films set around the Holocaust. It is a period of history that both appals and fascinates me. This prize-winning short story by Ray Kingfisher offers a perspective that is less frequently written about.
Susannah is the eponymous 'lucky one' and has lived almost a lifetime since surviving a World War II death camp. The story moves seamlessly from past to present and blurs reality with Susannah's 'visions' to nightmarish effect. Susannah, dying in the present day, decides to revisit the camp. Why does she do this? It's a complex issue as you might expect, but an imagined meeting with an SS guard suggests the fate that Susannah would perhaps have preferred over living a lifetime of guilt and wondering.
The lucky one here is anything but lucky and, as is the case with the best Holocaust fiction, this story hits you hard. A well-written, emotional read.
Susannah is the eponymous 'lucky one' and has lived almost a lifetime since surviving a World War II death camp. The story moves seamlessly from past to present and blurs reality with Susannah's 'visions' to nightmarish effect. Susannah, dying in the present day, decides to revisit the camp. Why does she do this? It's a complex issue as you might expect, but an imagined meeting with an SS guard suggests the fate that Susannah would perhaps have preferred over living a lifetime of guilt and wondering.
The lucky one here is anything but lucky and, as is the case with the best Holocaust fiction, this story hits you hard. A well-written, emotional read.
May 25, 2014
Very well written short story about an elderly Holocaust survivor who travels back to Bergen-Belsen, after sixty-four years have passed by, in search of answers as to why she was "The Lucky One".
(This short story is actually the teaser for the full-length novel: "The Sugar Men".)
(This short story is actually the teaser for the full-length novel: "The Sugar Men".)
January 10, 2025
Gorgeous writing and heartbreaking storyline as a survivor of a concentration camp remembers. This is a short story that is poignant, brutally, sad, and superbly written.
November 18, 2016
This well-structured short story takes us through flashbacks to Nazi Germany. That era fascinates me in its peculiarity, and intensity.
If you believe, wholeheartedly, that no human race should be subject to ethnic cleansing or any form of mass injustice, then you'll have the feels for this book.
I like the idea of this being sort of a preface to a novel (Sugar Men). Not a sample, yet a consequential part of a whole.
If you believe, wholeheartedly, that no human race should be subject to ethnic cleansing or any form of mass injustice, then you'll have the feels for this book.
I like the idea of this being sort of a preface to a novel (Sugar Men). Not a sample, yet a consequential part of a whole.
June 13, 2023
“So tell me, why are you different, so special? What is it you do?”
Susannah Zuckerman is flying into Hamburg, Germany. Her children are flabbergasted; they can’t understand why she’d ever want to return to the country…or back to the Bergen-Belsen death camp. She escaped 64 years ago.
Plagued by flashbacks and disturbing memories that bleed into the present, Susannah has terminal cancer.
Vivid, powerful memories. Sad and moving.
“I don’t expect you to understand my reasons. I do expect you to respect my wishes.”
Susannah Zuckerman is flying into Hamburg, Germany. Her children are flabbergasted; they can’t understand why she’d ever want to return to the country…or back to the Bergen-Belsen death camp. She escaped 64 years ago.
Plagued by flashbacks and disturbing memories that bleed into the present, Susannah has terminal cancer.
Vivid, powerful memories. Sad and moving.
“I don’t expect you to understand my reasons. I do expect you to respect my wishes.”
December 30, 2017
This was heartbreaking to read about much less to have suffered so just for being different. Why can't we all just get along as God intended? I so wish for world consumed by peace and kindness to one another.
January 25, 2019
A very quick look into a woman that was held in the camps in Germany during the war. It follows her as she visits where it all happened. I think it gave a quick look at what one person felt as she went remembered what happened. For a short story it sketched out everything it needed.
September 25, 2019
This is a well written short story that takes the reader back to a time in history that provokes so much emotion and yet captives the hearts of many. I am a true lover of historical reads and this short story only continued to deepen my desire to know more.
January 14, 2020
A short story about a woman who has had many close escapes during the Holocaust. She is now drawn, near the end of her life, to revisit the camp where she was held prisoner. Even though our bodies may escape the sites of past trauma, do our minds?
January 3, 2023
Was she the lucky one?
Grateful for being lucky but hard to live with it. Children and nightmares. Positive and negative. Would recommend this for young adults and older. Will be following this author.
Grateful for being lucky but hard to live with it. Children and nightmares. Positive and negative. Would recommend this for young adults and older. Will be following this author.
September 9, 2025
Sad Holocaust story about a woman near death trying to remember and come to terms with being one of the 'lucky ones' (aka: a concentration camp survivor). A well-written story that gets its feeling across.
December 18, 2025
Great quick read!
This short historical fiction kept my attention throughout the story. The switch from the past and present could have been smoother, nevertheless, it was great.
I highly recommend for historical fiction lovers.
This short historical fiction kept my attention throughout the story. The switch from the past and present could have been smoother, nevertheless, it was great.
I highly recommend for historical fiction lovers.
August 10, 2017
A Holocaust survivor, now elderly and dying, travels back to Hamburg to revisit the place she barely came out of alive. A great story that really puts you there!
December 27, 2017
Definitely a short story. Makes you think about the permanent trauma those victims lived with.
October 8, 2018
A short yet emotional story about a woman affected by the holocaust. I only wish there were more details on what she experienced!
June 19, 2019
Good read
October 23, 2019
A very short read. I wish there were a little more to it though.
August 4, 2020
An excellent and interesting short story of a female holocaust survivor.
Highly recommended
Highly recommended
October 28, 2021
Too short. Story not long enough
Didn't care for where story was left. Expected more so was disappointed in how it ended. Seems incomplete to me.
Didn't care for where story was left. Expected more so was disappointed in how it ended. Seems incomplete to me.
March 15, 2022
My full review can be found here: https://thereadingwife.com/the-lucky-...
April 17, 2023
A good story.
April 12, 2024
Great short story.
April 23, 2024
Touching and hear warming short story of a Holocaust survivor.
March 18, 2025
🖊️ I stopped reading this short story because of the blasphemy (language). What I did read, did not make sense because of confusing scenes. This was not for me.
જ⁀🍇 Kindle.
༇✲༆✲༻⇜⇝༺✲༆✲༻
21%
જ⁀🍇 Kindle.
༇✲༆✲༻⇜⇝༺✲༆✲༻
21%
August 29, 2025
The Lucky one suffered
Interesting short story about a holocaust survivor. They never truly forget. Would be interested in reading his other books about the holocaust.
Interesting short story about a holocaust survivor. They never truly forget. Would be interested in reading his other books about the holocaust.
December 28, 2025
Very moving
A lovely short story. It was very moving and very well written. I greatly enjoyed it and I highly recommend it.
A lovely short story. It was very moving and very well written. I greatly enjoyed it and I highly recommend it.
August 3, 2016
My review from amazon.com dated 5/13/2013
Title: Kind of Short
I do enjoy short stories because I get to read something new without spending days on the topic. Just a quick hour read is nice every now and then. I really liked the beginning but wish the author provided us with more towards the end. I wanted the story to continue and give us more insight on why they called her the "lucky one" and more on what that entailed.
I would have loved to have more story on this one, was too short in my opinion because it did not wrap everything up.
Title: Kind of Short
I do enjoy short stories because I get to read something new without spending days on the topic. Just a quick hour read is nice every now and then. I really liked the beginning but wish the author provided us with more towards the end. I wanted the story to continue and give us more insight on why they called her the "lucky one" and more on what that entailed.
I would have loved to have more story on this one, was too short in my opinion because it did not wrap everything up.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews