Blood Sacrifice

The Warsaw Quartet #2

by Douglas Jackson

As hunger grips the Warsaw ghetto, is a cannibal loose on the streets? January 1943. Warsaw. City of the dead. In the ghetto, the last fifty thousand Jews await their fate, but, unlike those who preceded them to the death camps, these Jews are prepared to fight. Jan Kalisz, Kripo investigator and Resistance double-agent, has promised to supply them with weapons. But how will he fulfil his vow?

The murder of a German officer appears to provide an opportunity. For the victim is a man with multiple identities and one of those is a wealthy ghetto Jew. The hunt for the murderer draws Kalisz into the chaos of the ghetto, only to find a new, perilous mission awaiting him. SS death squads are not the only enemy the Jews fear. Can Kalisz catch the killer known as The Cannibal before he strikes again?

With time running out, it becomes a question of survival amid the blazing ghetto ruins as the Nazis make their final attack.

The chilling second thriller in the Warsaw Quartet by Douglas Jackson, perfect for readers of Simon Scarrow and Chris Lloyd.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Fiction, War, Poland, World War II

About the author

Aka James Douglas

Douglas Jackson turned a lifelong fascination for Rome and the Romans into his first novel, Caligula. He was born in Jedburgh, in the Scottish Borders and now lives in Bridge of Allan. He is an assistant editor at The Scotsman.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Read 4.5 STARS!**

This very engaging historical crime novel is the 2nd volume of the remarkable "Jan Kalisz" series.

At the start of the book you'll find a piece of poetry called "Bread" by Wladyslaw Szlengel, followed by a Glossary and Cast of characters, while at the back a very informative Author's Note should be taken notice of about the fighting Jewish Resistance in Warsaw in 1943.

The author's storytelling is excellent, all characters come vividly to life in this tale about war and its brutalities and horrendous killings, and wartime Warsaw comes also splendidly off the pages as a place of terror, chaos and death.

This book is set in 1943, and our main protagonist, Jan Kalisz, suppressed Kripo investigator and voluntary secret resistance fighter, must once again produce a balancing act in his bid to function and survive within this war of brutality, hunger and degradation.

The cases Jan Kalisz will be working on are threefold, on the one hand he must find the perpetrators of the murder of SS-Sturmbannführer Axel Weiss, at the same time act as a go-between for the Resistance and the Jews within the Warsaw Ghetto, while a mysterious figure, who's luring young children to their deaths, is also taking up some of his precious time.

What is to follow as a whole is a thrilling and engrossing WWII crime novel, with a great storyline and that will end with a wonderful executed conclusion, especially concerning the Jewish fighting resistance against the Nazis, and all this is brought to us in a most astonishing fashion by the author.

Very much recommended, for this is a splendid addition to this excellent and educational series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Bloody Gripping Jewish Last Stand"!

[Sarah-Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

I requested an electronic review copy of Blood Sacrifice because it caught my attention in not-always-comfortable ways. Caught my attention: an historical mystery set in occupied Poland and parts of the Warsaw Ghetto. Made me uncomfortable: an historical mystery set in occupied Poland and parts of the Warsaw Ghetto. When is such writing an act of respect? When is it an act of exploitation? The title plays off an antisemitic trope. But, the author has done his research and is trying to bring to life a moment in history that many have heard of, but that few know about in any detail: the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

Our detective in this case is Jan Kalisz, a non-Jewish pole who is active in the resistance, has connections in the Warsaw Ghetto, and is working as a police investigator for the occupying Nazi forces. His life is a juggling act that requires a faith in others that seems as if it would be impossible under the circumstances. Kalisz has mixed relationships with those in the German forces he works with. Some—like Salisz' supervising partner in the investigation the book focuses on—diligently investigate specific crimes with care, but still manage to avoid acknowledging ongoing Nazi genocide. Others hate Kalisz simply because he is Polish and are looking for any way to undercut him. His "handler" in the Polish resistance changes over time, but always presents him/herself by the same name. Kalisz doesn't know this person's identity, but still has to follow orders without question.

Douglas Jackson works to make those living in the Warsaw Ghetto into palpable, driven characters. Most acknowledge that they expect to die—and, based on that expectation, determine to take out as many Nazis as they can before their own end arrives. Kalisz faces constant pressure to provide more weapons to the Ghetto resistance, connecting with "high-end mobsters," those living rich lives that depend upon unscrupulous business dealings.

The mystery into the killing of a Nazi officer is less important to the plot than the day-to-day decisions Kalisz makes. The real mysteries are will he survive? and how successful will the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising be? If this approach to one of recent history's ugliest chapters interests you, I think you'll find Blood Sacrifice solid reading that creates fictional characters while relating real-world truths.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGally; the opinions are my own.

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new investigation for Jan Kalisz of the Warsaw Kripo

Investigator Jan Kalisz is a detective with the Warsaw Krupp. He continues his investigative life under deep cover, as a Nazi collaborator, whilst really an agent for the Armia Krajowa, the Home Army, Poland’s major resistance force. He has to be careful yet daring.
The tale centers around the final days of the Ghetto of Warsaw. The end is coming. The last Jews in the Ghetto are being rounded up and sent to places like Treblinka.
Kalisz has been investigating the murder of Axel Weiss, an accountant, the golden boy of the Gestapo. Weiss had been looking into Nazis who were feathering their own nest. The puzzling thing is Weiss has three identities.
Following that up puts Kalisz at odds with Kriminalassistent Hofle who before the war was a detective in Munich. Now he’s with the Krupp, when not moonlighting as an enforcer with the soldiers rounding up the Jewish residents of Warsaw and the Ghetto.
This story has us wandering around Warsaw, crawling down holes and through sewers as Kalisz’s investigation continues even as he is near to unraveling. Stark and hard hitting.
So many heroic people, so many deaths.

A Canelo ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A follow up book to “Blood Sacrifice”which I have also read. This one carries on with the story of Jan Kalisz, Warsaw detective and secret member of the resistance.
In this novel, Kalisz is investigating the murder of a SS black marketeer who has several identities, one of them leading Kalisz into the Warsaw Ghetto where he is able to help his friend Isaac with more arms for the Jewish resistance.
As if the ghetto dwellers don’t have enough to worry about there is a serial killer stalking young orphans and Kalisz is asked to find him by one of the resistance fighters.
The author describes the atmosphere of wartime Warsaw very well, the fear and violence is very pronounced and makes for a thrilling and edge of your seat read.
The irony of investigating murders in a society dedicated to murder of innocents is not lost on the reader.
The book is cleverly plotted and compelling to read leaving me wanting more which is always a good sign. Definitely a five star read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

[Renko Dekker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood Sacrifice is a gritty historical thriller in the heart of the Warsaw Ghetto in 1943. I received a copy from Canelo via Netgalley.

Douglas Jackson doesn’t shy away from the horrors of Nazi-occupied Poland, and the protagonist, Jan Kalisz—a Polish detective secretly working for the Resistance—navigates this world filled with horror, where every decision could mean death.

What I appreciated a lot was the meticulous historical detail. The setting feels painfully real. The tension is constant, not just from the murder mystery at the center, but also from the situation where Kalisz tries to serve justice while smuggling weapons to the Jewish resistance.

That said, the plot can feel a bit overwhelming at times. There are a lot of characters, and I occasionally wonderedvabout who was who. Still, the emotional weight of the story and the complexity of Kalisz as a character kept me engaged.

4/5 ⭐️

[Nick Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warsaw 1943 Nazi Germany has occupied the city, terrible things are happening to the Jewish population in a scenario where they are being robbed, starved and sent to the camps. Dark and desperate times. Kalisz is a Polish cop working with the Germans. Very few people know he is actually working secretly for the Polish resistance, but is in a position where the Nazis don’t fully trust him and the majority of Poles think he is a traitor. He’s working against the Nazis but constantly on the cusp of being discovered or killed as a traitor. Investigating the death of a German officer with multiple identities he has to contend with a serial killer and helping get arms into a defiant and starving population. Author Douglas Jackson nails this. Great for fans of Philip Kerr but this is no idle copy of that great series. Here the horrors of what happened in Warsaw are blended with the oppression of those caught in the middle of it all. Douglas Jackson is already an established and talented author and this is his second novel set in wartime Warsaw, and we are lucky enough to have two more books to come.

[Michael S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent 2nd book in Jackson's WW2 series, set in Poland in 1943. The hero is the indestructible Jan Kalisz, a Polish resistance fighter moonlighting as a cop, required to co-operate with the SS as they wreak havoc on Warsaw and in particular, the Jewish population. Recommended.

[Louise Fincham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent second book in this quartet. The scenes depicted of the destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto by the Nazis and the Jewish resistance are brilliantly portrayed. There are some nail biting moments and some intricate plotting. Very good writing.

[Mieczyslaw Kasprzyk · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's ok... better than the first in the series. A bit simplistic but entertaining.

[Martin Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better.

"Blood Sacrifice", the second book in the Warsaw Quartet, opens in early 1943, some three years after the events of "Blood Roses". Life for Jan Kalisz, Kripo investigator and secret Resistance agent hasn't got any easier, as the Nazi occupation of Poland continues. His double life, and his unwillingness to share his secret with his family or colleagues, is causing ill-feeling. When the body of a Gestapo officer is found, apparently the victim of a suicide, Kalisz is assigned the case, which suddenly becomes much more complex, when he discovers the man had three identities.

And so Kalisz and his partner are thrust into a situation where they are surrounded by enemies. And his work becomes even more complicated when children start disappearing, and the hunt for the culprit draws them deeper into the Warsaw ghetto, where a mysterious figure known as the Golem stalks the streets.

In fact much of the story centres on the Ghetto area of Warsaw - where Jews were kept in atrocious conditions, and regularly subject to purges and mass killings. As in his previous book, the author paints a dark, stark and fearful picture of the area, including details of how people survived and the resistance managed to make their stand. Kalisz promises to supply them with weapons, but is hindered by his ability to procure them and get them past the German guards. There are some chilling scenes when Kalisz confronts the Nazi occupiers, or more often, is forced to stand by and witness the atrocities, unable to help. He is forced to work with Gestapo, with gangsters, and the resistance, all the time watching his back, unable to fully trust anyone.

Like the previous book, this is a combination thriller and police-procedural story, which moves along at a brisk pace, and features some exceptional set scenes between Kalisz and others. Oh, and the ending? Let's just say, book three can't come quick enough for me.

This book will appeal to fans of the previous story, and those of Chris Lloyd, Simon Scarrow and Luke McCallin. Heartily recommended.

[Stefan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood Sacrifice is the second book in The Warsaw Quartet series by Douglas Jackson.

It is now 1943—January—and the Jewish people walled up within the Warsaw ghetto are being rounded up and sent to concentration camps or are slowly starving to death from rations reduction by the Germans overlords. To add to the already horrific circumstances within the walls of the ghetto, there is a hunter lurking in the shadows, preying on the young. Word in the ghetto is the hunter is a cannibal.

Investigator Jan Kalisz of Department V of the Warsaw Kripo is still managing to keep himself from being detected as a double-agent and continues to provide intel and weapons whenever he can as a vital member of the Polish resistance. It weighs heavily on Kalisz shoulders as he senses the ever present danger surrounding not only himself, but also his wife Maria and son Stefan.

SS-Sturmbannführer Axel Weiss—a member of the Gestapo who is very skilled at perform internal investigations into misappropriation of funds within the German war machine—is found hanging in his Warsaw apartment. What first appears to be a suicide quickly turns into a murder investigation with a lengthy list of would be suspects. Investigator Kalisz and his partner, Kriminalassistent Kurt Gersten are tasked with trying to figure out who killed Weiss. During their investigations, they discover that Weiss has multiple identities, which leads the two investigators to wonder just how loyal SS-Sturmbannführer Weiss really was.

Now Kalisz and Gersten have to carefully unravel the mystery of Weiss and his multiple identities to figure out who murdered him. They must also do so without getting themselves snared in the Gestapo net, or worse, killed in the process.

This book was just a good as Blood Roses, the first book in the quartet. I now await the release of the third installment in the quartet, which I believe is titled Blood Vengeance.

[Susie Helme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intrigue and excitement, fascinating character interactions, against a historical backrop
January 1943. As 50,000 Jews in the Warsaw ghetto prepare to ‘create a story that will never be forgotten’, double agent Jan Kalisz is prepared to supply them with weapons. Smuggling them into the ghetto will be difficult. The Jews are starving, but they have treasure to trade—gold, gemstones, Picassos.
Isaac Goldberg is ready to fight to the death. He tells Kalisz, ‘the Nazis will have us for breakfast; they’ll have you Poles for dinner’.
New Gestapo member, Axel Weiss, is found hanging, and the man had secrets—and multiple aliases. Was he investigating corruption in the expropriation the Jews or looking for a piece of the action? The SS are a danger; the ghetto is a danger, traitors are not tolerated. The King of the Ghetto, The Piano Man—the saviour of the Jews or another Nazi bloodsucker?
There is another threat, a cannibal targeting starving orphans, called The Golem.
The Warsaw Ghetto, just before the final blaze of martyrdom, is a powerful setting. The stories of persecution, as the Nazis exterminate the Jews one street at a time, painful to read, give the story unstoppable tension. The people who orchestrate this terror use euphemisms—‘taken the train’, ‘resettled in the east’—to dehumanise what they are doing, which only serves to accentuate it for the reader.
The timebomb in this story is horrific, and we feel it ticking on every page. Just when you think the stakes couldn’t be higher, it gets even more exciting.
Jackson is masterful at giving away information a bit at a time, keeping us hooked. We’re kept guessing the whole way through—Who are the good guys? Who are the collaborators? Who is hiding what secret? The complex social identities—Germans/Poles, Jews/Aryans, Nazis/Resistance, Zionists/Communists—make for fascinating character interactions.
Book 2 in the Warsaw Quartet.
This review first appeared in Historical Novels Review.

[Andy Wormald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second in the Warsaw Quartet following on from the acclaimed Blood Roses. Historical Noir at its finest. A crime novel but also a look at the historical events of the time, a thought provoking read that makes you stop and reflect

A gripping and at times haunting read, which had me engaged from the opening pages

Jan Kalisz returns returns as the investigaor working for the police department run by the Nazis whilst also risking all to help the resistance, you can see the dilemmas he faces and the emotions he goes through, daily he walks a tightrope, with one eye always on the lookout over his shoulder, always wondering if today will be his last

The attention to detail and research undertaken shine throughout this book, there is a strong overriding sense of place and time, the quality of the writing takes you to the heart of the story.

The characters are compellingly written, the way that the author makes you care for them is to be applauded

As Jan undertakes the investigation of a German officer he walks a tightrope in the search for the truth

A strongly written narrative, with just a few words, the author is able to create a deeply brooding atmosphere the scenes within the sewars come across as frighteninly realistic with a claustrophobic feeling of dread and despair, it reads like you are there yourself

In fact the whole book captures that sense of dread and fear that must have endured at the time, you can see it etched on the faces of the characters a sense of hoplesness at their situation, but the bravery shown to face upto the Germans, whilst the book deals with the harsh realities it is not without heart warming moments

A wonderfully paced book, with it slick plotting which enables the action to move around and plays into the dual role Jan has

There is a reason I consider Douglas Jackson to be one of foremost writers of historical fiction, he writes bloody good novels.

Highly recommend, though I would start with Blood Roses, i have the feeling that this series is going to be something special

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in Jackson’s excellent World War 2 series.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: 1943, Warsaw, Poland
Characters: Jan Kalisz, expert Kripo Investigator and other investigators of mixed competence and allegiances of the Warsaw police force, Kalisz family, the Polish resistance, and the cast of Nazi invaders
Overview: Kalisz is perpetually walking the tightrope between investigating crime for the Polish Police, maintaining distance from the harsh Nazi occupation, and working undercover for the Polish Resistance. The story in complex, with alternating plot lines of helping to supply guns to the resistance, solving the murder of a man with multiple identities, and attempting the nearly impossible task of tracking a man kidnapping children in the Jewish ghetto.
Recommendation: I rate this book 4 stars
Extras: This is not a book for everyone since the scenes of the occupation and the horrific conditions in the Jewish Ghetto are vividly described. This builds considerable suspense to the plot, particularly in the final chapters of the story. Although not necessary to have read the first book in the series, it would be helpful – plus, it is also an excellent story.
Thanx to NetGalley and Canelo for the opportunity to provide this candid review.

[All the King's Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read both books in this series back to back because they were so damn good. I agree that this series just keeps getting better. The depiction of occupied Warsaw is so unbelievably chilling and confrontational.

Honestly the detective/crime aspect is very lowkey here, it's really much more a historical fiction action/thriller. I would even say it's only there to allow the main character to go into the ghetto and share with us the horrifying experience of the Jewish population of the Warsaw ghetto during WW2.

The writing was really well done, Jackson really knows how to describe everything that went on in such a way that it leaves you shocked as you read the novel. It baffles the mind that such things really happened. The book was action-packed as it features a lot of the resistance against the Nazis, it was utterly compelling and suspenseful. Every page drips with a sense of impending danger, keeping you hooked and second-guessing what will happen next. The sense of dread is so intense, it’s almost like a character in itself, always present, always lurking.

As an immigrant in Poland myself, this was an excellent way to get introduced to some of the darkest chapters in Polish history.

[David Sharkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #2 of Jackson's Warsaw Quartet. It is now January 1943, three years since the Nazi occupation of Warsaw and the construction. Of the Warsaw Ghetto. Only 50,000 Jews remain, the rest having been sent to their deaths in Treblinka, under the guise of "resettlement".
The murder of a German Officer provides an opportunity for Kripo Investigator Jan Kalisz, as in a hidden compartment in the victim's flat they find evidence he held multiple identities, including that of a wealthy Jew. In his double life as a spy for the resistance, Kalisz has been asked to smuggle weapons to the Jews, and he now has a legitimate means of entering the ghetto. But whispers abound that the Nazis are amassing troops outside Warsaw, and the Ghetto may not be in existence much longer...
An excellent follow up to Blood Roses. Jackson's passion for history and ability to transport the reader into the thick of it is evident on every page. A difficult subject matter to write about, even more so to write fiction about, while remaining faithful to the subject, and respectful to the victims and their memories. His account of events feels real, his characters, their actions and emotions raw and enthralling.
I do so hope we get a new addition soon!

[Jo-anne Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Warsaw Ghetto is close to extinction. The Jewish population are aware that the Nazis will raze their homes and transport them to the death camps. However a small number are determined to go down fighting. For Kalisz, a case involving the supposed suicide of a German officer leads him to the heart of the Ghetto. There he is persuaded to supply the Resistance with weapons and also asked to look into the disappearance of some children. As the date of the expulsion grows closer, Kalisz finds himself trapped on the wrong side of the fence.
I did enjoy the first in this series of books and this is equally as good. I really like the details about the Warsaw Ghetto which have been meticulously researched. The crime almost seems like a secondary thing to this but is also well thought out. The desperation and cruelty of these times cuts through everything.

[David Mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I usually disregard reviewers who compare a contemporary writer to an author of legendary stature…Douglas Jackson has definitely picked up the torch lit by Philip Kerr. Along with capturing the sad and horrifying story of the Warsaw Ghetto, Jackson filled his novel with numerous unforgettable characters… good, bad and somewhere in-between. In addition, the ever-present tension of danger in the air, along with memorable and unexpected twists and turns, made this book nearly impossible for me to put down. My only disappointment is that I need to wait for the next book in the series to be published. Highly Recommended!

[GBL · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Warsaw Quartet featuring Jan Kalisz, a detective in the Warsaw police force, now working under the direction of the Nazi invaders.

The apparent suicide of a German officer is soon recognised as murder and the Warsaw police begin a delicate investigation into his death. The investigation involves trips into the Jewish Ghetto, allowing the author to describe the terrible suffering of the Jews trapped in the segregated community.

At times, this is a difficult read as Jackson describes the actions of the Nazi invaders on both the Jewish and Polish peoples. However, Jackson succeeds in creating a believable crime novel within the historical context.

[John Mccormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to the Author publisher's and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
This is the second book in this excellent series and while there are some references to the first book this book could be read as a standalone story, but my advice read book one first. Well written and researched atmospheric descriptive with superb characterisation throughout. This is storytelling at its best.
Completely and utterly recommended.

WARNING : Spoiler alert. The scenes in the sewers are gruesome at times but full of suspense and tension so much so that at times I found myself holding my breath.

[Dawn Lawrence Read_with_Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow this book was intense! Not only do the Jewish people in the ghetto have to deal with the Nazis they are also facing the prospect that there is a serial killer/cannibal roaming the ghetto.
This is a very dark time in history and it’s described and written very well. I enjoy WWII thrillers and this didn’t disappoint. It really had me gripped and I found it hard to put down. This is the first Douglas Jackson book I have read and it won’t be the last. Very much looking forward to exploring more from this author. Highly recommend it’s a great read for the historical thriller fans.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so suspenseful! The intense tension has been gripping me from the beginning, only increasing toward the conclusion of the novel! Brilliant characterization making the criminal investigation, the horrific setting of the ghetto very real and vivid. This novel is not only a police procedure: it is intimately embedded in the history of Warsaw and its ghetto. Some facts about the inside organisation were extremely interesting.... A great read!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read. Better than the first (which was good). Not a book you want to read if your tired, or not concentrating though. For a short book there is alot going on (which adds to the quality), and as you'd expect the predominate characters have grown considerably. A bit of 'faction' in this offering, with the ghetto uprising well known to most WW2 readers.
Not for the faint hearted, some of the descriptions in here, whilst probably believable do leave you feeling a little off at times. Can't wait for #3.

[Larry Epp · Rating 5 out of 5]

1943, January prior and during the elimination of the Warsaw ghetto. Investigator Jan Kalisz of Department V of the Warsaw Kripo continues with his double life, investigating crime and assisting Polish resistance. This one has to do with corruption in the Nazi ranks after an SS accountant is found in a murder staged as a suicide. Jan navigates the tough space between the suspicions of Nazi bosses, the Polish people and the Jews of the Warsaw ghetto.

[Leonie · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the history, the background of the Germans in Poland, the Warsaw Ghetto, the uprising and the Ghetto’s destruction, 5*. For the plot and for how I feel about Kalisz (he doesn’t feel real fully real to me), his wife (I liked her, but their ‘misunderstanding’? meh) and the various scenery-chewing characters? only just 3*.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story and an exciting finish .The author is one I havn't read a lot
of but he captured the atmosphere in the Warsaw Ghetto perfectly. The life in the
ghetto was horrific ,especially the escape through the sewers .
I look forward to reading more of his books

[Alasdair Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding

A fantastic story, I enjoyed the first book but this is even better. Several twists, set in a tragic part of history that should never be forgotten.

Recommend it to anyone

[Coolmom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another follow up book from Blood Roses- excellent read hard to put down. Well written with a whole cast of nasty characters to be the adversaries of our hero Jan Kalisc

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The description says it all - gritty and gripping. Just as good as the first book - even perhaps a little better!

[Benjamin John Tolley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chillingly brilliant depiction of occupied Warsaw. Starkly grim, but needs to be forever read and remembered due to the atrocities that were carried out.