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American Reich: A Murder in Orange County, Neo-Nazis, and a New Age of Hate
A New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice | From the Pulitzer-winning author of the New York Times bestseller The Nazis Next Door
A deeply reported exploration of the violent resurgence of hatred and white supremacy through the lens of Orange County, California—“ground zero” for racial extremism—and the story of one brutal murder there that revealed the deep roots of violent bigotry as a bellwether for the country.
One night in early 2018, while he was home from college, an Ivy League student named Blaze Bernstein snuck out of his parents’ house in Orange County. Waiting for him in a car outside was an old high-school Sam Woodward, someone who Blaze mostly remembered as a brooding, bigoted loner. But that night, after months of flirtatious messaging, Sam had succeeded in coaxing Blaze—a gay, Jewish sophomore at UPenn—out for a rendezvous. No one would ever see him alive again.
In American Reich, veteran investigative journalist Eric Lichtblau uses the story of Blaze’s life and death to shine a light on the epidemic of hate in Southern California and, increasingly, the nation as a whole. Orange County has long been a bastion of the carved out of farmland as a haven for wealthy whites fleeing the diversifying metropolis to the north, it was the birthplace of the far-right John Birch Society, a hub for neo-Nazi recruitment, and a powerful springboard for race-baiting Republican politicians including Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. But in the years leading up to Blaze’s disappearance, Orange County was like the country as a whole, it was rapidly diversifying, to the outrage of many of its white residents. No one was more opposed to the changes than America’s resurgent neo-Nazi groups, one of which had recently gained a new Sam Woodward.
Revealing how Orange County has exported racial hatred to the rest of the country and the world, American Reich weaves this tragic tale together with stories from across the nation, showing what this haunted place and the colliding paths of two of its residents reveal about America's fractured soul and our hope for healing.
A deeply reported exploration of the violent resurgence of hatred and white supremacy through the lens of Orange County, California—“ground zero” for racial extremism—and the story of one brutal murder there that revealed the deep roots of violent bigotry as a bellwether for the country.
One night in early 2018, while he was home from college, an Ivy League student named Blaze Bernstein snuck out of his parents’ house in Orange County. Waiting for him in a car outside was an old high-school Sam Woodward, someone who Blaze mostly remembered as a brooding, bigoted loner. But that night, after months of flirtatious messaging, Sam had succeeded in coaxing Blaze—a gay, Jewish sophomore at UPenn—out for a rendezvous. No one would ever see him alive again.
In American Reich, veteran investigative journalist Eric Lichtblau uses the story of Blaze’s life and death to shine a light on the epidemic of hate in Southern California and, increasingly, the nation as a whole. Orange County has long been a bastion of the carved out of farmland as a haven for wealthy whites fleeing the diversifying metropolis to the north, it was the birthplace of the far-right John Birch Society, a hub for neo-Nazi recruitment, and a powerful springboard for race-baiting Republican politicians including Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. But in the years leading up to Blaze’s disappearance, Orange County was like the country as a whole, it was rapidly diversifying, to the outrage of many of its white residents. No one was more opposed to the changes than America’s resurgent neo-Nazi groups, one of which had recently gained a new Sam Woodward.
Revealing how Orange County has exported racial hatred to the rest of the country and the world, American Reich weaves this tragic tale together with stories from across the nation, showing what this haunted place and the colliding paths of two of its residents reveal about America's fractured soul and our hope for healing.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
January 11, 2026
Remember back in the day, when we'd watch Indiana Jones and it was a fait accompli that the Nazis would get their comeuppance and we'd all be so happy that they did? I miss simpler times.
Instead of then, we are here now. Eric Lichtblau gives us a tour through this uneasy time with his book, American Reich. Ostensibly, the book is about a specific murder in Orange County, CA. This crime was perpetrated by Sam Woodward who killed former classmate Blaze Bernstein for being gay. However, this case takes up very little page count. Mostly, Lichtblau tells the story of the exponential explosion of hate crimes in the U.S. over the past twenty or so years. To his credit, the author does tie many of these directly to Orange County and it is riveting overall, but not always. To his discredit, Lichtblau gives way too much time and attention to Donald Trump.
Now before anyone throws a hateful comment my way (which would be very ironic), I don't care if you think Donald Trump has anything to do with the rise in hate crimes. My objection is not with his inclusion in the book, but rather how much time Lichtblau spends laying everything at his feet. He is meticulous in documenting many things Trump has said. However, I kept wanting him to get back to the actual case this book is about or at least Orange County specifically. Admittedly, I am just sick of seeing his name shoehorned in a lot of books lately. To be clear, though, Lichtblau does not shove him in here unnecessarily. There are valid reasons, if not a requirement, to bring him up in this narrative. I just object to how much attention he gets overall at the cost of other avenues of investigation.
As an example, Lichtblau mentions how there is a worrying amount of Neo-Nazism in the military. As a former servicemember, I wanted a bit more on where and how much. My own experience did not align with his reporting (which of course means next to nothing, as my own experience is completely anecdotal), which made me want the author to dig in and show as much research and attention as he did with Trump.
In the end, while I have that one major issue with the text, I overall enjoyed the book. Lichtblau didn't win a Pulitzer by accident and his research is top-notch when he shows you the goods. Shining a light on this aspect of our current climate is vital, and this book is worth your time.
(This book was provided as a review copy by Little, Brown and Company.)
Instead of then, we are here now. Eric Lichtblau gives us a tour through this uneasy time with his book, American Reich. Ostensibly, the book is about a specific murder in Orange County, CA. This crime was perpetrated by Sam Woodward who killed former classmate Blaze Bernstein for being gay. However, this case takes up very little page count. Mostly, Lichtblau tells the story of the exponential explosion of hate crimes in the U.S. over the past twenty or so years. To his credit, the author does tie many of these directly to Orange County and it is riveting overall, but not always. To his discredit, Lichtblau gives way too much time and attention to Donald Trump.
Now before anyone throws a hateful comment my way (which would be very ironic), I don't care if you think Donald Trump has anything to do with the rise in hate crimes. My objection is not with his inclusion in the book, but rather how much time Lichtblau spends laying everything at his feet. He is meticulous in documenting many things Trump has said. However, I kept wanting him to get back to the actual case this book is about or at least Orange County specifically. Admittedly, I am just sick of seeing his name shoehorned in a lot of books lately. To be clear, though, Lichtblau does not shove him in here unnecessarily. There are valid reasons, if not a requirement, to bring him up in this narrative. I just object to how much attention he gets overall at the cost of other avenues of investigation.
As an example, Lichtblau mentions how there is a worrying amount of Neo-Nazism in the military. As a former servicemember, I wanted a bit more on where and how much. My own experience did not align with his reporting (which of course means next to nothing, as my own experience is completely anecdotal), which made me want the author to dig in and show as much research and attention as he did with Trump.
In the end, while I have that one major issue with the text, I overall enjoyed the book. Lichtblau didn't win a Pulitzer by accident and his research is top-notch when he shows you the goods. Shining a light on this aspect of our current climate is vital, and this book is worth your time.
(This book was provided as a review copy by Little, Brown and Company.)
June 16, 2025
ARC for review. To be published January 6, 2026 (I see what you did there.)
5 stars
A look at the rise of white supremacy (as well as other types of hate) after 2015, specifically in Orange County, California, and set in the frame of the 2018 case of two former high school classmates. Blaze Bernstein, a gay, Jewish student at Penn, snuck out of his Orange County home to meet with Sam Woodward, a loner from his high school who had been messaging him flirtatiously. Blaze was never seen alive again.
Lichtblau examines the conservative/Republican political history of Orange County (which is slowly changing) and how the emergence of Donald Trump has caused an increase in hate crimes against essentially every minority group; they have nearly doubled their n a decade and three out of every four offenders is a white male.
This was incredibly depressing, but so important. It’s impossible to deny the numbers, the things that Trump is on record as saying and the statements of young, white, Christian, straight men who cite Trump as their reason for committing their crimes. Anyone who thought that the fact that we, as a country, elected Barack Obama President meant that we had crossed over into some post-racial wonderland needs only to look to what has happened since to understand the precipice on which this country exists. Recommended.
5 stars
A look at the rise of white supremacy (as well as other types of hate) after 2015, specifically in Orange County, California, and set in the frame of the 2018 case of two former high school classmates. Blaze Bernstein, a gay, Jewish student at Penn, snuck out of his Orange County home to meet with Sam Woodward, a loner from his high school who had been messaging him flirtatiously. Blaze was never seen alive again.
Lichtblau examines the conservative/Republican political history of Orange County (which is slowly changing) and how the emergence of Donald Trump has caused an increase in hate crimes against essentially every minority group; they have nearly doubled their n a decade and three out of every four offenders is a white male.
This was incredibly depressing, but so important. It’s impossible to deny the numbers, the things that Trump is on record as saying and the statements of young, white, Christian, straight men who cite Trump as their reason for committing their crimes. Anyone who thought that the fact that we, as a country, elected Barack Obama President meant that we had crossed over into some post-racial wonderland needs only to look to what has happened since to understand the precipice on which this country exists. Recommended.
June 6, 2025
I received a copy for review. All opinions are my own. A terrifying yet realistic look into how dangerous this country has become when it comes to hatred and bigotry. This is not simply a true crime book about Blase Bernstein’s tragic end, this is a book that is giving us all a long hard look at the state of the country and how unacceptable it is that hatred has become so normalized. I was really proud of the author for the research done and how well everything was explained. This book will touch you in your core. A must read for every American.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
DNF @ p115
The research is impeccable but I just couldn't finish this book. It's dark and scary.
Thank you to Eric Lichtblau, Little, Brown and Co., and NetGalley for an accessible digital copy of AMERICAN REICH. All views are mine.
The research is impeccable but I just couldn't finish this book. It's dark and scary.
Thank you to Eric Lichtblau, Little, Brown and Co., and NetGalley for an accessible digital copy of AMERICAN REICH. All views are mine.
January 22, 2026
There is a lot of interesting stuff in this book but the book is too long and too broad. The book feels unmoored trying to cover way too much ground -- but also feels an obligation to return to the main murder. I think this one needed a much more exacting editorial eye.
December 10, 2025
This book uses a hate crime committed in Orange County, CA, to then zoom out and illustrate the rise of overt white supremacy in the USA as a whole. In 2018, Blaze Bernstein, who was Jewish and gay, was murdered by a former classmate who was raised to be homophobic and subsequently joined hate groups on the Internet and in person.
I was unaware that Orange County is one of the most bigoted counties in the country, and the multiple stories relayed from this county were horrifying. As well, the author (and the dangerous young men he profiles) draw a direct link from Trump’s rhetoric since 2015 to the subsequent rise in white supremacist groups and hate crimes. There are no answers here as to how to fix things, but it’s clear that hateful, violent rhetoric leads to real harm and lost lives. A depressing but necessary read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown for allowing me to read an ARC of this title.
I was unaware that Orange County is one of the most bigoted counties in the country, and the multiple stories relayed from this county were horrifying. As well, the author (and the dangerous young men he profiles) draw a direct link from Trump’s rhetoric since 2015 to the subsequent rise in white supremacist groups and hate crimes. There are no answers here as to how to fix things, but it’s clear that hateful, violent rhetoric leads to real harm and lost lives. A depressing but necessary read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown for allowing me to read an ARC of this title.
February 23, 2026
It's just not my cup of tea. Reading about loser American neo nazis just grinds my gears. They really never have blue eyes and blonde hair huh. I don't believe in races, but Americans yapping about racial purity truly are the biggest mutts on earth.
January 24, 2026
I am short on words for this writing. It is powerful, brutal, but necessary reading if you care for others!
January 14, 2026
"It’s hard to believe there’s that much hate."
This book centers on the murder of Blaze Bernstein (RIP), a gay, Jewish young man, committed by a former classmate Sam Woodward, a neo-Nazi in Orange County California, which unbeknownst to me is a hot bed of white supremacist hate. The book goes into some details about this case and many other hate crimes commited around the country, most of them connected in some way to the various hate groups that have gained lots of traction since the 2016 election. The author argues that our country is seeing a nationwide rise in bigotry, violence and white supremacy that hasn't been seen since the days of the Civil Rights Movement, often instigated by the current President's venomous racial and ethnic rhetoric.
This is not an easy book to read and it doesn't offer any answers, but is is informative, well written and well worth the reading time.
This book centers on the murder of Blaze Bernstein (RIP), a gay, Jewish young man, committed by a former classmate Sam Woodward, a neo-Nazi in Orange County California, which unbeknownst to me is a hot bed of white supremacist hate. The book goes into some details about this case and many other hate crimes commited around the country, most of them connected in some way to the various hate groups that have gained lots of traction since the 2016 election. The author argues that our country is seeing a nationwide rise in bigotry, violence and white supremacy that hasn't been seen since the days of the Civil Rights Movement, often instigated by the current President's venomous racial and ethnic rhetoric.
This is not an easy book to read and it doesn't offer any answers, but is is informative, well written and well worth the reading time.
February 2, 2026
White supremacists, Nazis, and the rest of Trump’s supporters are all SUCH LOSERS.
October 6, 2025
CW for this book: hate, racism, anti-Semitism, sexism, homophobia, violence, Trump.
This review is based on an ARC received from NetGalley. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this copy in exchange for my honest review.
While this book deals with a lot of very public issues, the act of tying all of these tragedies to one place and using one tragedy as the catalyst for the larger discussion makes this more of a propulsive story, rather than simply an academic or purely journalistic discussion of hate and white supremacy in America.
And while there will certainly be complaints from the MAGA and Trump supporters in America, this book tells an incontrovertible tale about Donald Trump's complicity, if not direct responsibility for much of the increased violence associated with hate. While hate has always existed, it has been increasingly normalized and welcomed by this administration and that man. There is an enormous amount of information here to convince even the most fence sitting person that Trump and Trumpism (along with social media) are harming America and giving comfort to the most violent and hateful amongst us.
This review is based on an ARC received from NetGalley. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this copy in exchange for my honest review.
While this book deals with a lot of very public issues, the act of tying all of these tragedies to one place and using one tragedy as the catalyst for the larger discussion makes this more of a propulsive story, rather than simply an academic or purely journalistic discussion of hate and white supremacy in America.
And while there will certainly be complaints from the MAGA and Trump supporters in America, this book tells an incontrovertible tale about Donald Trump's complicity, if not direct responsibility for much of the increased violence associated with hate. While hate has always existed, it has been increasingly normalized and welcomed by this administration and that man. There is an enormous amount of information here to convince even the most fence sitting person that Trump and Trumpism (along with social media) are harming America and giving comfort to the most violent and hateful amongst us.
February 14, 2026
Given the current state of affairs in the US today, this book was always going to be a tough read [and it very much was ] and I do not think I was totally prepared for all that is contained in this book. The title [I feel ] is misleading; the author does write about the crime mentioned in the title, but he barely stays there and instead does a deep dive into the world of hate and neo-nazism, both in Orange Country and in the US as a whole, who perpetuates it, and how it affects everyone today and THAT makes it an excruciatingly difficult book to read [even more than I had anticipated ]. I had to take huge breaks reading this [all whilst watching what was happening in Minnesota and elsewhere, which is the very epitome of hate being perpetrated by the current administration **] and at several points, was not sure I would be able to finish it [I was able to, but I was left...conflicted ].
Deeply unsettling and filled with imagery that will shock and horrify you [** ], it will absolutely make you think, and will also stay with you for a long time.
Thank you to NetGalley, Eric Lichtblau, and Little, Brown, and Company for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Deeply unsettling and filled with imagery that will shock and horrify you [** ], it will absolutely make you think, and will also stay with you for a long time.
Thank you to NetGalley, Eric Lichtblau, and Little, Brown, and Company for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 21, 2026
I don’t give a lot of five-star ratings. For me, five stars means a book really sticks with me, one I keep thinking about and want other people to read. American Reich absolutely fits that.
This is not an easy or uplifting book. It’s honestly pretty scary. Lichtblau tells the story of the murder of Blaze Bernstein in Orange County, and it’s horrific on its own, but what makes it even more disturbing is how clearly he shows the real presence of neo-Nazi groups and the radicalization of young white men—right here in suburban America.
As someone who lives in Orange County, this book really shook me. These things weren’t happening “somewhere else.” They were happening in parks, neighborhoods, and streets close to home, to people who don’t look like me. It forced me to think hard about my own white privilege and how easy it is not to notice these dangers if they don’t directly affect you.
The book is well researched and clearly written, and it has a strong emotional pull without feeling over the top. Lichtblau also doesn’t shy away from making connections between the rise in hate groups and Trump-era politics. MAGA supporters won’t like that, but he makes a compelling case that’s hard to completely dismiss.
This is a tough read, but an important one. It stayed with me long after I finished it, and I’ll definitely be recommending it to others.
This is not an easy or uplifting book. It’s honestly pretty scary. Lichtblau tells the story of the murder of Blaze Bernstein in Orange County, and it’s horrific on its own, but what makes it even more disturbing is how clearly he shows the real presence of neo-Nazi groups and the radicalization of young white men—right here in suburban America.
As someone who lives in Orange County, this book really shook me. These things weren’t happening “somewhere else.” They were happening in parks, neighborhoods, and streets close to home, to people who don’t look like me. It forced me to think hard about my own white privilege and how easy it is not to notice these dangers if they don’t directly affect you.
The book is well researched and clearly written, and it has a strong emotional pull without feeling over the top. Lichtblau also doesn’t shy away from making connections between the rise in hate groups and Trump-era politics. MAGA supporters won’t like that, but he makes a compelling case that’s hard to completely dismiss.
This is a tough read, but an important one. It stayed with me long after I finished it, and I’ll definitely be recommending it to others.
February 1, 2026
The scariest, most depressing book I've ever read. Very well-researched and well-written... but terrifying and bleak as heck. When all this hate and backwards thinking is laid out in front of you like this, it's hard to feel any hope for the world. It's so hard to understand how anyone can hate other people this much, but it's important for us to know that it's happening and even getting worse. I just wish this book had focused more on how to turn this kind of thinking around, rather than throwing hate crime after hate crime at us with barely a chance to catch our breath.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing the ARC for review consideration.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing the ARC for review consideration.
Read
January 25, 2026Frightening is an understatement. It boggles my mind that we collectively seem to be forgetting that Nazi’s were the bad guys. This book describes the rise of neo-Nazi’s and other hate groups in the United States while focusing primarily on the murder of a Jewish gay man in Orange County by a follower of this ideology. The book gets a bit off-course in a few places keeping it from a higher rating but is well-worth reading.
February 25, 2026
"But the bulk of the victims remain anonymous and faceless, except perhaps for the color of their skin; just statistics on a grim chart growing longer by the day."
This book uses the brutal murder of Blaze Bernstein who was stabbed 28 times by neo-Nazi Sam Woodward to analyze the alarming rise of white supremacist extremism and neo-nazis in the United States over the last decade and how the hatred converts into violence.
This book uses the brutal murder of Blaze Bernstein who was stabbed 28 times by neo-Nazi Sam Woodward to analyze the alarming rise of white supremacist extremism and neo-nazis in the United States over the last decade and how the hatred converts into violence.
February 11, 2026
The research that was done for this book is amazing and so in depth. This is an amazing book about how white hate groups have become more emboldened and larger in numbers over the past 10 years or so. It is a very depressing and upsetting read, but one that people need to read. When you question how so many people allowed for Nazi Germany to become a thing, this is how.
February 7, 2026
I thought this book was well-written and impressively researched. Lichtblau does an excellent job shining a light on the underground world of right-wing reactionary extremist white nationalism, and on the hate crimes perpetrated by neo-Nazis in the U.S. over the past several decades. Reading it was a strange experience for me, because I watched almost all of the events described in the book unfold in real time.
Unfortunately, in the final three pages Lichtblau attempts to frame post-October 7 hate violence as an extension of neo-Nazi extremism, and it’s a clear display of cognitive dissonance. The discussion is cursory, omits one of the most heinous recent hate crimes (the murders of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky), and fails to grapple with the reality that antisemitic hatred has more than one ideological source (or even to acknowledge a broader “horseshoe” problem.) Three pages at the end simply does not do justice, and the book would have been stronger without that section. That said, this was solid and an important read, & I recommend it.
Unfortunately, in the final three pages Lichtblau attempts to frame post-October 7 hate violence as an extension of neo-Nazi extremism, and it’s a clear display of cognitive dissonance. The discussion is cursory, omits one of the most heinous recent hate crimes (the murders of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky), and fails to grapple with the reality that antisemitic hatred has more than one ideological source (or even to acknowledge a broader “horseshoe” problem.) Three pages at the end simply does not do justice, and the book would have been stronger without that section. That said, this was solid and an important read, & I recommend it.
January 14, 2026
This book examines white supremacy almost exclusively in Southern California, with the throughline being about the murder of Blaze Bernstein. All of the information in this book was incredibly well researched, and very informative, but I struggled with the focus of the book. It jumped around a bit, and I didn't feel like there was enough about Sam Woodward (the man who killed Blaze) to make that the main storyline. I feel like this could have been restructured to make a bit more sense for the reader, but overall still a very good (and terrifying) read.
Thank you to LIttle, Brown and Company and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to LIttle, Brown and Company and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2026
Yes. Orange County, California. ...California. One of the most conservative places in America. Wild the amount of Neo-Nazi hate coming out of there; as well as for the rest of the country. It is oddly weird how so much hate and violence and negative psychological emotions stem from people holding MAGA signs. But there is one more interesting dilemma happening. The Far-Right is the land of Stephen Miller. That group is extremely antisemitic. And Trump world is the most Pro-Israel party in the history of Isreal. That is going to clash sooner rather than later and I'm here for it
January 21, 2026
This investigation offers a chilling look at the surge of hate crimes across the United States, with a specific, sharp focus on the rising tensions in Orange County.
It doesn't shy away from the 'why,' tracing a direct line between the rhetoric of extreme right-wing leaders and the real-world violence targeting marginalized communities.
It’s a sobering reminder that words have consequences, and 'local' issues are often part of a much larger, dangerous national trend.
It doesn't shy away from the 'why,' tracing a direct line between the rhetoric of extreme right-wing leaders and the real-world violence targeting marginalized communities.
It’s a sobering reminder that words have consequences, and 'local' issues are often part of a much larger, dangerous national trend.
February 16, 2026
While this book was obviously well researched and elucidated, it was one of the most bothersome and disturbing books I’ve read. I wished it weren’t true, although I’m absolutely sure it is. Bothersome.
August 10, 2025
Excellent and intriguing book on the rise of hate crimes and the white supremacy movement. While not exploring the motivations behind young white men joining these ultra extremist and violent often neo-Nazi groups, the mounting evidence of assaults, bating actions and murder shows that regardless of the reasons, these men believe they are being assaulted by people who want to destroy the white race - with really no truthful evidence of that. The author does a great job of showing how easy it is to be indoctrinated - but also how some people leave these nasty groups. I think this is an important book and highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this ARC.
February 2, 2026
It seems to be a sad part of the human condition that there will always be those among us who harbor baseless hatred for entire groups of people. Maybe because they have a different skin color, a different gender, or a different religion. Maybe because of their sexual orientation or national origin. Sometimes it’s over something even dumber than that, like political affiliation or favorite football team. Whatever the cause, there are some people who are primed for hate and they will happily accept any excuse to target someone with it.
In 2018, college sophomore Blaze Bernstein was visiting his parents in Orange County, California, when he was lured out of the house by an ex-high-school classmate and brutally murdered. That young man, Sam Woodward, had a long history of antisocial, racist, and homophobic behavior, of which Blaze was well aware, but the text messages indicating that Sam had long harbored a secret crush on him made him wonder whether the hostility had been a mask for something more complicated. Perhaps it was. Either way, after having played similar “pranks” on other gay men in the past, this time, Sam escalated his sadistic pattern, stabbing Blaze repeatedly.
In American Reich, author Eric Lichtblau traces the lives of both men and the various points when their paths crossed. Sam was taught to hate at an early age by his father and older brother, and kept to himself in school, only occasionally attracting attention by espousing racist vitriol. Blaze, by contrast, was creative, outgoing, Jewish, and gay—traits that placed him squarely in Sam’s sights. After high school, their trajectories diverged sharply: Blaze thrived, while Sam descended deeper into militant extremism, eventually aligning himself with violent white‑supremacist networks.
In alternating chapters, Lichtblau also traces the recent rise of domestic terrorism in America, most of it spurred on by hatred of people deemed “other”, and often only a few degrees of separation away from Sam and the people in his immediate orbit. Orange County has long been a hotbed of the worst kinds of far-right rhetoric with a history of hosting neo-Nazi organizations, and the author posits that all played a part in this terrible tragedy. It’s downright chilling to read about the various groups working to spread their vicious ideology throughout the United States. Some of their members would very likely stand out in a crowd, but in many cases they could be among your neighbors, moving unseen, and plotting violence of varying severity.
I’m not entirely convinced that it’s all satisfactorily tied together, but the result is still gripping and deeply unsettling. The murder at the book’s core is especially affecting, as Lichtblau makes sure to properly humanize both the victim and the perpetrator, especially taking care to honor the legacy of the former. As hate is pushed more and more into the mainstream of American life, packaged as content, amplified by algorithms, and fed back into public life, it’s increasingly important to be reminded of stories like these. Hopefully in doing so, we will be better prepared to stamp it out when we see it and prevent more senseless deaths from occurring.
Originally published on AFPL Journal
https://afpljournal.com/2026/02/02/bo...
In 2018, college sophomore Blaze Bernstein was visiting his parents in Orange County, California, when he was lured out of the house by an ex-high-school classmate and brutally murdered. That young man, Sam Woodward, had a long history of antisocial, racist, and homophobic behavior, of which Blaze was well aware, but the text messages indicating that Sam had long harbored a secret crush on him made him wonder whether the hostility had been a mask for something more complicated. Perhaps it was. Either way, after having played similar “pranks” on other gay men in the past, this time, Sam escalated his sadistic pattern, stabbing Blaze repeatedly.
In American Reich, author Eric Lichtblau traces the lives of both men and the various points when their paths crossed. Sam was taught to hate at an early age by his father and older brother, and kept to himself in school, only occasionally attracting attention by espousing racist vitriol. Blaze, by contrast, was creative, outgoing, Jewish, and gay—traits that placed him squarely in Sam’s sights. After high school, their trajectories diverged sharply: Blaze thrived, while Sam descended deeper into militant extremism, eventually aligning himself with violent white‑supremacist networks.
In alternating chapters, Lichtblau also traces the recent rise of domestic terrorism in America, most of it spurred on by hatred of people deemed “other”, and often only a few degrees of separation away from Sam and the people in his immediate orbit. Orange County has long been a hotbed of the worst kinds of far-right rhetoric with a history of hosting neo-Nazi organizations, and the author posits that all played a part in this terrible tragedy. It’s downright chilling to read about the various groups working to spread their vicious ideology throughout the United States. Some of their members would very likely stand out in a crowd, but in many cases they could be among your neighbors, moving unseen, and plotting violence of varying severity.
I’m not entirely convinced that it’s all satisfactorily tied together, but the result is still gripping and deeply unsettling. The murder at the book’s core is especially affecting, as Lichtblau makes sure to properly humanize both the victim and the perpetrator, especially taking care to honor the legacy of the former. As hate is pushed more and more into the mainstream of American life, packaged as content, amplified by algorithms, and fed back into public life, it’s increasingly important to be reminded of stories like these. Hopefully in doing so, we will be better prepared to stamp it out when we see it and prevent more senseless deaths from occurring.
Originally published on AFPL Journal
https://afpljournal.com/2026/02/02/bo...
February 3, 2026
Thank you to Little, Brown & Co and NetGalley for the ARC. (I received said ARC after the publication date, hence the delayed review.)
We're living in dark times, folks. This isn't news to a lot of people, but I'm saying it anyway. Lichtblau uses the murder of Blaze Bernstein as a case study and framing device for the surge of Nazi hate groups over the past 10-15 years; the book is about Blaze, but not entirely, because there honestly isn't that much TO this murder. It is horrific but fairly quickly and easily solved. There is no big mystery here. But it is a textbook example of how entitled members of the fascist groups feel to killing the people they senselessly hate. Other people are covered in brief at high levels, but the book is rather an avalanche of evidence rather than deep dive into any single group, ideology, or path to radicalization. This isn't a criticism--I think that's exactly what Lichtblau was going for, to say "This is not unusual and you can tell by how common I can show this to be"--but rather a setting of expectations for anyone looking to read this.
As usually seems to be the case with books like this, the people who actually need the lesson probably aren't going to read it. It's rather a "preaching to the choir" situation. The people who are likely to pick up this book are probably already aware of the rise and dangers of fascist Nazi hate groups, but alas, this is the world we (in the US, at least) currently live in. That said, there is probably some new info in here that people might not have realized. I, for example, had no idea of how deeply conservative Orange County is; I am definitely someone who associates SoCal as being fairly liberal. But I live in DC, which is currently occupied by National Guard and in the midst of having Trump's name slapped on every building he can think of, while civilian civil rights advocates are being murdered by federal agents in other parts of the country, so the situation as a whole isn't exactly a shock. I hate it...but I'm also not surprised.
We're living in dark times, folks. This isn't news to a lot of people, but I'm saying it anyway. Lichtblau uses the murder of Blaze Bernstein as a case study and framing device for the surge of Nazi hate groups over the past 10-15 years; the book is about Blaze, but not entirely, because there honestly isn't that much TO this murder. It is horrific but fairly quickly and easily solved. There is no big mystery here. But it is a textbook example of how entitled members of the fascist groups feel to killing the people they senselessly hate. Other people are covered in brief at high levels, but the book is rather an avalanche of evidence rather than deep dive into any single group, ideology, or path to radicalization. This isn't a criticism--I think that's exactly what Lichtblau was going for, to say "This is not unusual and you can tell by how common I can show this to be"--but rather a setting of expectations for anyone looking to read this.
As usually seems to be the case with books like this, the people who actually need the lesson probably aren't going to read it. It's rather a "preaching to the choir" situation. The people who are likely to pick up this book are probably already aware of the rise and dangers of fascist Nazi hate groups, but alas, this is the world we (in the US, at least) currently live in. That said, there is probably some new info in here that people might not have realized. I, for example, had no idea of how deeply conservative Orange County is; I am definitely someone who associates SoCal as being fairly liberal. But I live in DC, which is currently occupied by National Guard and in the midst of having Trump's name slapped on every building he can think of, while civilian civil rights advocates are being murdered by federal agents in other parts of the country, so the situation as a whole isn't exactly a shock. I hate it...but I'm also not surprised.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First, I want to say for Blaze - May his memory be a blessing.
I received an early copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
I rated this book 4.25, but you can't use decimals on Goodreads, so a 4/5 it is. The beginning of the book was a little slow for me to get into, but I am glad that I kept reading. I knew the author had received Pulitzers for his books in the past, so I figured I just needed to adjust to his writing style. Once I found my groove with the way that he conveyed information, I couldn't put the book down. This book looks at the rise of Right-Wing Nationalism and White Supremacy in Orange County through the lens of the murder of Blaze Bernstein, fitting it in the broader social context of Orange County and the US in general. And how that hate crime is indicative of a larger systemic issue within American society.
Despite Timothy McVee and other right-wing terrorists, the United States has largely ignored the problem of these, almost exclusively white, violent perpetrators. This book discusses the consequences of that decision and how it, along with the rhetoric of President Trump, has created a resurgence of this kind of hate and violence. Focusing on Orange County, it gives a clear picture of what is happening there currently and charts the path of how we got there. The permissions that are being granted to those individuals and how they are being emboldened by the relaxing of regulations on social media and dog whistles in media and political speeches.
I would recommend this book if you liked Homegrown by Jeffrey Toobin or if you are interested in a sobering look into an aspect of American society that needs to be brought out of the shadows and into the light.
I received an early copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
I rated this book 4.25, but you can't use decimals on Goodreads, so a 4/5 it is. The beginning of the book was a little slow for me to get into, but I am glad that I kept reading. I knew the author had received Pulitzers for his books in the past, so I figured I just needed to adjust to his writing style. Once I found my groove with the way that he conveyed information, I couldn't put the book down. This book looks at the rise of Right-Wing Nationalism and White Supremacy in Orange County through the lens of the murder of Blaze Bernstein, fitting it in the broader social context of Orange County and the US in general. And how that hate crime is indicative of a larger systemic issue within American society.
Despite Timothy McVee and other right-wing terrorists, the United States has largely ignored the problem of these, almost exclusively white, violent perpetrators. This book discusses the consequences of that decision and how it, along with the rhetoric of President Trump, has created a resurgence of this kind of hate and violence. Focusing on Orange County, it gives a clear picture of what is happening there currently and charts the path of how we got there. The permissions that are being granted to those individuals and how they are being emboldened by the relaxing of regulations on social media and dog whistles in media and political speeches.
I would recommend this book if you liked Homegrown by Jeffrey Toobin or if you are interested in a sobering look into an aspect of American society that needs to be brought out of the shadows and into the light.
January 28, 2026
The book title seems like an attempt to lure true crime fans in with the promise of a procedural breakdown of a case, but this is more of a sweeping review of racism in America and its fallout. The bulk of the book covers the history of white supremacist groups and the rise of hate crimes and the motivations behind the crimes. Very well researched and written.
‘There was a Sikh quotation that Kaleka had learned years earlier…’The tongue is like a sharp knife; it kills without drawing blood.’ Kids in America grew up learning just the opposite sentiment, with the old adage: sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me. But anyone battered by slurs and insults, the kind that flew off the stage from Wade Page’s neo-Nazi bands before his rampage, knew it wasn’t true. To Kaleka, the Sikh sentiment about the deadly power of the tongue seemed to reflect all the hatred coursing through America…’
‘…as political scientist, Robert Pape began to dig into the data...a very different explanation emerged: Most of the rioters came to Washington that day from places that Biden had won, not Trump, and their defining feature in terms of demographics was that they hailed from counties where the proportion of the white population was shrinking rapidly compared to that of non-whites. The more the white population had shrunk the more likely it was to send riders to the Capitol… The declining proportion of the white population had a ‘galvanizing effect’ on the rioters…the storming of the Capitol driven in part by ‘rival cleavages and white discontent’ with the changing diversity in their hometowns.’
‘There was a Sikh quotation that Kaleka had learned years earlier…’The tongue is like a sharp knife; it kills without drawing blood.’ Kids in America grew up learning just the opposite sentiment, with the old adage: sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me. But anyone battered by slurs and insults, the kind that flew off the stage from Wade Page’s neo-Nazi bands before his rampage, knew it wasn’t true. To Kaleka, the Sikh sentiment about the deadly power of the tongue seemed to reflect all the hatred coursing through America…’
‘…as political scientist, Robert Pape began to dig into the data...a very different explanation emerged: Most of the rioters came to Washington that day from places that Biden had won, not Trump, and their defining feature in terms of demographics was that they hailed from counties where the proportion of the white population was shrinking rapidly compared to that of non-whites. The more the white population had shrunk the more likely it was to send riders to the Capitol… The declining proportion of the white population had a ‘galvanizing effect’ on the rioters…the storming of the Capitol driven in part by ‘rival cleavages and white discontent’ with the changing diversity in their hometowns.’
January 8, 2026
Blaze Bernstein was a 19 year old sophomore, attended the University of Pennsylvania and flourishing. Over winter break he decided to come home to visit his parents in Orange County, CA. While he was home, he searched on his dating app, and found someone that he was interested in. Unfortunately, that would be the last person to see him alive. Not knowing at the time, that this man was someone that knew Blaze was Jewish and also Gay. He joined the man in the car and was later found dead and buried in a shallow grave in a park.
Samuel Woodward was 20 years old and knew Blaze from the high school they both attended. Samuel, who was raised to be homophobic and pure white race associated, subsequently joined a Neo-Nazi and far-right extremist group. He was “hunting” for men on the gay dating app. He relayed text messages to his friends in this extreme group about the killing of Blaze.
I did not think I was going to like this book as much as I did. It was very interesting and relevant to current events. The author did a tremendous job on taking this horrible situation, not only bringing awareness to Blaze’s story, but also the local extreme Neo-Nazi recruitments in this area.
My thanks to Little, Brown and Company, The Author, as well as NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of American Reich.
Samuel Woodward was 20 years old and knew Blaze from the high school they both attended. Samuel, who was raised to be homophobic and pure white race associated, subsequently joined a Neo-Nazi and far-right extremist group. He was “hunting” for men on the gay dating app. He relayed text messages to his friends in this extreme group about the killing of Blaze.
I did not think I was going to like this book as much as I did. It was very interesting and relevant to current events. The author did a tremendous job on taking this horrible situation, not only bringing awareness to Blaze’s story, but also the local extreme Neo-Nazi recruitments in this area.
My thanks to Little, Brown and Company, The Author, as well as NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of American Reich.
February 16, 2026
I'm a bit closer to 3.5 stars. While this is obviously extensively researched and well-written, the narrative lacks a little focus and becomes something like a laundry list of every crime that's been committed in the last 25 years. It ended rather abruptly and on a bit of a weird note. What disappointed me the most was that the author did not present any sort of solution or way out of the mess he had so clearly elucidated. Other than briefly suggesting part of the problem was lack of action from social media companies on hate speech, the author didn't seem to be calling for a solution of any particular kind, which leaves me feeling mostly depressed without much hope. I also think it could have been interesting to talk about how easily we slide into fascism of this nature and how quickly one can become desensitized to such violence. Despite living through almost all of these events, I found that I had forgotten some of them, or hadn't remembered how disturbing or violent things actually were. That's so interesting to me, and I think worth unpacking, especially as I consider myself to be relatively well-informed. I would guess that this isn't uncommon, and I think the author could have explored a little more people's reactions to and the media's treatment of such crimes and if that contributes to them becoming so common place.
January 23, 2026
American Reich by Eric Lichtblau is a deeply unsettling and meticulously researched examination of the resurgence—and persistence—of neo-Nazi and white supremacist movements in the United States. Rather than treating extremism as a fringe or historical anomaly, Lichtblau convincingly argues that these ideologies have long operated in plain sight, often with alarming proximity to mainstream institutions.
The book’s greatest strength is its investigative depth. Drawing on court records, government files, and years of reporting, Lichtblau exposes how white supremacist groups have adapted over decades—rebranding, networking, and exploiting legal protections to survive and, in some cases, thrive. His reporting on the failures and blind spots of law enforcement and federal agencies is particularly compelling, revealing patterns of minimization and missed warnings that feel disturbingly familiar.
Lichtblau’s writing is clear and accessible, making complex networks and historical developments understandable without oversimplifying them. The narrative maintains tension despite its nonfiction format, especially when tracing connections between seemingly isolated actors and broader ideological movements. For readers interested in domestic extremism, civil rights, or national security, this book is both informative and sobering.
Where American Reich falls just short of five stars is in its structure. At times, the sheer volume of cases and names can feel overwhelming, and certain sections read more like an extended dossier than a cohesive narrative. A slightly tighter thematic organization might have strengthened the overall flow.
Still, this is a powerful and important work—one that underscores how dangerous it is to underestimate extremist movements or view them as relics of the past. American Reich is not just history or reportage; it’s a warning, grounded in evidence, that demands serious attention.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
The book’s greatest strength is its investigative depth. Drawing on court records, government files, and years of reporting, Lichtblau exposes how white supremacist groups have adapted over decades—rebranding, networking, and exploiting legal protections to survive and, in some cases, thrive. His reporting on the failures and blind spots of law enforcement and federal agencies is particularly compelling, revealing patterns of minimization and missed warnings that feel disturbingly familiar.
Lichtblau’s writing is clear and accessible, making complex networks and historical developments understandable without oversimplifying them. The narrative maintains tension despite its nonfiction format, especially when tracing connections between seemingly isolated actors and broader ideological movements. For readers interested in domestic extremism, civil rights, or national security, this book is both informative and sobering.
Where American Reich falls just short of five stars is in its structure. At times, the sheer volume of cases and names can feel overwhelming, and certain sections read more like an extended dossier than a cohesive narrative. A slightly tighter thematic organization might have strengthened the overall flow.
Still, this is a powerful and important work—one that underscores how dangerous it is to underestimate extremist movements or view them as relics of the past. American Reich is not just history or reportage; it’s a warning, grounded in evidence, that demands serious attention.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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