The Watchmaker's War

by Danny Ben-Moshe

A new beginning. An old enemy. A perilous choice. 'With so many stories untold, The Watchmaker's War is a unique and wonderful telling of one of how after liberation peace doesn't automatically follow, particularly peace of mind for those who witnessed and experienced so much evil. To be human is to desire justice - or is it revenge? - for your family, your friends, your people' Heather Morris, author, The Tattooist of Auschwitz When Yakov Holtzman arrives in Melbourne - about as far away as he can possibly get from the graveyard that is Europe - he puts behind him the years he spent in the forests of Lithuania as a leader of the resistance, fighting the Nazis. He has come to join his brother - his only surviving family member - and start a new life as the watchmaker he once was. Yakov looks for solace - and love - in the fragile, traumatised community of Jewish refugees taking root in a new land. But when swastikas, threats and, most frightening of all, the faces of old enemies appear on the streets of suburban St Kilda, his new-found peace is shattered. Fierce instincts are reawakened in Yakov, and he knows he must act. But how can justice - or revenge - best be served? And will Yakov's drive to destroy his enemies overtake him too, and leave his new life in ruins? Based on a true story, The Watchmaker's War is a gripping, high-stakes tale of Nazi hunters in Australia and the war criminals they pursued - killers with links to the highest levels of Australia's spy agency. It offers profound insights into the lingering trauma of genocide, posing difficult questions about competing desires for peace and vengeance, and how far a victim should go in the pursuit of justice when the authorities fail to act. PRAISE 'Can we ever really escape the past? A haunting thriller about old enemies, wounded hearts and rough justice. Spellbinding' Michael Visontay, author of Noble Fragments 'A rattling good story told against a factual backdrop' Mark Aarons, investigative journalist, former executive producer Background Briefing, ABC Radio; author of War Criminals Australia, a Sanctuary for Fugitive War Criminals since 1945; and co-editor of Nazis in The Special Investigations Unit, 1987-1994 'The Watchmaker's War captures a fascinating, lesser-known chapter of World War II history that deserves attention and will particularly appeal to readers of Australian historical fiction in the vein of John Byrnes' Megan Koch, Books+Publishing 'This is an incredible story of tragedy and revenge based on real life events in the shadow of the tragedy that was the Holocaust' Rob Minshull, former journalist, BBC World Service; and former senior producer, SBS and ABC Radio, Australia 'This is a gripping novelisation that explores a side of the Holocaust that persisted long after the war's end, just when tentative shoots of hope were taking hold. It shines a spotlight on a dark chapter in Australian history, when Nazi war criminals found refuge in the suburbs of Australia' Konrad Kwiet, Professor Emeritus, Macquarie University; former chief historian to the Australian War Crimes Commission; and resident historian at the Sydney Jewish Museum 'Danny Ben-Moshe has written a suspense-filled story of a Jewish survivor's search for revenge against Lithuanian war criminals who had participated in the Nazi killing fields and had migrated to Melbourne after the war. Based on a true story, the novel highlights the pain and trauma experienced by Jewish Holocaust survivors and their efforts to create a new life in Australia. Yet, the shadow of the Holocaust hangs over them and some cannot escape the desire for revenge' Suzanne D. Rutland OAM, Professor Emerita, University of Sydney; and author of The Jews of Australia and Edge of the Two Centuries of Jewish Settlement in Australia 'Danny Ben-Moshe's brilliant new novel, a classic saga stretching from Holocaust-era Vilna to the shores of post-war Melbourne in Australia, brings to the...

Genres: Historical Fiction

412 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2026

Reviews

[Book My Imagination · Rating 4 out of 5]

~These round ups always happen in the middle of the night, to catch the ghettoes residents by surprise. He can hear gunshots and women's screams sounding through the streets. For nearly two years now, be has watched as the ghetto has been gutted of it's residents.~

⌚️..THE WATCHMAKER'S WAR..⌚️
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by: @danny_benmoshe
pub: @harpercollinsaustralia

Reading historical fiction is a favourite of mine, and a lot of them centre around WW2.
I am always fascinated by the history & research of the book and look forward to the author's notes at the end.
This book whilst fictional is steeped in truth and real events.

The author has written these events into a thrilling and sometimes poignant story.
A story of unimaginable loss, love, redemption, revenge, new beginnings and new friends.

Yakov and his brother Benny are all that is left of their family after the Holocaust.
Resettling in Australia gives hope and promise.
As watchmakers, they can start a business, work, contribute to this country that has given them a safe harbour.
But what happens when the people they are trying to escape also resettle here?
And what, if anything will the authorities do when they realise their mistake?

Imagine being resettled far away from your home, with no family, no friends, nothing but a small suitcase and then realise you are in the same area as the Nazis that killed your family and millions more?
This is the reality of what so many faced.
The author has written a book that gives us facts mixed with fiction in a very suspenseful and compelling story.
And his notes at the back are very interesting and left me quite shocked.

Many thanks to the publisher and author for my copy, and for my inclusion in the @harpercollinsaustralia
BOOKSTAGRAM BOOK CLUB

[Pousali Ghosh (thispandareads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a heartfelt read, the journey of the two brothers escaping the dire conditions of their homeland, to then be the only surviving family for each other and then settling in a new country far from home, was something you won’t be able to forget long after you’ve finished the book. The worst part is, this is still happening today for many people across the world. War only benefits the rich and people seem to forget that. I loved that fact that this book speaks about assimilating after the war is over, because it’s hard to come out of all the trauma, loss and grief let alone settling in a new country. The anger and need for revenge and justice doesn’t settle so easily and it can easily ruin their life. I love that the book explored these complicated feelings. And explored how these feelings can stay for entire lifetimes.

Yakov arrives in Melbourne to start a new life after the war, far away from the horrors erupting in Europe. He didn’t realise he would face those exact people who he was running away from, who terrorised and killed not only his family but countless of others. While his brother Benny wants to stay far away from those people, it’s not easy for Yakov, especially as crimes start happening against his community. That’s when he picks up the job again, and restarts his Nazi hunting. Will the need for revenge and justice make him blind and destroy his current life in the process?

A terribly haunting story based on real life.

So grateful to HarperCollins Australia for a copy of this book, it will stay with me for a long time.

[Hevsie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an extremely interesting read based on true stories that’s left me wanting to do a deep dive and investigate further.

While I was hooked on wanting to know how this story ended and wanted to see revenge served, as well as being interested in reading about what life was like for the Jewish community that immigrated to Australia after World War II - I just didn’t vibe the writing style, especially the dialogue. Was very stiff, factual and unnatural, constantly pulling me out of the story.

You can bet I’m watching the documentary tonight though!

[Caren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't realised at first that this was a novel, based on a true story but nonetheless fictional. Therefore, I had to readjust my expectations.

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf)]

Review to come