The Forgotten Holocaust

Ben Hope #10

by Scott Mariani

The breathtaking new adventure starring Ben Hope

A lost, aimless and hard-drinking Ben Hope has wandered back to his old haunt in Ireland. The ex-SAS soldier is searching for peace, but trouble soon appears when Kirsten Hall, a young journalist, is brutally murdered right in front of him. Unable to prevent it, Ben is driven by guilt to hunt down the killers. All he has to go on is a handful of clues from Kirsten’s research – but how can the journals of Lady Stamford, the wife of an English lord during the time of the Irish Great Famine, have put Kirsten in mortal danger?

Ben’s quest for the truth leads him across the world and finally to Oklahoma, USA, where a deadly secret awaits. What connects the journals, a wealthy American politician and an intrigue surrounding the Irish famine?

What Ben uncovers is a shocking historical conspiracy linked to the deaths of some two million people: a veritable holocaust that time has all but forgotten. Those who are still profiting from the lies and corruption of the time, and who are ready to kill anyone to protect their secret, are about to pay . . .

Genres: Thriller, Adventure, Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Action

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 29, 2015

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

After painting Ben Hope into quite the corner throughout the last novel, Mariani is back with yet another instalment to the series. This forces Hope to pick up the shards of his life after a few illogical decisions have tipped the scales yet again. Hope is back in Ireland, visiting the location of a home he once owned. While there, he meets an aspiring author, Kristen Hall, who shares some of her research. Kristen explains that she is attempting to pen the first difinitive biography of prominent early feminist, Lady Elizabeth Stamford. Hidden within Lady Stamford’s private journals lies a secret that could change the perception of Irish history forever. Hope and Kristen meet early one morning and are attacked by a crew of men, leaving him in the hospital and her destined for the morgue. What could these men have wanted that was so important? Might the journal truly be filled with scandalous material that someone wants destroyed?Meanwhile, across the world in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Erin Hayes stumbles upon a group of men torturing and eventually killing a man in the cottage of her employer. What is even more troubling is that she recognizes the ringleader as the city’s mayor. She has a copy of the murder on her cellphone and tries to approach the authorities, but soon discovers that she may not be able to trust anyone around her, as this mayoral gang goes all the way to the top of law enforcement. Forced into hiding, Erin must try to reveal what she knows, which extends to something even more troubling than a simple murder. Back in Europe, Hope tracks down some of those whom Kristen was to meet for her research. He learns a great deal more about the time surrounding these journals belonging to Lady Stamford and the Irish Famine of the mid-19th century. Stunning revelations come to the surface during Hope’s discussion with a historian, truths that turn the Potato Famine into something far more sinister. The research takes him to Tulsa, where a number of Irish fled after supersaturating the Eastern Seaboard. There, Hope stumbles upon Erin and her plight, learning that their two ‘missions’ are somewhat interconnected. Armed with the journals and what he knows, Hope must try to help Erin before they are both exterminated and a crooked politician reaps even more power. A great historical spin by Mariani keeps the reader curious and should appeal to fans of the series.

After turning his back, again, on all those who care about him and a journey that would surely have kept him safe from any danger, Ben Hope is left unsure of himself or any choices he has made over the past few months. His ever-evolving character and its development becomes yet another focus in the series, unable to shed the glory of his formidable past. Mariani has stopped looking into Hope’s past and now seems to ask his protagonist to project his own future. Using the traditional ‘hinged narrative’ of the series, Hope meets and tries to help two young women with their issues, tossing himself into the middle of a dangerous situation amid a slew of gunfire. Still, he will not back down when a damsel turns up across his path, though it seems settling down with anyone in particular is out of the question for him. The story is of interest to me, positing a major rewrite from the Irish history books, which might force the reader to suspend reality to a point. However, there is much intrigue in accepting this narrative branch-off and it keeps the early part of the story alive and electrified. In the latter portion of the novel, the reader sees Hope dodging bullets and goons as has become his trademark, where there is no lack of heroics to be had. Hope strives to help and once convinced of a cause, little will deter him. Mariani keeps the reader intrigued with his plot twists and ongoing turns, though I still wonder how the fallout of his matrimonial gamble will play out for our dear protagonist. Hope seems to have thought it was a foregone conclusion that all would work in his favour, though I am curious to see what Mariani has planned.

Kudos, Mr. Mariani for allowing series fans a constant rejuvenation of Ben Hope and his adventures. I can only hope that you will keep the calibre this high as the series advances.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Ben Hope adventure. The body count is high though and he seems rather mercenary in this one. His personal life is falling apart and he throws himself into the latest mystery, based around the Irish Potato Famine, with scant regard for the lives of others. Despite that it’s a thrilling interesting ride as always and makes for a great read.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant read loved this thriller won this book on first reads well written book worth more than 5*.

[Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dual review with Swedish first and then English!

SWEDISH REVIEW

Först måste jag bara säga att den svenska titeln till boken är inte världens bästa. Hur The Forgotten Holocaust på svenska får titeln Dolda är för mig ett mysterium.

När det gäller berättelsen så var den bra, inte perfekt men jag fann att den till stor del funkade. Då detta är den första boken jag har läst skriven av Scott Mariani så tycker jag personligen att det var enkelt att komma in i handlingen trots att det var bok 10 i serien om Ben Hope. Jag gillar Ben Hope, han är en intressant karaktär. Nu har han "hemma" efter strul med ett inställt bröllop (kan förstå hans ex-fästmö) och det dröjer inte lång tid innan han hamnar mitt i ett mord som har rötter i det förflutna och som kommer att föra honom till Amerika där en kvinna ligger risigt till efter att ha bevittnat något hon skulle mått bra av att inte se.

Jag gillade boken handling. Det var intressant och tragiskt. Men jag tycker att boken förlorade farten runt slutet. Berättelsen funkade bäst när Ben arbetade med att lista ut sanningen om mordet och kom sanningen på spåret. Men när han kom till Amerika som kände jag att berättelsen inte alls flöt på på samma sätt som den hade gjort innan. Nog för att jag gillar spänning och action, men här fann jag att det pågick lite för länge. Dock så gillade jag upplösningen även om jag inte var överväldigad av den. Men jag gillade att man till slut fick svaret på varför så många behövde dö i boken, varför hemligheten var så viktigt att skydda.

Dolda är läsvärd och jag vill läsa fler böcker i serien och tursamt nog har jag en ebook att läsa, men jag lär väl inte komma till den fören 2020 med tanke på hur mycket jag har att läsa.

Tack till HarperCollins Nordic för recensionexemplaret!

ENGLISH REVIEW

I want to start by saying that the Swedish title for the book sucks! For some reason, they chose Dolda that means The Hidden as a title. How going from The Forgotten Holocaust to that one is a mystery to me.

As for the story, it was good, not perfectly good, but still enjoyable to read. As a first-time reader of Scott Mariani did the book work quite good, despite this being the 10th book and jumping into a series doesn't always work. But, this time, it did. I quickly found my footing and soon I was caught up in the story about mass murder and atrocity. Ben Hope is an interesting character, he hasn't been back home for a long time before he is pulled into a murder case with roots in the past that will take him to America and a woman that has witnessed something that she would have been better of not have seen.

I liked the big mystery, it was intriguing and tragic. However, I thought the story lost a bit of steam towards the end of the book. I think the story worked best for me at least when Ben was finding out the truth of the murder he couldn't stop at the beginning of the book. When he got to America the story just got a bit less engrossing. I usually like action, but this time, I found it a bit going on and on a bit too long time for my taste. I did like the last minute revelation when you get the big explanation to all the killing explained. Although I was not overwhelmed by it.

The Forgotten Holocaust was a good book. I want to read more of the books in the series and I do have an Ebook waiting for me to get to (around 2020 I think when I see my TBR mountain)

Thanks to HarperCollins Nordic for the review copy!

[Terence M [on a brief semi-hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! Inevitably, some are better than others but The Forgotten Holocaust, the tenth, is one of the best. It could also do well as a standalone thriller. Excellent!

[Syazwanie Winston Abdullah · Rating 5 out of 5]

For that plot twist in the end.
For me reading it in one seating.
Mariani never fails.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book as always by Scott Mariani. Ben Hope is my huge crush! I love reading the Ben Hope stories, always full of excitement, twists and turns and good story lines. Well researched by Scott and never fails to get my heart racing (that might be Ben!)

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was another brilliant book in the series. I've already purchased the next book in the series and look forward to reading it soon.

[D.S. Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

'But what really pained him was that he’d failed to protect someone who was vulnerable, who needed his help.'

Ben Hope is alone and drinking himself silly back in Ireland. After he walked out on his wedding to Brooke to help Roberta, all his close family including Jude have disowned him.

Ben meets a young journalist who may have a huge story but she gets slaughtered right in front of him.

Ben then does what he does best and he finds out the who and the why. This journey takes him to Tulsa, America where he ends up embroiled in a corrupt mayors affairs and his dark heritage secrets that date back to 1800's Ireland.

'The land in Ireland is infinitely more peopled than in England; and to give full effect to the natural resources of the country, a great part of the population should be swept from the soil.”'

Another action packed story with some brilliant twists 👌

[Clive Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those 'turn the switch to 'Action!' Put a foot on the accelerator, and it's full speed ahead. Murder, mayhem, murky historical shenanigans, and suitably evil and despicable henchmen and their bosses being satisfyingly dispatched. Great fun.

[Robert Bradberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew?

What do an Irish potato famine, Tulsa Oklahoma, and
Ben Hope have in common? If you guessed The Forgotten
Holocaust you nailed it. Along with the five-star heroics of
our heartbroken hero this is another Mariani gem.

[Ray O'Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 star from start to finish - couldn't put it down

[Douglas Misquita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good ole Ben Hope. Reliable. Relatable. Balanced. While Jack Reacher lumbers through everything, Ben Hope is in a dune buggy - racing, determined. Scott Mariani does not overwhelm his readers with too much history or conspiracy. Instead, he blends it in the mixer just right.
Am sure gonna read more of Ben Hope. My hope rides with him. I want to see something great happen to him and hope he settles down contended with a nice life ahead of him. That's how much I relate to the character.

[Alan Marston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben has given up all connection with his previous business as such - there is no contact with Val in France whatsoever in the book. The love of his life, Brooke, has left him. He has sold his home in Ireland and it is now a hotel that he visits for a drink, and, yes, he has hit the bottle. Not an auspicious start.
In a somewhat inebriated state he is unable to protect a young lady with whom he fell into an interesting conversation in which she hinted at something that she had discovered. He is very lucky not to be killed himself, but that escape sends him on a mission to discover what the young lady died for. It is quite a sad, almost melancholy start to the book, but about a third of the way through the story suddenly takes off and, for a while, is really gripping. The start of the plot centres on the potato famine in Ireland, but there are significant ramifications that come about in the USA in which much of the second half of the book is set.
However, the book does not hold up for me because the latter half of it involves a great deal of mayhem in which the odds are so heavily stacked against Ben that there should really be no hope (not a pun!) of his being successful. However, successful he is, bringing down some very important players in the arms for sale, and the drugs worlds.
I did not feel that it was as good as some of its predecessors, and I would look to see if the previous standard can be repeated.

[Pili · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admito que el gran interés que desde el año pasado me despertó la historia de la República de Irlanda pudo haber influido en mi valoración, pero me resultó muy original construir un crimen/misterio ficticio alrededor de un hecho histórico real. También disfruté mucho la inteligencia que puso en autor en construir la secuencia narrativa para conectar a los dos personajes principales, quienes iniciaban el relato cada uno en un continente distinto.
La estrella que falta para alcanzar la puntuación perfecta es por lo irrelevante que, en mi opinión, resultó la trama secundaria y a la "oportunidad desperdiciada" de haber dedicado dos páginas más al final para cerrar bien las consecuencias del desenlace.

[Christopher Everest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good hero. Good series. However.... perhaps counter-intuitively I think he lacks a touch of "philosophy". I know that is a strange request for an adventure-thriller series but I believe Jack Reacher has it and the great noir writers with their lone heroes stalking the mean streets had it. I would like to see Ben Hope "warmer". Yes he can kill, and very effectively but didn't he study Theology at one time. I would like more justification than rage or protection of innocents. Having said that I love the books and would always continue to buy them. I just think that the character could be on the verge of becoming (whisper it) literary fiction. Let Ben think Scott - he can do it.

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read anything by this author beofre - but will do now. I really enjoyed this thriller - full of the right amount of twists and turns to keep my on the edge of my seat! This book is great for escapism - curl up with this and a good cup of tea and you'll loose a good few hours! The main character of Ben hope was well written, and it's story based around the potato famine in Ireland, an unfamiliar part of history to me, but now I feel I should go and find out more. I think either males or females would enjoy this book - highly recommend!

[Gene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent novel from the mind of Scott Mariani. Beginning with the murder of a journalist, and using the Great Famine as a foundation stone in building the plot, Mariani takes the reader from Ben Hope's former home in Ireland across the world to Oklahoma. There he confronts a political world of corruption and evil deeds, and the final solution to the murder of the journalist. This novel continues the saga of Benedict Hope and his struggles with his personal world. I would recommend this novel without reservation.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picking up the pieces of his life, haunted by drinking and self-neglect and taking up residence in Ireland near his former home, “The Forgotten Holocaust” opens as troubled ex-SAS soldier Ben Hope stumbles into a mystery after futilely trying to prevent the murder of young journalist Kristen Hall. With nothing more than clues from her research on Lady Elizabeth Stamford, the wife of an autocratic English Lord during the devastating 18th century Irish Famine, Hope sets out to find her killers.

Meanwhile in Tulsa Oklahoma Erin Hayes, assistant to Angela McCrory who’s the director of the Desert Rose Trust as well as wife of the mayor Finn McCrory, witnesses a brutal murder at her boss’s summer cottage. Forced into hiding after notifying the police, the storylines merge when Hope pursuing a lead from Lady Stamford’s journals and a connection to Finn McCrory stumbles across Erin running from the mayor’s assassins.

Fast-paced and action-packed with shootouts and fiery explosions, intensity and suspense quickly escalate as Hope uncovers a link between the Irish Potato Famine, and a wealthy American politician who will do anything to hide a secret in his family’s past. Well-written and intriguing the plot weaves together history, genocide, conspiracy and dark secrets that have Hope failing to protect one victim, turning his life around, and doggedly determined to protect another.

Among a host of characters infusing tension and high energy into this story are freelance kidnap rescue specialist Ben Hope who’s observant, a risk-taker, thrives on danger and empathetic to those in trouble.; astute and wary Erin Hayes; and sinister, deceptive, smooth-talking Finn McCrory. An exciting page-turner, this smoothly choreographed thriller progresses all too quickly to an ending that promises an eleventh book.

I thoroughly enjoyed “The Forgotten Holocaust” and intend to read other novels in the Ben Hope series.

[Sue Morcumb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story from Scott Mariani about the infamous Ben Hope, the forever hero and good guy, he is always pulled into something but manages to survive but he is alone in his life and it leads into him into doing some jobs that he would be better not doing, he is a really nice guy, full of conscience and caring, does not use force unless he has too, but he does not just go around shooting people because they are wrong, he is methodical in his approach to a violent situation and usually gets all the right guns etc to do the job, he always seems to do things on his own and thinks nothing of going into a gang of 8 or 10 and sorting them all out and without a gun or knife in place, and at the end of about 5 mins they are wishing they had not taken on Ben Hope, a truly nice guy who needs TLC and to know where life is going for him. A great story and always a heart-stopping a moment or two when you think that Ben has been killed, but he always rises up for another day at the deep end of sorting out the bad guys

[Balthazar Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben Hope is in a low state without a home, a job, a girlfriend or any direction in his life. He is staying at cottage near his old place on the west coast of Ireland thinking things through and drinking. His old place has been turned into a guest house.

One the guests is violently killed not long after sharing time with Ben and he fails in his attempt to help her. It kind of resets things for him and he sets out to find those responsible for her death. It's a task that takes him to Madeira and then onto the USA and into the history of Ireland where in uncovers a truth that has been hidden for over a century. In his task to find the killers he comes up against people as good as himself, o he use to be, so he has to pick up his game or things might not turn out in his favour.

This is classic Ben Hope, standing up for the underdog. But it's also a ruthless and violent version. It all makes for a good read that mixed history, action and travel.

[Tamil · Rating 4 out of 5]

10th installment in the Ben Hope series. In this book Ben is broken like anything after breakup with Brooke. The matter he thought he can convince Brooke for running away from their marriage goes haywire. After resented by everyone including his son and sister he starts drinking too much and going out of his track. With no idea of where to go, he visits his old house in Ireland. There fate is waiting for him with another adventure. He got obliged to avenge for the death of a stranger with whom he spent few hours of chit chat. On retracing the steps of the victim he finds out a historical truth which was hidden for more than a century Which still had the potential to stir the world. He further goes to find out the link between this story and the killers. As usual a fast paced action filled typical Ben Hope book from Scott Mariani.

[Randhir · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first Ben Hope book I've read but it's sparked my interest and I intend to go through the series. Not doing too well, Hope retreats to his cabin on a lonely Irish coast where he meets a writer, who is murdered soon after. Bent on finding out why, Hope starts a search, based on her research and discovers the truth behind the Irish Potato Famine of mid 19th century which wiped out 1/5th Irish population and forced another million to migrate. The descriptions of the famine are truly horrendous. Hope's search leads him to the Caribbean and then to Oklahoma, where he meets a feisty heroine and unravels a plot of murder, greed and ambition. The prose is easy and keeps you glued, though the tendency to turn the hero into a superman is required to be curbed. The last chapters lead to the climax and one is unable to put down the book.

[Jaume Ayala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again, Ben is being apart of everything in a remote location just drinking and thinking about his life when woman in trouble cross his way and gets him involved in a situation.
Background story this time is related to "great Famine" in Ireland and people who causes it (I checked in Wikipedia while Great Famine is a terrible disaster happened in Ireland, there is absolutely no mention to any man intervention) coming to current dates.
Building up the foundations of the past, Ben reach an old diaries and it's little hard reading cross this old story but I can understand it's needed for a beeter understading of the story.
I cannot imagine how Ben is still able to rent a car wherever story is taking him since all of them are destroyed and also where's his money coming from to travel and host himself all across the Globe... but well, this is just a story

[Kym Hamer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read #9 and I think that made reading The Forgotten Holocaust all the better for me. It's the pacy combination of history and thriller that I enjoy and even though I knew that Ben Hope would save the day, I was still gripped by the twists, turns and revelations in the plot. I would have given this a 4-star rating but for a couple of things. Firstly there were some turns of phrase (the plane 'overflew' the harbour) that had either been missed in the editing or were just odd and these made the reading clunky in places. There were also times when I think a few less adjectives would have been in order. However if you are not plugged in by that sort of thing, I'd recommend this as an absorbing page-turner with short chapters perfect for commuting.

[Garry F · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, but it’s nothing like the first books in the Ben Hope series, the early books were excellent, they showed a personal life which made you want to get the next book to continue to see what would happen next, from about the 6th or 7th book Ben has had turned into an English ‘Jack Reacher’. I’m sad to say I don’t think I will continue with this series of books which is a shame because they started so well.

[Warren Thoms · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
A few more deaths in this one than i can remember from the last few. If you have like the series to this point, i think that you will like this one. It is a very interesting theory about the reasons behind the potato famine in Ireland that took place in the late 1800s. This book made me want to learn more about the famine which is something that i really like in books. They can sometimes give you some history but it is up to you if you want to go into more depth.

[Josue · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book I read from him was The Mozart Conspiracy in Spanish, which helped me get involved with reading again. I would love to experience those feelings again. His writing is so immersive and fast-paced. Very glad that I discovered Ben Hope. It's a character to remember and follow lifelong. I couldn't put this book down. I completely engaged with each character, and I wasn't expecting the twist at the end; I can only say it's good to see Ben Hope again. See you soon, pawl!

[Beach Bum · Rating 3 out of 5]

A more violent Jack Reacher

It's taken me 10 books to realize, that Ben is just a violent version of Reacher. The same morals and similar outlook on life, just more intense
They are good stories, similar to the early Reacher books, thankfully not like the more recent ones
Short version is, if you like Reacher, you'll love Hope