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Duty and Betrayal #3

After the Betrayal

Berlin, 1941. As Nazi power tightens its grip across Europe, quiet acts of resistance become acts of extraordinary courage.

When Ludwig returns home unexpectedly, he discovers that Greta has been hiding Jews in the basement. Lily, Rebecca, Leib, and Ruth are no longer safe. With danger closing in, they must flee before Ludwig’s loyalty to the Party destroys them all.

Determined to secure his son Ziggy’s advancement within the Nazi ranks and eager to be rid of Valeria, Ludwig sends them both to Auschwitz for a job interview, hoping they will settle in Poland. But what awaits them there is far more dangerous than either of them understands.

Meanwhile, Wanda, August’s nanny, notices that the child is not developing as expected and brings her concerns to Ludwig’s attention. Her discovery sets off a chain of devastating consequences that will change everything.

As the world around her descends into fear and betrayal, Greta finds herself torn between the life she has been forced to endure and the love she longs to claim with Hermann. But in a time when every secret can mean death, choosing love may be the most dangerous act of all.

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2026

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About the author

Roberta Kagan

73 books691 followers
I’m an American writer of Jewish and Romany decent. I write Historical Fiction and Historical Romance, most of which is set during the holocaust. Although I never discount the horrors of the time period, the main focus of my work is on ordinary people who prove to be strong heroic characters in unfathomable circumstances.

Facebook Author page:
http://www.facebook.com/Rkagan4

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5 stars
211 (71%)
4 stars
64 (21%)
3 stars
15 (5%)
2 stars
4 (1%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Julie MacKay.
368 reviews18 followers
September 7, 2026
This is the third and last book in a series. I read the second book, but not the first. We were left with a bit of a cliffhanger at the end of the second book, making us want to read on to know what would happen next. There’s not a lot that I can share about the plot without spoilers, so I will leave it at that.

It’s a WWII historical fiction book, and it certainly doesn’t hold back on the horrors and atrocities that happened. Be prepared to be shocked! The story always kept me interested and I was engaged in wanting to know how things would develop, but I didn’t feel emotionally connected, which is perhaps a good thing as some of the events were rather heart-breaking for the characters.

My only criticism is that the writing style is fairly straightforward, describing events as they happened, but not creating much atmosphere or depth. The dialogue also felt a bit stilted or unnatural to me. However, the story itself was strong enough to counteract this criticism.

A great book for fans of WWII historical fiction who are in the mood for reading a harrowing story. Not a book to read when you are wanting something light-hearted! I recommend it.

Thank you to Book Whisperer and NetGalley for sharing an advance reader copy of this book with me. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Heather Copping.
715 reviews15 followers
September 21, 2026
This is the third book in the "Duty and Betrayal " series, if you haven't read the previous two books I would truly recommend reading them.

In the prologue Rebecca is feeling terrified about what she is about to do, and that she will be responsible for the death of the people on the train. As she hides in the trees she is absolutely scared about what is about to happen. But all of a sudden there are two Nazi soldiers holding them at gunpoint, telling them to remove the bomb, but before they could do anything the train was speeding towards both them and the bomb!

Chapter one starts in October 1940 and Greta is pleeding with her husband not to go down to the cellar of their house. She knows there are jews hiding down there as she put them there, she has to stop her husband entering the cellar. But as he enters the cellar he slips and knocks himself unconscious and in revenge one of the Jews slashes his face with a knife. Now Greta is in a real problem. As time goes on the problem gets worse and Greta is in a real dilemma.
Greta and her friend Ruth are two of the main characters in this book, whose lives are entwined till the end of the book.

The story follows the lives of many people who care deeply for each other and their only hope is to be able to survive.

A book full of action that certainly keeps your attention right from the very beginning. Some parts are really difficult to read about because they cover the atrocities that happened to the Jews but it really makes you realise what happened to so many. There are many moments in the book when it becomes heartbreaking to read and you can't help but be moved by all their stories. You will definitely need a tissue at the ready. Definitely a worthy five-star read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Book Whisperer.
I received an advance review copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review.

#Netgalley
#AfterTheBetrayal
#BookWhisperer
#RobertaKagan
Profile Image for Eunice R.
263 reviews4 followers
September 16, 2026
Manifold are the stories that have been untold, but do unfold in historical works of fiction such as Roberta Kagan can create. This After the Betrayal is a prime example. It is timeset in Hitler's Germany during WWII. Atrocities and cruelty abound even among members of an SS Officer's family against whom the 'weaker' members suffer. Despite that, we are told of kind and caring Germans who stuck their necks out to hide, protect and care for Jewish people. Both ends of this spectrum are seen in this book.

Although this book can be a stand alone, it would be helpful to read Books 1 and 2 in this Duty and Betrayal Series to draw and weave the ends together in greater pleasure and enjoyment. Either way, we meet good folks like Greta, Ziggy, Hermann, Lily, Ruth, Rebecca and others; and the not so good, like Ludwig and Alex. Each expose their true characters.

We learn of the dangers of those who hid folks in their homes, of the Partisans and other groups of resistance people, with their varying successes and devastating consequences. We learn of Hitler's sadistic project against those with disabilites: anything NOT Aryan and 'whole'.

As Kagan masterfully weaves her story, I often felt maximun emotional impact. I believe potential readers would come to 'feel' some of what those characters portraying the strife of those days revealed, even down into their souls. The author keeps the kettle boiling with the pathos the whole way through, adding a well executed ending.

5-Star rating, from me.

~ Eunice C. Reviewer/Blogger ~

September 2026

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent to me by NetGalley and the publisher.
4 reviews
September 17, 2026
Book 2 ended with a cliffhanger. I picked up Book 3 hoping for a quick payoff. Ms. Kagan didn't oblige — she sent me chasing a successful partisan mission. Book 3 leads us through Ravensbrück, Auschwitz, and Hadamar. It also depicts a farmhouse romance and a family unraveling from every direction.

The depictions of the T4 euthanasia program, and the horrors within Ravensbrück and Auschwitz are gut-wrenching.

Every major character also gets its own arc. Ludwig, Valeria, and her father show their cold, black hearts. Ziggy's quiet bravery and Greta and Hermann's fearlessness shine through the pages. All the basement Jews join the partisans, each contributing in their own exceptional ways. Ms. Kagan clearly knows how to make cruelty and courage sit side by side on the page.

Where the book struggles, for me, is Greta, on two counts.
One: for a mother who flinched every time Ludwig shouted at Ziggy, she leaves her own grandson in the care of a nanny she didn't trust and a husband she had every reason to fear, after promising Ziggy she'd watch over the boy. The unfolding of this book's worst tragedy stems from here. At least to me, it's hard not to feel the story needed her elsewhere to make that tragedy happen.
Two: both in Book 2 and in Book 3, there are prophecies about Greta's important mission of saving children. Apart from the basement Jews, there is mainly her orphanage postwar. I expected something bigger. Perhaps that's simply me wanting a bigger payoff for a prophecy that specific.

It's a heavier, bleaker book than its predecessor. The emotional punches land hard, though one of them asks Greta to bend farther than I found convincing.
Profile Image for Marcia Crabtree.
402 reviews9 followers
September 22, 2026
After first reading and enjoying a couple of Roberta Kagan’s World War Two novels, I became more and more disheartened by the time I attempted to read “My Son’s Duty,” which I could not bring myself to finish. Although I gave the first book of hers that I read, “Another Breath, Another Sunrise,” five stars, I grudgingly gave “My Son’s Duty” one star. I was given an advanced reader’s copy of the next book in the series following “My Son’s Duty” titled “After the Betrayal” by NetGalley, and to my great astonishment I finished reading it in just a few hours, finding it complex, gripping, and compelling, nothing like its predecessor.

“After the Betrayal” is full of interesting, complicated, and diverse characters, demonstrating a variety of people who populated Germany during the Nazi’s reign. The story continues several interesting plot lines and unexpected twists, demonstrating the many complexities of life under the Third Reich. It’s richly detailed and full of historical information not often touched on in other novels, including the treachery and betrayal encouraged within the Nazi party for one’s own advancement and the systemic euthanization program to rid Germany of all physically and mentally disabled people. “After the Betrayal” is well worth reading and has redeemed Ms. Kagan’s abilities in my opinion.
Profile Image for Shirley McAllister.
1,094 reviews168 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 3, 2026
So much loss

This is such a sad book. It is very realistic and well written but sad. The cruelty of the Nazis even toward their own families in deference to the Nazi ideology. The true Nazis were devoid of any type of compassion. Then there were the ones such as Ziggy that were pushed into it by family of fear .

I was inspired by the bravery shown by some of the German people such as Greta and Herman. They truly out their lives on the line for those being persecuted.

What a horrible program the T-4 program was. I cannot imagine how any human could think it good to euthanize babies, young children and adults just because they had a handicap. The rabbit program was just as bad with all the horrible experiments on young women. So much cruelty and heartlessness was shown by the Nazis and those they employed in the camps.

The saddest part was the losses suffered by Greta and Ruth, but their strength and their faith carried them through.

It was a good book and Ienjoyed reading it. I was given a copy to read and review, the review is my own.























Profile Image for Su Thor.
215 reviews5 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
August 29, 2026
This has to be the best 3 part series I have read this year. I was hooked by the first book. Sucked in even further by the second. And the conclusion was every bit as good. The characters are so well described that as you turn the pages you feel like they are there with you. I had imagined that it would turn out one way but in fact it took a different turn and that just added to the excitement. When you get to the end well, let's just say that it is worth the wait. Thank you so much for sharing this story. Roberta, you have me wondering what you will capture in words next. Looking forward to whatever it is. Meanwhile, I will bask in the memory of this story.
Thank you to publisher and to netgalley for the advance copy to read and give this review. All the opinions are my own given freely.
573 reviews6 followers
September 22, 2026
This is the third book in this series. After reading the first two, I couldn’t wait for this to come out. The historical research Ms. Kagan has done with these books is outstanding. Each time I read one of her books, I learn more about the horrors of WWII. Her ability to make you care so much about the characters. In this one, Ludwig is insistent on Ziggy’s rise in the party, which Ziggy has no desire to do. Ludwig sends Ziggy and his wife To Auschwitz for job interviews. Ziggy wants no part of it as he is horrified at what goes on there. He left his beloved son with his parents and is anxious to return home. Meanwhile, the nanny has noticed that the baby is not progressing as much as he should. Greta is away during this time secretly helping her Jewish friends. I don’t want to give too much away, but this entire series is well worth reading.
Profile Image for Dawn Lawrence Read_with_Lola.
359 reviews12 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 3, 2026
Wow this story blew me away, I couldn’t put it down. It was a brilliant ending to the trilogy. It was a powerful, gut wrenching, rollercoaster of emotions. Easily one of my favourite books so far this year. The family members of the Nazis were not immune to their evil ways. The story of Ziggy and Augie was horrendous especially the T-4 programme. With the bad there is also good, Greta and Herman did so much to help the Jewish and RomanI people and it was heartwarming to see the friendship between Greta and Ruth. Highly recommend, I loved it!

Roberta Kagan has done an excellent job with this series, it totally deserves five stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. Publication date 16 September 2026.
419 reviews3 followers
September 20, 2026
A great WWII series.

This book is full of kind and caring characters that give help and get help before and during the war. There are also characters that are working to be perfect Nazis. Unfortunately when these characters come together bad things happen. In the middle of all of the hate for the Jews and others, there is news of killing people that are not in the camps. Lots of those killed were children that were Germans. So sad!

This is book three in the series. These books can be read alone, but I think they are best read in order. Roberta Kagan does such a great job with character development and it starts in the first book with the main characters.

This book is rather detailed about some of the torture in the concentration camps.
Profile Image for Victoria Baldin.
280 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 7, 2026
After the Betrayal by Roberta Kagan

This is the final book in Roberta Kagan’s latest serious Duty and Betrayal.

I could not wait to read “After the Betrayal” since book 2, “My Son’s Dury”, ended on such a cliff hanger But I was not disappointed.

I don’t want to give too much away but in book three we dwell more in to the lives of Greta, Ziggy, Ludwig, Ruth, Leib, Rebecca and Hermann and what they had to do to survive the war.

Another wonderful book by Roberta Kagan.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Book Whisperer for a copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review.


Profile Image for Susan.
357 reviews1 follower
September 21, 2026
Roberta Kagan has enlightened the readers, with her emotional depictions of the Holocaust, wartime Nazi Germany, and ethnic cleansing.
Her characters are Jews, and non Jews, who are suffering through the war, fear and death.
The characters are both hateful and righteous.
The accounts of the Nazi Manifesto, the concentration camps, the non Jews who hid Jewish friends, and the Partisans who fought back, are all based on truth. As horrible as the facts were, this book also emphasizes the good in people, and the “ righteous gentiles” who saved so many lives.
Based on historical facts, this is a must read book.
371 reviews21 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 3, 2026

After the Betrayal is a Holocaust novel depicting the experiences and workings of partisan groups in Germany during World War II. The characters are believable and are not portrayed as heroes despite the numerous lives saved by their actions. There are also descriptive references to atrocities committed by the Nazis in Auschwitz which are extremely emotional. This is historical fiction at its finest and highly recommended. Thanks to NetGalley and Roberta Kagan for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication.
Profile Image for Kathleen Riggs.
683 reviews20 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 6, 2026
After the Betrayal by Roberta Kagan
Another excellent book by Roberta Kagan! I loved this emotional and gripping story. The characters are beautifully written, and the story kept me turning the pages, wanting to know what would happen next. Kagan has a wonderful way of bringing history and her characters to life. I absolutely love this author and highly recommend this book and her other works. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
1,077 reviews9 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 7, 2026
My thanks to Net Galley, Book Whisperer, and the personal invitation I received to review this arc.

I cannot stress how excellent this last installment of the Duty and Betrayal is. You will enjoy this but I recommend read the first 2 before. The story grips you and draws you in right away.

Ludwig, Greta, Rebecca, Ziggy, Auggie, Wanda, and Valeria are all back plus a new cast of characters. Greta is almost caught by Ludwig hiding the Jews and Ludwig sends Valeria and Ziggy to Poland for possible new job interviews that leads to tragedy. Get this book!
Profile Image for mj..
8 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 14, 2026
Roberta Kagan has wrapped up this heart-wrenching trilogy with After the Betrayal, and my jaw is on the floor. If you read the first two books, you’ll understand the anticipation for vengeance for Greta and Ziggy and their found family. Let’s just say there were moments where you thought it was going one way… and then you had to keep reading with one eye open because there was more to come. I really enjoy Roberta’s fast-paced story telling. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers and author for this ARC.
4,517 reviews25 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
September 14, 2026
After the Betrayal by Roberta Kagan is the third and final book in the Duty and Betrayal Book 3. Even more heartbreaking the first two books in the series, it shows the complete loyalty to the Nazi Party over love for family members or community. The books have followed Greta since she was young and now her son. Much happens as Germany is ruled by the Nazi Regime. If you watched the PBS series World on Fire, you would want to read this series as it pertains to Germany during WWII. After the Betrayal is a poignant reminder that not all Germans were part of the Nazi Party.
1,217 reviews9 followers
September 16, 2026
This was the third book in this series by Kagan and I must admit it had me in tears at the end. She brings such a sense of reality to the horrors that Nazis created in WWII. Greta is in Berlin, still married to Ludwig, and with her son, Ziggie, and her grandson, Auggie. But she’s in love with Herman who starts to work for the Resistance. This story takes you from Berlin to Auschwitz and the forests where the Partisans fight back. So many tragedies happen in her life as the war wears on, but Greta finds a way to survive it all. Excellent read that I finished in a day!
Profile Image for Darlene Golbitz.
618 reviews13 followers
September 21, 2026
Courtney of The Book Whisperer and Netgalley, I received the ARC of After the Betrayal, third book in this series by Roberta Kagan..Set primarily in Munich and the surrounding area during WWII, the characters experience Nazi atrocities and the Resistance movement of the Partisans. Encompassing locations from Ravensbruck and the experiments on the "rabbits", to Auschwitz and the crematoriums, and then the euthanasia program for "imperfect" children, nothing is omitted from this well researched historical novel. A must read for lovers of WWII fiction!
Profile Image for Christine Cazeneuve.
1,633 reviews45 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
August 31, 2026
I just can't get enough of this author's books. When it comes to WWII historical fiction stories no one does it better. Wonderful characters that you will find yourself deeply invested in - along with a riveting storyline. This is the final book in a 3 part series and it was a satisfying conclusion. Never stop writing Roberta Kagan! Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
16 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 9, 2026
Roberta Kagan is my favorite author, I have never been disappointed with any of her work.
I am almost finished this book and it like all her other books has kept me turning the pages into the small hours , knowing I have to get up for work but unable to tear myself away.
I always feel I'm in the middle of Robertas story like I can feel the pain, loss , love and strength of the characters. She truly is a gifted story teller
12 reviews
September 19, 2026
Duty and betrayal.

I have read every book that Roberta has written, and through every one of them, I have run a gauntlet of emotions, but this one is by far the most harrowing and thrilling book by far.
I have felt love and hate, pride and disgust, sadness, happiness, and every emotion known to man. I have loved this series but feel this is probably the best Roberta has written. I feel like a wrung out rag! I thoroughly recommend this book. Thank you, Roberta.
280 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 8, 2026
Another wonderful book by this author from WWII. The story is centered around the despicable atrocities done to the Jews, Romanians, political activists, the infirm and many others. It describes what the resistance did to help..
I hope this author never stops writing about this subject. The stories I’m sure are hard to write and I know in most cases hard to read.. The stories must be told!
Profile Image for Carol.
349 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
September 14, 2026
This was a very powerful emotional book to read the third in a series describing Germany during the war how a family was torn apart the man of the family being a committed Nazi the wife and son working against him in secret. Because of what the book covers it was a painful book to read and very emotional.
Thanks to Netgalley and The Book Whisperer publishing for my arc copy
Profile Image for Nethanja.
888 reviews12 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 15, 2026
The conclusion of this series was heartbreaking and unexpected. The storytelling was really good as expected with this author. The description of all the awful deeds of the Germans was a little too much for me.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this story.
2,218 reviews27 followers
September 16, 2026
This is a very moving and heartbreaking story set in WWII. It shows how remarkably cruel people can be but at the same time there are others who do their best to help people. Tragedy and hope will have you turning the pages. Bring the tissues, this is a heartbreaker. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.
9 reviews
September 27, 2026
Grab the Tissues: An Ending That Will Break You

Expect the unexpected with this book—it was completely suspenseful, and the ending caught me totally by surprise. I cried so hard because I did not expect it to end the way it did. Roberta truly does not disappoint with this book.

Profile Image for Alyson Lucille.
1,219 reviews15 followers
September 1, 2026
Great wrap up to the series. I love how characters from earlier books always pop back up. And it’s always unexpected what’s going to happen…no character is safe! Thanks for the early read NetGalley and to the author.
Profile Image for Renita Cohill.
112 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 7, 2026
This was last book of the trilogy of Roberta Kagan's series Duty and Betrayal! This was an ARC this book was excellent, emotional, and some happiness! This finale was phenomenal, I wish I could read again for the first time!
Profile Image for Terry M.
689 reviews11 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 14, 2026
Book 3 in the series and the author doesn't disappointment. The pages are filled with hardship, tragedy, loss and and so much more. A heart-felt read with a worthy ending and highly recomended. I received an ARC from Book Whisperer/Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews