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The Edit
An ex-Nazi on the run will do whatever it takes to keep his vicious past from being exposed in this chilling novel of suspense.
On the coast of Central America, an aging man sits down to pen his memoirs. He begins with his childhood in Vienna, just after World War I, when his family lived in respectable poverty and his greatest pleasure was being rocked to sleep in the lap of his beloved babysitter. It would be a sweet tale if the author could withhold what comes later . . . but he intends to tell every horrifying detail of the truth. He’s a war criminal, a veteran of the elite Nazi brigade known as the SS, and he’ll write proudly of every atrocity he can recall.
Distracting him from his work is inquisitive American journalist Kate O’Brien, who has come in search of a story. When Kate accidentally stumbles upon the old man's pages, he has no choice but to act, kidnapping her and locking her in his basement. His latest crime threatening to expose him, the proud Nazi will come face to face with the horrors of his past and the blackness of his soul.
Impeccably researched and chillingly believable, The Edit is a truly unique novel of suspense written by J. Sydney Jones, author of Ruin Value , a groundbreaking mystery set in the shadow of the Nuremberg Trials. This time, Jones takes the reader into a truly horrifying deep within the mind of a Nazi.
On the coast of Central America, an aging man sits down to pen his memoirs. He begins with his childhood in Vienna, just after World War I, when his family lived in respectable poverty and his greatest pleasure was being rocked to sleep in the lap of his beloved babysitter. It would be a sweet tale if the author could withhold what comes later . . . but he intends to tell every horrifying detail of the truth. He’s a war criminal, a veteran of the elite Nazi brigade known as the SS, and he’ll write proudly of every atrocity he can recall.
Distracting him from his work is inquisitive American journalist Kate O’Brien, who has come in search of a story. When Kate accidentally stumbles upon the old man's pages, he has no choice but to act, kidnapping her and locking her in his basement. His latest crime threatening to expose him, the proud Nazi will come face to face with the horrors of his past and the blackness of his soul.
Impeccably researched and chillingly believable, The Edit is a truly unique novel of suspense written by J. Sydney Jones, author of Ruin Value , a groundbreaking mystery set in the shadow of the Nuremberg Trials. This time, Jones takes the reader into a truly horrifying deep within the mind of a Nazi.
- GenresFiction
324 pages, Paperback
Published December 13, 2016
5 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
About the author
J. Sydney Jones
36 books65 followersJ. Sydney Jones is the author of twenty books, including the six installments of the critically acclaimed Viennese Mystery series, as well as stand-alone mysteries and thrillers, including TIME OF THE WOLF, THE GERMAN AGENT, RUIN VALUE, BASIC LAW, THE EDIT, THE CRY OF CICADAS, and others. His books have been translated into eight languages.
A long-time resident of Vienna, he has also lived and worked in Florence, Paris, Molyvos, and Donegal. Jones currently lives on the central coast of California.
Visit the author at his homepage and at his blog, Scene of the Crime.
A long-time resident of Vienna, he has also lived and worked in Florence, Paris, Molyvos, and Donegal. Jones currently lives on the central coast of California.
Visit the author at his homepage and at his blog, Scene of the Crime.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 1, 2017
Some editing processes are more challenging than others. Having your memoirs edited by a woman you locked up in your basement for fear of her revealing your hideous secret is probably more challenging than most. Although when you're a former member of SS and a war criminal in hiding for 5 decades, there's probably a different mentality at play when approaching such challenges. So it's a really fascinating premise. To me anyway, I'm very interested in all things to do with WWII and, although there are countless books written on the subject, this offers a radically different perspective. A man who actively took part in one of the greatest crimes against humanity and walked away unscathed and unrepentant. It sets a reader up to expect much, maybe more than the novel actually delivers. I almost think it was stronger as just the memoir, though I completely understand the need to include Kate's character for dramatic purposes. Her edits, though, well intentioned as they were, were sort of over the top psychological, certainly didn't do the trick as far as melting the old Nazi's heart. The battle of wills was interesting, very much like a play, but something didn't quite work in the dynamic. The trip inside a Nazi's mind is really the main attraction here, but on that trip you'll find pretty much all the things you'd expect. It isn't surprising, there are no great revelations, it's sort of just what happened, one thing led to another led to a job like any other and so on. It is, of course, the most frightening thing about it, how something so horrid can be explained away and trivialized. It's absolutely fascinating from the psychological point of view. These aren't innocent men who found themselves in unavoidable circumstances, there is an eerie deliberation here. After all, as the protagonist reminds us, in 1933 a nation voted, tyrants are voted in. Seems an apt lesson to remember right about now. To quote Edmund Burke...All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. Anyway, back to the book...it's well written, dark, disturbing and you mustn't expect any sort of quaintness, sometimes ugly is as ugly does and there are no secret reserves of humanity just waiting to be uncovered by the right person or situation. It's a very interesting book, but it did drag at times and occasionally left the reader wanting. Not a great read maybe, but solidly a good one. Thanks Netgalley.
December 29, 2016
Somewhere in Central America, in the Banana Belt, lives an elderly man who is writing his memoirs. What makes these memoirs of special interest is that he was an SS officer in Germany during World War II and is a wanted man. At one time, he was in charge of a concentration camp, or relocation settlement as he called it, and by stealing from the prisoners and working out illegal deals with contractors, he has made a lot of money. This money has enabled him to live in comfort. To supplement his income, he runs guns and narcotics and is connected to the mercenary government of his adopted country.
Originally from Vienna, this man, whose name is never provided in the novel, comes from a lower middle class family. He has aspirations of joining the elite and, to achieve this end, he goes to law school and quickly joins the SS. He then marries a woman from the upper classes in order to cement his rise in stature. Never mind that the marriage is cold and sexless. It has gotten him in favor with the Nazis and provided him the chance to rise in their ranks, eventually as Eichmann's assistant.
After the war, this man settles in Central America and runs a fishing boat. One day, a woman who he calls 'The Irish', because of her Irish roots, inquires about a fishing trip. Her name is Kate O'Brien and she is a journalist. While he is checking on rates and other aspects of the charter, Kate sees his memoirs on a table and takes a peek. The man is immediately suspicious of her. Is she from the Mossad, is she working for Wiesenthal, will she share what she's read and sic others upon him so that he has to stand trial in Nuremberg?
In order to change the game, he imprisons Kate in his basement and they begin a push-pull relationship. He lets her read his memoirs and she provides critiques. In turn, she writes short stories that she lets him read. While he doesn't treat Kate cruelly, she is a prisoner and there is no way out.
This is a novel about a despicable man, a man of opportunity and without scruples. He has committed the worst of deeds in his past and feels no remorse or conscience. The novel is fascinating and well-written. Both characters are fleshed out and their intellectual sparring is fascinating. I highly recommend this book.
Originally from Vienna, this man, whose name is never provided in the novel, comes from a lower middle class family. He has aspirations of joining the elite and, to achieve this end, he goes to law school and quickly joins the SS. He then marries a woman from the upper classes in order to cement his rise in stature. Never mind that the marriage is cold and sexless. It has gotten him in favor with the Nazis and provided him the chance to rise in their ranks, eventually as Eichmann's assistant.
After the war, this man settles in Central America and runs a fishing boat. One day, a woman who he calls 'The Irish', because of her Irish roots, inquires about a fishing trip. Her name is Kate O'Brien and she is a journalist. While he is checking on rates and other aspects of the charter, Kate sees his memoirs on a table and takes a peek. The man is immediately suspicious of her. Is she from the Mossad, is she working for Wiesenthal, will she share what she's read and sic others upon him so that he has to stand trial in Nuremberg?
In order to change the game, he imprisons Kate in his basement and they begin a push-pull relationship. He lets her read his memoirs and she provides critiques. In turn, she writes short stories that she lets him read. While he doesn't treat Kate cruelly, she is a prisoner and there is no way out.
This is a novel about a despicable man, a man of opportunity and without scruples. He has committed the worst of deeds in his past and feels no remorse or conscience. The novel is fascinating and well-written. Both characters are fleshed out and their intellectual sparring is fascinating. I highly recommend this book.
December 27, 2016
I have a feeling that most readers of J Sydney Jones' novel, "The Edit", will either think it's very good...or very bad. I thought it was excellent but can see other readers putting the book down, totally repulsed. It is that kind of novel.
I felt "The Edit" was told by a very unreliable narrator. He was an aged Nazi-on-the-run, who had settled in a Central American country and had carved out a good life for himself. He was protected by the local "authorities", from whatever outside forces might be looking for him. As a Nazi tried and condemned "in absentia", the nameless man had lived in the country for 50 years - the book is set in 1995 - and had finally decided to write his memoirs of his life. He had been a SS officer, serving under - among others - Adolf Eichmann in Vienna and as an officer at the Austrian camp of Mauthausen. He saved himself after the war and ended up on a boat to the unnamed Central American country and a new life as a fugitive from justice.
But by 1995, he knew that although the statute-of-limitations had not run out, he was ready to edge his way back to society. Looking at Adolf Eichmann - captured, tried, and executed 40 years previously - he wanted to get his "story" down, just as Eichmann had done in Argentina, shortly before his capture. He begins his memoirs and meets a mystery woman, Kate O'Brien, who stumbles upon these pages on a visit to his house. What to do? How much does he actually want to reveal? And what is the truth of what he is willing to reveal?
J Sydney Jones' book is a clever game of cat-and-mouse. The game is between Miss O'Brien and the ex-Nazi as he keeps her hostage. It's between Jones and the reader and it's a game between the ex-Nazi and himself as to what he'll write. This is where the "unreliable narrator" comes into play. As a reader, are you going to believe the ex-Nazi? If you do, then the story becomes even more horrifying. And if you don't, then the story seems a bit of a waste. In any case, I felt the Jones' book was well-written in that brutal way these books have a way of being. I also think that it would make a very good play, particularly the dialogue between the unnamed and his captive.
I felt "The Edit" was told by a very unreliable narrator. He was an aged Nazi-on-the-run, who had settled in a Central American country and had carved out a good life for himself. He was protected by the local "authorities", from whatever outside forces might be looking for him. As a Nazi tried and condemned "in absentia", the nameless man had lived in the country for 50 years - the book is set in 1995 - and had finally decided to write his memoirs of his life. He had been a SS officer, serving under - among others - Adolf Eichmann in Vienna and as an officer at the Austrian camp of Mauthausen. He saved himself after the war and ended up on a boat to the unnamed Central American country and a new life as a fugitive from justice.
But by 1995, he knew that although the statute-of-limitations had not run out, he was ready to edge his way back to society. Looking at Adolf Eichmann - captured, tried, and executed 40 years previously - he wanted to get his "story" down, just as Eichmann had done in Argentina, shortly before his capture. He begins his memoirs and meets a mystery woman, Kate O'Brien, who stumbles upon these pages on a visit to his house. What to do? How much does he actually want to reveal? And what is the truth of what he is willing to reveal?
J Sydney Jones' book is a clever game of cat-and-mouse. The game is between Miss O'Brien and the ex-Nazi as he keeps her hostage. It's between Jones and the reader and it's a game between the ex-Nazi and himself as to what he'll write. This is where the "unreliable narrator" comes into play. As a reader, are you going to believe the ex-Nazi? If you do, then the story becomes even more horrifying. And if you don't, then the story seems a bit of a waste. In any case, I felt the Jones' book was well-written in that brutal way these books have a way of being. I also think that it would make a very good play, particularly the dialogue between the unnamed and his captive.
September 17, 2018
J. Sydney Jones has written an unusual mystery novel in “The Edit.” The main character goes unnamed throughout the story and has a many faceted persona that is not easily defined. Jones gives Herr …, as he is called, a complex demeanor that is full of dichotomies and insecurities. Surprisingly, the protagonist turns out to be a Nazi war criminal hiding out on the coast in Central America. His personal views of his actions during the War will eventually become a big part of the story.
Kate O’Brien, a journalist, shows up wanting to hire his boat. An attraction between the two leads to a sharing of time during which he finds her thumbing through the memoirs he is writing. He feels that disclosure will threaten his existence and he imprisons her in his basement, an arrangement that becomes extremely difficult because of her obstinate and brash behavior. All his attempts at making her comfortable fail and she becomes deadly ill. He spends days caring for her, feeding her and cleaning her after devastating diarrhea attacks, and they become slightly closer, although her distain for his politics and his writing is always prickly.
In time, various aspects of his life are uncovered. He is revealed as a boy in Vienna who succumbs to the sexual attention of his babysitter. He gradually works through the ranks of the Nazi party, including accidently shooting his best friend, and, through his toady behavior, advances to become the officer in charge transportation, feeding, and work assignments for Nazi prisoners. Although not a bloodthirsty advocate for slaughter, he is, nonetheless, responsible for many deaths due to hunger, exposure to the elements, and overwork. Although he never actually participates in the physical deaths, he excuses them with the idea that “they brought it on themselves.” His actions become increasingly despicable because of his inability to accept his blame or the Nazi guilt.
Jones does an excellent job of incorporating these obtuse feelings throughout the book. Herr… never varies from his dull-headed attitude in all his conversations with his prisoner, and she never ceases her relentless criticism. The conclusion is a masterpiece that both exposes the coward in the man and depicts the bravery in O’Brien.
I think it’s a great book that gives the reader many opportunities to explore attitudes that encompass both sides of human conduct and attitude. There’s an ebb and flow of emotions that the author skillfully applies to his narrative. It’s a well-researched study of both abhorrent and exemplary behavior that promotes adversarial tenderness in an atmosphere of wariness.
Kate O’Brien, a journalist, shows up wanting to hire his boat. An attraction between the two leads to a sharing of time during which he finds her thumbing through the memoirs he is writing. He feels that disclosure will threaten his existence and he imprisons her in his basement, an arrangement that becomes extremely difficult because of her obstinate and brash behavior. All his attempts at making her comfortable fail and she becomes deadly ill. He spends days caring for her, feeding her and cleaning her after devastating diarrhea attacks, and they become slightly closer, although her distain for his politics and his writing is always prickly.
In time, various aspects of his life are uncovered. He is revealed as a boy in Vienna who succumbs to the sexual attention of his babysitter. He gradually works through the ranks of the Nazi party, including accidently shooting his best friend, and, through his toady behavior, advances to become the officer in charge transportation, feeding, and work assignments for Nazi prisoners. Although not a bloodthirsty advocate for slaughter, he is, nonetheless, responsible for many deaths due to hunger, exposure to the elements, and overwork. Although he never actually participates in the physical deaths, he excuses them with the idea that “they brought it on themselves.” His actions become increasingly despicable because of his inability to accept his blame or the Nazi guilt.
Jones does an excellent job of incorporating these obtuse feelings throughout the book. Herr… never varies from his dull-headed attitude in all his conversations with his prisoner, and she never ceases her relentless criticism. The conclusion is a masterpiece that both exposes the coward in the man and depicts the bravery in O’Brien.
I think it’s a great book that gives the reader many opportunities to explore attitudes that encompass both sides of human conduct and attitude. There’s an ebb and flow of emotions that the author skillfully applies to his narrative. It’s a well-researched study of both abhorrent and exemplary behavior that promotes adversarial tenderness in an atmosphere of wariness.
March 1, 2017
This book came highly recommended to me, and I was prepared to love it. But I didn't. It moved along nicely to begin with, but bogged down about half to three-quarters of the way through. It picked up again towards then end. The main character's extreme level of denial frustrated me, but I imagine it is typical of many Nazis trying to justify what they and their countrymen did to so many innocent people. It was an interesting book, no doubt. But I didn't love it.
November 5, 2016
Short Synopsis: Nazi war criminal recounts his memoirs.
Longer Synopsis: It's long after WWII and Nazi death camp war criminal (NWC for short) is hiding in unnamed S. American country under a fake name. An Irish journalist shows up ostensibly for innocent purposes. She chances upon his memoirs and is locked up while said criminal continues to recount his memoirs.
The book starts off as a first person narrative which eerily reminds me of those Edgar Allan Poe short stories and very creepy. Because of the style of the writing, you have to concentrate on the reading and it goes slowly.
The problem I found with this book is that I thought there were too many stories in it and they were all disjointed with each other. The main story is current day where the NWC meets and locks up the Irish journalist. Told inside this story is his recounting of his autobiography in almost alternating chapters. His days as a youth is non-chronologically mixed with his days during the war. And to make it even more disjointed is some of it is told as an excerpt from his diary, as well as critiques from the Irish journalist as well as an excerpt from someone else. So rather than a smooth story, you have patchworks of narratives/stories all mixed up.
This could have been a good book if the author had tightened up the story. But it's his prerogative to write it the way he wanted. So to me, the book is only OK, 2 stars as per Good Reads. I got this book free as a review copy.
Longer Synopsis: It's long after WWII and Nazi death camp war criminal (NWC for short) is hiding in unnamed S. American country under a fake name. An Irish journalist shows up ostensibly for innocent purposes. She chances upon his memoirs and is locked up while said criminal continues to recount his memoirs.
The book starts off as a first person narrative which eerily reminds me of those Edgar Allan Poe short stories and very creepy. Because of the style of the writing, you have to concentrate on the reading and it goes slowly.
The problem I found with this book is that I thought there were too many stories in it and they were all disjointed with each other. The main story is current day where the NWC meets and locks up the Irish journalist. Told inside this story is his recounting of his autobiography in almost alternating chapters. His days as a youth is non-chronologically mixed with his days during the war. And to make it even more disjointed is some of it is told as an excerpt from his diary, as well as critiques from the Irish journalist as well as an excerpt from someone else. So rather than a smooth story, you have patchworks of narratives/stories all mixed up.
This could have been a good book if the author had tightened up the story. But it's his prerogative to write it the way he wanted. So to me, the book is only OK, 2 stars as per Good Reads. I got this book free as a review copy.
September 23, 2016
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I really had can't say that this is a bad book. In fact, I think it is well written and contains interesting and unique characters. The story moves along at a good pace and has a well constructed plot. However, I can't honestly say that I enjoy it. It was too dark for me. The characters (especially the old man) had no sympathetic qualities. I didn't even find the woman journalist pleasant. The story itself is filled with the horrors of WWII as well the terror of the present. There was no remorse or regret. Somehow, I expected there should been at least a little bit of 'soul searching' present.
I think that this extremely capable author has created a quality story but it just didn't appeal to me.
I really had can't say that this is a bad book. In fact, I think it is well written and contains interesting and unique characters. The story moves along at a good pace and has a well constructed plot. However, I can't honestly say that I enjoy it. It was too dark for me. The characters (especially the old man) had no sympathetic qualities. I didn't even find the woman journalist pleasant. The story itself is filled with the horrors of WWII as well the terror of the present. There was no remorse or regret. Somehow, I expected there should been at least a little bit of 'soul searching' present.
I think that this extremely capable author has created a quality story but it just didn't appeal to me.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews