The Sixth Man

by Rupert Colley

Sometimes we all make the wrong choice. 1943 Nazi-occupied France. Six Frenchmen are in a Nazi prison: a doctor, a postman, a policeman, a soldier, a teacher and a priest. After six months of prison, they are a desperate looking set of men. But, despite their circumstances, they are happy – for tonight is their last night of incarceration. Tomorrow, they will be free men. But then – there’s a change of plan. The French resistance have blown up a German train. Five German soldiers lie dead. Tomorrow, five of the six prisoners will be executed in reprisal. They have until dawn to decide which one of them should be allowed to live. Six happy men are now six desperate frightened souls, victims of the Nazi’s arbitrary justice. The doctor, the postman, the policeman, the soldier, the teacher and the priest. Only one of them will live to see another day. Who will be The Sixth Man? The Sixth Man is a novel about the difficult choices we have to make and living with the consequences.

Genres: Historical Fiction

212 pages, Paperback

Published April 5, 2017

About the author

Founder, writer and Series Editor of History In An Hour (http://historyinanhour.com), owned by HarperCollins UK, and now author of two novels.

The first, "My Brother the Enemy", a novella, is set during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.

The second, "This Time Tomorrow", set during and following World War One, is a compelling story of war, brotherly love, passion and betrayal.

My third novel, "The Black Maria", is set in Moscow in 1935, the height of Stalin's reign, about love crushed by the machine.

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stunning emotional paced read!!! It is
extremely well written. The description became
solid scenes in my mind.
The book expanded the way of thinking about
the importance of life and choices made in life.
This book exposes you to the lives of six regular
citizens: a doctor, a postman, a policeman, a soldier,
a teacher and a priest. The setting is occupied
France during WWII.
The men were going to a meeting in the church when
they were arrested then imprisoned for six months.
The story is intricately woven with the past and present
weaved together effortlessly.
The night before the prisoners are to be release there
is a twist in the story. A train was blown up by saboteurs
killing five soldiers. The German officer, Colonel Geist
announces their release is rescinded and five will be
shot in the morning.
The six must choose which man will live.
What a night ahead for the men!! The tension was thick
and well sustained making reading this book in one
sitting a must for me. All six must let go of the demons
that haunt them.
A riveting read.
I volunteered to read this eBook. Thanks to the author
for the opportunity. My opinion is my own.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find all my book reviews, plus fascinating author interviews, exclusive guest posts and book extracts, on my blog: https://whatcathyreadnext.wordpress.com/

In The Sixth Man, the author brings us six cautionary tales told by men who believe they are spending their last night on earth and have a last chance to confess to their worst sins before they meet their Maker. In a sort of chilling balloon debate, they agree that once all have told their stories, the group will vote on which man deserves to escape death.

The stories they tell involve cowardice, greed, dishonour, collusion, jealousy and ambition. However, although they have all made mistakes in their lives, often with terrible consequences for themselves and others, these are also men who in other respects have displayed dedication, public service, diligence, compassion and professional skill. After all, “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone…”

In the spirit of the author’s request at the end of the book, I’m not going to say any more about what happens. It was the historical setting of the book that first drew me to The Sixth Man and the individual stories, the overall theme and the surprising ending didn’t disappoint. I received a review copy courtesy of the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.

[Elsbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rupert Colley did it again! He wrote a catching story about a difficult time in people's live.
It is a beautiful and touching story about human beings making choices and making mistakes. Actually it is a book with 7 stories in one, since every man tells about something in his life of which he is not proud. Really well written, you forget every time the 'real' story takes place in a prison cell. And you really live in a different time and place.
I received a copy and chose to review it.

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sixth Man

What a wonderful book! If you want to get the gist of what it is about read the synopsis that goes along with this. I will not get into it because of fear of spoilers, and let me tell you this is one he-- of a book! I just couldn't put it down. I loved the way he divided the chapters by the characters i.e..(policeman, priest etc.) Very short read, but really packs a "PUNCH!"

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I read the e-book, not the paperback. I received the e-book from the author and I am voluntarily writing this review. All opinions are my own.

What a story.

It is during WWII at a Nazi prison in France. There are a group of six prisoners who will be released in the morning. Then the announcement is made that things have changed. In retribution for an attack on a troop train, five of the prisoners will be shot at 6 AM. The group of six must pick one of their own to survive.

So, five of them will be signing their own death warrant.

Each of them will tell their stories and then a man will be selected to be the lone survivor. None of them are pretty stories. There is not a man among them who has lived a life free of shame and sorrow.

This is a well written story. Mr Colley has done a wonderful job of drawing the reader in and hanging on until the very end. I have enjoyed this book very much although enjoy is not exactly the correct description Maybe it is better to say, I have been gripped by this book from beginning to end.

[Diane Lybbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

FOUR AND A HALF STARS! This was a fantastic story - draws the reader in from the beginning and holds you until the end. And what an end! You will NOT see it coming! During WWII 6 Frenchmen are arrested for conspiring against the Germans and sentenced to prison. All 6 are due to be released when, at the last minute, they are told that 5 of them will die the next morning, and only 1 will be released. They must decide amongst themselves who will live. Each confesses the worst thing they ever did as the hours count by. As they tell their stories, the real gut-wrenching truth comes out for each one. The plan is for them to vote at the end to determine who will live. But, plans change... You have GOT to read this story - you will remember it for a long time!

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read the blurb I was in a hurry to know how, who and why the men would choose the one they had to choose. It was, therefore, a bit difficult to have patience as I went through each of the men's stories. All I wanted was to get to the end. That is not to say their stories were not interesting, because they were very good indeed. A true reflection of human nature and the flaws that come with it.

Then the stories were done and the moment of reckoning arrived for the men. From the instant that prison cell opened I smiled.
And I smiled time and again as surprise followed surprise in a wonderful ride 'till the very end.

[Regina O'sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

I was enthralled and totally intrigued by the premise of this story ...how could six men choose which one of them should live? Its not a heavy read, but very thought provoking... I highly recommend it

[Thomas Golding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it - thoughtful, a bit of a surprise at the end.

[Netanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book and chose to review it voluntarily.

I'm very glad to have been introduced to Rupert Colley's historical fiction books through a promotion on Instafreebie! As a historian, Colley is trained for serious inquiry into the past, and many of us novices might think the form musty and dusty. But really, true historians are also story tellers, understanding the complexities of human drama and interactions and all the very neat and profound elements that comprise our humanity, both the ugly and the beautiful.

And this book is exactly that, I believe. It is both ugly and beautiful, and I will explain why. The Sixth Man is a story of six French prisoners of the German occupation in World War II occupied France. They are common enough - a priest, a teacher, a postman, a soldier, etc., - and having already been confined for six months, ragged and unkempt and just plain stinky, they are on the last night before their release. And around midnight, they are informed of a change in plans. Five German soldiers were killed in an attack by French resistance soldiers, so five of them will be executed in the morning. One will be allowed to live. They must decide the one to survive, or all six will be executed.

Now that's a bit of ugliness, isn't it? And then, more ugly comes out. In order to decide, our six countrymen determine that they will reveal to each other the worst thing they have ever done, a sort of confessional really, in order to ascertain the best man to remain alive. And what comes out of their mouths, my dear readers of this review, are some of the foulest acts against one person another person can commit. Jealousy, betrayal, corruption, larceny, collusion with the enemy, murder. You get the drift. People can be very, very cruel.

But then, there is the beauty of humanity as well. There is acceptance, redemption, forgiveness, peace. There is sacrifice. There is closure.

And there is a twist ending that is unexpected and ought to be read.

Amazingly good book, and very recommended.

[maria arcara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this book, though there were parts that were difficult for me to read. I'm quite sensitive in general; violence, in particular, is challenging for me & I tend to shy away from books with graphic descriptions - although there are a couple in this novel, I understand the importance of them with respect to the storyline & setting and it was actually less prevalent than I expected. The author is very detailed and thorough; I find it easy to engulf myself in the minds / thoughts / hearts / positions / realities of the characters. This is the second novel I have read by Mr Colley & was, in both cases, completely drawn in by his stories.

[Chu-Salyer Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello I loved reading the story The Sixth man by Rupert Colley. It has lots of suspense. I was up half of the night reading and even read the book twice. Six men were in this concentration camp. They were all professionals. They were given a choice which one of the men were going to die. They went through the formality of eliminating who was going to die by drawing straws. Each person was to tell their own worse personal story about themselves. After all the stories were told, the men were going to put worst story to a vote. After all of the stories were told, the men just could not choose. Time was up and the men decided to stand as a united front and die together. Something surprising and unbelievable happened and the six men were spared their lives.

[Elissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine yourself in occupied France during WWII. You are a middle-aged Frenchman of ordinary disappointed life (because, let's face it, most folks choose to be vaguely dissatisfied with the way their lives have turned out rather than embracing all the joyful little everyday occurrences--like awakening to a new day filled with hope and promise) and have been captured by the Boche (Germans) for planning to conspire. You haven't even really done anything yet! After your six-month prison term you are to be set free and returned home--but suddenly your world is turned upside down as you are now told you will be sacrificed by firing squad to make reparations for German deaths occuring in a train bombing. There are six of you but only five must die--and you, as a group, get to choose who lives.

The stunning premise is followed by tales from each, confessing his worst sin, all of which resulted in dire consequences. And what, in the ordinary course of events, would most usually be a fairly casual or venial bit of unpleasantness becomes tinged with blood by the odd emphases of war.

Author Rupert Colley has created an unusual look inside the mind and the values of confession beyond being "good for the soul" in this gripping drama.

[Norma · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A life worth living."
During the night prior to their re!ease from imprisonment by the Nazis in the latter part of World War ii, six Frenchmen from the same village are visited by a high ranking German officer, Colonel Geist, who informs them that, because of the recent sabotage of train in which five so!diers were killed, only one of them now will be released, the other five will be executed as a reprisal. The six prisoners are to decide amongst themselves which one of them is to live. If no decision is reached by the morning, a!l of them will die.
To fill the terrible time until morning, each man agrees to tell his story, recounting to the others, Canterbury Tales style, the one thing in their lives of which they are most ashamed. By this means, too, the doctor, postman, po!iceman, soldier, teacher and priest hope to choose which of them most deserves to live.
Written simply, the book carries the reader through the night of tale telling and into the morning when the decision is made.A clever story, invoking the spirit of that time

[Chris Peach · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice quick and easy read with a great twist at the end.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read. Mr. Colley loves history and it shows throughout his books. He takes you to the time he's writing about and puts you in the story with his characters. You come to feel for the characters and vicariously live their lives (for better or for worse). This is set during WWII in occupied France and is very intriguing. Well written and very much makes you question what you would have done in their circumstances.

I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Karen Siddall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Occupied France – 1943 - Six Frenchmen, picked up by the Germans for conspiring with the Resistance, have been held in a detention facility for the past six months. They are due to be released to go back to their homes on the morrow when they are informed by their captors that a train has been blown up by Resistance members. During the attack, five German soldiers were killed, and as an example to deter future attacks, five of the six Frenchmen are to be executed rather than released. It is up to the six to determine which of them is to be spared while the others die.

During the tension-filled night, the six decide to each tell their story and then vote, based on the lives they’ve lived and the deeds they’ve done, who is to escape the executioner. Rupert Colley has written an engrossing story with interesting characters and great background vignettes. I won’t divulge the final decision or results from the tense night of storytelling. Historical fiction readers will really enjoy finding out what happens.

[Kimberly Westrope · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sixth Man
The Sixth Man by Rupert Colley is quite an intriguing story. Soon after we meet the six main characters, they are presented with a dilemma – in the morning, five of the six will die, one will live. Between them, they must choose which one will live.

As each man tells his story, we get to know them better – their background, their families, and most importantly, their character. Who will they choose to receive the gift of life? Are any of them worthy? What will be the consequences of their choice. It’s an interesting premise that draws the reader in as we learn each man’s history.

The Sixth Man is a study in humanity and what is or becomes most important to us when we are suddenly thrusts in to extraordinary circumstances that test our morals, our faith and our inner strength. A very well thought out story with interesting and engaging characters.

The surprises and twists throughout the story will keep you guessing until the end.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Great Novel with a Twist at the end

Six Frenchmen in jail during WW II are going free after 6 months. As they celebrate, a German officer comes in and tells them plans have changed. All through the night the men talk. Their stories leave the reader breathless.

[Shoshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written character study. During WWII, six Frenchman from different backgrounds and professions were caught and jailed for 6 months by the Nazis. I think they got easy away with it! It could have been worse for them! It didn't say, why or for what! Then,- they got told, they are free to leave in the morning. So, they talk about what they will do after they are free. Then an attack on a train from the France resistance leaves 5 Nazis dead. They come with their form of retribution in telling them, that for each soldier killed, one of them has to die! After the shock, the priest has an idea. Everyone has to tell his worse story, then they will decide about the sixth man.
Not easy to read, but it draws you into the innermost thoughts of those condemned men!
It would have even better, if the author would not bring British words and phrases in. It suppose to be in France! Words like 'chap' and 'bloody' for example, seem to be out of place. But I liked it, nevertheless!

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is very different but it is worthwhile reading. The sum of a man's worth does it come down to one single act of sin or a choice? That is the thought that I came up with over and over again as I read this book. In a time when the world was turned upside down during the WWII this works gives pause to the making of a decisions that were forced on people.

[Harold Kasselman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story that embodies the tales of six French prisoners in a German camp in Vichy France. Each story is powerfully crafted and presents a shameless act committed by every man in his life. They all lived with the guilt and shame just under the surface but the scars were there to reopen. In breathless detail we learn their stories and their acts of greed, and betrayal. Whose act is the most despicable, and whose can be forgiven despite its callousness? One of the six can be granted salvation. Who will it be? Will their acts of self-confession yield redemption even t on the verge of death? The ending is especially thought provoking and will leave you with goose bumps.

[Cindy Crowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful tale to enjoy. Delves deep into the psyche of mortal men and human failings. This was a beautifully written story from start to finish. I strongly recommend this book to everyone looking to read a book with some soul in it!!

[Marty Moore]

The Sixth Man, was an emotional read. I thought just being held captive was bad enough; it was made tolerable having a group of guys with you and sharing the experience and encouraging each other. I cringed when it got worse. They had to choose who of the six, would live. Through a twist of grim fate, five Natzi soldiers were killed, they night before they were going to be released. Now, the Nazi's want blood for blood. Five of the Frenchman have to die. They have to choose who of them will live. You have to read the book to see what happens, but it's gut wrenching!