The Soul of a Thief

by Steven Hartov

In the spring of 1944, I realized that I was not going to survive the war...

Shtefan Brandt, an adjutant to a colonel of the Waffen SS, has made it through the war so far in spite of his commander's habit of bringing his staff into battle and in spite of the heritage that he has so far managed to conceal. Instead, his growing interest in his commander's mistress may be the end of him, were Colonel Erich Himmel to notice. Colonel Himmel has other concerns, however. He can see the war's end on the horizon and recognizes that he is not on the winning side, no matter what the reports from Hitler's generals may say. So he has taken matters into his own hands, hatching a plan to escape Europe and the Allies only after stealing a fortune from them. A fortune that Shtefan, in turn, plans to steal from him...

Steven Hartov captures the turbulent emotional rush of those caught behind the lines of occupied France, where one false step could spell death and every day brings a new struggle to survive.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, World War II, War, France, Historical, Wwii Fiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published April 17, 2018

About the author

In 1973, he joined the U.S. Merchant Marine Military Sealift Command, beginning a series of adventures that would later appear in his non-fiction pieces and fictional works.

In 1977, he volunteered for the Israel Defense Forces Airborne Corps, serving first as a paratrooper and later in a Special Operations branch of Israeli Military Intelligence. He subsequently spent 13 more years as a reservist in the IDF, and currently serves as an officer in the New York Guard.

He is the former Editor-In-Chief of Special Operations Report, a professional journal on military and law enforcement special tactics. His works are recommended readings by the U.S. Army War College.

Reviews

[Leah Michaels · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won't give a summary of this book's plot as some other reviewers here have already done that, but what I will say is that this writer takes what could have been, in a lesser writer's hands, a simple love triangle and basic war story, and gives us instead a compelling read full of suspense, action, heart, and even humor. An evil Nazi, a beautiful, proud heroine, and a young hero may sound like stock World War II characters, but Mr. Hartov makes them so surprising, complex, conflicted, imperfect, and human that they are anything but. Written as a memoir by the book's hero, the story is intimate and the prose has a slightly "old fashioned" quality to it which I found to be fairly brilliant at capturing the voice of an old man writing of the past in a language not his mother tongue. And Mr. Hartov's ability to describe battle scenes, environment, behavior, mood, and feeling had me feeling as if I were watching the movie of this book as I read it. And what a beautiful movie this book would make.

[Lollita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book through giveaways for a review. It was a basic world war two story line for the most part, battles scenes and all that. But I did like The slightly different view of it being told from The perspective of a young German SS soldier, hiding his Jewish heritage rather than the usual allied soliders story. The main plot was about the love triangle between the young solider, his commander and the commander's mistress, which wasn't the most orginal story line. I wasn't a big fan of the writing style, but I liked the story line enough to continue with it. This wasn't a great book nor was it bad.

[Sabrina Trident · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute gem. From page one I found the characters engaging and I was utterly drawn into their story. Though not a long book, it actually took me awhile to finish it, as I often found myself compelled to reread passages to once again savor the exquisite writing. I loved it and I highly recommend it!

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved this book. This one needs to be a movie even though I’m generally not a fan of war stories. I was drawn to the characters – even the ones I expected to hate. Heroine Gabrielle holds my top choice as the novel’s most stunning and powerful character. Hartov writes with the grace of a Fitzgerald and the vividness of Hemingway - all in the voice of a mature man looking back on his extraordinary life as a naïve youngster, a “green” soldier forced to learn the ways of war against his will and of a man thrust into maturity by the sheer force of love.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down. I am a Holocaust survivor. The feeling of helplessness and scheming to survive by Shtefan Brandt, a Nazi soldier of partial Jewish ancestry, and by Gabrielle Belmont, the Jewish mistress of Brandt’s SS commander, are all too real. Yet so is their humanity. This book shook my core and wouldn’t let go.

[Robert Grieco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the book to be fantastic! If you enjoy fictional stories associated with WWII Germany and a good thriller with action and what I believe to be an extremely complicated romance, this book is for you. Page after page of pure enjoyment. You'll never believe what happens in the end!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this wonderful book at the Manhattan book signing on April 18. I started it on the 20th and stayed up all night to finish it. The story, the characters and most importantly the poetic elegance of this writer seared my heart. I don't usually read books about war but this one was different. This story goes far beyond the vivid portrayal of the lives and tribulations of soldiers, (that I'm sure will fascinate students of military history). Shtefan, the book's protagonist, starts out as a naive though conflicted adolescent. Forced to confront not only his own fears of dying in battle but of living as an enabler to his commanding colonel's cruelty, he falls in love with his commander's mistress, Gabrielle who in my view is the true hero of this beautiful novel.

[Nissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great. Tough to follow at first, but everything ties together and makes sense. I actually enjoy the style of writing, it's different and unique. Highly recommend reading if you like WWII historical fiction.

[CoachJim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Soul of a Thief
by Steven Hartov

This book did not work for me. It wasn’t a bad story and it read well, although a little wordy at times, but I found it very predictable.

I also have difficulty reading about Nazis. This book involves a Nazi SS unit so if your thing is a war story with dedication and loyalty it might work for you. It only briefly mentions the nasty things about the Nazis.

There is also a teenage love story here so again if that’s your thing and you can swallow the war parts than it might bare a look.

I am giving it 3 stars because I did read it and it had some intrigue. My rating system needs a lot of work.

[Nancymoofam.Net · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I enjoyed every page. It was a treat to watch the characters and the plot unfold. Steve writes softly in a hard story. I will recommend this to my friends.Thanks for the good read, Steve.

[Randi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Soul of a Thief is one of the best books that I've read in years. Interesting WWII book told from a perspective rarely seen. Highly recommended.

[Andria Potter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dry, boring, and rambling. I so wanted to enjoy this more than I did but after six chapters, I gave up. Moving on.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Soul Of A Thief was a novel written by a male author that would, I think, mostly appeal to male readers. This was the story of Shtefan, a half Jewish man who hid in plain sight as the assistant to SS Officer Himmer. When he fell in love with the woman that the officer took as his fiancé, Shtefan’s life became very complicated.

I expected this would be a highly romantic book similar to Finding Rebecca, but it wasn’t. The relationship between Shtefan and the woman ctually lacked romance. It was mechanical and initially so fast that I found it unbelievable. I was also very surprised by the content. I guess I wanted a protagonist who silently suffered pretending to be a Nazi, like the protagonist in The Taster. Shtefan didn’t seem to be too upset that he had to kill and pillage. The hook was that Himmer intended to steal a fortune and flee Europe, and Shtefan planned to steal it from Himmer. That plot was so slow to develop.

What hooked me was the writing, the way the narrator spoke directly to the reader and asked for forgiveness and understanding throughout his tale. The narrative was powerful, and full of details about the conflicts Himmer ordered them to engage in. A lot of focus was on Shtefan’s virginity and didn’t really advance the plot for me. It also that seemed to be a point directed at male readers. Weird. Between the focus on sex and the killing this rag tag group of men engaged in the opposite of a romantic tale. I would call this a gritty wartime novel, that was not my favorite.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping from the first line. The narrative of Shtefan Brandt, the adjutant to SS Colonel Himmel, brings novel and compelling perspective to the desperation of German soldiers as they fight to survive as they retreat from the Allies inexorable advance in southern France at the end of the War. Yet this is mere backdrop for the searing tension of the book. Aware of Brandt's partial Jewish ancestry, Himmel extorts his loyalty. Aware of the Jewish ancestry of strikingly beautiful Gabrielle Belmont, Himmel extorts sex. And Shtefan learns: we meet him as a bewildered adolescent, then hear him as he transforms into to soldier, as he falls in love with Gabrielle, and as he plots to steal her from his commander.

[Sally Daggett · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Daniel Silva, you'll like Steven Hartov!

[Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderfully written story set in World War II. While military life is indeed talked about in this book, there's a sweet coming of age love story, adventure and a bit of spy thrilling action.

I thoroughly enjoyed it though and felt the characters were vividly detailed.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read that was fast paced and interesting.

[jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written, good historical accuracy (at least from my limited knowledge). I enjoyed reading, though some parts are quite heavy, it is a well balanced story. Not something I would typically read, but I am not disappointed!

[John Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb, gripping war story/action-thriller/love story – an unlikely combination, perhaps, knitted together by masterful writing. An ingeniously confident, clever book which works on so many levels, from its epistolatory first-person telling by an intriguing, all-too-humanly-flawed (not completely reliable?) narrator, through vividly drawn characters, subtle twists and occasional undermining of reader expectations, to its deeply satisfying ending. Both a page-turner and something you slow reading because you don’t want it to end. Thank you, Steven Hartov.

[Glenn Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steven Hartov's The Soul of a Thief is a treasure. He is master with chapter beginnings and endings. And the prose in between, as a writer myself, made me envious yet so thankful to have read it. And read it again, I will. A true sadness overcame me as I approached the end of this wonderful story. But that sadness will fade as we get closer to Hartov's next release. Bravo Steven Hartov!

[Joan B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked this book. Coming of age memoir, as told from “other side” in waning years of WWII.
Unique and exquisite writing, well thought out characters. A simple enough story, war and love and chain of (military)command themes, told from an older man’s view - of his young life in 1944. Suspenseful and exciting, and so well delivered.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

* I received this book for free in a goodreads giveaway.

This is a great WWII historical fiction, coming of age story. It is told from a different perspective then I usually read with the WWII books and I really enjoyed it. Definitely one to add to your shelf if you enjoy reading about WWII.

[Patrick James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetic prose by a gifted author. Truly a wonderful read

[Micha Goebig · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am struggling to read a novel that normalizes the experience of a member of the Waffen SS. Also, I feel there are quite a few historical inaccuracies. Plus, that stupid phonetic spelling of the name Stefan drove me nuts. Why not simply choose another name instead? Which of course fits in with my pet peeve: HAVE A NATIVE SPEAKER CHECK WHAT YOU WRITE IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE YOU’RE NOT FLUENT IN.

[Luigi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad, a different perspective. I had never heard of a partial Jew by that name before, but I guess that's my heritage because I had a Jewish grandmother on my mother's side and her father was Christian, on my father's side his mother was a Catholic and his father was Jewish. It didn't stop them trying to send him to a concentration camp, he escaped, but it may have helped them survive to some degree.

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book kept my interest from start to finish. My only complaint is that I wish the ending had been a little stronger, maybe describing more of their life after the war. But I loved the non-stop action and tension of the book. It kept my interest and I finished it in just a day.

[Priscilla Ellerbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow starting and then couldn’t put it down. Fell in love with the characters. Interesting new point of view for a WWII book. Roller coaster of emotions.

[Debbi Hruska · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book disappointed me. The Synopses read:

"Shtefan Brandt, an adjutant to a colonel of the Waffen SS, has made it through the war so far in spite of his commander's habit of bringing his staff into battle and in spite of the heritage that he has so far managed to conceal. Instead, his growing interest in his commander's mistress may be the end of him, were Colonel Erich Himmel to notice. Colonel Himmel has other concerns, however. He can see the war's end on the horizon and recognizes that he is not on the winning side, no matter what the reports from Hitler's generals may say. So he has taken matters into his own hands, hatching a plan to escape Europe and the Allies only after stealing a fortune from them. A fortune that Shtefan, in turn, plans to steal from him..."

And I was intrigued by the concept and how Shtefan was going to go about executing his plan and the turmoil he was going to go through to accomplish such a feat; thus, "The Soul of a Thief" Instead we had kind of a love triangle, but not really because there was no love in Himmel, just lust, and add brutally at that. Himmel could be considered the thief, but with the point of view coming from Shtefan, Himmel's soul could not fully be conveyed. So either the title is misleading, or the Synopses is - and it all bothered me. Title and describe the story as something else, and I may not have felt so misled into reading a book that this book was not about. There are already a lot of WWII books that explore the brutality of war and the brutality of the participants in the war - this is just one more.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An estimated 150,000 Mischlinge, or people with both “Aryan” and Jewish ancestry, served in the German military during WWII, whether they were allowed due to valuable skills, secretly, or because someone turned a blind eye to their “inferior” stock. In his novel The Soul of a Thief, Steven Hartov, a former Merchant Marine sailor, IDF paratrooper, and editor-in-chief of Special Operations Report, imagines the experiences of one of these men.

Shtefan Brandt is working in a Viennese hospital when he catches the eye of the redoubtable Colonel Erich Himmel, who makes the naïve young man his adjutant. After surviving several of his “master’s” reckless forays into danger and losing his virginity to a barmaid at the colonel’s command, Shtefan finds himself in greater danger than ever before, both physical and emotional, when he falls in love with Himmel’s unwilling French mistress, Gabrielle Belmont, who is also part Jewish.

When he learns that Himmel, accepting the inevitability of defeat, has made plans to hijack an Allied train carrying cash and escape with Gabrielle, Brandt decides that he must find in himself “the soul of a thief” and steal both the money and the woman he loves. Whether he will succeed, and if so how, will keep the reader engaged, and rooting for his success, until the final pages.

[Monica Fenu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have a front seat view of being a German of Jewish descent hiding in plain view in the German Army. Every decision has ramifications as time runs out with the knowledge of inevitable loss and being on the losing side. This is a cathartic view of living in this historical time period of war. Survival comes at a cost.