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The Circumstantial Enemy
On the wrong side of war, there is more than one enemy…
When Croatia becomes a Nazi puppet state in 1941, carefree young pilot Tony Babic finds himself forcibly aligned with Hitler’s Luftwaffe. Unbeknownst to Tony, his sweetheart Katarina and best friend Goran have taken the side of the opposing communist partisans. The threesome are soon to discover that love and friendship will not circumvent this war’s ideals.
Downed by the Allies in the Adriatic Sea, Tony survives a harrowing convalescence in deplorable Italian hospitals and North African detention stockades. His next destination is Camp Graham in Illinois, one of four hundred prisoner of war camps on American soil.
But with the demise of the Third Reich, repatriation presents a new challenge. What kind of life awaits Tony under communist rule? Will he be persecuted as an enemy of the state for taking the side of Hitler? And then there is Katarina; in letters she confesses her love, but not her deceit… Does her heart still belong to him?
Based on a true story, John Richard Bell’s The Circumstantial Enemy is an energetic journey to freedom through minefields of hatred, betrayal, lust and revenge. Rich in incident with interludes of rollicking humour, it’s a story about the strength of the human spirit, and the power of friendship, love and forgiveness.
John Richard Bell was born in Chigwell, UK and now resides in Vancouver, Canada. Before becoming an author of business books and historical fiction, he was the CEO of a Fortune 500 company and a global strategy consultant. A prolific blogger, John’s musings on strategy, leadership and branding have appeared in various journals such as Fortune, Forbes and ceoafterlife.com.
When Croatia becomes a Nazi puppet state in 1941, carefree young pilot Tony Babic finds himself forcibly aligned with Hitler’s Luftwaffe. Unbeknownst to Tony, his sweetheart Katarina and best friend Goran have taken the side of the opposing communist partisans. The threesome are soon to discover that love and friendship will not circumvent this war’s ideals.
Downed by the Allies in the Adriatic Sea, Tony survives a harrowing convalescence in deplorable Italian hospitals and North African detention stockades. His next destination is Camp Graham in Illinois, one of four hundred prisoner of war camps on American soil.
But with the demise of the Third Reich, repatriation presents a new challenge. What kind of life awaits Tony under communist rule? Will he be persecuted as an enemy of the state for taking the side of Hitler? And then there is Katarina; in letters she confesses her love, but not her deceit… Does her heart still belong to him?
Based on a true story, John Richard Bell’s The Circumstantial Enemy is an energetic journey to freedom through minefields of hatred, betrayal, lust and revenge. Rich in incident with interludes of rollicking humour, it’s a story about the strength of the human spirit, and the power of friendship, love and forgiveness.
John Richard Bell was born in Chigwell, UK and now resides in Vancouver, Canada. Before becoming an author of business books and historical fiction, he was the CEO of a Fortune 500 company and a global strategy consultant. A prolific blogger, John’s musings on strategy, leadership and branding have appeared in various journals such as Fortune, Forbes and ceoafterlife.com.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2017
32 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
John R. Bell
2 books5 followersBefore becoming an author of business books and historical fiction, John Bell was a CEO, global strategy consultant, and a director of several private, public, and not-for-profit organizations. A prolific blogger, John's musings on strategy, leadership, and branding have appeared in various journals such as Fortune, Forbes and ceoafterlife.com. His novel, 'The Circumstantial Enemy' chronicles the trials and capers of Tony Babic, a young pilot who finds himself forcibly aligned with Hitler’s Luftwaffe in 1941. John's business book, 'Do Less Better' provides a tool-kit of road-tested strategies for leaders eager to find agility and resilience.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 5, 2018
I would like to thank the author, John Bell for an electronic copy of his book in exchange for an honest review. Also for his patience because I am such a slow reviewer.
I have read many WWII fiction pieces, but I have never had the chance to explore what the situation was like in the Balkan countries during that period of time. In The Circumstantial Enemy the spotlight is on Croatia becoming a Nazi puppet state and surrounds two friends who find themselves on different journeys on several continents. I do not want to give too much away on the plot, but suffice it to say readers are in for a really well written historical thriller with a touch of romance.
I have read many WWII fiction pieces, but I have never had the chance to explore what the situation was like in the Balkan countries during that period of time. In The Circumstantial Enemy the spotlight is on Croatia becoming a Nazi puppet state and surrounds two friends who find themselves on different journeys on several continents. I do not want to give too much away on the plot, but suffice it to say readers are in for a really well written historical thriller with a touch of romance.
April 8, 2018
1941, Croatia, where Tony Babic had a friend named Goric. There, shortly after the Nazi invasion of Yugoslavia, they found themselves friends with the same young woman, the lovely Katarina. For Goric, it was love at first sight. But Tony was a free spirit, more preoccupied with being conscripted as a pilot for the Germans. Not political, he was "one of thousands who found themselves on the wrong side of the war," flying Nazi missions. He made enemies of the wrong people, was shot down and landed in a POW camp in Rockford, Illinois. There he and his buddies consistently outsmarted the Nazis who also resided in the camp as commanders of the German POWs. Meanwhile back home, once Katarina learned that Tony was still alive, she decided she wanted Tony over Goric; and Goric was bitterly predicting doom for Tony should he ever set foot in Croatia again. When the war is over and the POWs are returned to Europe, the worst is yet to come for many.
I learned a lot about the role Croatia played during the war and those who fought Hitler's battles or sabotaged them. The episodes in the American POW camps were fun and brought out Tony's clever side and entrepreneurship. I admit these were my favorite chapters of the book. The character of Tony was wonderfully unpredictable and multi-faceted.
The author John Bell gave me a complementary ebook version in exchange for my honest review. Don't let the (deserves a better) cover keep you from seeking out this one-of-a-kind story of survival, love and war, and revenge. The author knows how to be cleverly funny, and how to insert plenty of twists into a plot that kept me in suspense until the last page.
I learned a lot about the role Croatia played during the war and those who fought Hitler's battles or sabotaged them. The episodes in the American POW camps were fun and brought out Tony's clever side and entrepreneurship. I admit these were my favorite chapters of the book. The character of Tony was wonderfully unpredictable and multi-faceted.
The author John Bell gave me a complementary ebook version in exchange for my honest review. Don't let the (deserves a better) cover keep you from seeking out this one-of-a-kind story of survival, love and war, and revenge. The author knows how to be cleverly funny, and how to insert plenty of twists into a plot that kept me in suspense until the last page.
April 7, 2018
Over the last few years, I have read many books about WWII, its heroes, its victims and learned many things that I did not know before. When John Bell asked if I would be interested in reading his book, I agreed. This was another area of Europe and the war that I was not familiar with. I was surprised yet saddened to read about other harrowing adventures as well as what happened to the citizens of Croatia in this war. I also did not realize that there were POW camps in the US and that prisoners were transported across the ocean both ways as they were eventually released when the war ended. Even though the prisoners were all enemies of the allies, they were not friends with one another and the way some treated each other was deplorable. The synopsis of this book describes it very well and I do not plan to just reiterate that, this review will be about my feelings while reading it.
The people of Croatia had to be strong trying to decide who would give them the best chance of an independent country. With this on the line, you can be sure that everyone will not choose the same side. The story follows three friends, Tony, Goran and Katerina. I liked Tony right from the start. He was forced to fight for the Germans, even though he never joined the Nazis and never considered himself a Nazi. Goran joined the partisons and became a communist official. I liked him at the beginning, but his jealousy over Katerina, a woman who never felt the same way about him, turned my feelings to those of dislike. Katerina was put in a position that many women found themselves in during the war. She was beholden to Goran, yet loved Tony. This would put her in a very tenable situation. Fellow reviewer, Susan Hampson said it best when she stated, "War isn’t just about countries fighting each. It is about people and the choices that are forced on them and the choices they make themselves."
This story shows how countrymen can make decisions that will drive an interminable wedge between them. The POW camps were allowed to self-govern with high ranking Nazis often threatening, torturing and even murdering other prisoners. This book was not so much about the war itself, but about the victims and victors. Once the war ended, the story continues. With communism ruling the Balkan nations, families are torn apart and trying to reconcile, government officials are greedy and corrupt and war criminals are being put on trial, if they are found.
This a good debut novel from John Bell. It has a lot of interesting information and family history. There are interesting characters that are likable and detestable, but all making decisions that will affect their's and other's lives for the future. The book is an informative look at the ordinary man during this war, a page-turner that I took time to understand and look up information as I read. I recommend this book to those who read WWII stories to learn about another page in that awful chapter of history.
The people of Croatia had to be strong trying to decide who would give them the best chance of an independent country. With this on the line, you can be sure that everyone will not choose the same side. The story follows three friends, Tony, Goran and Katerina. I liked Tony right from the start. He was forced to fight for the Germans, even though he never joined the Nazis and never considered himself a Nazi. Goran joined the partisons and became a communist official. I liked him at the beginning, but his jealousy over Katerina, a woman who never felt the same way about him, turned my feelings to those of dislike. Katerina was put in a position that many women found themselves in during the war. She was beholden to Goran, yet loved Tony. This would put her in a very tenable situation. Fellow reviewer, Susan Hampson said it best when she stated, "War isn’t just about countries fighting each. It is about people and the choices that are forced on them and the choices they make themselves."
This story shows how countrymen can make decisions that will drive an interminable wedge between them. The POW camps were allowed to self-govern with high ranking Nazis often threatening, torturing and even murdering other prisoners. This book was not so much about the war itself, but about the victims and victors. Once the war ended, the story continues. With communism ruling the Balkan nations, families are torn apart and trying to reconcile, government officials are greedy and corrupt and war criminals are being put on trial, if they are found.
This a good debut novel from John Bell. It has a lot of interesting information and family history. There are interesting characters that are likable and detestable, but all making decisions that will affect their's and other's lives for the future. The book is an informative look at the ordinary man during this war, a page-turner that I took time to understand and look up information as I read. I recommend this book to those who read WWII stories to learn about another page in that awful chapter of history.
December 10, 2017
John Bell has penned a well-written, well-researched World War 2 historical fiction. The interesting and complex characters range from lovable to likeable to detestable; none are boring. The book is an entertaining and informative page-turned that I highly recommend.
April 3, 2018
War isn’t just about countries fighting each. It is about people and the choices that are forced on them and the choices they make themselves. This story follows three friends in Croatia that make life changing decisions putting two of them on one side of the war and one on the opposing side. Tony’s girlfriend and best friend Goran have chosen the communist partisans while Tony had been forced to join Hitler’s Luftwaffe. It isn’t the last that they see of each other but the relationships they had with each other has gone, bitterness, deceit, heart ache and hatred fester over the years.
Whoa this is the nasty nitty-gritty side of what war turns people into. The terrible deplorable conditions of the prisoner of war camps. The horrendous lack of value of a fellow human being and the permanent irreconcilable damage between fellow country men. It doesn’t centre round the politics of war but more the choices that the ordinary man has to make in order just to survive. Some literally with the skin of their teeth while others take the opportunity to line their pockets from the less fortunate casualties of war.
John Bell doesn’t just bring the war years to an end with a happy ever after, he takes it much further into the detention centres in the USA as it still follows Tony and his fears of returning to his homeland where people were forced to make choices that split families. This is a hard-hitting story but humour still comes through on some of the pages that sort of let you know that the real person is still in there.
An absolute outstanding debut novel, steeped in the richness of research and family history of John Bell. A very realistic look at the ordinary man at the heart of war.
Whoa this is the nasty nitty-gritty side of what war turns people into. The terrible deplorable conditions of the prisoner of war camps. The horrendous lack of value of a fellow human being and the permanent irreconcilable damage between fellow country men. It doesn’t centre round the politics of war but more the choices that the ordinary man has to make in order just to survive. Some literally with the skin of their teeth while others take the opportunity to line their pockets from the less fortunate casualties of war.
John Bell doesn’t just bring the war years to an end with a happy ever after, he takes it much further into the detention centres in the USA as it still follows Tony and his fears of returning to his homeland where people were forced to make choices that split families. This is a hard-hitting story but humour still comes through on some of the pages that sort of let you know that the real person is still in there.
An absolute outstanding debut novel, steeped in the richness of research and family history of John Bell. A very realistic look at the ordinary man at the heart of war.
May 12, 2018
This book covers an interesting period in the world’s history, both before and after WWII. The protagonist is Tony Babic, a lieutenant in the Croatian Air Force. While flying a mission his plane is attacked by Allied aircraft and he plunges into the Adriatic. This part is described in pretty dramatic prose, only one of the many exciting scenes portrayed.
Tony is rescued by Americans and is transported to a POW camp located near Chicago. The camp is overcrowded and living conditions are nothing to write home about. There are many Nazi prisoners in the camp and they create an extremely hostile environment for Tony and his comrades, thus the meaning of the title. It becomes so bad that Tony lodges an official complaint and the Nazis are relocated to another camp.
Tony manages to learn English while at the camp. He also becomes an entrepreneur of sorts. He lands a key role in the camp’s soccer games by playing on one team and also organizes a betting and bookmaking operation to make money and win ration coupons.
The war eventually ends and Tony, along with his compatriots, are repatriated to their native Croatia which has now been absorbed by Yugoslavia and headed by President Josip Broz Tito. Tony is reunited with Katerina, the woman he loved before but left behind when his plane was shot down. It’s not quite the happy reunion that he hoped for because there’s another fellow who believes he has a claim to Katerina’s affections. To make matters even worse, the nation is struggling to rebuild itself after enduring the ravages of war.
There are many exciting scenes in this book and many events which happened before, during and after WWII that the average reader will not have known about. Even though it’s called a novel I’m sure that much of the action in the book is based on true incidents. The book also has a surprise ending, one that actually had me almost in tears of joy.
Tony is rescued by Americans and is transported to a POW camp located near Chicago. The camp is overcrowded and living conditions are nothing to write home about. There are many Nazi prisoners in the camp and they create an extremely hostile environment for Tony and his comrades, thus the meaning of the title. It becomes so bad that Tony lodges an official complaint and the Nazis are relocated to another camp.
Tony manages to learn English while at the camp. He also becomes an entrepreneur of sorts. He lands a key role in the camp’s soccer games by playing on one team and also organizes a betting and bookmaking operation to make money and win ration coupons.
The war eventually ends and Tony, along with his compatriots, are repatriated to their native Croatia which has now been absorbed by Yugoslavia and headed by President Josip Broz Tito. Tony is reunited with Katerina, the woman he loved before but left behind when his plane was shot down. It’s not quite the happy reunion that he hoped for because there’s another fellow who believes he has a claim to Katerina’s affections. To make matters even worse, the nation is struggling to rebuild itself after enduring the ravages of war.
There are many exciting scenes in this book and many events which happened before, during and after WWII that the average reader will not have known about. Even though it’s called a novel I’m sure that much of the action in the book is based on true incidents. The book also has a surprise ending, one that actually had me almost in tears of joy.
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January 10, 2018Author Guest Post @ Let Them Read Books!
April 10, 2018
Let’s be honest, WW2 thrillers are a dime a dozen now, so it’s very difficult to come across a story that hasn’t been told before. The same goes for the movie industry except the story almost always goes like this, “Americans saved the day and Germans are evil.” That’s why I was intrigued by Bell’s story. Yes, the fact that it happened to his grandfather makes it particularly interesting, but also because it shows us another angle of the war. Something different.
Honestly, Hollywood could not have come up with a better plot than this incredible story. It’s gritty, real and at times, shocking. But as they say, truth is stranger than fiction and in this case the truth slaps you in the face and is often difficult to read.
‘The Circumstantial Enemy’ is written very well and you will feel invested in the characters immediately! Especially ‘Tony’. I really enjoyed it and I’m thankful for the opportunity to read such an enthralling story.
If you enjoy war stories but are looking for something unique, then I strongly recommend you give this one a read. Fair warning, it’s hard to read sometimes and the subject matter is not for the faint of heart.
Honestly, Hollywood could not have come up with a better plot than this incredible story. It’s gritty, real and at times, shocking. But as they say, truth is stranger than fiction and in this case the truth slaps you in the face and is often difficult to read.
‘The Circumstantial Enemy’ is written very well and you will feel invested in the characters immediately! Especially ‘Tony’. I really enjoyed it and I’m thankful for the opportunity to read such an enthralling story.
If you enjoy war stories but are looking for something unique, then I strongly recommend you give this one a read. Fair warning, it’s hard to read sometimes and the subject matter is not for the faint of heart.
April 2, 2018
I read a lot of WWII fiction and this one was a bit different due to the area of the war. It was about the war in Croatia where people either supported Hitler or communism. There was extreme cruelty on both sides and friends and family often ended up on differing sides of the war.
The main character is Tony, a pilot who finds himself aligned with the Germans and ends up in a POW camp in the US. His two friends are Katarina and Goran who help the communist side of the fighting. They are all faced with cruel and terrible circumstances and struggle to survive.
Because of the different perspective of the novel and my lack of knowledge about Cooatia, I struggled to find my way through the beginning of the book. Once I figured out the story line, I found this to be a fantastically well written and very well researched novel with characters that will stay in my mind. My advice is to keep reading and you won't be disappointed with this fantastic book.
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
The main character is Tony, a pilot who finds himself aligned with the Germans and ends up in a POW camp in the US. His two friends are Katarina and Goran who help the communist side of the fighting. They are all faced with cruel and terrible circumstances and struggle to survive.
Because of the different perspective of the novel and my lack of knowledge about Cooatia, I struggled to find my way through the beginning of the book. Once I figured out the story line, I found this to be a fantastically well written and very well researched novel with characters that will stay in my mind. My advice is to keep reading and you won't be disappointed with this fantastic book.
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
November 10, 2017
A really good and enthralling story about friends inadvertently ending up on different sides in WWII. The characters were well rounded and developed through the story. Showed up the "lucky" nature of surviving in a world were there is no completely right or completely wrong choice.
Characters from all sides connected in unexpected ways to create an outcome. People died or were injured along the way. No one could be said to be good or indeed entirely bad they were mainly doing what they could to survive.
Towards the end tension built towards a resolution... made a refreshing change to read about Yugoslavia and the internal issues which were exacerbated by the war. Not my area of the planet but the novel seemed well researched and presented.
Characters from all sides connected in unexpected ways to create an outcome. People died or were injured along the way. No one could be said to be good or indeed entirely bad they were mainly doing what they could to survive.
Towards the end tension built towards a resolution... made a refreshing change to read about Yugoslavia and the internal issues which were exacerbated by the war. Not my area of the planet but the novel seemed well researched and presented.
May 31, 2018
Many kudos to John R. Bell for writing this wonderful historical fiction book loosely based on his father-in-law’s experiences during WWII. There is much to love about it and I especially enjoyed that the main character was from Croatia. Most WWII novels I have read are set somewhere in Western Europe or Great Britain. We tend to forget about those countries that were eventually swallowed up by the USSR.
The main character, Vlatko Anton “Tony” Babic, is a one of the few pilots in the region with experience (though very limited) and he has great value to the Germans in the new Croatian Air Force Legion. As his choices are presented, he finds he is left with no other option but to join and serve the Germans.
Tony’s friends, whom are staunchly against the Nazis, take the side of the partisans. Therefore, when he falls for the beautiful Katarina, which his friend Goran also is in love with, things become difficult. You see, Katarina owes the partisans a huge debt for saving her life and to repay that debt she must betray Tony.
The betrayal ends up costing Tony the lives of his crew. Of course, he has no way of knowing at time and it is something that will come back to haunt them in the end. In addition, he is wounded and sent to a prison-of-war camp in the United States. There he faces more challenges from the Nazis prisoners who wish to run the camp.
During his imprisonment, Tony and Katarina start corresponding and soon they each profess their love for the other. Yet, Tony still does not know about Katarina’s betrayal. When the war ends and Tony finally makes his way home, and the truth comes out, they will have to forgive and forget to find happiness with each other.
The story was good and made better by the fact that there are basic truths underlying it. I am thankful that authors, like Mr. Bell, have taken the time to research and recount these stories before all of the veterans are dead and their stories are truly lost.
The plot moved along quickly as one challenge was resolved only to be replaced by another. In addition, there were enough twists to help with plot movement. Despite moving quickly, the plot was never rushed. As with war stories, monumental things happen to the characters and their struggles deeply affect them. If the story is told deftly, as here, they also affect the reader and build a connection with the characters. The only negative on the plot is, and it is very slight, I found the first part of the story a little slow. The author spent some time building the characters for the reader and sometimes that requires the pace to be sacrificed a little. Once I made it past the first thirty or so pages, I was hooked.
The author did an excellent job with the characters. Of course, I loved Tony, I felt he was such a rake (in his defense, he was young) at the beginning; however, as the story moved along you could see him mature. The other characters were a mix of both like and hate for me. Though I found Goran to be somewhat of an enigma. Despite this I felt sorry him and was somewhat surprised with his lot in the end. No spoilers here; therefore, you will have to read for yourself to find out what I mean.
In short, this is a well-researched and written WWII fictional story. I highly recommend to readers of historical fiction, WWII history and historical nonfiction.
My rating is 4.5 stars, which I am rounding up to 5 stars.
Disclosure: While I used my KU account to download the ebook, the author did request a review.
For more of my reviews, and author interviews, check out my book blog at www.thespineview.com.
The main character, Vlatko Anton “Tony” Babic, is a one of the few pilots in the region with experience (though very limited) and he has great value to the Germans in the new Croatian Air Force Legion. As his choices are presented, he finds he is left with no other option but to join and serve the Germans.
Tony’s friends, whom are staunchly against the Nazis, take the side of the partisans. Therefore, when he falls for the beautiful Katarina, which his friend Goran also is in love with, things become difficult. You see, Katarina owes the partisans a huge debt for saving her life and to repay that debt she must betray Tony.
The betrayal ends up costing Tony the lives of his crew. Of course, he has no way of knowing at time and it is something that will come back to haunt them in the end. In addition, he is wounded and sent to a prison-of-war camp in the United States. There he faces more challenges from the Nazis prisoners who wish to run the camp.
During his imprisonment, Tony and Katarina start corresponding and soon they each profess their love for the other. Yet, Tony still does not know about Katarina’s betrayal. When the war ends and Tony finally makes his way home, and the truth comes out, they will have to forgive and forget to find happiness with each other.
The story was good and made better by the fact that there are basic truths underlying it. I am thankful that authors, like Mr. Bell, have taken the time to research and recount these stories before all of the veterans are dead and their stories are truly lost.
The plot moved along quickly as one challenge was resolved only to be replaced by another. In addition, there were enough twists to help with plot movement. Despite moving quickly, the plot was never rushed. As with war stories, monumental things happen to the characters and their struggles deeply affect them. If the story is told deftly, as here, they also affect the reader and build a connection with the characters. The only negative on the plot is, and it is very slight, I found the first part of the story a little slow. The author spent some time building the characters for the reader and sometimes that requires the pace to be sacrificed a little. Once I made it past the first thirty or so pages, I was hooked.
The author did an excellent job with the characters. Of course, I loved Tony, I felt he was such a rake (in his defense, he was young) at the beginning; however, as the story moved along you could see him mature. The other characters were a mix of both like and hate for me. Though I found Goran to be somewhat of an enigma. Despite this I felt sorry him and was somewhat surprised with his lot in the end. No spoilers here; therefore, you will have to read for yourself to find out what I mean.
In short, this is a well-researched and written WWII fictional story. I highly recommend to readers of historical fiction, WWII history and historical nonfiction.
My rating is 4.5 stars, which I am rounding up to 5 stars.
Disclosure: While I used my KU account to download the ebook, the author did request a review.
For more of my reviews, and author interviews, check out my book blog at www.thespineview.com.
March 26, 2018
“The Circumstantial Enemy” by John Bell – No Winning Sides in Croatia
A War-Torn Excursion with John Bell
The book opens in 1941, when the Independent State of Croatia had already been formed. The only independence it really carried was in its name as it served as a puppet state of the Third Reich, and while many people were opposed to the occupation, many others tolerated it, if not outright supported them as opponents of communism. We make the acquaintance of the afore-mentioned Tony, his best friend Goran, and Katarina, the sweetheart that has set both of their worlds alight. With the Luftwaffe always in need of more pilots, Tony finds himself conscripted and sent away to fight the Allies. Meanwhile, Goran and Katarina stay behind, and unbeknownst to him, join the other side of the war: the communist partisans.
A Cure for Boredom
Novels which focus on the human elements in a time of war commonly suffer from the same affliction: they fail to create tension or move the plot forward due to the perceived need to develop characters as much as possible. This is one thing which has been bugging me in this genre, and I'm delighted to say that John Bell has avoided this pitfall as masterfully as anyone possibly could. From the very start of the book when we get to meet the three friends we already sense some tension brewing between them, and as we get to know them more and more we realize that despite their closeness their relation is a barrel of gunpowder ready to go off at any moment.
A Window into the Forgotten
In my opinion, the latter parts of the book which deal with Tony's return to his now-communist homeland and reunites with his friends are the most interesting. Bell has certainly done his fair share of research and I couldn't tear my eyes away from the pages once he began to describe this life after the war... a peace the people were forced into just as much as they were thrust into the heart of conflict. We get to hear the ruminations, dreams and hopes of the people affected by this whole ordeal, what it's like to change one oppressor for another. While it may sound a tad counter-intuitive, but this is the part where we really learn that seldom can we identify wartime events through a black-and-white spectrum... in the end, very few are those who don't want to live in peace, it's just that their ideas of prosperity differ from each other.
The Final Verdict
To bring this review to a conclusion, The Circumstantial Enemy by John Bell is without a doubt one of the more engaging and enjoyable historical fiction novels I have had the pleasure of reading recently... and that goes double if we're just taking into account World War II stories. It's eventful, emotional, educative, and engaging every step of the way, from the descriptions of grand historical events to the small banter shared between minor characters. It's a book I highly recommend if you enjoy Second World War novels which focus on the little people and the odysseys they are thrust into.
This was an abridged version of our review. If you'd like to read the full one, you can do so here: https://bookwormex.com/circumstantial...
A War-Torn Excursion with John Bell
The book opens in 1941, when the Independent State of Croatia had already been formed. The only independence it really carried was in its name as it served as a puppet state of the Third Reich, and while many people were opposed to the occupation, many others tolerated it, if not outright supported them as opponents of communism. We make the acquaintance of the afore-mentioned Tony, his best friend Goran, and Katarina, the sweetheart that has set both of their worlds alight. With the Luftwaffe always in need of more pilots, Tony finds himself conscripted and sent away to fight the Allies. Meanwhile, Goran and Katarina stay behind, and unbeknownst to him, join the other side of the war: the communist partisans.
A Cure for Boredom
Novels which focus on the human elements in a time of war commonly suffer from the same affliction: they fail to create tension or move the plot forward due to the perceived need to develop characters as much as possible. This is one thing which has been bugging me in this genre, and I'm delighted to say that John Bell has avoided this pitfall as masterfully as anyone possibly could. From the very start of the book when we get to meet the three friends we already sense some tension brewing between them, and as we get to know them more and more we realize that despite their closeness their relation is a barrel of gunpowder ready to go off at any moment.
A Window into the Forgotten
In my opinion, the latter parts of the book which deal with Tony's return to his now-communist homeland and reunites with his friends are the most interesting. Bell has certainly done his fair share of research and I couldn't tear my eyes away from the pages once he began to describe this life after the war... a peace the people were forced into just as much as they were thrust into the heart of conflict. We get to hear the ruminations, dreams and hopes of the people affected by this whole ordeal, what it's like to change one oppressor for another. While it may sound a tad counter-intuitive, but this is the part where we really learn that seldom can we identify wartime events through a black-and-white spectrum... in the end, very few are those who don't want to live in peace, it's just that their ideas of prosperity differ from each other.
The Final Verdict
To bring this review to a conclusion, The Circumstantial Enemy by John Bell is without a doubt one of the more engaging and enjoyable historical fiction novels I have had the pleasure of reading recently... and that goes double if we're just taking into account World War II stories. It's eventful, emotional, educative, and engaging every step of the way, from the descriptions of grand historical events to the small banter shared between minor characters. It's a book I highly recommend if you enjoy Second World War novels which focus on the little people and the odysseys they are thrust into.
This was an abridged version of our review. If you'd like to read the full one, you can do so here: https://bookwormex.com/circumstantial...
February 6, 2018
Due to my unfamiliarity with Croatian history, I initially found it difficult to get to grips with the numerous characters and their loyalties, and the complexity of the political tensions within and between the Balkan countries and Germany. But once I understood the background, I found this a totally engrossing novel. It’s fast-paced, gripping and poignant. The characters, both noble and corrupt, were well drawn and stepped off the page for me. The author realistically portrays each of them, not shying away from disagreeable emotions and brutality where necessary to tell the story. His writing reveals the many facets of human nature as he sketches characters who create a complex, unpredictable plot. As the story unfolded to the last page, twists and turns kept me tense and guessing who would really win in the end. Like the characters, the settings are also memorable. The author has done considerable historical research to present in wonderful, vivid detail the many settings in the story, including Austrian and Croatian cities, a hospital in Italy, a detention camp in North Africa and a POW camp in America. I can heartily recommend this novel. It would interest historical fiction and thriller readers as well as anyone who enjoys a gripping, well-told story.
February 22, 2018
I have read my fair share of books set in WWII, but never from this perspective. I was unfamiliar with Croatian history as I began this book, so briefly studied up a bit on information that I was missing so that I could better immerse myself into the story. However, the book read beautifully without my having done so. John R. Bell is a masterful storyteller, fleshing out his characters skillfully and bringing them to life before the readers’ eyes. He didn’t shy away from the hardships of war; from politics, to tragedies, to the toll war takes on the human being. His research was impeccable, and the storyline fast-paced and breathtaking. (I mean that quite literally. There were many times that I would finish a paragraph, only to realize that I had been holding my breath.) And the whole time that I was reading, John R. Bell’s father-in-law was in the back of my mind, like a wise teacher who has seen things that I couldn’t even imagine.
I feel so honored to have read this story and gone on the journey that this book set before me. A definite recommend for all, and a BIG ‘thank you’ to John R. Bell for the opportunity to read his amazing book.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I feel so honored to have read this story and gone on the journey that this book set before me. A definite recommend for all, and a BIG ‘thank you’ to John R. Bell for the opportunity to read his amazing book.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 18, 2017
The Circumstantial Enemy is quite a thrilling read. I am fascinated that it is based on real events that happened during World War II. I found the whole story to be intriguing. This is one of those books a reader will not want to put down and one that will keep them up at night until the end. It is obvious the author did his research. Such a great piece of well written historical fiction.
Recommended.
4 1/2 stars.
I received this book from the author. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Recommended.
4 1/2 stars.
I received this book from the author. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
August 28, 2020
A rip-roaring read from start to finish
This book takes your breath way. You're never bored for a minute. And l learned so much about the other sides of war, the ones that are so often kept in the shadows.
This book takes your breath way. You're never bored for a minute. And l learned so much about the other sides of war, the ones that are so often kept in the shadows.
February 11, 2018
Post war justice
Prisoner of war camps in US how they were run, how the Nazis delt out punishment to the non believers. A good read.
Prisoner of war camps in US how they were run, how the Nazis delt out punishment to the non believers. A good read.
May 25, 2018
This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
'An interesting insight into lesser known parts of WW II history and a very enjoyable read.'
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
'An interesting insight into lesser known parts of WW II history and a very enjoyable read.'
May 22, 2023
This book begins in 1941 and concerns three people in particular: Tony, Katarina and Goran. The narratives change throughout the novel but the reader is mainly hearing about events either from Tony or Katarina. Tony, a pilot, somewhat accidentally finds himself aligned with Hitler while Katarina and Goran fight with the communist partisans. Tony is shot down by the Allies and is transported to a prisoner of war camp in America, meanwhile Katarina finds herself unable to stop thinking about... read the full review here: https://www.amysbookshelf.co.uk/2018/...
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September 23, 2018We all imagine that, when put to the test, we will end up on the right side of history, however we define it. Nowhere is that statement more true than in reference to World War II. But sometimes people end up on the wrong side for reasons outside their control—even on a side they don’t believe in. Such is the fate that confronts Tony Babic, the hero of John Richard Bell‘s debut novel, The Circumstantial Enemy, based on the true story of his father-in-law’s life during the war.
Tony, when we meet him, is a young pilot flying for the Croatian Air Force. His experience of causing one death and witnessing another—that of his commander—has left him eager to find a more peaceful way to exercise his talents. But his country, in an effort to escape both Serbian control and Nazi conquest, has chosen to ally with Germany in return for nominal independence as a puppet state. Tony has little choice but to fly for the Luftwaffe and is soon taking part in the Siege of Leningrad. Meanwhile, his best friend and the woman they both love (the daughter of Tony’s dead commander) become ever more deeply involved in a different epic battle: Josip Broz Tito’s campaign to unify all the Southern Slavic states under a single communist banner.
Tony eventually escapes his service to the Germans only to fall into the hands of the Americans. Soon he’s on his way to a POW camp in Illinois. But circumstances conspire to make him an enemy even there, not least in the eyes of the people he has left behind.
Interview with John Bell at New Books in Historical Fiction.
Tony, when we meet him, is a young pilot flying for the Croatian Air Force. His experience of causing one death and witnessing another—that of his commander—has left him eager to find a more peaceful way to exercise his talents. But his country, in an effort to escape both Serbian control and Nazi conquest, has chosen to ally with Germany in return for nominal independence as a puppet state. Tony has little choice but to fly for the Luftwaffe and is soon taking part in the Siege of Leningrad. Meanwhile, his best friend and the woman they both love (the daughter of Tony’s dead commander) become ever more deeply involved in a different epic battle: Josip Broz Tito’s campaign to unify all the Southern Slavic states under a single communist banner.
Tony eventually escapes his service to the Germans only to fall into the hands of the Americans. Soon he’s on his way to a POW camp in Illinois. But circumstances conspire to make him an enemy even there, not least in the eyes of the people he has left behind.
Interview with John Bell at New Books in Historical Fiction.
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