Eli's Promise

by Ronald H. Balson

A "fixer" in a Polish town during WWII, his betrayal of a Jewish family, and a search for justice 25 years later—by the winner of the National Jewish Book Award.

Eli’s Promise is a masterful work of historical fiction spanning three eras—Nazi-occupied Poland, the American Zone of post-war Germany, and Chicago at the height of the Vietnam War, all tied together by a common thread. Award-winning author Ronald H. Balson explores the human cost of war, the mixed blessings of survival, and the enduring strength of family bonds.

1939: Eli Rosen lives with his wife Esther and their young son in the Polish town of Lublin, where his family owns a construction company. As a consequence of the Nazi occupation, Eli’s company is Aryanized, appropriated and transferred to Maximilian Poleski—an unprincipled profiteer who peddles favors to Lublin’s subjugated residents, and who knows nothing at all of construction. An uneasy alliance is formed; Poleski will keep the Rosen family safe if Eli will manage the business. Will Poleski honor his promise or will their relationship end in betrayal and tragedy?

1946: Eli resides with his son in a displaced persons camp in Allied occupied Germany hoping for a visa to America. His wife has been missing since the war. One man may know what has happened to her. Is he the same man who is now sneaking around the camps selling illegal visas?

1965: Eli Rosen rents a room in Albany Park, Chicago. He is on a mission. With patience, cunning, and relentless focus, Eli navigates Chicago's unfamiliar streets and dangerous political backrooms, searching for the truth. Powerful and emotional, Eli’s Promise is a rich, rewarding novel of World War II and a husband’s quest for justice.

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II, Fiction, Holocaust, Historical, Audiobook, Jewish

352 pages, Hardcover

First published September 22, 2020

About the author

When he’s not writing books, Ron is a practicing attorney with the firm of Stone, Pogrund & Korey in Chicago. He has been a civil litigation attorney for forty-three years. He was an adjunct professor of business law at the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business for twenty-five years and was a frequent lecturer in the federal bar certification course and in trial advocacy seminars.
The demands of his legal practice have taken Ron into courts all across the United States and Canada, and for deposition testimony all across Europe and Asia. A few years ago, Ron became involved in a commercial dispute concerning telephone service in Poland. Numerous trips to Warsaw and southern Poland provided the inspiration for his first novel, Once We Were Brothers. Ron’s love of history and his travels to the Middle East provided the motivation for his second novel, Saving Sophie.
During the Once We Were Brothers book tour, Ron was introduced to several survivors of the World War II concentration camps. Of all the stories of courage and determination, one woman’s story was so moving that it formed the basis for Karolina’s Twins, Ron’s third book due out in 2016.
Ron was a finalist for the Harper Lee Award for Legal Fiction in 2014 and a finalist for the Premio Bancarella Italian Literature Award in 2014. He was an honoree at the Chicago Public Library Foundation’s Carl Sandburg Literary Award dinner.

Reviews

[Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die Geschichte spielt auf drei verschiedenen Zeitebenen. Einmal begleiten wir Eli und seine Frau Esther im Jahr 1941. Das Leben wird immer unerträglicher für die beiden und ihren kleinen Sohn, denn sie sind Juden.
Dann sind wir im Jahr 1946/1947. Eli und sein Sohn haben überlebt, wurden aber von Esther getrennt. Wo ist sie, hat sie überlebt?
Und dann sind wir im Jahr 1966, wo wir Eli wiederbegegnen.
Die Geschichte ist so aufgebaut, dass die verschiedenen Zeitebenen sich abwechseln; man springt also als Leser "hin und her". Allerdings verweilt man meistens schon ein wenig in der jeweiligen Zeit, man wechselt nicht pro Kapitel in eine andere Zeit. Das hat mir sehr gut gefallen, da es anders vermutlich zu viel gewesen wäre. So konnte man sich gut einlesen und ein bisschen besser eintauchen in die Geschichte.
Ich lese generell ja sehr gerne Romane, die sich mit dem Holocaust befassen. Zwar sind die Romane meist sehr traurig und erschütternd, aber eben auch sehr emotional und berührend.
Dieser Roman hat mich auch berührt, wobei mir die Handlungsstränge aus den Jahren 1941 und 1946/1947 auch besser gefallen haben als der Handlungsstrang, der im Jahr 1966 spielt.
Ich muss aber auch sagen, dass mich die Geschichte nicht ganz so berührt oder "getroffen" hat wie es schon andere Romane geschafft haben, die sich mit diesem Thema und mit dieser Zeit befassen. Ich glaube, dafür war der Schreibstil zu "sachlich"; ich habe die Charaktere nicht so ganz in mein Herz schließen können.
Ein ergreifendes Buch ist es natürlich trotzdem und es wird auch noch "nachhallen".

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the books I read from Ronald Balson’s Taggart and Lockhart series, so I was curious what he’d do with this stand alone.
Maximillian Poleski was a fixer during WWII. He was a middle man between the Ladin community and the Nazis. He stole Eli Rosen’s business “to keep it out of the hands of the Nazis”. Throughout, he’s a sleazy, disgusting character; an easy villain to hate. But Balson does a good job of showing us how the Jews were so much between a rock and a hard place that they often chose to work with him.
We are witness to Eli through three eras- During German occupied Poland in WWII, resettlement after WWII and Chicago during the Vietnam War. The mark of a good historical fiction is that I learn something through the story. The first part of the book didn’t fulfill that requirement as it’s all been done before. Things improved during the resettlement section as this is the first book I’ve read that handles it in depth. Another historical moment of the US failing to act honorably. (Canada, too.) Then, as the plot moved to 1965 Chicago and the ramping up of the Vietnam War, there was nothing new here. Balson switches back and forth between these three stories rather than going in a straight line. It’s obviously done to create some suspense, but it never truly drew me in. In the author’s note, Balson states he was trying to show the commonality of profiteering throughout the years. But is it really news that evil people will seek to scam others?
This was probably my least favorite of his books that I’ve read.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Ronald H. Balson for my copy of Eli’s Promise.

Eli’s Promise by Ronald H. Balson is his latest historical fiction masterpiece it spans three eras and included are: Poland during WW II, post war Germany and living in American displaced persons camp, and corrupt Chicago during the Vietnam War. Three timelines that are all linked to each other by family ties, circumstances, deceit, greed and war.

1939: Eli Rosen lives with his wife Esther and their young son Izaak and the Rosen family is happy, until the Nazi’s easily invade Poland and this changes everything. Eli runs the family’s construction business started by his father, and together they have built many impressive buildings in Lublin and including the local Yeshiva. This is a traditional Jewish building used for educational purposes and a place where sacred books and papers are kept.
Esther has been worried about the German army invading and she tries to share her concerns with Eli and he believes the family has nothing to worry about until they find themselves stuck in Poland, and surrounded by Nazi occupied territory and with no safe way out. The Germans of course changed the rules and lives of Jewish people in Poland and it limited, where they could work, shop, study, they seized businesses, assets and houses. Many Jewish people made the difficult decision to sign over their businesses to non Jewish friends or paid huge amounts of money to try to keep their property from being taken by the Germans.

1946: Eli is living in a displaced persons camp in Germany with Izaak and he’s desperately trying to find out what happened to his wife Esther, she went missing during the war and thousands of people are in a similar position. Everyone is searching for missing love ones, most have lost everything they owned and they want to immigrate to America. But the amount of visas available isn’t anywhere near enough to cater for the demand and people are forced to wait in crowded camps for years, full of disease and people are getting extremely desperate. Only one man knows what happened to Eli’s wife, its Maximilian Poleski and could he be the mysterious person called Max who’s selling illegal visas to people wanting to jump the immigration queue?

1965: Eli Rosen rents a room in Albany Park, Chicago; he meets his neighbor Mimi and she thinks he’s working for the FBI? He’s a man on a mission after 25 years of waiting for justice, Eli needs information about Chicago's dangerous political underworld, and it involves corruption, draft dodging, and murder and will he finally catch Max who has more lives than a cat? Eli’s Promise is about one man’s promise he made to his wife, it’s about family, duty, survival and never ever giving up despite the passing of time and the odds.
Five big stars from me and I shared my review on Goodreads, Amazon Australia, NetGalley, Edelweiss, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Twitter and my blog. https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eli's Promise is about one man's journey to see that the Nazi collaborator who promised to protect his family pay for his crimes. It is a journey that will take Eli Rosen from Lublin Poland to Buchenwald to a DP camp in 1946 to Chicago in the 1960's.

Ronald Balson writes really interesting historical fiction that also manages to tug at the heartstrings of this particular reader. The story unfolds slowly as Eli and the man he pursues engage in an extreme game of cat and mouse. As we learn about Eli and his Polish family and all they endured, my empathy to his plight certainly grew larger and larger. I was on the edge of my seat tempted to scream "RUN."

As time passes and more characters are introduced I did find myself wondering just when this showdown was going to occur. Authors always have their reasons for wanting to keep readers on a hook and I was definitely in it until the end. But I am not so sure I needed 70 chapters to get to an end which was just a little bit disappointing in the resolution. On the other hand, I still would recommend this book and any of his others because they're very compelling.





Goodreads review published 16/04/20

Publication Date 22/09/20

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Taury · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Ronald Balson’s books. Eli’s Promise is one I felt was just okay. Dual timeline got to be confusing. It was difficult to know when it switched. Some areas of the book seemed to just stop and leave reader’s wondering. Then many chapters later picked up again. Nothing seemed to tie up nicely and move on. One example is Eli’s wife…then his son. Even when wrapped up they seemed to disappear without emotion. I won’t give up on this author over 1 book. He writes amazing fiction!

[Pam Jenoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything Ron writes, and his latest, Eli's Promise is his best yet. This is the story of one man's struggle, from trying to protect his family in Nazi occupied Poland to searching for his wife in postwar Germany and finally trying to find answers in Chicago at the height of the Vietnam War. If you love books set during World War II, do not miss Eli's Promise!

[Chelsey (a_novel_idea11) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eli Rosen owns a brickyard and construction company in Poland with his father. Down on his luck, the Rosens hire Maximilian Polenski to help with sales and the business in an effort to help him land on his feet.

As Germany starts invading Europe, Eli is in denial that Poland will be impacted. His wife, Esther, a strong willed and wise woman, sees the writing on the wall and predicts that their world will never be the same. Not ready to abandon his business or his town, Eli decides to keep his family in Ludz and wait out the war.

Quickly, the world around them begins to change. With the Jewish hospital closing, Esther is forced to work long hours for a Nazi seamstress company and their son, Izaak, must go to work with Eli every day so they can make sure he is safe. Maximilian, currying favors with the Nazis, ensures Esther’s safety and return to the family home every evening - for a steep cost. Maximilian also takes over the ownership of the Rosen’s brickyard as the business is still needed but can’t be Jewish owned.

As Eli’s life dramatically changes and those around him are shipped to ghettos or off to labor camps, he begins to begrudgingly rely on Maximilian more and more. Under the guise of Maximilian’s protection and goodwill, Eli is forced to move several hours from his family to open a new brickyard in a growing German city in Poland. When Eli learns that Esther has been shipped to labor camp, he realizes that Maximilian has been lying to him the entire time and that he must finally take action to protect his son.

Flash forward twenty years and Eli seeks vengeance for Maximilian’s betrayal. He moves to Chicago where he befriends his landlord and her daughter, the Golds. The Golds suspect that Eli is an FBI or CIA agent because of his odd hours, busy travel schedule, and rotating visits from businessmen. Mimi, an aspiring journalist, begins to take a keen interest in Eli and his story. As Eli and Mimi grow closer, we learn of incredible ties that connect them and watch their story unfold in a dramatic and unexpected way.

I often feel that the WWII genre is over saturated, however, I found this novel quite different from other books that cover this time period. For starters, I really appreciated the timeline as it showed the gradual changes the Nazis made to infiltrate and segregate the Polish Jewish communities. It hit closer to home seeing how one concession could turn to two, could turn to wearing Jewish stars, to being forced into a ghetto, to being shipped off to camps and losing their humanity and lives. I also liked that very little of the book took place in a concentration camp. Eli actually held his job for the majority of the war so it was an entirely different story that I’m used to reading. I also really liked that it span several decades and was essentially three stories in one - all revolving around Maximilian’s betrayal and deceit and Eli’s promise for justice.

Some of the dialogue felt a little mechanical and some of the historical information was presented in a bit of a textbook manner, but overall I really enjoyed this novel. It was an emotional read with well-developed characters and engaging and unique storylines.

I definitely highly recommend for fans of historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this novel.

[Ankit Garg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eli's Promise by Ronald H. Balson is set in Nazi-occupied Poland, American post-war displaced persons camp in Bavaria, and the United States of America. The story revolves around the Polish Jew Eli Rosen and his family.

The story is spread across three timelines. The gist of it is the cat and mouse race between the protagonist and the chief perpetrator, a man by the name Maximilian Poleski.

The war struck Poland narrative was what I liked best, partly due to my fascination for World War II settings. The gruesome details of the oppression by the Nazis, and the poor living conditions in the post-war camps are vividly described.

The conclusion was far fetched and disappointing, to say the least.

Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

For several generations Eli Rosen’s family owned a very successful building and construction materials company in Lublin, Poland. However, when the Nazis invaded the country, and as their grip tightened, the Rosen family entrusted their business and their safety to an unscrupulous profiteer named Max Poleski.

With it’s unforgettable characters and historical detail, Balson’s engrossing novel traces the Rosen family’s lives from Lublin to the Fohrenwald displaced persons camp, to the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. It’s a story of love, family, survival and betrayal that will hold your attention to the very end as Eli Rosen attempts to hold Max accountable for his wartime actions and to bring justice to his family.

Thank you to Goodreads first reads, St. Martin’s Press, and author Ronald Balson for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of this novel.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author. I was granted a copy to read through Net Galley. I have been reading it over time because I was not swept up by the story due to characterizations vs truly horrendous events and the telling of them.
What I liked: The descriptive text of what Polish Jews went through during WWII.
What I didn't like: Organization of time frames and the dialogue utilized in telling story unnaturally. Almost none of the dialogue held true for my sensibilities. I'm happy to see that other reviewers were able to embrace the story more readily than I.

Net Galley copy

[MicheleReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eli Rosen was living a happy life in Lublin, Poland with his wife and son. In 1939, when the Nazis invade Poland, his world starts to fall apart. His family-owned brickyard business was overtaken by Max Poleski, an unscrupulous opportunist who had been a salesman for the company. Eli and his family are given a false sense of security as Max, who has endeared himself with the SS commanders, vows to help protect the Rosens from the Nazis.

In 1946, we find Eli and his son in the Föhrenwald Displaced Persons Camp having survived the Buchenwald concentration camp. He doesn’t know if his wife is still alive. The survivors are trying to recover and figure out where they will settle and rebuild their lives. Eli learns that Max is now selling illegal visas to the United States, which were highly coveted given the restrictive immigration quotas.

In the book’s third timeline, it is 1965 and Eli has just moved to Chicago in the Albany Park neighborhood where many European immigrants had settled. He tells his landlady that he works for the government yet she suspects he’s a spy.

Eli’s Promise brings an interesting perspective to the horrors of WWII. While it is one man’s story of survival, it is also the story of the despicable profiteering that took place during and after the war. And in the 1960s, during the Vietnam war, profiteering continued. Author Ronald H. Balson did an excellent job describing the early days of Nazi occupation when many Jews didn’t initially grasp the severity of what the Nazis were planning, feeling that life would soon go back to normal. But of course it never did. In the author’s Acknowledgments, Balson reminds us that all but two hundred of Lublin’s forty thousand Jews were murdered.

Eli’s Promise is well worth reading, as are all Balson’s books.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the author for the opportunity to read this compelling story in advance of its publication.

Review posted on MicheleReader.com.

[linda hole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a historical fiction nerd. and when I saw this book on netgalley and Read The synopsis. I requested it immediately. and my wish was granted.. This book follow Eli and his family during 3 timeperiods. during war, postwar and the 1960s.What I loved about this book. The love they had for each other, The family dynamic, their strength, and how they overcome obstacles in a cruel and Black time era. This book made me cry. what I liked less about The book. I wished The author Would have written less about The holocaust and more about The postwar era. an era that is less known for a lot of us. But a must Read. so thank you to netgalley and the Publisher for letting me Read this e arc

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is 1939 - We meet Eli Rosen and his wife Esther who were hard workers, but then the German occupation happened and changed everything.

Maximilian who was supposedly their friend betrayed them by joining the Nazi party and thought nothing of his betrayal of Eli and his family.

We follow what happens to Eli and his family - of course it is heartbreaking.

It's 1946 - We move to post WWII and what Eli's life is at this time as he lives in an American Zone camp for displaced persons with his son.

He thinks Maximilian is selling visas on the black market, but isn't sure. If he finds out it is Maximilian, who knows what Eli will do.

Maximilian was paid by Eli to protect his wife, but she still hasn’t been found.

Eli’s focus is to find Maximilian, find out what he knows about Esther, and to have Maximilian prosecuted for his war and post-war crimes.

It is 1965 - We see Eli in Chicago still trying to find the person who betrayed him during the war - Maximilian - and get to the bottom of the political underworld. Could Max be involved?

ELI’S PROMISE is another heartbreaking and marvelously written book by master author Ronald Balson.

I thoroughly enjoyed ELI'S PROMISE, even though the time in Chicago was a bit confusing until we saw the true reason Eli was there.

Another well written book you won't want to miss if you are a fan of Mr. Balson and historical fiction. 4/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Wendy G · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to say I was a little disappointed in this book. The references to the history at the time seemed forced, the jumping around in time periods seemed disjointed, and it read more like a young adult novel. I would have liked more of the history of the Polish people in Lublin and the surrounding area in the late 1930s into the mid 1940s and how they survived. Part of the story takes place in the 1960s in the Chicago area but nowhere in the book do you find out how Eli ended up in the United States. Since visas seemed to be a big part of this story, you would think the author would mention how Eli got his. #netgalley

[Marilyn (not getting notifications) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all of Ronald H. Balson’s books and have enjoyed each one. Eli’s promise was no exception. It was written beautifully and the characters were well thought out and presented authentically. Most of the characters that Ronald H. Balson portrayed were fictional but many of the German officers in the story were real. The story was divided into three time periods and the story often alternated between past and present. It was very hard to put this book down.

Eli’s Promise was a beautiful and heart wrenching story about Eli, his wife Esther and their young son Izaak. It was written as a historical fiction book but some of the story included real places and real names of German and American officers. The first part of the story took place in Lublin, Poland before and during the Nazi occupation. In those days, Lublin was considered by most, to be the center for learning for the Jewish people. It was not surprising then that the Nazis decided to destroy the most important and sacred building to the Jews of Lublin. They ransacked their Yeshiva, burned all the sacred books and took it and made it their headquarters. Things began to get a lot worse for the Jews of Lublin and for all Jews throughout Poland. Some Jews still raised up hope that things would improve and go back to the way they had been before the occupation. Eli’s wife, Esther, saw the writing on the wall before it actually got so bad. She had predicted that the Nazis would identify all the Jews, round them up and lastly get rid of them. Eli did not want to believe her. He always held out hope that things would get better. Eli had made a promise to his son that one day they would go to America. When Eli had the chance to escape Poland with his family, though, somehow the time was never right. He had to think about his aging father or the family business. Eli was forced to rely on the protection of Maximilian Poleski, a profiteer who benefited from the oppressed Jews of Lublin. Maximilian promised Eli that he would provide protection for him and his family. Eli would learn too late and the hard way that Maximilian could not live up to the promises he had made. Maximilian was a thief and a despicable man that took advantage of desperate people during the war. When Eli finally decided to escape and had made a plan, it was too late. He had not known that while he was away from his family, being forced by the Nazis, to run a remote construction business, that his precious wife, Esther, was rounded up and carted off to a concentration camp.

The next part of the book, described Eli’s and Izaak’s life in Fohrenwald, one of the American Zones for displaced persons. The Americans liberated the concentration camp that Eli and Izaak had been in. They had survived one camp, only to be living in another camp. Eli still did not know whether Esther had survived. He never lost faith or hope though and sought out all the information he could for survivors. During his time at Fohrenwald, Eli saw the rampant spread of tuberculosis and unjust quotas for Jews that wanted to immigrate. These extremely low quotas made it almost impossible to get visas to either America or Israel. The waiting list was extremely long. During this time, Eli was made aware that falsified visas for travel to the United States were being sold on the Black Market by a man known as Max. Eli was sure that this was the same person who had taken advantage of him back in Lublin. Just when Eli had gathered enough evidence to convict Maximilian, Max, as he was calling himself now, was able to slip through Eli's and the officials from the United States' army's fingers and avoid punishment.

The last part of Eli’s Promise took place in a suburb of Chicago called Albany Park. Eli was there to finally apprehend the man he had been chasing for almost thirty years, the devious, dishonest and one of several war profiteers, Maximilian. This time Maximilian was trying to profit from the Viet Nam War.

Ronald H. Balson’s book, Eli’s Promise, was about the Holocaust, the guilt of surviving when so many did not, war profiteering,the love of family and the bonds formed by those that survived. Eli’s Promise was a beautiful story that will touch your heart in a special way. It will bring tears to your eyes and smiles to your faces. Eli’s Promise portrayed the unconditional love for a child. There was no greater bond for Eli than the love he had for Izaak. That love that Eli felt for Izaak was evident throughout the book.

Eli’s Promise by Ronald H. Balson was an incredible story. I didn’t know a lot about war profiteering, one of the main themes in this book, but felt such a strong resentment against those that took advantage of others during such turbulent and sad times. It was so hard to fathom how some could have hoped to profit from the weak, suppressed and violated. Presented and written about in three different locations and time periods, Eli’s Promise is a book not to be missed. I highly recommend this book. It will be published in September 2020.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Ronald H. Balson for allowing me to read this advanced copy of Eli’s Promise. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Amina Hujdur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oduševljena realizacijom teme II svjetskog rata u ovom romanu.
Jednostavnim jezikom i naizgled površnim rečenicama, obuhvaćena je radnja tri vremenska razdoblja i dešava se na dva kontinenta.
Osnovni motiv je problem nelegalnih prodaja dozvola za rad Jevreja za vrijeme okupacije i prodaja boravišnih dozvola za ulazak u SAD nakon rata.
Likovi su vjerno prikazani, a posebno lik Maksa, koji se može posmatrati kao univerzalni ratni profiter i takav profil čovjeka je prisutan u svakom ratu ili postratnom periodu.

Ocjena 4/5 i preporuka.

[Sydney Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eli’s Promise is a gripping tale of Eli Rosen and his quest to fulfill a promise to bring justice to a war profiteer. Balson introduces us to the Rosen family at the beginning of WWII before things took a turn for the worse for the Jewish residents of Poland. Eli and Esther had a wonderful marriage, a beautiful son and thriving family business until...the Germans invaded and piece by piece their lives went from blissful to uncertain. A demon of a business partner “sold” the Rosens his protection from the Germans. Everything he promised came with a price and as time passed, Eli realized Maximilian to be the snake his wife always told him her was. But when things are increasingly uncertain during wartime, promises can mean hope and Eli made deals with Max despite his better judgment all to protect his family.

This story spans war torn Poland in the 1940’s to Chicago USA in the 1960’s. I don’t want to dive too deep into the story line because I’m not quite sure how to do it without spoiling it for readers. I will say that Balson has created a cast of characters you can immediately connect with. You can feel their emotion and in the case of Max...his arrogance and greed. You quickly become attached to theses characters and the promise Eli is trying to fulfill...though it takes him a couple of decades.

This story paints a vivid picture of a prominent Jewish family as they are slowly stripped of their lives by the Germans. Promises of protection were made and sold to those desperate to find a way to live. To the Germans and to profiteers, it was a game. It’s unbelievable what historical fiction can teach you!

Ronald Balson latest release does not disappoint. It will captivate you, keep you on the edge of your seat and it might even get you to shed a tear or two. I highly recommend this book. It’s beautiful!

Thanks to NetGalley, St Martins Press and Ronald Balson for the opportunity to read this book prior to its publication date! I enjoyed it so much!

[Vanessa ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy. This is a heartbreaking, emotional book told in three parts. The first is when Hitler started his brutal war/annihilation of the Jews and is a detailed look at a young family and the trauma done to them, their experiences with simply trying to be a human in a world that treated them as nothing more then a pest to be hunted. The second part is in the late 40’s, after the camp survivors have been rescued and misplaced throughout several US temporary camps, most of them solely wanting to get US visas to try and start anew. The third part is an America (Chicago) in the 60’s. The continuing person/theme in all stories is Max and the story revolves around the main character, Eli, and his promise to find vengeance, justice and answers.
There are similarities to his other book, Once we were brothers, (which I liked better)-anger and what it costs you, forgiveness, understanding, trauma, etc. This is no exception to the beautiful job Balson does with one of the most important and horrifying subjects of our history..he writes with detail, emotion, poetry, and depth that sucks you in and leaves you heartbroken but hopeful, all while learning.
“Good will always prevail over evil-we must believe that or there is no purpose in the universe.”

[Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

2-1/2*
When I started this book I thought it was going to be a 5* until the shifting time-lines made it choppy and confusing not to mention frustrating. It would have had more of a punch if the author had written in chronological order.

While Eli’s story is of course tragic and sad the fact that he and his wife and son were allowed to live in their home for as long as they did seems a bit unrealistic given the conditions in Poland at the time.

The most interesting character in the book turns out to be the villain Max Poleski.

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t think an author has ever captured my attention in the first chapter quite like this one. Ronald H. Balson’s description of General Patton’s 6th Armored Division’s rescue of prisoners at Buchenwald concentration camp so accurately conveyed the shock of the American soldiers as they discovered the horrors of the camp.

One prisoner the soldiers rescued was Eli Rosen, a man near death, who insisted they find his son Isaak, who was also in the camp. After reuniting, Eli and Isaak were driven away from the camp in Red Cross vehicles.

Balson tells the story of Eli Rosen in three distinct timelines. In 1939, we see a happy and prosperous Rosen family until the Germans invade Poland and they gradually realize that their very existence is being threatened. In 1946, we find Eli and his son living in a displaced person’s camp while searching for the whereabouts of Esther, their wife and mother. In 1965, we find Eli in Albany Park, Chicago. Why Albany Park? Eli is there to fulfill a promise he made, seeking justice for a Nazi sympathizer and con man who has evaded arrest for years.

This was a different approach to a World War II novel because it focused less on the camps and more on the corruption that existed during the war years. Some citizens exploited the Jewish people in the worst ways at a time when they so desperately needed help.

This was a very interesting novel and I can see why it won the National Jewish Book Award. I highly recommend this one to those who like historical fiction and World War II novels.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance release and give my honest review.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just realized I never reviewed this book! It is another Ron Balson hit. If you enjoyed his other books you’ll love this one also. If you are having trouble getting engrossed into a story during these tough Covid times, try this one. You’ll get lost in the characters and story for hours. And as always it is based on historical facts and has plenty of intrigue.

[Igor Witch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roman ‘Eijevo obećanje’ obuhvata tri vremenska razdoblja: Poljska tokom Drugog svetskog rata, posleratna Nemačka i život u američkom raseljenom kampu, i korumpirani Čikago za vreme Vijetnamskog rata.

1939: Eli Rozen živi sa svojom suprugom Ester i sinom Izakom skaldnim porodičnim životom sve dok nacisti ne okupiraju Poljsku. Njihov život, kao i životi mnogih Jevreja se drastičnom menja. Rozenovi poseduju porodični biznis, ciglanu koju je izgradio Elijev otac. Izgradili su predivne građevinu u gradu Lublinu, uključujući Jašivu, zgradu namenjenu edukaciji i sakrivanju tajnih dokumenata. Njihova svakodnevnica se menja kada nemci uvedu nova pravila za Jevreje, daju sve kako bi sačuvali svoje domove, posao, živote.

1946: Eli sa sinom živi u kampu za raseljena lica dok bezuspešno traga za svojom suprugom koja je misteriozno nestala tokom rata kao i milioni drugih ljudi. Ljudi tragaju za svojim voljenima pokušavajući da sebi izgrade novi život i budućnosti imigrirajući u Ameriku. Eli je ubeđen da Maksimilijan zna gde je njegova žena, pokvaren i podmukao čovek, ali vrlo spretan u svojim lažima i prevarama. Ulazi mu u trag kada se pročuje vest da čovek sličan njemu prodaje vize za ulazak u Ameriku.

1965: Usamljeni Eli iznajmljuje mali stan u Olbani parku, Čikago. Upoznaje komšije koje su ubeđeni da Eli radi za FBI ili CIA. Eli je željan pravde nakon dugogodišnjeg čekanja. Mora ispuniti obećanje koje je dao svojoj supruzi. Mora pronaći čoveka po imenu Maks kako bi dobio odgovore na mnoga pitanja, ali, gde je njegov sin Izak?

Roman o životu za vreme rata, preživljavanju, o gubitku, boli, sećanju, nadi... Knjiga mi se svidela jer do tančina opisuje atmosferu za vreme tog perioda, osećanja ljudi, njihov strah i veru da će doći bolje sutra. Skratio bih knjigu za stotinak strana, lično meni se treći deo najmanje dopao. Toplo preporučujem svim ljubiteljima istorijskih ratnih drama.

[Silvia F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an emotional read full of hope, love, tragedy and perseverance. It made me cry and it overwhelmed me with Eli’s love for his family. This was a very fast read. Ronald H. Balson has a way of writing that just entrances and captures the reader right from the start. I was a bit skeptical at first about having three different time settings but it was all tied in so beautifully. Books about War World 2 are hard to read sometimes because of the insurmountable tragedies and fates people were faced with. Yet this book really showed you what it means to love in a time of war and that even though you’ve endured such terrific things in your life you still have room for hope. I really liked all the characters and the storyline captivated me. I didn’t want to put this one down. I highly recommend this book. A well deserved 5 stars!
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book that I thoroughly enjoyed. It connects periods of time surrounding World War II. What would check really interesting for me is how they have these people called fixers who would, for a fee, provide counterfeit passports. These were for Jewish people who were being detained until the allies could find them at

a home. The false/counterfeit passports were so the Jews could go to the United States.

Strong characterizations; the plot was really great and I really liked this book

[Liza Wiemer]

Listened to this with my husband and enjoyed the mystery intwined into this fictitious Holocaust survivor's story.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another interesting aspect of WWII. This time we also explore corruption in Chicago as we follow the characters from Poland, to France and then to the US. I really enjoy meeting his characters and learning about different perspectives of Jewish plight. Not very thought provoking, but still an enjoyable read. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

[Babette Ryther · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!Another great read from Ronald Balson! I have read all of his books and he never disappoints. I was delighted to receive an ARC of his new book from the publisher and NetGalley as I am always anxiously awaiting his next Book!
Ronald Balson is a fantastic historical fiction writer and his characters are portrayed flawlessly. This book follows Eli Rosen's family during three time periods, World War 2, post war Poland and Chicago during the 1960's. This was a harrowing tale of Eli's quest to bring justice to a war criminal many years later but it is also a heartbreaking story about the cost of war and the strength of family. I would highly recommend this book as I have shared all my Ronald Balson books to anyone who will read them!

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say about this book is WOW! What a truly remarkable, heartbreaking and extraordinary story of a very sad time. Ronald Balson did it justice with the characters and plot. The 3 time periods flowed flawlessly. Would definitely recommend this book.

[Shomeret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intended to be an advance reviewer, but Eli's Promise was released on September 22nd. So I apologize for my lateness. I received my copy from the publisher via Net Galley well in advance.

This is the third book that I've read by Ronald H. Balson. The first two were Karolina's Twins and The Girl From Berlin which are part of the Liam Taggart and Catherine Lockhart legal thriller series.
Eli's Promise is a stand alone dealing with the life of Eli Rosen during WWII and the 1960's.

I have a family that was badly impacted by the Holocaust and I took a course on the Holocaust at Jewish Theological Seminary. This isn't just a historical topic for me. I am reluctant to read any books dealing with the Holocaust, but I agreed to read this one in September.

As I was reading Eli's Promise, I experienced nausea. This is a sign that it's well-written. I felt what the characters were going through. I am also under stress in my personal life, and I was saying to myself "I don't need this," but I did commit to read it, so I finished the book. To say that these aren't ideal conditions for me to write a review would be an understatement. I am telling you this, so you understand my context when I say I wish I hadn't read Eli's Promise.

The villain of Eli's Promise is pursued by Eli since he and his family were betrayed by the villain during the Holocaust. Then the narrative is taken up again in the 1960's, At that point Eli was in law enforcement, but this was a very personal case for him.

I do recommend this book to those who need to be educated about the Holocaust, and readers who want to be immersed in an intense dual period historical thriller.

For the blog version of this review see https://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/2...

[Kathleen Kline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books about World War II really interest me, and it seems that no matter how many I read I keep learning something new. This book was written with a different direction. According to the author, "Eli's Promise is at its heart a story about corruption and war profiteering. It was my intention to draw a line of commonality from 1939 through 1966 during which profiteering could and did occur." So sad to see evil upon evil: people taking advantage of the horrors around them to profit for themselves and add injury upon injury to the Jews. Displaced persons camps in postwar Germany and the sale of false US immigration documents were things that I knew little about prior to reading this novel. Planning to read more of Ronald Balson's books.