The Light at Midnight: A Historical Thriller Set During the Holocaust

by Tom Reppert

Tragedy and terror threaten one brave Jewish girl during the Holocaust in this inspiring war story about never giving up.

Fourteen-year-old Rivka Resnik survives the brutal massacre of her family in Lithuania, only to spend the rest of the war fighting as a partisan against Nazi forces and languishing as a prisoner in Auschwitz. Finally rescued and sent to America, Rivka soon faces the SS officer who commanded the death squads that murdered her family. Now, it is Rivka’s turn to become the hunter.

In this enthralling novel set during the Holocaust, author Tom Reppert masterfully depicts one young woman’s harrowing experiences across Europe and the United States.

Genres: Holocaust, Historical Fiction

451 pages, Paperback

Published November 27, 2020

About the author

Tom Reppert is a veteran who served with 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam. After earning a BA in English and History at Western State College and master’s degrees in Creative Writing from Colorado State University and Professional Writing from University of Southern California, he spent decades teaching History, Literature, and Writing all over the world, mostly in Africa and Asia to international students. He has written several well-received historical and time-travel novels including The Far Journey, the Captured Girl, Assassin 13, and now The Light at Midnight. Look for them on Amazon and Audible.com or ask for them at your favorite bookstore.

Reviews

[Carolyn Scarcella]

A deserved break from reading for 3 weeks. This book is a long reading which is over 400 is called “The Light at Midnight” by Tom Ruppert. This was an exceptional book. Great lead, a female, Rivka. Great each charters tells story in the past and present times, which I have enjoyed the story. She grew up in a small town called Nashok, Lithuania. Nazi massacre her family. She spent her years fighting against Nazi as partisan and force to throw in Auschwitz and was liberated by the U.S. Rivka soon faces a Nazi man who have massacre her family. Her turn to become a Nazi Hunter. Did she get her revenge? You can decide. The lives of those lost in the Holocaust should never be forgotten.

[Kylee Wilson]

2.5⭐

This was a harder one to get into, and was much more historical fiction than Thriller. & with such a heavy topic more details regarding her trauma and training could have made this a lot more powerful. I dont have a lot to say about this one but i did really enjoy the epilogue

[Linzi]

loved this book. love how it shows how the war effected her mentally. The characters in this book are great I felt like I knew everyone of them personally. Sometimes I had to have a minute and stop reading because of how brutal it was. Only reason it's not 5* is because it's an unusual shape book (yep im strange)

[Susan Bertao]

This was an exceptional book. It not only told the tale of a young Jewish girl but followed her life through the Nazi occupation of her country, her time with partisans, her many escapes from the Nazi's, her time at Auschwitz concentration camp, subsequent survival of same and her life after she came to the US. It was a compelling and amazing story of survival. It could almost be an autobiography but as a piece of fiction, it is just the best book I have read in a long time. It was exciting, thrilling and difficult to put down. I definitely recommend this book.

[Susan Mead]

Loved the book

This was a wonderful book, with each character unique and well developed. I wanted to shoot Max Bauer! The lives of those lost in the Holocaust should never be forgotten. Thank you for allowing us revenge on the enemy through the reading of this book!

[Linda L. Calenzo]

Great Book

The characters in this book are so real.This book exposes so many of the cruelties that so many people experienced at the hands of the Nazis.Though the ending was very satisfying.

[Rhonda Johnson]

This was a pretty good book. It kinda skipped through quickly different aspects of the girl's life as she goes through the war, which actually was a plus for me. It was like leap frogging through the 3 years, hitting a little here and little there, and passing to other characters. Seemed random, yet like I said it kept it from dragging and keeping the overall novel not so long as other historical fiction book. In this story you could kinda see where it was going towards the end, but it was still really good at being suspenseful in this type of book. Reminded me of Once we Were Brothers or The Road Beyond Ruin, or even The Alice Network, all my favs!
I would recommend! 4.5

[Lisa]

A tough read, emotionally, historically, mentally. BUT I couldn't put it down. 400+ pages that kept me coming back to see what happens next. I've read a lot of books from multiple perspectives about the Holocaust, but this one hit different this time. I had a heightened sense about how people surrounding the main characters were reacting, supporting, doing anything to help...and how it connects to today's environment with bystanders vs upstanders in our society. Read it for many reasons, but pay attention to that. How can we let something like this happen? Hmmm...well, what did everyone do as it was happening?

[Jeff]

This is a suspenseful story of vengeance and retribution, poignantly told, with some very compelling characters excellently portrayed through Patricia Santomasso's narration. If you're up for hearing another Holocaust story, give this one a listen.

Note: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Lee Graham]

Brilliant.

A long book but well worth the read. Great.characters and a great story. It brings the horrors of the Holocaust to life but goes so much further taking us to post-war America and Nazi hunters. An epic read and I would recommend to any one interested in WWII fictional stories based on horrific truth.

[Kieran]

Brilliant.

I really enjoyed the story. I thought it was very well thought out, had brilliant characters and did a great job of covering long periods of time without feeling like it had skipped anything.

I thought the characters were great and the author did a brilliant job of showcasing Rivka's personal journey to the depths of her own personal hell and back again. I thought he captured the difference between those who went to the US and those who didn't brilliantly.

I also think he did a great job of navigating some VERY divisive topics and themes in such a way that made it very hard to put the book down.

One thing I will say is that I thought it was lacking something, I'm not entirely sure what but it felt like the book had something missing that had it been there would've made it world beating.

Aside from that, brilliant.

[Debbie Trammell]

Wonderful book

A work of fiction but, with so much research and real life and history mixed in. The author is a suberb story teller. The twist and turns are ingenious. Anyone interested in the Holocaust and World War 2 will love this book.

[MaryAnn Finn]

Strong characters

Really enjoyed The Light at Midnight. Read in a day, just didn't want to put it down. Great female lead in Rivka. Picking up her story after the war was definitely a new take on a holocaust novel.

[Jean Berry]

Powerful book!

A book about resilience and hope. About the unbelievable atrocities that happened to the Jewish people during WWII. Never Again! A page turner that was hard to put down.

[marilyn gordon]

amazing book

What a journey of love war and it’s victims, though the heroine shines through.
I feel bereaved that it ended. Many thanks Tom for a special insight into World War Two. Please buy and read you will not be disappointed. Wonderful characters and beautifully written.

[Jean Bansemer]

Wasn’t sure I wanted to read a Holocaust story at first, but I was drawn in. I especially appreciated how the author followed the characters after the war. Tom Reppert is an accomplished writer! You’ll enjoy the audio book version, too!

[Mary Doherty]

In this book about the Holocaust a young women survives when her family and village are murdered by the Nazis. She seeks shelter in a convent and goes on to join the Resistance. Parts of the book read more like fiction but it is well written and very engaging.

[Ruth]

Fantastic

I about could not put this book down. Once again the atrocities of the Holocaust played out in a story of evil, hate and inhumane every while weaving a story of family, love , hope and resilience.

[Anne Benstead]

An amazing book. I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns of the storyline. Rivka’s character was outstanding. I’m sure there were plenty of men’s bed women who did their duty against the Nazi’s. I will definitely be reading more of his books.
Thank you.

[Margaret Wray]

Absolutely gripping. Brutal in parts and the horrors of WW11 really come in here. The Nazi’s doing their awful murders and a young girl coming to terms. Life after the war and getting revenge .
Highly recommend

[Sandra Vance]

One of the best books of WWII Characters are well described. Their stories are sad but believable. Unforgettable story of surviving the holocaust and exacting revenge.

[Gary David Reed]

Very good

Very good story. Made you feel all the pain,sorrow,and hopelessness. The story represents a lot of people that went through these unbelievable events

[Lane Flavell]

Cried and Raged

This book is unforgettable . I have read many book regarding WW II and many of them were well written but this is the best.

[Carolyn Rozzi]

Was an excellent read, kept my attention. I’m in awe of how people can survive such horrendous circumstances. Also can’t understand such cruelty & evil. I know the book I fiction but there is fact.

[Debbie Medley]

Awesome book!

It was hard to put it down! Very well written. It made me feel I was with her throughout the story.

[Elaine Nelson]

Excellent and heartbreaking. I couldn't put it down.

[Nancy Desrosiers]

Excellent

Well written excellent character development
A story of survival against all odds.
You feel the horror of Rivka's experiences and hope for her survival.

[Donna]

Outstanding

Could not stop reading although much the same as all Nazi stories but real characters I read non stop great

[Janice Riseley]

Super Book

Interesting read. Horrific in parts but a must read. Definitely read this author again. We must never forget what happened in the camps.

[Ina Tuscano]

Fantastic book

Even though I love books on the holocaust, this one stands out. You feel a personal connection to Rival that stays with you. Great work of art!